automatically be deemed exercisable or otherwise vested or no longer subject to lapse and/or performance restrictions, as the case may be, immediately prior to such Change in Control and (ii) the Compensation Committee may, but will not be obligated to, (A) accelerate, vest or cause the restrictions to lapse with respect to all or any portion of an award, (B) cancel such awards for fair market value (as determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee) which, in the case of options and stock appreciation rights, may equal the excess, if any, of value of the consideration to be paid in the Change in Control transaction to holders of the same number of shares subject to such options or stock appreciation rights (or, if no consideration is paid in any such transaction, the fair market value of the shares subject to such options or stock appreciation rights) over the aggregate exercise price of such options or stock appreciation rights, (C) provide for the issuance of substitute awards that will substantially preserve the otherwise applicable terms of any affected awards previously granted hereunder as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion or (D) provide that for a period of at least ten business days prior to the Change in Control, such options or stock appreciation rights will be exercisable as to all shares subject thereto and that, upon the occurrence of the Change in Control, such options or stock appreciation rights will terminate and be of no further force and effect. On March 10, 2020, the Compensation Committee determined to amend outstanding restricted stock units held by executive officers to provide that, in the event of a change in control, the awards that are not assumed on fair terms by a public company acquirer will automatically vest, but those awards appropriately assumed by a public company acquirer on fair terms will remain subject to further vesting. In the latter case, the restricted stock units will be subject to “double-trigger” protections so that, if the executive is terminated without “Cause” or terminates employment for “Good Reason” or due to death or disability within 24 months after the change in control, the executive’s restricted stock units will fully vest. Restricted stock units granted to the named executive officers in 2021 contain similar provisions, as will future awards.
Employment Agreements and Employment Letters
As discussed above, on December 16, 2011, Mr. Connors entered into the Connors Employment Agreement, which was amended subsequently on December 10, 2013 to extend the term until December 31, 2017, further amended on December 13, 2016 to extend the term until December 31, 2021 and further amended on December 30, 2020 to extend the term until December 31, 2025. The Connors Employment Agreement provides for a base salary of $700,000 per year (which the Compensation Committee raised to $850,000 effective April 1, 2018) and a target bonus opportunity of 150% of base salary and provides that Mr. Connors is eligible to receive equity grants from the Company. In connection with a grant of restricted stock units in January 2011, Mr. Connors executed the Company’s form of restrictive covenant agreement (the “Restrictive Covenant Agreement”) requiring him not to disclose confidential information of the Company at any time, and for the period during which he is employed by the Company and the 24-month period thereafter, not to compete with us, not to interfere with our business, and not to solicit nor hire our employees or customers. The Compensation Committee believes that entering into the Connors Employment Agreement and the related commitments was advisable and appropriate in order for ISG to induce Mr. Connors to remain Chief Executive Officer and to encourage his long-term service to the Company.
Pursuant to an employment letter dated April 29, 2021 (the “Alfonso Employment Letter”), Mr. Alfonso is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $550,000, a target bonus opportunity of $350,000 and is eligible to receive equity grants from the Company. For 2021 only, in lieu of a bonus opportunity in cash, the Company and Mr. Alfonso agreed that Mr. Alfonso would receive a grant of RSUs on July 1, 2021 with a dollar value of $200,000, which will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date (time-based), and which required Mr. Alfonso to execute our standard Restrictive Covenant Agreement containing obligations relating to confidentiality, non-competition, non-solicitation and other business protection covenants. In addition, on July 1, 2021, Mr. Alfonso was granted 100,000 RSUs that will vest 100% on the third year anniversary of the grant date. The Alfonso Employment Letter also entitled Mr. Alfonso to elect to purchase up to $100,000 of our common stock in the open market, which then was matched 1:1 with a grant of RSUs on December 1, 2021. In connection with a grant of restricted stock units in July 2021, Mr. Alfonso entered into the Restrictive Covenant Agreement with the Company. The Compensation Committee believes that entering into the Alfonso Employment Letter, the base salary and the related commitments was advisable and appropriate in order for ISG to induce Mr. Alfonso to become an executive officer and to encourage his long-term service to the Company.
Pursuant to an employment letter dated June 2, 2014 (the “Lavieri Employment Letter”), Mr. Lavieri was appointed to Partner & President, ISG Americas. Mr. Lavieri commenced his employment with the Company on