Erik Klinger
About Erik Klinger
Erik Klinger has served as Chief Financial Officer of Bannix Acquisition Corp. since April 10, 2024, under an at-will Executive Retention Agreement and a separate Indemnification Agreement; his compensation has been cash-only with no equity awards disclosed to date . His background spans fractional CFO advisory, M&A distribution platforms, micro-cap CFO roles, investment banking, and private equity; he holds a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA in Finance from UCLA Anderson . No company-disclosed TSR, revenue growth, or EBITDA performance metrics are tied to his compensation or evaluated for his tenure in BNIX filings .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIMfinity | Founder & CEO | 2020–present | Built M&A distribution platform for stalled/slow-moving industries; audited buyer data, improved UX, and cultivated banker/buyer relationships to build deal flow . |
| GBT Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB) | CFO & Head of Corporate Development | 2016–2020 | Led finance and corporate development at micro-cap public company . |
| NowFCO | Senior Manager | Nov 2021–Mar 2022 | Provided CFO services to pre-public companies preparing for IPO/sale . |
| CSuite Financial Partners | Executive (groomed to lead practice) | Mar 2022–Aug 2022 | Worked to expand firm from regional to national presence; coordinated delivery across K‑1 partners; supported sale of the company . |
| Empatha Care Management | Fractional CFO services | Aug 2022–present | Provided CFO services and facilitated acquisitions in occupational medicine and workers’ comp . |
| Ocelot Partners | Investment Banker | 2012 (sale) | Sold Harbor Healthcare (healthcare software) and served as advisor 2013–2016 . |
| Mindshift Partners | Co‑Founder & CEO | 2003–2011 | Provided CFOs/Controllers to public and private companies . |
| Andersen Consulting; Price Waterhouse | Consultant | 1992–1997 | Early career roles in consulting/accounting . |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VisionWave Holdings, Inc. (post-combination) | Director & CFO (anticipated) | Post-closing (disclosed pre-close) | Expected governance post-merger shows Klinger to serve as a director and CFO; board committees and independence standards outlined . |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Salary (Agreement) | $120,000 | — | Executive Retention Agreement dated April 10, 2024 sets base salary at $120,000 . |
| Actual Salary Paid | $90,000 | — | Summary Compensation Table shows $90,000 paid to Klinger for 2024; no compensation reported for 2023 . |
| Cash Bonus (Target/Actual) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | No disclosure of target or paid bonus for Klinger . |
| Stock Awards (RSUs/PSUs) | $0 | $0 | No equity awards disclosed in 2024/2023 SCT . |
| Option Awards | $0 | $0 | No option awards disclosed . |
| Other Compensation | $0 | $0 | None disclosed . |
Performance Compensation
No performance-based compensation elements, metrics, or payouts are disclosed for Klinger. The Summary Compensation Table shows no equity or incentive awards, and his agreement specifies at-will employment with a fixed salary and no performance conditions .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Holder | Shares Owned | Ownership % of Outstanding | As-of Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erik Klinger | — | <1% | Feb 18, 2025 | Listed among officers/directors with “—, ** less than 1%”; no vested/unvested breakdown or options disclosed . |
| Shares Outstanding | 2,848,748 | — | Feb 18, 2025 | Basis for ownership calculation . |
| Pledged/Hedged Shares | Not disclosed | — | — | No pledging/hedging disclosure for Klinger in BNIX filings . |
| Ownership Guidelines | Not disclosed | — | — | No stock ownership guideline disclosure applicable to Klinger . |
Employment Terms
| Term | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment Date | April 10, 2024 | |
| Employment Type | At-will; may be terminated at any time | |
| Agreement(s) | Executive Retention Agreement (Apr 10, 2024); Indemnification Agreement | |
| Base Salary | $120,000 per annum | |
| Severance | Not disclosed | |
| Change-of-Control | Not disclosed | |
| Vesting/Equity Terms | None disclosed; SCT shows no equity awards | |
| Non-compete / Non-solicit | Not disclosed | |
| Clawback | Not disclosed |
Compensation Structure Analysis
- Cash-heavy, low at-risk pay: Klinger’s compensation is exclusively salary ($120,000 agreement; $90,000 paid in 2024) with no equity or bonus components disclosed, indicating minimal pay-for-performance alignment within BNIX’s current structure .
- No vesting overhang: With no RSU/PSU/options disclosed, there is no visible vesting schedule that would create mechanical selling pressure in the near term .
- At-will arrangement: The at-will nature provides flexibility but does not outline severance or change-of-control economics, limiting clarity on retention incentives under strategic transitions .
Related Party Transactions and Conflicts
- Klinger: Filings state he has not had material interest in any transaction exceeding $120,000, except as set forth elsewhere (none cited for Klinger) .
- Other BNIX disclosures: Law firm fees contingent on business combination and a $200,000 letter agreement for services to Subash Menon are disclosed; these do not involve Klinger .
Board Governance (Post-Combination Reference)
- VisionWave Holdings committees (anticipated at or post closing): Compensation Committee chaired by Eric T. Shuss; members Haggai Ravid and Chuck Hansen; Audit Committee chaired by Haggai Ravid; Douglas Davis and Noam Kenig are non-independent directors .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Education: BA, Dartmouth College; MBA (Finance), UCLA Anderson .
- Technical/functional expertise: Fractional CFO advisory, corporate development, micro-cap public company finance, investment banking, private equity .
- Board qualification: VisionWave notes his entrepreneurial, financial, and micro-cap experience as rationale to serve as director .
Performance & Track Record
- Achievements: Built and led CIMfinity M&A platform; executed sale of Harbor Healthcare and advised post-sale; multiple CFO/finance leadership roles across micro-cap and private firms .
- Company performance linkage: No BNIX filing disclosure of TSR, revenue, or EBITDA targets associated with Klinger’s role or compensation .
Investment Implications
- Alignment: Minimal equity ownership (<1%) and lack of equity-based incentives suggest limited direct alignment with public shareholders under BNIX’s current disclosures; however, anticipated director/CFO role at VisionWave may introduce new compensation structures post-merger .
- Selling pressure: Absence of RSUs/options reduces forced vesting-related sell pressure risk in the near term .
- Retention risk: At-will terms with no disclosed severance/change-of-control protections could increase retention risk in volatile transition scenarios, though indemnification provides standard officer protection .
- Governance continuity: Post-combination committee design reflects standard Nasdaq/SEC independence frameworks; compensation oversight resides with Shuss/Ravid/Hansen, potentially reshaping pay mix going forward at VisionWave .