Note 11. Commitments

Employment agreements

On June 15, 2015, the Company entered into a three-year employment agreement with the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). After the initial three-year term, the agreement will be automatically renewed for successive one-year periods unless terminated by either party on at least 30 days’ written notice prior to the end of the then-current term. The CEO’s annual base salary is $150,000 and is subject to increase or decrease on each anniversary as determined by the Board of Directors. The CEO is eligible, at the discretion of our Board of Directors, to receive an annual cash bonus of up to 100% of the annual base salary, which may be based on the Company achieving certain operational, financial or other milestones (the “Milestones”) that may be established by the Board of Directors. The CEO is entitled to receive stock options or other equity incentive awards under the 2015 Plan as and when determined by the Board, and is entitled to receive perquisites and other fringe benefits that may be provided to, and is eligible to participate in any other bonus or incentive program established by the Company, for the executives. The CEO and his dependents are also entitled to participate in any of the employee benefit plans subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to other employees. The CEO will be entitled to be reimbursed for all reasonable travel, entertainment and other expenses incurred or paid by him in connection with, or related to, the performance of his duties, responsibilities or services under his employment agreement, in accordance with policies and procedures, and subject to limitations, adopted by us from time to time. In the event that the CEO is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in his employment agreement) or he resigns for Good Reason (as defined in his employment agreement) during the term of his employment, the CEO would be entitled to (x) an amount equal to his annual base salary then in effect (payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices) for a period of 24 months commencing on the effective date of his termination (the “Severance Period”) (in the case of termination by the executive for Good Reason, reduced by any cash remuneration paid to him because of any other employment or self-employment during the Severance Period), and (y) if and to the extent the Milestones are achieved for the annual bonus for the year in which the Severance Period commences (or, in the absence of Milestones, the Board of Directors has, in its sole discretion, otherwise determined an amount of the CEO’s annual bonus for such year), an amount equal to such annual bonus pro-rated for the portion of the performance year completed before the CEO employment terminated, (z) any unvested stock options, restricted stock or similar incentive equity instruments will vest immediately. For the duration of the Severance Period, the CEO will also be eligible to participate in our benefit plans or programs, provided the CEO was participating in such plan or program immediately prior to the date of employment termination, to the extent permitted under the terms of such plan or program (collectively, the “Termination Benefits”). If the CEO’s employment is terminated during the term by the Company for Cause, by the CEO for any reason other than Good Reason or due to his death, then he will not be entitled to receive the Termination Benefits, and shall only be entitled to the compensation and benefits which shall have accrued as of the date of such termination (other than with respect to certain benefits that may be available to the CEO as a result of a Permanent Disability (as defined in his employment agreement).

On June 15, 2015, the Company also entered into employment agreements with each of the Vice President of Business Development, the Vice President of Operations, and the Chief Financial Officer. Each of these employment agreements has substantially the same terms as that of the CEO described above, except as follows:

In addition, in accordance with each such employment agreement, each of these executives received a restricted stock award under the 2015 Plan for the number of shares of the Company’s common stock shown below. These restricted stock awards are subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company that lapses over a four-year period, as follows: the repurchase option on 50% of the shares will lapse at the end of two years from date of issuance, and the repurchase option on 25% of the shares will lapse at the end of each of the third and fourth years from date of issuance.

Operating leases

In July 2014, Akoustis, Inc. entered into a 24–month lease agreement for office space located in Cornelius, North Carolina, terminating on June 30, 2016. Under the agreement, total annual rent is $24,000 with the option to renew the lease for two additional one year terms.

In April 2015, Akoustis, Inc. entered into a new lease agreement for office space in Huntersville, NC. The lease is for a three-year term with monthly base rent payments of approx. $3,800 and requires a deposit of $10,000. At the time of the execution of the new lease, the original lease for the existing office space had 14 months remaining on the existing two-year agreement. Akoustis, Inc. negotiated with the landlord to pay $16,000 for an eight-month termination fee, which includes rent through May 15, 2015.

The operating leases provide for annual real estate tax and cost of living increases and contain predetermined increases in the rentals payable during the term of the lease. The aggregate rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The total lease rental expense was $66,556 and $19,613 for the year ended March 31, 2016 and the period May 12, 2014 (Inception) through March 31, 2015, respectively.

Total future minimum payments required under the new operating lease are as follows.