KOPIN CORP 8-K

What Happened Kopin Corporation (KOPN) announced on January 5, 2026 (filed in an 8-K) that its compensation committee approved equity awards for senior executives. CEO and Chairman Michael Murray received 583,658 shares of restricted stock and an option to purchase 724,638 shares at an exercise price of $3.21 per share. COO Paul Baker was granted 72,000 shares of restricted stock with a multi-year vesting schedule.

Key Details

• Grant date: January 5, 2026; exercise price for Murray’s option: $3.21/share (25% premium to Kopin’s closing price on Jan 5, 2026).
• Michael Murray: 583,658 restricted shares (cliff vest four years from grant) and option for 724,638 shares (vests quarterly over four years), subject to continued employment and his employment agreement.
• Paul Baker: 72,000 restricted shares vesting 34% on Dec 10, 2026, 33% on Dec 10, 2027, and 33% on Dec 10, 2028, subject to continued service.
• Awards are governed by the Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan and include a double-trigger change-in-control provision for accelerated vesting.

Why It Matters These awards are retention and incentive measures for Kopin’s top executives. For investors, the grants may increase potential share dilution if options are exercised or restricted stock vests, and they create future compensation expense for the company (amounts not specified in the filing). The 25% premium exercise price on the CEO’s option indicates the strike is above the market price at grant. Vesting schedules and the double-trigger change-in-control protection show the company is tying compensation to continued service and certain transaction/termination conditions.