UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: April 4, 2025
(Date of earliest event reported)
ImmuCell Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| DE | 001-12934 | 01-0382980 | ||
|
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification Number) |
| 56 Evergreen Drive Portland, Maine | 04103 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
207-878-2770
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations 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, $0.10 par value per share | ICCC | The 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 1.01 – Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
The information set forth in Item 5.02 below is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
Item 5.02 – Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
The Board of Directors of ImmuCell Corporation (the Company) has elected Timothy C. Fiori, age 46, to serve as its Chief Financial Officer effective April 7, 2025. For the past 24 years, Mr. Fiori has held various financial and commercial operating positions at Idexx Laboratories in Westbrook, Maine (Nasdaq: IDXX), most recently as its Senior Director Finance, Commercial Operations since 2020.
Mr. Fiori will be compensated at an annual base salary of $250,000 and will be entitled to participate in the employee benefit plans offered by the Company, including its 2017 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. The Company has entered into an Incentive Compensation Agreement with Mr. Fiori, which provides Mr. Fiori with certain cash bonuses as further inducement to continue his employment with the Company and to contribute to the Company’s attainment of certain specific objectives and outcomes.
The forgoing description of the Incentive Compensation Agreement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of the Incentive Compensation Agreement, attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference. A copy of the press release announcing Mr. Fiori’s appointment is furnished as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 10.1 | Incentive Compensation Agreement between the Company and Timothy C. Fiori dated as of April 4, 2025 | |
| 99.1 | Press Release of the Company dated April 7, 2025. | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File |
SIGNATURE
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.
| IMMUCELL CORPORATION | ||
| Date: April 7, 2025 | By: | /s/ Michael F. Brigham |
| Michael F. Brigham | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 10.1 | Incentive Compensation Agreement between the Company and Timothy C. Fiori dated as of April 4, 2025 | |
| 99.1 | Press Release of the Company dated April 7, 2025 | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File |
Exhibit 10.1
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
This Incentive Compensation Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2025, is by and between IMMUCELL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and TIM FIORI (the “Executive”).
WHEREAS, the Executive has agreed to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer; and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to provide the Executive with certain incentive compensation opportunities, as more fully set forth herein, in order to induce the Executive to continue his employment with the Company and to contribute to the Company’s attainment of certain specific objectives and outcomes.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:
1. At-Will Nature of Executive’s Employment. The parties agree and acknowledge that the Executive’s employment with the Company is “at will,” and that nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to modify the “at will” nature of such employment.
2. Retention Incentives. The Company agrees to pay to the Executive, subject to all required tax withholdings, the following amounts, subject to the specified conditions:
(a) The amount of $10,000 if the Executive is employed by the Company continuously to October 7, 2025, to be paid in cash within 30 days of such date; and
(b) The amount of $35,000 if the Executive is employed by the Company continuously to April 7, 2026, to be paid in cash within 30 days of such date, or, if earlier, within 30 days of the Company either (i) terminating the Executive’s employment, other than for Cause, or (ii) undergoing a Change in Control, as such terms are defined below.
3. Incentive Compensation. The Company will pay to the Executive not later than the first regular payroll following April 7, 2026, the amount of $40,000 if the performance objectives set forth on Exhibit A are satisfied, as reasonably determined by the Company, provided, however, that such payment shall be due and payable only if the Executive is employed by the Company at April 7, 2026, and further provided that such payment shall become due and payable upon the Executive’s employment being involuntarily terminated prior to April 7, 2026, other than for Cause, in connection with a Change in Control of the Company, regardless of whether such performance objectives have been satisfied.
4. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below.
(a) “Cause” shall mean:
(i) The Executive’s having engaged in willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of any of his duties to the Company, which, if capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within thirty (30) days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such willful misconduct or gross negligence;
(ii) The Executive’s willful failure or refusal to perform reasonably assigned directives of the Company or to cooperate with an internal investigation being conducted by or at the direction of the Company which, if capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within thirty (30) days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure or refusal;
(iii) Any conviction of the Executive of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere by the Executive to, (x) any felony or (y) any crime (whether or not a felony) involving fraud, theft, breach of trust or similar acts, in any case, whether under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or any foreign law to which the Executive may be subject;
(iv) The Executive’s willful or continued failure to comply with any written rules, regulations, policies or procedures of the Company which, if not complied with, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or reputation of the Company, as determined by the Company in its reasonable discretion, which, in the case of a failure that is capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within thirty (30) days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such failure; or
(v) The Executive’s abuse of alcohol or another controlled substance that would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or reputation of the Company, as determined by the Company in its reasonable discretion, which, if capable of being cured, is not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within thirty (30) days after the Executive receives from the Company written notice of such circumstances.
(b) “Change in Control” shall mean:
(i) The acquisition by an individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or more of either (x) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (a) any acquisition directly from the Company, (b) any acquisition by the Company, (c) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (d) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which satisfies the criteria set forth in clauses (x), (y) and (z) of subsection (iii) of this Section 6(b); or (ii) A change in the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), as a result of which fewer than one-half of the incumbent directors are directors who either (x) had been directors of the Company 24 months prior to such change or (y) were elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the directors who had been directors of the Company 24 months prior to such change and who were still in office at the time of the election or nomination; or
(iii) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, immediately following such Business Combination, (x) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than a majority of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (which as used in this Section 3(b)(iii) shall include, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, (y) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination, or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation and (z) at least half of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Company’s Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or
(iv) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the consummation of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
5. Successors.
(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maine, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by e-mail, read receipt requested, addressed as follows:
If to the Executive:
at the address and e-mail address on file in the Company’s records
If to the Company:
ImmuCell Corporation
56 Evergreen Drive
Portland, Maine 04103
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(e) The Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision of or right under this Agreement.
(f) From and after the Effective Date this Agreement shall supersede any other communications, agreement and understandings, written or oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(g) The Executive agrees that jurisdiction and venue for any action arising from or relating to this Agreement or the relationship between the parties, including but not limited to matters concerning validity, construction, performance, or enforcement, shall be exclusively in the federal and Maine state courts located in Cumberland County (collectively, the “Selected Courts”) (provided, that a final judgment in any such action shall be conclusive and enforceable in other jurisdictions) and further agree that service of process may be made in any manner permitted by law. The Executive irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert (i) any objection which he may ever have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in the Selected Courts, and (ii) any claim that any such action brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. This Section 6(g) is intended to fix the location of potential litigation between the parties and does not create any causes of action or waive any defenses or immunities to suit or obviate the rights of the parties to agree to arbitration with respect to any conflicts related to this Agreement or the Executive’s employment hereunder. EACH PARTY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY, TO THE EXTENT LAWFUL, AND AGREES THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND BARGAINED-FOR AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS.
(h) This Agreement may be executed by .pdf or facsimile signatures in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has executed this Agreement, and the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.
| EXECUTIVE: | ||
| /s/ Timothy C. Fiori | ||
| Tim Fiori | ||
| COMPANY: | ||
| IMMUCELL CORPORATION | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael F. Brigham | |
| Name: | Michael F. Brigham | |
| Title: | President and CEO | |
Exhibit 99.1
ImmuCell
ImmuCell Hires Chief Financial Officer
For Immediate Release
PORTLAND, Maine – April 7, 2025 – ImmuCell Corporation (Nasdaq: ICCC) (“ImmuCell” or the “Company”), a growing animal health company that develops, manufactures and markets scientifically proven and practical products that improve the health and productivity of dairy and beef cattle, today announced that it has hired Timothy C. Fiori to serve as its Chief Financial Officer.
Mr. Fiori brings to ImmuCell approximately 24 years of finance and commercial operating experience with IDEXX Laboratories in Westbrook, Maine. He is a 2001 graduate of the University of Maine, Orono with a B.S in Finance. He lives in Raymond, Maine with his wife, Rachel, and enjoys many outdoor activities.
“I am excited to join the ImmuCell leadership team at such a pivotal time in the Company’s development,” commented Mr. Fiori. “The product portfolio has tremendous proven value and great potential as we look to the future. I’m eager to start contributing immediately to the Company’s growth and development.”
“Adding Tim’s depth of experience and his great attitude to our team is a critical step in our ongoing growth plan,” added Michael F. Brigham, President and CEO. “He can help us leverage our personnel, improve our standard costing and financial reporting systems and find new efficiencies in all aspects of our business, to touch on just a few of the anticipated impacts that I believe Tim will have on our business.”
About ImmuCell:
ImmuCell Corporation’s (Nasdaq: ICCC) purpose is to create scientifically proven and practical products that improve the health and productivity of dairy and beef cattle. ImmuCell manufactures and markets First Defense®, providing Immediate Immunity™ to newborn dairy and beef calves, and is in the late stages of developing Re-Tain®, a novel treatment for subclinical mastitis in dairy cows without FDA-required milk discard or pre-slaughter withdrawal label restrictions that provides an alternative to traditional antibiotics. Press releases and other information about the Company are available at: http://www.immucell.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements (Safe Harbor Statement):
This Press Release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and will often include words such as “expects”, “may”, “anticipates”, “aims”, “intends”, “would”, “could”, “should”, “will”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates”, “targets”, “projects”, “forecasts”, “seeks” and similar words and expressions. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any forward-looking statements relating to: our plans, goals and strategies for our business; future improvements to internal financial and accounting systems; projections of future financial or operational performance; future demand for our products; the timing and outcome of pending or anticipated applications for regulatory approvals; and any other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are intended to provide management’s current expectations of future events as of the date of this earnings release, are based on management’s estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions as of the date hereof and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results, financial or operational performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements; forward-looking statements include other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on our current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factors. In addition, there can be no assurance that future risks, uncertainties or developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
| Contacts: | Michael F. Brigham, President and CEO |
| ImmuCell Corporation | |
| (207) 878-2770 | |
| Joe Diaz, Robert Blum and Joe Dorame | |
| Lytham Partners, LLC | |
| (602) 889-9700 | |
| iccc@lythampartners.com | |