UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-K/A

Amendment No. 1

 

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018

 

[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                      to

 

Castle Brands Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Florida   001-32849   41-2103550

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

122 East 42nd Street, Suite 5000    
New York, New York   10168
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (646) 356-0200

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class   Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common stock, $0.01 par value   NYSE American

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes [  ] No [X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes [  ] No [X]

 

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 [X] No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 229.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [X] No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, 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   [X] Accelerated filer
[  ] Non-accelerated filer   [  ] Smaller reporting company
[  ] Emerging growth company    

 

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 is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes [  ] No [X]

 

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based on the September 30, 2017 closing price was approximately $99,826,917 based on the closing price per share as reported on the NYSE American on such date. The registrant had 168,100,801 shares of common stock outstanding at July 18, 2018.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

None.

 

 

 

 
 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

Castle Brands Inc. is filing this Form 10-K/A (this “Amendment”) to amend its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 14, 2018 (the “Original 10-K”).

 

This Amendment is being filed to amend the Original 10-K to include the information required by Items 10 through 14 of Part III of Form 10-K. Also, this Amendment amends the cover page of the Original 10-K to (i) delete the reference in the Original 10-K to the incorporation by reference of the definitive Proxy Statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and (ii) update the number of outstanding common shares. Item 15 of this report is amended to include an updated exhibit index which includes the certifications specified in Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), required to be filed with this Amendment, and an exhibit that was unintentionally omitted from the exhibit index in the Original 10-K. Except for the addition of the Part III information, the updates to the cover page and the updated exhibit index, no other changes have been made to the Original 10-K. This Amendment does not reflect events occurring after the filing of the Original 10-K or modify or update those disclosures affected by subsequent events.

 

 
 

 

CASTLE BRANDS INC.

FORM 10-K

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
  PART III  
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 3
Item 11. Executive Compensation 7
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 18
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 20
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 23
  PART IV  
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules 24
SIGNATURES 27

 

 2 
 

 

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

Directors

 

We believe that the combination of the various qualifications, skills and experiences of our directors contribute to an effective and well-functioning board and that, individually and as a whole, our directors possess the necessary qualifications to provide effective oversight of our business and quality advice to our management. Listed below are the names, ages and biographies of our current directors. Our directors are elected annually and serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and appointed.

 

Mark E. Andrews, III, 68, our chairman of the board, founded our predecessor company, Great Spirits Company LLC, in 1998 and served as its chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer from its inception until December 2003. Mr. Andrews has served as our chairman of the board since December 2003 and served as our president from December 2003 until November 2005. Mr. Andrews served as our chief executive officer from December 2003 until November 2008. Prior to founding our predecessor, Mr. Andrews founded American Exploration Company, a company engaged in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, in 1980. He oversaw that company becoming publicly traded in 1983 and served as its chairman and chief executive officer until its merger with Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. in October 1997. He also serves as a life trustee of The New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Mr. Andrews’ pertinent experience, qualifications, attributes and skills include financial literacy and expertise, industry experience, managerial experience, and the knowledge and experience he has attained through his service as a director and officer of publicly-traded corporations.

 

John F. Beaudette, 61, has served as a director of our company since January 2004. Since 1995, Mr. Beaudette has been president and chief executive officer of MHW, Ltd., a national beverage alcohol import, distribution and service company located in Manhasset, New York. MHW, Ltd. provides U.S. import and distribution services to wineries, breweries, and distilleries throughout the world. He serves as Vice Chairman of the board of directors of The National Association of Beverage Importers Inc. (NABI). Mr. Beaudette’s pertinent experience, qualifications, attributes and skills include industry expertise, managerial experience and the knowledge and experience he has attained through his service as a director of our company.

 

Henry C. Beinstein, 75, has served as a director of our company since January 2009. He has been a partner of Gagnon Securities, LLC, a broker-dealer and a FINRA member firm, since January 2005 and has been a money manager and an analyst and registered representative of such firm since August 2002. Mr. Beinstein has been a director of Vector Group Ltd., a New York Stock Exchange listed holding company, since March 2004. Vector Group is engaged principally in the tobacco business through its Liggett Group LLC subsidiary and in the real estate and investment business through its New Valley LLC subsidiary. New Valley owns more than 70% of Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC, which operates the largest residential brokerage company in the New York metropolitan area. Since May 2001, Mr. Beinstein has served as a director of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc., a publicly-traded diversified financial services company. Mr. Beinstein is a certified public accountant in New York and previously was a partner and national director of finance and administration at Coopers & Lybrand. Mr. Beinstein’s pertinent experience, qualifications, attributes and skills include financial literacy and expertise, managerial experience and the knowledge and experience he has attained through his service as a director of publicly-traded corporations.

 

 3 
 

 

Phillip Frost, M.D., 81, has served as a director of our company since October 2008 and previously served as a director of our company from September 2005 to August 2007. Since March 2007, he has served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of OPKO Health, Inc., a multi-national biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company. Since July 2006, Dr. Frost has served as the chairman of the board of directors of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. Dr. Frost also serves as a director for CoCrystal Pharma, Inc., a biotechnology company. He also serves as chairman of Temple Emanu-El, as a member of the Florida Council of 100, as a trustee for each of the University of Miami, the Miami Jewish Home for the Aged and the Mount Sinai Medical Center and as a member of the executive committee of the board of trustees of the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. From 1972 to 1990, Dr. Frost was the chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center of Greater Miami, Miami Beach, Florida. Dr. Frost served as a director of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., a pharmaceutical company, from January 2006 until February 2015, served as chairman of the board of directors of Teva from March 2010 until December 2014 and served as vice chairman of the board of directors from January 2006 when Teva acquired IVAX Corporation until March 2010. Dr. Frost was chairman of the board of directors of Key Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 1972 until its acquisition by Schering Plough Corporation in 1986 and served as chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of IVAX from 1987 to January 2006. Dr. Frost previously served as vice chairman of the board of directors of Cogint, Inc., as a director of Continucare Corp. (until its merger with Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc.), PROLOR Biotech, Inc. (until it was acquired by OPKO Health, Inc.), TransEnterix, Inc. (formerly SafeStitch Medical, Inc.), and Sevion Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly Senesco Technologies, Inc.), and as governor and co-vice-chairman of the American Stock Exchange (now NYSE American). Dr. Frost’s pertinent experience, qualifications, attributes and skills include financial literacy and expertise, managerial experience, and the knowledge and experience he has attained through his service as a director and officer of publicly-traded corporations.

 

Dr. Richard M. Krasno, 76, has served as a director of our company since March 2015 and as our lead independent director since May 2018. Dr. Krasno has served as a director of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. since 2006 and has served as its lead director since November 2014. Since October 2016, Dr. Krasno has served as a director of BioCardia, Inc., a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company. Since February 2017, Dr. Krasno has served as a director of OPKO Health, Inc. From 1999 to 2014, he served as the executive director of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust and, from 1999 to 2010, as president of the four affiliated William R. Kenan, Jr. Funds. Prior to joining the Trust, Dr. Krasno was the president of the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. From 2004 to 2012, Dr. Krasno also served as a director of the University of North Carolina Health Care System and served as chairman of the board of directors from 2009 to 2012. From 1981 to 1998, he served as president and chief executive officer of the Institute of International Education in New York. He also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education in Washington, D.C. from 1979 to 1980. Dr. Krasno’s pertinent experience, qualifications, attributes and skills include financial literacy and expertise, managerial experience and the knowledge and experience he has attained through his service as a director of publicly-traded corporations.

 

Richard J. Lampen, 64, has served as our president and chief executive officer and as a director of our company since October 2008. Mr. Lampen has served as executive vice president of Vector Group Ltd. since July 1996. Since September 2006, he has served as president and chief executive officer of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. Mr. Lampen has served as a director of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. since January 2002. Mr. Lampen previously served as chairman of the board of directors of the Financial Services Institute, an advocacy organization for independent broker-dealers and their affiliated independent financial advisors, and currently serves as its immediate past chairman. From January 1997 until January 2014, Mr. Lampen served as a director of SG Blocks, Inc. Mr. Lampen’s pertinent experience, qualifications, attributes and skills include his knowledge and experience in our company attained through his service as a director of our company and as president and chief executive officer since 2008, and his managerial experience and the knowledge and experience he has attained through his service as a director and officer of publicly-traded corporations.

 

Steven D. Rubin, 58, has served as a director of our company since January 2009. Mr. Rubin has served as executive vice president - administration since May 2007 and as a director of OPKO Health, Inc. since February 2007. Mr. Rubin served as the senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of IVAX Corporation from August 2001 until its merger with Teva in January 2006. From May 2016 to October 2016, Mr. Rubin served as interim chief executive officer and interim chief financial officer of Tiger X Medical, Inc., prior to its merger with BioCardia, Inc. Mr. Rubin currently serves on the board of directors of VBI Vaccines, Inc., a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company which develops, produces and markets next generation vaccines to address unmet needs in infectious disease and immunooncology, Kidville, Inc., which operates large, upscale facilities, catering to newborns through five-year-old children and their families and offers a wide range of developmental classes for newborns to five-year-olds, Non-Invasive Monitoring Systems, Inc., a medical device company, Cocrystal Pharma, Inc., Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly Sevion Therapeutics, Inc.), Neovasc, Inc., a company developing and marketing medical specialty vascular devices, and ChromaDex Corp., an innovator of proprietary health, wellness and nutritional ingredients that creates science-based solutions for dietary supplement, food and beverage, skin care, sports nutrition, and pharmaceutical products. Mr. Rubin previously served as a director of Cogint, Inc., Dreams, Inc., a vertically integrated sports licensing and products company, SafeStitch Medical, Inc. prior to its merger with TransEnterix, Inc., SciVac Therapeutics, Inc. prior to its merger with VBI Vaccines, Inc., Tiger X Medical, Inc. prior to its merger with BioCardia, Inc. and PROLOR Biotech, Inc., prior to its acquisition by OPKO in August 2013. Mr. Rubin’s pertinent experience, qualifications, attributes and skills include financial literacy and expertise, legal experience, managerial experience, and the knowledge and experience he has attained through his service as a director and officer of publicly-traded corporations.

 

 4 
 

 

Mark Zeitchick, 53, has served as a director of our company since March 2014. Mr. Zeitchick has been executive vice president of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. since September 2006 and has served as a director of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. since 1999. From August 1999 until December 2003, Mr. Zeitchick served as an executive vice president of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. and from September 2006 until December 2011, Mr. Zeitchick served as president and chief executive officer of its subsidiary Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. Mr. Zeitchick has been a registered representative with Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. since March 2001. Mr. Zeitchick’s pertinent experience, qualifications, attributes and skills include managerial and financial experience and the knowledge and experience he has attained through his service as a director and officer of a publicly-traded corporation.

 

Executive Officers

 

Our executive officers serve until the appointment and qualification of their successors or until their earlier death, resignation or removal by our board of directors. The following table lists the name, age and position of our executive officers:

 

Name   Age   Position
Richard J. Lampen   64   President and Chief Executive Officer
John S. Glover   63   Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
T. Kelley Spillane   55   Senior Vice President - Global Sales
Alfred J. Small   49   Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer & Secretary
Alejandra Peña   51   Senior Vice President - Marketing

 

Listed below are biographical descriptions of our current executive officers. For Mr. Lampen’s information, see the description under “Directors” above.

 

John S. Glover, our executive vice president and chief operating officer, joined us in February 2008. From February 2008 to October 2008, Mr. Glover served as our senior vice president - marketing, since October 2008, he has served as our chief operating officer and since March 2017 he has served as our executive vice president. From June 2006 to February 2008, Mr. Glover served as senior vice president - commercial management of Remy Cointreau USA. From January 2001 to June 2006, Mr. Glover served in various management positions at Remy Cointreau in the United States and France. From January 1999 to January 2001, he was a managing director and chief marketing officer for Bols Royal Distilleries in the Netherlands.

 

T. Kelley Spillane, our senior vice president - global sales, joined us in April 2000. From April 2000 to December 2003, Mr. Spillane served as vice president - sales of Great Spirits Company, and was appointed executive vice president - U.S. sales in December 2003. He has served as our senior vice president - global sales since June 2013. Prior to joining us, Mr. Spillane worked at Carillon Importers Limited, a division of Grand Metropolitan PLC. Carillon developed and launched Absolut Vodka and Bombay Sapphire Gin. At Carillon, Mr. Spillane served as assistant manager for its control states and duty free divisions and was promoted to director of special accounts, focusing on expanding sales in national accounts.

 

Alfred J. Small, our senior vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary joined us in October 2004. Mr. Small has served as our chief financial officer and treasurer since November 2007 and as our secretary since January 2009. He previously served as our vice president-controller from March 2007 until November 2007 and has served as our principal accounting officer since October 2006. Mr. Small is a certified public accountant.

 

 5 
 

 

Alejandra Peña, our senior vice president - marketing, joined us in September 2011. Prior to joining our company, Ms. Peña most recently served as marketing vice president for liqueurs and spirits for Remy Cointreau USA, where she was responsible for the marketing of Cointreau Liqueur and Mount Gay Rum in addition to other brands. Earlier in her career, she was employed with Banfi and served as marketing director of Italian Estate Wines. Ms. Peña started her career as a strategic consultant and is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian.

 

There are no family relationships among any of our directors and executive officers.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of our common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. These reporting persons are also required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To our knowledge, based solely on our review of the copies of these forms furnished to us and representations made to us that no other reports were required, we are not aware of any late or delinquent filings required under Section 16(a) with respect to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018.

 

Code of Business Conduct

 

Our board of directors has adopted a code of business conduct, which applies to all of our directors, executive officers and employees. The code of business conduct sets forth our commitment to conduct our business in accordance with the highest standards of business ethics and to promote the highest standards of honesty and ethical conduct by our directors, executive officers and employees. Our code of business conduct is posted on our investor relations website at http:/investor.castlebrandsinc.com. We intend to post amendments to, or waivers from a provision of, our code of business conduct that apply to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or persons performing similar functions on our website.

 

Shareholder Nominations

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our board of directors.

 

Audit Committee Information

 

Our board of directors has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. Messrs. Beinstein (Chair), Beaudette and Rubin comprise our audit committee. Our board of directors has determined that each member of the audit committee is an independent director and is financially literate as required by the applicable rules of the NYSE American and the SEC. The audit committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

appointing, replacing, overseeing and compensating the work of our independent registered public accounting firm;
reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm our quarterly financial statements and discussing with management our earnings releases;
pre-approving all auditing services and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm;
engaging in a dialogue with our independent registered public accounting firm regarding relationships that may adversely affect the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm and, based on such review, assessing the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

 6 
 

 

providing the audit committee report to be filed with the SEC in our annual proxy statement;
reviewing with our independent registered public accounting firm the adequacy and effectiveness of the internal controls over our financial reporting;
establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, including the confidential anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters;
reviewing and pre-approving related-party transactions;
reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm management’s annual assessment of the effectiveness of the internal controls and our independent registered public accounting firm’s attestation;
appointing or replacing the independent auditor;
reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm the adequacy and effectiveness of our internal controls including any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of our internal controls or material weaknesses and any fraud, whether or not material, that involves our management or other employees who have a significant role in our internal controls and the adequacy and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures; and
reviewing and assessing annually the adequacy of the audit committee charter.

 

Our audit committee charter is posted on our investor relations website at http://investor.castlebrandsinc.com.

 

Financial Expert on Audit Committee

 

Our board of directors has determined that Henry C. Beinstein is our “audit committee financial expert” (as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K) and is an “independent” director under applicable NYSE American rules.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

This “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section discusses the compensation programs and policies for our executive officers and the compensation committee’s role in the design and administration of these programs and policies in making specific compensation decisions for our executive officers, including our “named executive officers.”

 

Our compensation committee has the sole authority and responsibility to review and determine, or recommend to our board of directors for determination, the compensation package of our chief executive officer and each of our other named executive officers, each of whom is identified in the Summary Compensation Table below. Our compensation committee also considers the design and effectiveness of the compensation programs for our other executive officers and approves the final compensation package, employment agreements, and stock awards and option grants for all of our executive officers. Our compensation committee is composed entirely of independent directors who have never served as officers of our company.

 

Our compensation committee may engage outside advisors, experts and others to assist it in determining executive compensation. Our compensation committee engaged GK Partners, Inc. to provide services in connection with its compensation review for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. In particular, GK Partners reviewed the terms of the new employment agreements entered into in April 2017 for our named executive officers (other than Mr. Lampen who does not have an employment agreement with our company). The compensation committee, considering all relevant factors, including those set forth in Rule 10C-1(b)(4)(i) through (vi) under the Exchange Act and applicable NYSE American rules, is not aware of any conflict of interest that has been raised by the work performed by GK Partners. Other than the services for which the compensation committee directly engaged GK Partners, GK Partners provided no services to us for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018.

 

Set forth below is a discussion of the policies and decisions that shape our executive compensation programs, including the specific objectives and elements. Information regarding director compensation is included under the heading “Director Compensation” below.

 

 7 
 

 

General Executive Compensation Objectives and Philosophy

 

The objective of our executive compensation programs is to attract, retain and motivate talented executives who are critical for our continued growth and success and to align the interests of these executives with those of our shareholders. To achieve this objective, in addition to competitive annual base salaries, our executive compensation program utilizes a combination of annual incentives (cash bonuses) and long-term incentives through equity-based compensation. Our compensation committee believes that cash bonuses should reward our named executive officers for their personal performance, as well as our company’s overall business performance, and that equity-based compensation should align the long-term financial interests of our named executive officers with that of our shareholders. Long-term equity-based compensation for our named executive officers is typically subject to time-based vesting over a period of four years. We do not have specific policies for allocating between annual and long-term compensation or between cash and non-cash compensation. Such amounts are determined by our compensation committee on an annual basis as described below.

 

In establishing overall executive compensation levels, our compensation committee considers a number of criteria, including the executive’s scope of responsibilities, his or her prior and current contributions, attainment of individual and overall company performance objectives and key employee retention concerns. Our president and chief executive officer and our compensation committee believe that substantial portions of executive compensation should be linked to the overall performance of our company, and that the contributions of individuals over the course of the relevant performance period toward the goal of building a profitable business and shareholder value should be considered in the determination of each executive’s compensation. We do not use benchmarking against a peer group or otherwise.

 

Generally, our compensation committee reviews and, as appropriate, modifies compensation arrangements for executive officers in the first quarter of each fiscal year, subject to the terms of existing employment agreements with our named executive officers, as discussed below. Annual equity awards, if any, are typically granted in the first quarter of each fiscal year as well. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, except with respect to our president and chief executive officer’s compensation, our compensation committee considered our president and chief executive officer’s executive compensation recommendations, which were presented at the time of our compensation committee’s annual compensation review. In making its management pay determinations, the compensation committee considered the overall performance of each executive and their individual contributions to the growth of our company and its products as well as the company’s overall business performance and achievements. Specifically, the compensation committee considered each executive officer’s contributions to brand growth, operating cash flows, cost management and long-term value creation for our shareholders for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, as well as the retention of our executive officers.

 

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, we granted a $120,000 cash bonus to Mr. Glover; a $77,000 cash bonus to Mr. Spillane; a $77,000 cash bonus to Mr. Small; and a $66,000 cash bonus to Ms. Peña.

 

 8 
 

 

In April 2017, we granted 130,000 restricted shares of common stock to Mr. Glover, 120,000 restricted shares of common stock to Mr. Andrews, 90,000 restricted shares of common stock to each of Mr. Spillane and Mr. Small and 75,000 restricted shares of common stock to Ms. Peña. The foregoing restricted shares vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, subject to certain exceptions. In lieu of a restricted stock grant to Mr. Lampen, in June 2017 Mr. Lampen received a retention award of $400,000, which vests in two equal installments on March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2019. Under the terms of the retention award, Mr. Lampen was required to return 100% of the retention award after taxes if he voluntarily terminated his employment with us or was terminated with “Cause” (as defined in the retention award) prior to March 31, 2018. Mr. Lampen is required to return 50% of the retention award after taxes if he voluntarily terminates his employment with us or is terminated with “Cause” (as defined in the retention award) during the period from April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019. The retention award will be reported in the Summary Compensation Table during the years in which it vests based on his continued service.

 

In April 2018, we granted 130,000 restricted shares of common stock to Mr. Glover, 120,000 restricted shares of common stock to Mr. Andrews, 90,000 restricted shares of common stock to each of Mr. Spillane and Mr. Small and 75,000 restricted shares of common stock to Ms. Peña. The foregoing restricted shares will vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, subject to certain exceptions. In lieu of a restricted stock grant to Mr. Lampen, in May 2018 Mr. Lampen received a retention award of $500,000, which vests in two equal installments on March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020. Under the terms of the retention award, Mr. Lampen is required to return 100% of the retention award after taxes if he voluntarily terminates his employment with us or is terminated with “Cause” (as defined in the retention award) prior to March 31, 2019. Mr. Lampen is required to return 50% of the retention award after taxes if he voluntarily terminates his employment with us or is terminated with “Cause” (as defined in the retention award) during the period from April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020. The retention award will be reported in the Summary Compensation Table during the years in which it vests based on his continued service.

 

Risk Considerations in our Compensation Programs

 

We have reviewed our compensation structures and policies as they pertain to risk and have determined that our compensation programs do not create or encourage the taking of risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our company.

 

Material Tax Implications of Our Compensation Policy

 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, limits the deductibility on our tax return of compensation over $1 million to any of our named executive officers unless, in general, the compensation is paid under a plan which is performance-related, non-discretionary and has been approved by our shareholders. Our compensation committee’s policy with respect to section 162(m) is to make every reasonable effort to ensure that compensation is deductible to the extent permitted while simultaneously providing our executives with appropriate compensation for their performance. We did not pay any compensation during fiscal 2018 that would be subject to the limitations set forth in section 162(m). The exemption from section 162(m)’s deduction limit for performance-based compensation was repealed in December 2017, such that compensation paid to our named executive officers in excess of $1 million will not be deductible unless it qualifies for transition relief.

 

Consideration of Our Most Recent Shareholder Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

 

Last year, at our 2017 Annual Meeting, our shareholders cast an advisory vote on executive compensation, referred to as a “say-on-pay proposal”, as required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act. At the 2017 Annual Meeting, 98% of the total votes cast were in favor of the say-on-pay proposal, and we have considered such approval an endorsement of our executive compensation philosophy and programs. Therefore, our executive compensation philosophy and programs have been confirmed and remain substantially unchanged since last year. The next say-on-pay proposal will be included in the proxy statement for our 2018 Annual Meeting.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

Each of John F. Beaudette, Dr. Richard M. Krasno and Steven D. Rubin served on our compensation committee during fiscal 2018, with Dr. Richard M. Krasno serving as chairman. No member of the compensation committee during fiscal 2018 was an officer, employee or former officer of ours or any of our subsidiaries or had any relationship that would be considered a compensation committee interlock and would require disclosure pursuant to SEC rules and regulations. None of our executive officers served as a member of a compensation committee or a director of another entity under the circumstances requiring disclosure pursuant to SEC rules and regulations.

 

Compensation Committee Report

 

The information contained in this Compensation Committee Report shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any document we file with the SEC, or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to the extent that such report is specifically stated to be incorporated by reference into such document.

 

 9 
 

 

In fulfilling our role, we met and held discussions with the Company’s management and reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this annual report. Based on the review and discussions with management and our business judgment, we recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this annual report and the Company’s proxy statement for filing with the SEC.

 

Submitted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors:

John F. Beaudette

Dr. Richard M. Krasno, Chair

Steven D. Rubin

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table shows the compensation paid to our named executive officers for our 2018, 2017 and 2016 fiscal years.

 

 

Name and Principal Position   Year     Salary     Bonus     Stock Awards (1)     Option Awards (1)     All Other Compensation     Total  
Richard J. Lampen   2018     $ -     $ 200,000 (2)   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 200,000  
President and chief executive   2017       -       -       -       342,000       -       342,000  
officer   2016       -       -       -       550,000       -       550,000  
                                                       
John S. Glover   2018       333,117       120,000       219,414       -       -       672,531  
Executive vice president and   2017       323,415       105,000       -       185,250       -       613,665  
chief operating officer   2016       313,995       100,000       -       275,000       -       688,995  
                                                       
T. Kelley Spillane   2018       320,481       77,000       151,902       -       1,415 (3)     550,798  
Senior vice president - global   2017       311,147       70,000       -       114,000         1,415 (3)     496,562  
sales   2016       302,084       55,000       -       165,000         1,415 (3)     523,499  
                                                       
Alfred J. Small   2018       286,867       77,000       151,902       -       -       515,769  
Senior vice president, chief financial   2017       278,512       70,000       -       114,000       -       462,512  
officer, treasurer & secretary   2016       264,983       65,000       -       165,000       -       494,983  
                                                       
Alejandra Peña   2018       210,058       66,000       126,585       -       -       402,643  
Senior vice president - marketing   2017       203,940       60,000       -       96,900       -       360,840  
    2016       198,000       50,000       -       137,500       -       385,500  

 

(1) Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock granted for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 and the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options granted for each of the two fiscal years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 as determined in accordance with ASC 718 “Compensation - Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”), rather than an amount paid to or realized by the named executive officer. Under SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures relating to service-based or time-based vesting conditions. See note 12 to our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 included in our Original 10-K, regarding the assumptions underlying the valuation of these grants. The ASC 718 amounts from these grants may never be realized by the named executive officer.
(2) Represents $200,000 of the $400,000 in retention awards paid in fiscal 2018, which vested on March 31, 2018.
(3) Represents life insurance premiums paid by us for the benefit of Mr. Spillane.

 

 10 
 

 

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table

 

Material Terms of Named Executive Officers’ Employment Agreements

 

The material terms of Messrs. Glover’s, Spillane’s and Small’s and Ms. Peña’s employment agreements are described in the table below. Mr. Lampen, our president and chief executive officer, does not receive a salary or benefits from us in connection with his service. Instead, we are party to a management services agreement with Vector Group Ltd., a more than 5% shareholder, under which Vector Group Ltd. agreed to make available to us Mr. Lampen’s services. For a discussion of this agreement, see “Item 13 - Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence - Related Party Transactions - Agreement with Vector Group Ltd.”

 

Certain Material Terms of Employment Agreements with Named Executive Officers

 

Named Executive
Officer
  Date of
Agreement
  

Current

Annual

Base

Salary

under the

Agreement (1)

   Performance
Bonus Eligibility (as
Percentage of
Annual Base
Salary)
  

Expiration

Date

of Agreement (2)

  

Duration of

Severance

Payments (3)

 
Richard J. Lampen   -    -    -    -    - 
John S. Glover   4/7/2017   $343,111    0-60%   3/30/2020    24 months 
T. Kelley Spillane   4/7/2017    330,096    0-60%   3/30/2020    24 months 
Alfred J. Small   4/7/2017    295,473    0-60%   3/30/2020    24 months 
Alejandra Peña   4/7/2017    216,360    0-30%   3/30/2020    12 months 

 

(1) Increases in Messrs. Glover’s, Spillane’s and Small’s and Ms. Peña’s base salaries are at the compensation committee’s sole discretion.
   
(2) The agreements automatically renew for successive one (1) year terms, unless either party gives written notice of such party’s intention not to renew no later than sixty (60) days prior to the end of each such term.
   
(3) Please see “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” below for a full description of these severance obligations.

 

Annual Incentives to Named Executive Officers

 

We paid cash bonuses to our named executive officers for fiscal 2018 as follows: Mr. Glover - $120,000, Mr. Spillane - $77,000, Mr. Small - $77,000 and Ms. Peña - $66,000. We paid cash bonuses to our named executive officers for fiscal 2017 as follows: Mr. Glover - $105,000, Mr. Spillane - $70,000, Mr. Small - $70,000 and Ms. Peña - $60,000. We paid cash bonuses to our named executive officers for fiscal 2016 as follows: Mr. Glover - $100,000, Mr. Spillane - $55,000, Mr. Small - $65,000 and Ms. Peña - $50,000. These bonus payments are included in the Summary Compensation Table above under the heading “Bonus.”

 

Mr. Lampen did not receive a cash bonus for fiscal 2018, 2017 or 2016. In May 2018, Mr. Lampen received a retention award of $500,000 in lieu of a restricted stock grant and in June 2017, Mr. Lampen received a retention award of $400,000 in lieu of a restricted stock grant. These retention awards will be reported in the Summary Compensation Table during the years in which they vest based on his continued service.

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2018

 

The following table shows grants made to our named executive officers in fiscal 2018. The grant date fair value of restricted stock awards may not be realized by the named executive officers.

 

Name  Grant Date   All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock (#)   Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards (1) ($)   
Richard Lampen   -    -    - 
John S. Glover   4/26/2017      130,000   $219,414 
T. Kelley Spillane   4/26/2017      90,000   $151,902 
Alfred J. Small   4/26/2017      90,000   $151,902 
Alejandra Peña   4/26/2017      75,000   $126,585 

 

(1) Represents the estimated grant date fair value of the restricted stock awards computed in accordance with ASC 718 “Compensation - Stock Compensation.” Under SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures relating to service-based and time-based vesting conditions.

 

 11 
 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at March 31, 2018 Fiscal Year End

 

The following table summarizes the outstanding option awards and unvested awards of restricted stock held by our named executive officers at March 31, 2018.

 

      Option Awards     Stock Awards  
Named Executive Officer    

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options (#)

Exercisable

    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
     

Option

Exercise

Price

($)

     

Option

Expiration

Date

    Number of
shares or
Units of Stock
That Have Not
Vested
(#)
     

Market

Value of

Shares or

Units of Stock

That Have Not

Vested

($)(5)

 
Richard J. Lampen     700,000     -     $ 0.35       11/3/2018     -       -  
      400,000     -     $ 0.35       6/11/2020     -       -  
      500,000     -     $ 0.33       6/20/2021     -       -  
      500,000     -     $ 0.31       6/8/2022     -       -  
      500,000     -     $ 0.38       6/5/2023     -       -  
      375,000     125,000 (1)   $ 1.00       5/28/2024     -       -  
      250,000     250,000 (2)   $ 1.67       6/2/2025     -       -  
      150,000     450,000 (3)   $ 0.90       6/3/2026     -       -  
                                             
John S. Glover                                            
      15,400     -     $ 0.21       6/9/2018     -       -  
      50,000     -     $ 0.35       6/22/2019     -       -  
      225,000     -     $ 0.35       6/11/2020     -       -  
      250,000     -     $ 0.33       6/20/2021     -       -  
      250,000     -     $ 0.31       6/8/2022     -       -  
      250,000     -     $ 0.38       6/5/2023     -       -  
      187,500     62,500 (1)   $ 1.00       5/28/2024     -       -  
      125,000     125,000 (2)   $ 1.67       6/2/2025     -       -  
      81,250     243,750 (3)   $ 0.90       6/3/2026     -       -  
      -     -       -       -     130,000 (4)   $ 161,200  
                                          -  
T. Kelley Spillane     33,900     -     $ 0.21       6/9/2018     -       -  
      35,000     -     $ 0.35       6/22/2019     -       -  
      65,000     -     $ 0.35       6/11/2020     -       -  
      17,100     -     $ 0.35       12/7/2020     -       -  
      44,650     -     $ 0.31       6/15/2021     -       -  
      20,800     -     $ 0.26       12/19/2021     -       -  
      43,333     -     $ 0.28       6/13/2022     -       -  
      85,000     -     $ 0.38       6/5/2023     -       -  
      75,000     25,000 (1)   $ 1.00       5/28/2024     -       -  
      75,000     75,000 (2)   $ 1.67       6/2/2025     -       -  
      50,000     150,000 (3)   $ 0.90       6/3/2026     -       -  
      -     -     -       -     90,000 (4)   $ 111,600  
                                             
Alfred J. Small     25,000     -     $ 0.35       6/22/2019     -       -  
      65,000     -     $ 0.35       6/11/2020     -       -  
      65,000     -     $ 0.33       6/20/2021     -       -  
      75,000     -     $ 0.31       6/8/2022     -       -  
      85,000     -     $ 0.38       6/5/2023     -       -  
      75,000     25,000 (1)   $ 1.00       5/28/2024     -       -  
      75,000     75,000 (2)   $ 1.67       6/2/2025     -       -  
      50,000     150,000 (3)   $ 0.90       6/3/2026     -       -  
      -     -       -       -     90,000 (4)   $ 111,600  
                                             
Alejandra Peña     25,000     -     $ 0.26       9/6/2021     -       -  
      20,000     -     $ 0.31       6/8/2022     -       -  
      50,000     -     $ 0.38       6/5/2023     -       -  
      52,500     17,500 (1)   $ 1.00       5/28/2024     -       -  
      62,500     62,500 (2)   $ 1.67       6/2/2025     -       -  
      42,500     127,500 (3)   $ 0.90       6/3/2026     -       -  
      -     -       -       -     75,000 (4)   $ 93,000  

 

(1) This option vests in four equal annual installments with the first installment vested on May 28, 2015.
(2) This option vests in four equal annual installments with the first installment vested on June 2, 2016.
(3) This option vests in four equal annual installments with the first installment vested on June 3, 2017.
(4) These shares of restricted stock vest in four equal annual installments beginning on April 28, 2018.
(5) The amounts in this column are based on the closing price of our common stock on March 29, 2018 of $1.24.

 

 12 
 

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

During fiscal 2018, none of our named executive officers acquired shares upon exercise of stock options or vesting of stock awards.

 

Pension Benefits

 

We do not provide pension benefits to our named executive officers.

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

We do not maintain defined contribution or other plans providing for the deferral of compensation on a basis that is not tax qualified.

 

Timing of Equity Grants

 

For all of our employees, including our named executive officers, grants of equity-based compensation are effective on the date that our compensation committee approves them. All stock option grants to employees, including our named executive officers, are made with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date. Our compensation committee does not grant equity compensation awards in anticipation of the release of material nonpublic information. Similarly, we do not time the release of material nonpublic information based on equity award grant dates.

 

Severance and Change in Control Benefits

 

We provide certain severance and change in control benefits to Messrs. Glover, Spillane and Small and Ms. Peña. Information about these benefits is listed below under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

Perquisites and Other Benefits

 

We generally provide the same health and welfare benefits to all of our full-time employees, including our named executive officers, including health and dental coverage, disability insurance, and paid holidays and other paid time off.

 

We maintain a 401(k) retirement savings plan for the benefit of all of our full-time employees, including our named executive officers.

 

 13 
 

 

Indemnification

 

Our articles of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws require us to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Florida law. We also have entered into indemnity agreements with each of our directors and named executive officers.

 

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

 

The following describes the potential payments upon termination or a change in control for our named executive officers.

 

Termination Without Cause

 

Each of Messrs. Glover, Spillane and Small and Ms. Peña has an employment agreement with us that provides for potential payments in the event of their termination.

 

Under Messrs. Glover, Spillane and Small’s employment agreements, if we terminate the executive’s employment without “cause,” we have agreed to pay the executive his annual base salary, a bonus equal to the bonus paid for the period immediately prior to the termination and to provide benefits, including medical insurance, for 24 months following termination. Under Ms. Peña’s employment agreement, if we terminate her employment without “cause,” we have agreed to pay her annual base salary, a bonus equal to the bonus paid for the period immediately prior to the termination and to provide benefits, including medical insurance, for 12 months following termination.

 

Also, if we terminate any of the executives without “cause,” then such executive is entitled to accelerated vesting or other treatment of some or all of the equity awards granted to such executive under the terms of such executive’s employment agreement.

 

Subject to their compliance with the terms of their respective employment agreements, for Messrs. Glover, Spillane and Small, any tranche of unvested shares or options held by the executive that would have vested during the 24 month period following termination will accelerate and vest without any further action of any kind by our company or the executive. Further, any stock option held by the executive that is vested at the time of the executive’s termination will be exercisable until the earlier to occur of (i) the expiration date of such option pursuant to its terms and (ii) 24 months following the date of termination. Subject to her compliance with the terms of her employment agreement, for Ms. Peña, any tranche of unvested shares or options held by her that would have vested during the 12 month period following termination will accelerate and vest without any further action of any kind by our company or Ms. Peña. Further, any stock option held by Ms. Peña that is vested at the time of her termination will be exercisable until the earlier to occur of (i) the expiration date of such option pursuant to its terms and (ii) 12 months following the date of termination.

 

Per the employment agreements, “cause” is defined as the executive’s (i) having committed in the performance of his or her duties under the agreement one or more acts or omissions constituting fraud, dishonesty, or willful injury to our company which results in a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of our company, (ii) having committed one or more acts constituting gross neglect or willful misconduct which results in a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of our company, (iii) breach of his or her fiduciary duties, (iv) failure to substantially perform assigned duties relating to executive’s performance under the agreement (other than any such failure owing to the executive becoming disabled as reasonably determined by a majority of our compensation committee, after consultation with our chief executive officer, (v) conviction of, or the entry by the executive of any plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony, or (vi) material breach of any provision of the employment agreement as reasonably determined by our compensation committee, after consultation with our chief executive officer, subject to a thirty (30) day cure period.

 

Non-Renewal of Employment Agreement

 

If we do not renew the employment agreements with Messrs. Glover, Spillane or Small, then such executive is entitled to receive his annual base salary, a bonus equal to the bonus paid for the period immediately prior to the termination and benefits, including medical insurance, for 24 months following termination. If we do not renew the employment agreement with Ms. Peña, then she is entitled to receive her annual base salary, a bonus equal to the bonus paid for the period immediately prior to the termination and benefits, including medical insurance, for 12 months following termination.

 

Termination Due to Death or Disability

 

The employment agreements of Messrs. Glover, Spillane and Small and Ms. Peña each provide that, in each case, if we terminate such executive due to a “disability,” or if such executive’s employment is terminated as a result of such executive’s death, the executive will be entitled to any salary owed to the executive through the date of termination, bonus for the year in which the termination occurred, and base salary for the duration of such executive’s severance period (24 months in the case of Messrs. Glover, Spillane and Small and 12 months in the case of Ms. Peña). Further, all stock options and restricted stock awards held by the executive will fully vest and be exercisable for a period of two (2) years from date of termination for death or disability in the case of Messrs. Glover, Spillane and Small and one (1) year in the case of Ms. Peña. For each of our named executive officers, a “disability” is defined in the employment agreements as the executive becoming physically or mentally disabled or incapacitated to the extent that the executive has been or will be unable to perform the duties under the employment agreement on account of such disabilities or incapacitation for a continuous period of six (6) months as determined by a qualified independent physician or group of physicians selected by our company and approved by the executive or his or her representative.

 

 14 
 

 

 

Termination by Employee with Good Reason

 

Each of Messrs. Glover’s, Spillane’s and Small’s employment agreements provides that if he terminates his employment for “good reason,” we will pay the executive his annual base salary, a bonus equal to the bonus paid for the period immediately prior to the termination and to provide benefits, including medical insurance, for 24 months following termination. Under Ms. Peña’s employment agreement, if she terminates her employment for “good reason,” we have agreed to pay her annual base salary, a bonus equal to the bonus paid for the period immediately prior to the termination and to provide benefits, including medical insurance, for 12 months following termination.

 

Subject to their compliance with the terms of their respective employment agreements, for Messrs. Glover, Spillane and Small, any tranche of unvested shares or options held by the executive that would have vested during the 24 month period following termination for “good reason” will accelerate and vest without any further action of any kind by our company or the executive. Further, any stock option held by the executive that is vested at the time of the executive’s termination for “good reason” will be exercisable until the earlier to occur of (i) the expiration date of such option pursuant to its terms and (ii) 24 months following the date of termination. Subject to her compliance with the terms of her employment agreement, for Ms. Peña, any tranche of unvested shares or options held by her that would have vested during the 12 month period following termination for “good reason” will accelerate and vest without any further action of any kind by our company or Ms. Peña. Further, any stock option held by Ms. Peña that is vested at the time of her termination for “good reason” will be exercisable until the earlier to occur of (i) the expiration date of such option pursuant to its terms and (ii) 12 months following the date of termination.

 

Per the agreements, “good reason” means a termination by executive of such executive’s employment within sixty (60) days after (i) any material diminution in the nature, title, base salary, target incentive bonus opportunity as a percentage of base salary or status of such executive’s job responsibilities from those in effect on the effective date of executive’s employment agreement or the most recent anniversary thereof, (ii) relocation by our company of the executive’s office to any location not within fifty (50) miles from executive’s principal place of employment in New York City as of the effective date of the executive’s employment agreement or (iii) our company’s material breach of any provision of the executive’s employment agreement which is not cured within thirty (30) days after written notice thereof from executive to our company.

 

Any severance payments to Messrs. Glover, Spillane and Small and Ms. Peña described above under “Termination Without Cause,” “Non-Renewal of Employment Agreement,” “Termination Due to Death or Disability” and “Termination by Employee with Good Reason” are in consideration of the non-compete provisions contained in such named executive officer’s employment agreement.

 

Each of Messrs. Glover, Spillane and Small is prohibited from, during the term of his employment and for 18 months thereafter, (i) soliciting employees to terminate their employment, (ii) soliciting business from our customers or (iii) ownership of, or employment or consultation with, competing companies. Ms. Peña is prohibited from, during the term of her employment and for 12 months thereafter, (i) soliciting employees to terminate their employment, (ii) soliciting business from our customers or (iii) ownership of, or employment or consultation with, competing companies.

 

Change in Control

 

If any of Messrs. Glover, Spillane or Small or Ms. Peña is terminated within two years after any “change of control” (as defined below), either by the executive for “good reason” or by our company or its successor without “cause,” the executive will be paid a lump sum payment equal to two times such executive’s base salary and bonus (in the case of Messrs. Glover, Spillane and Small) or one time such executive’s base salary and bonus (in the case of Ms. Peña). The executive will also be entitled to participate in all benefit plans during such executive’s severance period. Unvested shares or options held by each executive would accelerate as described above under “Termination by Employee with Good Reason” or “Termination Without Cause,” as applicable.

 

For Messrs. Glover, Spillane and Small and Ms. Peña, a “change of control” is defined as: (i) any person (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than Dr. Phillip Frost, any member of his immediate family, and any “person” or “group” (as used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) that is controlled by Dr. Frost or any member of his immediate family, any beneficiary of the estate of Dr. Frost, or any trust, partnership, corporate or other entity controlled by any of the foregoing, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of our company representing more than thirty-five percent (35%) of the aggregate voting power of our company’s then outstanding securities, other than by acquisition directly from our company; (ii) there has been a merger or equivalent combination involving our company after which forty-nine percent (49%) or more of the voting stock of the surviving corporation is held by persons other than former shareholders of our company; (iii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period were members of our board of directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof (unless the appointment, election, or the nomination for election by our stockholders, of each director elected during such consecutive two-year period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period); or (iv) our company sells or disposes of all or substantially all of its assets.

 

Also, certain of our option and restricted stock agreements contain clauses that provide that in the event of a change in control of our company, or upon the death or disability of the grantee or upon the termination of the grantee without cause or for good reason, all stock options or shares of restricted stock under such an agreement become fully vested. The unrealized value of in-the-money unvested stock options and unvested restricted stock subject to accelerated vesting are shown below as potential payments to the named Executive Officers.

 

 15 
 

 

The following table quantifies for each named executive officer the estimated potential severance payments and benefits that would be provided, if each termination circumstance set forth below occurred on March 31, 2018.

 

Named Executive Officer  Severance Payment (1)  

Estimated

Value of

Benefits (2)

  

Benefit of

Acceleration

for Vesting of

Option and Restricted Stock

Awards (3)

 
Richard J. Lampen               
Termination without cause/with good reason   -    -    - 
Non-renewal of employment agreement   -    -    - 
Termination due to death/disability   -    -    - 
Change in control   -    -   $102,000 
John S. Glover               
Termination without cause/with good reason  $926,221   $44,167    257,775 
Non-renewal of employment agreement   926,221    44,167    257,775 
Termination due to death/disability   806,221    N/A    257,775 
Change in control   926,221    44,167    257,775 
T. Kelley Spillane               
Termination without cause/with good reason   814,192    62,931    167,700 
Non-renewal of employment agreement   814,192    62,931    167,700 
Termination due to death/disability   737,192    N/A    167,700 
Change in control   814,192    62,931    167,700 
Alfred J. Small               
Termination without cause/with good reason   744,947    62,931    167,700 
Non-renewal of employment agreement   744,947    62,931    167,700 
Termination due to death/disability   667,947    N/A    167,700 
Change in control   744,947    62,931    167,700 
Alejandra Peña               
Termination without cause/with good reason   282,360    31,465    139,800 
Non-renewal of employment agreement   282,360    31,465    139,800 
Termination due to death/disability   282,360    N/A    139,800 
Change in control   282,360    31,465    139,800 

 

(1) Severance payments (including bonus) would be paid out over the duration of the severance period, except in the case of a change in control wherein payment would be made in a lump sum.
(2) Estimated using the value of COBRA payments at the rates in effect on March 31, 2018.
(3) With respect to option awards, the estimated amount of benefit was calculated by multiplying the number of options that would accelerate vesting upon the termination circumstance indicated by the difference between the closing price of our common stock on March 29, 2018, which was $1.24, and the exercise price of the stock option. This column shows a benefit for each of Messrs. Lampen, Glover, Spillane and Small and Ms. Peña due to the accelerated vesting of option awards and restricted stock awards granted to each such named executive officer.

 

Pay Ratio Disclosure

 

Pursuant to Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K and Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Act, presented below is the ratio of the annual total compensation of Richard J. Lampen, our chief executive officer, to the annual total compensation of our median employee (excluding the chief executive officer).

 

The ratio presented below is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u). The SEC’s rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s annual total compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions, and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices. As a result, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported below, as other companies have different employee populations and compensation practices and may utilize different methodologies, exclusions, estimates, and assumptions in calculating their own pay ratios.

 

 16 
 

 

We identified our median employee from all full-time, part-time, and temporary workers who were included as employees on our payroll records as of a determination date of March 31, 2018, based on fiscal 2018 base salaries (excluding the chief executive officer). For employees hired during the year, their compensation was annualized to reflect a full year of wages. For international employees, their pay was converted to US dollar equivalents using exchange rates as of the determination date.

 

The fiscal 2018 annual total compensation as determined under Item 402 of Regulation S-K for our chief executive officer was $200,000, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table of this annual report. The fiscal 2018 annual total compensation as determined under Item 402 of Regulation S-K for our median employee was $98,000. The ratio of our chief executive officer’s annual total compensation to our median employee’s annual total compensation for fiscal year 2018 is 2 to 1.

 

Director Compensation

 

The following table summarizes compensation paid to directors during our 2018 fiscal year.

 

Fiscal 2018 Director Compensation

 

Name 

Fees Earned or

Paid in Cash

  

Restricted Stock Awards (1)

   Total 
Mark E. Andrews, III   -(2)  $202,536(2)  $202,536 
John Beaudette  $15,000    17,850(3)   32,850 
Henry C. Beinstein   17,500    17,850(4)   33,350 
Phillip Frost, M.D.   10,000    17,850(5)   27,850 
Dr. Richard M. Krasno   17,500    17,850(6)   33,350 
Richard J. Lampen   -(7)   -    - 
Steven D. Rubin   20,000    17,850(8)   37,850 
Mark Zeitchick   12,500    17,850(9)   30,350 

 

(1) Represents the estimated grant date fair value of restricted stock granted for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 in accordance with ASC 718, rather than the amount paid to or realized by the director. Under SEC rules, the amounts shown exclude the impact of estimated forfeitures relating to service-based vesting conditions. The ASC 718 amounts from these grants may never be realized.
(2) Mr. Andrews, our chairman, receives an annual salary of $100,000. We do not pay any additional cash compensation for his services as a director. As of March 31, 2018, Mr. Andrews held options to purchase 1,775,000 shares of our common stock and 120,000 shares of restricted common stock.
(3) As of March 31, 2018, Mr. Beaudette held options to purchase 160,000 shares of our common stock and 15,000 shares of restricted common stock.
(4) As of March 31, 2018, Mr. Beinstein held options to purchase 80,000 shares of our common stock and 15,000 shares of restricted common stock.
(5) As of March 31, 2018, Dr. Frost held options to purchase 80,000 shares of our common stock and 15,000 shares of restricted common stock.
(6) As of March 31, 2018, Dr. Krasno held options to purchase 140,000 shares of our common stock and 15,000 shares of restricted common stock.
(7) Mr. Lampen, our president and chief executive officer, receives no additional compensation for his services as a director.
(8) As of March 31, 2018, Mr. Rubin held options to purchase 240,000 shares of our common stock and 15,000 shares of restricted common stock.
(9) As of March 31, 2018, Mr. Zeitchick held options to purchase 160,000 shares of our common stock and 15,000 shares of restricted common stock.

 

Our board of directors believes that compensation for our non-employee directors should be a combination of cash and equity-based compensation. Employee directors are not paid for their service on the board of directors and only receive compensation as employees.

 

In December 2008, effective with the 2008 annual meeting, our board of directors approved the payment of annual compensation of our non-employee directors comprised of cash and options granted under our stock incentive plans. In March 2018, our board of directors approved a change in the annual compensation of our non-employee directors by replacing the initial and annual option grants with grants of restricted shares of our common stock. Compensation of our non-employee directors for our 2018 fiscal year was as set forth in the following table:

 

Type of Compensation   Amount  
Annual director retainer (paid quarterly)   $ 10,000  
Additional annual retainer for committee participants, except chairs (paid quarterly)   $ 2,500  
Additional annual retainer for committee chairs (paid quarterly)   $ 5,000  
Grant of restricted shares of our common stock upon initial election     50,000 shares  
Grant of restricted shares of our common stock for board service (per director, per year)     15,000 shares  
Reimbursement of expenses related to board attendance    

Reasonable expenses

reimbursed as incurred

 

 

 17 
 

 

In May 2018, our board of directors approved (i) the payment of an annual fee of $25,000 to the lead independent director and (ii) effective as of April 1, 2018, an increase in the annual director retainer from $10,000 to $25,000.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

Share Ownership

 

The table below shows the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned as of July 18, 2018 by (i) those persons or groups known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock, (ii) each of our directors, (iii) each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above, who we refer to as named executive officers, and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group. The number of shares beneficially owned by each individual or group is based upon information in SEC documents, other publicly available information, or information available to us. Percentage ownership information is based on 168,100,801 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of July 18, 2018.

 

Shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options or the conversion of convertible notes that are exercisable or convertible within 60 days of July 18, 2018 are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the options or convertible notes for the purpose of computing the percentage of ownership of that person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of any other person.

 

   Beneficial ownership of our
common stock
 
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner  Number of
Shares
   Percent 
         
Phillip Frost, M.D. and related entities (1)          
4400 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 1500          
Miami, FL 33137   54,146,285    32.3%
           
Vector Group Ltd. (2)          
4400 Biscayne Blvd., 10th Floor          
Miami, FL 33137   12,895,017    7.7%
Mark E. Andrews, III (3)   6,620,987    3.9%
John Beaudette (4)   215,246    * 
Henry C. Beinstein (5)   355,000    * 
John S. Glover (6)   2,377,927    1.4%
Dr. Richard M. Krasno (7)   180,000    * 
Richard J. Lampen (8)   6,638,535    3.9%
Alejandra Peña (9)   486,081    * 
Steven D. Rubin (10)   256,000    * 
Alfred J. Small (11)   1,052,035    * 
T. Kelley Spillane (12)   1,084,668    * 
Mark Zeitchick (13)   255,000    * 
All directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons) (14)   73,667,763    41.60%

 

* Less than 1 percent.

 

 18 
 

 

Except as otherwise indicated, the address of each person named in this table is c/o Castle Brands Inc., 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 5000, New York, New York 10168.

 

(1) Includes 80,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018. Also includes 15,000 shares of common stock held directly by Dr. Frost which are subject to vesting restrictions. Also includes 9,370,790 shares of common stock held by Frost Nevada Investments Trust. Frost-Nevada Limited Partnership is the sole and exclusive beneficiary of Frost Nevada Investments Trust, of which Dr. Frost is the trustee. Dr. Frost is one of five limited partners of Frost-Nevada Limited Partnership and the sole shareholder of Frost-Nevada Corporation, which is the sole general partner of Frost Nevada Limited Partnership. Dr. Frost disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by Frost Nevada Investments Trust, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. Also includes 43,900,719 shares of common stock held by Frost Gamma Investments Trust, of which Dr. Frost is the trustee. Frost Gamma Limited Partnership is the sole and exclusive beneficiary of Frost Gamma Investments Trust. Dr. Frost is one of two limited partners of Frost Gamma Limited Partnership. The general partner of Frost Gamma Limited Partnership is Frost Gamma, Inc., and the sole shareholder of Frost Gamma, Inc. is Frost-Nevada Corporation. Dr. Frost is also the sole shareholder of Frost-Nevada Corporation. Dr. Frost disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest.

 

(2) This information has been derived from a Schedule 13D, as amended, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2014. Excludes (i) 6,638,535 shares of common stock beneficially owned by Richard J. Lampen, the executive vice president of Vector Group, and a director and the president and chief executive officer of our company, and (ii) 355,000 shares of common stock beneficially owned by Henry C. Beinstein, a director of our company, who is also a director of Vector Group.
   
(3) Includes 1,183,079 shares of common stock held by Knappogue Corp. Knappogue Corp. is controlled by Mr. Andrews and his family. Mr. Andrews disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. Also includes 210,000 shares of common stock which are subject to vesting restrictions, 1,562,500 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018 and 2,867,659 shares of common stock held jointly by Mr. Andrews and his wife.
   
(4) Includes 9,246 shares of common stock held by BPW Holdings LLC, an entity of which Mr. Beaudette is a principal interest holder. Mr. Beaudette disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. Also includes 15,000 shares of common stock which are subject to vesting restrictions and 160,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018.
   
(5) Includes 15,000 shares of common stock which are subject to vesting restrictions and 80,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018. Excludes shares of common stock beneficially owned by Vector Group, of which Mr. Beinstein serves as a director.
   
(6) Includes 227,500 shares of common stock which are subject to vesting restrictions and 1,625,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018.
   
(7) Includes 15,000 shares of common stock which are subject to vesting restrictions and 115,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018.
   
(8) Includes 3,375,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Lampen exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018. Also includes 1,016,065 shares of common stock held by Mr. Lampen’s wife, as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership. Excludes shares of common stock beneficially owned by Vector Group, of which Mr. Lampen serves as an executive officer.
   
(9) Includes 131,250 shares of common stock which are subject to vesting restrictions and 343,750 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018.
   
(10) Includes 15,000 shares of common stock which are subject to vesting restrictions and 240,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018.
   
(11) Includes 157,500 shares of common stock which are subject to vesting restrictions and 627,500 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018.
   
(12) Includes 157,500 shares of common stock which are subject to vesting restrictions and 623,383 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018.
   
(13) Includes 15,000 shares of common stock which are subject to vesting restrictions and 160,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018.
   
(14) Includes 973,750 shares of common stock which are subject to vesting restrictions and 9,392,133 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of July 18, 2018.

 

 19 
 

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table sets forth information as of March 31, 2018 regarding compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance.

 

Plan category  Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding
options, warrants and rights
   Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights   Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) 
   (a)   (b)   (c) 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders   15,346,608   $0.78    10,722,500 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders   -    -    - 
Total   15,346,608   $0.78    10,722,500 

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

Related-Party Policy

 

Our code of business conduct requires us to avoid related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interest, except under guidelines approved by our board of directors or audit committee. Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which:

 

the aggregate amount involved is expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year;
   
we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant; and
   
any (a) executive officer, director or director nominee, (b) 5% or greater beneficial owner of our common stock, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons listed in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity).

 

A conflict of interest can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult for such person to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position. Our audit committee, under its charter, reviews and approves related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such transactions.

 

The audit committee considers all relevant factors when determining whether to approve a related party transaction, including:

 

whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable to us than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances; and
   
the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction.

 

A director may not participate in the approval of any transaction in which he or she is a related party, but must provide the audit committee with all material information concerning the transaction. Also, we require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire annually that elicits information about related party transactions. These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.

 

 20 
 

 

Related Party Transactions

 

Agreement with Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc.

 

In November 2008, we entered into an agreement to reimburse Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. for its costs in providing certain administrative, legal and financial services to us. Mr. Lampen, our president and chief executive officer and a director, is the president and chief executive officer and a director of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. Dr. Frost, one of our directors and our principal shareholder, is the chairman and principal shareholder of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. Mr. Beinstein and Dr. Krasno, two of our directors, are directors of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. Mr. Zeitchick, one of our directors, is an executive vice president and a director of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. was paid $182,875 under this agreement.

 

Agreement with Vector Group Ltd.

 

In November 2008, we entered into a management services agreement with Vector Group Ltd., a more than 5% shareholder of ours, under which Vector Group agreed to make available to us the services of Mr. Lampen, Vector Group’s executive vice president, effective October 11, 2008 to serve as our president and chief executive officer and to provide certain other financial and accounting services, including assistance with corporate taxes and complying with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In consideration for such services, we agreed to pay Vector Group an annual fee of $100,000, plus any direct, out-of-pocket costs, fees and other expenses incurred by Vector Group or Mr. Lampen in connection with providing such services, and to indemnify Vector Group for any liabilities arising out of the provision of the services. The agreement is terminable by either party upon 30 days’ prior written notice. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, we paid Vector Group $108,928 under this agreement. Mr. Beinstein, a director of our company, is also a director of Vector Group and Dr. Frost, a director of ours and our principal shareholder, is a principal shareholder of Vector Group.

 

Loans from Certain Executive Officers, Directors and Shareholders

 

In October 2013, we issued an aggregate principal amount of $2.1 million of unsecured 5% convertible subordinated notes (the “Convertible Notes”). As of March 31, 2018, we had $50,000 of Convertible Notes outstanding. We used a portion of the proceeds to finance the acquisition of additional bourbon inventory in support of the growth of our Jefferson’s bourbon brand. The Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 5% per annum and mature on December 15, 2018. The Convertible Notes, and accrued but unpaid interest thereon, are convertible in whole or in part from time to time at the option of the holders thereof into shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a conversion price of $0.90 per share (the “Conversion Price”). The Convertible Notes may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time without penalty or premium, but with payment of accrued interest to the date of prepayment. The Convertible Notes contain customary events of default, which, if uncured, entitle each noteholder to accelerate the due date of the unpaid principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, the Convertible Notes. The Convertible Note purchasers included certain related parties of ours, including an affiliate of Dr. Frost ($500,000), Mr. Andrews ($50,000), an affiliate of Mr. Lampen ($50,000), and Vector Group ($200,000).

 

In the year ended March 31, 2018, the related party holders of the Convertible Notes described above, converted an aggregate $804,750 of the outstanding principal and interest balances of their Convertible Notes into 894,167 shares of our common stock, pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Notes.

 

In August 2015, we entered into amendments (together, the “Amendments”) to our Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the “Amended Loan Agreement”) with ACF FinCo I LP (“ACF”). The Amendments provided for a sublimit to our revolving credit facility in the maximum principal amount of $7.0 million to permit us to acquire aged whiskey inventory (the “Purchased Inventory Sublimit”), subject to certain conditions set forth in the Amended Loan Agreement. The Purchased Inventory Sublimit replaced a term loan of $2.5 million with the predecessor entity of ACF, which was paid in full in May 2015 in the normal course of business. The interest rate applicable to the Purchased Inventory Sublimit is the rate that, when annualized, is the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate plus 4.25%, (b) the LIBOR Rate plus 6.75% and (c) 7.50%. The Purchased Inventory Sublimit currently bears interest at 7.50%.

 

 21 
 

 

ACF required as a condition to entering into an amendment to the Amendment that ACF enter into a participation agreement with certain related parties of ours, including Frost Gamma Investments Trust, an entity affiliated with Dr. Frost ($150,000), Mark E. Andrews, III ($50,000), Richard J. Lampen ($100,000), Brian L. Heller, our general counsel and assistant secretary ($42,500), and Alfred J. Small, our senior vice President, chief financial officer, treasurer & secretary ($15,000), to allow for the sale of participation interests in the Purchased Inventory Sublimit and the inventory purchased with the proceeds thereof. The participation agreement provides that ACF’s commitment to fund each advance of the Purchased Inventory Sublimit will be limited to seventy percent (70%), up to an aggregate maximum principal amount for all advances equal to $4.9 million. Under the terms of the participation agreement, the participants receive interest at the rate of 11% per annum. We are not a party to the participation agreement. However, we and our wholly-owned subsidiary, Castle Brands (USA) Corp. (“CB-USA”), are party to a fee letter with the junior participants (including the related party junior participants) pursuant to which we and CB-USA were obligated to pay the junior participants a closing fee of $18,000 on the effective date of the Amendment and are obligated to pay a commitment fee of $18,000 on each anniversary of the effective date until the junior participants’ obligations are terminated pursuant to the participation agreement. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, we paid the following amounts of principal to related parties under the participation agreement: an affiliate of Dr. Frost ($41,500), Mr. Andrews ($13,833), an affiliate of Mr. Lampen ($27,667), Mr. Heller ($11,758) and Mr. Small ($4,150). During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, we paid the following amounts of interest to related parties under the participation agreement: an affiliate of Dr. Frost ($16,658), Mr. Andrews ($5,553), an affiliate of Mr. Lampen ($11,105), Mr. Heller ($4,720) and Mr. Small ($1,666).

 

In October 2017, we acquired $1.3 million in aged bulk bourbon purchased under the Purchased Inventory Sublimit. Certain related parties, including an affiliate of Dr. Frost ($51,500), Mr. Lampen ($34,333), Mr. Andrews ($17,167), Mr. Heller ($14,592) and Mr. Small ($5,150), were junior participants in the Purchased Inventory Sublimit with respect to such purchase.

 

In December 2017, we acquired $1.0 million in aged bulk bourbon purchased under the Purchased Inventory Sublimit. Certain related parties, including an affiliate of Dr. Frost ($45,021), Mr. Lampen ($30,014), Mr. Andrews ($15,007), Mr. Heller ($12,756) and Mr. Small ($4,502), were junior participants in the Purchased Inventory Sublimit with respect to such purchase.

 

In April 2018, we acquired $2.0 million in aged bulk bourbon purchased under the Purchased Inventory Sublimit. Certain related parties, including an affiliate of Dr. Frost ($100,050), Mr. Lampen ($66,700), Mr. Andrews ($33,350), Mr. Heller ($28,348) and Mr. Small ($10,005), were junior participants in the Purchased Inventory Sublimit with respect to such purchase.

 

In March 2017, we issued a promissory note to Frost Nevada Investment Trust, an affiliate of Dr. Frost (the “Subordinated Note”) in the aggregate principal amount of $20 million. In April 2018, we entered into a first amendment to the Subordinated Note to extend the maturity date on the Subordinated Note from March 15, 2019 until September 15, 2020. No other provisions of the Subordinated Note were amended. The purpose of the Subordinated Note was to finance the acquisition of an additional 20.1% of Gosling-Castle Partners, Inc. The Subordinated Note, as amended, bears interest quarterly at the rate of 11% per annum. The principal and interest accrued thereon is due and payable in full on September 15, 2020. All claims of the holder of the Subordinated Note to principal, interest and any other amounts owed under the Subordinated Note are subordinated in right of payment to all indebtedness of the Company existing as of the date of the Subordinated Note. The Subordinated Note contains customary events of default and may be prepaid by the Company, in whole or in part, without penalty, at any time.

 

Independence of Directors

 

We follow the NYSE American rules in determining if a director is independent. Our board of directors also consults with our counsel to ensure that the board’s determination is consistent with those rules and all other relevant laws and regulations regarding director independence. Consistent with these considerations, our board of directors has determined that Messrs. Beaudette, Beinstein, Krasno, Rubin and Zeitchick are independent directors. The other remaining directors may not be deemed independent under the NYSE American rules because they currently have relationships with us that may result in them being deemed not “independent.” All members of our audit, compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees are independent. The members of our audit committee are also independent under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

 22 
 

 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

 

Fees Paid to EisnerAmper LLP

 

The following table sets forth the fees that we were billed for the audit and other services provided by EisnerAmper LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, in fiscal years 2018 and 2017:

 

   2018   2017 
Audit Fees  $

549,500

   $572,400 
Audit-Related Fees   -    - 
Tax Fees   -    - 
All Other Fees   -    - 
Total  $

549,500

   $572,400 

 

Audit Fees

 

This category includes the audit of our annual financial statements, reviews of financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and services that are normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, including the audit of our internal control over financial reporting. This category also includes fees for advice on accounting matters that arose during, or as a result of, the annual audit or the reviews of interim financial statements.

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

This category would include assurance and related services provided by EisnerAmper LLP that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported above under “Audit Fees.”

 

Tax Fees

 

This category would include fees for professional services rendered by EisnerAmper LLP for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

 

All Other Fees

 

This category would consist of fees for other miscellaneous items.

 

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

 

In accordance with its charter, our audit committee reviews and approves in advance on a case-by-case basis each engagement (including the fees and terms thereof) by us of accounting firms that will perform permissible non-audit services or audit, review or attestation services for us. Our audit committee is authorized to establish detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for pre-approval of such engagements without a meeting of the audit committee, but our audit committee has not established any such pre-approval procedures at this time.

 

Our audit committee pre-approved all fees of EisnerAmper LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, for fiscal 2018.

 

 23 
 

 

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

 

(b)

 

     
Exhibit    
Number   Exhibit
     
2.1   Stock Purchase Agreement, dated March 29, 2017, by and among Castle Brands Inc., Gosling’s Limited, and E. Malcolm B. Gosling (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2017)
     
3.1   Composite Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on June 30, 2014)
     
3.2   Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Appendix E to our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on December 30, 2009)
     
4.1   Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to our Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-8 (File No. 333-160380) filed with the SEC on March 10, 2010)
     
4.2   Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2014, by and among ACF FinCo I LP, the Company and Castle Brands (USA) Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 24, 2014)
     
4.3   First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 7, 2015, by and among ACF FinCo I LP, the Company and Castle Brands (USA) Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 10, 2015)
     
4.4   Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 17, 2015, by and among ACF FinCo I LP, the Company and Castle Brands (USA) Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 18, 2015)
     
4.5   Third Amendment to the Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2017, by and among ACF FinCo I LP, the Company and Castle Brands (USA) Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 20, 2017)
     
4.6   Fourth Amendment to the Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2018, by and among ACF FinCo I LP, the Company and Castle Brands (USA) Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 18, 2018)
     
4.7   Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Note, dated as of May 15, 2018, in favor of ACF FinCo I LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 18, 2018)
     
4.8   5% Convertible Subordinated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2013, among the Company and the parties set forth on the signature pages attached thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 25, 2013)
     
4.9   Form of 5% Subordinated Convertible Note Due 2018, issued by the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 1, 2013)
     
4.10   11% Subordinated Note due 2019, issued by the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2017)
     
4.11   First Amendment to 11% Subordinated Note, dated as of April 17, 2018, between Castle Brands Inc. and Frost Nevada Investments Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 19, 2018)

 

 24 
 

 

10.1   Restated Export Agreement, dated as of May 9, 2017, between Gosling-Castle Partners Inc. and Gosling’s Export (Bermuda) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2017) (2)
     
10.2   Amended and Restated National Distribution Agreement, dated as of March 29, 2017, by and between Castle Brands (USA) Corp. and Gosling-Castle Partners Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2017) (2)
     
10.3   Stockholders’ Agreement, dated February 18, 2005, by and among Gosling-Castle Partners Inc. and the persons listed on Schedule I thereto (Exhibit 10.5)(1)

 

10.4   Agreement, dated as of January 12, 2011, between Pallini SpA and Castle Brands (USA) Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 18, 2011) (2)
     
10.5   Supply Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2005, between Irish Distillers Limited and Castle Brands Spirits Group Limited and Castle Brands (USA) Corp. (Exhibit 10.8)(1)(2)
     
10.6   Amendment No. 1 to Supply Agreement, dated as of September 20, 2005, to the Supply Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2005, among Irish Distillers Limited and Castle Brands Spirits Group Limited and Castle Brands (USA) Corp. (Exhibit 10.9)(1)
     
10.7   Letter Agreement, dated November 7, 2008, between Castle Brands Inc. and Vector Group Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 12, 2008)
     
10.8   Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into with directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2013)
     
10.9   Form of Castle Brands Inc. Stock Option Grant Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 16, 2006)#
     
10.10   Third Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective as of February 26, 2010, by and between Castle Brands Inc. and Mark Andrews (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2010)#
     
10.11   Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective as of May 11, 2012, by and between Castle Brands Inc. and Mark Andrews (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our current report on Form 8-K filed on May 17, 2012)#
     
10.12   Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 24, 2014, by and between Castle Brands Inc. and Mark Andrews (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed on January 27, 2014)#
     
10.13   Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2016, by and between Castle Brands Inc. and Mark Andrews (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed on February 3, 2016)#
     
10.14   Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2018, by and between Castle Brands Inc. and Mark Andrews (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 7, 2018)#
     
10.15   Reaffirmation Agreement, dated as of August 7, 2015, by and among the Company, Castle Brands (USA) Corp., the officers’ signatory thereto and certain junior lenders to the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 10, 2015)
     
10.16   Castle Brands Inc. 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (Exhibit 10.29)(1)#
     
10.17   Amendment to Castle Brands Inc. 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (Exhibit 10.30)(1)#
     
10.18   Amendment No. 2 to Castle Brands Inc. 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 30, 2009 filed with the SEC on June 29, 2009)#
     
10.19   Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2017)#

 

 25 
 

 

10.20   Form of Validity and Support Agreement, dated as of August 19, 2011, among Keltic Financial Partners II, LP, the Company, Castle Brands (USA) Corp. and the officer signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 25, 2011)
     
10.21   Castle Brands Inc. 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the 2012 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on September 11, 2012)#
     
10.22   Amendment No. 1 to the Castle Brands Inc. 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to our registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the SEC on March 23, 2017)#
     
10.23   Extension and Amendment Agreement, dated as of October 24, 2015, by and between Castle Brands (USA) Corp. and Pallini S.p.A. (f/k/a Pallini Internazionale S.r.l.) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed on October 29, 2015)(2)
     
10.24   Castle Brands Inc. 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on January 11, 2017)#
     
10.25   Amendment No. 1 to Stockholders Agreement, dated March 29, 2017, by and among Gosling-Castle Partners Inc. and the persons listed on Schedule I thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2017)
     
10.26   Employment Agreement, dated as of April 7, 2017, by and between Castle Brands Inc. and John Glover (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2017)#
     
10.27   Employment Agreement, dated as of April 7, 2017, by and between Castle Brands Inc. and Alfred J. Small (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2017)#
     
10.28   Employment Agreement, dated as of April 7, 2017, by and between Castle Brands Inc. and T. Kelley Spillane (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2017)#
     
10.29   Employment Agreement, dated as of April 7, 2017, by and between Castle Brands Inc. and Alejandra Peña (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2017)#

 

21.1   List of Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to exhibit 21.1 to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2018)
     
23.1   Consent of EisnerAmper LLP (incorporated by reference to exhibit 21.1 to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2018)
     
31.1   Certification of CEO Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 31.1 to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2018)
     
31.2   Certification of CFO Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 31.2 to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2018)
     
31.3   Certification of CEO Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
     
31.4   Certification of CFO Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
     
32.1   Certification of CEO and CFO Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 32.1 to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2018)

 

101.INS   XBRL Instance Document (incorporated by reference to exhibit 101.INS to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2018)
     
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (incorporated by reference to exhibit 101.SCH to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2018)
     
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (incorporated by reference to exhibit 101.CAL to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2018)
     
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (incorporated by reference to exhibit 101.DEF to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2018)
     
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (incorporated by reference to exhibit 101.LAB to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2018)
     
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (incorporated by reference to exhibit 101.PRE to our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2018)

 

*   Filed herewith
     
#   Management Compensation Contract
     
(1)   Previously filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-128676), which was declared effective on April 5, 2006, and incorporated by reference herein.
     
(2)   Confidential portions of this document are omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment that has been granted by the Commission, and have been filed separately with the Commission.

 

 26 
 

 

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, on July 25, 2018.

 

  CASTLE BRANDS INC.
   
  By: /s/ RICHARD J. LAMPEN
    Richard J. Lampen
    President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
     
  By: /s/ ALFRED J. SMALL
    Alfred J. Small
    Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ RICHARD J. LAMPEN   President and Chief Executive Officer and Director   July 25, 2018
Richard J. Lampen   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ ALFRED J. SMALL   Senior Vice President, Chief Financial   July 25, 2018
Alfred J. Small   Officer, Secretary and Treasurer (Principal    
    Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ MARK E. ANDREWS, III*   Director   July 25, 2018
Mark E. Andrews, III        
         
/s/ JOHN F. BEAUDETTE*   Director   July 25, 2018
John F. Beaudette        
         
/s/ HENRY C. BEINSTEIN*   Director   July 25, 2018
Henry C. Beinstein        
         
/s/ PHILLIP FROST, M.D.*   Director   July 25, 2018
Phillip Frost, M.D.        
         
/s/ DR. RICHARD M. KRASNO *   Director   July 25, 2018
Dr. Richard M. Krasno        
         
/s/ STEVEN D. RUBIN*   Director   July 25, 2018
Steven D. Rubin        
         
/s/ MARK ZEITCHICK *   Director   July 25, 2018
Mark Zeitchick        

 

* By Alfred J. Small, as Attorney-in-Fact pursuant to a Power of Attorney included on the signature page to the Original 10-K.

 

 27