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): June 19, 2014

 

AMERICAN BIO MEDICA CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New York 0-28666 14-1702188
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)    (Commission File Number)    (IRS Employer Identification Number)

 

122 Smith Road, Kinderhook, NY   12106
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 518-758-8158

 

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

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 ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ 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))

 

 
 

 

ITEM 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

 

On June 19, 2014, the American Bio Medica Corporation (the “Company”) Board of Directors appointed Melissa A. Waterhouse as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Principal Accounting and Financial Officer. Waterhouse was previously appointed to the position of interim Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer in October 2013. A copy of Waterhouse’s employment contract is filed as an exhibit to this report.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors also appointed Waterhouse to the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy created when the Company’s previous Chief Executive Officer Stan Cipkowski passed away in October 2013. Waterhouse will, at a minimum, serve on the Board of Directors throughout the remaining term of the Cipkowski seat, or until June 2015.

 

ITEM 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

At the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company held on June 19, 2014 (the “Annual Meeting”), at the Company’s corporate offices in Kinderhook, New York, the following matters were voted upon.

 

PROPOSAL NUMBER 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

Total Shares in Attendance: 

18,385,698

Total Shares Outstanding (as of April 21, 2014):   23,168,155
     
Percent of Shares Voted: 79.4        
           
Director For Percent Withheld Percent Broker Non-Vote
         
Edmund M. Jaskiewicz 3,267,567 97.9 70,812 1.3 12,915,764
Jean Neff 3,247,879 97.3 90,500 1.7 12,915,764

 

PROPOSAL NUMBER 2 – RATIFICATION OF AUDITORS

 

Total Shares in Attendance:  18,385,698 Total Shares Outstanding (as of April 21, 2014):   23,168,155
     
Percent of Shares Voted: 79.4        
           
For Percent Against Percent Abstain Percent Broker Non-Vote
             
15,349,049 97.0 468,504 3.0 436,590  NA 0

 

A description of the proposals can be found in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 25, 2014.

 

The nominees for election to the Board of Directors were elected for three-year terms ending in 2017, or until their successor(s) is/are elected and duly qualified. In addition to the directors elected at the Annual Meeting, Richard P. Koskey and Carl A. Florio continued their term of office after the Annual Meeting.

 

There were no other matters voted upon at the Annual Meeting other than the Proposals noted above.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits

 

10.40 Employment Agreement between the Company and Melissa A. Waterhouse

 

 
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

    AMERICAN BIO MEDICA CORPORATION (Registrant)
         
    By:   /s/ Melissa A. Waterhouse
        Melissa A. Waterhouse
        Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
        Principal Financial Officer

 

Dated: June 24, 2014

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 10.40

 

June 19, 2014

 

Melissa A. Waterhouse

PO Box 769

Philmont, New York 12565

 

Dear Melissa,

 

It is our pleasure to formally offer you the position of Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of American Bio Medica Corporation (“ABMC” or the “Company”), reporting directly to the ABMC Board of Directors. You would also serve as the Company’s Principal Financial and Accounting Officer (“PFAO”) until such time that a new PFAO or Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is appointed. This agreement supersedes all other agreements whether written or verbal and may not be amended except by a writing signed by you and the Board of Directors. Your position will be primarily located at our New York corporate facility although overnight travel may be required from time to time. You will perform all duties as are generally associated with the position of a CEO/PFAO, as directed by the Board of Directors. Below, we have outlined the major terms and conditions applicable to your position.

 

Term

 

Your employment with ABMC will be for a term of one year unless sooner terminated for cause, beginning on the date set forth above and automatically renewed for successive one-year terms unless either side gives written notice of intent not to renew at least sixty (60) days prior to the end of any one-year term. If AMBC terminates your employment for cause, this agreement shall be terminated and you will be entitled to no severance and no further compensation or benefits from ABMC, other than payment of salary and benefits up to and including the date of termination.

 

Compensation

 

Effective June 23, 2014, your base salary will be $13,334 per month, which is equivalent to $160,000 on an annualized basis. You will be eligible for your first performance review by the Board of Directors in June 2015.

 

All costs related to health insurance (including but not limited to dental, eye, etc. and including family coverage if you so require) shall continue to be borne 100% by the Company. Please notify Human Resources if you wish to receive this benefit.

 

You shall participate in any Management Bonus Program that may be approved by the Board of Directors in the future.

 

Benefits

 

· 20 vacation days
· Usual corporate holidays
· 2 personal days
· 401 (k)

 

 
 

 

Severance

 

In the unlikely event that ABMC elects to terminate your employment for anything other than cause, you will receive severance pay equal to twelve (12) months of your current base salary at the time of separation, with continuation of all health benefits during the twelve-month period at ABMC’s expense. Cause shall be defined as (1) death, (2) commission of a felony (3) acts of dishonesty, fraud or malfeasance in connection with your service on behalf of the Company, (4) gross dereliction of duty willful failure to carry out any lawful directive of the Board of Directors, or material violations of Company policies which continue after Company has provided you with written notice thereof and a period of thirty (30) days to cure such action or misconduct or (5) disability of a period of more than six (6) months). The severance payment will be made under the current pay cycle, each pay period, during the twelve (12) months, subject to all customary withholdings.

 

Additionally, you may resign your position and elect to exercise this severance provision at your option under the following circumstances:

 

· If you are required to relocate by the Company or its Board of Directors more than 50 miles from the Company’s Kinderhook facility as a condition of continued employment

 

· A substantial change in responsibilities normally assumed by CEO/PFAO at the direction of the Company or its Board of Directors (i.e. demotion)

 

· You are asked to commit or conceal the commitment of any illegal act by any officer or member of the board of directors of the Company.

 

Change in Control

 

If there is a Change in Control (defined below) of ABMC, you may elect to resign your position and to receive a lump sum severance payment equal to two (2) times your annual base salary (“CIC Payment”). If you elect to resign, ABMC will pay you the CIC Payment within thirty (30) days after you make your election, which election must be in writing and received by ABMC’s Board of Directors within ten (10) days after a Change in Control. In the event you continue employment with ABMC or any successor to ABMC following a Change in Control or fail to make an election within ten (10) days after a Change in Control, you will not be entitled to receive the CIC Payment.

 

Change in Control is defined as follows:

 

(i) the approval by shareholders of ABMC of a merger or consolidation of ABMC with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of ABMC outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of ABMC or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or

 

(ii) the approval by the shareholders of ABMC of a plan of complete liquidation of ABMC or an agreement for the sale or disposition by ABMC of all or substantially all of ABMC’s assets.

 

 
 

 

Restrictive Covenants

 

Company Handbook/Compliance Certification

 

You are aware that it is your responsibility to read the ABMC Employee Handbook thoroughly and comply with the policies contained in the Handbook. You understand that the policies, benefits and information contained in the Handbook are subject to change and that revisions to the Handbook may be made. Any such changes will be communicated through official written notices and you hereby acknowledge that any such revisions may supercede, modify or eliminate existing policies. Only a majority of the Executive Officers, or a majority of the Board of Directors may adopt revisions to the policies contained in the Handbook. In no circumstance may a change to the employee handbook reduce the salary, benefits or other conditions outlined in this employment agreement.

 

You agree that in addition to any covenants included in this Employment Letter, you will sign a Compliance Certification simultaneously with the signing of this Employment Letter. If a conflicting covenant exists between the Employment Letter and the Compliance Certification and/or the Company Handbook, the Employment Letter shall be the ruling document.

 

Non-Solicitation

 

During the twelve (12) months immediately following your termination from employment with ABMC for any reason, you agree that:

 

· You will not, directly or indirectly, solicit in any manner or capacity whatsoever, including by way of illustration, but not limitation, call upon, mail or e-mail notices to, or make telephone calls to, any Customer (defined below) or Customer Prospect (defined below) of ABMC, for the purpose of selling any Covered Services (defined below) or engaging in any business which directly or indirectly competes with ABMC.

 

· You will not solicit, endeavor to entice away from ABMC, or otherwise interfere with the relationship of ABMC with any person who is employed (or, but for any violation of this agreement, would have been employed) by or otherwise engaged to perform services for ABMC, whether for your own account or for the account of any other person or entity.

 

· You will not, directly or indirectly, solicit in any manner or capacity whatsoever, including by way of illustration, but not limitation, call upon, mail, or e-mail notices to, or make telephone call to, any supplier or vendor of ABMC for the purpose of engaging in any business which directly or indirectly competes with ABMC.

 

Confidentiality

 

You agree not to disclose any Confidential Information (defined below) and you promise to take all reasonable precautions to prevent its unauthorized dissemination, both at all times during your employment with ABMC and after termination of your employment for any reason. You agree to limit the disclosure of any Confidential Information to only those employees and agents of ABMC who have a need to know the information and who have similarly agreed to keep such information confidential. Upon termination of your employment or upon request, you will deliver to ABMC all documents and electronic files containing Confidential Information and any personal property owned by ABMC.

 

You further agree not to use any Confidential Information for your own benefit or for the benefit of anyone other than ABMC. You acknowledge that all Confidential Information is and remains the property of ABMC and that no license or rights in the Confidential Information has been or is granted to you.

 

 
 

 

“Confidential Information" means and includes all information not previously known by you prior to your employment with ABMC relating to marketing, advertising, public relations, development, services, trade secrets, trade "know-how," business plans, Customer (as defined below) and Customer Prospect (as defined below) lists, distributor lists, Customers and Customer Prospects information, distributor information, financial data, personnel data, employee compensation and benefits information, new personnel acquisition plans, details of contracts, pricing policies, operational methods, marketing plans or strategies, service development techniques or plans, business acquisition or investment plans, or other confidential and proprietary information related to the business or affairs of ABMC and/or its Customers or Customer Prospects.

 

The term "Customer" means any person or entity for which ABMC performed any Covered Services during the one (1) year period immediately preceding the termination of your employment with ABMC for any reason whatsoever.

 

  "Customer Prospect" means any person or entity to which ABMC made a new business presentation or proposal, whether formal or informal related to Covered Services during the one (1) year period immediately preceding the termination of your employment with ABMC for any reason whatsoever.

 

  “Covered Services” means any services or products of whatever kind or character offered or provided by ABMC to any person or entity.

 

Enforcement

 

If any provision of the covenants in this agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder nevertheless shall remain in full force and effect. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable with respect to particular circumstances, it nevertheless shall remain in full force and effect in all other circumstances.

 

If, in connection with any action taken by ABMC to enforce the provisions of the covenants of this agreement, a court shall hold that all or any portion of the restrictions contained therein are unreasonable under the circumstances then existing so as to render such covenants invalid or unenforceable, the parties agree that any court of competent jurisdiction may reform such unreasonable restrictions to the extent necessary to make such restrictions reasonable under the circumstances then existing so as to render such restrictions both valid and enforceable.

 

You acknowledge and agree that all of the covenants contained in this agreement are necessary for the protection of ABMC's valuable and legitimate business interests and are reasonable in scope and content. Accordingly, you acknowledge and agree that if you violate any of the provisions of this agreement ABMC shall sustain irreparable harm and, therefore, in addition to the other remedies which ABMC may have under this agreement or otherwise, ABMC will be entitled to specific performance, injunctive, and other equitable relief.

 

You agree to indemnify, save and hold harmless ABMC from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by ABMC in any action in which a court enforces the terms of the covenants of this agreement.

 

 
 

 

Other Employment Information

 

In making this offer of continued employment, ABMC has relied on your representations that: (a) you are not currently a party to any contract of employment that might impede your ability to accept this offer or to perform the services completed thereby; and (b) that you are not subject to any non-competition arrangement or other restrictive covenants that might restrict your employment at ABMC as contemplated by this offer.

 

Exclusive Service

 

You will perform services exclusively for ABMC and you will not perform services for any other persons or entities related to or conducting business with the Company for personal profit during the term of this agreement without the written agreement of the Board of Directors.

 

Miscellaneous

 

This writing represents the entire agreement with respect to your employment and any prior agreements or understandings, written or oral, are merged herein. This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York. ABMC will not be deemed to have waived any provision of this agreement except by a signed writing. This agreement may not be amended, except by a signed writing. Notices given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered personally or by nationally recognized overnight courier in the case of ABMC to its Kinderhook facility to the attention of the Compensation Committee Chairman of the Board of Directors and in your case to your home address as set forth in ABMC’s personnel file.

 

Melissa, we are enthusiastic about your continued appointment as CEO/PFAO, and our expectation is that you will continue to make a tremendous contribution to the long-term success of ABMC.

 

Sincerely,

 

/S/ Jean Neff  
   
Jean Neff (Compensation Committee Chair)  
By order of the American Bio Medica Corporation Board of Directors  
   
Accepted this 19th Day of June, 2014:  
   
/S/ Melissa A. Waterhouse  
Melissa A. Waterhouse