UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K/A
☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022
OR
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO |
Commission File Number 0-23970
FALCONSTOR SOFTWARE, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
Delaware | 77-0216135 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
501 Congress Avenue, Suite 150 Austin, TX | 78701 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (631) 777-5188
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Title of each class |
| Trading Symbol(s) |
| Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common stock, $0.001 Par Value |
| FALC |
| OTCQB |
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | |||
Emerging growth company |
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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. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2022 was $3,742,024 which value, solely for the purposes of this calculation, excludes shares held by Registrant's officers and directors. Such exclusion should not be deemed a determination by Registrant that all such individuals are, in fact, affiliates of the Registrant.
The number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 was 7,122,199.
Auditor's Name: Marcum LLP, Auditor's Location: Costa Mesa, CA, Auditor's PCAOB Number: 688
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The following documents (or parts thereof) are incorporated by reference into the following parts of this Form 10-K: None.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
On March 23, 2023, FalconStor Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation, filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 (the “Original Filing”). Certain Part III information was omitted from the Original Filing in reliance on General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K. General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K provides that a registrant may incorporate by reference certain information from a definitive proxy statement which involves the election of directors, if such definitive proxy statement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) no later than 120 days after the end of the registrant’s fiscal year. Alternatively, the registrant may provide this information in an amendment to the Form 10-K, if such amendment is filed with the Commission no later than 120 days after the end of the registrant’s fiscal year. Accordingly, this Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (this “Amendment”) supplements the Original Filing by amending and restating Part III, Items 10 through 14 of the Original Filing.
Except as stated herein, this Amendment does not reflect events occurring after the filing of the Original Filing, and no attempt has been made in this Amendment to modify or update other disclosures as presented in the Original Filing.
Throughout this Amendment, unless indicated otherwise, we refer to FalconStor Software, Inc. and its subsidiaries as “we,” “us,” “our,” “FalconStor,” “FalconStor Software” and the “Company”.
PART III
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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management | 7 | |
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Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence | 8 | |
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9 |
PART IV
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i
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Directors of the Company
The Company’s bylaws authorize its Board of Directors (or the “Board”) to fix the number of directors and provide that the directors shall be divided into three classes, with the classes of directors serving for staggered, three-year terms.
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights for the Series A Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designations”), so long as at least 85% of the Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) remains outstanding, the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock (the “Majority Holders”) have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect two directors. The Majority Holders have, as of the date hereof, elected two directors, Martin M. Hale, Jr. and Michael Kelly. Messrs. Rudolph and Miller were elected by the Board to fill vacancies created by the resignation of other directors. Mr. Brooks was appointed to the Board in February 2019. The Company currently has five directors.
The names of the directors are set forth below:
Name |
| Position |
| Age |
| Director Since |
Martin M. Hale, Jr. |
| Director |
| 51 |
| 2013 |
Michael P. Kelly |
| Director |
| 75 |
| 2014 |
William D. Miller |
| Director |
| 62 |
| 2016 |
Barry A. Rudolph |
| Director |
| 69 |
| 2016 |
Todd Brooks |
| Director |
| 58 |
| 2019 |
Martin M. Hale, Jr. has served as the founder and CEO of Hale Capital Partners, LP, an investment firm that applies a private equity skill set and focus to investing in small and micro-cap public companies, since 2007. Mr. Hale has over 25 years of experience in venture capital and private equity as a board member and an investor helping public and private companies grow. Mr. Hale currently serves as a director of Culmen International LLC., Patch Media Corporation, thatDot Inc., QL2 Software and Galois Inc. Mr. Hale has also served as a director of publicly-traded technology companies including Lantronix Corporation, Adept Technology, Inc. (acquired by Omron Global), Analex Corporation (acquired by QinetiQ North America), Paradigm Holdings (acquired by CACI International, Inc.), Telanetix, Inc. (acquired by Intermedia), and Top Image Systems, Ltd. Before joining Hale Capital Partners, Mr. Hale was a Managing Director and member of the founding team of Pequot Ventures, an associate at Geocapital Partners, and an analyst with Broadview International. Mr. Hale received a B.A. from Yale University. Mr. Hale has been a director of the Company since September 2013.
Mr. Hale was elected as a director by the Majority Holders of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock. Mr. Hale’s Board qualifications include extensive experience helping small public companies grow to become larger and more successful. Such experience is helpful in expanding the Company’s leadership and strategic growth initiatives.
Michael P. Kelly served as a director at Adept Technology, Inc. (“Adept”) from April 1997 to October 22, 2015 and also served as Chairman of the Board of Adept from November 2008 to October 22, 2015. Mr. Kelly has also served as Chief Executive Officer of investment bank, Kinsale Associates, Inc., since October 2005. From July 2005 to October 2005, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Cape Semiconductor Inc., a fabless semiconductor company. From 1994 to 2005, Mr. Kelly held the positions of Vice- Chairman and Senior Managing Director of Broadview International, LLC, an international merger and acquisitions advisory firm and a division of Jefferies Group, Inc. Additionally, he has served as a director of Epicor Software Corporation, a provider of enterprise business software solutions, since September 2005. Mr. Kelly received a B.A. in Accounting from Western Illinois University, a M.B.A. from St. Louis University, and is also a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Kelly has been a director of the Company since October 2014 and our Chairman of the Board since March 2018.
Mr. Kelly was selected as a director by the Majority Holders of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock. Mr. Kelly’s qualifications to serve on the Board include his experience as an investment banker specializing in technology industries, which provides the Board and the Company with unique and relevant expertise in areas including capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and financing.
William D. Miller has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Axellio Inc., an edge computing systems company, since November 2018 and has been General Partner of FirstMile Ventures (previously Miller Investment Management), a venture capital fund manager making investments in early stage companies, since 2010. He previously served as CEO of X-IO Technologies, Inc., an enterprise storage company, from February 2015 to October 2018. Mr. Miller is a director of the following private entities: Axellio Inc., Violin Systems LLC, Chromatic Technologies, Inc., New Planet Technologies, Inc., Wanamaker Corp., BurstIQ Inc., and Altia Inc. Mr. Miller was a cofounder and Chief Technology Officer of StorageNetworks. Mr. Miller holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois. Mr. Miller has been a director of the Company since December 2016 and is currently serving for a term which will expire at the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until a successor is elected and qualified. Mr. Miller has been a director of the Company since December 2016.
The following experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills led the Board to conclude that Mr. Miller should serve as a director: his professional background and experience; his current and previously held senior-executive level positions; his service on other public and private company boards; and his extensive experience in technology, software, storage and related industries.
Barry A. Rudolph has served as Chief Executive Officer of VelociData, Inc., a firm that specializes in high performance data transformation and process offload in large corporations, since July 2014, and as a director since December 2012. Mr. Rudolph has also served as a director of Spectra Logic Corporation, a computer data storage company, since December 2015. Previously, Mr. Rudolph served as a director of Dot Hill Systems Corp., a provider of high performance storage arrays, from February 2012 until its sale to Seagate Technology in October 2015. Mr. Rudolph began his career in January 1978 and held numerous senior level positions with IBM until his retirement in November 2010 in a variety of functional areas, including operations, engineering, product development, test and assurance, program management, field support and direct manufacturing. Most recently he was Vice President,
1
System Networking, for IBM with responsibility for delivering overall networking product strategy, portfolio management and profit and loss management over each of the products in the group. Prior to this position, Mr. Rudolph was Vice President, Storage Strategy, responsible for the development and integration of the storage strategy for IBM including market segmentation and opportunity identification. Prior to that, Mr. Rudolph was Vice President, Stack Integration, responsible for the definition and execution of horizontal solutions and solution selling. Prior positions Mr. Rudolph held at IBM include Vice President and Business Executive, Disk Storage and Software Systems, where he was responsible for all aspects of disk storage and related software business within IBM. He also held an identical role with responsibility for IBM’s tape storage business. Mr. Rudolph holds a B.S. in Engineering and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from San Diego State University and an MBA from Santa Clara University. Mr. Rudolph has been a director of the Company since December 2016 and is currently serving for a term which will expire at the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until a successor is elected and qualified. Mr. Rudolph has been a director of the Company since December 2016.
The following experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills led the Board to conclude that Mr. Rudolph should serve as a director: his professional background and experience; his current and previously held senior-executive level positions; his service on other public and private company boards; and his extensive experience in technology, software, storage and related industries.
Todd Brooks is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Brooks was the Chief Operating Officer at Aurea Software, and Chief Executive Officer of Update Software, a publicly traded company in Europe. Previously, Mr. Brooks was the Chief Operating Officer at Trilogy where he was responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the firm’s Automotive, Financial Services and Telecom, and Technology & Media business units. Earlier in his career, Mr. Brooks co- founded and managed two technology consulting firms, including eFuel, an early innovator and leader in logistics optimization software for the automotive industry. In addition, Mr. Brooks held leadership roles at FedEx. Mr. Brooks earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech, and currently serves on the Advisory Board at Virginia Tech’s Apex Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Mr. Brooks is currently serving for a term which will expire at the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until a successor is elected and qualified. Mr. Brooks has been a director of the Company since February 2019.
The following experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills led the Board to conclude that Mr. Brooks should serve as a director: his leadership role at the Company; his performance at the Company; and his past success in the technology field.
Independence
In accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, and the NASDAQ Stock Market corporate governance listing standards (the “NASDAQ Standards”), a majority of the Company’s directors must be independent as determined by the Board. While the Company’s common stock is currently traded on the OTC markets, in making its independence determinations for directors, the Board looks to the NASDAQ Standards.
Under the NASDAQ Standards, a director is considered independent if he or she is not an officer or employee of the Company and does not have any other relationship which, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities as a director. Under NASDAQ Standards, a director of the Company is not considered independent if he or she (1) has been employed in any capacity by the Company during the past three years; (2) has accepted, or has a close family member who accepted, any payments from the Company in excess of $120,000 in any consecutive twelve-month period during the last three years (subject to certain exceptions); (3) has a close family member who during the past three years was an executive officer of the Company; (4) has been a principal, or has a close family member who was a principal, of any organization to which the Company made or from which it received payments, in any of the past three years, that exceeded the greater of $200,000 or 5% of the annual consolidated gross revenues of the other entity; (5) has been an executive officer of any other entity, or has a close family member who was an executive officer of any other entity, where any of the Company’s executives serves on that other entity’s compensation committee; or (6) has been, or had a family member who was, a partner or employee of the Company’s independent auditor at any time during the last three years.
In determining whether a director or nominee for director is independent, the Board considers all relevant facts and circumstances and may consider a director or nominee not to be independent even if none of the disqualifying factors listed above applies. However, if any of the above disqualifying factors apply, a director or nominee will not be considered independent. The Board currently consists of five directors, all of whom are independent except for Mr. Brooks.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among our executive officers and directors.
Board Leadership Structure
Our governance documents provide the Board with flexibility to select the appropriate leadership structure for the Company.
The Company’s policy is to have the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer split. Todd Brooks serves as Chief Executive Officer and Michael Kelly serves as Chairman of the Board.
Several factors ensure that we have a strong and independent Board. The Audit Committee of our Board is composed entirely of independent directors. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and our Board have assembled a Board comprised of talented and dedicated directors with a wide range of expertise and skills. The Board regularly meets in executive session without management present.
Committees
The Board currently has three standing committees: the Audit Committee; the Compensation Committee; and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each of these committees has a charter. These charters are available on the Company’s website at:
www.falconstor.com/page/545/board-committees.
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Audit Committee
The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Kelly (Chair), Rudolph and Miller. The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board to assist the Board in monitoring (i) the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, (ii) the qualifications and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm engaged to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements, (iii) the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent auditors, (iv) the integrity of management and information systems and internal controls, and (v) the compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements.
Each member of the Audit Committee is required to be “independent” as defined in the NASDAQ Standards and in Section 301 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”) and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act. The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” under these standards. In addition, the Board has determined that, as required by the NASDAQ Standards, each member of the Audit Committee was able to read and to understand financial statements at the time of his appointment to the Audit Committee.
The Board has further determined that Mr. Kelly meets the definition of “audit committee financial expert,” and therefore meets comparable NASDAQ Standard requirements, because he has an understanding of financial statements and GAAP; has the ability to assess GAAP in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals, and reserves; has experience in analyzing and evaluating financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company’s financial statements; has an understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting; and has an understanding of audit committee functions. Mr. Kelly acquired these attributes through education and experience consistent with the requirements of the Act.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee currently consists of Messrs. Hale (Chair), Kelly and Rudolph. The Compensation Committee is appointed by the Board (i) to discharge the responsibilities of the Board relating to compensation of the Company’s executives, and (ii) to administer, and to approve awards under, the Company’s equity-based compensation plans for employees.
At the end of each fiscal year, the Compensation Committee meets to review the performance of executive officers and employee Board members under those programs and award bonuses thereunder. At that time, the Compensation Committee may also adjust base salary levels for executive officers and employee Board members. The Compensation Committee also meets when necessary to administer our stock incentive plan.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Messrs. Hale (Chair), Kelly, Rudolph and Miller. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is appointed by the Board: (i) to identify individuals qualified to become Board members, (ii) to recommend to the Board director candidates for each annual meeting of stockholders or as necessary to fill vacancies and newly created directorships and (iii) to perform a leadership role in shaping the Company’s corporate governance policies, including developing and recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance principles.
MANAGEMENT
Executive Officers of the Company
The following table contains the names, positions and ages of the executive officers of the Company who are not directors.
Name |
| Position |
| Age |
Vincent Sita |
| Chief Financial Officer |
| 52 |
Vincent Sita is the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Sita, brings more than 20 years of finance and business experience. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Sita served as Vice President Finance & Administration at Ricova from January 2021 to February 2022. Prior to joining Ricova, Mr. Sita served as Chief Financial Officer of Rudsak from October 2018 to September 2020, provided business consulting services as the Principal of Alucria Consulting Inc. from August 2018 to February 2019, and served as Vice President Finance North America at ACN from April 2015 to July 2018. Before that, Mr. Sita served in consulting, office and executive finance roles for ACN Canada, iProsum Management Consulting, Bell Canada, Bell Conferencing Inc. and Bell Canada Enterprises. He holds an MBA degree from Universite du Quebec in Montreal and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University. Mr. Sita was appointed as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer on February 11, 2022, in connection with which the Company entered into the Sita Agreement (as defined and described in Item 11 below).
Code of Ethics
The Company adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to the Company’s principal executive, financial and accounting officers. The Code of Ethics is available at: http://www.falconstor.com/page/543/Code-of-ethics. The information on the Company’s website or linked to or from the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference into, and does not constitute a part of, this report or any other documents the Company files with, or furnishes to, the SEC.
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Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Based upon a review of Forms 3, 4, and 5, and amendments thereto furnished to the Company during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the Company is not aware of any director, officer, or beneficial owner of more than 10 percent of any class of Company equities who failed to file on a timely basis any reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This section discusses the compensation for our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer (each a “Named Executive Officer” or “NEO”). We had no other Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth certain compensation paid or accrued during the Company’s past two fiscal years for the Company’s (i) President and Chief Executive Officer, and (ii) Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. “All Other Compensation” below consists of certain tax benefits paid by the Company on behalf of the NEOs.
Name |
| Year |
| Salary |
|
| Bonus |
|
| Stock Awards |
|
| Option Awards |
|
| All Other Compensation |
|
| Total |
| ||||||
Todd Brooks |
| 2022 |
| $ | 350,000 |
|
| $ | 17,500 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 367,500 |
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President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
| 2021 |
| $ | 350,000 |
|
| $ | 110,900 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 460,900 |
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Vincent Sita (1) |
| 2022 |
| $ | 240,000 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 146,067 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 386,067 |
|
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
| 2021 |
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
(1) On February 11, 2022, the Company granted 56,615 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Sita. The restricted stock vests as follows: 2.5% of the shares vested immediately upon grant on February 11, 2022, the grant date; 2.5% of the shares vested on the first anniversary of the grant date; 2.5% of the shares shall vest on the second anniversary of the grant date; 2.5% of the shares shall vest on the third anniversary of the grant date; 45% of the shares shall vest upon preferred investors receiving cash proceeds in return on their invested capital in the Company; and 45% of the shares shall vest upon a change of control of the Company. The dollar amounts in the table represent the total grant date fair value of the 56,615 shares granted in 2022 in accordance with the authoritative guidance issued by the FASB on stock compensation.
Narrative Discussion to Summary Compensation Table
Todd Brooks
In connection with Mr. Brooks’ appointment as Chief Executive Officer, the Board approved an offer letter to Mr. Brooks (the “Brooks Offer Letter”), which was executed on August 14, 2017. The Brooks Offer Letter provides that Mr. Brooks is entitled to receive an annualized base salary of $350,000, payable in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices. Mr. Brooks will also be eligible for a cash bonus of $17,500 for any quarter that is free cash flow positive on an operating basis and additional incentive compensation of an annual bonus of up to $200,000, subject to attainment of performance objectives to be mutually agreed upon and established.
Mr. Brooks’ employment can be terminated at will. If Mr. Brooks’ employment is terminated by the Company other than for cause, he is entitled to receive severance equal to twelve months of his base salary if (i) he has been employed by the Company for at least twelve months at the time of termination or (ii) a change of control has occurred within six months of Mr. Brooks’ employment. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, Mr. Brooks is entitled to receive severance equal to six months of his base salary if he has been employed by the Company for less than six months and his employment was terminated by the Company without cause. Mr. Brooks is also entitled to vacation and other employee benefits in accordance with the Company’s policies as well as reimbursement for an apartment.
Vincent Sita
In connection with Mr. Sita’s appointment as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, the Board approved an Independent Contractor Services Agreement with Alucria Consulting, Inc. (“Alucria”), an entity owned by Mr. Sita (the “Sita Agreement”), which was executed on February 11, 2022. The Sita Agreement provides that Alucria is entitled to receive a fee of $20,000 per month. Alucria will also be eligible for an additional payment of up to $60,000 annually, based upon the achievement of goals determined by the Company, to be paid quarterly in accordance with standard Company policies. Mr. Sita also received a grant of shares of the Company’s common stock, to be governed by the Company’s 2018 Stock Incentive Plan and subject to specific vesting conditions.
The term of the Sita Agreement shall expire on July 1, 2023, unless earlier terminated by either party in accordance with the terms of the Sita Agreement. Company or Contractor may terminate this Agreement with or without cause upon 30 days prior written notice to Contractor or Company, as applicable. For purposes of this Agreement, Cause shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following by Contractor: (i) willful and repeated failure to perform duties or contravention in any material respect of specific written lawful directions related to a material duty or responsibility under the Agreement; (ii) conviction of guilty or nolo contendere plea to, a misdemeanor which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company or any felony; (iii) commission of an act, or a failure to act, that constitutes fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct (including without limitation, embezzlement, misappropriation or breach of fiduciary duty resulting or intending to result in personal gain at the expense of the Company); and (iv) violation of any applicable laws, rules or regulations or failure to comply with the ongoing confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition obligations to the Company, corporate code of business conduct or other material policies of the Company in connection with or during performance of his duties to the Company that could, in the Company’s opinion, cause material injury to the Company. The Sita Agreement automatically renews for additional one year terms at the expiration of each term unless terminated pursuant to the terms set forth therein.
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End 2022
The following table sets forth equity awards for each NEO outstanding as of December 31, 2022:
Name |
| Equity incentive plan awards: Number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested (#) |
|
| Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested ($) |
| ||
Todd Brooks |
|
| 662,376 |
| (1) | $ | 543,148 |
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Vincent Sita |
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| 55,200 |
| (2) | $ | 45,264 |
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Payments Upon Severance or Change in Control
Report on Repricing of Options.
None of the stock options granted under any of the Company’s plans were repriced in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The Company currently does not have any equity compensation plans not approved by security holders.
Plan Category |
| Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options and restricted stock (1)(a) |
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| Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options and restricted stock (1)(b) |
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| Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities refeleted in column (a)(1)(c) |
| |||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders - restricted stock |
|
| 1,316,933 |
|
| $ | — |
|
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| 241,899 |
|
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Equity compensation plans approved by security holders - stock options |
|
| 4,615 |
|
| $ | 98.29 |
|
|
| — |
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(1) As of December 31, 2022 we had 241,899 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our stock plans with respect to options and warrants (or restricted stock or restricted stock units) that have not been granted. See Note (10) Share-Based Payment Arrangements to our consolidated financial statements for further information.
Director Compensation
Directors who are also employees receive no compensation for serving on the Company’s Board. Non-employee directors are reimbursed for all travel and other expenses incurred in connection with attending Board and Committee meetings.
Messrs. Hale, Kelly, Miller and Rudolph received $12,125, $17,475, $10,975, and $12,100 in directors’ fees, respectively, in connection with their service as a director in 2022. Messrs. Hale, Kelly, Miller and Rudolph are entitled to $48,500, $69,900, $43,775 and $48,400 in the aggregate in connection with their service as a director in 2022, with such cash compensation including a retainer for all directors plus additional amounts based on service on Board committees, and additional amounts payable to Mr. Kelly for serving as Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Audit Committee, but the Board decided to withhold such additional cash payments until a later date that will be determined by the Board. Based on this compensation plan and assuming continued service as a director in 2023 (including the fees from serving on a committee), Messrs. Hale, Kelly, Miller and Rudolph are entitled to quarterly fees of $12,125 (or $48,500 annually), $17,475 (or $69,900 annually), $10,975 (or $43,900 annually) and $12,100 (or $48,400 annually), respectively. Messrs. Miller and Rudolph received grants of 73,600 shares of restricted stock each on September 30, 2020 and Mr. Kelly received a grant of 44,158 shares of restricted stock on January 16, 2020 and 73,600 shares of restricted stock on September 30, 2020. The restricted shares that were granted on September 30, 2020 vest as follows: 2.5% of the shares vested on September 30, 2021; 2.5% of the shares vested on September 30, 2022; 2.5% of the shares shall vest on September 30, 2023; 2.5% of the shares shall vest on September 30, 2024; 45% of the shares shall vest upon preferred investors receiving cash proceeds in return on their invested capital in the Company; and 45% of the shares shall vest upon a change of control of the Company. The restricted
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shares that were granted on January 16, 2020 vest as follows: 2.5% of the shares vested immediately upon grant; 2.5% of the shares vested on May 31, 2020; 2.5% of the shares vested on May 31, 2021; 2.5% of the shares vested on May 31, 2022; 45% of the shares shall vest upon preferred investors receiving cash proceeds in return on their invested capital in the Company; and 45% of the shares shall vest upon a change of control of the Company.
2022 Management Incentive Plan
For 2022, management is eligible to earn quarterly bonuses based on achieving targeted cash flow, billings, and retention results which exceed defined minimums.
For 2022, Mr. Brooks received a $17,500 bonus and Mr. Sita did not receive a bonus in connection with the 2022 Management Incentive Plan.
2023 Management Incentive Plan
For 2023, management is eligible to earn quarterly bonuses based on achieving targeted net working capital cash balance, renewal rate, billings, and other specified criteria which are achieved or exceed defined minimums.
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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information concerning ownership of the Company’s common stock outstanding at March 31, 2023, by (i) each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of its common stock, (ii) each director and nominee for director, (iii) each of the Named Executive Officers identified in the summary compensation table, and (iv) all directors, nominees for director and executive officers of the Company as a group.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) |
| Shares Beneficially Owned |
|
| Percentage of Class (2) | |
Martin Hale, Hale Fund Management, LLC |
|
| 3,653,377 |
|
| 50.9% |
Nantahala Capital Management, LLC (4) |
|
| 638,151 |
|
| 8.9% |
ESW Capital, LLC (5) |
|
| 1,308,068 |
|
| 18.3% |
Bard Associates (6) |
|
| 531,190 |
|
| 7.5% |
Michael P. Kelly (7) |
|
| 17,011 |
|
| * |
Barry Rudolph (8) |
|
| 16,956 |
|
| * |
William Miller (9) |
|
| 8,449 |
|
| * |
Todd Brooks (10) |
|
| 87,146 |
|
| 1.2% |
Vincent Sita (11) |
|
| 2,830 |
|
| * |
All Directors, Nominees for Director and Executive Officers as a Group (12) (6 persons) |
|
| 3,785,769 |
|
| 52.8% |
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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The Company’s Board has recognized that related party transactions present a heightened risk of conflicts of interest and/or improper valuation (or the perception thereof). The Board therefore adopted a policy to be followed in connection with all related party transactions involving the Company.
Under the policy, any “Related Party Transaction” shall be consummated or shall continue only if:
For purposes of the policy, a “Related Party” is:
For purposes of the policy, a “Related Party Transaction” is a transaction between the Company and any Related Party (including any transactions requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act), other than:
The Board determined that the Audit Committee of the Board is best suited to review and approve Related Party Transactions. Accordingly, at each calendar year’s first regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting, management recommends Related Party Transactions to be entered into by the Company for that calendar year, including the proposed aggregate value of such transactions if applicable. After review, the Audit Committee approves or disapproves such transactions and at each subsequently scheduled meeting, management updates the Audit Committee as to any material change to those proposed transactions.
In the event management recommends any further Related Party Transactions subsequent to the first calendar year meeting, such transactions may be presented to the Audit Committee for approval or preliminarily entered into by management subject to ratification by the Audit Committee; provided that if ratification is not forthcoming, management shall make all reasonable efforts to cancel or annul such transaction.
The Board recognizes that situations may exist where a significant opportunity may be presented to management or a member of the Board that may equally be available to the Company, either directly or via referral. Before such opportunity may be consummated by a Related Party (other than an otherwise unaffiliated 5% stockholder), such opportunity shall be presented to the Board of the Company for consideration.
All Related Party Transactions are to be disclosed in the Company’s applicable filings as required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Exchange Act and related rules. Furthermore, all Related Party Transactions shall be disclosed to the Audit Committee of the Board and any material Related Party Transaction shall be disclosed to the full Board.
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Management assures that all Related Party Transactions are approved in accordance with any requirements of the Company’s financing agreements. Please see “Item 10. – Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” for a discussion of Director independence.
Related Party Transactions Reviewed During 2021 and 2022
Martin M. Hale, Jr., a member of the Company's Board, is a general partner of HCP-FVA, the holder in excess of 50% of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock was purchased by Hale Capital Partners, LP, of which Mr. Hale is a general partner, pursuant to a September 16, 2013 stock purchase agreement with the Company at a time when Mr. Hale was not a director of the Company. Hale Capital Partners, LP subsequently assigned all of its rights in the Series A Preferred Stock to HCP-FVA. Under the terms of the Certificate of Designations, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled, as a group, to nominate and to elect up to two directors so long as at least 85% of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock is outstanding. HCP-FVA, the sole holder of the Series A Preferred Stock at the time, nominated and elected Mr. Hale in September 2013 and Michael P. Kelly on October 29, 2014, to the Company’s Board of Directors.
As described further in Note (7) Notes Payable, The Company is currently a party to an Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of February 23, 2018, as amended December 27, 2019, by and between the Company and HCP-FVA, LLC (“HCP-FVA”), (the “Amended and Restated Loan Agreement”). In connection with the June Offering, we entered into a letter agreement with Hale Capital Partners, LP (“Hale Capital”), dated June 2, 2021 (the “Loan Extension Letter Agreement”), that provided for an extension of the maturity date on Hale Capital’s portion of the outstanding indebtedness owed under the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement to June 30, 2023. The remaining principal amount outstanding, which was owed to other lenders, was repaid in full. On July 19, 2022, we entered into a letter agreement with Hale Capital (the "Second Loan Extension Letter Agreement"), that provided for a subsequent extension of the maturity date on the outstanding indebtedness owed under the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement from June 30, 2023 to December 31, 2023. The senior secured debt bears interest at prime plus 0.75%. On February 10, 2023, the Company entered into a letter agreement with Hale Capital to further extend the maturity date of the senior secured debt to June 30, 2024.
As described further in Note (8) Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, The holders of our outstanding Series A Preferred Stock have a mandatory redemption right that may be exercised only with the approval of Hale Capital and HCP-FVA. In connection with the June Offering, the effective date of such redemption right was extended from July 30, 2021 to July 30, 2023 pursuant to an amendment to the Certificate of Designations, dated as of June 24, 2021. On July 19, 2022, the Company and Hale Capital entered into a letter agreement pursuant to which Hale Capital agreed not to exercise or to permit the exercise of the mandatory redemption right of the Series A Preferred Stock on or prior to December 31, 2023 unless the redemption is in accordance with Section 8(e)(z) of the Certificate of Designations or in accordance with a Breach Event (as defined in the Certificate of Designations). On February 10, 2023, the Company entered into a letter agreement with Hale Capital to further extend the redemption date of the Series A Preferred Stock to June 30, 2024, as described in Note (19), Subsequent Events.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Fees for services rendered by Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) for the years 2022 and 2021 are as follows:
Audit Fees: Fees billed for professional services rendered by Marcum for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and the reviews of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Form 10-Qs during such fiscal year. These fees also include (i) statutory audits of certain Company subsidiaries, (ii) audit of internal control over financial reporting, required under Section 404 of the Act, and (iii) consent fees.
Audit Related Fees: None.
Tax Fees: Fees billed for tax-related services for certain Company subsidiaries rendered by (i) Marcum in 2022 and 2021 to the Company.
All Other Fees: Fees billed for professional services rendered by Marcum related to comfort reviews for two equity raises
in 2021.
The approximate fees for each category were as follows:
| | Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||
Description | | 2022 |
| | 2021 |
| ||
Audit Fees | | $ | 184,020 |
| | $ | 252,130 |
|
Audit Related Fees | | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
Tax Fees |
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
All Other Fees |
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 59,740 |
|
The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision by Marcum of the services covered by the fees other than the audit fees was compatible with maintaining Marcum’s independence and believes that it was compatible.
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
See accompanying Index to Exhibits.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FalconStor Software, Inc.
By /s/ Todd Brooks
Todd Brooks
President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
Date: May 1, 2023
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
The Index to Exhibits previously filed in the Original Filing remains in effect with the exception of the addition of the following exhibits, filed herewith:
Exhibit
No. Exhibit
31.3* Certification of the Chief Executive Officer
31.4* Certification of the Chief Financial Officer
* Filed herewith.
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