Forum Markets Inc.

04/03/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/03/2026 14:19

Management Change/Compensation (Form 8-K)

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

On April 2, 2026, the Board of Directors of Forum Markets, Incorporated (the "Company"), upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board, approved (a) a one-time initial equity award and a pro-rated 2025 annual award to McAndrew Rudisill, the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Company, and (b) an equity award to John Saunders, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Each award consists 60% of performance stock units ("PSUs") and 40% of restricted stock units ("RSUs") and was granted on April 2, 2026 pursuant to the Company's 2025 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "2025 OIP") and a Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement (for the PSUs) and a Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (for the RSUs). It is anticipated that Mr. Rudisill will be granted a similar annual equity award on the date of each annual meeting of the Company's stockholders beginning with the 2026 annual meeting, subject to review and approval by the Compensation Committee.

In its recommendation to the Board, the Compensation Committee explained its view that it was an important governance and retention matter to grant appropriate equity awards to Mr. Rudisill and Mr. Saunders, to retain and motivate them and to align their interests with the Company's shareholders. In reaching its recommendation about the amount and structure of the awards, the Compensation Committee engaged an independent compensation consultant, reviewed market data provided by the consultant, conferred with outside counsel, and met multiple times as a Committee to discuss the amounts and structure of the awards. The Committee also considered the facts that Mr. Rudisill had received no equity compensation since joining the Company and that he currently holds no unvested equity in the Company (on November 12, 2025, 136,500 shares of restricted common stock were granted to Mr. Rudisill; on December 1, 2025, that grant was rescinded by the Board, with the approval of Mr. Rudisill, effective as of the grant date). In its recommendation to the Board, the Compensation Committee explained that, as a result of these considerations, the members of the Committee unanimously concluded that granting the awards would be in the Company's best interest.

The one-time initial equity award was granted in recognition of Mr. Rudisill's appointment to lead the Company's strategic direction and has a grant date value of $4,285,500, which is two times the $2,142,750 grant date value of the annual equity award that is anticipated will be granted to Mr. Rudisill on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders. The pro-rated 2025 annual award was granted in recognition of Mr. Rudisill's service from August 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025 and has a grant date value of $898,194, which reflects the prorated value of the anticipated annual equity award. The equity award granted to Mr. Saunders has a grant date value of $750,000. The number of shares of the Company's common stock subject to each of the awards was determined by dividing the applicable grant date value by the closing price of a share on the grant date. To the extent that the awards vest, the shares will be delivered to Mr. Rudisill or Mr. Saunders on or promptly following the vesting date.

For each award, the RSUs will vest in one-third installments on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of August 1, 2025 (the start date for both Mr. Rudisill and Mr. Saunders), subject to continued employment through the applicable anniversary, and the PSUs will vest based on the achievement of Company share price hurdles within five years after the grant date, subject to continued employment through the date that the applicable hurdle is achieved (or, if later, the date that the applicable minimum vesting period described below is met). One-third of the PSUs will vest at a share price hurdle of $5.00, an additional one-third of the PSUs will vest at a share price hurdle of $7.50, and the final one-third of the PSUs will vest at a share price hurdle of $10.00. Each share price hurdle will be achieved if the closing price of a share equals or exceeds the applicable hurdle for at least 30 trading days within any consecutive 60 calendar day period. Any PSUs for which the applicable share price hurdle is not met within five years after the grant date will be forfeited. Each tranche of the PSUs is also subject to a minimum vesting period that applies regardless of when the applicable share price hurdle is met, such that, except as described below, the $5.00 tranche may not vest earlier than the first anniversary of the grant date, the $7.50 tranche may not vest earlier than the second anniversary of the grant date, and the $10.00 tranche may not vest earlier than the third anniversary of the grant date.

On termination of Mr. Rudisill's or Mr. Saunders' employment by the Company without "Cause" (as defined in the 2025 OIP) at any time prior to a "Change in Control" (as defined in the 2025 OIP), any unvested RSUs and any PSUs for which the applicable share price hurdles were previously achieved but which have not yet vested will vest, and any PSUs for which the applicable share price hurdles were not previously achieved will be forfeited. On a Change in Control, the share price hurdles for the PSUs will be deemed achieved (to the extent not previously achieved), and following the Change in Control, the RSUs and the PSUs (to the extent not previously vested) will continue to vest on their existing schedules, with vesting accelerating if Mr. Rudisill's or Mr. Saunder's employment is subsequently terminated by the Company without Cause or by him for "Good Reason" (as defined in the 2025 OIP).

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