Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Related Parties

v3.21.4
Related Parties
3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2021
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Parties Related Parties
Director Compensation

On December 23, 2019, pursuant to the terms of his director agreement, we issued to Whitney White 428 shares of our common stock, valued at $37,500 or $87.62 per share.

On February 10, 2020, Amanda Murphy was appointed to our Board. Ms. Murphy was our Director of Operations at the time of her appointment. Ms. Murphy received approximately $264,000 and $240,000 in salaried compensation in Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020, respectively. During Fiscal 2021, in connection with her relocation to Miami, Florida as part of the relocation of our principal executive offices, Ms. Murphy received a one-time incentive payment of approximately $80,000 in addition to reimbursement of her expenses associated with her relocation. On October 22, 2021, as noted above, our Board approved the promotion of Ms. Murphy to the position of Chief Operating Officer, as well as an increase in her annual salary to $500,000, all of which were effective January 1, 2022.

Scott W. Absher, our CEO and Chair of our Board, received compensation in the form of salary of approximately $765,000 and $750,000 for Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020, respectively. In addition, Mr. Absher received the following additional payments during Fiscal 2021: (i) a one-time incentive payment of approximately $160,000 in connection with his relocation to Miami, Florida as part of the relocation of our principal executive offices, in addition to reimbursement of his expenses associated with his relocation; and (ii) a one-time bonus payment in the amount of $240,000 in recognition of his efforts on behalf of the Company. Subsequent to the end of Fiscal 2021, our Board approved raising Mr. Absher’s annual salary to $1 million, effective January 1, 2022, and also approved the payment of a $500,000 bonus to Mr. Absher, 50% of which was payable upon Board
approval, and the remainder of which was payable on January 1, 2022. These bonuses are recorded in our Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities in the condense consolidated balance sheets.

J. Stephen Holmes

J. Stephen Holmes formerly served as a non-employee sales manager advisor to and was a significant shareholder of the Company. The Company incurred $750,000 in professional fees for services provided by Mr. Holmes during each of Fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively. Further, on June 6, 2019, we advanced $325,000 in cash to Mr. Holmes, which he repaid on July 18, 2019 by returning 558,132 shares of common stock to us at a fair value of $0.58 per share. We classified these shares as treasury stock, which were retired during Fiscal 2020.

On or about October 22, 2021, we severed all ties with Mr. Holmes, effective immediately, and cancelled Preferred Options that had previously been issued to him but had not been exercised. As a result of these actions, the Company no longer has any financial obligation to Mr. Holmes, and believes that he is no longer a significant shareholder of the Company. See Note 7, Stockholders Equity.

Related Persons to Scott Absher

Mark Absher, the brother of Scott Absher, was previously employed as our Registered In-House Counsel, Director and Secretary. Mr. Absher resigned from his positions with the Company on February 6, 2019 and received compensation of $276,951 in Fiscal 2019. On November 18, 2021, Mr. Absher rejoined the Company as Deputy General Counsel – Special Projects, for an annual salary of $240,000. Based on his re-hire date, Mr. Absher did not receive any compensation from the Company in Fiscal 2021 or Fiscal 2020.

David May, a member of our business development team, is the son-in-law of Scott Absher. Mr. May received compensation of approximately $149,000 and $132,000 in Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020, respectively. In addition, in connection with his relocation to Miami, Florida, as part of the relocation of our principal executive offices, Mr. May received a one-time incentive payment of approximately $80,000 during Fiscal 2021, in addition to reimbursement for expenses associated with his relocation.

Jason Absher, a member of our business development team, is the nephew of Scott Absher and the son of Mark Absher. Mr. Absher was hired on February 22, 2021 at an annual salary of $75,000, which was subsequently raised to $120,000, effective August 1, 2021. Mr. Absher did not receive any compensation in Fiscal 2020, but received compensation of approximately $37,700 for Fiscal 2021.

Phil Eastvold, the Executive Producer of ShiftPixy Labs, is the son-in-law of Scott Absher. Mr. Eastvold was hired on September 1, 2020 and therefore did not receive any compensation in Fiscal 2020. Mr. Eastvold received compensation for Fiscal 2021 of approximately $224,000. In addition, in connection with his relocation to Miami, Florida as part of the relocation of our principal executive offices, Mr. Eastvold received a one-time incentive payment of approximately $88,000 during Fiscal 2021, in addition to reimbursement for expenses associated with his relocation.

Connie Absher, (the spouse of Scott Absher), Elizabeth Eastvold, (the daughter of Scott Absher and spouse of Mr. Eastvold), and Hannah Absher, (the daughter of Scott Absher), are also employed by the Company. These individuals, as a group, received aggregate compensation of $240,000 and $220,000 in Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020, respectively. In addition, in connection with her relocation to Miami, Florida as part of the relocation of our principal executive offices, Hannah Absher received a one-time incentive payment of approximately $18,000 during Fiscal 2021, in addition to reimbursement for expenses associated with her relocation. Connie Absher and Elizabeth Eastvold did not receive any such relocation bonus.