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UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
DC 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): July 24, 2023
AMMO,
INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
|
001-13101 |
|
83-1950534 |
(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization) |
|
(Commission
File
Number) |
|
(IRS
Employer
Identification
No.) |
7681
E. Gray Rd.
Scottsdale,
Arizona 85260
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(480)
947-0001
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check
the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under
any of the following provisions:
☐ |
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
|
|
☐ |
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
|
|
☐ |
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
|
|
☐ |
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
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, $0.001 par value |
|
POWW |
|
The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq Capital Market) |
8.75%
Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value |
|
POWWP |
|
The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq Capital Market) |
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405
of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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.
As
previously disclosed on the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by AMMO, Inc. (the “Company”) with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on November 7, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) created the CEO Succession Committee
to plan the succession of Mr. Fred W. Wagenhals as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company.
In
July 2023, the CEO Succession Committee recommended to the Board that Mr. Jared R. Smith, the Company’s President and Chief Operating
Officer (“COO”) since January 2023, be appointed CEO. On July 24, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), the Board appointed
Mr. Smith as CEO and as a member of the Board (the “Smith Appointment”). In connection with the Smith Appointment, Mr. Smith
relinquished his prior titles of President and COO.
Mr.
Smith, 45, has more than 17 years of experience in the ammunition industry. Prior to joining the Company in January 2023, Mr. Smith was
employed at Fiocchi of America, a global manufacturer of premium ammunition for competition, hunting and defense applications located
in Ozark, Missouri from 2010 to December 2022, where, since 2017, he has held the position of General Manager. As General Manager, Mr.
Smith maintained full Profit and Loss ownership and managed separate manufacturing operations (340+ employees), while overseeing 3 acquisitions,
and leading Fiocchi’s revenue growth in three years from $95 million to in excess of $200 million. Prior to taking the General
Manager role, Mr. Smith also held positions as the Vice President-International Strategy and Development and Director of Procurement
and Supply Chain at Fiocchi of America.
In
connection with the Smith Appointment, on the Effective Date, the Company and Mr. Smith entered into that certain Amended and Restated
Employment Agreement (the “Smith Agreement”). The Smith Agreement is for an initial term of three (3) years and may be terminated
by either party with or without cause (provided, however, that if the Company terminates Mr. Smith without cause then he will be entitled
to compensation including salary and insurance benefits for a period of twelve (12) months from the effective date of termination and
100% of his remaining unissued equity compensation). Pursuant to the Smith Agreement, Mr. Smith will receive an annual base salary
of $500,000 and annual stock compensation of approximately 133,333 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
(the “Common Stock”), vested and issuable on a quarterly basis. Mr. Smith will be eligible to earn a performance bonus in
such amount, if any, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board. Pursuant to the Smith Agreement, Mr. Smith was granted stock
options under the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to purchase 400,000 shares of Common Stock (the
“Smith Stock Options”). The Smith Stock Options will vest on the following schedule: (i) 100,000 shares of the Options will
vest on the Effective Date, and (ii) 300,000 shares of the Options will vest in equal quarterly installments of 25,000 over 3 years beginning
at the end of the September 30, 2023 quarter, provided, in each case, that Mr. Smith remains in the continuous employ of the Company
as of the end of each quarter.
There
is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Smith, the Company, or any other person pursuant to which Mr. Smith was appointed to the
Board. Other than compensation paid to Mr. Smith pursuant to the terms of his previously disclosed original employment agreement (with
such compensation to be reported in future filings pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K) there have been no related party transactions
between the Company and Mr. Smith that would be reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
On
the Effective Date, Mr. Wagenhals departed as CEO, effective immediately, and the Board appointed Mr. Wagenhals the Company’s Executive
Chairman (the “Wagenhals Appointment”). Mr. Wagenhals remains a member of the Board.
In
connection with the Wagenhals Appointment, on the Effective Date, the Company and Mr. Wagenhals entered into that certain Amended and
Restated Employment Agreement (the “Wagenhals Agreement”). The Wagenhals Agreement is for an initial term of twelve (12)
months. Pursuant to the Wagenhals Agreement, Mr. Wagenhals will receive the
following payments in connection with his transition from CEO to Executive Chairman: (i) a cash payment of $475,000; and (ii) a cash
payment of $585,289.64, representing the performance bonus payable under the prior employment agreement between the Company and Mr. Wagenhals.
Mr. Wagenhals will also receive 300,000 shares of Common Stock. During the term of his employment, Mr. Wagenhals will receive an annual
base salary of $400,000 and 180,000 shares of Common Stock issued quarterly. Mr. Wagenhals will also be eligible to earn a performance
bonus in such amount, if any, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board.
On
the Effective Date, Mr. Harry Markley resigned as a member of the Board, effective immediately. Mr. Markley did not resign as a result
of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
Item
5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Report”) contains only a brief description of the material terms of and does
not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations of the parties to each of the Smith Agreement and the Wagenhals
Agreement, and such description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full texts of the Smith Agreement and the Wagenhals
Agreement, copies of which are filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and 10.2, respectively.
Item
7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On
July 25, 2023, the Company issued a press release announcing the matters addressed under Item 5.02. A copy of the press release is furnished
with this report as Exhibit 99.1.
The
information in the Report under Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section
18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that
section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange
Act, except as expressly set forth by specific referencing in such filing. The furnishing of the information in Item 7.01 of this report
and the press release is not intended to, and does not, constitute a determination or admission by the Company that such information
is material or complete, or that investors should consider this information before making an investment decision with respect to any
security of the Company.
Item
9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits.
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:
July 25, 2023 |
AMMO,
INC. |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Robert D. Wiley |
|
Name: |
Robert
D. Wiley |
|
Title: |
Chief
Financial Officer |
Exhibit
10.1
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the “Amendment”) is made and entered into July 24, 2023 (the “Effective
Date”) between AMMO, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “AMMO”), and Jared Smith
(“Employee”). Company and Employee are sometimes referred to individually as “Party” and collectively as
“Parties”.
RECITALS
A.
The Parties entered into that certain Employment Agreement dated December 15, 2022 through which Employee was employed as the Company’s
Chief Operating Officer (the “Agreement”); and
B.
The Parties desire to amend the terms and conditions of Agreement via this Amendment, which will supersede all prior agreements of employment,
whether written or oral, between the Company and Employee, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual covenants and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I.
EMPLOYMENT
DUTIES AND TERM
Section
1.1 Employment.
(a)
The Company shall employ Employee as AMMO’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) commencing on July 24, 2023 (“Start
Date”) with Employee relinquishing the prior title of COO and President. In this capacity, Employee shall perform such duties,
assume such responsibilities and devote his full time, attention and energy to the business of managing the operations of the Company
as its senior leadership officer, ultimately responsible for the performance of the Company in all respects.
(b)
Employee shall not, during the term of Employee’s employment hereunder, be engaged in any activities which materially interfere,
directly or indirectly conflict with Employee’s duties and responsibilities for the Company.
(c)
Employee shall perform all such duties as instructed by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), including the
duties set forth in Exhibit “A” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, as well as such other customary duties
as may be required by the Company’s governing instruments, including its certificate of incorporation, bylaws and its corporate
governance charters, each as amended or modified from time to time, and by applicable law, rule or regulation, including, without limitation,
the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) and any exchange or quotation system on which the Company’s securities may be traded from time to time.
(d)
In connection with engagement as the CEO, Employee shall be promptly appointed to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors
consistent with that certain Proxy Contest Settlement Agreement entered into by and between the Company and the Urvan Group.
Section
1.2 Term. The Employment is on an at-will basis, terminable by either Party at any time for cause or no cause. The term of this
Amendment shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue, unless sooner terminated, until three (3) years thereafter (the “Initial
Term”). The Company, in its discretion, shall have the right to extend this Amendment for up to three (3) additional one (1) year
terms (the “Additional Terms,” and collectively with the Initial Term, the “Term”) subject to sixty (60) advance
written agreement by Parties.
ARTICLE
II.
COMPENSATION
Section
2.1 Compensation. During the Term of Employment, Company shall pay and Employee shall receive the following compensation:
(a)
Salary. The Company shall pay Employee Five Hundred Thousand & 00/100 Dollars ($500,000.00) per year during the Term, paid
in accordance with Company’s normal payroll practices (“Salary”). In the sole discretion of the Board, and subject
to the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board, Employee shall be eligible for an annual increase in Salary of up to
6% per year based upon his and the Company’s performance.
(b)
Stock Compensation. The Company shall issue the Employee 400,000 shares of Common Stock during the Term vested and issuable on
a quarterly basis, commencing with the first quarter July 1, 2023-September 30, 2023, to be issued in accordance with the Company’s
quarterly issuance schedule.1 The shares under the prior Agreement shall be pro-rated as of the Effective Date pursuant
this Amendment. The shares of Common Stock that may be issued by the Company pursuant to this Agreement will not be registered and are
being issued pursuant to a specific exemption under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as well
as under certain state securities laws for transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering or in reliance on limited federal
preemption from such state securities registration laws.
The
shares of Common Stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to this Agreement must be held and may not be sold, transferred, or otherwise
disposed of for value unless such securities are subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration
is available, and that the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement will bear a legend
in substantially the following form so restricting the sale of such securities:
The
securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”), and are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act. The securities
have been acquired for investment and may not be sold or transferred without complying with Rule 144 in the absence of an effective registration
or other compliance under the Securities Act.
The
Company reserves the right to issue the shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plan, in its sole discretion.
(c)
Stock Option Grant/ Equity Awards. On the Effective Date, the Company shall grant Employee a stock option (“Options”)
under the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), as amended to purchase Four Hundred Thousand (400,000)
shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to which: (i) 100,000 shares of the Options shall vest on the Effective Date, and
(ii) 300,000 shares of the Options shall vest in equal quarterly installments of 25,000 over 3 years beginning on the first quarter ended
September 30, 2023, provided, in each case, that Employee remains in the continuous employ of Employer through such quarterly anniversary
date. The Options shall (a) be exercisable at an exercise price per share equal to the closing market price of the Company’s common
stock on the date of the grant, (b) have a term of ten years, and (c) be on such other terms as shall be determined by the Board (or
the Compensation Committee of the Board) and set forth in a customary form of stock option agreement under the Plan evidencing the Options.
1
From July 1, 2023 to July 24, 2023, Employee shall receive 13,043 shares issuable at the close of the 9/30/23 quarter and Employee
shall receive 33,337 shares for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, which represents an equal quarterly amount of shares during the
term plus rounded shares to allow for future equal quarterly share issuances of 33,333.
(d)
Performance Bonus. During the Term, and in the sole discretion of the Board and subject to the recommendation of the Compensation
Committee, Employee shall be eligible to receive performance-based bonus compensation which shall be determined in the sole discretion
of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The Bonus target shall be 100-125% of Employee’s annual Salary (“Bonus”)
and based upon performance for any full fiscal year of service (or pro-rated year as applicable during the first year). Employee shall
be entitled to receive a Bonus for year ended March 31, 2024 and each subsequent year based upon the Salary at the time the Bonus is
issued, to be paid in within 15 days of closing the financials for fiscal year end, or on such date as determined by the Compensation
Committee and approved by the Board if a Company wide bonus policy payment date is adopted
Section
2.2 Participation in Employee Benefit Plans; Incentive Programs. Employee shall be entitled to participate in any employee
benefit plans, the Company may establish or adopt for the benefit of employees of the Company. Employee benefits will become available
to Employee in the first month following the active employment. Employer shall provide 3% match on 401(k) contributions after one year
of employment with vesting of matching funds per the Company timeline and Company written policies. During the Term the Company shall
provide Employee with health and medical insurance benefits with 100% of monthly premiums paid for by Company for the Employee and his/her
immediate family.
Section
2.3 Time Off. Employee shall be entitled to 4 weeks of paid time off per year, whether because of sickness, vacation or otherwise
(“Time Off”). Employee shall receive paid holidays commensurate with the Company policy then in effect for all similarly
situated employees. The timing of vacations shall be scheduled in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Company and shall be undertaken
with due consideration to ensuring consistent senior managerial oversight of the Company’s business operations during such Time
Off. Accrued but unused Time Off shall not roll over to the next fiscal year and is ‘use it or lose it’ Time Off.
Section
2.4 Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee’s reasonable and actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee which
are incurred consistent with the Company’s written policies and procedures and/or approved in advance by the Board in furtherance
of performance of Employee’s CEO duties and responsibilities under this Amendment.
(a)
Relocation Expenses. The Company will provide Employee with up to $12,000 to cover permanent relocation costs incurred by Employee
between July-August 2023. Employee shall submit all reimbursable expenses to the Company within 60 days of the Effective Date. Such reimbursement
costs are in addition to any relocation expenses permitted under the Prior Agreement.
Section
2.5 Clawback. Any incentive-based or other compensation paid to the Employee under this Amendment or any other agreement or arrangement
with the Company which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject
to the deductions and clawbacks as may be required by law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement.
ARTICLE
III.
TERMINATION
OF EMPLOYMENT
Section
3.1 Death & Disability of Employee. In the event of the Employee’s death during the Term of Employment, this Amendment
shall terminate immediately. If, during the Term, the Employee shall suffer a “Disability” within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Company may terminate the Employee’s employment in conformity with applicable
state and federal law. Section 22(e)(3) provides, in relevant part: “An individual is permanently and totally disabled if he is
unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which
can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.”
In the event the Employee is terminated due to death or Disability, the Employee (or his estate in the event of his death) shall receive
(i) all of Employee’s unpaid Salary through the date of death/Disability and a severance benefit of two (2) month’s
pay, (ii) all reimbursable expenses and benefits owing to Employee through the date of Employee’s death/Disability together with
any benefits payable under any life insurance program in which Employee is a participant, if applicable, and (iii) Employee’s estate
shall be entitled to any pro-rata vested or earned Bonus, payable at the end the respective fiscal year.
Section
3.2 Termination with Cause by Company. The Company may terminate this Amendment at any time during the Term for “Cause”
upon written notice to Employee, upon which termination shall be effective immediately. For purposes of this Amendment, “Cause”
means the following, without limitation:
| (a) | Willful
misconduct or willful failure by the Employee to perform his responsibilities to the Company; |
| (b) | Employee’s
material breach of this Amendment; |
| (c) | Employee’s
willful failure to adhere to any written Company policy if Employee has been given reasonable
opportunity to comply with such policy or cure his failure; |
| (d) | Executive
engages in misfeasance or malfeasance demonstrated by a pattern of failure to perform job
duties diligently and professionally; |
| (e) | The
appropriation (or attempted appropriation) of a material business opportunity of the Company,
including attempting to secure or securing any personal profit in connection with any transaction
entered into on behalf of the Company; |
| (f) | The
misappropriation (or attempted misappropriation) of any of the Company’s funds or property;
or |
| (g) | The
conviction of, the indictment for (or procedural equivalent), or entering of a guilty plea
or plea of no contest with respect to any crime involving moral turpitude, including breach
of trust, dishonesty, or physical harm to any person, or any other criminal proceeding that
reflects adversely upon the standing of the Company in the community. |
Section
3.3 Termination Without Cause by Company. The Company may terminate this Amendment at any time during the Term without “Cause”
upon 60 days written notice to Employee.
Section
3.4 Termination by Employee for Good Reason. Employee may terminate this Amendment at any time by providing the Company 30 days’
written notice, with or without “Good Reason.” For purposes hereof, the term “Good
Reason” shall exist upon (i) a material diminution in the Employees’ Salary; (ii) a material diminution in the Employee’s
authority, duties or responsibilities; (iii) a material change in geographic location at which the Employee performs services; or (iv)
any material breach by the Company of this Amendment. “Good Reason Process” means the following series of actions: (i) the
Employee reasonably determines in good faith that Good Reason exists, (ii) the Employee notifies the Company or the acquiring or succeeding
corporation (if applicable) in writing of the existence of Good Reason within 30 days of the occurrence of the event that gave rise to
the existence of Good Reason, (iii) the Employee cooperates in good faith with the Company’s (or the acquiring or succeeding corporations,
if applicable) efforts to remedy the conditions that gave rise to the existence of Good Reason for a period of 30 days following such
notice (such 30 day period, the “Cure Period”), (iv) notwithstanding such efforts, Good Reason continues to exist and (v)
the Employee terminates his employment within 30 days after the end of the Cure Period. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company or
the acquiring or succeeding corporation successfully remedies the conditions that gave rise to the existence of Good Reason during the
Cure Period, Good Reason shall be deemed not to have existed. In the event the Employee terminates employment under this Amendment for
Good Reason, the Employee shall be eligible to receive the severance benefits set forth in Section 3.6
Section
3.5 Termination by the Employee without Good Reason. The Employee may terminate the Employee’s
employment with the Company without Good Reason at any time subject to the Employee’s provision of thirty (30) days’ advance
written notice to the Company (the “Applicable Notice Period”), provided, however, that the Company may, in its sole discretion,
in lieu of all or part of the Applicable Notice Period, pay the Employee an amount equal to the Salary that would otherwise have been
payable to the Employee had the Employee remained employed for the duration of the Applicable Notice Period. In such instance, the Employee’s
termination will become effective on the date set forth in a written notice of termination to be provided by the Company (the “Early
Termination Date”), and the Employee will be paid an amount equal to the Salary the Employee would have received had the Employee
remained employed by the Company between the Early Termination Date and the end of the Applicable Notice Period (the “Early Termination
Payment”), with the Early Termination Payment to be made no later than the 30th day
following the end of the Applicable Notice Period.
Section
3.6 Compensation upon Termination.
(a)
For Cause/Without Good Reason. In the event the Company terminates the Employee’s employment hereunder due to a Termination
for Cause or the Employee voluntarily terminates employment with the Company without Good Reason, the Employee shall be entitled to accrued
but unpaid Salary, reimbursable expenses and benefits owing to Employee through the day on which Employee is terminated, and all vested
Shares through date of termination.
(b)
Without Cause/Good Reason. In the event that the Company terminates the Employee’s employment hereunder due to a Termination
without Cause or Employee terminates the employment hereunder for Good Reason, and subject to execution of a standard separation agreement
and general release of claims in favor of the Company or its successor, Employee shall be entitled to compensation, including Salary
and insurance benefits for a period of twelve (12) months from the effective date of termination (the “Severance Period”),
and 100% of the Shares and Options, including any remaining unvested Shares and Options which shall immediately become vested and issuable
upon the termination date. The Employee’s reimbursable expenses shall be paid within 15 days of Termination. Except as otherwise
contemplated by this Amendment, Employee will not be entitled to any other compensation upon termination of this Amendment.
(c)
The salary and fringe benefits to be paid are referred to herein as the “Termination Compensation.” Employee shall not be
entitled to any Termination Compensation unless, Employee complies with all surviving provisions of any confidentiality agreement that
Employee may have signed and Employee’s execution of a standard separation agreement and release of claims in favor of the Company
or its successor.
(d)
If Employee terminates this Amendment by providing appropriate notice, the Company, at its election, Company may (i) require Employee
to continue to perform duties hereunder for the full notice period, or (ii) terminate Employee employment at any time during such notice
period, provided that any such termination shall not be deemed to be a termination without cause of Employee’s employment by the
Company. Unless otherwise provided by this Section, all compensation and benefits paid by Company to Employee shall cease upon his last
day of employment.
Section
3.7 Change in Control. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Employee’s continuous status as an
employee of the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause or Employee terminates the employment with the Company for Good Reason,
in either case upon or within twelve (12) months after a Change in Control (“CoC”) as defined below then, subject to Employee’s
execution of a standard separation agreement and general release of claims in favor of the Company or its successor, (i) Employee shall
receive the Salary for a period of twelve (12) months, (ii) 100% of the Shares, including any remaining unvested Shares shall immediately
become vested and issuable, (iii) Employee shall be entitled to the Bonus through the date of termination, if applicable, and (iv) Employee
shall be released from any restriction on Non-Competition as set forth in Section 4.2 herein.
As
used in this Amendment, “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if any “person” (as such
term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; (ii) if during
any period of 18 consecutive months, individuals who were members of the Board at the beginning of such period (the “Incumbent
Directors”) cease at any time during such period for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; (iii) a sale of
substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iv) a liquidation of the Company. “Change in Control” shall specifically
exclude any spin-off or reorganization of the Company contemplated prior to the Effective Date of this Amendment.
ARTICLE
IV.
RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS
Section
4.1 Confidentiality.
(a)
Employee recognizes and acknowledges that Employee has had and will continue to have access to various trade secrets and/or proprietary
information (collectively, the “Confidential Information”) concerning the Company. Employee acknowledges that the Confidential
Information has been developed solely through the substantial efforts of the Company over a long period of time, and that such Confidential
Information is valuable and unique and constitutes a trade secret of the Company.
(b)
Employee agrees to keep all Confidential Information of the Company in strict confidence and agrees not to disclose any Confidential
Information to any other person, firm, association, company, corporation or other entity for any reason except as such disclosure may
be required in connection with his employment hereunder. Employee further agrees not to use any Confidential Information for any purpose
except on behalf of the Company.
(c)
For purposes of this Amendment, “Confidential Information” shall mean any information, process or idea that is not generally
known in the industry, that the Company considers confidential and/or that gives the Company a competitive advantage, including, without
limitation: (i) books and records relating to operation, finance, accounting, sales, personnel and management, (ii) policies and matters
relating particularly to operations such as customer service requirements, costs of providing service and equipment, operating costs,
and price matters, and (iii) various trade or business secrets, including business opportunities, marketing or business diversification
plans, business development and bidding techniques, methods of processes, financial data and the like. If Employee is unsure whether
certain information or material is Confidential Information, Employee shall treat that information or material as confidential unless
Employee is informed by the Company, in writing, to the contrary. “Confidential Information” shall not include any information
which: (i) is or becomes publicly available through no act or failure of Employee; (ii) was or is rightfully learned by Employee from
a source other than the Company before being received from the Company; (iii) becomes independently available to Employee as a matter
of right from a third Party having lawful right to make such communication; or (iv) is developed by Employee independently of any Confidential
Information.
(d)
Employee further agrees that upon termination of his employment with the Company, for whatever reason, Employee will surrender to the
Company all of the property, notes, manuals, reports, documents and other things in Employee’s possession, including copies or
computerized records thereof, which relate directly or indirectly to Confidential Information.
4.2
Non-Competition. Beginning on the date hereof and through the date that is six (6) months following the Termination Date
(the “Restricted Period”), Employee will not, and will cause his or her affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, through
or in association with any third party, in any territory which the Company operates as of the time Employee is no longer employed by,
consulting for, serving as a board member of, or no longer otherwise works for, the Company, (i) engage in, market, sell, or provide
any products or services which are the same or similar to or otherwise competitive with the products and services sold or provided by
the Company or (ii) own, acquire, or control any interest, financial or otherwise, in a third party or business or manage, participate
in, consult with, render services for or otherwise, any business, that in each case is engaged in selling or providing the same, similar
or otherwise competitive services or products which the Company is selling or providing, other than ownership of one percent or less
of the equity of a publicly traded company. Upon a Change in Control and in the event Employee’s status as employee is terminated
by the Company without “cause”, the Restricted Period shall be reduced to ninety (90) business days.
4.3
Non-Solicitation.
(a)
During the Restricted Period, Employee will not, and will cause his or her affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, through or in association
with any third party (1) call on, solicit, or service, engage or contract with, or take any action which may interfere with, impair,
subvert, disrupt, or alter the relationship, contractual or otherwise, between the Company and any current or prospective customer, supplier,
distributor, agent, contractor, developer, service provider, licensor, or licensee or other material business relation of the Company,
(2) divert or take away the business or patronage (with respect to products or services of the kind or type developed, produced, marketed,
furnished, or sold by the Company) of any of the clients, customers, or accounts, or prospective clients, customers, or accounts, of
the Company or (3) attempt to do any of the foregoing, either for Employee’s own purposes or for any other third party.
(b)
During the Restricted Period, Employee will not, and will cause his or her affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, through or in association
with any third party (1) solicit, induce, recruit, or encourage any employees or independent contractors of or consultants to the Company
to terminate their relationship with the Company or take away or hire such employees, independent contractors, or consultants or (2)
attempt to do any of the foregoing, either for Employee’s own purposes or for any other third party.
Section
4.4 No Derogatory Statements. Employee shall not engage in any pattern of conduct that involves the making or publishing of written
or oral statements or remarks (including, without limitation, the repetition or distribution of derogatory rumors, allegations, negative
reports or comments) which are disparaging, deleterious or damaging to the integrity, reputation or goodwill of the Company, its competitors
or its management.
Section
4.5 Protected Rights. Employee acknowledges that, notwithstanding any Company policy or agreement that could be read to the contrary,
nothing in any agreement or policy prohibits, limits or otherwise restricts Employee or Employee’s counsel from initiating communications
directly with, responding to any inquiry from, volunteering information (including confidential or proprietary information of the Company)
to, or providing testimony before, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice, the National Labor Relations Board
(“NLRB”), any self-regulatory organization or any other governmental authority, in connection with any reporting of, investigation
into, or proceeding regarding suspected violations of law. Employee acknowledges that Employee is not required to advise or seek permission
from the Company before engaging in any such activity with any such governmental authority. Employee further recognizes that, in connection
with any such activity, Employee must inform such governmental authority that any confidential information Employee provides is considered
to be confidential. Despite the foregoing, Employee is not permitted to reveal to any third-party, including any governmental, law enforcement,
or regulatory authority, information Employee came to learn during the course of employment with the Company that is protected from disclosure
by any applicable privilege, including, but not limited to, the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine; the
Company does not waive any applicable privileges or the right to continue to protect its privileged attorney-client information, attorney
work product, and other privileged information. Further, nothing in this agreement shall be construed to prevent or limit Employee from
engaging in protected concerted activity under the National Labor Relations Act, to the extent applicable to Employee, for the purpose
of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, including (i) making disclosures concerning working conditions or agreement
in aid of such concerted activities to other persons or entities (including, but not limited to, other employees, the NLRB, the public
or other third parties), (ii) filing unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB, (iii) assisting others who are filing such charges,
or (iv) cooperating with the investigative process of the NLRB or other government agencies. Employee is further advised that U.S. federal
law provides that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure
of a trade secret that is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official (either directly or indirectly) or
to an attorney, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (2) in a complaint or other document
filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.
Section
4.6. Remedies. If the provisions of this Article are violated, or threatened to be violated, in whole or in part, the Company
shall be entitled to a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction, without the necessity of posting a bond (as substantial
economic damages are agreed to and assumed by and between the Parties) restraining or enjoining Employee from using or disclosing, in
whole or in part, such Confidential Information, without prejudice to any other remedies the Company may have at law or in equity. If
Employee violates this Article, Employee agrees that the Company would be irreparably harmed.
ARTICLE
V.
PROPERTY;
INVENTIONS AND PATENTS
Section
5.1 Property. Employee agrees that all inventions, innovations, improvements, technical information, systems, software
developments, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, service marks, trademarks, trade names, logos, products, equipment, and
all similar or related information and materials (whether patentable or unpatentable) (collectively, “Inventions”) which
relate to the Company’s actual or anticipated business, research and development, or existing or future products or services and
which are conceived, developed, or made by Employee or any other employee or person at his direction, advice or assistance (whether during
usual business hours and whether alone or in conjunction with any other person) while employed (and for the Restricted Period if and
to the extent such Inventions result from any work performed for the Company, any use of the Company’s premises or property or
any use of the Company’s Confidential Information) by the Company (including those conceived, developed, or made prior to the date
of this Amendment) together with all patent applications, letters patent, trademark, brands, tradename and service mark applications
or registrations, copyrights, and reissues thereof that may be granted for or upon any of the foregoing (collectively referred to herein
as, the “Work Product”), belong in all instances to the Company. Employee will promptly disclose such Work Product to the
Company and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company (whether during or after the Term) to establish and confirm the Company’s
ownership of such Work Product (including, without limitation, the execution and delivery of assignments, consents, powers of attorney,
and other instruments) and to provide reasonable assistance to the Company (whether during or after the Term) in connection with the
prosecution of any applications for patents, trademarks, brands, trade names, service marks, or reissues thereof or in the prosecution
or defense of interferences relating to any Work Product. Employee recognizes and agrees that the Work Product, to the extent copyrightable,
constitutes works for hire under the copyright laws of the United States and that to the extent Work Product constitutes works for hire,
the Work Product is the exclusive property of the Company, and all right, title, and interest in the Work Product vests in the Company.
To the extent Work Product is not works for hire, the Work Product, and all of Employee’s right, title, and interest in Work Product,
including without limitation every priority right, is hereby assigned to and/or irrevocably licensed to the Company with the remuneration
and benefits remitted to Employee hereunder agreed to be good and sufficient consideration in support of such assignment or irrevocable
license.
Section
5.2 Cooperation. Employee shall, during the Term and at any time thereafter, assist and cooperate fully with the Company in obtaining
for the Company the grant of letters patent, copyrights, and any other intellectual property rights relating to the Work Product in the
United States and/or such other countries as the Company may designate. With respect to Work Product, Employee shall, during the Term
and at any time thereafter, execute all applications, statements, instruments of transfer, assignment, conveyance or confirmation, or
other documents, furnish all such information to the Company and take all such other appropriate lawful actions as the Company requests
that are necessary to establish the Company’s ownership of such Work Product. Employee will not assert or make a claim of ownership
of any Work Product, and Employee will not file any applications for patents or copyright or trademark registration relating to any Work
Product.
Section
5.3 No Designation as Inventor. Waiver of Moral Rights. Employee agrees the Company shall not be required to designate Employee
as the inventor or author of any Work Product. Employee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and releases, to the extent permitted
by applicable law, all of Employee’s rights to such designation and any rights concerning future modifications to any Work Product.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, Employee hereby waives all claims to moral rights in and to any Work Product.
Section
5.4 Pre-Existing and Third-Party Materials. Employee will not, in the course of employment with the Company,
incorporate into or in any way use in creating any Work Product any pre- existing invention, improvement, development, concept,
discovery, works, or other proprietary right or information owned by Employee or in which Employee has an interest without the
Company’s prior written permission. Employee hereby grants the Company a nonexclusive, royalty-free, fully paid, perpetual,
irrevocable, sublicensable, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, use, sell, copy, and distribute, and to use or exploit in
any way and in any medium, whether or not now known or existing, such item as part of or in connection with such Work Product.
Employee will not incorporate any invention, improvement, development, concept, discovery, intellectual property, or other
proprietary information owned by any party other than Employee into any Work Product without the Company’s prior written
permission.
Section
5.5 Attorney-in-Fact. Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers, agents
and designees as Employee’s agent and attorney-in-fact, to act for and on Employee’s behalf to execute and file any such
applications and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of patents, copyright, trademark, and
mask work registrations with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Employee, if the Company is unable because of Employee’s
unavailability, dissolution, mental or physical incapacity, or for any other reason, to secure Employee’s signature for the purpose
of applying for or pursuing any application for any United States or foreign patents or mask work or copyright or trademark registrations
covering the Work Product owned by the Company pursuant to this Section.
ARTICLE
VI.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
6.1 Assignment; Binding Effect; Amendment. This Amendment and the rights of the Parties under it may not be assigned (except by
operation of law and except that it may be assigned by the Company to an Affiliated Entity) and shall be binding upon and shall inure
to the benefit of the Parties and their successors and assigns. This Amendment, upon execution and delivery, constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of the Parties enforceable in accordance with its terms and may be modified or amended only by a written instrument
executed by all Parties hereto.
Section
6.2 Entire Agreement. This Amendment is the final, complete and exclusive statement and expression of the agreement among the
Parties hereto with relation to the subject matter herein, it being understood that there are no oral representations, understandings
or agreements covering the same subject matter as this Amendment. This Amendment supersedes, and cannot be varied, contradicted or supplemented
by evidence of any prior or contemporaneous discussions, correspondence, or oral or written agreements of any kind concerning Employee’s
engagement as an employee of the Company.
Section
6.3 Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original and all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section
6.4 Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and may be given by depositing
the same in United States mail, addressed to the Party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt
requested, by nationally recognized overnight courier or by delivering the same in person to such Party.
| (a) | If
to Employee, addressed to Employee’s last known address in his/her personnel file records. |
| | |
| (b) | If
to the Company, addressed to it at: Ammo, Inc. |
Attn:
Robert D. Wiley, CFO
7681
E. Gray Road
Scottsdale,
AZ 85260
Notice
shall be deemed given and effective the day personally delivered, the day after being sent by overnight courier, subject to signature
verification, and three business days after the deposit in the U.S. mail of a writing addressed as above and sent first class mail, certified,
return receipt requested, or when actually received, if earlier. Any Party may change the address for notice by notifying the other Parties
of such change in accordance with this Section.
Section
6.5 Governing Law; Arbitration. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws
of the State of Arizona, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Arizona or
any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Arizona; provided, however,
that the following provisions shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act:
(a)
Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Amendment shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, in accordance
with the rules of the American Arbitration Association for employment disputes as then in effect. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood
and agreed that this agreement to arbitrate includes any and all claims and disputes, including, without limitation, as to arbitrability,
with respect to Employee’s employment with the Company or the termination of such employment, including, without limitation, any
claim for alleged discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, sexual orientation,
age, religion, creed, marital status, veteran status, alienage, citizenship, disability or handicap, or any other legally protected status,
and any alleged violation of any federal, state, or other governmental law, statute or regulation, including, but not limited to, any
alleged violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, other civil rights statutes including, without limitation, 42 U.S.C.
§ 1981, 42 U.S.C. § 1982, and 42 U.S.C. § 1985, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities
Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act, or any state or local law, statute or regulation, as such statutes, laws, and regulations are amended. Judgment may be entered on
the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction.
Section
6.6 No Waiver. No delay of or omission in the exercise of any right, power or remedy accruing to any Party as a result of any
breach or default by any other Party under this Amendment shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be construed as
a waiver of or acquiescence in any such breach or default, or of or in any similar breach or default occurring later; nor shall any waiver
of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default occurring before or after that waiver.
Section
6.7 Captions. The headings of this Amendment are inserted for convenience only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment
or be used to construe or interpret any provision hereof.
Section
6.8 Severability. In case any provision of this Amendment shall be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, it shall, to the extent
possible, be modified in such manner as to be valid, legal and enforceable but so as most nearly to retain the intent of the Parties.
If such a modification is not possible, such provision shall be severed from this Amendment. In either case the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Amendment shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section
6.9 Construction. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Amendment. In the event an ambiguity
or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Amendment shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption
or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Amendment.
Any reference to any federal, state, local or foreign statute shall be deemed to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
unless the context requires otherwise. The word “including” means including, without limitation. The Parties intend that
representations, warranties and covenants contained herein shall have independent significance. If any Party has breached any representation,
warranty or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating
to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) that the Party has not breached shall not detract from
or mitigate the fact the Party is in breach of the first representation, warranty or covenant.
Section
6.10 No Derogatory Statement. The Company shall not engage in any pattern of conduct that involves the making or publishing of
written or oral statements or remarks (including, without limitation, the repetition or distribution of derogatory rumors, allegations,
negative reports or comments) which are disparaging, deleterious or damaging to the integrity or reputation of Employee.
Section
6.11 Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold Employee harmless from any liabilities, obligations,
claims, penalties, fines or losses resulting from any unauthorized or unlawful acts of the Company which contravene any applicable statute,
rule, regulation or order of any jurisdiction, foreign or domestic.
Section
6.12 Headings. The headings used herein are for convenience only and do not limit the contents of this Amendment.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Amendment to be executed effective as of the day and year first above written.
|
AMMO,
INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Robert D. Wiley |
|
By:
|
Robert
D. Wiley |
|
Its: |
Chief
Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
EMPLOYEE: |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Jared R. Smith |
|
By: |
Jared
R. Smith |
Supplemental
Information For
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
Dated
July 24, 2023
The
following is a list of Exhibits to the above referenced Agreement, not attached herewith. Any omitted information will be furnished to
the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
|
1. | Exhibit
“A” Roles And Responsibilities Chief Executive Officer For AMMO, INC. (the “Company”) |
Exhibit
10.2
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into July 24, 2023 (the “Effective
Date”) between AMMO, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Fred W. Wagenhals (“Employee”).
Company and Employee are sometimes referred to individually as “Party” and collectively as “Parties”.
RECITALS
A.
The Company is a public company and its securities are listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbols “POWW”
and “POWWP”;
B.
The Employee and Company previously entered into a three-year employment agreement with an effective date of January 1, 2022 (the “Prior
Agreement”);
C.
The Employee has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and Chief Executive Officer of the Company;
D.
The Parties agree that Employee is being succeeded as Chief Executive Officer of the Company by Jared Smith as of the Effective Date
in conformity with that certain Proxy Contest Settlement Agreement entered into by and between the Company and the Urvan Group and shall
commence service as the Executive Chairman of the Company;
E.
The Company and Employee desire to embody the terms and conditions of Employee’s continued employment in a written agreement, which
will supersede all prior agreements of employment, whether written or oral, between the Company and Employee, including but not limited
to the Prior Employment Agreement, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual covenants and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I.
EMPLOYMENT
DUTIES AND TERM
Section
1.1 Employment.
(a)
The Company hereby agrees to continue to employ the Employee, and the Employee hereby accepts such continued employment, on the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth. The Employee shall serve as the Executive Chairman of the Company, in which capacity the Employee
shall perform such duties and responsibilities as are commensurate with such title, including, without limitation, (a) acting as chairman
of Board of Director’s and stockholder meetings, (b) supporting the transition of the Company’s leadership to its new Chief
Executive Officer, (c) acting as a liaison between the Company’s senior management and the Board of Directors and its committees,
(c) advising the Company’s senior management on matters of Company operations, (d) contributing to and supporting the strategy
of the Company and its investor relations, as requested and appropriate, and (e) otherwise performing the duties of Chairman of the Board,
as well as such other customary duties the as may be determined and assigned by the Board of Directors and as may be required by the
Company’s governing instruments, including its certificate of incorporation, bylaws and its corporate governance charters, each
as amended or modified from time to time, and by applicable law, rule or regulation, including, without limitation, the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
and any exchange or quotation system on which the Company’s securities may be traded from time to time. The Employee shall report
directly to the Board. The Employee shall, if requested, also serve as an officer or director of any subsidiary of the Company for no
additional compensation. The Employee agrees and acknowledges that, in connection with his employment relationship with the Company,
the Employee owes fiduciary duties to the Company and will act accordingly.
(b)
Employee shall not, during the term of Employee’s employment hereunder, be engaged in any other activities if such activities materially
interfere with Employee’s duties and responsibilities for the Company.
Section
1.2 Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first written above and shall continue, unless sooner terminated,
until the date that is twelve (12) months following the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”). The Parties may jointly agree
to extend this Agreement for up to three (3) additional one (1) year terms (the “Additional Terms,” and collectively with
the Initial Term, the “Term”).
ARTICL
II.
COMPENSATION
Section
2.1 Compensation
(a)
Payment for Termination as Chief Executive Officer. Pursuant to Section 3.6(b) of the Prior Agreement, due to Employee’s
termination as Chief Executive Officer, the Company shall pay the following amounts to the Employee in consideration of the terms of
the Prior Agreement on the Company’s next regularly scheduled payroll date following the Effective Date: (i) a cash payment of
Four Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand & 00/100 Dollars ($475,000.00); and (ii) a cash payment of Five Hundred Eighty Five Thousand
Two Hundred Eighty Nine & 64/100 Dollars ($585,289.64) representing the .25% of the gross sales per quarter payable under the Prior
Agreement through the Term calculated as an average of the prior three quarterly payments. In addition, the Company shall issue three
hundred thousand (300,000) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) on
[ ], 2023 payable through the Term of the Prior Agreement.
(b)
Salary. During the Term of Employment, the Company shall pay Employee Four Hundred Thousand & 00/100 Dollars ($400,000.00)
per year during the Term paid in accordance with Company’s normal payroll practices (“Salary”).
(c)
Stock Compensation. The Company shall issue the Employee 180,000 shares of Common Stock during the Term issued quarterly. The
shares of Common Stock that may be issued by the Company pursuant to this Agreement will not be registered and are being issued pursuant
to a specific exemption under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as well as under certain state
securities laws for transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering or in reliance on limited federal preemption from such
state securities registration laws.
The
shares of Common Stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to this Agreement must be held and may not be sold, transferred, or otherwise
disposed of for value unless such securities are subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration
is available, and that the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement will bear a legend
in substantially the following form so restricting the sale of such securities:
The
securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”), and are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act. The securities
have been acquired for investment and may not be sold or transferred without complying with Rule 144 in the absence of an effective registration
or other compliance under the Securities Act.
The
Company reserves the right to issue the shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plan, in its sole discretion.
(d)
Performance Bonus. During the Term, Employee shall be eligible to receive a performance-based bonus compensation which shall be
determined in the sole discretion of the Board based upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board, from time to
time. The Bonus target shall be based upon Company financial performance for any full fiscal year of service (or pro-rated year as applicable
during the first year). The bonus target shall be 100-125% of the Salary.
Section
2.2 Participation in Employee Benefit Plans; Incentive Programs. Employee shall be entitled to participate in any employee benefit
plans, the Company may establish or adopt for the benefit of employees of the Company. During the Term the Company shall provide Employee
with health and medical insurance benefits with 100% of monthly premiums paid for by Company for the Employee and his/her immediate family.
Section
2.3 Time Off. Employee shall be entitled to 4 weeks of paid time off per year, whether because of sickness, vacation or to service
Employee’s outside business interest as Employee shall determine (“Time Off”). The timing of vacations shall be scheduled
in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Company. Accrued but unused Time Off shall roll over to the next fiscal year and shall not be
‘use it or lose it’ Time Off.
Section
2.4 Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee’s reasonable and actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee which
are approved in advance by the Company in the performance of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.
Section
2.5 Clawback. Any incentive-based or other compensation paid to the executive under this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement
with the Company which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject
to the deductions and clawbacks as may be required by law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement.
ARTICLE
III.
TERMINATION
OF EMPLOYMENT
Section
3.1 Death & Disability of Employee. In the event of the Employee’s death during the Term of Employment, this Agreement
shall terminate immediately. If, during the Term, the Employee shall suffer a “Disability” within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Company may terminate the Employee’s employment. Section 22(e)(3) provides,
in relevant part: “An individual is permanently and totally disabled if he is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity
by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or
can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” In the event the Employee is terminated due to death
or Disability, the Employee (or his estate in the event of his death) shall be receive (i) all of Employee’s unpaid Salary and
a severance benefit of three (3) months pay, (ii) share compensation, including the unvested portion, (iii) all reimbursable expenses
and benefits owing to Employee through the date of Employee’s death together with any benefits payable under any life insurance
program in which Employee is a participant, if applicable, and (iv) Employee’s estate shall be entitled to pro-rata share of the
Bonus at the end the respective fiscal year.
Section
3.2 Termination with Cause By Company. The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time during the Term for “Cause”
upon written notice to Employee, upon which termination shall be effective immediately. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause”
means the following, without limitation:
| (a) | Willful
misconduct or willful failure by the Employee to perform his responsibilities to the Company; |
| | |
| (b) | Employee’s
material breach of this Agreement; |
| | |
| (c) | Employee’s
willful failure to adhere to any written Company Employer policy if Employee has been given
reasonable opportunity to comply with such policy or cure his failure; |
| | |
| (d) | Employee
engages in misfeasance or malfeasance demonstrated by a pattern of failure to perform job
duties diligently and professionally; |
| | |
| (e) | the
appropriation (or attempted appropriation) of a material business opportunity of the Company,
including attempting to secure or securing any personal profit in connection with any transaction
entered into on behalf of the Company; |
| | |
| (f) | the
misappropriation (or attempted misappropriation) of any of the Company’s funds or property;
or |
| | |
| (g) | The
conviction of, the indictment for (or procedural equivalent), or entering of a guilty plea
or plea of no contest with respect to any major felony involving moral turpitude, including
breach of trust, dishonesty, or physical harm to any person, that reflects adversely upon
the standing of the Company in the community. |
Section
3.3 Termination Without Cause By Company. The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time during the Term without “Cause”
upon 5 days written notice to Employee.
Section
3.4 Termination By Employee for Good Reason. Employee may terminate this Agreement at any time by providing the Company 30 days’
written notice, with or without “Good Reason.” For purposes hereof, the term “Good
Reason” shall exist upon (i) a material diminution in the Employees’ Salary; (ii) a material diminution in the Employee’s
authority, duties or responsibilities; (iii) a material change in geographic location at which the Employee performs services; or (iv)
any material breach by the Company of this Agreement. “Good Reason Process” means the following series of actions: (i) the
Employee reasonably determines in good faith that Good Reason exists, (ii) the Employee notifies the Company or the acquiring or succeeding
corporation (if applicable) in writing of the existence of Good Reason within 60 days of the occurrence of the event that gave rise to
the existence of Good Reason, (iii) the Employee cooperates in good faith with the Company’s (or the acquiring or succeeding corporations,
if applicable) efforts to remedy the conditions that gave rise to the existence of Good Reason for a period of 30 days following such
notice (such 30 day period, the “Cure Period”), (iv) notwithstanding such efforts, Good Reason continues to exist and (v)
the Employee terminates his employment within 30 days after the end of the Cure Period. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company or
the acquiring or succeeding corporation successfully remedies the conditions that gave rise to the existence of Good Reason during the
Cure Period, Good Reason shall be deemed not to have existed. In the event the Employee terminates employment under this Agreement for
Good Reason, the Employee shall be eligible to receive the severance benefits set forth in Section 3.6.
Section
3.5 Termination by the Employee without Good Reason. The Employee may terminate the Employee’s
employment with the Company without Good Reason at any time subject to the Employee’s provision of thirty (30) days’ advance
written notice to the Company (the “Applicable Notice Period”), provided, however, that the Company may, in its sole discretion,
in lieu of all or part of the Applicable Notice Period, pay the Employee an amount equal to the Salary that would otherwise have been
payable to the Employee had the Employee remained employed for the duration of the Applicable Notice Period. In such instance, the Employee’s
termination will become effective on the date set forth in a written notice of termination to be provided by the Company (the “Early
Termination Date”), and the Employee will be paid an amount equal to the Salary the Employee would have received had the Employee
remained employed by the Company between the Early Termination Date and the end of the Applicable Notice Period (the “Early Termination
Payment”), with the Early Termination Payment to be made no later than the 30th day
following the end of the Applicable Notice Period.
Section
3.6 Compensation upon Termination.
(a)
For Cause/Without Good Reason. In the event that the Company terminates the Employee’s employment hereunder due to a Termination
for Cause or the Employee voluntarily terminates employment with the Company without Good Reason, the Employee shall be entitled to accrued
but unpaid Salary, reimbursable expenses and benefits owing to Employee through the day on which Employee is terminated, and all vested
shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to Section 2.1(c) of this Agreement, through date of termination.
(b)
Without Cause/Good Reason. In the event that the Company terminates the Employee’s employment hereunder due to a Termination
without Cause or Employee terminates the employment hereunder for Good Reason, Employee shall be entitled to compensation, including
Salary and insurance benefits for a period of twelve (12) months from the effective date of termination (the “Severance Period”),
and 100% of the shares of Common Stock owed pursuant to Section 2.1(c) of this Agreement, including any remaining unvested shares shall
immediately become vested and issuable. The Employee’s reimbursable expenses shall be paid within 15 days of Termination. Except
as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, Employee will not be entitled to any other compensation upon termination of this Agreement.
(c)
The salary and fringe benefits to be paid are referred to herein as the “Termination Compensation.” Employee shall not be
entitled to any Termination Compensation unless, Employee complies with all surviving provisions of any confidentiality agreement that
Employee may have signed and Employee’s execution of a standard release of claims in favor of the Company or its successor.
(d)
If Employee terminates this Agreement by providing appropriate notice, the Company, at its election, Company may (i) require Employee
to continue to perform duties hereunder for the full notice period, or (ii) terminate Employee employment at any time during such notice
period, provided that any such termination shall not be deemed to be a termination without cause of Employee’s employment by the
Company. Unless otherwise provided by this Section, all compensation and benefits paid by Company to Employee shall cease upon his last
day of employment.
Section
3.7 Change in Control. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Employee’s continuous status as an
employee of the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause or Employee terminates the employment with the Company for Good Reason,
in either case upon or within twelve (12) months after a Change in Control (“CoC”) as defined below then, subject to Employee’s
execution of a standard release of claims in favor of the Company or its successor, (i) Employee shall receive the Salary for a period
of twelve (12) months, (ii) 100% of the shares of Common Stock owed pursuant to Section 2.1(c) of this Agreement, including any remaining
unvested shares, shall immediately become vested and issuable, (iii) Employee shall be entitled to the Bonus through the date of termination,
if applicable, and (iv) Employee shall be released from any restriction on Non-Competition as set forth in Section 4.2 herein.
As
used in this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if any “person” (as such
term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; (ii) if during
any period of 18 consecutive months, individuals who were members of the Board at the beginning of such period (the “Incumbent
Directors”) cease at any time during such period for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; (iii) a sale of
substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iv) a liquidation of the Company.
As
used in this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if any “person” (as such
term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; (ii) a sale
of substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iii) a liquidation of the Company.
ARTICLE
IV.
RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS
Section
4.1 Confidentiality.
(a)
Employee recognizes and acknowledges that Employee has had and will continue to have access to various trade secrets and/or proprietary
information (collectively, the “Confidential Information”) concerning the Company. Employee acknowledges that the Confidential
Information has been developed solely through the substantial efforts of the Company over a long period of time, and that such Confidential
Information is valuable and unique and constitutes a trade secret of the Company.
(b)
Employee agrees to keep all Confidential Information of the Company in strict confidence and agrees not to disclose any Confidential
Information to any other person, firm, association, company, corporation or other entity for any reason except as such disclosure may
be required in connection with his employment hereunder. Employee further agrees not to use any Confidential Information for any purpose
except on behalf of the Company.
(c)
For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean any information, process or idea that is not generally
known in the industry, that the Company considers confidential and/or that gives the Company a competitive advantage, including, without
limitation: (i) books and records relating to operation, finance, accounting, sales, personnel and management, (ii) policies and matters
relating particularly to operations such as customer service requirements, costs of providing service and equipment, operating costs,
and price matters, and (iii) various trade or business secrets, including business opportunities, marketing or business diversification
plans, business development and bidding techniques, methods of processes, financial data and the like. If Employee is unsure whether
certain information or material is Confidential Information, Employee shall treat that information or material as confidential unless
Employee is informed by the Company, in writing, to the contrary. “Confidential Information” shall not include any information
which: (i) is or becomes publicly available through no act or failure of Employee; (ii) was or is rightfully learned by Employee from
a source other than the Company before being received from the Company; (iii) becomes independently available to Employee as a matter
of right from a third Party having lawful right to make such communication; or (iv) is developed by Employee independently of any Confidential
Information.
(d)
Employee further agrees that upon termination of his employment with the Company, for whatever reason, Employee will surrender to the
Company all of the property, notes, manuals, reports, documents and other things in Employee’s possession, including copies or
computerized records thereof, which relate directly or indirectly to Confidential Information.
Section
4.2 Non-Competition. Beginning on the date hereof and through the date that is six (6) months following the Termination Date (the
“Restricted Period”), Employee will not, and will cause his or her affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, through or
in association with any third party, in any territory which the Company operates as of the time Employee is no longer employed by, consulting
for, serving as a board member of, or no longer otherwise works for, the Company, (i) engage in, market, sell, or provide any products
or services which are the same or similar to or otherwise competitive with the products and services sold or provided by the Company
or (ii) own, acquire, or control any interest, financial or otherwise, in a third party or business or manage, participate in, consult
with, render services for or otherwise, any business, that in each case is engaged in selling or providing the same, similar or otherwise
competitive services or products which the Company is selling or providing, other than ownership of one percent or less of the equity
of a publicly traded company. Upon a Change in Control and in the event Employee’s status as employee is terminated for any reason,
the Restricted Period shall be reduced to five (5) business days.
Section
4.3 Non-Solicitation.
(a)
During the Restricted Period, Employee will not, and will cause his or her affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, through or in association
with any third party (1) call on, solicit, or service, engage or contract with, or take any action which may interfere with, impair,
subvert, disrupt, or alter the relationship, contractual or otherwise, between the Company and any current or prospective customer, supplier,
distributor, agent, contractor, developer, service provider, licensor, or licensee or other material business relation of the Company,
(2) divert or take away the business or patronage (with respect to products or services of the kind or type developed, produced, marketed,
furnished, or sold by the Company) of any of the clients, customers, or accounts, or prospective clients, customers, or accounts, of
the Company or (3) attempt to do any of the foregoing, either for Employee’s own purposes or for any other third party.
(b)
During the Restricted Period, Employee will not, and will cause his or her affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, through or in association
with any third party (1) solicit, induce, recruit, or encourage any employees or independent contractors of or consultants to the Company
to terminate their relationship with the Company or take away or hire such employees, independent contractors, or consultants or (2)
attempt to do any of the foregoing, either for Employee’s own purposes or for any other third party.
Section
4.4 No Derogatory Statements. Employee shall not engage in any pattern of conduct that involves the making or publishing of written
or oral statements or remarks (including, without limitation, the repetition or distribution of derogatory rumors, allegations, negative
reports or comments) which are disparaging, deleterious or damaging to the integrity, reputation or goodwill of the Company, its competitors
or its management.
Section
4.5 Protected Rights. Employee acknowledges that, notwithstanding any Company policy or agreement that could be read to the contrary,
nothing in any agreement or policy prohibits, limits or otherwise restricts Employee or Employee’s counsel from initiating communications
directly with, responding to any inquiry from, volunteering information (including confidential or proprietary information of the Company)
to, or providing testimony before, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice, the National Labor Relations Board
(“NLRB”), any self-regulatory organization or any other governmental authority, in connection with any reporting of, investigation
into, or proceeding regarding suspected violations of law. Employee acknowledges that Employee is not required to advise or seek permission
from the Company before engaging in any such activity with any such governmental authority. Employee further recognizes that, in connection
with any such activity, Employee must inform such governmental authority that any confidential information Employee provides is considered
to be confidential. Despite the foregoing, Employee is not permitted to reveal to any third-party, including any governmental, law enforcement,
or regulatory authority, information Employee came to learn during the course of employment with the Company that is protected from disclosure
by any applicable privilege, including, but not limited to, the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine; the
Company does not waive any applicable privileges or the right to continue to protect its privileged attorney-client information, attorney
work product, and other privileged information. Further, nothing in this agreement shall be construed to prevent or limit Employee from
engaging in protected concerted activity under the National Labor Relations Act, to the extent applicable to Employee, for the purpose
of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, including (i) making disclosures concerning working conditions or agreement
in aid of such concerted activities to other persons or entities (including, but not limited to, other employees, the NLRB, the public
or other third parties), (ii) filing unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB, (iii) assisting others who are filing such charges,
or (iv) cooperating with the investigative process of the NLRB or other government agencies. Employee is further advised that U.S. federal
law provides that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure
of a trade secret that is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official (either directly or indirectly) or
to an attorney, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (2) in a complaint or other document
filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.
Section
4.6. Remedies. If the provisions of this Article are violated, or threatened to be violated, in whole or in part, the Company
shall be entitled to a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction restraining or enjoining Employee from using or disclosing,
in whole or in part, such Confidential Information, without prejudice to any other remedies the Company may have at law or in equity.
If Employee violates this Article, Employee agrees that the Company would be irreparably harmed.
ARTICLE
V.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
5.1 Assignment; Binding Effect; Amendment. This Agreement and the rights of the Parties under it may not be assigned (except by
operation of law and except that it may be assigned by the Company to an Affiliated Entity) and shall be binding upon and shall inure
to the benefit of the Parties and their successors and assigns. This Agreement, upon execution and delivery, constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of the Parties enforceable in accordance with its terms and may be modified or amended only by a written instrument
executed by all Parties hereto.
Section
5.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement is the final, complete and exclusive statement and expression of the agreement among the
Parties hereto with relation to the subject matter of this Agreement, it being understood that there are no oral representations, understandings
or agreements covering the same subject matter as this Agreement. This Agreement supersedes, and cannot be varied, contradicted or supplemented
by evidence of any prior or contemporaneous discussions, correspondence, or oral or written agreements of any kind.
Section
5.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original and all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section
5.4 Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and may be given by depositing
the same in United States mail, addressed to the Party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt
requested, by nationally recognized overnight courier or by delivering the same in person to such Party.
|
(a) |
If
to Employee, addressed to: |
Fred
Wagenhals
7681
E. Grey Road
Scottsdale,
AZ 85260
|
(b) |
If
to the Company, addressed to it at: |
Ammo,
Inc.
Attn:
Robert D. Wiley
7681
E. Grey Road
Scottsdale,
AZ 85260
Notice
shall be deemed given and effective the day personally delivered, the day after being sent by overnight courier, subject to signature
verification, and three business days after the deposit in the U.S. mail of a writing addressed as above and sent first class mail, certified,
return receipt requested, or when actually received , if earlier. Any Party may change the address for notice by notifying the other
Parties of such change in accordance with this Section.
Section
5.5 Governing Law; Arbitration. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws
of the State of Arizona, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Arizona or
any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Arizona; provided, however,
that the following provisions shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act:
(a)
Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, in accordance
with the rules of the American Arbitration Association for employment disputes as then in effect. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood
and agreed that this Agreement to arbitrate includes any and all claims and disputes, including, without limitation, as to arbitrability,
with respect to Employee’s employment with the Company or the termination of such employment, including, without limitation, any
claim for alleged discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, sexual orientation,
age, religion, creed, marital status, veteran status, alienage, citizenship, disability or handicap, or any other legally protected status,
and any alleged violation of any federal, state, or other governmental law, statute or regulation, including, but not limited to, any
alleged violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, other civil rights statutes including, without limitation, 42 U.S.C.
§ 1981, 42 U.S.C. § 1982, and 42 U.S.C. § 1985, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities
Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act, or any state or local law, statute or regulation, as such statutes, laws, and regulations are amended. Judgment may be entered on
the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction.
Section
5.6 No Waiver. No delay of or omission in the exercise of any right, power or remedy accruing to any Party as a result of any
breach or default by any other Party under this Agreement shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be construed as
a waiver of or acquiescence in any such breach or default, or of or in any similar breach or default occurring later; nor shall any waiver
of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default occurring before or after that waiver.
Section
5.7 Captions. The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only, and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement
or be used to construe or interpret any provision hereof.
Section
5.8 Severability. In case any prov1s1on of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, it shall, to the extent
possible, be modified in such manner as to be valid, legal and enforceable but so as most nearly to retain the intent of the Parties.
If such modification is not possible, such provision shall be severed from this Agreement. In either case the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section
5.9 Construction. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity
or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption
or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
Any reference to any federal, state, local or foreign statute shall be deemed to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
unless the context requires otherwise. The word “including” means including, without limitation. The Parties intend that
representations, warranties and covenants contained herein shall have independent significance. If any Party has breached any representation,
warranty or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating
to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) that the Party has not breached shall not detract from
or mitigate the fact the Party is in breach of the first representation, warranty or covenant.
Section
5.10 No Derogatory Statement. The Company shall not engage in any pattern of conduct that involves the making or publishing of
written or oral statements or remarks (including, without limitation, the repetition or distribution of derogatory rumors, allegations,
negative reports or comments) which are disparaging, deleterious or damaging to the integrity or reputation of Employee.
Section
5.11 Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold Employee harmless from any liabilities, obligations,
claims, penalties, fines or losses resulting from any unauthorized or unlawful acts of the Company which contravene any applicable statute,
rule, regulation or order of any jurisdiction, foreign or domestic.
Section
5.12 Headings. The headings used herein are for convenience only and do not limit the contents of this Agreement.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed effective as of the day and year first above written.
|
AMMO,
INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Robert D. Wiley |
|
By:
|
Robert
D. Wiley |
|
Its:
|
Chief
Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
EMPLOYEE: |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Fred Wagenhals |
|
By: |
Fred
Wagenhals |
Exhibit
99.1
![](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1015383/000149315223025451/ex99-1_001.jpg)
AMMO,
Inc. Announces Jared Smith as its New Chief Executive Officer
SCOTTSDALE,
Ariz., July 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AMMO, Inc. (Nasdaq: POWW, POWWP) (“AMMO” or the “Company”),
the owner of GunBroker.com, the largest online marketplace serving the firearms and shooting sports industries, and a leading vertically
integrated producer of high-performance ammunition and components, today announced Jared Smith as the Company’s new Chief Executive
Officer effective July 24, 2023.
“Today
I, along with the Board of Directors, am pleased to announce that industry veteran Jared Smith has been named Chief Executive Officer
and will become a Director of AMMO and GunBroker.com,” said Fred Wagenhals, AMMO’s current CEO and Chairman. “I will
remain Executive Chairman of AMMO and GunBroker.com and will be a strategic advisor to the Company and Jared to assist in the transition.
Jared has been AMMO’s President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2023.”
Jared
has spent 17 years working in the firearm and ammunition sector, where he most recently spent more than five years as the General Manager
with Fiocchi of America, a global manufacturer of premium ammunition for competition, hunting, and defense applications. During his tenure
at Fiocchi, he held multiple positions, including Director of Procurement and Supply Chain, and subsequently, Vice President of International
Strategy and Development. As Fiocchi’s GM, Jared maintained full P&L ownership and managed separate manufacturing operations,
while overseeing three acquisitions and led Fiocchi’s revenue growth in three short years from $95 million to more than $200 million.
“The
CEO Succession Committee of the Board of Directors, in consultation with international executive search firm Egon Zehnder, was tasked
with conducting the national search to fill the CEO position,” said Jessica Lockett, Board Member. “We thoroughly canvassed
the marketplace for high qualified candidates who possessed what we believed were the extensive set of skills necessary for a CEO to
balance. Following this process, it was clear that Jared was the most attractive candidate for the position.”
“I’ve
had the opportunity to get to know Jared over the past few months, and I am confident he combines a strong background, executive skills,
and, most importantly, the vision to grow this Company into a true market leader. Jared stands out among the many CEOs I’ve come
to know over my own years of experience, and we as a board are excited to welcome him as Ammo Inc.’s CEO and as a member of our
board, and we very much look forward to his, and our, future success,” added Christos Tsentas, AMMO director.
“It
was always my intent to engage a permanent successor when I founded AMMO in 2016 and took the reigns as CEO,” continued Wagenhals.
“Once I spent time with Jared, it became clear to me he could take our Company to the next level and beyond, and I am pleased the
CEO Succession Committee came to the same conclusion. Jared has impressive leadership skills and knowledge of our Company’s targeted
marketplace, and he is singularly focused and committed to deliver on the strategic imperative of further strengthening and growing AMMO
and GunBroker.com, leveraging our amazing employees and technological market differentiators.”
“On
behalf of the Board, the Company, and its stakeholders, I would like to thank Fred Wagenhals for his exceptional entrepreneurial vision
and his many contributions during his tenure as AMMO’s Chairman and CEO, including the 2021 strategic acquisition of GunBroker.com,
the opening of our new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in 2022, and attracting and retaining industry-leading
executives such as Jared,” said Rusty Wallace, Board Member, NASCAR Hall of Fame member, entrepreneur, and broadcast analyst. “The
entire Board is truly excited to welcome and work with Jared, whose experience as an industry insider, we believe, will only strengthen
AMMO’s presence in the marketplace.”
“I
am honored to be appointed CEO and look forward to leading this Company, our executive leadership team, and our Board toward the continued
transformation of our industry,” said Smith. “I have spent almost two decades in the firearm and ammunition sector and have
always recognized AMMO and GunBroker.com as best in class for their space and potential. I joined this team because of the raw potential
of the operations team, multiple opportunities to innovate, bring transformative change, and continue the growth trajectory of this Company.
Fred, the executive team, and I believe numerous and compelling future opportunities for AMMO and GunBroker.com lie ahead, some of which
we plan to announce in a Shareholder’s Letter later this week. I look forward to an exciting and successful future for AMMO and
GunBroker.com.”
About
AMMO, Inc.
With
its corporate offices headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, AMMO designs and manufactures products for a variety of aptitudes, including
law enforcement, military, sport shooting and self-defense. The Company was founded in 2016 with a vision to change, innovate and invigorate
the complacent munitions industry. AMMO promotes branded munitions as well as its patented STREAK™ Visual Ammunition,
/stelTH/™ subsonic munitions, and specialty rounds for military use via government programs. For more information, please
visit: www.ammo-inc.com.
About
GunBroker.com
GunBroker.com
is the largest online marketplace dedicated to firearms, hunting, shooting and related products. Aside from merchandise bearing its logo,
GunBroker.com currently sells none of the items listed on its website. Third-party sellers list items on the site and Federal and state
laws govern the sale of firearms and other restricted items. Ownership policies and regulations are followed using licensed firearms
dealers as transfer agents. Launched in 1999, GunBroker.com is an informative, secure and safe way to buy and sell firearms, ammunition,
air guns, archery equipment, knives and swords, firearms accessories and hunting/shooting gear online. GunBroker.com promotes responsible
ownership of guns and firearms. For more information, please visit: www.gunbroker.com.
Forward
Looking Statements
This
document contains certain “forward-looking statements”. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking
statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including, but not limited to, any projections of earnings, revenue
or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies, goals and objectives of management for future operations; any statements
concerning proposed new products and services or developments thereof; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance;
any statements or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.
Forward
looking statements may include the words “may,” “could,” “estimate,” “intend,” “continue,”
“believe,” “expect” or “anticipate” or other similar words, or the negative thereof. These forward-looking
statements present our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this report. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they are made. We do not undertake to update
forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the dates they are made. You should, however,
consult further disclosures and risk factors we include in Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Reports filed
on Form 8-K.
Investor
Contact:
CoreIR
Phone:
(212) 655-0924
AMMO,
Inc. Contact:
Victoria
Welch
Phone:
(480) 947-0001
v3.23.2
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- DefinitionA unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.
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- DefinitionThe exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.
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- DefinitionThe Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.
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- DefinitionBoolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act.
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- DefinitionTitle of a 12(b) registered security.
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