15.  Unsolicited Bid and Shareholder Demand

On July 15, 2019 and August 23, 2019, the Company received letters from Shepherd Kaplan Krochuk, LLC (“SKK”) and North & Webster SSG, LLC (“N&W”) announcing an unsolicited bid to acquire the Company. The proposal was subject to a number of contingencies, including the need for SKK and N&W to secure financing to complete a transaction.

On November 27, 2019, SKK, N&W, and Messrs. Shepherd, Kaplan, Krochuk and Kidston (collectively, the “SKK 13D Group”) entered into a Joint Filing Agreement and filed a Schedule 13D with the SEC, disclosing an aggregate 5.8% ownership stake in the Company. Also on November 27, 2019, Mr. Nynens entered into an agreement with SKK and N&W (the “November 27 Agreement”), granting SKK an irrevocable proxy to vote his shares of Common Stock (i) in favor of any acquisition proposal by SKK, (ii) against any third-party acquisition, and (iii) as directed by SKK with respect to the election of directors nominated by persons other than the Company.

On December 20, 2019, Mr. Nynens delivered a nomination notice to the Company regarding his intent to nominate Kim J. McCauley, Delynn Copley, Dennis M. Crowley, III and Nilesh Shah at the Meeting. On February 11, 2020, after considering the proposals with its financial advisers, the Board responded to SKK and N&W that the expired proposal received on December 10, 2019 would not have been in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders because it undervalues the Company, and did not serve as a basis for further diligence or discussion.

On January 22, 2020, the Company received a letter from one of its stockholders demanding that the Board investigate and bring an action against Mr. Nynens for breaches of certain restrictive covenants contained in his Separation and Release Agreement, dated May 11, 2018, including his covenant not to seek future employment with the Company. As a result, the Company filed a lawsuit (the “Lawsuit”) against Mr. Nynens, SKK, and N&W in the Superior Court of New Jersey Monmouth County, on February 14, 2020.

On April 16, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with Mr. Nynens, SKK, N&W, and each of Dennis Crowley, David Shepherd, David Kaplan, Timothy Krochuk and Samuel Kidston (collectively with SKK and N&W, the “SKK Parties”). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company agreed to voluntarily dismiss the Lawsuit with prejudice, and to purchase all of Mr. Nynens’ 261,631 shares of the Common Stock owned, of record or beneficially, as of the Effective Date, at fair market value, as defined in the agreement. Mr. Nynens and the SKK Parties terminated the November 27 Agreement and the Joint Filing Agreement. Additionally, Mr. Nynens agreed to withdraw the notice of intent to nominate director candidates for election at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, submitted by Mr. Nynens on December 20, 2019, and to cease all solicitation of proxies and other activities in connection with such annual meeting. For further information, see the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on April 17, 2020.

On April 23, 2020, the Company purchased all of Nynens’ 261,631 shares of Common Stock at $13.19 per share pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, representing approximately 5.8% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Company, for an aggregate purchase price of $3.5 million.

The Company incurred approximately $1.6 million in legal and advisory expenses, net during the year ended December 31, 2020 related to the above matter. In connection with the above matter, the Company made certain claims for reimbursement under its insurance policies. During the year ended December 31, 2020, reimbursement for insurance proceeds realized totaling $0.3 million has been recorded.