springbig Holdings Inc.

01/22/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/22/2025 16:17

Management Change/Compensation (Form 8-K)

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements with Certain Officers.

Lead independent director Marc Shiffman, on behalf of the Board of Directors of SpringBig Holdings, Inc. (the "Board"), is spearheading a comprehensive search to identify, evaluate and recommend qualified candidates to serve as the Company's new Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"). Mr. Shiffman is leading the transition team.

Departure of Chief Executive Officer

On January 22, 2025, SpringBig Holdings, Inc. (and, together with its wholly owned subsidiary SpringBig, Inc., the "Company") reported that Jeffrey Harris has announced his intention to separate from his position as the Company's CEO and an employee of the Company. On January 15, 2025 (the "Execution Date"), the Board and Mr. Harris reached an understanding regarding his decision to separate from the Company. On the Execution Date, the Company and Mr. Harris entered into a Separation and Release of Claims Agreement (the "Harris Separation Agreement") pursuant to which the last day of service for Mr. Harris as the CEO of the Company will be the latest of (a) March 31, 2025, (b) if requested by the Board, the date of the first annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company held after the Execution Date and (c) if requested by the Board, the date of the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the SpringBig Holdings, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (the "Harris Separation Date").

From the Execution Date through the Harris Separation Date, Mr. Harris will be entitled to his current annualized base salary of $450,000. In addition, on the Harris Separation Date, the Company is required to grant Mr. Harris 250,000 restricted stock units pursuant to its 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") subject to vesting on the earlier of the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the Plan) and March 31, 2026. Furthermore, the Company is required to pay Mr. Harris three percent (3%) of all Gaming Revenue (as defined below) for the calendar year 2025 and two percent (2%) of all Gaming Revenue for calendar year 2026 (the "Gaming Commissions"), to be paid quarterly no later than the 15th day of the month following each quarter end. However, Mr. Harris would be required to repay to the Company any Gaming Commissions the Company has paid with respect to Gaming Revenue earned from a customer that has terminated its relationship with the Company prior to the one year anniversary of the commencement of that relationship. "Gaming Revenue" means revenue generated by the Company from messaging tools designed to boost engagement across casinos, skilled gaming and sports betting but does not include revenue generated from leads provided by a member of the Board.

As previously disclosed, Mr. Harris is party to a Nonsolicitation, Nondisclosure and Assignment of Inventions Agreement (the "Harris Nonsolicitation Agreement") and a Noncompetition Agreement (the "Harris Noncompetition Agreement"), each dated as of November 8, 2021. The Harris Separation Agreement provides that both agreements will remain in full force and effect except (i) in both agreements, the Harris Separation Date would be deemed to be the termination of the relationship between the Company and Mr. Harris, (ii) in both agreements, the definition of "Business of the Company" was expanded to cover the gaming industry in addition to the cannabis industry, (iii) in the Harris Nonsolicitation Agreement, the periods of nonsolicitation were extended to 36 months after the Harris Separation Date from 12 months and (iv) in the Harris Noncompetition Agreement, the periods of noncompetition were extended to 36 months after the Harris Separation Date from 12 months.

The Company may terminate the Harris Separation Agreement immediately for Cause (as defined in the Harris Separation Agreement) in which case it would no longer be obligated to make any payments or provide any benefits to Mr. Harris. The Harris Separation Agreement also contains customary provisions relating to, among other things, a release of claims, return of property and non-disparagement.

In addition, Mr. Harris entered into a consulting agreement with the Company on the Execution Date, as set forth in Exhibit D to the Harris Separation Agreement (the "Consulting Agreement"). Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, Mr. Harris will provide the following services to the Company for a twelve-month period commencing on the Harris Separation Date: Mr. Harris will make himself available to the Board and senior management team of the Company to help with questions and issues that may arise, to help with key clients and prospect issues as needed, to help the Company with strategic planning and to be a constructive team player and collaborator to help in the Company's success. As consideration for his services, Mr. Harris will receive a consulting fee of $450,000, payable in eighteen monthly installments of $25,000 each (the "Consulting Fee"). The Company may terminate the Consulting Agreement immediately for Cause (as defined in the Consulting Agreement), in which case it would no longer be obligated to pay the Consulting Fee. The Consulting Agreement also contains customary provisions relating to, among other things, assignment of inventions requirements.