ITEM 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On January 30, 2012, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Director’s of Astro-Med, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the Astro-Med, Inc. Non-Employee Director Annual Compensation Program (the “Program”), to be effective as of February 1, 2012. The Program provides that each non-employee director is entitled to an annual cash retainer (the “Cash Retainer”), plus $500 for each Board and committee meeting attended, provided that if more than one meeting occurs on the same day, no more than $500 shall be paid for such day. The non-employee director may elect for any fiscal year to receive all or a portion of the Cash Retainer in the form of common stock of the Company.
In addition, under the Program, commencing with the 2012 annual meeting, the non-employee director will receive a restricted stock award with a value equal to $20,000 (the “Equity Retainer”). If a non-employee director is first appointed or elected to the Board of Directors effective on a date other than at the annual shareholders meeting, on the date of such appointment or election the director shall receive a pro rata award of restricted common stock having a value based on the number of days remaining until the next annual meeting. The Equity Retainer will vest on the earlier of 12 months after the grant date or the date immediately prior to the next annual meeting (or special meeting in lieu of annual meeting) of the shareholders following the meeting at which such restricted stock award was granted. However, a non-employee director may not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber the vested common stock prior to the second anniversary of the vesting date. In the event of the death or disability of a non-employee director, or a Change in Control (as such term is defined in the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan) of the Company, the restricted stock award shall immediately vest and shall no longer be subject to such restrictions on transfer.
Unless a non-employee director elects to receive all or a portion of the Cash Retainer in common stock (as described below), each non-employee director will receive the Cash Retainer in four equal quarterly installments on the first day of each fiscal quarter.
If a non-employee director elects to receive all of a portion of the Cash Retainer in the form of common stock, such shares shall be issued in four quarterly installments on the first day of each fiscal quarter, and the number of shares of common stock to be issued shall be based on the fair market value of such common stock on the date such installment is payable. The common stock received in lieu of such Cash Retainer will be fully vested. However, a non-employee director who receives common stock in lieu of all or a portion of the Cash Retainer may not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber the common stock prior to the first anniversary of the date on which such shares were granted. In the event of the death or disability of a non-employee director, or a Change in Control (as such term is defined in the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan) of the Company, any shares of common stock issued in lieu of such Cash Retainer, shall no longer be subject to such restrictions on transfer.