As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 2019

 

Registration No. 333-_____________

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM S-8

Registration Statement under The Securities Act of 1933

 

 

 

VERB TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   90-1118043

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

2210 Newport Boulevard, Suite 200

Newport Beach, California 92663

(Address of Principal Executive Offices including Zip Code)

 

VERB TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, INC.

2019 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(Full title of the plan)

 

Rory J. Cutaia

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Secretary

2210 Newport Boulevard, Suite 200

Newport Beach, California 92663

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

(855) 250-2300

(Telephone Number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

With copies to:

Randolf W. Katz

Baker & Hostetler LLP

600 Anton Boulevard, Suite 900

Costa Mesa, California 92626

(714) 966-8807

 

Alissa K. Lugo

Baker & Hostetler LLP

200 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 2300

Orlando, Florida 32801

(407) 649-4000

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer [  ] Accelerated filer [  ]
Non-accelerated filer [X] Smaller reporting company [X]
  Emerging growth company [  ]

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark, if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. [  ]

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Securities to be Registered  

Amount to be

Registered(1)

   

Proposed

Maximum

Offering
Price

Per Share (2)

   

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering
Price (2)

   

Amount of

Registration Fee (3)

 
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value     8,000,000     $ 1.49     $ 11,920,000     $ 1,547.22  

 

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the amount of securities registered under this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) shall include an indeterminate number of shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value (the “Common Stock”), that may become issuable as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization, “spin-off,” or other similar transaction pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the Verb Technology Company, Inc. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
   
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to the provisions of Rule 457(c) and (h) promulgated under the Securities Act. The maximum offering price per share is based on the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq Capital Market on December 18, 2019.
   
(3) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act.

 

 

 

     

 

 

PART I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

The documents containing the information specified in Part I, Items 1 and 2, of Form S-8 will be delivered to the participants of the 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Verb Technology Company, Inc. (the “Company,” the “Registrant,” “we,” “our,” or “us”), in accordance with this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) and Rule 428 of the Securities Act. Consistent with the instructions of Part I of Form S-8, such documents will not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus as required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

We are subject to the informational and reporting requirements of Sections 13(a), 14, and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and in accordance therewith file reports, proxy statements, and other information with the Commission. We incorporate by reference into this Registration Statement the documents listed below:

 

  (a) our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the Commission on February 7, 2019;
     
  (b) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, filed with the Commission on May 15, 2019;
     
  (c) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, filed with the Commission on August 14, 2019;
     
  (d) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, filed with the Commission on November 14, 2019;
     
  (e) our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 4, 2019, February 5, 2019, February 21, 2019, April 5, 2019, April 12, 2019, April 17, 2019, and November 1, 2019;
     
  (f) the description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated March 12, 2019, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;
     
  (g) all documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, subsequent to the effective date of this Registration Statement, but prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement indicating that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the respective dates of filing of such documents.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless specifically stated to the contrary, none of the information disclosed by the Company under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K that the Company may from time to time furnish to the Commission will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this Registration Statement. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document, which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

     

 

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.

Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

We are a Nevada corporation and generally governed by the Nevada Private Corporations Code, Title 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”).

 

Section 78.138 of the NRS provides that, unless the corporation’s articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a director or officer will not be individually liable unless it is proven that (i) the director’s or officer’s acts or omissions constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties, and (ii) such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of the law.

 

Section 78.7502 of the NRS permits a company to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with a threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, if the officer or director (i) is not liable pursuant to Section 78.138 of the NRS, or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner the officer or director reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, if a criminal action or proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of the officer or director was unlawful. Section 78.7502 of the NRS also precludes indemnification by the corporation if the officer or director has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court determines that in view of all the circumstances, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses and requires a corporation to indemnify its officers and directors if they have been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any claim, issue, or matter resulting from their service as a director or officer.

 

Section 78.751 of the NRS permits a Nevada corporation to indemnify its officers and directors against expenses incurred by them in defending a civil or criminal action, suit, or proceeding as they are incurred and in advance of final disposition thereof, upon determination by the stockholders, the disinterested board members, or by independent legal counsel. Section 78.751 of the NRS provides that the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, or an agreement may require a corporation to advance expenses as incurred upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the officer or director to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such officer or director is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation if so provided in the corporation’s articles of incorporation, bylaws, or other agreement. Section 78.751 of the NRS further permits the corporation to grant its directors and officers additional rights of indemnification under its articles of incorporation, bylaws, or other agreement.

 

Section 78.752 of the NRS provides that a Nevada corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, for any liability asserted against him and liability and expenses incurred by him in his capacity as a director, officer, employee, or agent, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation has the authority to indemnify him against such liability and expenses. We have obtained insurance policies insuring our directors and officers against certain liabilities they may incur in their capacity as directors and officers. Under such policies, the insurer, on our behalf, may also pay amounts for which we have granted indemnification to the directors or officers.

 

The foregoing discussion of indemnification merely summarizes certain aspects of indemnification provisions and is limited by reference to the above discussed sections of the NRS.

 

In addition, our Articles of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) generally eliminates director and officer liability or any act or failure to act in his or her capacity as a director or officer. Our Bylaws provide that we must advance expenses incurred, or reasonably expected to be incurred, within three (3) months of any proceeding to which the indemnitee was or is a party or is otherwise involved by reason of the fact that he or she was serving or acting in a covered capacity. An indemnitee is entitled to advances, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, solely upon the execution and delivery to us of an undertaking providing that the indemnitee agrees to repay the advance to the extent it is ultimately determined that he or she was not entitled to be indemnified by us under the provisions of the Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation, or an agreement between us and the indemnitee.

 

     

 

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid by our director, officer, or controlling person in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits

 

Unless otherwise indicated below as being incorporated by reference to another filing of the Company with the Commission, each of the following exhibits is filed herewith:

 

Exhibit Number   Description of Document
     
4.1   Articles of Incorporation as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on November 27, 2012, which were filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-187782) filed with the Commission on April 8, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
     
4.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Verb Technology Company, Inc., which were filed as Exhibit 3.12 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 1, 2019, and are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
     
4.3   Certificate of Change as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on October 6, 2014, which was filed as Exhibit 3.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 22, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
     
4.4   Articles of Merger as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on October 6, 2014, which were filed as Exhibit 3.4 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 22, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
     
4.5   Articles of Merger as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on April 4, 2017, which were filed as Exhibit 3.5 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 24, 2017, and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
     
4.6   Certificate of Correction as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on April 17, 2017, which was filed as Exhibit 3.6 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 24, 2017, and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
     
4.7   Certificate of Change as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on February 1, 2019, which was filed as Exhibit 3.7 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on February 7, 2019, and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
     
4.8   Articles of Merger as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on January 31, 2019, which were filed as Exhibit 3.8 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on February 7, 2019, and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
     
4.9   Certificate of Correction as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on February 22, 2019, which was filed as Exhibit 3.9 to Amendment No. 4 our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-226840) filed with the Commission on March 14, 2019, and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

 

     

 

 

4.10   Articles of Merger of Sound Concepts, Inc. with and into NF Merger Sub, Inc. as filed with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code on April 12, 2019, which were filed as Exhibit 3.10 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 15, 2019, and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
     
4.11   Statement of Merger of Verb Direct, Inc., a Utah corporation with and into NF Acquisition Company, LLC as filed with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code on April 12, 2019, which was filed as Exhibit 3.11 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 15, 2019, and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
     
4.12   Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences, and Restrictions of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on August 12, 2019, which was filed as Exhibit 3.12 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on August 14, 2019, and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
     
4.13   Verb Technology Company, Inc. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed herewith).
     
5.1   Legal Opinion of Baker & Hostetler LLP, counsel to the Company (filed herewith).
     
23.1   Consent of Weinberg & Company, P.A., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (filed herewith).
     
23.2   Consent of Weinberg & Company, P.A., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (filed herewith).
     
23.3   Consent of Baker & Hostetler LLP, counsel to the Company (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
     
24.1   Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereto).

 

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(a)(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in the volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement;

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

 

Provided, however, that: paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement; and

 

     

 

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any such action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

     

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Newport Beach, State of California, on the 23rd day of December, 2019.

 

  VERB TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Rory J. Cutaia
    Rory J. Cutaia
    Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Secretary

 

SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Rory J. Cutaia, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this Registration Statement that is to be effective on filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ Rory J. Cutaia   Chairman of the Board,   December 23, 2019
Rory J. Cutaia   Chief Executive Officer, President, and Secretary (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ Jeffrey R. Clayborne   Chief Financial Officer   December 23, 2019
Jeffrey R. Clayborne   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ James P. Geiskopf   Lead Director   December 23, 2019
James P. Geiskopf        
         
/s/ Phillip J. Bond   Director   December 23, 2019
Phillip J. Bond        
         
/s/ Kenneth S. Cragun   Director   December 23, 2019
Kenneth S. Cragun        
         
/s/ Judith Hammerschmidt   Director   December 23, 2019
Judith Hammerschmidt        
         
/s/ Nancy Heinen   Director   December 23, 2019
Nancy Heinen        

 

     

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.13

 

2019 STOCK AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

 

1. Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of this Plan is to enhance stockholder value by linking the compensation of officers, directors, key employees, and consultants of the Company to increases in the price of Verb Technology Company, Inc. common stock and the achievement of other performance objectives, and to encourage ownership in the Company by key personnel, whose long-term employment is considered essential to the Company’s continued progress and success. The Plan is also intended to assist the Company in the recruitment of new employees and to motivate, retain, and encourage such employees and directors to act in the stockholders’ interest and share in the Company’s success.

 

2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

 

(a) “Administrator” means the Board, any Committee, or such delegates as shall be administering the Plan in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

 

(b) “Affiliate” means any Subsidiary or other entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company or any entity in which the Company has a significant ownership interest as determined by the Administrator. The Administrator shall, in its sole discretion, determine which entities are classified as Affiliates and designated as eligible to participate in this Plan.

 

(c) “Applicable Law” means the requirements relating to the administration of stock option plans under U.S. federal and state laws, any stock exchange, or quotation system on which the Company has listed or submitted for quotation of the Common Stock to the extent provided under the terms of the Company’s agreement with such exchange or quotation system and, with respect to Awards subject to the laws of any foreign jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan, the laws of such jurisdiction.

 

(d) “Award” means a Stock Award, Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Unit, or Other Stock-based Award granted in accordance with the terms of the Plan, or any other property (including cash) granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.

 

(e) “Awardee” means an Employee, Director, or Consultant who has been granted an Award under the Plan.

 

(f) “Award Agreement” means a Stock Award Agreement, Option Agreement, Stock Appreciation Right Agreement, Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, or Other Stock-based Award Agreement, which may be in written or electronic format, in such form and with such terms as may be specified by the Administrator, evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award. Each Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Award Agreement shall be delivered to the Participant receiving such Award upon, or as promptly, as is reasonably practicable following, the grant of such Award. The effectiveness of an Award shall not be subject to the Award Agreement’s being signed by the Company and/or the Participant receiving the Award unless specifically so provided in the Award Agreement.

 

(g) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

     

 

 

(h) “Change of Control” shall mean, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, one of the following shall have taken place after the date of this Agreement:

 

(i) any one person, or group of owners of another corporation who, acting together through a merger, consolidation, purchase, acquisition of stock or the like (a “Group”), acquires ownership of Shares of the Company that, together with the Shares held by such person or Group, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the Shares of the Company (or other voting securities of the Company then outstanding). However, if such person or Group is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the Shares (or other voting securities of the Company then outstanding) before this transfer of the Company’s Shares (or other voting securities of the Company then outstanding), the acquisition of additional Shares (or other voting securities of the Company then outstanding) by the same person or Group shall not be considered to cause a Change of Control of the Company; or

 

(ii) any one person or Group acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of Shares (or other voting securities of the Company then outstanding) of the Company possessing thirty percent (30%) or more of the total voting power of the Shares (or other voting securities then outstanding) of the Company where such person or Group is not merely acquiring additional control of the Company; or

 

(iii) a majority of members of the Company’s Board is replaced during any twelve (12)-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Company’s Board prior to the date of the appointment or election (the “Incumbent Board”), but excluding, for purposes of determining whether a majority of the Incumbent Board has endorsed any candidate for election to the Board, any individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person or Group other than the Company’s Board; or

 

(iv) any one person or Group acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or Group) all or substantially all of the assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than forty percent (40%) of the total fair market value of all assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, “gross fair market value” means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. A transfer of assets by the Company will not result in a Change of Control if the assets are transferred to:

 

(1) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to its stock;

 

(2) an entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company immediately after the transfer of assets;

 

(3) a person or Group that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company; or

 

(4) an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned directly or indirectly, by a person described in subparagraph (h)(i), above; or

 

  2  

 

 

(v) Stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any payment or distribution event applicable to an Award is subject to the requirements of Section 409A(a)(2)(A) of the Code, the determination of the occurrence of a Change of Control shall be governed by applicable provisions of Section 409A(a)(2)(A) of the Code and regulations and rulings issued thereunder for purposes of determining whether such payment or distribution may then occur.

 

(i) “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto, the Treasury Regulations thereunder, and other relevant interpretive guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service or the Treasury Department. Reference to any specific section of the Code shall be deemed to include such regulations and guidance, as well as any successor provision of the Code.

 

(j) “Committee” means a committee of Directors appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan or, in the absence of any such special appointment, the Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

(k) “Common Stock” means the Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company, or any security of the Company issued in substitution, exchange, or lieu thereof.

 

(l) “Company” means Verb Technology Company, Inc., a Nevada corporation, or, except as utilized in the definition of Change of Control, its successor.

 

(m) “Consultant” means an individual providing services to the Company or any of its Affiliates as an independent contractor, and includes prospective consultants who have accepted offers of consultancy for the Company or any of its Affiliates, so long as such person (i) renders bona fide services that are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital-raising transaction, (ii) does not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities, and (iii) otherwise qualifies as a consultant under the applicable rules of the SEC for registration of shares of stock on a Form S-8 registration statement.

 

(n) “Conversion Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(b)(xii) of the Plan.

 

(o) “Director” means a member of the Board. Any Director who does not serve as an employee of the Company is referred to herein as a “Non-employee Director.”

 

(p) “Disability” means (i) “Disability” as defined in any employment, consulting, or similar agreement to which the Participant is a party, or (ii) if there is no such agreement or it does not define “Disability,” (A) permanent and total disability as determined under the Company’s long-term disability plan applicable to the Participant or (B) if there is no such plan applicable to the Participant or the Committee determines otherwise in an applicable Award Agreement, “Disability” shall mean the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, as determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, Disability shall mean permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code and, with respect to any Award that constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the foregoing definition shall apply for purposes of vesting of such Award, provided that such Award shall not be settled until the earliest of: (x) the Participant’s “disability” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, (y) the Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and (z) the date such Award would otherwise be settled pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.

 

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(q) “Disaffiliation” means a Subsidiary’s or Affiliate’s ceasing to be a Subsidiary or Affiliate for any reason (including, without limitation, as a result of a public offering, or a spin-off or sale by the Company, of the stock of the Subsidiary or Affiliate) or a sale of a division of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

(r) “Employee” means a regular, active employee of the Company or any Affiliate, including an Officer or Director who is also a regular, active employee of the Company or any Affiliate. The Administrator shall determine whether the Chairman of the Board qualifies as an “Employee.” For any and all purposes under the Plan, the term “Employee” shall not include a person hired as a leased employee, Consultant, or a person otherwise designated by the Administrator, the Company, or an Affiliate at the time of hire as not eligible to participate in or receive benefits under the Plan or not on the payroll, even if such ineligible person is subsequently determined to be an employee of the Company or an Affiliate or otherwise an employee by any governmental or judicial authority. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, for purposes of the Plan, an Employee shall be considered to have terminated employment and to have ceased to be an Employee if his or her employer ceases to be an Affiliate, even if he or she continues to be employed by such employer.

 

(s) “Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor thereto.

 

(t) “Fair Market Value” means the Volume-Weighted Average Price (the “VWAP”) for one share of Common Stock (for up to the thirty (30) trading days prior to the date on which the Committee shall calculate the VWAP), or if the Common Stock had not been traded on each such measurement date, then on the next preceding date(s) on which Common Stock had been traded, in either event, as such trading day price(s) were reported on a consolidated basis on the primary national securities exchange on which such Common Stock was then traded on the date(s) of measurement. Alternatively, Fair Market Value could otherwise be determined by the Committee in its good faith discretion, utilizing an alternative methodology to the VWAP, taking into account, to the extent appropriate, the requirements of Section 409(A) of the Code. If the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in its good faith discretion, taking into account, to the extent appropriate, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(u) “Grant Date” means, with respect to each Award, the date upon which the Award is granted to an Awardee pursuant to this Plan, which may be a designated future date as of which such Award will be effective, as determined by the Committee.

 

(v) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is identified in the Option Agreement as intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and that actually does so qualify.

 

(w) “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(x) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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(y) “Option” means a right granted under Section 8 of the Plan to purchase a number of Shares at such exercise price, at such times, and on such other terms and conditions as are specified in the agreement or other documents evidencing the Award (the “Option Agreement”). Both Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted under the Plan.

 

(z) “Other Stock-based Award” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan on such terms and conditions as are specified in the agreement or other documents evidencing the Award (the “Other Stock-based Award Agreement”).

 

(aa) “Participant” means the Awardee or any person (including any estate) to whom an Award has been assigned or transferred as permitted hereunder.

 

(bb) “Performance Criteria” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) of the Plan.

 

(cc) “Plan” means this 2019 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan, as set forth herein and as hereafter amended from time to time.

 

(dd) “Retirement” means, unless the Administrator determines otherwise, voluntary Termination of Employment by a Participant from the Company and its Affiliates after attaining age sixty (60) and having completed at least ten (10) years of service for the Company and its Affiliates, excluding service with an Affiliate of the Company prior to the time that such Affiliate became an Affiliate of the Company.

 

(ee) “Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(ff) “Share” means a share of Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 15 of the Plan.

 

(gg) “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted under Section 10 of the Plan on such terms and conditions as are specified in the agreement or other documents evidencing the Award (the “Stock Appreciation Right Agreement”).

 

(hh) “Stock Award” means an award or issuance of Shares made under Section 11 of the Plan, the grant, issuance, retention, vesting, and/or transferability of which is subject during specified periods of time to such conditions (including, without limitation, continued employment or performance conditions) and terms as are expressed in the agreement or other documents evidencing the Award (the “Stock Award Agreement”).

 

(ii) “Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equivalent to the Fair Market Value of one Share, payable in cash, property, or Shares. Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, except as otherwise provided for by the Administrator.

 

(jj) “Stock Unit Award” means an award or issuance of Stock Units made under Section 12 of the Plan, the grant, issuance, retention, vesting, and/or transferability of which is subject during specified periods of time to such conditions (including, without limitation, continued employment or performance conditions) and terms as are expressed in the agreement or other documents evidencing the Award (the “Stock Unit Award Agreement”).

 

(kk) “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company; provided, that each company in the unbroken chain (other than the Company) owns, at the time of determination, stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock, in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

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(ll) “Termination for Cause” means, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, Termination of Employment on account of any act of fraud or intentional misrepresentation or embezzlement, misappropriation, or conversion of assets of the Company or any Affiliate, or the intentional and repeated violation of the written policies or procedures of the Company; provided, that, for an Employee who is party to an individual severance or employment agreement defining Cause, “Cause” shall have the meaning set forth in such agreement except as may be otherwise provided in such agreement. For purposes of this Plan, a Participant’s Termination of Employment shall be deemed to be a Termination for Cause if, after the Participant’s employment has terminated, facts and circumstances are discovered that would have justified, in the opinion of the Committee, a Termination for Cause.

 

(mm) “Termination of Employment” means, for purposes of this Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, ceasing to be an Employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder) of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the terms of an Award Agreement or otherwise, if a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates terminates but such Participant continues to provide services to the Company and its Affiliates in a Non-employee Director capacity, such change in status shall not be deemed a Termination of Employment. A Participant employed by, or performing services for, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate or a division of the Company and its Affiliates shall be deemed to incur a Termination of Employment if, as a result of a Disaffiliation, such Subsidiary, Affiliate, or division ceases to be a Subsidiary, Affiliate, or division, as the case may be, and the Participant does not immediately thereafter become an Employee of (or service provider for), or member of the board of directors of, the Company or another Subsidiary or Affiliate. Temporary absences from employment because of illness, vacation, or leave of absence and transfers among the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates shall not be considered Terminations of Employment. In addition, Termination of Employment shall mean a “separation from service” as defined in regulations issued under Code Section 409A whenever necessary to ensure compliance therewith for any payment or settlement of a benefit conferred under this Plan that is subject to such Code section, and, for such purposes, shall be determined based upon a reduction in the bona fide level of services performed to a level equal to twenty percent (20%) or less of the average level of services performed by the Employee during the immediately preceding thirty-six (36)-month period.

 

3. Stock Subject to the Plan.

 

(a) Aggregate Limit. Subject to the provisions of Section 15(a) of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be subject to or delivered under Awards granted under the Plan is eight million (8,000,000) Shares. Shares subject to or delivered under Conversion Awards shall not reduce the aggregate number of Shares which may be subject to or delivered under Awards granted under this Plan. The Shares issued under the Plan may be either Shares reacquired by the Company, including Shares purchased in the open market, or authorized but unissued Shares.

 

(b) Code Section 422 Limits; Limit on Awards to Directors. Subject to the provisions of Section 15(a) of the Plan, the aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to all Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall not exceed the total aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to or delivered under Awards under the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the aggregate grant date fair value (computed as of the date of grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting rules) of all Awards granted to any Non-employee Director during any single calendar year shall not exceed two hundred thousand (200,000) Shares; provided, however, that, for calendar year 2019, the limit shall be three hundred (300,000) Shares.

 

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(c) Share Counting Rules.

 

(i) For purposes of this Section 3 of the Plan, Shares subject to Awards that have been canceled, expired, settled in cash, or not issued or forfeited for any reason (in whole or in part) shall not reduce the aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to or delivered under Awards granted under this Plan and shall be available for future Awards granted under this Plan.

 

(ii) Shares subject to Awards that have been retained by the Company in payment or satisfaction of the purchase price of an Award or the tax withholding obligation of an Awardee, and Shares that have been delivered (either actually or constructively by attestation) to the Company in payment or satisfaction of the purchase price of an Award or the tax withholding obligation of an Awardee, shall not be available for grant under the Plan.

 

(iii) Conversion Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan or the limitations on Awards to a Participant under subsection (b), above, nor shall Shares subject to a Conversion Award again be available for an Award under the Plan as provided in this subsection (c).

 

4. Administration of the Plan.

 

(a) Procedure.

 

(i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. The Plan shall be administered by the Board, a Committee designated by the Board to so administer this Plan, and/or their respective delegates.

 

(ii) Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Rule 16b-3”), Awards to Officers and Directors shall be made by the entire Board or a Committee of two or more “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.

 

(iii) Other Administration. To the extent required by the rules of the principal U.S. national securities exchange on which the Shares are traded, the members of the Committee shall also qualify as “independent directors” as set forth in such rules. Except to the extent prohibited by Applicable Law, the Board or a Committee may delegate to a Committee of one or more Directors or to authorized officers of the Company the power to approve Awards to persons eligible to receive Awards under the Plan who are not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(iv) Awards to Directors. The Board shall have the power and authority to grant Awards to Non-employee Directors, including the authority to determine the number and type of awards to be granted; determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, of any award; and to take any other actions the Board considers appropriate in connection with the administration of the Plan.

 

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(v) Delegation of Authority for the Day-to-Day Administration of the Plan. Except to the extent prohibited by Applicable Law, the Administrator may delegate to one or more individuals the day-to-day administration of the Plan and any of the functions assigned to it in this Plan. Such delegation may be revoked at any time.

 

(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and, in the case of a Committee or delegates acting as the Administrator, subject to the specific duties delegated to such Committee or delegates, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:

 

(i) to select the Non-employee Directors, Consultants, and Employees of the Company or its Affiliates to whom Awards are to be granted hereunder;

 

(ii) to determine the number of Shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(iii) to determine the type of Award to be granted to the selected Employees, Consultants, and Non-employee Directors;

 

(iv) to approve forms of Award Agreements;

 

(v) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise and/or purchase price, the time or times when an Award may be exercised (which may or may not be based on Performance Criteria), the vesting schedule, any vesting and/or exercisability provisions, terms regarding acceleration of Awards or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, the acceptable forms of consideration for payment for an Award, the term, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine and may be established at the time an Award is granted or thereafter;

 

(vi) to correct administrative errors;

 

(vii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan (including sub-plans and Plan addenda) and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;

 

(viii) to adopt rules and procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized (A) to adopt rules and procedures regarding the conversion of local currency, the shift of tax liability from employer to employee (where legally permitted) and withholding procedures, and handling of stock certificates which vary with local requirements, and (B) to adopt sub-plans and Plan addenda as the Administrator deems desirable, to accommodate foreign laws, regulations, and practice;

 

(ix) to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans and Plan addenda;

 

(x) to modify or amend each Award, including, but not limited to, the acceleration of vesting and/or exercisability; provided, however, that any such modification or amendment (A) is subject to the minimum vesting provisions under the Plan, if any, and the Plan amendment provisions set forth in Section 16 of the Plan, and (B) may not materially impair any outstanding Award unless agreed to in writing by the Participant, except that such agreement shall not be required if the Administrator determines in its sole discretion that such modification or amendment either (Y) is required or advisable in order for the Company, the Plan, or the Award to satisfy any Applicable Law or to meet the requirements of any accounting standard, or (Z) is not reasonably likely to significantly diminish the benefits provided under such Award, or that adequate compensation has been provided for any such diminishment, except following a Change of Control;

 

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(xi) to allow or require Participants to satisfy withholding tax amounts by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option or vesting of a Stock Award or Stock Unit Award that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined in such manner and on such date that the Administrator shall determine or, in the absence of provision otherwise, on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. All elections by a Participant to have Shares withheld for this purpose shall be made in such form and under such conditions as the Administrator may provide;

 

(xii) to authorize conversion or substitution under the Plan of any or all stock options, stock appreciation rights, or other stock awards held by awardees of an entity acquired by the Company (the “Conversion Awards”). Any conversion or substitution shall be effective as of the close of the merger or acquisition. The Conversion Awards may be Nonqualified Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator, with respect to options granted by the acquired entity;

 

(xiii) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;

 

(xiv) to impose such restrictions, conditions, or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resale by a Participant or of other subsequent transfers by the Participant of any Shares issued as a result of or under an Award or upon the exercise of an Award, including, without limitation, (A) restrictions under an insider trading policy, (B) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resale or other transfers, and (C) institution of “blackout” periods on exercises of Awards;

 

(xv) to provide, either at the time an Award is granted or by subsequent action, that an Award shall contain as a term thereof, a right, either in tandem with the other rights under the Award or as an alternative thereto, of the Participant to receive, without payment to the Company, a number of Shares, cash, or a combination thereof, the amount of which is determined by reference to the value of the Award; and

 

(xvi) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan and any Award granted hereunder.

 

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(c) Effect of Administrator’s Decision. All questions arising under the Plan or under any Award shall be decided by the Administrator in its total and absolute discretion. All decisions, determinations, and interpretations by the Administrator regarding the Plan, any rules and regulations under the Plan, and the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder, shall be final and binding on all Participants. The Administrator shall consider such factors as it deems relevant, in its sole and absolute discretion, to making such decisions, determinations, and interpretations, including, without limitation, the recommendations or advice of any officer or other employee of the Company and such attorneys, consultants, and accountants as it may select.

 

(d) Indemnity. To the extent allowable under Applicable Law, each member of the Committee or of the Board and any person to whom the Committee has delegated any of its authority under the Plan shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan, and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided, that, he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

5. Eligibility. Awards may be granted only to Directors, Employees, and Consultants of the Company or any of its Affiliates; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code).

 

6. Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon its approval by the stockholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect from the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company (the “Effective Date”) until terminated under Section 16 of the Plan.

 

7. Term of Award. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the term of each Award shall be determined by the Administrator and stated in the Award Agreement, and may extend beyond the termination of the Plan. In the case of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right, the term shall be ten (10) years from the Grant Date or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term of Awards other than Awards that are structured to qualify as Incentive Stock Options under Section 9 shall be extended automatically if the Award would expire at a time when trading in Shares of Common Stock is prohibited by law or the Company’s insider trading policy to the thirtieth (30th) day after the expiration of the prohibition.

 

8. Options. The Administrator may grant an Option or provide for the grant of an Option, either from time to time in the discretion of the Administrator or automatically upon the occurrence of specified events, including, without limitation, the achievement of performance goals.

 

(a) Option Agreement. Each Option Agreement shall contain provisions regarding (i) the number of Shares that may be issued upon exercise of the Option, (ii) the type of Option, (iii) the exercise price of the Option and the means of payment of such exercise price, (iv) the term of the Option, (v) such terms and conditions regarding the vesting and/or exercisability of an Option as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator, (vi) restrictions on the transfer of the Option and forfeiture provisions, and (vii) such further terms and conditions, in each case not inconsistent with this Plan, as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator.

 

(b) Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Administrator, except that the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date, except with respect to Conversion Awards.

 

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(c) No Option Repricings. Subject to Section 15(a) of the Plan, the exercise price of an Option may not be reduced without stockholder approval, nor may outstanding Options be cancelled in exchange for cash, other Awards, or Options with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Option without stockholder approval.

 

(d) No Reload Grants. Options shall not be granted under the Plan in consideration for and shall not be conditioned upon the delivery of Shares to the Company in payment of the exercise price and/or tax withholding obligation under any other employee stock option.

 

(e) Vesting Period and Exercise Dates. Options granted under this Plan shall vest and/or be exercisable at such time and in such installments during the period prior to the expiration of the Option’s term as determined by the Administrator and as specified in the Option Agreement. The Administrator shall have the right to make the timing of the ability to exercise any Option granted under this Plan subject to continued active employment, the passage of time and/or such performance requirements as deemed appropriate by the Administrator. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, no Option shall vest and be exercisable sooner than one (1) year after its Grant Date. More specifically, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, the Options shall vest in twenty-five percent (25%) increments on each of the first four anniversaries of its Grant Date. At any time after the grant of an Option, the Administrator may reduce or eliminate any restrictions surrounding any Participant’s right to exercise all or part of the Option.

 

(f) Form of Consideration. The Administrator shall determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment, either through the terms of the Option Agreement or at the time of exercise of an Option. Acceptable forms of consideration may include:

 

(i) cash;

 

(ii) check or wire transfer (denominated in U.S. Dollars);

 

(iii) subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Administrator, other Shares which were held for a period of more than six (6) months on the date of surrender and which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to or greater than the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised (it being agreed that the excess of the Fair Market Value over the aggregate exercise price, if any, shall be refunded to the Awardee in cash);

 

(iv) subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Administrator, the Company withholding Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of an Option;

 

(v) consideration received by the Company under a broker-assisted sale and remittance program acceptable to the Administrator and in compliance with Applicable Law;

 

(vi) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Law; or

 

(vii) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

 

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(g) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder.

 

(i) Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the applicable Option Agreement.

 

(ii) An Option shall be deemed exercised when (A) the Company receives (1) written or electronic notice of exercise (in accordance with the Option Agreement or procedures established by the Administrator) from the person entitled to exercise the Option and (2) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the related Option is exercised, and (B) with respect to Nonqualified Stock Options, provisions acceptable to the Administrator have been made for payment of all applicable withholding taxes.

 

(iii) Unless provided otherwise by the Administrator or pursuant to this Plan, until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.

 

(iv) The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares as soon as administratively practicable after the Option is exercised. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

 

9. Incentive Stock Option Limitations/Terms.

 

(a) Eligibility. Only Employees (who qualify as employees under Section 3401(c) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be granted Incentive Stock Options. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any such Employee who as of the Grant Date owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of the Company.

 

(b) $100,000 Limitation. Notwithstanding the designation “Incentive Stock Option” in an Option Agreement, if and to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Awardee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries) exceeds U.S. $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 9(b) of the Plan, Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the Grant Date.

 

(c) Transferability. The Option Agreement must provide that an Incentive Stock Option is not transferable by the Awardee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the lifetime of such Awardee, must not be exercisable by any other person. If the terms of an Incentive Stock Option are amended to permit transferability, the Option will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

(d) Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option shall in no event be inconsistent with the requirements for qualification of the Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code.

 

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(e) Other Terms. Option Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such other terms and conditions as may be necessary to qualify, to the extent determined desirable by the Administrator, with the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code. If any such terms and conditions, as of the Grant Date or any later date, do not so comply, the Option will be treated thereafter for tax purposes as a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

10. Stock Appreciation Rights. A “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” is a right that entitles the Awardee to receive, in cash or Shares (as determined by the Administrator), value equal to or otherwise based on the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares at the time of exercise over (ii) the aggregate exercise price of the right, as established by the Administrator on the Grant Date. All Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan shall be granted subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to Options as set forth in Section 8 of the Plan. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to Awardees either alone (“freestanding”) or in addition to or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan and may, but need not, relate to a specific Option granted under Section 8 of the Plan. However, any Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Option may be granted at the same time such Option is granted or at any time thereafter before exercise or expiration of such Option, and shall be based on the Fair Market Value of one Share on the Grant Date or, if applicable, on the Grant Date of the Option with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right granted in exchange for or in tandem with, but subsequent to, the Option (subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code). Subject to the provisions of Section 8 of the Plan, the Administrator may impose such other conditions or restrictions on any Stock Appreciation Right as it shall deem appropriate.

 

11. Stock Awards.

 

(a) Stock Award Agreement. Each Stock Award Agreement shall contain provisions regarding (i) the number of Shares subject to such Stock Award or a formula for determining such number, (ii) the purchase price of the Shares, if any, and the means of payment for the Shares, (iii) the Performance Criteria, if any, and level of achievement versus these criteria that shall determine the number of Shares granted, issued, retainable, and/or vested, (iv) such terms and conditions on the grant, issuance, vesting, and/or forfeiture of the Shares as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator, (v) restrictions on the transferability of the Stock Award, and (vi) such further terms and conditions, in each case not inconsistent with this Plan, as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, no Stock Award shall vest sooner than one (1) year after its Grant Date. More specifically, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, the Stock Award shall vest in twenty-five percent (25%) increments on each of the first four anniversaries of its Grant Date. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, waive the vesting restrictions and any other conditions set forth in any Award Agreement under such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

 

(b) Restrictions and Performance Criteria. The grant, issuance, retention, and/or vesting of Stock Awards issued to Employees may be subject to such Performance Criteria and level of achievement versus these criteria as the Administrator shall determine, which criteria may be based on financial performance, personal performance evaluations, and/or completion of service by the Awardee. Awards with vesting conditions that are based upon Performance Criteria and level of achievement versus such criteria are referred to as “Performance Stock Awards” and Awards with vesting conditions that are based upon continued employment or the passage of time are referred to as “Restricted Stock Awards.”

 

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(c) Rights as a Stockholder. Unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator, the Participant shall have the rights equivalent to those of a stockholder and shall be a stockholder only after Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) to the Participant. Any certificate issued in respect of a Restricted Stock Award shall be registered in the name of the applicable Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Award. The Committee may require that the certificates evidencing such Shares be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and that, as a condition of any Award of Restricted Stock, the applicable Participant shall have delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock covered by such Award. The Participant shall not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber a Stock Award.

 

12. Stock Unit Awards and Other Stock-based Awards.

 

(a) Stock Unit Awards. Each Stock Unit Award Agreement shall contain provisions regarding (i) the number of Shares subject to such Stock Unit Award or a formula for determining such number, (ii) the Performance Criteria, if any, and level of achievement versus these criteria that shall determine the number of Shares granted, issued, and/or vested, (iii) such terms and conditions on the grant, issuance, vesting, and/or forfeiture of the Shares as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator, (iv) restrictions on the transferability of the Stock Unit Award, and (v) such further terms and conditions, in each case not inconsistent with this Plan, as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, no Stock Unit Award shall vest sooner than one (1) year after its Grant Date. More specifically, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, the Stock Unit Award shall vest in twenty-five percent (25%) increments on each of the first four anniversaries of its Grant Date. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, waive the vesting restrictions and any other conditions set forth in any Award Agreement under such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

 

(b) Restrictions and Performance Criteria. The grant, issuance, retention, and/or vesting of Stock Unit Awards issued to Employees may be subject to such Performance Criteria and level of achievement versus these criteria as the Administrator shall determine, which criteria may be based on financial performance, personal performance evaluations, and/or completion of service by the Awardee. Awards with vesting conditions that are based upon Performance Criteria and level of achievement versus such criteria are referred to as “Performance Stock Unit Awards” and Awards with vesting conditions that are based upon continued employment or the passage of time are referred to as “Restricted Stock Unit Awards.”

 

(c) Rights as a Stockholder. Unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator, the Participant shall have the rights equivalent to those of a stockholder and shall be a stockholder only after Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) to the Participant.

 

(d) Other Stock-based Award. An “Other Stock-based Award” means any other type of equity-based or equity-related Award not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted Shares), as well as any cash based bonus based on the attainment of Performance Criteria as described in Section 13(b), in such amount and subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine. Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual Shares to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Shares or pursuant to attainment of a performance goal. Each Other Stock-based Award will be evidenced by an Award Agreement containing such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Administrator.

 

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(e) Value of Other Stock-based Awards. Each Other Stock-based Award shall be expressed in terms of Shares or units based on Shares or a target amount of cash, as determined by the Administrator. The Administrator may establish Performance Criteria in its discretion. If the Administrator exercises its discretion to establish Performance Criteria, the number and/or value of Other Stock-based Awards that will be paid out to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance goals are met.

 

(f) Payment of Other Stock-based Awards. Payment, if any, with respect to Other Stock-based Awards shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash or Shares as the Administrator determines.

 

13. Other Provisions Applicable to Awards.

 

(a) Non-Transferability of Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by beneficiary designation, will, or by the laws of descent or distribution, including, but not limited to, any attempted assignment or transfer in connection with the settlement of marital property or other rights incident to a divorce or dissolution, and any such attempted sale, assignment, or transfer shall be of no effect prior to the date an Award is vested and settled. The Administrator may only make an Award transferable to an Awardee’s family member or any other person or entity provided the Awardee does not receive consideration for such transfer. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, either as of the Grant Date or thereafter, such Award shall contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate, and any transferee shall be deemed to be bound by such terms upon acceptance of such transfer.

 

(b) Performance Criteria. For purposes of this Plan, the term “Performance Criteria” shall mean any one or more criteria based on financial performance, personal performance evaluations, and/or completion of service, either individually, alternatively, or in any combination, applied, as applicable, to either the Company as a whole or to a Subsidiary, business unit, Affiliate, or business segment, either individually, alternatively, or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results, or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Committee in the Award or by duly adopted resolution. The Administrator may establish specific performance targets (including thresholds and whether to exclude certain extraordinary, non-recurring, or similar items) and Award amounts, subject to the right of the Administrator to exercise discretion to adjust payment amounts, either up or down, following the conclusion of the performance period on the basis of such further considerations as the Administrator in its sole discretion shall determine. Extraordinary, non-recurring items that may be the basis of adjustment include, but are not limited to, acquisitions or divestitures, restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring charges, an event either not directly related to the operations of the Company, Subsidiary, division, business segment, or business unit or not within the reasonable control of management, the cumulative effects of tax or accounting changes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and foreign exchange gains or losses.

 

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(c) Termination of Employment or Board Membership. The Administrator shall determine as of the Grant Date (subject to modification subsequent to the Grant Date) the effect a termination from membership on the Board by a Non-employee Director for any reason or a Termination of Employment due to Disability, Retirement, death, or otherwise (including Termination for Cause) shall have on any Award. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement:

 

(i) Upon termination from membership on the Board by a Non-employee Director for any reason other than Disability or death, any Option or SAR held by such Director that (1) has not vested and is not exercisable as of the effective date of such termination from membership on the Board shall be subject to immediate cancellation and forfeiture or (2) is vested and exercisable as of the effective date of such termination shall remain exercisable for one (1) year thereafter, or the remaining term of the Option or SAR, if less. Any unvested Stock Award, Stock Unit Award, or Other Stock-based Award held by a Non-employee Director at the time of termination from membership on the Board for a reason other than Disability or death shall be immediately cancelled and forfeited.

 

(ii) Termination from membership on the Board by a Non-employee Director due to Disability or death shall result in full vesting of any outstanding Options or SARs and vesting of a prorated portion of any Stock Award, Stock Unit Award, or Other Stock-based Award based upon the full months of the applicable performance period, vesting period, or other period of restriction elapsed as of the end of the month in which the termination from membership on the Board by a Non-employee Director due to Disability or death occurs over the total number of months in such period. Any Options or SARs that vest upon Disability or death shall remain exercisable for one (1) year thereafter, or the remaining term of the Option or SAR, if less. In the case of any Stock Award, Stock Unit Award, or Other Stock-based Award that vests on the basis of attainment of Performance Criteria, the pro-rata vested amount shall be based upon the target award.

 

(iii) Upon Termination of Employment due to Disability or death, any Option or SAR held by an Employee shall, if not already fully vested, become fully vested and exercisable as of the effective date of such Termination of Employment and shall remain exercisable for one (1) year after such Termination of Employment due to Disability or death, or, in either case, the remaining term of the Option or SAR, if less. Termination of Employment due to Disability or death shall result in vesting of a prorated portion of any Stock Award, Stock Unit Award, or Other Stock-based Award based upon the full months of the applicable performance period, vesting period, or other period of restriction elapsed as of the end of the month in which the Termination of Employment due to Disability or death occurs over the total number of months in such period. In the case of any Stock Award, Stock Unit Award, or Other Stock-based Award that vests on the basis of attainment of Performance Criteria, the pro-rata vested amount shall be based upon the target award.

 

(iv) Any Option or SAR held by an Awardee at Retirement that occurs at least one (1) year after the Grant Date of the Option or SAR will remain outstanding for the remaining term of the Option or SAR and continue to vest; any Stock Award, Stock Unit Award, or Other Stock-based Award held by an Awardee at Retirement that occurs at least one (1) year after the Grant Date of the Award shall also continue to vest and remain outstanding for the remainder of the term of the Award.

 

(v) Any other Termination of Employment shall result in immediate cancellation and forfeiture of all outstanding Awards that have not vested as of the effective date of such Termination of Employment, and any vested and exercisable Options and SARs held at the time of such Termination of Employment shall remain exercisable for ninety (90) days thereafter, or the remaining term of the Option or SAR, if less. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all outstanding and unexercised Options and SARs shall be immediately cancelled in the event of a Termination for Cause.

 

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14. Dividends and Dividend Equivalents. Awards other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may provide the Awardee with the right to receive dividend payments or dividend equivalent payments on the Shares subject to the Award, whether or not such Award is vested. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends or dividend equivalents shall not be paid with respect to Stock Awards, Stock Unit Awards, or Other Stock-based Awards that vest based on the achievement of performance goals prior to the date the performance goals are satisfied and the Award is earned, and then shall be payable only with respect to the number of Shares or Stock Units actually earned under the Award. Such payments may be made in cash, Shares, or Stock Units or may be credited as cash or Stock Units to an Awardee’s account and later settled in cash or Shares or a combination thereof, as determined by the Administrator. Such payments and credits may be subject to such conditions and contingencies as the Administrator may establish.

 

15. Adjustments upon Changes in Capitalization, Organic Change, or Change of Control.

 

(a) Adjustment Clause. In the event of (i) a stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, share combination, or recapitalization or similar event affecting the capital structure of the Company (each, a “Share Change”), or (ii) a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or shares, separation, spin-off, reorganization, stock rights offering, liquidation, Disaffiliation, or similar event affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, an “Organic Change”), the Administrator or the Board shall make such substitutions or adjustments as it deems appropriate and equitable to (i) the Share limitations set forth in Section 3 of the Plan, (ii) the number and kind of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and (iii) the price per Share subject to each such outstanding Award. In the case of Organic Changes, such adjustments may include, without limitation, (x) the cancellation of outstanding Awards in exchange for payments of cash, property, or a combination thereof having an aggregate value equal to the value of such Awards, as determined by the Administrator or the Board in its sole discretion (it being understood that in the case of an Organic Change with respect to which stockholders receive consideration other than publicly traded equity securities of the ultimate surviving entity, any such determination by the Administrator that the value of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall for this purpose be deemed to equal the excess, if any, of the value of the consideration being paid for each Share pursuant to such Organic Change over the exercise price of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall conclusively be deemed valid); (y) the substitution of other property (including, without limitation, cash or other securities of the Company and securities of entities other than the Company) for the Shares subject to outstanding Awards; and (z) in connection with any Disaffiliation, arranging for the assumption of Awards, or replacement of Awards with new awards based on other property or other securities (including, without limitation, other securities of the Company and securities of entities other than the Company), by the affected Subsidiary, Affiliate, or division or by the entity that controls such Subsidiary, Affiliate, or division following such Disaffiliation (as well as any corresponding adjustments to Awards that remain based upon Company securities). The Committee may adjust in its sole discretion the Performance Criteria applicable to any Awards to reflect any Share Change and any Organic Change and any unusual or non-recurring events and other extraordinary items, impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, and the cumulative effects of accounting or tax changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting principles or as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis or the Company’s other SEC filings. Any adjustment under this Section 15(a) need not be the same for all Participants.

 

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(b) Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator as of the Grant Date of a particular Award (or subsequent to the Grant Date), the following acceleration, exercisability, and valuation provisions shall apply:

 

(i) On the date that such Change of Control occurs, any or all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights awarded under this Plan not previously exercisable and vested shall, if not assumed, or substituted with a new award, by the successor to the Company, become fully exercisable and vested, and if the successor to the Company assumes such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or substitutes other awards for such Awards, such Awards (or their substitutes) shall become fully exercisable and vested if the Participant’s employment is terminated (other than a Termination for Cause) within two (2) years following the Change of Control.

 

(ii) Except as may be provided in an individual severance or employment agreement (or severance plan) to which an Awardee is a party, in the event of an Awardee’s Termination of Employment within two (2) years after a Change of Control for any reason other than because of the Awardee’s death, Retirement, Disability, or Termination for Cause, each Option and Stock Appreciation Right held by the Awardee (or a transferee) that is vested following such Termination of Employment shall remain exercisable until the earlier of the third anniversary of such Termination of Employment (or any later date until which it would remain exercisable under such circumstances by its terms) or the expiration of its original term. In the event of an Awardee’s Termination of Employment more than two (2) years after a Change of Control, or within two (2) years after a Change of Control because of the Awardee’s death, Retirement, Disability, or Termination for Cause, the provisions of Section 13(c) of the Plan shall govern (as applicable).

 

(iii) On the date that such Change of Control occurs, the restrictions and conditions applicable to any or all Stock Awards, Stock Unit Awards, and Other Stock-based Awards that are not assumed, or substituted with a new award, by the successor to the Company shall lapse and such Awards shall be fully vested. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement at the Grant Date, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control without assumption or substitution of the Awards by the successor, any performance-based Award shall be deemed fully earned at the target amount as of the date on which the Change of Control occurs. All Stock Awards, Stock Unit Awards, and Other Stock-based Awards shall be settled or paid within thirty (30) days of vesting hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Change of Control would not qualify as a permissible date of distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(A) of the Code, and the regulations thereunder, the Awardee shall be entitled to receive the Award from the Company on the date that would have applied absent this provision. If the successor to the Company does assume (or substitute with a new award) any Stock Awards, Stock Unit Awards, and Other Stock-based Awards, all such Awards shall become fully vested if the Participant’s employment is terminated (other than a Termination for Cause) within two (2) years following the Change of Control, and any performance-based Award shall be deemed fully earned at the target amount effective as of such Termination of Employment.

 

(iv) The Committee, in its discretion, may determine that, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control of the Company, each Option and Stock Appreciation Right outstanding shall terminate within a specified number of days after notice to the Participant, and/or that each Participant shall receive, with respect to each Share subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of such Share immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change of Control over the exercise price per Share of such Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right; such amount to be payable in cash, in one or more kinds of stock or property (including the stock or property, if any, payable in the transaction) or in a combination thereof, as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine, and if there is no excess value, the Committee may, in its discretion, cancel such Awards.

 

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(v) An Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Award, Stock Unit Award, or Other Stock-based Award shall be considered assumed or substituted for if following the Change of Control the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Award, Stock Unit Award, or Other Stock-based Award immediately prior to the Change of Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the transaction constituting a Change of Control by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of such transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that, if such consideration received in the transaction constituting a Change of Control is not solely common stock of the successor company, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor company, provide that the consideration to be received upon the exercise or vesting of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Award, Stock Unit Award or Other Stock-based Award, for each Share subject thereto, will be solely common stock of the successor company with a fair market value substantially equal to the per Share consideration received by holders of Shares in the transaction constituting a Change of Control. The determination of whether fair market value is substantially equal shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion and its determination shall be conclusive and binding.

 

(c) Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) any adjustments made pursuant to Section 15(a) of the Plan to Awards that are considered “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; (ii) any adjustments made pursuant to Section 15(a) of the Plan to Awards that are not considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be made in such a manner as to ensure that, after such adjustment, the Awards either continue not to be subject to Section 409A of the Code or comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; (iii) the Administrator shall not have the authority to make any adjustments pursuant to Section 15(a) of the Plan to the extent that the existence of such authority would cause an Award that is not intended to be subject to Section 409A of the Code to be subject thereto; and (iv) if any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, Section 15(b) of the Plan shall be applicable only to the extent specifically provided in the Award Agreement and permitted pursuant to Section 24 of the Plan in order to ensure that such Award complies with Code Section 409A.

 

16. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

 

(a) Amendment and Termination. The Administrator may amend, alter, or discontinue the Plan or any Award Agreement, but any such amendment shall be subject to approval of the stockholders of the Company in the manner and to the extent required by Applicable Law. In addition, without limiting the foregoing, unless approved by the stockholders of the Company and subject to Section 16(b), no such amendment shall be made that would:

 

(i) increase the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be subject to Awards granted under the Plan;

 

(ii) reduce the minimum exercise price for Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan; or

 

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(iii) reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, as prohibited by Section 8(c) without stockholder approval.

 

(b) Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall impair the rights of any Participant with respect to an outstanding Award, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company, except that no such agreement shall be required if the Administrator determines in its sole discretion that such amendment either (i) is required or advisable in order for the Company, the Plan, or the Award to satisfy any Applicable Law or to meet the requirements of any accounting standard, or (ii) is not reasonably likely to significantly diminish the benefits provided under such Award, or that any such diminishment has been adequately compensated, except that this exception shall not apply following a Change of Control. Termination of the Plan shall not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.

 

(c) Effect of the Plan on Other Arrangements. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board or a Committee nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or any Committee to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it or they may deem desirable, including without limitation, the granting of restricted shares or restricted share units or stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

17. Designation of Beneficiary.

 

(a) An Awardee may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive the Awardee’s rights pursuant to Awardee’s Awards or the Awardee may include his or her Awards in an omnibus beneficiary designation for all benefits under the Plan. To the extent that Awardee has completed a designation of beneficiary while employed with the Company or an Affiliate, such beneficiary designation shall remain in effect with respect to any Award hereunder until changed by the Awardee to the extent enforceable under Applicable Law.

 

(b) Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the Awardee at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of an Awardee and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Awardee’s death, the Company shall allow the legal representative of the Awardee’s estate to exercise the Award.

 

18. No Right to Awards or to Employment. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award and the grant of any Award shall not be construed as giving an Awardee the right to continue in the employ of the Company or its Affiliates. Further, the Company and its Affiliates expressly reserve the right, at any time, to dismiss any Employee or Awardee at any time without liability or any claim under the Plan, except as provided herein or in any Award Agreement entered into hereunder.

 

19. Legal Compliance. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Award, Stock Unit Award, or Other Stock-based Award unless such Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Award, or Other Stock-based Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares shall comply with Applicable Law and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. Unless the Awards and Shares covered by this Plan have been registered under the Securities Act or the Company has determined that such registration is unnecessary, each person receiving an Award and/or Shares pursuant to any Award may be required by the Company to give a representation in writing that such person is acquiring such Shares for his or her own account for investment and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any part thereof.

 

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20. Inability to Obtain Authority. To the extent the Company is unable to or the Administrator deems it unfeasible to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be advisable or necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, the Company shall be relieved of any liability with respect to the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

 

21. Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

 

22. Notice. Any written notice to the Company required by any provisions of this Plan shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Company and shall be effective when received. Any notice to a Participant hereunder shall be addressed to the last address of record with the Company and shall be effective when sent via first class mail, courier service, or electronic mail to such last address of record.

 

23. Governing Law; Interpretation of Plan; and Awards.

 

(a) This Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto shall be governed by the substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the State of Nevada, except as to matters governed by U.S. federal law.

 

(b) In the event that any provision of the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan is declared to be illegal, invalid, or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be reformed, if possible, to the extent necessary to render it legal, valid, and enforceable, or otherwise deleted, and the remainder of the terms of the Plan and/or Award shall not be affected except to the extent necessary to reform or delete such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision.

 

(c) The headings preceding the text of each section hereof are inserted solely for convenience of reference, and shall not constitute a part of the Plan, nor shall they affect its meaning, construction, or effect.

 

(d) The terms of the Plan and any Award shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective permitted heirs, beneficiaries, successors, and assigns.

 

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24. Section 409A. It is the intention of the Company that no Award shall be “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, unless and to the extent that the Administrator specifically determines otherwise, and the Plan and the terms and conditions of all Awards shall be interpreted accordingly. The terms and conditions governing any Awards that the Administrator determines will be subject to Section 409A of the Code, including any rules for elective or mandatory deferral of the delivery of cash or Shares pursuant thereto and any rules regarding treatment of such Awards in the event of a Change of Control, shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, deferral election forms and procedures, and rules established by the Administrator, and shall comply in all respects with Section 409A of the Code. The following rules will apply to Awards intended to be subject to Section 409A of the Code (“409A Awards”):

 

(a) If a Participant is permitted to elect to defer an Award or any payment under an Award, such election will be permitted only at times in compliance with Code Section 409A.

 

(b) The Company shall have no authority to accelerate distributions relating to 409A Awards in excess of the authority permitted under Section 409A.

 

(c) Any distribution of a 409A Award following a Termination of Employment that would be subject to Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) as a distribution following a separation from service of a “specified employee” as defined under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), shall occur no earlier than the expiration of the six (6)-month period following such Termination of Employment.

 

(d) In the case of any distribution of a 409A Award, if the timing of such distribution is not otherwise specified in the Plan or an Award Agreement or other governing document, the distribution shall be made not later than the end of the calendar year during which the settlement of the 409A Award is specified to occur.

 

(e) In the case of an Award providing for distribution or settlement upon vesting or the lapse of a risk of forfeiture, if the time of such distribution or settlement is not otherwise specified in the Plan or an Award Agreement or other governing document, the distribution, or settlement shall be made not later than March 15 of the year following the year in which the Award vested or the risk of forfeiture lapsed.

 

(f) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Company nor the Administrator makes any representation or guarantee that the Plan or its administration shall comply with Code Section 409A, and in no event shall the Company or the Administrator be liable for the payment of, or any gross up payment in connection with, any taxes or penalties owed by the Participant pursuant to Code Section 409A.

 

25. Limitation on Liability. The Company and any Affiliate which is in existence or hereafter comes into existence shall not be liable to a Participant, an Employee, an Awardee, or any other persons as to:

 

(a) The Non-Issuance of Shares. The non-issuance or sale of Shares as to which the Company has been unable to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder; and

 

(b) Tax or Exchange Control Consequences. Any tax consequence expected, but not realized, or any exchange control obligation owed, by any Participant, Employee, Awardee, or other person due to the receipt, exercise, or settlement of any Option or other Award granted hereunder.

 

26. Unfunded Plan. Insofar as it provides for Awards, the Plan shall be unfunded. Although bookkeeping accounts may be established with respect to Awardees who are granted Stock Awards, Stock Unit Awards, or Other Stock-based Awards under this Plan, any such accounts will be used merely as a bookkeeping convenience. The Company shall not be required to segregate any assets which may at any time be represented by Awards, nor shall this Plan be construed as providing for such segregation. Neither the Company nor the Administrator shall be deemed to be a trustee of Shares or cash to be awarded under the Plan. Any liability of the Company to any Participant with respect to an Award shall be based solely upon any contractual obligations that may be created by the Plan; no such obligation of the Company shall be deemed to be secured by any pledge or other encumbrance on any property of the Company. Neither the Company nor the Administrator shall be required to give any security or bond for the performance of any obligation that may be created by this Plan.

 

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27. Foreign Employees and Consultants. Awards may be granted hereunder to Employees and Consultants who are foreign nationals, who are located outside the United States or who are not compensated from a payroll maintained in the United States, or who are otherwise subject to (or could cause the Company to be subject to) legal or regulatory provisions of countries or jurisdictions outside the United States, on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Administrator, be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan, and, in furtherance of such purposes, the Administrator may make such modifications, amendments, procedures, or subplans as may be necessary or advisable to comply with such legal or regulatory provisions.

 

28. Tax Withholding. Each Participant shall pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding the payment of, any federal, state, local, or foreign taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any Award under the Plan no later than the date as of which any amount under such Award first becomes includible in the gross income of the Participant for any tax purposes with respect to which the Company has a tax withholding obligation. Unless otherwise determined by the Company, withholding obligations may be settled with Shares, including Shares that are part of the Award that gives rise to the withholding requirement; provided, however, that not more than the maximum statutory withholding requirement may be settled with Shares that are part of the Award. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on such payment or arrangements, and the Company and its Affiliates shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any vested Shares or any other payment due to the Participant at that time or at any future time. The Administrator may establish such procedures as it deems appropriate, including making irrevocable elections, for the settlement of withholding obligations with Shares.

 

29. Cancellation of Award; Forfeiture of Gain.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, an Award Agreement may provide that the Award will be cancelled and the Participant will forfeit the Shares or cash received or payable on the vesting or exercise of the Award, and that the amount of any proceeds of the sale or gain realized on the vesting or exercise of the Award must be repaid to the Company, under such conditions as may be required by Applicable Law or established by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

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December 23, 2019

 

Verb Technology Company, Inc.

2210 Newport Boulevard

Suite 200

Newport Beach, California 92663

 

Re: Verb Technology Company, Inc. – Registration Statement on Form S-8

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as securities counsel to Verb Technology Company, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration of 8,000,000 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement is being filed to register 8,000,000 Shares of Common Stock for offer and sale under and pursuant to the Verb Technology Company, Inc. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

You have requested our opinion as to the matters set forth below in connection with the Registration Statement. In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon originals, or copies certified to our satisfaction, of such records, documents, certificates, opinions, memoranda, and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Company and have not independently sought to verify such matters.

 

In rendering this opinion, we have assumed without independent verification: (a) the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures on original documents; (b) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (c) the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (d) that each natural person signing any document reviewed by us had the legal capacity to do so; and (e) the due authorization, execution, and delivery of all documents where authorization, execution, and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness of such documents.

 

The following opinion assumes that (a) the Registration Statement and any amendments relating thereto shall have become effective under the Securities Act and will continue to be effective, (b) the Company will remain validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada, (c) at the time any Shares are issued or delivered, (i) there will not have occurred any change in the law or in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date, or Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended to date, affecting the issuance or delivery of such Shares and (ii) no relevant corporate actions will have been modified or rescinded, (d) the Company will have received legally sufficient consideration for all Shares in accordance with the terms of the Plan or the applicable award agreement, (e) the Shares will be issued within the limits of the then-remaining authorized but unreserved and unissued number of shares of Common Stock under the Articles of Incorporation, (f) the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the Nevada Revised Statutes; and (g) any prospectus supplement describing the Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, to the extent required by applicable law, will be timely filed with the Commission.

 

 

 
 

 

Verb Technology Company, Inc.

December 23, 2019

Page 2

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, following (a) effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (b) the issuance of the Shares in accordance with the terms and the Plan, and (c) receipt by the Company of the consideration for the Shares specified in the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

 

Our opinion herein is expressed solely with respect to the federal laws of the United States and the Nevada Revised Statutes (including the statutory provisions and all applicable provisions of the Nevada Constitution and the reported judicial cases interpreting those laws currently in effect). Our opinion is based on these laws as in effect on the date hereof. We express no opinion as to whether the laws of any jurisdiction are applicable to the subject matter hereof. We are not rendering any opinion as to compliance with any federal or state law, rule, or regulation relating to securities, or to the sale or issuance thereof. In addition, the foregoing opinion is qualified to the extent that (a) enforceability may be limited by and be subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including, without limitation, concepts of notice and materiality), and by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other similar laws affecting creditors’ and debtors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, any state or federal law in respect of fraudulent transfers) and (b) no opinion is expressed herein as to compliance with or the effect of federal or state securities or blue sky laws.

 

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Act. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Our opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above, and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company, the Shares, or the Registration Statement. This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable law. We bring to your attention that our legal opinion is an expression of professional judgment and are not a guarantee of result.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Baker & Hostetler LLP

 

 
 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

 

     

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.2