UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________________________
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 9, 2021 ( November 5, 2021 )
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Esports Technologies, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| Nevada | 001-40334 | 85-3201309 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
197 California Ave Ste 302, Las Vegas, NV 89104
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (888) 883-2387
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbols(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common stock, par value $0.001 per share | EBET | The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC |
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
On November 5, 2021, Esports Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an amended and restated employment agreement, effective October 1, 2021, with Aaron Speach pursuant to which Mr. Speach agreed to continue to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer for an initial term of three years. The agreement provides for an initial annual base salary of $315,000, which may be increased to $350,000 retroactively as of the effective date provided the closing and consummation of the share purchase transaction by and between Company and Aspire Global plc occurs. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Speach is eligible for an annual bonus of up to 75% of his base salary, as determined solely at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Pursuant to the agreement, if Mr. Speach is required to be located outside of the United States for a period of 30 consecutive days or more, the Company shall pay him a pro-rated monthly travel stipend of $3,500 for each month that he is so required to live outside of the United States. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Speach is eligible to receive the following potential performance stock grants: (i) 100,000 shares of Company common stock at such date as the Company reaches total gross revenues of $10,000,000 in any trailing 12 month period during the term of the employment agreement; and (ii) 100,000 shares of Company common stock at such date as the Company reaches total gross revenues of $20,000,000 in any trailing 12 month period during the term of the employment agreement. Contemporaneous with the execution of the agreement, Mr. Speach received a restricted stock unit award (the “RSU Grant”) for 100,000 shares of Company common stock. The RSU Grant shall vest in four equal annual installments, provided Mr. Speach is employed on each such vesting date. If Mr. Speach’s employment is terminated at our election without “cause” (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Speach shall be entitled to receive severance payments equal to 150% of the balance due of Mr. Speach’s base salary for the remainder of the initial term of three years.
On November 5, 2021, the Company we entered into an amended and restated employment agreement, effective October 1, 2021, with Bart Barden pursuant to which Mr. Barden will continue to serve as the Company’ Chief Operating Officer. The initial term of the employment agreement will continue for a period of 12 months. The employment agreement provides for an initial annual base salary of €213,400, which may be increased to €237,000 retroactively as of the effective date provided the closing and consummation of the share purchase transaction by and between Company and Aspire Global plc occurs. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Barden is eligible for an annual bonus of up to 50% of his base salary, as determined solely at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Contemporaneous with the execution of the agreement, Mr. Barden received a restricted stock unit award (the “RSU Grant”) for 25,000 shares of Company common stock. The RSU Grant shall vest in four equal annual installments, provided Mr. Barden is employed on each such vesting date.
On November 5, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved the following policy for compensating non-employee members of the Board. Each independent director shall receive annual cash compensation of $40,000. In addition, the chairperson of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee shall receive an annual compensation of $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000, respectively; the other members of such committees shall receive an annual compensation of $7,500, $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. In addition, the Company agreed to pay a one-time make-whole payment to the independent directors for services rendered since the Company’s initial public offering if $27,000.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| | ESPORTS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. |
| | |
| Date: November 9, 2021 | |
| | By: /s/ Jim Purcell |
| | Jim Purcell |
| | Chief Financial Officer |
