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PART
III
ITEM
10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
INFORMATION
REGARDING DIRECTORS
The
following sets forth information regarding the Company’s current directors (the “Board of Directors” or “Board”),
including information regarding their principal occupations currently and for the preceding five years, as well as discussion
of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that such person should serve as
director of the Company. There are no family relationships between any director or executive
officer.
Marilyn
Adler, age 57, has served on our Board of Directors since March 2022. Ms. Adler is a founder of Mizzen Capital, a private
credit fund, and has been a Managing Partner there since March 2019. Prior to launching Mizzen Capital, Ms. Adler held senior
management roles with several Small Business Investment Company (“SBIC”) funds, including Medley SBIC LP from September
2012 to March 2019, Sunrise Equity Partners LP from September 2003 to September 2012 and Hudson Venture Partners LP from 1997
to 2002. Prior to that, she worked at Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association, a Fortune 100 financial services organization,
in the fixed income group from September 1991 to June 1994 and at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, an investment bank, from September
1987 to June 1989. Ms. Adler was also a Board Member of the Small Business Investor Alliance from 2014 to 2019. Ms. Adler earned
an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1991 and a B.S. with distinction from Cornell University in
1987. We believe that Ms. Adler is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to her business and management experience.
Thomas
J. Holland, age 60, has served on our Board of Directors since March 2022. Mr. Holland is currently the Chief Operating Officer
of Homebound Inc., a California-based housing company, and has been in such role since November 2021. He was previously a partner
at Bain & Company, Inc., a management consulting firm, (“Bain & Company”) from September 2018 to November
2021. From December 2016 to December 2017, Mr. Holland was the CEO of Century Snacks, LLC, a California-based food manufacturing
company. From March 2014 to December 2015, Mr. Holland served as the President of SunRun Inc., a provider of residential solar
panels and home batteries (“SunRun”), and he was the Chief Operating Officer of SunRun from August 2013 to March 2014.
Prior to that, he was a partner at Bain & Company from December 1989 to July 2013. Mr. Holland holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering
from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. We believe that Mr. Holland
is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his management experience across a variety of industries.
Scott
Honour, age 56, has served on our Board of Directors since March 2022. Mr. Honour is
Managing Partner of Northern Pacific Group, a Wayzata, Minnesota based private equity firm, where he has served since 2012. Mr.
Honour also serves as Chairman of Perception Capital Corp. II (Nasdaq: PCCT) and as a director of Appreciate Holdings,
Inc. (Nasdaq: SFR). Within the past five years, Mr. Honour served as a director of Sustainable Opportunities Acquisition Corp.
(Nasdaq: SOAC) and EVO Transportation & Energy Services (OTC: EVOA). From 2002 to 2012, he was Senior Managing Director of
The Gores Group, a Los Angeles based private equity firm with $4 billion of capital under management. Prior to that, Mr. Honour
was a Managing Director at UBS Investment Bank from 2000 to 2002 and an investment banker at DLJ from 1991 to 2000. He began his
career at Trammell Crow Company in 1988. Mr. Honour also co-founded YapStone, Inc. in 1999. Mr. Honour holds a BS in business
administration and a BA in economics from Pepperdine University and an MBA in finance and marketing from the Wharton School of
the University of Pennsylvania. We believe that Mr. Honour is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his business
and board experience.
Roger
H.D. Lacey, age 72, has been a director of Communications Systems, Inc. ("CSI") since 2008 and a director of ours, and our chairman, since the merger of the Company and CSI (the "Merger") in
March 2022. Mr. Lacey served as CSI’s chief executive officer from February 2015 until November 30, 2020, and served as
the executive chairman of CSI’s board of directors beginning in December 2018. He also assumed the additional role of interim
chief executive officer of CSI on August 2, 2021 through March 28, 2022. Mr. Lacey also served as interim chief executive officer
of CSI from June 2014 until February 2015. Mr. Lacey was senior vice president of strategy and corporate development at the 3M
Company from 2009 to his retirement in 2013. He was the 3M Company’s chief strategy officer and head of global mergers and
acquisitions from 2000 to
2013.
Mr. Lacey’s career with 3M began in 1975; from 1989 to 2000 he held various senior positions including serving as division
vice president of 3M Telecom Division. In addition, Mr. Lacey served as a member of the corporate venture capital board for internal
and external new venture investments from 2009 to 2013. In addition, he is a board member of Johnsonville Sausage Corporation,
a leading US food company, and also a Senior Partner in CGMR Capital, a private equity firm, where he is a Board member of WTB,
a private Utilities services company, and Cambek, a leading manufacturer of specialty wood construction products. He was formerly
a member of the board of governors for Opus Business School, University of St. Thomas; a former visiting professor of strategy
and corporate development, Huddersfield University; a founding member of the Innovation Lab at MIT; and is a former vice chair
of Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation. We believe that Mr. Lacey is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his
unique perspective that combines familiarity with key technology markets around the world combined with deep experience in strategic
planning and business development.
Scott
Maskin, age 59, has served on our Board of Directors since November 2022 and as our Senior
Vice President and General Manager, New York Division since November 2022. Mr. Maskin is the co-founder of SUNation Energy,
and served as its chief executive officer since its inception in June 2003 until the Company’s acquisition of SUNation in
November 2022. Previously Mr. Maskin developed nearly 20 years of experience
on electrical and contracting work on commercial and residential properties and has a Master Electrician’s license. We believe
Mr. Maskin is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his extensive experience and knowledge in the industry, particularly
related to solar and battery energy storage systems for residential and small commercial customers.
Randall
D. Sampson, age 64, has been a CSI director since 1999 and a director of ours since the Merger in March 2022. Mr. Sampson
was the Lead Independent Director from December 2018 until the Merger in March 2022. Since 1994 Mr. Sampson has held the positions
of president and chief executive officer, and a board member of Canterbury Park Holding Corporation (“CPHC”). Since
2022 he has also served as Chairman of the Board. CPHC is a public company (Nasdaq: CPHC) based in Shakopee, Minnesota that re-opened
a failed pari-mutuel race track and stimulated the revival of Minnesota’s horse breeding and racing industries. Under his
leadership, the Canterbury Park Racetrack has become a unique, family-friendly venue for live horse races and other entertainment,
as well as pari-mutuel and card club wagering. Before becoming one of the three co-founders of CPHC in 1994, and after graduating
from college with a degree in accounting, Mr. Sampson worked for five years in the audit department of a large public accounting
firm where he earned his CPA certification, subsequently gained experience as a controller of a private company, served as a chief
financial officer of a public company and managed Sampson family interests in horse breeding and training. We believe that Mr.
Sampson is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to the challenging nature of Canterbury Park’s business which
has demanded from its CEO an entrepreneurial mindset, attention to expense control, continuous innovation in marketing, and attention
to the needs of customers.
Kyle
Udseth, age 42, has been a director of ours since March 2022 and our Chief Executive Officer since March 2022. Mr. Udseth
founded Pineapple LLC in 2020 and served as its chief executive officer and on its board of managers since its inception. Prior
to founding Pineapple LLC, Mr. Udseth served in various executive roles at leading national residential solar companies starting
in 2015, such as: vice president of sales at Sungevity from August to November of 2020, senior director of marketing and customer
experience at Sunnova from October of 2018 to August of 2020, and head of customer marketing at Sunrun from August of 2015 to
September of 2018. Mr. Udseth holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Carleton College and an MBA from the Stanford
Graduate School of Business. We believe that Mr. Udseth is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his business experience
and management background.
Michael
R. Zapata, age 45, has served as a director of CSI since June 2020 and a director of ours since the Merger in March 2022.
Mr. Zapata has served as Executive Chairman and President of Schmitt Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMIT) since December 2018, and
as Chief Executive Officer of that company since July 2019. Mr. Zapata is the founder and Managing Member of Sententia Capital
Management, LLC, a value investing focused investment management firm (“Sententia”). Since its inception in 2012,
Sententia has invested in deep value public equities in a concentrated portfolio. Prior to Sententia, Mr. Zapata served nearly 10 years
in the U.S. Navy. During his service from 2001 to 2010, he held various leadership roles during the Global War on Terror. Deploying
to locations including Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula, he brings valuable insight and expertise
in intelligence fusion, operational execution, strategic planning and risk mitigation. He received his B.S. from Texas A&M
University, where he was recognized as a Dougherty Award Recipient. He received his M.B.A. from Columbia University as a student
in the Heilbrunn Center for Value Investing. He serves as a director of Tip of
the
Spear Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting Elite Operators and their families during times of need. We believe that
Mr. Zapata is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his background in, and knowledge of, operational execution and
strategic planning, as well as his familiarity with small public companies and the challenges they face.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS
General
Information
Our
Board is committed to sound and effective corporate governance practices. Our governance policies are consistent with applicable
provisions of the rules of the SEC and the listing standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”). We also periodically
review our governance policies and practices in comparison to those suggested by authorities in corporate governance and the practices
of other public companies. You can access the charter of our Audit and Finance Committee, the charter of our Compensation Committee,
the charter of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Guidelines by following links on the “Investor Relations—Governance”
section of our website at www.pineappleenergy.com.
Meetings
of the Board of Directors
Our
Board of Directors held 15 meetings during 2022. The independent directors regularly hold executive sessions at meetings of our
Board of Directors.
During
2022, each of the directors then in office attended at least 75% of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board of Directors and
all meetings of the committees of the Board of Directors on which such director then served. Each of our directors is expected
to make a reasonable effort to attend our annual meetings of shareholders. Of our directors then in office, Messrs. Lacey, Udseth,
Sampson, and Maskin attended the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was held virtually.
Committees
of the Board of Directors
The
Company has three standing committees of the Board of Directors: the Audit and Finance Committee, the Compensation Committee and
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Audit
and Finance Committee
The
members of the Audit and Finance Committee are Randall D. Sampson (Chair), Marilyn S. Adler and Michael R. Zapata. Our
Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit and Finance Committee is independent
under applicable SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards. Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Sampson is an audit
committee financial expert, as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC. Each of the members of our Audit and Finance Committee
meets the requirements for financial literacy and possesses the financial qualifications required under applicable
SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards. The Audit and Finance Committee met 6 times during 2022.
The
Audit and Finance Committee is responsible for the engagement, retention and replacement of the independent registered public
accounting firm, approval of transactions between the Company and a director or executive officer unrelated to service as a director
or officer, approval of non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, oversight of our internal
controls and the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal controls and auditing matters.
Our independent registered public accounting firm reports directly to the Audit and Finance Committee.
The
Audit and Finance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board, a copy of which is available in the “Investor
Relations—Governance” section of our website at www.pineappleenergy.com.
Compensation
Committee
The
members of the Compensation Committee are Thomas J. Holland (Chair), Marilyn S. Adler and
Randall D. Sampson. Our Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent
under applicable SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards. The Compensation Committee met 5 times during 2022.
The
Compensation Committee is responsible for the overall compensation strategy and policies of the Company; reviews and approves
the compensation and other terms of employment of our chief executive officer and other executive officers; oversees the establishment
of performance goals and objectives for our executive officers; administers our incentive compensation plans, including the Company’s
2022 Equity Incentive Plan; considers the adoption of other or additional compensation plans; and provides oversight and final
determinations with respect to our 401(k) plan, employee stock ownership plan and other similar employee benefit plans.
The
Compensation Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board, a copy of which is available in the “Investor
Relations—Governance” section of our website at www.pineappleenergy.com.
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
The
members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Scott M. Honour (Chair)
and Marilyn S. Adler. Our Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
is independent under applicable SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was
established in October 2022 and did not meet during the remainder of 2022.
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for identifying, reviewing and evaluating candidates to serve on
the Board of Directors; evaluating our incumbent directors; recommending candidates to our Board for election to the Board of
Directors; making recommendations to the Board regarding the membership of the committees of the Board; assessing the performance
of the Board; reviewing succession planning of the Chief Executive Officer and other senior executives; and overseeing matters
of corporate governance.
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board, a copy of which is available
in the “Investor Relations—Governance” section of our website at www.pineappleenergy.com.
Director
Nominations
When
evaluating candidates for service as a director, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board take into account
many factors, including relevant experience, integrity, ability to make independent analytical inquiries, stock ownership, understanding
of the Company’s business, relationships and associations related to the Company’s business, personal health and a
willingness to devote adequate time and effort to Board responsibilities in the context of the needs of the Board at that time.
Although
the Board does not have a formal policy regarding diversity, in addition to the factors noted above, the Board seeks individuals
who reflect diversity in background, education, business experience, skills, business relationships and associations and other
factors that will contribute to the Board’s governance of the Company.
The
Board will consider candidates proposed by shareholders and evaluates them using the same criteria as for other candidates. A
shareholder who wishes to recommend a director candidate for consideration by the committee should send the name(s) and appropriate
biographical information regarding the proposed candidate(s) to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee at the Company’s
principal executive office, 10900 Red Circle
Drive, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343. A shareholder who wishes to nominate an individual as a director
for election, rather than recommend the individual to the Board as a candidate, but does not intend to have the nominee included
in our proxy materials, must comply with the advance notice requirements set forth in our Bylaws.
Board
Diversity Matrix (as of April 30, 2023)
The
following chart summarizes certain self-identified characteristics of the directors of the Company utilizing the categories and
terms set forth in applicable Nasdaq rules and related guidance.
Total
Number of Directors |
8 |
|
Female |
Male |
Non-Binary |
Did
Not Disclose Gender |
Part
I: Gender Identity |
Directors |
1 |
7 |
— |
— |
Part
II: Demographic Background |
African
American or Black |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Alaskan
Native or Native American |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Asian |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Hispanic
or Latinx |
— |
1 |
— |
— |
Native
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander |
— |
— |
— |
— |
White |
1 |
6 |
— |
— |
Two
or More Races or Ethnicities |
— |
— |
— |
— |
LGBTQ+ |
— |
Did
Not Disclose Demographic Background |
— |
Board
Leadership
Mr.
Lacey serves as our Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board position is a non-executive position and is separate from
the position of Chief Executive Officer. Separating these positions allows our Chief Executive Officer to focus on our day-to-day
business, while allowing the Chairman of the Board to lead our Board in its fundamental role of providing advice to and independent
oversight of management. Our Board recognizes the time, effort and energy that the Chief Executive Officer is required to devote
to his position in the current business environment, as well as the commitment required to serve as our Chairman, particularly
as the Board’s oversight responsibilities continue to grow. Our Board believes that having separate positions, with a non-executive
director serving as Chairman, is the appropriate leadership structure for our Company at this time and allows each of the positions
to be carried out more effectively than if one person were tasked with both the day-to-day oversight of our business as well as
leadership of our Board.
Board’s
Role in Managing Risk
In
general, management is responsible for the day-to-day management of the risks the Company faces, while the Board, acting as a
whole and through the Audit and Finance Committee, has oversight responsibility for risk management. In its risk oversight role,
the Board has the responsibility to satisfy itself that the risk management processes designed and implemented by management are
adequate and functioning as designed. Members of senior management attend the regular meetings of the Board and are available
to address questions and concerns raised by the Board related to risk management. In addition, the Board regularly discusses with
management, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the internal auditor, identified major risk
exposures, their potential financial impact on the Company, and steps that could be taken to manage these risks.
The
Audit and Finance Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its risk management oversight responsibilities in financial reporting,
internal controls and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit and Finance Committee reviews the Company’s
financial statements and meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and internal auditor at
least four times each year to review their respective reports on the adequacy and effectiveness of our internal audit and internal
control systems, and to discuss policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management.
Code
of Ethics and Business Conduct
The
Company maintains a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (the “Code of Ethics”) applicable to all of the Company’s
officers, directors, employees, and other representatives. A copy of the Code of Ethics is available in the “Investor Relations—Governance”
section of our website at www.pineappleenergy.com. We intend to disclose any
amendments
to our Code of Ethics, or waivers of its requirements granted to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer,
principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions, on our website.
Communications
with the Board of Directors
Any
shareholder who desires to contact our Board of Directors may do so by writing to the Board of Directors, generally, or to an
individual director at Pineapple Energy Inc., 10900 Red Circle Drive, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343. Communications received electronically
or in writing are distributed to the full Board of Directors, a committee or an individual director, as appropriate, depending
on the facts and circumstances described in the communication received. By way of example, a complaint regarding accounting, internal
accounting controls or auditing matters would be forwarded to the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee for review.
Information
Regarding Executive Officers
Set
forth below is biographical and other information for our current executive officers, including their ages as of April 30, 2023.
Information about Kyle Udseth may be found above in this Amendment No. 1 under the heading “Information Regarding Directors.”
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
Kyle
Udseth |
|
42 |
|
Chief
Executive Officer |
Eric
Ingvaldson |
|
42 |
|
Chief
Financial Officer |
Kristin
Hlavka |
|
41 |
|
Corporate
Controller |
Mr.
Ingvaldson was appointed our Chief Financial Officer in October 2022. Previously, he served
as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Kradle, a pet products company, beginning in April 2020. Prior to
that, Mr. Ingvaldson served as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Hemisphere Companies, a private equity
fund, from January 2018 to April 2020. Previously, he held various roles with C.H. Robinson Worldwide, including Director, International
Finance, Manager, Corporate Finance and Manager, Corporate Development, beginning in June 2007. Prior to June 2007, Mr. Ingvaldson
was an auditor for Deloitte & Touche.
Ms.
Hlavka was appointed Corporate Controller of Pineapple Energy in March 2022. Previously, she served as Corporate Controller of
Communications Systems, Inc. from May 2011 to the Merger. Ms. Hlavka
also served as our Interim Chief Financial Officer from August 22, 2022 until October 10, 2022. From July 2008 to April 2011,
she served as the Assistant Corporate Controller of Communications Systems, Inc. Prior to July 2008, she was an auditor for Deloitte
and Touche LLP.
Delinquent
Section 16(a) Reports
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than ten
percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership
on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the SEC.
SEC
regulations require us to identify anyone who filed a required report late during the most recent fiscal year. Based solely on
a review of such reports and written information given to us by our directors and executive officers, we believe that all such
required reports were filed on a timely basis under Section 16(a) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, except for two
late Form 4s reporting three transactions by Northern Pacific Growth Investment Advisors, LLC (of which Scott Honour is a Managing
Director), filed on April 5, 2022 and October 4, 2022.
ITEM
11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Overview
This
section discusses our executive compensation objectives and policies, forms of compensation, and compensation related to services
in 2022 paid to or earned by our named executive officers (the “NEOs”). The NEOs for 2022 were:
| ● | Kyle
Udseth, our Chief Executive Officer beginning March 28, 2022; |
| ● | Roger
H.D. Lacey, who served as our Interim Chief Executive Officer until March 28, 2022; |
| ● | Eric
Ingvaldson, our Chief Financial Officer beginning October 10, 2022; and |
| ● | Kristin
Hlavka, our Corporate Controller, who also served as our Interim Chief Financial Officer
from August 22, 2022 until October 10, 2022. |
Compensation
Objectives and Process
The
Compensation Committee has designed the Company’s executive compensation program with a strategy to facilitate its ability
to attract, retain, reward and motivate a high performing executive team. The Company’s compensation philosophy is based
on a motivational plan to provide pay-for-performance (at both the individual and company levels), to enable the Company’s
executive team to achieve the Company’s objectives successfully.
Our
compensation programs are designed to:
| ● | attract
and retain individuals with superior ability and managerial experience; |
| ● | align
executive officers’ incentives with our corporate strategies, business objectives
and the long-term interests of our shareholders; and |
| ● | increase
the incentive to achieve key strategic performance measures by linking incentive award
opportunities to the achievement of performance objectives and by providing a portion
of total compensation for executive officers in the form of ownership in the Company. |
The
Compensation Committee is primarily responsible for establishing and approving the compensation for all of our executive officers.
The Compensation Committee oversees our compensation and benefit plans and policies, oversees and administers our equity incentive
plans and reviews and approves annually all compensation decisions relating to all of our executive officers, including our Chief
Executive Officer. The Compensation Committee considers recommendations from our Chief Executive Officer regarding the compensation
of our executive officers other than himself. Our Compensation Committee has the authority under its charter to engage the services
of a consulting firm or other outside advisor to assist it in designing our compensation programs and in making compensation decisions.
Compensation
Decisions for 2022
Since
the Merger, the Compensation Committee has focused on evaluating and establishing the goals, objectives and substance of the Company’s
executive compensation plans. The Compensation Committee has taken the following actions related to the components of executive
compensation.
Base
Salary
Mr.
Udseth’s annual base salary of $300,000 was established in connection with his Employment Agreement entered into on February
10, 2021. The Compensation Committee did not make any changes to Mr. Udseth’s base salary in 2022, but effective February
13, 2023, Mr. Udseth voluntarily agreed, and the Compensation Committee approved, a reduction in Mr. Udseth’s annual base
salary to $255,000, in order to assist with the reduction of corporate overhead.
In
connection with Mr. Ingvaldson’s appointment as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, the Compensation Committee
approved an annual base salary of $250,000 for Mr. Ingvaldson, based on the Committee’s
review of market salaries for similar positions.
Ms.
Hlavka’s annual base salary was established subsequent to the Merger at $185,000. During the time in 2022 when Ms. Hlavka
served as our Interim Chief Financial Officer, her annual base salary was increased to $225,000.
Annual
Cash Incentive Program
In
September 2022, the Compensation Committee approved performance metrics for the 2022 annual cash incentive program for the Company’s
employees, including executive officers (the “2022 MIP”). The metrics consist of the 2022 EBITDA of the Company’s
Hawaii Energy Connection business (the “HEC Metric”) and an acquisition-related metric (the “Acquisition Metric”),
which are weighted equally at 50% each. Participants have the ability to earn between 50% of target for achieving threshold performance
and 150% of target for achieving maximum performance for the EBITDA metric.
On
March 7, 2023, the Compensation Committee determined the degree to which the HEC Metric and the Acquisition Metric goals were
attained under the 2022 MIP, and the resulting payout level relative to the target amount for each metric. For 2022, the degree
to which the HEC Metric goal was achieved was less than target, and therefore no bonus payout amount was approved under
the HEC Metric. The Compensation Committee determined that as a result of the SUNation acquisition, the degree to which the Acquisition
Metric goal was achieved was such as to warrant payment of 100% of the target bonus amount under the Acquisition Metric.
The
Compensation Committee then applied the weightings applicable to each of the HEC Metric (50%) and the Acquisition Metric (50%)
as provided for under the 2022 MIP, resulting in a weighted payout percentage of 50% of the total target dollar amount under the
2022 MIP.
The
Compensation Committee did not exercise any discretion to increase or decrease the amounts payable pursuant to the 2022 MIP as
calculated pursuant to the terms as described above. As a result, based on the results as applied to the 2022 MIP as described
above, the Compensation Committee’s approval resulted in the payment of the following amounts to our NEOs under the MIP
for 2022, following the application of any proration based on employment start date:
Name |
|
|
Target
MIP as a Percentage of Base Salary |
|
|
Target
MIP Dollar Amount
($) |
|
|
Actual
MIP Payout
($) |
|
Kyle
Udseth |
|
|
|
50% |
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
Eric
Ingvaldson |
|
|
|
40% |
|
|
|
22,466 |
|
|
|
11,233 |
|
Kristin
Hlavka |
|
|
|
30% |
|
|
|
60,132 |
|
|
|
30,066 |
|
Equity
Awards
A
key component of an executive officer’s compensation is equity incentive awards, which are critical to focusing our executives
on the Company’s long-term growth and creating shareholder value. In connection with the Merger, the Company’s
shareholders approved the Pineapple Holdings, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Equity Incentive Plan”),
which became effective on March 28, 2022. On December 7, 2022, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the 2022
Equity Incentive Plan that increased the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2022 Equity Incentive
Plan from 750,000 to 1,250,000.
In
September 2022, the Compensation Committee approved equity awards to the Company’s employees, including the executive officers,
consisting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”). On September 20, 2022, (i) Mr. Udseth was granted 227,848
RSUs that vest as follows: 75,949 vest 12 months, 75,949 vest 18 months, and 75,950 vest 30 months from the date of the grant,
subject to continued employment; and (ii) Ms. Hlavka was granted 37,975 RSUs that vest as follows: 5,858 vest 6 months, 6,800
vest 12 months, 12,658 vest 18 months, and 12,659 vest 30 months from the date of the grant, subject to continued employment.
On
October 11, 2022, Mr. Ingvaldson was granted 82,278 RSUs as an inducement grant outside of the Company’s 2022 Equity Incentive
Plan, but the grant is subject to the same terms and conditions as if it was granted under such plan. The RSUs vest in thirds
on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, subject to continued employment.
Other
Compensation
In
addition to participating in Company-wide plans providing health, dental and life insurance on the same basis as all of our other
employees, the NEOs receive other compensation and benefits in various forms, including an annual matching contribution of up
to 50% of each executive’s personal contribution to the Company’s 401(k) Plan up to the first 6% of the personal contribution.
The amount of this other compensation for our NEOs is presented in the column titled “All Other Compensation” under
the “Summary Compensation Table” and the “All Other Compensation Table.”
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
The
following table presents information regarding compensation paid to or earned by our NEOs for the years ended December 31,
2022 and 2021.
Name
and Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
|
Salary
($) |
|
|
Bonus
($) (1) |
|
|
Stock
Awards
($) (2) |
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($) (3) |
All
Other
Compensation
($) (4) |
|
Total
($) |
|
Kyle
J. Udseth |
|
2022 |
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
— |
|
|
455,696 |
|
|
75,000 |
|
6,542 |
|
|
837,238 |
|
Chief
Executive Officer(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric
Ingvaldson |
|
2022 |
|
|
48,077 |
|
|
— |
|
|
411,390 |
|
|
11,233 |
|
— |
|
|
470,700 |
|
Chief
Financial Officer(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kristin
Hlavka |
|
2022 |
|
|
190,370 |
|
|
40,600 |
|
|
75,950 |
|
|
30,066 |
|
8,656 |
|
|
345,642 |
|
Corporate
Controller(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roger
Lacey |
|
2022 |
|
|
68,636 |
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
30,380 |
|
|
— |
|
10,102 |
|
|
189,118 |
|
Former
Interim Chief |
|
2021 |
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
48,911 |
|
975,956 |
|
|
1,144,867 |
|
Executive
Officer(7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (1) | For
Mr. Lacey and Ms. Hlavka, reflects a transaction bonus of $80,000 and $40,600, respectively,
paid in connection with the closing of the Merger. |
| (2) | Reflects
the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 for
stock awards granted during the reported fiscal year. For additional information
regarding the assumptions we used to calculate the amounts in this column, please refer
to Note 13 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2022 Annual
Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. |
| (3) | Represents
amounts earned under the applicable plan for the year indicated. See “Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation Table” below. |
| (4) | See
“All Other Compensation Table” below. |
| (5) | None
of Messrs. Udseth or Ingvaldson nor Ms. Hlavka were NEOs in 2021. |
| (6) | Mr.
Lacey served as our Interim Chief Executive Officer from August 1, 2021 through March
28, 2022. For 2022, (a) the amount shown in the “Salary” column includes
$34,886 in salary as Interim CEO and $33,750 in fees received in his role as a director;
and (b) the full amount in the “Stock Awards” column represents RSUs he received
in 2022 in connection with his service as a director, not in his role as Interim CEO. |
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation Table
The
following table provides a breakdown of information under the column “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” in the
preceding Summary Compensation Table.
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term
Plans |
|
|
Long-term
Plans |
|
|
Total |
Name |
|
|
Year |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
|
|
($) |
Kyle
Udseth |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric
Ingvaldson |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
11,233 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
11,233 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kristin
Hlavka |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
30,066 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
30,066 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roger
Lacey |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
48,911 |
|
|
|
48,911 |
All
Other Compensation Table
The
following table provides a breakdown of information under the column “All Other Compensation” above.
Name |
|
Year |
|
Non-Elective
Contributions to Defined Contribution
Plan
($) |
|
Acceleration
of
Stock Options
and Restricted
Stock Units(1)
($) |
Other
($) |
Total
($) |
Kyle
Udseth |
|
2022 |
|
|
6,542 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
6,542 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric
Ingvaldson |
|
2022 |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kristin
Hlavka |
|
2022 |
|
|
5,656 |
|
— |
|
3,000 |
|
8,656 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roger
Lacey |
|
2022 |
|
|
3,640 |
|
— |
|
6,462 |
|
10,102 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
5,843 |
|
938,363 |
|
31,750 |
|
975,956 |
| (1) | The
amounts reported in this column represent the value of acceleration in connection with
the closing of the E&S Sale Transaction of stock options and RSUs outstanding to
our NEOs under the 2011 Plan. The value of the unvested equity awards that would accelerate
in connection with the closing of the E&S Sale Transaction is calculated as follows:
(a) in the case of a CSI stock option, the product of (i) the excess, if any, of $7.15
(the value of a share of CSI’s common stock on the closing date) over the exercise
price per share of such stock option, multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of common
stock subject to the unvested portion of such stock option; and (b) in the case of CSI
RSU awards, the value of a share of the Company’s common stock ($7.15) multiplied
by the number of shares of common stock subject to the RSU award. |
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The
following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2022 concerning outstanding equity awards held as of such date
by our NEOs:
|
|
Stock
Awards |
Name |
|
Number
of shares or
units of stock that
have not vested (#) |
|
Market
value
of shares or units of stock that have not vested ($)(1) |
Kyle
Udseth |
|
227,848(2) |
|
530,886 |
Eric
Ingvaldson |
|
82,278(3) |
|
191,708 |
Kristin
Hlavka |
|
37,975(4) |
|
88,482 |
Roger
H.D. Lacey |
|
15,190(5) |
|
35,393 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Market value is calculated by multiplying the number of unvested units by $2.33, the closing price of our common stock on December
30, 2022, the last trading date of 2022.
(2)
RSUs vest as follows: 75,949 vest 12 months, 75,949 vest 18 months, and 75,950 vest 30 months
from September 20, 2022, the date of grant.
(3)
RSUs vest in thirds on each of October 11, 2023, October 11, 2024 and October 11, 2025.
(4)
RSUs vest RSUs vest as follows: 5,858 vest
6 months, 6,800 vest 12 months, 12,658 vest 18 months, and 12,659 vest 30 months from September 20, 2022, the date of grant.
(5)
RSUs vest as follows: 2,344 vest 6 months and 12,846 vest 12 months from September 20, 2022, the date of grant.
EMPLOYMENT,
TERMINATION AND CHANGE IN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
Employment
Agreements
On
December 5, 2022, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with each of Mr. Udseth and Mr. Ingvaldson. Mr. Udseth’s
Employment Agreement provides for, among other things, an annual base salary of $300,000; however, as noted above,
effective February 13, 2023, Mr. Udseth voluntarily agreed, and the Compensation Committee approved, a reduction in Mr. Udseth’s
annual base salary to $255,000. Mr. Udseth’s Employment Agreement also provides for his participation in the Company’s
employee bonus program with a potential bonus opportunity of up to 50% of his base salary, and Mr. Udseth’s participation
in the Company’s employee benefit plans and programs. Mr. Ingvaldson’s Employment
Agreement provides for, among other things, an annual base salary of $250,000, Mr. Ingvaldson’s participation
in the Company’s employee bonus program with a potential bonus opportunity of up to 40% of his base salary, and Mr. Ingvaldson’s
participation in the Company’s employee benefit plans and programs.
Each
of Mr. Udseth’s and Mr. Ingvaldson’s employment with the Company is at-will and continues until terminated by the
Company or the executive for any reason. Each of the Employment Agreements provides that upon termination of the executive’s
employment, he is entitled to receive any base salary owed through his termination date and reimbursement of reasonable expenses
incurred as of his termination date. If the executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than
Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreements) or disability, or by the executive for Good Reason (as defined in the Employment
Agreements), in each case prior to a Change in Control (as defined in the change in control agreements referenced below), the
executive would also be entitled to receive an amount equal to 50% of his annual base salary at that time, payable in equal installments
over a six-month period.
Each
Employment Agreement contains customary confidentiality provisions. It also provides that, while the executive is employed by
us and for a period of six months thereafter, he will not engage in competitive business, subject to certain exceptions. The Employment
Agreement also provides that, while the executive is employed by us and for a period of one year thereafter, he will not (i) solicit
any customer or business partner of the Company; (ii) take any action intended to, or that has the effect of interfering with
the Company’s relationship with any customer or business partner or otherwise resulting in a customer or business partner
reducing or ceasing their business relationship with the Company; (iii) provide, to any customer with whom the executive had contact
during employment or about whom he had access to confidential information, any products or services that are competitive with
those that were offered by the Company during his employment with the Company; and (iv) directly or indirectly approach, solicit,
entice, hire or attempt to approach, solicit entice or hire any employee of the Company to leave the employment of the Company.
Mr.
Udseth’s Employment Agreement supersedes and replaces the employment agreement, dated as of February 10, 2021, between Mr.
Udseth and the Company, other than with respect to certain provisions as provided in Mr. Udseth’s Employment Agreement.
Mr. Ingvaldson’s Employment Agreement supersedes and replaces the offer letter, dated as of September 16, 2022, between
Mr. Ingvaldson and the Company.
Change
in Control Agreements
Each
of Mr. Udseth and Mr. Ingvaldson is a party to a change in control agreement, dated December 5, 2022, with the Company. Each of
the change in control agreements provides that if, within 24 months following a Change in
Control, the executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than Cause (as defined in the change
in control agreement), death or disability, or by the executive for Good Reason (as defined in the change in control agreement),
then the Company shall pay the executive an amount equal to one times his annual base salary as of the date of the Change in Control
or his termination date, whichever is greater, payable in a lump sum within 75 days following the termination date. Each of the
change in control agreements also provides that upon such a termination, for a period of 12 months following the termination date,
the executive will receive medical and
dental
insurance and life insurance, substantially in the form and expense to him as received by him on his termination date. Each
of the change in control agreements also provides that the payments made to the executive under the agreement shall be one dollar
less than the amount which would cause all payments to him to be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal
Revenue Code.
2022
Equity Incentive Plan and Award Agreements
Under
the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan and related award agreements:
| ● | if
a participant is terminated for cause or upon conduct that would constitute cause during
any post-termination exercise period, all unexercised option awards and all unvested
portions of any other outstanding awards will be immediately forfeited without consideration; |
| ● | if
a participant’s service is terminated due to his or her death or disability, (i)
all unvested restricted stock units shall vest as of the termination date, (ii) unvested
performance stock units will vest on a pro rata basis, based on the actual performance
in the case of disability and the target performance in the case of death; and (iii)
the currently vested and exercisable portions of option awards may be exercised for a
period of one year after the date of such termination; and |
| ● | upon
termination for any reason other than death, disability or cause, all unvested and unexercisable
portions of any outstanding awards will be immediately forfeited without consideration
and the currently vested and exercisable portions of option awards may be exercised for
a period of three months after the date of such termination; however, if a participant
thereafter dies during such three-month period, the vested and exercisable portions of
the option awards may be exercised for a period of one year after the date of such termination. |
The
2022 Equity Incentive Plan and related award agreements provide that if either of the following occurs: (1) there is a change
in control of our company that involves a corporate transaction, the outstanding awards are continued, assumed or replaced by
the surviving or successor entity, and within 24 months after the corporate transaction a participant’s employment or other
service is involuntarily terminated without cause, or (2) there is a change in control of our company that does not involve a
corporate transaction and within 24 months after the change in control a participant’s employment or other service is involuntarily
terminated without cause, then (i) each of the participant’s outstanding options will become fully vested and exercisable
and will remain exercisable for one year, and (ii) each of the participant’s unvested full value awards will fully vest.
To the extent vesting of any award continued, assumed or replaced is subject to satisfaction of specified performance goals, the number
of units that would vest will be equal to (A) if the accelerated vesting event occurs before the last day of the performance
period, the target number of units, prorated based on the period of time during the performance period prior to the termination,
or (B) if the accelerated vesting event occurs on or after the last day of the performance period, the number of units will
be determined based on the actual level of achievement of the performance goals.
The
2022 Equity Incentive Plan and related award agreements also provide that if any outstanding award is not continued, assumed or
replaced in connection with a change in control involving a corporate transaction, then (i) all outstanding options and SARs will
become fully vested and exercisable for a period of time prior to the effective time of the corporate transaction and will then
terminate at the effective time of the corporate transaction, and (ii) all full value awards will fully vest. For these purposes,
for a performance-based award, the number of units that would vest will be equal to (A) if the accelerated vesting event
occurs before the last day of the performance period, the target number of units, prorated based on the period of time during
the performance period prior to the corporate transaction, or (B) if the accelerated vesting event occurs on or after the
last day of the performance period, the number of units will be determined based on the actual level of achievement of the
performance goals set forth in the agreement. Alternatively, if outstanding awards are not continued, assumed or replaced, the
Compensation Committee may elect to cancel such awards at or immediately prior to the effective time of the corporate transaction
in exchange for a payment with respect to each award in an amount equal to the excess, if any, between the fair market value of
the consideration that would otherwise be received in the corporate transaction for the same number of shares over the aggregate
exercise price (if any) for the shares subject to such award (or, if there is no excess, such award may be terminated without
payment).
For
purposes of the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
| ● | a
“change in control” generally refers to the acquisition by a person or group
of beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the combined voting power of our voting securities,
our continuing directors ceasing to constitute a majority of the board of directors,
or the consummation of a corporate transaction as defined below (unless immediately following
such corporate transaction all or substantially all of our previous holders of voting
securities beneficially own more than 50% of the combined voting power of the resulting
entity in substantially the same proportions); and |
| ● | a
“corporate transaction” generally means (i) a sale or other disposition of
all or substantially all of our assets, or (ii) a merger, consolidation, share exchange,
or similar transaction involving us, regardless of whether we are the surviving entity. |
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No
member of our Compensation Committee has served as one of our officers or employees at any time. None of our executive officers
serve as a member of the compensation committee of any other company that has an executive officer serving as a member of the
board. None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors of any other company that has an executive
officer serving as a member of our Compensation Committee during the last year.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
Prior
to September 16, 2022, the 2022 compensation of non-employee directors was as follows: (i) each director was paid an annual cash
retainer of $40,000; (ii) the two committee chairs were each paid an additional $7,500 in cash; (iii) each non-chair committee
member was paid an additional $5,000 in cash; and (iv) each director was paid an additional $20,000 as a special payment at the
completion of the Merger
On
September 16, 2022, the Board of Directors approved the following annual compensation to be payable to non-employee directors
of the Board, to be payable on a quarterly basis on the first day, or as soon as practicable after the first day, of each quarter:
| ● | $30,000
cash retainer for all non-employee directors; |
| ● | $7,500
additional cash retainer to each chair of a committee of the Board; |
| ● | $5,000
additional cash retainer for service on each committee of the Board, excluding the chair
of such committee; and |
| ● | $15,000
additional cash retainer to the chair of the Board. |
In
addition, the Board approved an annual grant to each non-employee director of RSUs with a value equal to $36,000. On September
20, 2022, this annual grant was made, with each non-employee director receiving 15,190 RSUs that vest as follows: 2,344 vest 6
months and 12,846 vest 12 months from the date of the grant, subject to continued service.
The
following table sets forth summary information concerning the compensation paid to our directors for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2022. Compensation paid to or earned by Messrs. Udseth and Lacey, who served as directors
and were NEOs during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.
|
Fees
Earned or |
Stock |
All
Other |
|
|
Paid
in Cash (1) |
Awards
(2) |
Compensation
|
Total |
Name
|
($) |
($) |
($) |
($) |
Marilyn
S. Adler |
30,000 |
30,380 |
— |
60,380 |
Thomas
J. Holland |
28,125 |
30,380 |
— |
58,505 |
Scott
M. Honour |
22,500 |
30,380 |
— |
52,880 |
Scott
Maskin(3) |
38,846 |
214,873 |
1,165 |
254,885 |
Richard
A. Primuth |
31,875 |
— |
— |
31,875 |
Randall
D. Sampson |
65,000 |
30,380 |
— |
95,380 |
Steven
C. Webster |
32,500 |
— |
— |
32,500 |
Michael
R. Zapata |
57,500 |
30,380 |
— |
87,880 |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
In
addition to the cash retainers described above, includes a $20,000 one-time special service
payment to each of the Company’s non-employee directors serving immediately prior
to the closing of the Merger, Messrs. Primuth, Sampson, Webster and Zapata.
|
(2) |
Reflects
the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 for stock awards granted during the reported
fiscal year. For additional information regarding the assumptions we used to calculate the amounts in this column,
please refer to Note 13 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2022 Annual Report for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2022. |
(3) |
As
described further below, Mr. Maskin received compensation during 2022 as a non-executive officer employee; he did not receive
any compensation as a member of the Board. The amounts shown in the table reflect $38,846 in salary, $214,873 in
grant date fair value of RSUs granted on November 15, 2023 to him as an employee, and $1,165 in 401(k) match. |
As
of December 31, 2022, each of Messrs. Holland, Honour, Lacey, Sampson and Zapata and Ms. Adler 15,190 RSUs, and Mr. Maskin held
69,091 RSUs.
As
noted above, Mr. Maskin has served as the Company’s Senior Vice President and General
Manager, New York Division since November 2022. Mr. Maskin is a party to an Employment Agreement dated November 9, 2022
with the Company. Under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Maskin’s annual base salary is $245,000 and he is eligible to participate
in the Company’s discretionary employee bonus program beginning January 1, 2023, with a
potential bonus opportunity of up to 35% of his base salary.
The
initial term of Mr. Maskin’s employment is through December 31, 2024 unless terminated earlier or mutually renewed. Mr. Maskin’s
employment is at-will. If Mr. Maskin’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than Cause (as defined in
his Employment Agreement) or disability, or by Mr. Maskin for Good Reason (as defined in his Employment Agreement) during the
term of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Maskin would be entitled to receive an amount equal to 100% of his annual base salary at
that time, payable in equal installments over a 12-month period.
Mr.
Maskin’s Employment Agreement contains customary confidentiality provisions. The Employment Agreement also provides that,
while Mr. Maskin is employed by us and for a period of one year thereafter, he will not (i) engage in competitive business, subject
to certain exceptions; (ii) solicit any customer or business partner of the Company; (iii) take any action intended to, or that
has the effect of interfering with the Company’s relationship with any customer or business partner or otherwise resulting
in a customer or business partner reducing or ceasing their business relationship with the Company; (iv) provide, to any customer
with whom Mr. Maskin had contact during employment or about whom Mr. Maskin had access to confidential information (as defined
in the employment agreement), any products or services that are competitive with those that were offered by the Company during
Mr. Maskin’s employment with the Company; and (v) directly or indirectly approach, solicit, entice, hire or attempt to approach,
solicit entice or hire any employee of the Company to leave the employment of the Company.
ITEM
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Ownership
of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The
following table sets forth ownership of the Company’s common stock by (i) each person known by the Company to own of record
or beneficially 5% or more of the Company’s common stock, (ii) each director of the Company, (iii) each of the Named Executive
Officers of the Company, and (iv) all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group, in each case based upon information
available as of March 31, 2023 (unless otherwise noted). Percentage ownership is based on 9,948,836 shares of our common stock
outstanding as of March 31, 2023. Unless otherwise stated, the address of each person is 10900 Red Circle Drive, Minnetonka, MN
55343.
Name
and Address of Beneficial Owner |
|
Number
of Shares
Beneficially Owned (1) |
Percent
of Outstanding |
Northern
Pacific Growth Investment Advisors, LLC (2)
318 East Lake Street, Suite 301
Wayzata, MN 55391 |
|
1,614,438 |
16.2% |
Hudson
Bay Capital Management LP and Sander Gerber (3)
28 Havemeyer Place, 2nd Floor
Greenwich, CT 06830 |
|
1,045,013 |
10.5% |
Roger
H.D. Lacey |
|
45,369 |
* |
Kyle
Udseth |
|
130,687 |
1.3% |
Marilyn
Adler |
|
2,344 |
* |
Thomas
J. Holland |
|
24,964 |
* |
Scott
M. Honour |
|
2,344 |
* |
Randall
D. Sampson (4) |
|
315,466 |
3.2% |
Michael
R. Zapata |
|
3,116 |
* |
Scott
Maskin (5) |
|
648,300 |
6.5% |
Eric
Ingvaldson |
|
— |
* |
Kristin
Hlavka |
|
12,029 |
* |
All
executive officers and directors as of March 31, 2023 as a group (10 persons) |
|
1,184,619 |
11.9% |
*Less
than one percent
| (1) | Includes
the following number of shares allocated to the accounts of the following participants
in the ESOP, as of March 31, 2023: Mr. Lacey, 1,803 shares; Ms. Hlavka, 2,380 shares;
and all current directors and executive officers as a group, 4,183 shares. |
| (2) | Based
on a Schedule 13D/A filed by Northern Pacific Growth Investment Advisors, LLC on December
16, 2022, reporting sole voting and sole dispositive power over 1,614,438
shares as of December 14, 2022. The reporting person reported that 12,500 shares
of common stock were held directly by the reporting person and the remaining shares of
common stock were held indirectly through Lake Street Solar LLC, of which 301,587 shares
were being held in escrow by a third-party escrow agent, and will be distributed according
to the terms of an escrow agreement. |
| (3) | Based
on a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 10, 2023 by Hudson Bay Capital Management LP (“Hudson
Bay”) and Sander Gerber, that they have shared voting and dispositive power over
1,045,013 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and/or conversion
of shares of convertible preferred stock, subject to a limitation on the reporting persons
beneficially owning more than 9.99% of the |
| | outstanding
shares of our common stock. Hudson Bay serves as the investment manager to Hudson Bay
Master Fund Ltd., in whose name the securities are held. Mr. Gerber serves as the managing
member of Hudson Bay Capital GP LLC, which is the general partner of Hudson Bay; Mr.
Gerber disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities. |
| (4) | Mr.
Sampson has or shares voting and dispositive power over: (i) 12,801 shares of common
stock owned by Mr. Sampson individually; (ii) 6,337 shares of common stock owned jointly
by Mr. Sampson and his spouse; (iii) 95,092 shares of common stock held by the Marian
Arlis Sampson Revocable Trust, of which Mr. Sampson is the sole trustee; (iv) 9,430 shares
of common stock held by the Marian Sampson IRA, of which Mr. Sampson is an attorney-in-fact
authorized to act alone; (v) 170,333 shares of common stock held by Sampson Family Real
Estate Holdings, LLC, of which Mr. Sampson is the sole manager; and (vi) 15,379 shares
of common stock held by the Sampson Family Foundation, a charitable foundation of which
Mr. Sampson is one of five directors. The two officers of the Sampson Family Foundation
have the authority to vote and dispose of the shares of common stock held by the Sampson
Family Foundation. Mr. Sampson is not an officer of the Sampson Family Foundation. Mr.
Sampson disclaims beneficial ownership of all of the shares of common stock except those
shares he holds individually or jointly with his spouse. |
| (5) | Represents (i) 468,300 shares held by Mr. Maskin directly and (ii) 180,000 shares held in an entity over which Mr. Maskin may have or share voting and dispositive power. |
ITEM
13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
SUNation
Acquisition
On
November 9, 2022, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding equity of SUNation
Solar Systems, Inc. and five of its affiliated entities (“SUNation”), directly or indirectly from SUNation’s
owners, which included Scott Maskin and James Brennan (with the other two owners, Scott Sousa and Brian Karp, collectively, the
“Sellers”). Mr. Maskin was appointed a director of the Company and the Senior Vice President and General Manager,
New York Division, of the Company, received 513,300 shares of Company common stock as consideration in the transaction and was
granted an inducement award of 69,091 restricted stock units in connection with his employment with the Company. Mr. Brennan was
appointed Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, of the Company, received 494,007 shares of Company common stock as consideration
in the transaction and was granted an inducement award of 65,455 restricted stock units in connection with his employment with
the Company.
The
terms of Mr. Maskin’s Employment Agreement are set forth above under “Director Compensation.” Pursuant to Mr.
Brennan’s employment agreement, his annual base salary is $235,000 and he is eligible to participate in
the Company’s discretionary employee bonus program beginning January 1, 2023, with a potential bonus opportunity of up to 35%
of his base salary.
The
initial term of Mr. Brennan’s employment is through December 31, 2024 unless terminated earlier or mutually renewed. Mr.
Brennan’s employment is at-will. If Mr. Brennan’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than
Cause (as defined in his Employment Agreement) or disability, or by Mr. Brennan for Good Reason (as defined in his Employment
Agreement) during the term of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Brennan would be entitled to receive an amount equal to 100% of his
annual base salary at that time, payable in equal installments over a 12-month period.
Mr.
Brennan’s Employment Agreement contains customary confidentiality provisions.
The Employment Agreement also provides that, while Mr. Brennan is employed by us
and for a period of one year thereafter, he will not (i) engage in competitive business, subject to certain exceptions; (ii) solicit
any customer or business partner of the Company; (iii) take any action intended to, or that has the effect of interfering with
the Company’s relationship with any customer or business partner or otherwise resulting in a customer or business partner
reducing or ceasing their business relationship with the Company; (iv) provide, to any customer with whom Mr. Brennan
had contact during employment or about whom Mr. Brennan had access to confidential
information (as defined in the Employment Agreement), any products or services that are competitive with those that were offered
by the Company during Mr. Brennan’s employment with the Company; and (v) directly
or indirectly approach, solicit, entice, hire or attempt to approach, solicit entice or hire any employee of the Company to leave
the employment of the Company.
The
Company acquired SUNation from the Sellers for an aggregate purchase price of $18,440,533,
comprised of (a) $2,390,000 in cash consideration paid at closing, (b) the issuance at closing of a $5,000,000 Short-Term
Limited Recourse Secured Promissory Note payable to Messrs. Maskin and Brennan (the
“Short-Term Note”), (c) the issuance at closing of a $5,486,000 Long-Term Promissory Note payable to Messrs.
Maskin and Brennan (the “Long-Term Note”), with a fair value of $4,830,533
at the acquisition date, and (d) the issuance at closing of an aggregate of 1,480,000 shares of Company common stock. The purchase
price also includes potential earn-out payments of up to $5,000,000 in the aggregate based on the percentage of year-over-year
EBITDA growth of the SUNation businesses in 2023 and 2024.
The
Short-Term Note matures on August 9, 2023 and is secured by a pledge by the Company of the equity of the acquired SUNation companies.
It carries an annual interest rate of 4% until the three-month anniversary of issuance, 8% thereafter until the six-month anniversary
of issuance, then 12% thereafter until the Short-Term Note is paid in full. As of April 15, 2023, the full $5.0 million remained
outstanding under the Short-Term Note and the Company had paid an aggregate amount of interest on the Short-Term Note of $49,315.
The
Long-Term Note is unsecured and matures on November 9, 2025. It carries an annual
interest rate of 4% until the first anniversary of issuance, then 8% thereafter until the
Long-Term Note is paid in full. The Company will be required to make a principal payment of $2.5 million on the second anniversary
of the Long-Term Note. As of April 15, 2023, the full $5.5 million remained outstanding
under the Long-Term Note and the Company had paid an aggregate amount of interest on the Long-Term Note of $32,263.
Hercules-Pineapple
LLC Working Capital Loan
On
January 8, 2021, Pineapple LLC and Hercules Capital, Inc. (“Hercules”), as agent for itself and the lenders, entered
into a working capital loan and security agreement (the “WC Loan Agreement”) whereby the lenders agreed to make available
to Pineapple LLC a working capital loan in the original principal amount of $500,000, subject to the terms and conditions in the
WC Loan Agreement, and on December 16, 2021, the parties amended the WC Loan and Security Agreement pursuant to that certain First
Amendment to Working Capital Loan and Security Agreement by and between Pineapple LLC and Hercules. The lenders, Hercules and
Northern Pacific Growth Investment Advisors, LLC (“NPGIA”), made working capital loan commitments of $400,000 and
$100,000, respectively. NPGIA is an affiliate of Northern Pacific Group, which controls Lake Street, a then-member of Pineapple
LLC.
Borrowings
under the WC Loan Agreement bear interest at 10.00% per annum with interest compounded daily. The collateral for the working capital
loan includes, among other things, all assets and all personal property of Pineapple LLC.
Under
the WC Loan Agreement, Hercules is entitled to the highest priority lien on the collateral, including with respect to the payment
of $2,000,000 of accounts payable that are or may be owed to Lake Street and $350,000 of accounts payable that are or may be owed
to Hercules, each of which is subordinate to the payment of Pineapple LLC’s obligations under the LSA. Under the LSA, this
aggregate $2,350,000 in payables to Pineapple LLC’s then-members may only be repaid under certain conditions, including
the requirement that no obligations are outstanding under WC Loan agreement. On December 16, 2021, Hercules and Lake Street entered
into subscription agreements for the issuance of convertible notes in respect of the $2,000,000 and $350,000 in accounts payable,
respectively, which converted into 1,000,000 and 175,000 Pineapple LLC’s Class C Units, respectively, as of immediately
prior to the consummation of the Merger. Each such Class C Unit subsequently converted into one share of the Company’s common
stock upon consummation of the Merger, for a total of 293,750 shares.
The
proceeds of the working capital loan will be used by Pineapple LLC solely to pay related fees and expenses in connection with
the WC Loan Agreement and for general working capital purposes of Pineapple LLC. However, the working capital loan proceeds may
not be paid or distributed to any direct or indirect equity owner of Pineapple LLC, or used to pay all or a portion of (i) any
fees to board members; (ii) payables, fees (including management fees), loans or other amounts due to NPGIA or Northern Pacific
Holdings, LLC or any of their respective officers, directors, members, managers, subsidiaries, or affiliates.
Immediately
prior to the Merger, the $500,000 outstanding loan balance was converted to 250,000 Class C Units of Pineapple LLC, which upon
close of the Merger were converted into 62,500 shares of Company common stock. The entire
working capital loan principal balance and all accrued but unpaid interest is due and payable on December 31, 2022.
General
Scott
Honour, a member of our Board of Directors, is Chief Executive Officer and Managing Member of NPGIA. NPGIA, directly and indirectly
through Lake Street, currently owns approximately 16% of our outstanding common stock.
The
Company’s Board has adopted Governance Guidelines that include provisions with respect to conflicts of interest. These Guidelines
describe a “conflict of interest” as a situation in which a director’s personal interest, including an immediate
family member interest, is adverse to, or may appear to be adverse to, the interests of the Company. The Guidelines provide that
any situation that involves, or may reasonably be expected to involve, a conflict of interest with the Company, must be disclosed
promptly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman, and the Company’s primary legal counsel.
If
the Company wishes to proceed with a transaction involving a potential conflict of interest, the Board would intend to seek prior
approval from the Audit and Finance Committee to ensure the transaction is beneficial to the Company and the terms of the transaction
are fair to the Company.
Executive
Compensation and Employment Arrangements
Information
on compensation arrangements with the Company’s executive officers is described in detail in Part III, Item 11. “Executive
Compensation” in this Amendment No. 1.
DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
Under
the Nasdaq listing standards, a majority of the members of a listed company’s board of directors must qualify as “independent,”
as affirmatively determined by the board of directors. Our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that all of our directors,
except for Messrs. Lacey, Maskin and Udseth, are independent directors within the meaning of the applicable Nasdaq listing standards.
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Services
The
following is a summary of the fees billed to the Company by Baker Tilly for professional services for the years ended December
31, 2022 and 2021.
Fee
Category |
|
2022 |
|
|
2021 |
|
Audit
Fees |
|
$ |
455,844 |
|
|
$ |
288,516 |
|
Audit-Related
Fees |
|
|
89,505 |
|
|
|
31,500 |
|
Tax
Fees |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
All
Other Fees |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total
Fees |
|
$ |
545,349 |
|
|
$ |
320,016 |
|
Audit
Fees. This category consists of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual
financial statements and review of financial statements included in our quarterly reports.
Audit-Related
Fees. This category consists of fees billed for assurance and related services, such as the Company’s employee benefit
plan audits that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements
and are not otherwise reported under “Audit Fees.”
Tax
Fees. This category consists of fees billed for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. Assistance
regarding federal and state tax compliance and acquisitions are provided to the Company by RSM US LLP.
All
Other Fees. All other fees are fees for products and services other than those listed above.
Audit
and Finance Committee Pre-approval Policies and Procedures
In
addition to approving the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s consolidated
financial statements, the policy of the Audit and Finance Committee is to approve all use of the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for non-audit services prior to any such engagement. To minimize relationships that could appear to impair
the objectivity of the independent registered public accounting firm, the policy of the Committee is to restrict the non-audit
services that may be provided to the Company by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm primarily to
tax services, merger and acquisition due diligence and integration services, and any other services that can clearly be designated
as “non-audit” services. All of the services described above for 2022 and 2021 were pre-approved by the Audit and
Finance Committee before Baker Tilly was engaged to render the services.