awards are made at the discretion of the Compensation Committee and are not timed or coordinated with the release of material, non-public information.
In fiscal 2024, we granted 97,014 option shares and 40,024 RSUs to the Company’s CEO, Dr. Askarpour and 64,599 option shares and 67,156 RSUs to the Company’s CFO, Mr. DiGiovanni. 26% of Dr. Askarpour’s fiscal 2024 granted option shares vested immediately upon the date of grant, and the remaining shares vest 25% on an annual basis such that the entire award will be fully vested four years from the date of grant. Dr. Askarpour’s fiscal 2024 granted RSUs vest 25% on an annual basis such that the entire award will be fully vested on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant. Mr. DiGiovanni’s fiscal 2024 option shares granted and RSUs granted vest 25% on the first anniversary of the award date and in equal quarterly installments thereafter, such that 100% of the awards are vested on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant.
To reward Mr. DiGiovanni for his performance during his first year of employment and incentivize him to continue his performance, the Compensation Committee approved an additional award of 31,746 restricted stock units for Mr. DiGiovanni on June 13, 2024, which is included in the aggregate 67,156 RSU’s granted in fiscal 2024 for Mr. DiGiovanni.. The restricted stock units are scheduled to vest 25% on the first anniversary of the award date and in equal quarterly installments thereafter, such that 100% of the RSUs awards are vested on the fourth anniversary date of the RSU’s date of grant.
Neither Relland Winand, the Company’s Interim CFO nor Michael Linacre, the Company’s former CFO received any grants of RSU’s or Stock Options during fiscal 2024. On November 8, 2023, Michael Linacre, the former Chief Financial Officer, notified the Company of his resignation from all of his positions with the Company, effective immediately, which resulted in the forfeiture of 11,503 previously granted non-vested RSUs.
General Benefits
The following are standard benefits offered to all eligible Company employees, including the named executive officers.
Retirement Benefits. The Company maintains a tax-qualified 401(k) savings plan for all eligible employees, including the named executive officers, known as the Innovative Solutions and Support 401(k) Plan (the “Savings Plan”). The Savings Plan is a voluntary contributory plan under which employees may elect to defer compensation for federal income tax purposes under Section 401(k) of the Code. The Company makes a matching contribution to the Savings Plan at one half of each participant’s deferral rate, limited to a maximum contribution of 4% of base salary and subject to limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code.
Medical, Dental, Life Insurance, and Disability Coverage. The Company makes available medical, dental, life insurance, and disability coverage to all active eligible employees, including the named executive officers.
Other Paid Time-Off Benefits. The Company provides vacation and other paid holidays to all employees, including the named executive officers.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
It is the Company’s general philosophy that all of the Company’s employees should be “at will” employees, thereby allowing both the Company and the employee to terminate the employment relationship at any time and without restriction or financial obligation.
However, in certain cases, the Company has determined that, as a retention device and a means to obtain non-compete arrangements, employment agreements or other contractual agreements are appropriate.
On September 6, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to amend its employment agreement dated April 14, 2022 (the “Employment Agreement”) with Shahram Askarpour, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.
The Amendment amends and restates the severance provisions of the Employment Agreement. As amended, if Mr. Askarpour is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or resigns for Good Reason (as defined in the Amendment), Mr. Askarpour will be entitled to (i) payment of his base salary and (ii) payment of COBRA premiums for Mr. Askarpour and his dependents, in each case for 12 months following the date of Mr. Askarpour’s termination or resignation. The Amendment further provides that, in the event that Mr. Askarpour’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or for Good Reason during a period beginning six months prior to, and ending two years following, a Change of Control (as defined in the Employment Agreement), Mr. Askarpour shall receive, in lieu of the severance benefits set forth above, the following benefits from the Company: (i)