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)          February 19, 2021          


COMSOVEREIGN HOLDING CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

Nevada   333-150332   46-5538504
(State or other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

5000 Quorum Drive, Suite 400

Dallas, TX

  75254
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (zip code)

 

           (904) 834-4400           

(Registrant’s telephone
number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of 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(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12(b))

 

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)

 

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

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share   COMS   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Warrants to purchase Common Stock   COMSW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

 

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

 

Appointment of Chief Financial Officer

 

On February 23, 2021, COMSovereign Holding Corp. (the “Company”) announced the appointment of Martin R. Wade III as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, effective February 20, 2021.

 

Mr. Wade, age 71, has spent 40 years advising senior management and boards of directors on more than 200 business strategy, acquisition, divestiture and restructuring projects.  Since 2007, Mr. Wade has been a Partner in Residence with Catalyst Acquisition Group, an investment firm focusing on the acquisition and restructuring of distressed companies in the United States and internationally. Since 2007, Mr. Wade also has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Broadcaster, Inc., a company engaged in the internet service provider and applications businesses; since July 2019, Mr. Wade has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VITA Mobile Systems, Inc. (OTC:VMSI), a technology company focusing on digital imaging in mobile devices, collection of big data and development of artificial intelligence; since September 2019, Mr. Wade has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Madice.com., an ecommerce distributor of hemp-based CBD products; since October 2020, Mr. Wade has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FOX Automotive USA, Inc., an electric vehicle manufacturer; and from August 2017 to January 2019, Mr. Wade was interim Chief Executive Officer of Payless Shoesource, Inc., a discount footwear retailer. Payless Shoesource, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2019. Since 2010, Mr. Wade has also been a director of MNG Enterprises, Inc., a company that owns media properties such as The Denver Post, San Jose Mercury News, Orange County Register and the Boston Herald. In addition, since October 2020, Mr. Wade has been a director of Oyster Enterprises Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: OSTRU), a special purpose acquisition company.  From 2001 to August 2020, Mr. Wade was a director of Pyxus International, Inc., formerly known as Alliance One International, LLC. (OTC: PYYX), an international leaf tobacco storage, sales and distribution company that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2020. Mr. Wade’s career includes holding senior-level positions with investment banking firms, including Lehman Brothers and Salomon Brothers, and serving as National Head of Investment Banking at Price Waterhouse LLP. Mr. Wade graduated from West Virginia University in 1971 with a B.S. in Business Administration and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Air Force. In 1975, Mr. Wade was honorably discharged from the USAF holding the rank of Captain. Mr. Wade also received an MBA degree from the University of Wyoming in 1975.

 

Pursuant to the terms of an Employment Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2021 (the “Employment Agreement”), between the Company and Mr. Wade, Mr. Wade will receive (i) an annual base salary of $225,000; (ii) an initial option grant of ten-year options to purchase 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for a purchase price of $4.70 per share, which options will vest on February 20, 2022; and (iii) the right to participate in all benefit plans offered to the Company’s senior executive officers.

 

The Employment Agreement also provides for certain severance benefits upon a termination by the Company without “cause” or by Mr. Wade for “good reason.” In the event of a termination by the Company without “cause” or by Mr. Wade for “good reason”, Mr. Wade would be entitled to (i) continued payment of his base salary for the lesser of six (6) months or the remaining term of the Employment Agreement, subject to Mr. Wade signing a timely and effective separation agreement containing a release of all claims against the Company and other customary terms.

 

The foregoing description of the Employment Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Employment Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

There are no family relationships between Mr. Wade and any director or other executive officer of the Company, nor are there any transactions to which the Company was or is a participant and in which Mr. Wade has a material interest subject to disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Wade and any other person pursuant to which he was selected as an officer of the Company.

 

Departure of Brian Mihelich

 

On February 23, 2021, the Company announced the departure of Brian T. Mihelich, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, to pursue other interests, including spending more time with his family. Mr. Mihelich and the Company mutually decided that, while Mr. Mihelich will step down as Chief Financial Officer effective upon Mr. Wade joining the Company, Mr. Mihelich would remain as an employee of the Company through March 5, 2021, at which time he will become a consultant to the Company through March 19, 2021 to assist with the transition of his former duties as Chief Financial Officer to Mr. Wade and assist with the Company’s 2020 year-end audit.

 

On February 19, 2021, the Company and Mr. Mihelich entered into a separation agreement and general release pursuant to which Mr. Mihelich (i) will be paid his current base salary through March 5, 2021, and (ii) will be entitled to a lump sum severance payment in the amount of $50,000, which will be grossed up for federal and state income taxes. In addition, Mr. Mihelich will be entitled to a lump sum consulting payment in the amount of $50,000. As additional consideration for the covenants and agreements set forth in the separation agreement and general release, Mr. Mihelich will be entitled to retain all 216,667 shares of common stock that Mr. Mihelich was granted during his employment, including 33,333 unvested shares that do not vest until December 2, 2021.

 

Mr. Mihelich’s decision to resign as Chief Financial Officer was not related to any disagreements with the Company on any matter relating to its operations, policies or practices or any issues regarding financial disclosures, accounting or legal matters.

 

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Item 8.01 Other Information.

 

On February 23, 2021, we issued a press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Wade as Chief Financial Officer and the departure of Mr. Mihelich. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibits 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

The information under this Item 8.01, including Exhibit 99.1, is deemed “furnished” and not “filed” under Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.  

Description

10.1   Employment Agreement dated as of February 19, 2021 between COMSovereign Holding Corp. and Martin R. Wade III.
     
10.2   Severance Agreement and General Release dated as of February 19, 2021 between COMSovereign Holding Corp. and Brian T. Mihelich.
     
99.1   Press release dated February 23, 2021

 

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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.

 

Date: February 23, 2021 COMSovereign Holding Corp.
   
  By: /s/ Daniel L. Hodges
    Daniel L. Hodges
    Chief Executive Officer

 

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of the 19th day of February, 2021, is by and between COMSovereign Holding Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and Martin R. Wade, III (the “Executive”). the Company and the Executive are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

 

WITNESSETH

 

WHEREAS, the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates design, build and support infrastructures for the technology and telecommunications industries and the aerostat and drone industry (the “Business”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company has developed and will develop relationships with Customers, Prospective Customers, Vendors, suppliers and shippers as well as a reputation in the technology and communications industries and the aerostat and drone industry, which are and will become of great importance and value to the Company in connection with its Business, and the loss of or injury to the Business will result in substantial and irreparable damage to the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has acquired and/or developed certain trade secrets and Confidential Information, as more fully described below, and has expended significant time and expense in acquiring or developing its trade secret or Confidential Information; and expends significant time and expense on an ongoing basis in supporting its employees, including the Executive; and

 

WHEREAS, in the course of the Executive’s employment by the Company, the Executive may receive, be taught or otherwise have access to items and information associated with the Business such as sales, purchasing, transportation, documentation, marketing and trading techniques, information and materials, customer and supplier lists or information, correspondence, records, financial information, pricing information, computer systems, computer software applications, business plans and other information which is confidential and proprietary.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the forgoing, the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the Parties hereby acknowledge, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Adoption of Recitals. The Company and Executive hereto adopt the above recitals as being true and correct.

 

2. Employment. The Company shall employ the Executive, and the Executive shall accept such employment with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the period beginning on February 20, 2021 (the “Effective Date”) and ending as provided in Section 6 hereof (the “Employment Period”).

 

 

 

 

3. Position and Duties.

 

(a) During the Employment Period, the Executive shall (i) serve the Company in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and Executive Vice President, and (ii) have such duties, responsibilities and authorities consistent with his position and as the Company’s CEO or his or her designee may from time to time confer and direct (collectively, the “Duties”).

 

(b) The Executive shall devote his full business time, effort and energy to the affairs of the Company and the discharge of the Duties.

 

4. Compensation. Base Compensation. the Company shall pay the Executive an annual base salary in the amount of not less than $225,000.00, calculated and paid in accordance with the Company’s standard practices and policies in effect from time to time; provided, however, that the Company may reduce the Executive’s annual base salary without the prior consent of the Executive if such reduction is implemented in connection with a contemporaneous and substantially similar (or greater) reduction in annual base salaries affecting other executives of the Company with responsibilities substantially similar to the Executive (a “Global Salary Reduction”). The Executive’s annual base salary, as may be adjusted from time to time, is hereinafter referred to as the “Base Salary”.

 

5. Additional Benefits.

 

(a) Initial Option Grant.  As soon as practicable after the Effective Date, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, the Company shall grant Executive Incentive Stock Options (the “Option”) to purchase 150,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.  The Option shall (i) have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of such shares on the Effective Date (the Effective Date closing price), (ii) have a term of ten years, and (iii) vest on the first anniversary of the Effective Date of continued employement with the Company.  The Option shall be subject to the terms of the Company’s 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) under which it is granted and the terms of the award agreement evidencing such award (the “Option Agreement”).  Executive acknowledges that the grant of the Option shall at all times be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and Option Agreement. 

 

(b) Expenses. the Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable expenses incurred by him in the course of performing the Duties, to the extent consistent with the policies established by the Company from time to time with respect to travel and other business expenses, subject to the Company’s requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses. The Executive’s right to reimbursement for expenses hereunder shall be subject to the following additional rules: (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during any calendar year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (ii) reimbursement shall be made not later than December 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred, and (iii) the right to reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

 

(c) Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in such benefit plans as the Company provides to its employees from time to time in accordance with the Company policies, except to the extent that such plans are duplicative of benefits otherwise provided to the Executive under this Agreement (e.g., a severance pay plan). Such participation will be subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, and any other restrictions or limitations imposed by law.

 

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(d) Vacation and Other Leave.  During the Employment Period, the Executive’s annual rate of vacation accrual shall be four (4) weeks per year, with such vacation to accrue and be subject to the Company’s vacation policies in effect from time to time, including any policy which may limit vacation accruals and/or disallows the carryover from year to year of accrued but unused vacation to.  The Executive shall also be entitled to all other holiday and leave pay generally available to other executives of the Company.

 

6. Term.

 

(a) Subject to earlier termination pursuant to this Section 6, the Employment Period shall continue from the Closing Date for an initial term of one (1) year, and shall automatically renew annually thereafter for subsequent one (1) year terms, unless either the Company or the Executive provides written notice of non-renewal to the other Party not later than sixty (60) days prior to the last day of the then-current term.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employment Period shall earlier terminate under the following circumstances: (i) the Executive’s death or “Permanent Disability” (defined as the expiration of a continuous period of 120 days during which the Executive is unable to perform all of the Duties due to physical or mental incapacity); (ii) the Agreement is terminated for Cause (as defined below) by the Company at any time upon notice to the Executive setting forth in reasonable detail the nature of the cause; (iii) the Agreement is terminated for Good Reason (as defined below) by the Executive in accordance with the timing requirements specified below; (iv) the Agreement is terminated by the Company without Cause at any time upon notice to the Executive; or (v) the Agreement is terminated by the Executive without Good Reason upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Company (provided that the Company may elect to waive such notice period or any portion thereof; but in that event, the Company shall pay the Base Salary for that portion of the notice period so waived).

 

(c) For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean, as determined by the Company in its reasonable judgment, (i) the failure or refusal by the Executive to perform his lawful Duties (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to illness) which, if capable of cure, has not been cured within fifteen (15) business days after written notice of such breach delivered to the Executive by the Company; (ii) the Executive’s material breach of this Agreement, any other agreement between him and the Company (including without limitation the Non-Competition Agreement, as defined below) or any material policy of the Company or its affiliates applicable to him that has been communicated to him in writing which, if capable of cure, has not been cured within fifteen (15) business days after written notice of such breach delivered to the Executive by the Company; (iii) the Executive’s willful misconduct or gross negligence with respect to the performance of the Duties, which, if capable of cure, has not been cured within fifteen (15) business days following written notice of such violation delivered to the Executive by the Company; (iv) the Executive’s conviction, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere, with respect to any felony, or any act of fraud, theft, or financial dishonesty with respect to the Company or any of its affiliates, customers or business partners, or any other crime involving dishonesty, disloyalty or fraud; or (v) habitual alcohol or substance abuse by the Executive.

 

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(d) For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall exist upon (i) mutual written agreement by the Executive and the Company that Good Reason exists, or (ii) reduction of the Executive’s annual base salary without the prior consent of the Executive (other than a reduction in annual base salary that is implemented in connection with a Global Salary Reduction); provided, however, that in order for employment to terminate for Good Reason, (A) the Executive must provide written notice to the Company, setting forth in reasonable detail the nature of the condition giving rise to Good Reason, within thirty (30) days of the initial existence of such condition, (B) the condition must remain uncured for a period of thirty (30) days following such notice and (C) the Executive must terminate his employment, if at all, not later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of such cure period.

 

(e) In the event of any dispute regarding the existence of the Executive’s Permanent Disability hereunder, the matter will be resolved by a physician qualified to practice medicine and has no prior knowledge of the Executive, which physician shall be selected by the Company and be reasonably acceptable to the Executive or his representative. For this purpose, the Executive will submit to all appropriate medical examinations and any determination by such a physician will be final and conclusive of the issue for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

7. Matters Related to Termination.

 

(a) Final Compensation. In the event of termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder, howsoever occurring, the Company shall pay to the Executive (i) the Base Salary for the final payroll period of the Executive’s employment, through the date of termination and (ii) reimbursement for business expenses incurred by the Executive but not yet paid to the Executive as of the date of termination, provided that the Executive submits all expenses and supporting documentation required within thirty (30) days of the date of termination, and provided further that such expenses are reimbursable under Company policies as then in effect (all of the foregoing, “Final Compensation”). All Final Compensation shall be paid to the Executive at the time prescribed by law or applicable Company policies for such payment, but in no event more than sixty (60) days following the date of termination.

 

(b) Severance. In the event that the Executive’s employment terminates pursuant to Section 6(b)(iii) or 6(b)(iv) hereof, the Company will pay to the Executive, in addition to Final Compensation, six (6) months of the Base Salary or the remaining current Term, whichever is shorter (the “Severance Payments”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any obligation of the Company to provide the Severance Payments is conditioned on the Executive’s signing and returning to the Company a timely and effective separation agreement containing a release of all claims against the Company and other customary terms (the “Separation Agreement”). The Separation Agreement must become effective, if at all, by the sixtieth (60th) calendar day following the date of termination. The Severance Payments will be in the form of salary continuation, payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Company. The first payment, which shall be retroactive to the date immediately following the date of termination, will be made on the first regularly scheduled payroll date that follows the expiration of sixty (60) days from the date of termination.

 

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(c) Benefits Termination. Except for any right that the Executive may have under the federal law known as “COBRA” (and any applicable state or local laws) to continued participation in the Company’s group health plans at his cost, the Executive’s participation in all employee benefit plans shall terminate in accordance with the terms of the applicable benefit plans based on the date of termination of employment, without regard to any continuation of base salary or other payment to the Executive following termination, and the Executive shall not be eligible to earn vacation or other paid time off following the termination of employment.

 

8. Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, to the extent that any payment to be made to the Executive, whether pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of and subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”) such payment shall not be made prior to the date that is the earlier of (i) six months and one day after the Executive’s separation from service with the Company and affiliate or subsidiary of the Company and (ii) the Executive’s death; except to the extent of (A) payments that do not constitute a deferral of compensation within the meaning of Treasury regulation Section 1.409A-1(b) (including without limitation by reason of the safe harbor set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), as determined by the Company in its reasonable good faith discretion); (B) benefits which qualify as excepted welfare benefits pursuant to Treasury regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5); or (C) other amounts or benefits that are not subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The terms of this Section 8 shall apply only if the Executive is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A) on the date of such separation from service, and shall only apply to the extent the delay of such payment is necessary to prevent such payment from being subject to interest, penalties and/or additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A. Each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment and the right to a series of installment payments under this Agreement is to be treated as a right to a series of separate payments. In no event shall the Company have any liability relating to the failure or alleged failure of any payment or benefit under this Agreement to comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A.

 

9. Ownership of Works; Infringement Indemnity.

 

(a) Assignment of Works. Executive agrees to promptly make full written disclosure to the Company, to hold in trust for the sole right and benefit of the Company, and hereby assigns, transfers, grants and conveys to the Company, all of his worldwide right, title, ownership and interest in and to any and all designs, trademarks, inventions, original works of authorship, findings, conclusions, data, discoveries, developments, concepts, improvements, trade secrets, techniques, processes, know-how and other work product, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar laws, which Executive may solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice, or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to practice, in the performance of this Agreement or which result, to any extent, from use of the Company’s premises or property (collectively, the “Works”), including any and all intellectual property rights inherent in the Works and appurtenant thereto including, without limitation, all patent rights, copyrights, trademarks, know-how and trade secrets (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”). Executive further acknowledges and agrees that all original works of authorship which are made by him in the performance of this Agreement and which are protectable by copyright are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act and belong solely to the Company. Executive agrees that all Works developed by Executive during the course of this Agreement, or developed in future using Works as the basis, are the sole property of the Company. However, to the extent that any such work may not, by operation of any applicable law, be a work made for hire, Executive hereby assigns, transfers and conveys to the Company all of his worldwide right, title and interest in and to such Work, including all Intellectual Property Rights therein and appurtenant thereto. Executive hereby waives any and all “moral rights” that he may have in any of the Works under the Berne Convention or any other applicable law, rule or regulation. Executive agrees that he will retain no rights in any of the Works or any of the Intellectual Property Rights in or relating thereto. Executive agrees that the Company owns the entire right, title, ownership and interest in and to all of the Works and all Intellectual Property Rights in or relating thereto including, without limitation, the right to reproduce the Works, modify the Works, prepare derivative works based upon the Works or the copyright or any other Intellectual Property Rights in or relating thereto, sell or otherwise distribute the Works. Executive warrants that all of the Works and all Intellectual Property Rights in or related thereto are free and clear of all liens, security interests, claims and other encumbrances of any type.

 

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(b) Further Assurances. Upon the request and at the expense of the Company, except as provided below, Executive shall execute and deliver any and all instruments and documents and take such other acts as may be reasonably necessary to document the assignment and transfer described in Section 9(a) above or to enable the Company to secure its rights in the Works and any Intellectual Property Rights in or relating thereto in any and all jurisdictions, or to apply for, prosecute and enforce patents, trademark registrations, copyrights or other Intellectual Property Rights in any and all jurisdictions with respect to any Works, or to obtain any extension, validation, re-issue, continuance or renewal of any such Intellectual Property Right. Whether any Intellectual Property Rights in or relating to any of the Works will be preserved, maintained, or registered in any jurisdiction shall be at the sole discretion of the Company.

 

(c) Attorney in Fact. If the Company is unable, after reasonable effort, to secure Executive’s signature as required in Section 9(b) for any reason whatsoever, Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as his agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and in Executive’s behalf and stead to execute and file any such application or applications or other documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of a patent, copyright or trademark or any other legal protection thereon with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Executive.

 

10. Covenants.

 

(a) Definitions.

 

(i) The term the “Company” shall mean COMSoveregin Holding Corp. and its subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities. It is understood that any subsidiaries, affiliates or related entities of the Company are intended third-party beneficiaries of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(ii) The term “Confidential Information” shall include, but not be limited to: Customer lists and Prospective Customer lists; specific information on Customers and Prospective Customers (including information on purchasing preferences, credit information, and pricing); terms and conditions under which the Company deals with Vendors and supplier or prospective Vendors or suppliers; employee and independent contractor lists; the Company’s sources of supply; the Company’s billing rates; pricing lists (including item and Customer specific pricing information); names of agents; operations; contractual or personnel data; trade secrets; license agreements; proprietary purchasing and sales methods and techniques; proprietary compositions, ideas and improvements; pricing methods and strategies; computer programs, computer systems, computer data, system documentation, special hardware, product hardware, related software development and computer software design and/or improvements; methods of distribution; market feasibility studies; proposed or existing marketing techniques or plans; sales and sales volumes; purchasing, transportation, documentation, marketing and trading techniques of Customers, potential Customers and/or Vendors; inventions (including Works and Intellectual Property Rights as defined above); future the Company business plans; project files; design systems; information on current and potential Vendors including, but not limited to, their identity, pricing, and purchasing information not generally known; personal information about the Company’s executives, officers and directors; correspondence, and letters, notes, notebooks, reports, flowcharts, proposals, processes and/or any and all other confidential or proprietary information belonging to the Company or relating to the Company’s business and/or affairs; and (ii) any information that is of value or significance to the Company that derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, including information not generally known to the competitors of the Company nor intended by the Company for general dissemination. Confidential Information shall not include any: (a) information known generally to the public (other than as a result of unauthorized disclosure by the Executive); (b) information that became available from a third party source and such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement; (c) any information not otherwise considered by the Board of Directors of the Company to be Confidential Information; (d) information which is subsequently independently conceived or developed by Executive without use or reference to Confidential Information; or (e) information which is generally applicable business or industry know-how or acumen of Executive’s which does not embody and is not predicated upon the Confidential Information.

 

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(iii) The term “Customer” shall mean any person or entity which has purchased goods, products or services from the Company, entered into any contract for products or services with the Company, and/or entered into any contract for the distribution of any products or services with the Company within the one (1) year immediately preceding the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for whatever reason; provided that such goods, products or services must be substantially related to the Business.

 

(iv) The phrase “directly or indirectly” shall include the Executive either on his/her own account, or as a partner, owner, promoter, joint venturer, employee, agent, consultant, advisor, manager, executive, independent contractor, officer, director, stockholder, or otherwise, of an entity.

 

(v) The term “Non-Compete Period” shall mean the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date that is twenty-four (24) months immediately following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for whatever reason.

 

(vi) The term “Prospective Customer” shall mean any person or entity which has expressed material interest in purchasing goods, products or services from the Company, expressed material interest in entering into any contract for products or services with the Company, and/or expressed material interest in entering into any contract for the distribution of any products or services with the Company within the one (1) year immediately preceding the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for whatever reason; provided that such goods, products or services must be substantially related to the Business.

 

(vii) The term “Restricted Area” shall include any geographical location anywhere in the world where the Executive has been assigned to perform services on behalf of the Company during the Term and where the Company, its affiliates or subsidiaries are engaged in the Business.

 

(viii) The term “Restricted Business” shall mean any business that competes with the Company in the Business, as such business now exists or as it may exist at the time of the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for whatever reason.

 

(ix) The term “Vendor” shall mean any supplier, person, or entity from which the Company has purchased products or services during the one (1) year immediately preceding the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for whatever reason; provided that such products or services must be substantially related to the Business.

 

(b) Non-Competition. During the Non-Compete Period, in the Restricted Area, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in, promote, finance, own, operate, develop, sell or manage or assist in or carry on in any Restricted Business, provided, however, that the Executive may at any time own securities of any competitor corporation whose securities are publicly traded on a recognized exchange so long as the aggregate holdings of the Executive in any one such corporation shall constitute not more than 5% of the voting stock of such corporation.

 

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(c) Non-Solicitation of Employees or Independent Contractors. During the Non-Compete Period, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or independent contractor engaged and/or utilized by the Company in any capacity to terminate his/her employment with, or engagement by, the Company. Likewise, during the Non-Compete Period, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, hire or attempt to hire for another entity or person any employee of the Company or independent contractor engaged and/or utilized by the Company in any capacity.

 

(d) Non-Solicitation of Customers, Prospective Customers, or Vendors. During the Non-Compete Period, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, sell, design, build, or support network infrastructures for the technology and telecommunications industries to any Customer, Prospective Customer, or Vendor of the Company through any entity other than the Company. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company has substantial relationships with its Customers, Vendors and Prospective Customers, which the Company expends significant time and resources in acquiring and maintaining, and that the Company has Confidential Information pertaining to its business and its Customer, Vendors and Prospective Customers, and that the Company’s Confidential Information and relationships with its Customers, Vendors and Prospective Customers constitute significant and valuable assets of the Company.

 

(e) Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information. During and after employment under this Agreement, including but not limited to the Non-Compete Period, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Board of the Company, or a person duly authorized thereby, other than a person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance by the Executive of the duties of the Executive as an employee of the Company, as may be required by law or in response to a court order or a request by a regulatory or administrative body, or as may be necessary to enforce any agreement between the Company and Executive, disclose or use for the benefit of himself/herself or any other person, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, or other business organization, any of the trade secrets or Confidential Information of the Company. If the Executive is legally required to disclose any Confidential Information or trade secrets, to the extent practicable, the Executive will provide the Company with written notice. Notice shall be provided in accordance with Section 15 below.

 

(f) Need for Restrictions. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that each of the restrictive covenants contained in this Section 10 is reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company, including, without limitation, the need to protect the Company’s trade secrets and Confidential Information and the need to protect its relationships with its Customers, Prospective Customers, Vendors, and agents. The Executive also acknowledges and agrees, as set forth in Subsection 10(g) below, that the Company may obtain a temporary, preliminary, and/or permanent injunction to restrain any violations of, or otherwise enforce, the restrictive covenants contained in Section 10.

 

(g) Breach of Restrictive Covenants. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any restrictive covenant set forth in Section 10, the Executive agrees that such a breach or threatened breach would cause irreparable injury to the Company, and that, if the Company shall bring legal proceedings against the Executive to enforce any restrictive covenant, the Company shall be entitled to seek all available civil remedies, at law or in equity, including, without limitation, an injunction without posting a bond. In any action resulting from a breach of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover his or its attorneys’ fees and costs.

 

(h) Successors and Assigns. the Company and its successors and assigns may enforce these restrictive covenants.

 

(i) Severability. If any portion of any covenant in this Section 10 or its application is construed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, then the other portions and their application shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforceable without regard thereto. If any of the Covenants is determined to be unenforceable because of its scope, duration, geographical area or similar factor, then the court making such determination shall have the power to reduce or limit such scope, duration, area or other factor, and such Covenant shall then be enforceable in its reduced or limited form. All provisions of this Section 10 shall survive the term of this Agreement and Executive’s employment with the Company.

 

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11. Return of Company Property. All of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ and affiliates’ products, Customer correspondence, internal memoranda, designs, sales brochures, training manuals, project files, price lists, Customer and Vendor lists, prospectus reports, Customer or Vendor information, sales literature, territory printouts, call books, notebooks, textbooks e-mails and Internet access, and all other like information or products, including all copies, duplications, replications and derivatives of such information or products, acquired by the Executive while in the employ of the Company, whether prepared by the Executive or coming into the Executive’s possession, shall be the exclusive property of the Company and shall be returned immediately to the Company upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason or upon request by the President of the Company or the Board of the Company. The Executive also shall return immediately return any the Company issued property including, but not limited to, laptops, computers, thumb drives, removable media devices, flash drives, smartphones, cellular phones, iPads and other devices upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason or upon request by the President of the Company or the Board. The Executive’s obligations under this Section 11 shall exist whether or not any of these items or materials contain Confidential Information or trade secrets. The parties hereto shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding retention of and access to this Agreement and all books, documents and records in connection therewith. The Executive shall provide the Company with a signed certificate evidencing that all such property has been returned, and that no such property or Confidential Information or trade secret has been retained by the Executive in any form.

 

12. Executive and Company Representations. The Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Executive does not and will not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Executive is a party or by which he is bound, and (ii) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Executive that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company does not and will not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound and (ii) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Executive, this Agreement shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

13. Arbitration. The Parties agree that, except for any rights that any party may have to apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance or injunctive relief, all disputes shall be submitted solely and exclusively to final and binding arbitration before a single, neutral arbitrator before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), in accordance with the AAA’s prevailing National Rules for the Resolution of Commercial Disputes. Such arbitration shall proceed in New York, New York, and the Demand for Arbitration shall only be filed with the AAA after the initiating party provides the other party(s) with at least thirty (30) days’ advance notice of the contemplated demand. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The initiating party shall advance the arbitration filing fee, and all other AAA administrative fees shall be shared equally by the parties to such a dispute, subject to apportionment by the arbitrator in the award. Each party shall be solely responsible for its own costs and attorneys’ fees. The foregoing notwithstanding, in the event that either party shall institute litigation in court for purposes of seeking injunctive relief or specific performance then all claims, counterclaims or causes of action that one party may have against the other shall be resolved in such litigation and the foregoing requirement that the parties shall resolve their disputes by mandatory arbitration shall be null and void.

 

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14. Survival. The provisions of Sections 7 through 25, along with any other provisions necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of such sections, shall survive and continue in full force in accordance with their terms notwithstanding any termination of the Employment Period. The obligation of the Company to make payments to the Executive under Section 7(b) hereof, and the Executive’s right to retain the same, are expressly conditioned upon the Executive’s continued full performance of his obligations hereunder. Upon termination by either the Executive or the Company, all rights, duties and obligations of the Executive and the Company to each other shall cease, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

15. Notices. All notices, requests, demands, consents or other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if and when: (i) delivered personally, (ii) three (3) business days after being mailed by first class certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (iii) one (1) business day after being sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, delivery charges prepaid, or (iv) one (1) business day after being sent by email or facsimile to the other party at the addresses stated herein or to such other address of which either party may give notice to the other in accordance with this Section.

 

If to the Company:

General Counsel

Attn: Kevin M. Sherlock

ComSovereign Holding Corp.

5000 Quorum Drive STE 400

Dallas, TX 75254

Email: KSherlock@COMSovereign.com

 

With a copy to:                                 Pryor Cashman LLP

7 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

Attention: Eric M. Hellige

Facsimile: (212) 798-6380

Email: ehellige@pryorcashman.com

 

If to the Executive:                           Martin R. Wade, III

Email: mwade@broadcaster2.com

 

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16. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

17. Complete Agreement. This Agreement embodies the complete agreement and understanding among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the Parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof, including without limitation the employment agreement between the Executive and the Company.

 

18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, including via facsimile, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

 

19. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive, the Company and their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns. The Executive may not assign his rights or delegate his obligations hereunder. The Company may assign all or any part of this Agreement to any third party that shall (i) acquire the Company, or any parent of the Company, in a merger, (ii) acquire a majority of the capital stock of the Company, or any parent of the Company, or (iii) purchase all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (or all or substantially all of the assets of the portion of the Company’s business that the Executive’s employment was most associated with), provided, however, that in each case the Company shall provide the Executive with written notice thereof.

 

20. Key Man Insurance. While the Executive is employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the Company may at any time effect insurance on the Executive’s life and/or health in such amounts and in such form as the Company may in its sole discretion decide. Except as provided under the applicable terms of a policy or other arrangement, the Executive will not have any interest in such insurance, but shall, if the Company requests, submit to such medical examinations, supply such information and execute such documents as may be required in connection with, or so as to enable the Company to effect, such insurance.

 

21. Choice of Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. All suits, actions or other proceedings seeking to enforce, or otherwise arising in connection with, this Agreement shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in the New York, New York. Each of the Parties irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the foregoing courts in such matters and irrevocably waives any objection such Party may otherwise have against such jurisdiction.

 

22. Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the express, prior, written consent of the Company and the Executive, and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement.

 

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23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument representing the agreement of the parties hereto.

 

24. Electronic Document. A copy of this Agreement or signature page hereto signed and transmitted by facsimile machine, as an attachment to an e-mail or by other electronic means (collectively an “Electronic Document”), shall be treated as an original document. The signature of any party thereon, for purposes hereof, is to be considered an original signature, and the Electronic Document transmitted is to be considered to have the same binding effect as an original signature on an original document. No party shall raise the use of an Electronic Document or the fact that a signature was transmitted through the use of a facsimile machine, e-mail or other electronic means as a defense to the enforcement of this Agreement or any amendment or other document executed in compliance with this Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  COMSOVEREIGN HOLDING CORP.:
     
  By: /s/ Daniel L. Hodges
  Name: Daniel L. Hodges
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  EXECUTIVE:
     
  /s/ Martin R. Wade, III
  Martin R. Wade, III

 

 

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Exhibit 10.2

 

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

 

THIS SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE (the “Agreement”) dated as of the 19th day of February, 2021, is made between COMSovereign Holding Corp., a Nevada corporation, (the “Company”) and Brian T. Mihelich (the “Employee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Employee is currently employed by the Company pursuant to that certain Employment Agreement between Employee and the Company dated as of December 2, 2019, which has a current term that expires on December 31, 2021 (the “Employment Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, Employee and the Company have mutually agreed that Employee’s employment and all positions, titles and offices with the Company and, if and as applicable, any and all of its subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities shall separate effective as of the close of business on the Separation Date (as defined in Section 2 below);

 

WHEREAS, conditioned upon the timely execution of this Agreement and the other conditions set forth herein, the Company has offered the Employee certain bonus payments and other benefits subject to and conditioned on the Employee’s timely execution of, and compliance with, this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, voluntarily and of his own free will, the Employee desires to accept and receive such severance payments and other benefits on the terms and conditions herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the Employee and the Company agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions. Any capitalized terms used shall have the meaning as provided in this Agreement.

 

2. Separation from Employment. The Employee agrees and confirms that his employment and all of his positions, titles and offices with the Company (and, if and as applicable, any and all of its subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities) shall end effective at the close of business on March 5, 2021 (the “Separation Date”). The Employee agrees that the termination of his employment as contemplated under this Agreement shall be treated as a voluntary resignation without Good Reason for all purposes including, without limitation, for purposes of all compensation and benefits due and owing under the Employment Agreement.

 

3. Employee’s Position and Duties Through the Separation Date. Through the Separation Date, the Employee shall continue to serve in his current capacity and in such other capacity or capacities as the Board shall reasonably delegate. Upon the commencement of a new Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), Employee shall relinquish the CFO title, and shall assist with the smooth transition of the CFO duties to the CFO in an orderly manner. Employee’s duties shall include diligently performing any responsibilities required by the Company, including but not limited to those relating to cooperation with any internal investigation.

 

4. Base Salary and Company-Sponsored Group Medical Coverage. Through the Separation Date, the Employee shall be paid his base salary at an annualized rate of $150,000 less required withholdings (the “Base Salary”) and continue to be entitled to Company-sponsored group medical coverage on the same terms he currently enjoys. On or before the Separation Date, the Company shall pay to Employee all accrued payroll owed to Employee.

 

 

 

 

5. Employment Agreement. The Employee and the Company agree that other than the obligations under Sections 8(n) (Non-Solicitation), 8(n) (Covenant Not to Compete), and 8(p) (Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information) of the Employment Agreement, the Employment Agreement is terminated, null and void, that this Agreement supersedes and replaces the Employment Agreement and that unless expressly set forth herein, the Employee is not entitled to any payments or benefits of any kind from the Company. In addition, the Employee acknowledges and agrees that his obligations under Sections 8(n), 8(m), and 8(p) of the Employment Agreement survive the termination of the Employment Agreement. In addition, the Employee acknowledges and agrees that his obligations pursuant to the December 2, 2019 Non-Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreement, and the December 2, 2019 Invention Assignment & Secrecy Agreement remain in full force and effect.

 

6. Severance.

 

a. Severance Payment. In consideration of the Employee’s promises, covenants and releases set forth in this Agreement, including the releases given by the Employee to the Company and the other Company Releasees (as defined below) in Sections 9 and 10 of this Agreement, and contingent upon (a) the Employee’s execution and delivery of this Agreement to the Company during the Review Period (as defined below in Section 9), (b) this Agreement becoming effective and not revoked (as defined below in Section 9), and (c) the Employee’s compliance with all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company shall Pay the Employee a severance payment of $50,000 (the “Severance Payment”). The Severance Payment of $50,000 will be paid, less applicable withholdings and deductions, but grossed up for state and federal income tax. The Severance Payment shall be paid on or before the Separation Date.

 

b. Stock holdings. Also in consideration of the Employee’s promises, covenants and releases set forth in this Agreement, including the releases given by the Employee to the Company and the other Company Releasees (as defined below) in Sections 9 and 10 of this Agreement, and contingent upon: (a) the Employee’s execution and delivery of this Agreement to the Company during the Review Period (as defined below in Section 10); (b) this Agreement becoming effective and not revoked (as defined below in Section 10); and (c) the Employee’s compliance with all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Employee shall retain all 216,667 shares of Company stock in Employee's account, #99900786 at ClearTrust, inclusive of the 33,333 unvested shares restricted share awards that do not vest until December 2, 2021. At the request of Employee, the Company will provide appropriate legal opinion letters to ClearTrust regarding Employee's submission of a Rule 144 legend removal request.

 

c. Consulting Period. Employee agrees to provide consulting services to the Company, including but not limited to the smooth transition to a new CFO and the smooth transition of the CFO's responsibilities regarding the 2020 year-end audit, from the Separation Date through March 19, 2021.

 

7. Acknowledgements; Good Consideration.

 

a. Subject to receipt of the payments referenced in Sections 4 and 6 of this Agreement, the Employee acknowledges and agrees that he has received all compensation, salary, bonuses, paid time off, severance, equity awards, interests and incentives, and any other benefits owed to him by the Company and/or any of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities and further agrees that he has no claims against the Company or any of the other Company Releasees for such compensation, salary, bonus, paid time off, severance, award, interests, incentives or other benefits.

 

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b. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that he would not otherwise be entitled to the Severance Bonus Payment provided in Section 6 above without his timely agreement to, non-revocation of, and compliance with this Agreement. The Employee further acknowledges that the Severance Bonus Payment pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (i) is in full and final discharge of any and all liabilities and obligations of the Company and any and all of the other “Company Releasees” (as defined in Section 8 below) to the Employee monetarily or with respect to employee benefits or otherwise (including but not limited to with respect to severance or separation pay, salary, bonuses, incentive compensation, and otherwise) and any and all obligations arising under any actual or alleged written, oral or implied employment agreement (including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement), promise, policy, plan, or procedure of the Company and/or any other Company Releasees and/or any alleged understanding or arrangement between the Employee and the Company and/or any other Company Releasees; (ii) exceed any such payment, benefit, or other thing of value to which the Employee might otherwise be entitled under any policy, procedure or plan of the Company and/or any of the other Company Releasees and/or any other agreement or understanding between the Employee and the Company and/or any of the other Company Releasees; and (iii) constitute good and valuable consideration for the Employee’s releases, covenants and obligations under this Agreement.

 

c. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Employee owes no amounts to the Company under the terms of the Employment Agreement..

 

8. General Release by the Employee. In consideration of the representations and covenants undertaken by the Company, including the Severance Bonus Payment described in Section 6 of this Agreement, the Employee releases, discharges, and promises not to sue the Company, or any of its past, present and future parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, and related entities, and any and all of its and their past, present and future directors, officers, members, shareholders, owners, investors, founders, principals, executives, employees, contractors, attorneys, representatives, insurers, and agents, and its and their respective predecessors, successors, and assigns (individually and collectively, the “Company Releasees”), from and with respect to any and all claims, actions, suits, liabilities, debts, controversies, contracts, agreements, obligations, damages, judgments, causes of action, and contingencies whatsoever, including attorneys’ fees and costs, in law or in equity, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, asserted or unasserted, which against any of the Company Releasees, the Employee and/or any or all of his executors, heirs, administrators, representatives, insurers, agents, attorneys, successors and assigns ever had, now has or have, or hereafter can, shall, or may have for, upon, or by reason of any matter, cause, act, occurrence, omission, decision, or thing whatsoever from the beginning of the world through the date on which the Employee executes this Agreement (individually and collectively, “Claims”). This includes, to the maximum extent permitted by law, (i) any Claims in connection with, relating to, or arising out of the Employee’s employment with the Company or any of the other Company Releasees, the terms and conditions of such employment, and/or the termination, resignation, separation or end of such employment; (ii) any Claims for compensation, salary, bonus, incentive compensation or similar benefit, options, stock or equity awards or similar awards or equity-based compensation, severance pay, pension, vacation pay, life insurance, disability benefits, health or medical insurance, or any other fringe benefit; (iii) any Claims under any federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance, including any Claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Texas Civil Rights laws, the Texas Minimum Wage Act, retaliation claims under Texas Workers’ Compensation law, or any other federal, state or local law (statutory or decisional), regulation or ordinance prohibiting employment discrimination, harassment or retaliation; (iv) any Claims in connection with, arising under or relating to the Employment Agreement; (v) any Claims under common law including, without limitation, any Claims for tort, breach of contract (express or implied, written or oral), quasi contract, detrimental reliance, any doctrine of good faith and fair dealing, violation of public policy, or wrongful or constructive discharge or termination; and (vi) any Claims for compensatory damages, punitive damages, liquidated damages, emotional distress, or attorneys’ fees, costs, disbursements and the like. The Employee intends this release to be a general release of any and all Claims to the fullest extent permissible by law. Nothing herein releases any claims arising out of or relating to enforcing the terms of this Agreement or any claims that, as a matter of law, cannot be released by private agreement.

 

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By signing this Agreement, Employee acknowledges and agrees that he has been paid for all salary, wages, and compensation earned through his last day worked, and that he is not entitled to receive, and shall not claim from the Company, any compensation, payments or benefits except for those payments and benefits that are expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

Employee understands that, by releasing all of his legally waivable claims, known or unknown, against the Company Releasees, he is releasing all of his rights to bring any claims against any of them based on any actions, decisions or events occurring through the date he signs this Agreement including the terms and conditions of his employment and the termination of his employment. This release excludes claims which cannot be waived by law, such as claims for unemployment benefit rights and workers' compensation benefits rights.

 

NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYEE FROM CONTACTING, FILING A CHARGE OR PARTICIPATING IN ANY PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION BY THE U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION (“EEOC”), DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (“DOL”), NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD (“NLRB”), OR COMPARABLE STATE OR LOCAL ENTITY. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, EMPLOYEE AGREES TO WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO RECOVER MONETARY DAMAGES IN ANY CHARGE, COMPLAINT, OR LAWSUIT FILED BY HIM OR ON HIS BEHALF.

 

9. Older Worker Benefit Protection Act Disclosure. The Employee recognizes that as part of this agreement to release any and all claims against the Company and the other Company Releasees, he is releasing claims for age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (regardless of whether he has ever asserted such claims). Accordingly, The Employee has a right to review and reflect upon this Agreement for a period of up to twenty-one (21) days after the date he receives this Agreement (the “Review Period”); and he has an additional period of seven (7) days after executing this Agreement to revoke it under the terms of the Older Worker Benefit Protection Act (the “Revocation Period”). Unless properly revoked during the Revocation Period, this Agreement, including the releases contained herein, shall become effective immediately upon the expiration of the Revocation Period (the “Effective Date”). The Employee is hereby advised in writing to consult with an attorney of his own choosing in connection with this Agreement. By his signature below, the Employee represents and warrants that he has been advised to consult with an attorney of his own choosing, that he has been given a reasonable amount of time to consider this Agreement, and that if he signs this Agreement prior to the expiration of the Review Period, he is voluntarily and knowingly waiving the remainder of the Review Period.

 

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10. Return of Company Property. Upon the earlier of (a) the Separation Date or (b) a written request by the Company, the Employee shall promptly return to the Company (i) all Company property and equipment in his possession, custody or control, including, as applicable, any Company-issued computer(s), keys, access cards, and mobile phone(s), devices, software, hardware, and equipment, and shall provide any logins, passwords and access codes for accessing same; and (ii) any and all documents, data, records and files (in all forms and formats, whether hard-copy or electronic, and all copies) that constitute or contain any Confidential Information of, regarding or belonging to the Company. The Employee shall not retain in his possession, custody or control, or otherwise transmit or transfer to any other computer, device, storage medium, person or entity, any Confidential Information. The Employee understands and agrees that compliance with the requirements under this Section 10 is a condition of receiving the Severance Payment as contemplated in Sections 4 and 6 of this Agreement.

 

11. Confidential Nature of Agreement. The Employee agrees to keep this Agreement and the provisions of and consideration provided pursuant to this Agreement fully confidential, except that that he may disclose them, if and as necessary, to his tax advisors and attorneys, to his immediate family members, as required by law or legal process, or in connection with any legal proceeding arising under this Agreement. The Company may disclose this Agreement in its full and complete discretion.

 

12. Non-Disparagement.

 

a. The Employee agrees that he will not make (or direct or encourage anyone else to make), any statements in any manner, form, forum or media (including, without limitation, orally or in writing, in, to or via the press, any media, social media or forum, on-line, e-mail, text message, blog, posting, or otherwise) to any person, entity or third party (including, without limitation, to any current or former Company employees, to the general public, to customers of the Company, to persons or entities with which the Company has or is seeking business relationships or on Glassdoor or similar websites) which statements in any way (i) disparage or reflect negatively on the Company and/or any of the other Company Releasees and/or (ii) harm or would reasonably be expected or likely to harm the Company’s and/or any of the other Company Releasees’ reputation, goodwill, business, actual or potential business interests, relations, transactions, plans, or dealings.

 

b. The Company agrees that its officers and directors will not make (or direct or encourage anyone else to make), any statements in any manner, form, forum or media (including, without limitation, orally or in writing, in, to or via the press, any media, social media or forum, on-line, e-mail, text message, blog, posting, or otherwise) to any person, entity or third party (including, without limitation, to any current or former Company employees, to the general public, to customers of the Company, to persons or entities with which Employee has or is seeking business relationships) which statements in any way (i) disparage or reflect negatively on the Employee and/or (ii) harm or would reasonably be expected or likely to harm the Employee’s reputation.

 

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c. Nothing in this Section 12, shall prohibit either party from making truthful statements to governmental agencies or authorities, or in connection with any court proceedings, as may be required or permitted by law, or by the Company as necessary for legitimate business purposes to third parties such as insurers, investors, accountants, attorneys or other professional representatives. However, these non-disparagement obligations, do not limit any party’s ability to truthfully communicate with the EEOC, DOL, NLRB or Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and comparable state or local agencies or departments whether such communication is initiated by one of the parties or in response to the agency.

 

13. Defend Trade Secrets Act Notice. For the avoidance of doubt, the Employee is hereby given notice and understands that pursuant to the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, the Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (i) is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.

 

14. Protected Disclosures. Nothing contained in this Agreement limits the Employee’s ability to file a charge or complaint with any governmental agency, regulatory entity or commission (a “Government Agency”), including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or similar state of local agency, concerning any act or omission that the Employee reasonably believes constitutes a possible violation of federal or state law or to make other disclosures that are protected under the anti-retaliation or whistleblower provisions of applicable federal or state law or regulation. The Employee further understands that this Agreement does not limit the Employee’s ability to communicate with or participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by a Government Agency, including providing documents or other information, without notice to the Company. Further, nothing in this Agreement prevents the Employee from disclosing information in response to compulsory legal process. If the Employee files any charge or complaint with any Government Agency (including, without limitation, the EEOC or similar state or local agency), the Employee waives any right to individualized or monetary relief should any Government Agency or other third party pursue any claims on the Employee’s behalf (either individually, or as part of any collective or class action), provided that nothing shall affect any right Employee could have (if any) to receive a whistleblower award or bounty (if applicable) for information provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

15. Cooperation. The Employee agrees to cooperate with the Company as may be requested by the Company or its attorneys: (a) in the defense or prosecution of any claims or actions now in existence or which may be brought in the future against, by or on behalf of the Company or any of its related entities, and (b) in connection with any investigation involving the Company or any of its related entities by a governmental or regulatory authority or any internal investigation, provided that such claim, action or investigation relates to events or occurrences that transpired while the Employee was employed by the Company or any of its related entities or about which the Employee may otherwise have knowledge or information.

 

16. Execution of Additional Documents. The Employee agrees upon the request of the Company, to execute all documents and take all actions reasonably requested by the Company in order to effectuate the intent of this Agreement.

 

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17. No Admission. This Agreement is not intended, and shall not be construed or admissible, as evidence or an admission that the Company or any of the other Company Releasees has violated any federal, state or local law (statutory or decisional), ordinance or regulation, breached any contract or committed any wrong whatsoever against the Employee.

 

18. Section 409A. This Agreement and the payments and benefits provided hereunder are intended to be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder ("Section 409A") to the maximum extent possible, whether pursuant to the short-term deferral exception described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), the involuntary separation pay plan exception described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), or otherwise. To the extent Section 409A is applicable to this Agreement or the payments or benefits provided hereunder, it is intended that this Agreement and such payments and benefits comply with the deferral, payout and other limitations and restrictions imposed under Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement and the payments and benefits provided hereunder shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with such intentions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if and to the extent required to comply with Section 409A, (i) each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment and the right to a series of installment payments under this Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments and (ii) no payment or benefit required to be paid under this Agreement on account of a termination of Employee's employment shall be made unless and until Employee incurs a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. If Employee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), then to the extent necessary to avoid subjecting Employee to the imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A, amounts that would otherwise be payable under this Agreement during the six-month period immediately following Employee's “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) shall not be paid to Employee during such period, but shall instead be accumulated and paid to Employee (or, in the event of Employee’s death, Employee's estate) in a lump sum on the first business day following the earlier of (a) the date that is six months after Employee’s separation from service or (b) Employee's death. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company makes no representations or warranties with respect to any tax, economic or legal consequences of this Agreement or any payments or benefits provided hereunder, and no provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted or construed to transfer any liability for failure to comply with Section 409A from Employee or any other individual to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

 

19. Severability. If any provision or portion of (or incorporated by reference in) this Agreement is held illegal, unenforceable or invalid, such illegality, unenforceability or invalidation shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Agreement which can be given effect without the invalid provision or portion or application thereof, and to this end the provisions of this Agreement are declared to be severable; and each provision and portion (including any provision or portion) held to be illegal, unenforceable or invalid (in whole or in part) by a court of competent jurisdiction shall be interpreted and deemed modified by such court so as to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law and so enforced.

 

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20. Successors and Assigns; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement inures to the benefit of the Company and its subsidiaries, affiliates, and related entities, and its and their respective successors and assigns (the “Company Entities”). Each of the Company Entities is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Agreement and of all of the Employee’s releases, covenants, obligations and restrictions hereunder and each may enforce the terms hereof and thereof as if it were a party to this Agreement.

 

21. Modification. This Agreement may be modified or amended only by a written instrument duly signed by each of the parties hereto or their respective successors or assigns.

 

22. Controlling Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Arizona, without regard to principles of conflict of laws.

 

23. Acceptance of Agreement; Right to Revoke; Effective Date. In order to accept this Agreement and be eligible to receive the Severance Payment, the Employee (i) must sign, date and return this Agreement to the Company (Attention: Kevin Sherlock) on or before the end of the Review Period; and (ii) must not revoke his acceptance.

 

24. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, but all which taken together shall be considered one and the same document. This Agreement may be executed by scanned .pdf copy transmitted by e-mail, and such .pdf copy of a signature shall be deemed an original. To execute and return a signed .pdf copy, the Employee will transmit such copy via e- mail by on or before the end of the Review Period to the attention of: Kevin Sherlock, General Counsel at ksherlock@comsovereign.com.

 

25. Termination and Return of Payments. If the Employee breaches any of the Employee’s obligations under or incorporated by reference in this Agreement, in addition to any other legal or equitable remedies the Company may have for such breach, the Company shall have the right to terminate the Company’s payments to the Employee under this Agreement and require immediate repayment of any amounts already paid and return of the restricted stock referenced in Section 6. The termination or return of such payments in the event of the Employee’s breach will not affect the Employee’s release of claims under Sections 8 and 9 hereof.

 

26. Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement constitutes and contains the complete understanding of the Employee and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and replaces all prior negotiations and all agreements, whether written or oral, concerning such subject matter. This is an integrated document.

 

27. Knowing and Voluntary Waiver and Agreement. By his signature below, the Employee represents and warrants that (i) he has been given twenty-one (21) days to review and consider this Agreement; (ii) he has been afforded a period of seven (7) days after signing this Agreement to revoke his acceptance hereof; (iii) he has read and reviewed this Agreement thoroughly and fully understands its terms and conditions and their significance and has discussed them with his independent legal counsel, or has had a reasonable opportunity to have done so; and

(iv) he agrees to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement and is signing this Agreement voluntarily and of his own free will, with the full understanding of its terms, conditions and legal consequences, and with the intent to be bound hereby.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Separation Agreement, intending to be legally bound, have executed this Separation Agreement on the date first written above.

 

COMSOVEREIGN HOLDING CORP.:    
       
By: /s/ Daniel L. Hodges    
Name: Daniel L. Hodges    
Title: Chief Executive Officer    
       
      EMPLOYEE:
       
      /s/ Brian T. Mihelich
      Brian T. Mihelich

 

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

 

COMSovereign Holding Corp. Appoints Martin R. Wade III as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President

 

40-Year Management, Operations, Finance and Banking Veteran to Lead Finance and Accounting Team

 

DALLAS, TX – February 23, 2021 – COMSovereign Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: COMS) (“COMSovereign” or “Company”), a U.S.-based developer of 4G LTE Advanced and 5G Communication Systems and Solutions, today announced that it has appointed Martin R. Wade III as its Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President effective February 20, 2021. Mr. Wade succeeds Brian T. Mihelich who is leaving the Company to pursue other interests, including spending more time with his family. Mr. Mihelich has agreed to support Mr. Wade’s transition into the role of CFO through the end of March 2021.

 

Mr. Wade has spent 40 years advising senior management and boards of directors on more than 200 business strategy, acquisition, divestiture and restructuring projects. Since 2007, Mr. Wade has been a Partner in Residence with Catalyst Acquisition Group and currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Broadcaster, Inc., VITA Mobile Systems, Inc. and Madice.com. He currently serves on several corporate boards including MNG Enterprises, Inc., a company that owns media properties such as The Denver Post, San Jose Mercury News, Orange County Register and the Boston Herald, and Oyster Enterprises Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company.

 

“We welcome Marty to the COMSovereign team at an especially exciting time for our company following our recent listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and the infusion of over $40 million in growth capital from new institutional investors. Martin’s successful track-record as a critical thinker, business leader and advisor building and operating businesses for long-term success will be invaluable as we begin the next phase of our growth plan, which includes ramping-up product production and accelerating the commercialization of our next-gen wireless technologies,” said Dan Hodges, Chairman and CEO of COMSovereign Holding Corp.

 

“On behalf of the entire management team, Board of Directors and myself personally, we wish to thank Brian for all he has accomplished over the last 19 months. His high-level of commitment, professionalism, and financial and operational leadership has been critical in our efforts to build COMSovereign.We wish him much success in his future endeavors,” Hodges concluded. For his part, Mr. Mihelich offered, “It was a tremendous privilege to work with and assist COMSovereign in achieving all that it has in such a short period. I am proud of what we accomplished and leave my friends and peers at COMS with deep gratitude and appreciation.”

 

 

 

 

“COMSovereign has achieved many milestones in a very short amount of time on its way to building a world-class organization with market-leading wireless technologies. Its success is a testament to the talent, hard work and dedication of its employees and I am honored and excited to contribute to the team as we execute on the many exciting global opportunities created by advances in wireless technology and 5G,” added Martin Wade.

 

Mr. Wade’s career includes holding senior-level positions with investment banking firms including Lehman Brothers and Salomon Brothers and he served as National Head of Investment banking at Price Waterhouse LLP. Mr. Wade is a U.S. Veteran and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from West Virginia University and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Wyoming.

 

For more information about COMSovereign, please visit www.COMSovereign.com and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

 

About COMSovereign Holding Corp.

COMSovereign Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: COMS) has assembled a portfolio of communications technology companies that enhance connectivity across the entire data transmission spectrum. Through strategic acquisitions and organic research and development efforts, COMSovereign has become a U.S.-based communications provider able to provide 4G LTE Advanced and 5G-NR telecom solutions to network operators and enterprises. For more information about COMSovereign, please visit www.COMSovereign.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect management’s current expectations, assumptions, and estimates of future performance and economic conditions, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made herein. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believe,” “expects,” “may,” “looks to,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “on condition,” “target,” “see,” “potential,” “estimates,” “preliminary,” or “anticipates” or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussion of strategy or goals or other future events, circumstances, or effects. Moreover, forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic, which may limit access to the Company’s facilities, customers, management, support staff, and professional advisors, and to develop and deliver advanced voice and data communications systems, demand for the Company’s products and services, economic conditions in the U.S. and worldwide, and the Company’s ability to recruit and retain management, technical, and sales personnel. Further information relating to factors that may impact the Company’s results and forward-looking statements are disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation, other than imposed by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

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Contacts:

Steve Gersten, Director of Investor Relations
COMSovereign Holding Corp.
813-334-9745
investors@comsovereign.com

 

External Investor Relations:
Chris Tyson, Executive Vice President
MZ Group - MZ North America
949-491-8235
COMS@mzgroup.us
www.mzgroup.us

 

and

 

Media Relations for COMSovereign Holding Corp.:
Michael Glickman
MWGCO, Inc.
917-397-2272
mike@mwgco.net

 

 

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