UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 20, 2019


CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada
0-30379
88-0425691
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

3661 Horseblock Road, Medford, New York 11763
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (631) 924-1135

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.          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.  ☐

Item 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On March 20, 2019, we entered into an amendment of our existing employment agreement with Javan Esfandiari, our Executive Vice President and Chief Science and Technology Officer.  The principal terms of the amendment are described in Item 5.02(c) below, which description is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

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

(c)

On March 20, 2019, we entered into an amendment of our existing employment agreement with Javan Esfandiari , our Executive Vice President and Chief Science and Technology Officer.  The principal terms of the original employment agreement were summarized in a Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2016.

Our original employment agreement with Mr. Esfandiari extended for a term of three years.  Pursuant to the amendment, the employment agreement now continues through December 31, 2021.

The foregoing description of the amendment to Mr. Esfandiari ’s employment agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the amendment, which is included as Exhibit 10.01 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)
Exhibits.

Exhibit
 
Description
 
Amendment No. 1 dated March 20, 2019 between Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. and Javan Esfandiari , amending the Employment Agreement dated March 5, 2016

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be filed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 
CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
     
Dated:  March 25, 2019
By:
/s/ John J. Sperzel III
   
John J. Sperzel III
   
Chief Executive Officer and President


Exhibit 10.1

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement dated March 20, 2019 (this “ Amendment ”) is entered into between Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), and Javan Esfandiari (“ Employee ”), with respect to the Employment Agreement dated as of March 5, 2016 (the “ Agreement ”), between the Company and Employee.

The Company and Employee wish to amend the provisions of the Agreement with respect to the term of Employee’s employment by the Company, as set forth below. In consideration of the mutual covenants, promises and agreements herein contained, the Company and Employee hereby covenant, promise and agree to and with each other as follows:

1.            Term . The first sentence of Section 4 of the Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“Unless terminated earlier as provided for in this Agreement, the term of this Agreement (the “ Term ”) shall commence on the Effective Date and continue in effect through December 31, 2021.”

2.            Miscellaneous . Except as set forth herein, the terms of the Agreement are unchanged and shall remain in full force and effect. This Amendment, and its validity, interpretation and enforcement, shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, excluding conflict of laws principles. The headings in this Amendment are for convenience only, form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of this Amendment. This Amendment shall not be construed against either of the parties.

In Witness Whereof , each of the parties has executed, or caused to be executed, this Amendment as of the date first written above.

Javan Esfandiari
 
Chembio Diagnostics, Inc.
       
/s/ Javan Esfandiari  
By:
/s/ John J. Sperzel III
     
Chief Executive Officer and President