Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2025

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 10 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal matters

From time to time, the Company may be involved in litigation related to claims arising out of its operations in the normal course of business. As of December 31, 2024, the Company is not involved in any pending or threatened legal proceedings that it believes could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Employment and Related Golden Parachute Agreement

Bryan McLaren

On May 23, 2018, the Company and Bryan McLaren (“Mr. McLaren”), the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, entered into an employment agreement (the “2018 Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the 2018 Employment Agreement, the Company agreed to continue to pay Mr. McLaren his then-current base annual salary of $215,000, and to award Mr. McLaren with an annual and/or quarterly bonus payable in either cash and/or equity of no less than 2% of the Company’s net income for the associated period.

The 2018 Employment Agreement has a term of 10 years. The term and Mr. McLaren’s employment will terminate (a “Termination”) in any of the following circumstances:

	(i)	immediately, if Mr. McLaren dies;

	(ii)	immediately, if Mr. McLaren receives benefits under the long-term disability insurance coverage then provided by the Company or, if no such insurance is in effect, upon Mr. McLaren’s disability;

	(iii)	on the expiration date, as the same may be extended by the parties by written amendment to the 2018 Employment Agreement prior to the occasion thereof;

	(iv)	at the option of the Company for Cause (as defined in the 2018 Employment Agreement) upon the Company’s provision of written notice to Mr. McLaren of the basis for such Termination;

(v)

at the option of the Company, without Cause;

	(vi)	by Mr. McLaren at any time with Good Reason (as defined in the 2018 Employment Agreement), upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the Company delivered not later than within 90 days of the existence of the condition therefor; or

	(vii)	by Mr. McLaren at any time without Good Reason, upon not less than three months’ prior written notice to the Company.

In the event of a Termination for any reason or for no reason whatsoever, or upon the expiration date of the 2018 Employment Agreement, whichever comes first, all rights and obligations under the 2018 Employment Agreement shall cease (i) as to the Company, except for the Company’s obligations for the payment of applicable severance benefits thereunder, and for indemnification thereunder, and (ii) as to Mr. McLaren, except for his obligation under the restrictive covenants in the 2018 Employment Agreement.

The Company and Mr. McLaren also entered into a Golden Parachute Agreement (the “Golden Parachute Agreement”) on May 23, 2018. No benefits shall be payable under the Golden Parachute Agreement unless there shall have been a change in control of the Company, as set forth below. For purposes of the Golden Parachute Agreement, amongst other terms in the Golden Parachute Agreement, a “change in control of the Company” shall mean a change of control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6 of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

For purposes of the Golden Parachute Agreement, “Cause” means termination upon (a) the willful and continued failure to substantially perform duties with the Company after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that duties have not substantially been performed, or (b) the willful engaging in conduct, which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise.

For purposes of the Golden Parachute Agreement, “Good Reason” means, without express written consent, the occurrence after a change in control of the Company of any of the following circumstances unless, such circumstances are fully corrected prior to the date of Termination specified in the notice of Termination:

	(a)	a material diminution in Mr. McLaren’s authority, duties or responsibility from those in effect immediately prior to the change in control of the Company;

	(b)	a material diminution in Mr. McLaren’s base compensation;

	(c)	a material change in the geographic location at which Mr. McLaren performs his duties;

	(d)	a material diminution in the authority, duties, or responsibilities of the supervisor to whom Mr. McLaren is required to report, including a requirement that Mr. McLaren report to a corporate officer or employee instead of reporting directly to the Board;

(e)

a material diminution in the budget over which Mr. McLaren retains authority;

	(f)	a material breach under any agreement with the Company to continue in effect any bonus to which Mr. McLaren was entitled, or any compensation plan in which Mr. McLaren participates immediately prior to the change in control of the Company which is material to Mr. McLaren’s total compensation;

	(g)	a material breach under any agreement with the Company to provide Mr. McLaren benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by him under any of the Company’s life insurance, medical, health and accident, or disability plans in which he was participating at the time of the change in control of the Company, the failure to continue to provide Mr. McLaren with a Company automobile or allowance in lieu of it, if Mr. McLaren was provided with such an automobile or allowance in lieu of it at the time of the change of control of the Company, the taking of any action by the Company which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive him of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by him at the time of the change in control of the Company, or the failure by the Company to provide him with the number of paid vacation days to which he is entitled on the basis of years of service with the Company in accordance with the Company’s normal vacation policy in effect at the time of the change in control of the Company;

Following a change in control of the Company, upon termination of Mr. McLaren’s employment or during a period of disability, Mr. McLaren will be entitled to the following benefits:

(i)

During any period that he fails to perform his full-time duties with the Company as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness, Mr. McLaren will continue to receive his base salary at the rate in effect at the commencement of any such period, together with all amounts payable to him under any compensation plan of the Company during such period, until the Golden Parachute Agreement is terminated.

(ii)

If Mr. McLaren’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by Mr. McLaren other than for Good Reason, disability, death or retirement, the Company will pay Mr. McLaren his full base salary through the date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time notice of Termination is given, plus all other amounts and benefits to which he is entitled under any compensation plan of the Company at the time such payments are due.

(iii)

If employment by the Company shall be terminated (a) by the Company other than for Cause, death or disability or (b) by Mr. McLaren for Good Reason, Mr. McLaren will be entitled to benefits provided below:

a.

The Company will pay Mr. McLaren his full base salary through the date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time notice of Termination is given, plus all other amounts and benefits to which he is entitled under any compensation plan of the Company.

b.

In lieu of any further salary payments to Mr. McLaren for periods subsequent to the date of Termination, the Company will pay as severance pay to Mr. McLaren a lump sum severance payment (together with the payments provided in clause I(c) and (d) below) equal to five times the sum of his annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the circumstance giving rise to the notice of Termination given in respect of them.

c.

The Company will pay to Mr. McLaren any deferred compensation allocated or credited to him or his account as of the date of Termination.

d.

In lieu of shares of common stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of outstanding options, if any, granted to Mr. McLaren under the Company’s stock option plans (which options shall be cancelled upon the making of the payment referred to below), Mr. McLaren will receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the excess of the closing price of the Company’s common stock as reported on or nearest the date of Termination (or, if not so reported, on the basis of the average of the lowest asked and highest bid prices on or nearest the date of Termination), over the per share exercise price of each option held by Mr. McLaren (whether or not then fully exercisable) plus the amount of any applicable cash appreciation rights, times (ii) the number of the Company’s common stock covered by each such option.

e.

The Company will also pay to Mr. McLaren all legal fees and expenses incurred by him as a result of such Termination.

Additionally, on August 16, 2024, the Company’s Compensation Committee approved a Compensation Memo whereby project team members may receive up to 80% bonus splits of project fees generated by transactions. Project fees may include Acquisition Fees, Management Fees, Disposition Fees, or Promote Fees. Each transaction may vary significantly in the types of fees generated and the amount of fees generated depending on project terms and conditions. In connection with such a bonus, in 2024, the Company paid Mr. McLaren a bonus of $56,473.

Berekk Blackwell

On July 26, 2022, the Company entered into an employment agreement, effective July 1, 2022, with Mr. Blackwell (the “Blackwell Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Blackwell Employment Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Blackwell a base annual salary of $150,000 for his services as President and Chief Operating Officer. The Company may also award Mr. Blackwell discretionary cash and/or equity bonuses. The Blackwell Employment Agreement had a term of one year, expiring on July 1, 2023. During the initial term, neither party may terminate the Blackwell Employment Agreement except for Cause (as defined in the Blackwell Employment Agreement). After the initial term that expired July 1, 2023, the Blackwell Employment Agreement continued to be in full force and effect, unaffected by the expiration, except that either party may terminate the Blackwell Employment Agreement for any reason upon 30 days’ written notice to the other party.

Additionally, on August 16, 2024, the Company’s Compensation Committee approved a Compensation Memo whereby project team members may receive up to 80% bonus splits of project fees generated by transactions. Project fees may include Acquisition Fees, Management Fees, Disposition Fees, or Promote Fees. Each transaction may vary significantly in the types of fees generated and the amount of fees generated depending on project terms and conditions. In connection with such a bonus, in 2024, the Company paid Mr. Blackwell a bonus of $57,473.

401(k) Plan

On September 29, 2021, the Company’s board of directors adopted the Zoned Properties 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) effective January 1, 2021. The Company contributes a matching contribution to the Plan for each employee in an amount equal to 100% of the matched employee contributions that are not in excess of 4% of the employee’s plan compensation. For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company contributed $5,782 and $5,697 to the Plan, respectively.

Loan Guarantees

ZP OH Antwerp, LLC

On March 12, 2025, ZP OH Antwerp, LLC (“ZP Antwerp”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZP Ohio B LLC, a cost method investee of the Company (See Note 5), and Jonestown Bank & Trust Co. (“Jonestown”) entered into a Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) pursuant to which Jonestown agreed to lend to ZP Antwerp $300,000 (the “Loan”) for purchase of commercial real estate located at 503 W. River Street, Antwerp, OH (the “Antwerp Property”), to be evidenced by the Mortgage Note, dated as of March 12, 2025, in the principal amount of $300,000, issued by ZP Antwerp in favor of Jonestown (the “Note”). Pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement, ZP Antwerp agreed to pay to Jonestown a $7,500 loan origination fee and a $1,500 loan enhancement fee. The Antwerp Property will be used as collateral for the Loan. The Company and ZP RE Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, guaranteed the Loan Agreement pursuant to that certain Guaranty dated March 12, 2025, by ZP RE Holdings, LLC, and that certain Guaranty dated March 12, 2025, by the Company, respectively. The Company believes that the fair value of the guarantee is nominal since the fair value of the property exceeds the loan amount.

On March 12, 2025, ZP Antwerp entered into an Assignment of Rents and Leases (“Assignment”) with Jonestown. Pursuant to the terms of the Assignment, ZP Antwerp agreed to grant to Jonestown all of ZP Antwerp’s right, title and interest in and to all of the rents, revenues, issues, profits, proceeds, royalties, bonuses, rights, benefits, receipts, income accounts and other receivables arising out of or from the Antwerp Property to secure the payment by ZP Antwerp when due of indebtedness evidenced by the Note, and any and all other indebtedness and obligations that may be due and owing to Jonestown by ZP Antwerp under or with respect to the Loan Agreement, the Guaranty and certain other transaction documents.

The Loan Agreement, Note and Assignment contain customary representations, warranties, covenants and events of defaults for a transaction of this type.

ZP OH Columbus, LLC

On April 4, 2025, ZP OH Columbus, LLC (“ZP Columbus”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZP Ohio B LLC, a cost method investee of the Company (See Note 5), closed the acquisition of commercial real estate located at 601 S. High Street, Columbus, OH (the “Columbus Property”). In connection therewith, on April 4, 2025, the Company delivered that certain Commercial Guaranty (the “Columbus Guaranty”), dated as of March 31, 2025, to First Fidelity Bank (“First Fidelity”). The Columbus Guaranty contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and other provisions for a transaction of this type.

On March 31, 2025, ZP Columbus and First Fidelity entered into a Business Loan Agreement (the “Columbus Loan Agreement”), pursuant to which First Fidelity agreed to lend to ZP Columbus $1,500,000 (the “Columbus Loan”) for purchase of the Columbus Property, to be evidenced by a promissory note, dated as of March 31, 2025, in the principal amount of $1,500,000, issued by ZP Columbus in favor of First Fidelity (the “Columbus Note”). The Columbus Loan Agreement and the Columbus Note were entered into in the ordinary course of the Company’s business. The Columbus Property will be used as collateral for the Columbus Loan. The Company and ZP RE Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, guaranteed the Columbus Loan Agreement pursuant to the Columbus Guaranty. The Company believes that the fair value of the Columbus Guaranty is nominal since the fair value of the Columbus Property exceeds the amount of the Columbus Loan. Pursuant to the terms of the mortgage on the Columbus Property, ZP Columbus agreed to grant to First Fidelity all of ZP Columbus’ right, title and interest in and to all present and future leases of the Columbus Property and all rents from the Columbus Property to secure the payment by ZP Columbus when due of indebtedness evidenced by the Columbus Note, and performance of obligations under the Columbus Note, the Columbus Loan Agreement and the related transaction documents.