As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 18, 2022

 

Registration No. 333-

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

MGO GLOBAL INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 5961 87-3929852
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 

 

1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33346

Phone: 347-913-3316

 

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Maximiliano Ojeda 

Chief Executive Officer

1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33346

Phone: 347-913-3316

 

(Names, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

 

Copies to:

Ross D. Carmel, Esq.

Jeffrey P. Wofford, Esq.

Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP

55 West 39th Street, 18th Floor

New York, NY 10018

(212) 658-0458

Louis A. Bevilacqua, Esq.

 

Bevilacqua PLLC

1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 869-0888

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box: x

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

 

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 x

 

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.  

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to such Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

   

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This Registration Statement contains two prospectuses, as set forth below.

 

·Public Offering Prospectus. A prospectus to be used for the public offering of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock of the registrant (the “Public Offering Prospectus”) through the underwriters named on the cover page of the Public Offering Prospectus.

 

·Resale Prospectus. A prospectus to be used for the resale by the selling stockholders set forth therein of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock of the Registrant (the “Resale Prospectus”).

 

The Resale Prospectus is substantively identical to the Public Offering Prospectus, except for the following principal points:

 

·they contain different front covers;

 

·they contain different Offering sections in the Prospectus Summary;

 

·they contain different Use of Proceeds sections;

 

·the Capitalization and Dilution sections are deleted from the Resale Prospectus;

 

·a selling stockholders section is included in the Resale Prospectus;

 

·the Underwriting section from the Public Offering Prospectus is deleted from the Resale Prospectus and a Plan of Distribution section is inserted in its place; and

 

·the Legal Matters section in the Resale Prospectus deletes the reference to counsel for the underwriters.

 

The registrant has included in this registration statement a set of alternate pages after the back cover page of the Public Offering Prospectus, which we refer to as the Alternate Pages, to reflect the foregoing differences in the Resale Prospectus as compared to the Public Offering Prospectus. The Public Offering Prospectus will exclude the Alternate Pages and will be used for the public offering by the Registrant. The Resale Prospectus will be substantively identical to the Public Offering Prospectus except for the addition or substitution of the Alternate Pages and will be used for the resale offering by the selling stockholders.

 

   

 

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion Dated November 18, 2022

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

MGO Global Inc.

 

1,500,000 Shares of Common Stock

This is a firm commitment initial public offering of shares of Common Stock of MGO Global Inc., par value $0.00001 per share (“Common Stock”), assuming an initial public offering price of $5.00 per share. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Common Stock. The actual number of shares we will offer will be determined based on the actual public offering price. In addition to the underwritten offering of our Common Stock by us pursuant to this prospectus, 22 of our stockholders are offering 2,500,000 shares of our Common Stock pursuant to a prospectus to be used in connection with the potential distribution of such shares by such security holders (the “Selling Stockholder Prospectus”). These 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock include 700,000 shares of Common Stock underlying warrants issued to seven of our stockholders. In addition, the Selling Stockholder Prospectus will also include the offering of 78,225 shares of Common Stock underlying warrants issued to the placement agent in connection with a private placement of our Common Stock as described herein under “Prospectus Summary-Recent Developments—Equity Private Placements.”-.

 

We intend to apply to have our Common Stock listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MGOL,” which listing is a condition to this offering.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) and have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company.”

 

Investing in our Common Stock involves significant risks. You should read the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page [*] for a discussion of certain risk factors that you should consider before investing in our Common Stock.

 

We may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time by filing amendments or supplements as required. You should read the entire prospectus and any amendments or supplements carefully before you make your investment decision.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) nor any other regulatory body has passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

   Per Share   Total 
Initial public offering price  $    $  
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)  $    $  
Proceeds to us, before expenses(2)  $    $  

 

 3 

 

 

  (1) Does not include a non-accountable expense allowance equal to 1% of the gross proceeds of this offering, payable to Boustead Securities, LLC, as representative of the underwriters, or the reimbursement of certain expenses of the underwriters. See “Underwriting” beginning on page [__] of this prospectus for additional information regarding underwriting compensation.

 

  (2) We estimate the total expenses payable by us, excluding the underwriting discount and non-accountable expense allowance, will be approximately $760,000.

 

We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 45 days after the closing of this offering to purchase up to 15% of the total number of our shares of Common Stock to be offered by us pursuant to this offering (excluding shares of Common Stock subject to this option), solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

In addition to the underwriting discounts listed above and the non-accountable expense allowance described in the footnote, we have agreed to issue upon the closing of this offering to Boustead Securities, LLC, as representative of the underwriters, warrants that will expire on the third anniversary of the commencement date of sales in this initial public offering entitling the representative to purchase 7% of the number of shares of Common Stock sold in this offering. The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part also covers the representative’s warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise thereof. For additional information regarding our arrangement with the underwriters, please see “Underwriting” beginning on page [*].

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares to purchasers on or about [______], 2022.

  

Boustead Securities, LLC

Sutter Securities, Inc. 

 

The date of this prospectus is [___], 2022

 

 4 

 

 

 

 5 

 

 

 

 6 

 

 

  

 7 

 

 

 

 8 

 

 

 

 9 

 

 

 

 10 

 

 

 

 11 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS   12 
MARKET DATA   13 
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY   15 
SUMMARY OF THE OFFERING   26 
RISK FACTORS   30 
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS   53 
USE OF PROCEEDS   54 
DIVIDEND POLICY   54 
MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS   55 
CAPITALIZATION   55 
DILUTION   56 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS   59 
BUSINESS   71 
MANAGEMENT   90 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION   97 
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS   104 
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS   105 
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES   106 
Shares Eligible for Future Sale   108 
UNDERWRITING   110 
EXPERTS   114 
LEGAL MATTERS   114 
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION   114 
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   115 

 

Through and including [*], 2022 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriter and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We and the underwriters have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made in connection with this prospectus shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or that the information contained in this prospectus is correct as of any time after its date. Information contained on our website, or any other website operated by us, is not part of this prospectus.

 

No action is being taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States to permit a public offering of our Common Stock or possession or distribution of this prospectus in that jurisdiction. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus in jurisdictions outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions as to this public offering and the distribution of this prospectus applicable to that jurisdiction.

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

Throughout this prospectus, unless otherwise designated or the context suggests otherwise,

 

 12 

 

 

  · all references to the “Company,” “MGO,” “MGO Global,” the “registrant,” “we,” “our” or “us” in this prospectus mean MGO Global Inc. and its subsidiaries;

 

  · assumes an initial public offering price of our Common Stock of $5.00 per share;

 

  · “year” or “fiscal year” means the year ending December 31;

 

  · all dollar or $ references, when used in this prospectus, refer to United States dollars; and

 

  · our trademarks and tradenames referred to in this registration statement appear without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate in any way that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights to these trademarks and tradenames. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names included in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

 

Market Data

 

Market data and certain industry data and forecasts used throughout this prospectus were obtained from internal company surveys, market research, publicly available information, reports of governmental agencies and industry publications and surveys. Industry surveys, publications and forecasts generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed. To our knowledge, certain third-party industry data that includes projections for future periods does not take into account the effects of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic or potential geoeconomic inflationary pressures. Accordingly, those third-party projections may be overstated and should not be given undue weight. We have not independently verified any of the data from third party sources, nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon therein. Similarly, internal surveys, industry forecasts and market research, which we believe to be reliable based on our management’s knowledge of the industry, have not been independently verified. Forecasts are particularly likely to be inaccurate, especially over long periods of time. In addition, we do not necessarily know what assumptions regarding general economic growth were used in preparing the forecasts we cite. Statements as to our market position are based on the most currently available data. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding the industry data presented in this prospectus, our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.

 

 13 

 

 

 

 14 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary provides a brief overview of the key aspects of our business and our securities. The reader should read the entire prospectus carefully, especially the risks of investing in our Common Stock discussed under “Risk Factors.” Some of the statements contained in this prospectus, including statements under “Summary” and “Risk Factors,” as well as those noted in the documents incorporated herein by reference, are forward-looking statements and may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and future events may differ significantly based upon a number of factors. The reader should not put undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this document, which speak only as of the date on the cover of this prospectus.

 

Our Mission

 

MGO Global is intent on inspiring people worldwide to express their best, most authentic selves through our distinctive lifestyle brands; delivering superior financial performance and value creation through optimization of our shared services across our brand-building platform; and championing global green initiatives that promote a sustainable, circular economy within the global fashion industry.

 

Business Overview

 

Founded in October 2018 and headquartered in Florida with remote employees and specialty contractors in London, New York and Latin America, we are a performance-driven lifestyle brand portfolio company focused on strategically leveraging the fame, celebrity power and global social media influence of world class athletes, entertainers and other cultural icons to create fresh, modern and compelling product and apparel brands aligned with and inspired by the values, personal styles and aspirations of our valued brand partners.

 

Not new to building successful global lifestyle brands, our accomplished leadership team encompasses decades of experience in fashion design, brand development and management, sourcing and manufacturing, licensing, IT protection, corporate finance, consumer engagement and experience, ecommerce and retail sales and marketing. Moreover, members of our leadership team have led prolific brand development initiatives for fashion industry titans that have included Tommy Hilfiger, Fila, Burberry, J Brand, GUESS, Brooks Brothers and True Religion, among many others, collectively generating billions of dollars in retail sales across the globe over the past 30 years.

 

Anchored by our end-to-end, scalable brand development platform, coupled with our leadership’s track records of success and industry relationships and expertise, we signed a global licensing agreement in October 2018, which was later replaced by the Messi License, with legendary pro soccer player Lionel Messi, also known as Leo Messi, or Messi, to spearhead the creation of “The Messi Brand” – a premium line of functional and sporty casual wear, accessories and home décor that is inspired by the superstar’s persona and trend-setting fashion sense – both on and off the pitch. This license agreement was later terminated and replaced by another licensing agreement with similar terms which are described under “Business—The Messi License Agreement.” The resulting in-demand collections contain designs focused on being effortless and accessible to all, much like that of Messi’s personal style.

 

While The Messi Brand represents the first and only asset in our portfolio, our business model is underpinned by our intent to strategically expand our collection of lifestyle brands through industry collaborations, licensing, acquisitions and organic brand development. However we are not currently in active discussions with any third parties relating to potential collaborations, licensing or acquisitions to expand our brand portfolio. While it is our intention to pursue growth and expansion of our brand portfolio in the future, we currently are not negotiating or have any probable agreements to add additional assets to the Messi Brand in our portfolio at this time.

 

Guided by our expertise and fueled by our passion to ultimately grow MGO Global into a major brand portfolio company and our brands into universally recognized symbols of excellence, we are committed to exceeding our partners’ and customers’ expectations by creating and delivering innovative, premium lifestyle clothing and products and earning lifetime fidelity to our brands through high touch customer engagement, service and attention.

 

Our Core Values

 

Since our inception, we have consciously fostered a corporate culture in which our core values are deeply ingrained in our identity and serve as a compass to guide our decision-making and business-building processes. Our core values are the source of our Company’s drive and distinctiveness, thoughtfully woven into our organizational fabric to influence how we think, work and act. These core values are:

 

  · Collaboration: we enthusiastically welcome and apply insight, experience, ideas and perspective gained from each other, our trusted business partners and our customers.

 

 15 

 

 

  · Integrity: we honor our word which earns trust.

 

  · Accountability: we trust our experience and apply common sense when implementing and adhering to financially, socially and environmentally responsible policies and practices that positively impact our stakeholders, the communities where we live and work, and the world, at large.

 

  · Passion: demonstrate pride in our brands, in the quality of our products and in each other through our words and actions.

 

  · Diversity and Inclusion: embrace and celebrate individual uniqueness and respect diversity of views, ideas and cultures.

 

The Messi Brand

 

Born in Argentina, Leo Messi discovered his love and great aptitude for soccer as a young boy. At age eight, he was recruited to the youth soccer system of Newell’s Old Boys, a local sports club affiliated with the Argentine Football Association. Considerably smaller than most kids his age, Messi was eventually diagnosed with a hormone deficiency that compromised his growth, resulting in his suffering through a costly regimen of nightly growth hormone injections. When he was offered the opportunity to train at soccer powerhouse FC Barcelona’s youth academy and have his medical bills covered by the team, he did not hesitate to migrate to Spain to pursue his passion. Today, Messi is widely regarded as one of the sport’s greatest of all time.

 

Messi currently plays as a forward for France’s Paris Saint Germain team and captains the Argentina national team. Until joining the Paris Saint Germain club in 2021, he had spent his entire professional career with FC Barcelona, where he won a club-record 35 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and four Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions Leagues. His renowned skill on the field has led him to be universally recognized as one of the best soccer players in the world, earning him a record seven Ballon d’Or, an annual soccer award presented by French news magazine France Football; as well as six European Golden Shoes, an award that is presented each season to the leading goal scorer in the top division of a European national soccer league. Among many other records, awards and acclaim, Messi also won a gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games when the Argentina National Team beat Nigeria.

 

In 2022, Messi claimed the top spot in Forbes’ 2022 annual ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes (for the second time – the other was in 2019), surpassing $1 billion in career earnings. Earlier in his career, Messi was recognized as one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2011 and 2012. Recently commenting on the impact of Messi’s career impact on the sport of soccer, The New York Times reported in March 2022, “It is likely the last 15 years will come to be seen almost exclusively through the lens of Messi and Ronaldo (Cristiano Ronaldo). They have, after all, dominated this era of soccer, and so it is fitting, in many ways, that they should come to define it.”

 

Having overcome his childhood health and physical challenges, Messi is to many people more than just a great soccer player – he is an idol, a leader, even a hero. Beloved by millions of fans worldwide, Messi boasts a massive, passionate social media following comprised of 345.7 million on Instagram (ranked #4 overall for most followers); 105 million on Facebook (ranked #14 overall for most followers); 1.32 million subscribers on YouTube; and 7 million more on Weibo, China’s largest social media platform.

 

Demonstrating just how impactful the Messi name is on the fashion industry, when 150,000 Messi soccer shirts went on sale on Paris Saint-Germain’s website on the day his transfer from Barcelona to France was announced, the shirts sold out in just seven minutes, according to SportBible.com.

 

MGO Global’s chief goal for The Messi Brand is to extend and amplify Leo Messi’s values, vision and uncompromising sportsmanship that have distinguished him on the soccer field and seamlessly translate them to high quality apparel and products created or curated for discerning customers who love and respect the celebrated athlete.

 

Brand Design and Aesthetic

 

The Messi Brand design team is led by MGO co-founder and Chief Design Officer Virginia “Ginny” Hilfiger, who works in close collaboration with Leo Messi to craft the fundamental design aesthetic that has continued to inform and inspire the development of each year’s casual, but elegant spring and fall collections. Two of the brand’s signature design elements, the color palette and the incorporation of “10” and “30,” are nods to Messi’s soccer teams – the color palette is largely composed of his teams’ colors, light blue, navy blue, white and red, the “10” is his jersey number both in Barcelona and the Argentinian national team, and the “30” is his jersey number for Paris Saint Germain.

 

 16 

 

 

Each item released is carefully constructed with high quality fabrics, and quality stitching and design techniques to create clothing that is as technically advanced as Messi’s style of play on the field.

 

Our embroidered polos are produced using light weight 95% piqué cotton and 5% spandex. Piqué fabric is a double weave knit – it is this twin layer that gives pique its signature waffle or quilt texture on one side, and a smooth finish on the other side. The space between those layers allows for air flow, making the fabric breathable, more durable, more absorbent of dye and better at concealing sweat. Designed with a 100% cotton waistband for great comfort, our pants are constructed using light weight knit fabric comprised of 62% nylon, 32% cotton and 5% spandex. Our zip-front jackets are made using double-faced 75% long staple cotton, 18% polyester and 7% spandex. Long staple cotton is derived from the Gossypium barbadense species of cotton, which yields cotton with unusually long, silky fibers. This high quality cotton gives our jackets a smooth feel, while the double-faced fabric gives the jacket more body, providing a premium look. Similarly, our long sleeve knit tops are constructed using 100% long staple cotton, which makes it feel like silk to the touch and on the body.

 

A key design directive by Messi is to ensure quality, comfort and versatility always remain priorities for the brand.

 

More than ever, sustainability is dominating consumer priorities and the fashion agenda. We believe that one of the most important ways to reduce our environmental impact is to limit the extractive production of virgin raw materials and decrease textile waste. By offering our customers a conscious shopping choice with sustainable, affordable pieces that are designed to be aligned with our brand values while being on trend, The Messi Brand is committed to proactively supporting and promoting a much more circular, responsible economy. Moreover, we are thoughtfully choosing our supply chain partners to ensure that our core values are in sync with one another, and our combined sustainability initiatives serve as a force multiplier in aiding our industry to reduce textile waste worldwide.

 

The Messi Brand Collections

 

Current collections available in The Messi Store (www.themessistore.com) provide for a range of sporty menswear pieces from edgy graphic t-shirts and sweatshirts to well-cut quilted jackets and high-performance polos and pants. In addition, graphic t-shirts for women and kids are offered, along with plush bathrobes, graphic beach towels, rugs, posters and keychains. Currently, best-selling mainstays and limited editions, or capsule collections, available for purchase from The Messi Store website include:

 

  · Messi Collection: a wide selection of long-sleeved rugby and crew t-shirts, signature track jackets, hooded jackets, two-way zip knit jackets and mixed media funnel jackets. This collection also includes an innovative, lightweight vest in classic camo which utilizes SOLAR ball Technology, an innovative insulation technology that is an animal-friendly alternative to winter jackets made with duck or goose down feathers.

 

  · LM Tattoo II: a capsule collection comprised of a limited number of hoodies and polos accented with embroidered replicas of Messi’s flower and crown tattoos, as well as a hummingbird. In game play, Messi has been compared to a hummingbird, since Messi is smaller and faster, mesmerizing to watch, gentle on the pitch and graceful in action.

 

  · Messi Studio: available only for shipping in the U.S. and Canada, this capsule collection features the brand’s most bold, artsy and exclusive graphic t-shirt creations, each dropping in very limited quantities.

 

  · Messi Green: this capsule collection, which pronounces that “waste is a design error,” is responsibly made in Portugal using 100% deadstock (recycled) cotton, creating value for the waste generated along the production chain, reducing or eliminating waste and promoting the circular economy. This limited collection features sweatshirts, sweat pant French terry joggers and shorts, cargo sweat pant joggers, hoodies and t-shirts. All products in the Messi Green collection are marked with the stamp of eco-approval or feature a print of Vila Franca do Campo, one of the most iconic landscapes on the Azorean Island of Sao Miguel – home to thousands of endangered species and a symbolic reminder that few things on Earth are in infinite quantities.

 

  · Messi Signature Two Pocket Plaid Flannel Shirt: Messi’s preferred casual dress shirt.

 

  · Messi Signature Tech Flexweave Chino Pants: Messi’s preferred casual trouser, available in black and navy blue.

 

  · Messi Graphic Hoodies and T-Shirts: a line of classic graphic hoodies, sweatshirts and t-shirts featuring Messi silhouettes, logos and championship prints.

 

  · Messi Graphic T-Shirts for Kids: a line of Messi’s classic graphic t-shirts available in kids’ sizes.

 

  · Messi Graphic T-Shirts for Women: a diverse line of graphic t-shirts designed to fit and flatter Messi’s female soccer fans with most available in multiple colors.

 

 17 

 

 

Market Opportunities

 

Total Addressable Market

 

In its 28 Dazzling Fashion Industry Statistics 2022 online article dated March 13, 2022, Zippia states that the global fashion industry was valued at $1.5 trillion in 2020 and accounts for two percent of the world’s GDP. Despite concerns that inflation would keep shoppers from spending their disposable income, consumer spending on clothing and footwear in the U.S. alone increased a seasonally adjusted 1.9 percent in April 2022 from the prior month to $505.4 billion, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) revealed in late May 2022 in its Personal Income and Outlays report.

 

Concurring, global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company reported in it’s the State of Fashion 2022 report that this year the fashion industry can return to growth as changing category landscapes, new digital frontiers and advances in sustainability continue to present opportunities. The report notes, “After nearly two years of disruption, the global fashion industry is once again finding its feet. Apparel brands are adapting to new consumer priorities, and digital is providing a nexus for growth… Overall, global fashion sales are on track to pick up momentum in 2022, as increasingly hopeful consumers unleash pent-up buying power, refreshing their wardrobes as social life begins to resume in many key markets around the world.”

 

From a demand perspective, Gen-Z and wealthier consumers from middle-income groups and upwards are predicted by McKinsey to demonstrate the strongest appetite for leisure spend in the United States with fashion being one of the top three categories on which they will seek to splurge or treat themselves. In China, there are strong prospects for growth in consumer spending power, where rising incomes will contribute to an anticipated increase of $10 trillion in consumption growth between 2021 and 2030. (Source: McKinsey & Company, Meet Your Future Asian Consumer, July 28, 2021)

 

E-Commerce

 

Lower digital barriers to entry for all clothing brands offer the opportunity to market, sell and fulfill orders globally and automatically. As a result, worldwide revenue and revenue per user are projected to grow. In the U.S. alone, the apparel and accessory industries accounted for 29.5% of all ecommerce sales in 2021. (Source: Statista, Online Share of Total U.S. Retail Sales in 2021, by Product Category, March 8, 2022). In Europe, it is expected that by 2025, each consumer will spend nearly $1000 on fashion-related items over the course of the year. (Source: Statista, Retail E-Commerce ARPU in Europe, 2017-2025, May 20, 2021)

 

Sustainability

 

Consumers are increasingly aware of the impact their choices are making on the environment and seeking more sustainable alternatives. The debate over whether sustainable clothing is a passing fad or a crucial segment for fashion brands is pretty much over. The category has turned into a high-performance engine for online apparel sales – soaring 74% year over year in 2021, according to Signifyd eCommerce Pulse data. This compared to the increase in online sales of clothing other than sustainable apparel, which topped out at 25% last year.

 

Retail Landscape Realities

 

All lifestyle brands, whether accessible or prestige, have faced structural shifts in the retail landscape that have made it more challenging for them to succeed. Those challenges include: 

 

  · Decline of Traditional Wholesale Channels: It is estimated by analysts at UBS that between 40,000 to 50,000 retail stores in the Unites States will close down over the next five years. UBS sees the most closures shaking out among clothing and accessories retailers, consumer electronics businesses and home furnishing chains, or about 23,500 cumulatively within these categories by 2026. (Source: CNBC, UBS Expects 50,000 Store Closures in the U.S. Over the Next 5 Years After Pandemic Pause, April 13, 2022)

 

  · Heightened Competition from Fast Fashion: The desire for newness has led to enormous competition in the apparel industry from fast fashion brands which can quickly manufacture and copy styles at lower prices than designer brands. The global fast fashion market is expected to grow from $91.23 billion in 2021 to $99.3 billion in 2022 and $133.43 billion in 2026. Source: The Business Research Company, Fast Fashion Global Market Report 202 – By Gender (Women's Wear, Men's Wear), By Age (Adults Wear, Teens Wear, Kids Wear, Other Ages), By Type (Pants, Coat, Skirt, Other Types) – Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2022-2026

 

 18 

 

 

  · Direct-to-Consumer, or DTC, as an Essential Channel for Every Brand: Given the growth in online and the challenges associated with traditional wholesale channels, brands are increasingly seeking DTC channels but often lack the financial or human capital to build them.

 

  · Larger, More Fractured Discovery Landscape: According to Publicis Sapient, 87% of shoppers today begin product searches online, meaning that younger customers are focused on direct search for brands they already know (Source: Publicis Sapient, “Shopper-First Retailing – The New Rules of Retail from the Actions, Voices and Eyes of Today’s Consumers”, 2018).

 

  · Growing Importance of Data: Data is critical to helping brands assess their product and efficiently acquire customers. Through traditional wholesale channels, brands receive very minimal data, and the data they do receive is often a season old.

 

Social Media

 

On July 7, 2022, Statista Research reported that as of April 2022, there were five billion Internet users worldwide, or 63% of the global population. Of this total, 4.65 billion were social media users. The use of the Internet and social media have changed consumer shopping behavior and the ways in which companies grow their apparel brands, presenting significant opportunities for organizations to directly connect with customers, lower costs, improve brand awareness, influence consumers’ attitudes, receive real-time feedback and increase sales. Drilling deeper, mobile channels have become the norm and are now embedded within consumers daily lives via the use of mobile tools, shopping apps, location-based services and mobile wallets - all impacting the consumer online shopping experience.

 

Competitive Landscape

 

Competition in the global lifestyle apparel industry is principally based on product quality, innovation, style, price, brand image, distribution model and definitive standards for customer experience and service. Generally speaking, our industry is intensely competitive, and many companies who may be perceived as our competitors have substantially greater financial, distribution and marketing resources, as well as greater brand awareness.

 

There are several sports celebrity-inspired lifestyle brands and brand collaborations with which we may directly compete for market share in the specific segments we serve, including several involving global soccer superstars, such as the likes of Christiano Ronaldo’s CR7, Memphis Depay’s MDC and Tiémoué Bakayoko’s Ètudes, among others.

 

Our Competitive Strengths

 

We believe that MGO Global stands to benefit from a number of competitive differentiators that serve to set our Company apart from other lifestyle brand portfolio companies. Chief among them are:

 

  · Proven, Premium Lifestyle Brand Builders Lead MGO. Our Company’s design and production team is led by 30-year industry veteran Ginny Hilfiger, younger sibling of Tommy Hilfiger, a globally renowned pioneer of classic American cool style. During her 15-year tenure as EVP of Design at Tommy Hilfiger’s namesake apparel brand, Ginny was the visionary behind Tommy Jeans, the women’s sportswear and junior lines, the H Hilfiger collection for Federated Department Stores and the successful brand collaboration between Tommy and supermodel Gigi Hadid – just to name a few key achievements. Following her run of successes at Tommy, she launched her own signature brand “Ginny H” before being recruited as Creative Director for FILA Global, charged with revamping FILA’s brand DNA globally. MGO’s C-suite also include Julian Groves, Chief Operating Officer, who brings our Company over 25 years of experience in global brand strategy and expansion for lifestyle brands that have included J. Brand, True Religion, Guess and Burberry; and Chief Executive Officer Maximiliano Ojeda, an international business executive and entrepreneur who, along with Ginny Hilfiger, co-founded MGO and today guides and directs our global business operations and brand-building architecture.

 

  · Established Relationships with Many of the World’s Leading Apparel Manufacturers. Through our team’s collective experience and sphere of influence in the global apparel industry, we have knowledge of and direct relationships with many of the world’s best manufacturers of premium materials and finished apparel and accessories. Chosen based on desired design and production specifications of a particular product or collection, our global network of valued manufacturers is based in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Latvia, Mexico, Peru, Portugal and Sri Lanka.

 

 19 

 

 

  · Deep Connections with Our Loyal and Passionate Customers. Younger generations are embracing social media platforms and mobile apps, in particular, as a means for community building and discovery. This seamless exchange of community-based inspiration encourages like-minded consumers to purchase flattering and stylish clothing that allows for unapologetic self-expression that reflects their passions and values. With hundreds of millions of social media followers and fans worldwide who admire Leo Messi for his distinctive fashion sense and style – on and off the pitch, The Messi Brand has an established global audience of prospective customers that we can readily reach and inspire.

 

Data Driven, Low-Risk Merchandizing Model. We employ a data-driven approach to design, merchandizing and inventory planning and allocation to ensure we deliver products that meet and exceed our customers’ high expectations for quality, precision and style. We have excellent visibility into our customers’ preferences through their purchasing history and direct feedback, which we leverage to inform our purchasing decisions. Through our vertical sourcing model and global network of manufacturers, coupled with our in-house IT and marketing teams, we have the flexibility to respond quickly to prevailing sales trends and make adjustments to our current offerings, if or whenever necessary. We utilize a read and react testing approach with shallow initial buys and data-driven repurchasing decisions to iterate our new product offerings, thereby minimizing our inventory risks and optimizing our gross profit margins on sales.

 

Potential Competitive Weaknesses

  

  · Expanding our workforce will be a key aspect of scaling our business over the long-term and achieving our stated growth objectives. Having more employees may present several challenges, from increasingly complex human resource administration to the difficult task of engaging with individuals and meeting specific needs within a larger workforce. However, the United States is currently experiencing a labor shortage, which may limit our access to qualified talent necessary to continue supporting our planned growth strategies.

 

  · Our growth will be dependent on increasing revenue by bringing in new ecommerce customers and wholesale business partners, resulting in a larger, more eclectic range of clients, all with their own unique needs and expectations. We expect to address these challenges by actively collecting feedback from our customers and partners through a variety of means, including customer surveys, technology-enabled business intelligence tools, direct sales relationship management and staying fully informed on evolving fashion trends and shifting market pressures. Nonetheless, we compete in the global fashion industry that is subject to fast-paced shifts in clothing trends that may outpace our ability to adapt our offerings to changing consumer preferences. Moreover, we must currently contend with rising inflationary concerns confronting our target consumers, who may elect to allocate their discretionary spend to more fundamental everyday expenses, limiting their buying of premium apparel, accessories and home décor items, such as those we offer.

 

  · Building and maintaining an efficient, functioning supply chain is vital to the timely fulfilment of orders for our apparel, accessories and home décor products, which will have a material impact on the success of our Company. To achieve this aim, it is imperative that we maintain a large and diverse global network of proven, reputable suppliers of fabrics and finishings and manufacturers with the production capacity, skill and capabilities to meet our needs. Because we focus on designing and releasing new Messi Brand seasonal collections and limited-edition capsule collections in the spring and fall of each year, we have established relationships with a broad number of reliable suppliers, providing us with the flexibility to select which suppliers, and/or alternate suppliers, we may require to meet our product release schedules. We continually assess and reassess our medium- to long-term forecasts so that we are well prepared to manage our production requirements and mitigate any potentially compromising supply chain bottlenecks. However, the loss of any of our supply relationships could adversely affect our business and financial position. In addition, the suppliers with which we choose to team may experience their own challenges that could compromise their ability to meet our supply needs. These challenges may include labor shortages in the geographic regions in which they operate; cyber security attacks or other potentially catastrophic events that could compromise their ability to operate; or their own supply shortage and logistics issues that could diminish their ability to effectively and timely meet our needs for materials, finishings and finished goods.

 

 20 

 

 

  · Our Company’s compliance responsibilities will increase, including those related to managing our SEC reporting requirements, internal controls and other industry-related regulations and compliance matters. The General Data Protection Regulation and California Consumer Privacy Act are two regulations, in particular, that create a range of new compliance tasks that will increase in magnitude as our Company expands. It is incumbent on our leadership team to ensure that everyone in our workforce is aware of regulatory demands and their day-to-day significance to our business. In addition, key members of our senior leadership team have little to no direct experience managing a public company and the related SEC and Nasdaq compliance and regulatory requirements.

 

  · While The Messi Brand is our first and only brand in our current portfolio, it is our intention to license, acquire or organically grow additional brands to expand and diversify our portfolio in the future. We recognize that we are currently solely reliant on our relationship and licensing agreement with LLM to operate and build our business. Our business could suffer immeasurable harm in the event that we lost our relationship with LMM or in any way fail to meet the terms and conditions of our licensing agreement with LLM. There is no guarantee that we will prove successful at expanding our brand portfolio with the addition of newly acquired licensed, acquired or organically grown brands to offset the loss of The Messi Brand.

 

Our Growth Strategies

 

The key elements of our growth strategy are centered on:

 

·Growing The Messi Brand’s global customer base. With our differentiated brand and organic virality, strong funnel of new customers and our continued focus on collaborative partnerships and marketing efficiencies, we remain intent on growing the number of customers passionate about and loyal to The Messi Brand through our dynamic direct to consumer business model. Our broad digital ecosystem – from our engaging ecommerce website and mobile app to social media channels, allows us to better connect, engage, track and service our customers. This ecosystem also provides us with robust quantitative and qualitative customer data that we use to inform all aspects of our business operations – from product development to merchandising to marketing.

 

  · Launching New Categories and Offerings under The Messi Brand. Through in-house development by our talented design team or collaborations with other leading brands and notable designers, we intend to continue to expand The Messi Brand line of products to broaden and deepen our categories to potentially include capsule collections featuring men’s business wear, special occasion wear, designer denim wear, non-athletic footwear, more diversified home décor offerings and expanded clothing collections designed specifically for women and children, among others.

 

  · Driving Leverage in Operational Efficiency. We are focused on using our customer and market data to drive actionable insights and improve key aspects of our brand management platform’s operations. Moreover, we plan to further deepen customer relationships with personalization and customization through the development and launch of a Messi Store loyalty program. Through this program, we expect to tailor our marketing messages, promotions and product recommendations to each unique customer’s preferences with a goal of enhancing customer engagement and capturing greater spend.

 

  · Implement New Technologies. We will continue to enhance our ecommerce functionality with tools for product recommendations, enhanced payment options (e.g., buy now pay later), and improved returns processes to drive conversions and increase order value. We also believe there is an opportunity to further leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning and geo-fencing technologies to drive more efficient customer acquisition and retention marketing strategies.

 

  · Growing through Strategic Acquisitions and Brand Partnerships and Collaborations. Capitalizing on the platform infrastructure we’ve created to support the development, launch and success of The Messi Brand, we will actively look to identify and pursue new opportunities to vertically integrate other prolific brand partnerships into our brand portfolio, replicating and scaling our licensing model. In addition, we aim to explore incremental growth opportunities to acquire existing lifestyle brands, products or intellectual property that will complement our brand mix and appeal to our customers. Finally, it is common practice in the fashion industry to establish brand collaborations with other leading lifestyle brands to penetrate new product categories, enter new markets and expand into new geographic regions. In this regard, we expect to seek out opportunities to identify and pursue brand collaborations with premium lifestyle brands with the goal of leveraging and cross-marketing new co-branded products to existing and prospective customer bases of both brands to fuel our respective revenue growth.

 

 21 

 

 

  · Developing a Premium Discount Outlet Distribution Channel. In recent years, an important retailing phenomenon has been the growth of premium discount outlet shopping venues, both online and bricks and mortar stores, where consumers go to find premium brand products at marked down pricing. As we continue to strategically expand our distribution channels into the broader retail environment, we believe that outlets may provide us with the opportunity to reach a greater target audience of prospective buyers, while also giving us an effective method for managing and moving past-season articles that remain in inventory.

   

Corporate Structure

 

On October 11, 2018, MGOTEAM 1 LLC (“MGO LLC”) was formed in Delaware by our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Maximiliano Ojeda. On November 20, 2021, MGO LLC entered into a Trademark License Agreement (the “Messi License”) with Leo Messi Management SL, a company incorporated under the laws of Spain (“LMM”). Pursuant to the Messi License, LLM granted MGO LLC the worldwide rights to the “Messi” brand of apparel as further described in “Business—Messi License.” On November 30, 2021, MGO Global Inc. was incorporated in Delaware, and on December 6, 2021 entered into a Rollover Agreement (the “Rollover Agreement”) with MGO LLC and members of MGO LLC holding 88% of its the membership interests (the “Rollover Members”). Pursuant to the Rollover Agreement, the Rollover Members exchanged all of their membership interests in MGO LLC with MGO for shares in MGO; and MGO LLC became an 88%-owned subsidiary of MGO.

 

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

 

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (i) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under applicable SEC rules. We expect that we will remain an emerging growth company for the foreseeable future but cannot retain our emerging growth company status indefinitely and will no longer qualify as an emerging growth company on or before the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we are permitted and intend to rely on exemptions from specified disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.

 

These exemptions include:

 

  ¨ being permitted to provide only two years of audited financial statements, in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements, with correspondingly reduced “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” disclosure;
     
  ¨ not being required to comply with the requirement of auditor attestation of our internal controls over financial reporting;

 

  ¨ not being required to comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements;
     
  ¨ reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation; and

 

  ¨ not being required to hold a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

 22 

 

 

We have taken advantage of certain reduced reporting requirements in this prospectus. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different than the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold stock.

 

An emerging growth company can also take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this extended transition period and, as a result, we will be required to adopt new or revised accounting standards on the dates on which adoption of such standards is required for other public reporting companies.

 

We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and have elected to take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosure available for smaller reporting companies.

 

Corporate Information 

 

We were incorporated in the State of Delaware on November 30, 2021. Our principal executive offices are located at 1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33346 and our telephone number is 347-913-3316. Our corporate website address is www.mgoglobalinc.com. Information on or that can be accessed through our website is not part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in determining whether to make an investment decision. 

 

Recent Developments

 

Rollover Agreement. On December 6, 2021, the Company effected restructuring whereby all members of MGO LLC, except J.T. Shao Inc., exchanged their membership interests in MGO LLC with the Company for shares of Common Stock. As a result, all members of MGO LLC, except for J.T. Shao Inc., became the shareholders of the Company and MGO LLC became an 88% owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

Amendment to Consulting Agreement. On February 20, 2020, MGO LLC entered into a Consultant Agreement with Isaac Khafif (the “Original Khafif Consultant Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Original Khafif Consultant Agreement, MGO LLC engaged Mr. Khafif to oversee MGO LLC’s business operations and provide services similar to a chief financial officer. In return for his services to MGO LLC, the Original Khafif Consulting Agreement provided for the issuance to Mr. Khafif of restricted profit units that represented 4% of the equity in MGO LLC on a fully diluted basis services, subject to a vesting schedule. The Original Khafif Consulting Agreement was amended on December 6, 2021, so that all references to MGO LLC would mean MGO and that any equity provided to Mr. Khafif under the Khafif Consulting Agreement would be Common Stock of MGO (as so amended, the Khafif Consulting Agreement”). Pursuant to the Khafif Consulting Agreement and a subsequent side letter, Mr. Khafif was issued 200,000 shares of our Common Stock. 

 

Equity Private Placements.

 

During December 2021 through May 2022, we issued 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock in a private placement (the “Initial Private Placement”) pursuant to Regulation D of the Securities Act to 32 accredited investors at a price of $1.00 per share for gross proceeds of $2,000,000 less cash placement agent fees paid to Boustead Securities, LLC as placement agent. Boustead Securities, LLC also has warrants to purchase 78,225 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share it received as part of its placement agent fees in the Initial Private Placement. In connection with the Initial Private Placement, all of the investors signed lock-up agreements in which the investors agreed not to sell or transfer the shares they purchased in such private placement for a period of 365 days after listing of our Common Stock on a national exchange; provided that one-third of such shares will not be subject to the lock-up after 180 days from such listing and two-thirds of such shares will not be subject to the lock-up after 270 days from such listing. Additionally, 1,100,000 shares of Common Stock issued in the Initial Private Placement are being offered for resale by selling stockholders and the terms of their lock-up agreements will be waived by Boustead Securities, LLC after the listing of our Common Stock on a national exchange.

 

In October 2022, we issued 700,000 shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase 700,000 shares of its Common Stock in a private placement (the “Second Private Placement”) pursuant to Regulation D of the Securities Act to 7 accredited investors at a price of $1.00 per share for gross proceeds of $700,000 less placement agent fees paid to Boustead Securities, LLC as placement agent. In connection with such private placement, all of the investors signed lock-up agreements in which the investors agreed not to sell or transfer the shares or the shares underlying the accompanying warrants they purchased in such private placement for a period of 365 days after listing of our Common Stock on a national exchange; provided that one-third of such shares will not be subject to the lock-up after 180 days from such listing and two-thirds of such shares will not be subject to the lock-up after 270 days from such listing. Additionally, 700,000 shares of Common Stock and 700,000 shares of Common Stock underlying warrants issued in the Second Private Placement are being offered for resale by selling stockholders and the terms of their lock-up agreements will be waived by Boustead Securities, LLC after the listing of our Common Stock on a national exchange.

 

Summary Risk Factors

 

Our business is subject to a number of risks. You should be aware of these risks before making an investment decision. These risks are discussed more fully in the section of this prospectus titled “Risk Factors,” which begins on page 22 of this prospectus. These risks include, among others, that:

 

 23 

 

 

  · We have a history of operating losses and may continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. We may not be able to generate sufficient net sales to achieve or maintain profitability. Failure to maintain an adequate growth rate will materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results;

 

  · Because we operate in an evolving industry, our past results may not be indicative of future performance, and our future performance may fluctuate materially which will increase your investment risk;

 

  · If our Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL granting us the right to use Leo Messi’s image, likeness, trademarks and other intellectual property is terminated, expired or breached, we may be unable to continue our business;

 

  · Our relatively limited operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our current business and prospects, and may increase the risk of your investment;

 

  · If we fail to effectively manage our growth, our business, financial condition and operating results could be harmed;

 

  · Our business is highly competitive, many of our current competitors have, and potential competitors may have, longer operating histories, larger fulfillment infrastructures, greater technical capabilities, or greater financial, marketing and other resources and larger customer bases than we do;

 

  · We compete with traditional vendors, and expect competition to continue to intensify in the future from both established competitors and new market entrants;

 

  · If customers do not purchase our products, our ability to grow our business and operating results may be adversely affected;

 

  · Our sales may be adversely affected if we fail to respond to changes in consumer preferences in a timely manner or are not successful in expanding our product offerings;

 

  · Our business depends on a strong brand. We may not be able to maintain and enhance our brand, or we may receive unfavorable customer complaints or negative publicity, which could adversely affect our brand and brand credibility;

 

  · Uncertainties in economic conditions and their impact on consumer spending patterns could adversely impact our operating results;

 

  · Failure of our vendors to supply high quality and compliant merchandise in a timely manner may damage our reputation and brand and harm our business;

 

  · Government regulation of the Internet and ecommerce is evolving, and unfavorable changes or failure by us to comply with these regulations could substantially harm our business and results of operations;

 

  · Failure to comply with laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection, or the expansion of current or the enactment of new laws or regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection, could adversely affect our business and our financial condition;

 

  · Our failure or the failure of third-party service providers to protect our site, networks and systems against security breaches, or otherwise to protect our confidential information, could damage our reputation and brand and substantially harm our business and operating results;

 

  · If we lose any of our key management personnel, we may not be able to successfully manage our business or achieve our objectives;

 

  · Our Chief Design Officer is not subject to a non-competition agreement and may engage in a similar business as the Company’s business;

 

 24 

 

 

  · We may incur material losses and costs as a result of manufacturer’s product defects, warranty claims or product liability actions that may be brought against us;

 

  · The price of our Common Stock may fluctuate or may decline regardless of our operating performance, resulting in substantial losses for investors;

 

  · Geopolitical conditions, including trade disputes and direct or indirect acts of war or terrorism, could have an adverse effect on our operations and financial results;

 

  · The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources, divert management’s attention and affect our ability to attract and retain additional executive management and qualified board members;

 

  · As a result of becoming a public company, we will be obligated to develop and maintain proper and effective internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to do so in a timely manner, or our internal control over financial reporting is not determined to be effective, this may adversely affect investor confidence in our Company and, as a result, the value of our Common Stock;

 

  · Our officers and directors own a substantial amount of our Common Stock and, therefore, exercise significant control over our corporate governance and affairs, which may result in their taking actions with which other shareholders do not agree;

 

  · Existing stockholders may sell significant quantities of Common Stock; and

 

  · We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” under the JOBS Act, and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies will make our Common Stock less attractive to investors.

 

 25 

 

 

OFFERING SUMMARY

 

Common Stock Offered by Us: 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock.
   

Common Stock Offered by the Selling

Stockholders in the Selling Stockholder Prospectus:

 

 

2,738,000 shares of Common Stock

   
Offering Price: For purposes of this prospectus, the assumed initial public offering price per share is $5.00. The actual offering price per share will be as determined between the underwriters and us based on market conditions at the time of pricing and the actual number of shares we will offer will be determined based on the actual public offering price. Therefore, the assumed public offering price used throughout this prospectus may not be indicative of the final offering price.
   

Shares of Common Stock Outstanding

Prior to this Offering(1):

11,689,230 shares of Common Stock.

   

Shares of Common Stock to be Outstanding

After this Offering(2):

 

13,189,230 shares of Common Stock (or 13,414,230 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). (1) 

Over-Allotment Option: We have granted to the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase from us up to an additional 15% of the shares sold in the offering (225,000 additional shares) at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
   

Use of Proceeds:

 

We estimate that the net proceeds from our issuance and sale of 1,500,000 shares of our Common Stock in this offering will be approximately $5,857,000, assuming an initial public offering price of $5.00 per share after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full to cover over-allotments, if any, we estimate that our net proceeds will be approximately $6,892,000.

 

We currently anticipate using the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing resources, for general corporate purposes, such as working capital. See the section titled “Use of Proceeds” for additional information.

 

 26 

 

 

Representative’s Warrants:

 

We have agreed to issue to the representative of the underwriters (or its permitted designees) warrants to purchase up to a total number of shares of Common Stock equal to 7% of the total number of shares of Common Stock sold in this offering at an exercise price equal to 125% of the public offering price of the Common Stock sold in this offering. The representative’s warrants will be exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, commencing from 180 days after the closing of the offering and expiring three (3) years from the effectiveness of the offering, will have a cashless exercise provision and will terminate on the third anniversary of the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The representative’s warrants also provide for customary anti-dilution provisions and immediate “piggyback” registration rights with respect to the registration of the shares underlying the warrants for a period of seven years from commencement of sales of this offering. The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part also registers the issuance of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the representative’s warrants. See the “Underwriting” section for more information

 

Lock-Up Agreements:

We and our officers, directors and more than 98% of our stockholders have agreed with the underwriters not to sell, transfer or dispose of any shares or similar securities for six (6) to twelve (12) months from the date on which our Common Stock is trading on Nasdaq. The underwriters have agreed to waive the lock-up requirement for shares of Common Stock being sold by the selling stockholders named in the Resale Prospectus. For additional information regarding our arrangement with the underwriters, please see “Underwriting.”

 

We, and our officers, directors and holders of 5% or greater of our Common Stock have agreed to be locked up for a period of twelve (12) months from the date on which the trading of our Common Stock commences. Holders less than 5% of our Common Stock (other than one holder who owns less than 2% of our Common Stock) have agreed to be locked up for a period of six (6) months from the date on which the trading of our Common Stock commences During the lock-up period, without the prior written consent of the underwriters, they shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, assign, encumber, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, any Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, owned either of record or beneficially by any signatory of the lock-up agreement on the date of the prospectus or thereafter acquired; (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clauses (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing; and (iii) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. See “Underwriting” for more information. 

   

Dividend Policy:

 

The Company has never paid dividends on its Common Stock and does not anticipate that it will pay dividends in the foreseeable future. It intends to use any future earnings for the expansion of its business. Any future determination of applicable dividends will be made at the discretion of the Board of Directors (“Board”) and will depend on the results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant. See “Dividend Policy.”

 

Risk Factors:

 

 

Investing in our Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. For a discussion of risk factors, you should consider in making an investment, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page 22.

 

Proposed Listing:

 

We intend to apply to have our Common Stock listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MGOL,” which listing is a condition to this offering.

 

(1)As of November 18, 2022

 

(2)

Includes: Does not include (i) 700,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying warrants issued to investors in the Second Private Placement; (ii) 78,225 shares of our Common Stock underlying warrants issued to Boustead Securities, LLC in its capacity as placement agent in the Initial Private Placement; (iii) 105,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying the representative’s warrants in the Initial Public Offering (or 120,750 shares if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option in full); (iv) 100,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying options to be issued to Maximiliano Ojeda, our CEO, upon the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq; (v) 100,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying options to be issued to Virginia Hilfiger, our Chief Design Officer, upon the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq; (vi) 100,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying options to be issued to Julian Groves, our Chief Operating Officer, upon the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq, (vii) 100,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying options to be issued to Matt Harward, our Chief Marketing Officer, upon the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq; and (viii) 40,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying an option granted to Martin Scott, our Chief financial Officer.

 

 27 

 

 

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following tables summarize our consolidated financial and other data for the periods and as of the dates indicated. We derived the summary condensed consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary consolidated statements of operations data for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of September 30, 2022 are derived from our unaudited financial statements. While MGO Global, Inc. was incorporated on November 30, 2021, and acquired its subsidiary on December 6, 2021, the combined statements present results of operations as though MGO Global Inc. owned its subsidiary for each of the periods presented.

 

All financial statements included in this prospectus are prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. The following summary consolidated financial data should be read together with our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes, as well as the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of our results in any future period and our interim results are not necessarily indicative of results that should be expected for a full year or any other period. 

 

Summary Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Data

 

    Nine Months Ended     Year Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,     December 31,     December 31,  
    2022     2021     2021     2020  
Statement of Operations Data                                
Sales, net   $ 336,103     $ 557,641     $ 880,340     $ 694,585  
Cost of goods sold     77,558       296,427       392,407       382,820  
Gross profit     258,545       261,214       487,933       311,765  
Total Operating Expenses     2,228,005       643,774       1,407,192       1,690,939  
Operating loss     (1,969,460 )     (382,560 )     (919,259 )     (1,379,174 )
Total other (income) expenses     111,732       (7,258 )     66,636       44,612  
Loss before income taxes     (2,081,192 )     (375,303 )     (985,895 )     (1,423,786 )
Income tax expense     -       -       -       -  
Net loss     (2,081,192 )     (375,303 )     (985,895 )     (1,423,786 )
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests     (222,131 )     -       (79,569 )     -  
Less: Net loss attributable to MGO shareholders   $ (1,859,061 )   $ (375,303 )   $ (906,326 )   $ (1,423,786 )

 

  

Period

Ended

   Year Ended 
   September 30,   December 31,   December 31, 
   2022   2021   2020 
Balance Sheet Data               
Cash and cash equivalents  $20,586   $87,922   $116,652 
Working capital (deficit) (1)   (1,238,395)   (393,160)   (284,762)
Total assets   214,412    570,282    335,235 
Total liabilities   1,452,807    984,289    619,997 
Non-controlling interest   (289,102)   (66,971)   - 
Stockholders’ deficit  $(1,238,395)  $(414,007)  $(284,762)

  

  1 Working capital represents total current assets less total current liabilities.

 

 28 

 

 

 

 29 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the following risk factors, which address the material risks concerning our business and an investment in our Common Stock, together with the other information contained in this prospectus. If any of the risks discussed in this prospectus occur, our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, in which case the trading price of our Common Stock could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Some statements in this prospectus, including statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the section entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

Risks Related to our Business and Industry

 

We have a limited operating history in an evolving industry, which makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects and may increase the risk that we will not be successful.

 

The Company has a limited operating history on which to base an evaluation of its business and prospects. The Company is subject to all the risks inherent in a small company seeking to develop, market and distribute new services, particularly companies in evolving markets such as the internet, technology, and payment systems. The likelihood of the Company’s success must be considered, in light of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered in connection with the development, introduction, marketing and distribution of new products and services in a competitive environment.

 

Such risks for the Company include, but are not limited to, dependence on the success and acceptance of the Company’s products, the ability to attract and retain a suitable client base, and the management of growth. To address these risks, the Company must, among other things, generate increased demand, attract a sufficient clientele base, respond to competitive developments, successfully introduce new products attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel and upgrade and enhance the Company’s technologies to accommodate expanded service offerings. In view of the rapidly evolving nature of the Company’s business and its limited operating history, the Company believes that period-to-period comparisons of its operating results are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as an indication of future performance.

 

The Company is therefore subject to many of the risks common to early-stage enterprises, including under-capitalization, cash shortages, limitations with respect to personnel, financial, and other resources and lack of revenues.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. In January 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” This worldwide outbreak has resulted in the implementation of significant governmental measures, including lockdowns, closures, quarantines and travel bans intended to control the spread of the virus. Companies are also taking precautions, such as requiring employees to work remotely, imposing travel restrictions and temporarily closing businesses and facilities. These restrictions, and future prevention and mitigation measures, have had an adverse impact on global economic conditions and are likely to have an adverse impact on consumer confidence and spending, which could materially adversely affect the supply of, as well as the demand for, our products. Uncertainties regarding the economic impact of COVID-19 is likely to result in sustained market turmoil, which could also negatively impact our business, financial condition and cash flows.

 

The impacts of the pandemic on us have included, and in the future could include:

 

  · volatility in demand for our products as a result of, among other things, the inability of customers to purchase our products due to financial hardship, unemployment, illness or out of fear of exposure to COVID-19, shifts in demand away from consumer discretionary products and reduced options for marketing and promotion of products or other restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

  · increased materials and procurement costs as a result of scarcity of and/or increased prices for commodities and raw materials, and periods of reduced manufacturing capacity at our suppliers in response to the pandemic;

 

  · increased sea and air freight shipping costs as a result of increased levels of demand, reduced capacity, scrutiny or embargoing of goods produced in infected areas, port closures and other transportation challenges;

 

  · closures or other restrictions that limit capacity at our distribution facilities and restrict our employees’ ability to perform necessary business functions, including operations necessary for the design, development, production, sale, marketing, delivery and support of our products; and 

 

  · failure of our suppliers and other third parties on which we rely to meet their obligations to us in a timely manner or at all, as a result of their own financial or operational difficulties, including business failure or insolvency, the inability to access financing in the credit and capital markets at reasonable rates or at all, collectability of existing receivables.

 

We source our products from suppliers and manufacturers located in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Latvia, Mexico, Peru, Portugal and Sri Lanka. The impact of COVID-19 on these suppliers, or any of our other suppliers, co-manufacturers, distributors or transportation or logistics providers, may negatively affect the price and availability of our ingredients and/or packaging materials and impact our supply chain. If the disruptions caused by COVID-19 continue for an extended period of time, our ability to meet the demands of our customers may be materially impacted. To date, we have not experienced any reduction in the available supply of our products.

 

If we are forced to scale back hours of operation in response to the pandemic, we expect our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially adversely affected. If our operations or productivity continue to be impacted throughout the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and government-mandated closures, our business, financial condition and cash flows may negatively be impacted. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will further impact our business will depend on future developments and, given the uncertainty around the extent and timing of the potential future spread or mitigation and around the imposition or relaxation of protective measures, we cannot reasonably estimate the impact to our business at this time.

 

 30 

 

 

The extent of COVID-19’s effect on our operational and financial performance will depend on future developments, including the duration, spread and intensity of the outbreak, all of which are uncertain and difficult to predict considering the rapidly evolving landscape. As a result, it is not currently possible to ascertain the overall impact of COVID-19 on our business. However, if the pandemic continues for a prolonged period, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and adversely impact the trading price of our Common Stock.

 

We have a history of operating losses and may continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future.

 

We recorded a net loss of $906,326 as of December 31, 2021 and a net loss of $1,423,786 as of December 31, 2020. We cannot anticipate when, if ever, our operations will become profitable. We expect to incur significant net losses as we develop our business and pursue our business strategy. We intend to invest significantly in our business before we expect cash flow from operations to be adequate to cover our operating expenses. If we are unable to execute our business strategy and grow our business, for any reason, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.

 

The Company is attempting to further implement its business plan and generate sufficient revenue; however, the Company’s cash position may not be sufficient to support its operations. While the Company believes in the viability of its strategy to further implement its business plan and generate sufficient revenue and in its ability to raise additional funds by the sale of its equity, there can be no assurances to that effect. The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to further implement its business plan and generate sufficient revenue and its ability to raise additional funds. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. 

 

Our business depends on our ability to maintain a strong community around The Messi Brand with engaged customers and influencers. We may not be able to maintain and enhance our existing brand community if we receive customer complaints, negative publicity or otherwise fail to live up to consumers’ expectations, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We believe that maintaining our brand image, particularly with our core target customers, is important to maintaining and expanding our customer base and sales. Maintaining and enhancing our brand image may require us to make additional investments in areas such as merchandising, marketing, online operations, online displays and other promotions, and employee training. These investments may be substantial and may not ultimately be successful. If we are unable to maintain or enhance our brand image, brand awareness and reputation, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

 

Over the course of 2021, we offered over multiple collections and capsule collections through our platform. Our ability to identify new design trends and maintain and enhance our existing brand is critical to retaining and expanding our base of customers. A significant portion of our customers’ experience with our brand depends on third parties outside of our control, including suppliers and logistics providers, such as UPS, DHL and the U.S. Postal Service. If these third parties do not meet our or our customers’ expectations or if they increase their rates, our business may suffer irreparable damage, or our costs may increase. In addition, establishing, maintaining and enhancing relationships with other third-party brands may require us to make substantial investments, and these investments may not be successful. Also, if we fail to promote and maintain our brand, or if we incur excessive expenses in this effort, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially adversely affected. We anticipate that, as our market becomes increasingly competitive, maintaining and enhancing our brand may become increasingly difficult and expensive.

 

Customer complaints or negative publicity about our website or mobile app, products, merchandise quality, product delivery times, customer data handling, security practices or customer support, especially on social media, blogs, and in reviews, could rapidly and severely diminish consumer use of our website or mobile app and customer and supplier confidence in us, and result in harm to our brand. We believe that much of the growth in our customer base to date has originated from word-of-mouth, including social media and our influencer-driven marketing strategy. If we are not able to develop and maintain positive relationships with our network of influencers or our online customer community, our ability to promote and maintain or enhance awareness of Messi Brand and leverage social media platforms to drive visits to www.themessistore.com or our mobile app may be adversely affected.

 

 31 

 

 

We may be unable to maintain a high level of engagement with our customers and increase their spending with us, which could harm our business, financial condition, cash flows, or results of operations.

 

A portion of our net revenue comes from repeat purchases by existing customers, especially those existing customers who are highly engaged and purchase a significant amount of merchandise from us. If existing customers no longer find our merchandise appealing, they may make fewer purchases and may stop shopping with us. Even if our existing customers find our merchandise appealing, if customer buying preferences change, they may decide to purchase less merchandise over time. Additionally, if customers who purchase a significant amount of merchandise from us were to make fewer purchases or stop shopping with us, then our sales may decline. A decrease in the number of our customers or a decrease in their spending on the merchandise we offer could negatively impact our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations. Further, we believe that our future success will depend in part on our ability to increase sales to our existing customers over time and, if we are unable to do so, our business may suffer.

 

Our success depends on our ability to anticipate, identify, measure, and respond quickly to new and rapidly changing fashion trends, customer preferences and demands and other factors.

 

Our core market of apparel accessories and home goods is subject to new and rapidly changing fashion trends, constantly evolving consumer preferences and demands, and preserving brand loyalty. Accordingly, our success is dependent on our ability to anticipate, identify, measure and respond to the latest fashion trends and customer demands, and to translate such trends and demands into appropriate, desirable product offerings in a timely manner. A select team of our employees is primarily responsible for performing this analysis and making initial product decisions, and they rely on feedback on fashion trends from a variety of sources, which may not accurately predict evolving fashion trends. Our failure to anticipate, identify or react swiftly and appropriately to new and changing styles, trends, or desired customer preferences or to accurately anticipate and forecast demand for certain product offerings is likely to lead to lower demand for our merchandise, which could cause, among other things, sales declines, excess inventories, a greater number of markdowns and lower margins. Further, if we are not able to anticipate, identify and respond to changing fashion trends and customer preferences, we may lose customers and market share to our competitors who are able to better anticipate, identify and respond to such trends and preferences. In addition, because our success depends on our brand image, our business could be materially adversely affected if new product offerings are not accepted by our customers. We cannot assure investors that our new product offerings will be met with the same level of acceptance as our past product offerings or that we will be able to adequately respond to fashion trends or the preferences of our customers in a timely manner or at all. If we do not accurately anticipate, identify, forecast or analyze fashion trends and sales levels, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

 

Our business depends on effective marketing and high customer traffic.

 

We have many initiatives in our marketing programs particularly with regard to our websites, mobile applications and our social media presence. If our competitors increase their spending on marketing, if our marketing expenses increase, if our marketing becomes less effective than that of our competitors, or if we do not adequately leverage technology and data analytics capabilities needed to generate concise competitive insight, we could experience a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Among other factors, (1) a failure to sufficiently innovate or maintain effective marketing strategies and (2) U.S. and foreign laws and regulations that make it more difficult or costly to digitally market, such as the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”), may adversely impact our ability to maintain brand relevance and drive increased sales.

 

 32 

 

 

We rely on third parties to drive traffic to our platform, and these providers may change their algorithms or pricing in ways that could negatively affect our business, financial condition, cash flows, and results of operations.

 

Our success depends on our ability to attract customers cost effectively. With respect to our marketing channels, we rely heavily on relationships with providers of online services, search engines, social media, directories and other websites and e-commerce businesses to provide content, advertising banners and other links that direct customers to our websites. We rely on these relationships to provide significant traffic to our website. In particular, we rely on digital platforms, such as Instagram, Google and Facebook, as important marketing channels. Digital channels change their algorithms periodically, and our rankings in organic searches and visibility in social media feeds may be adversely affected by those changes, as has occurred from time to time, requiring us to increase our spending on paid marketing to offset the loss in traffic. Search engine companies may also determine that we are not in compliance with their guidelines and consequently penalize us in their algorithms as a result. Even with an increase in marketing spend to offset any loss in search engine optimization traffic as a result of algorithm changes, the recovery period in organic traffic may span multiple quarters or years. If digital platforms change or penalize us with their algorithms, terms of service, display and featuring of search results, or if competition increases for advertisements, we may be unable to cost-effectively attract customers.

 

Our relationships with digital platforms are not covered by long-term contractual agreements and do not require any specific performance commitments. In addition, many of the platforms and agencies with whom we have advertising arrangements provide advertising services to other companies, including retailers with whom we compete. As competition for online advertising has increased, the cost for some of these services has also increased. A significant increase in the cost of the marketing providers upon which we rely could adversely impact our ability to attract customers cost effectively and harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

Use of social media, influencers, affiliate marketing, email, text messages and direct mail may adversely impact our brand and reputation or subject us to fines or other penalties.

 

We use social media, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Weibo, as well as affiliate marketing, email, SMS, and direct mail as part of our multi-channel approach to marketing, and we encourage our customers to use social media while shopping. In the future, we may also elect to establish relationships with social media influencers, who may serve as our brand ambassadors, and engage in sponsorship initiatives. Laws and regulations governing the use of these platforms and other digital marketing channels are rapidly evolving. It may become more difficult for us or our partners to comply with such laws, and future data privacy laws and regulations or industry standards may restrict or limit our ability to use some or all of the marketing strategies on which we currently rely. The failure by us, our employees or third parties acting at our direction to abide by applicable laws and regulations in the use of these platforms could adversely impact our reputation or subject us to fines or other penalties. In addition, our employees or third parties acting at our direction may knowingly or inadvertently make use of social media in ways that could lead to the loss or infringement of intellectual property, as well as the public disclosure of proprietary, confidential or sensitive personal information of our business, employees, customers or others. Any such inappropriate use of social media tools could also cause business interruptions and reputational damage.

 

Customers value readily available information concerning retailers and their goods and services and often act on such information without further investigation and without regard to its accuracy. Information concerning us, whether accurate or not, may be posted on social media platforms at any time and may have a disproportionately adverse impact on our brand, reputation or business. The harm may be immediate without affording us an opportunity for redress or correction and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

In addition, an increase in the use of social media for product promotion and marketing may cause an increase in the burden on us to monitor compliance of such materials and increase the risk that such materials could contain problematic product or marketing claims in violation of applicable regulations. For example, in some cases, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has sought enforcement action where an endorsement has failed to clearly and conspicuously disclose a financial relationship between an influencer and an advertiser.

 

Negative commentary regarding us, our products or potential influencers and other third parties who are affiliated with us may also be posted on social media platforms and may be adverse to our reputation or business. Influencers with whom we may establish relationships could engage in behavior or use their platforms to communicate directly with our customers in a manner that reflects poorly on our brand and may be attributed to us or otherwise adversely affect us. It is not possible to prevent such behavior, and the precautions we take to detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Our target customers often value readily available information and often act on such information without further investigation and without regard to its accuracy. The harm may be immediate, without affording us an opportunity for redress or correction.

 

 33 

 

 

We have not historically used traditional advertising channels, and if we become unable to continue to connect with our target customer base, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We utilize organic content, affiliate marketing, email, SMS, direct mail, paid search and social media marketing to capture the interest of our customers and drive them to our platform. We historically have not used traditional advertising channels, such as newspapers, magazines and television, which are used by some of our competitors. In the future, we expect to increase our use of social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Weibo for marketing purposes. If our marketing efforts are not successful, there may be no immediately available or cost-effective alternative marketing channel for us to use to build or maintain brand awareness. As we execute our growth strategy, our ability to successfully integrate into our target customers’ communities or to expand into new markets will be dependent on our ability to connect with our target customers through marketing channels. Failure to successfully connect with our target customers in new and existing markets could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

We may not be able to successfully implement our growth strategy.

 

Our future growth, profitability and cash flows depend upon our ability to successfully implement our business strategy, which, in turn, is dependent upon a number of factors, including our ability to:

 

  · grow our brand awareness and attract new customers;

 

  · enhance and retain our existing customer relationships;

 

  · pursue category expansion; and

 

  · pursue international expansion.

 

We cannot assure that we can successfully achieve any or all of the above initiatives in the manner or time period that we expect. Further, achieving these objectives will require investments which may result in short-term costs without generating any net revenue and, therefore, may be dilutive to our earnings. We cannot provide any assurance that we will realize, in full or in part, the anticipated benefits we expect our strategy will achieve. The failure to realize those benefits could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

Our growth plan contemplates expansion into new markets, and our efforts to expand may ultimately be unsuccessful.

 

Our growth plan includes introducing our brands globally, including in countries and regions where we have no or limited operating experience. Expanding into new countries and regions involves significant risk, particularly if we have no experience in marketing, selling and engaging with customers in the market. For example, there is no guarantee that the success of a brand in the United Kingdom will translate to the success of that brand in other countries, such as the United States. Our efforts to expand into new countries and regions could fail for many reasons, including our failure to accurately or timely identify apparel trends in new markets, different consumer demand dynamics and lack of acceptance of new offerings by existing or new users, our failure to promote the new markets effectively, or negative publicity about us or our new markets. In addition, these initiatives may not drive increases in revenue, may require substantial investment and planning, and may bring us more directly into competition with companies that are better established, operate more effectively or have greater resources than we do. There is additional complexity associated with local laws, tariffs and shipping logistics in new countries where our brands do not have an established presence. Expanding into new markets will require additional investment of time and resources of our management and personnel. If we are unable to cost-effectively expand into new countries and regions, then our growth prospects and competitive position may be harmed and our business, results of operations and financial condition may suffer.

 

We face risks from our international business.

 

Our current growth strategy includes plans to expand our digital marketing and grow our e-commerce and retail presence internationally over the next several years. As we seek to expand internationally, we face competition from more established retail competitors. Consumer demand and behavior, as well as cultural differences, tastes and purchasing trends, may differ, and as a result, sales of our merchandise may not be successful, or the margins on those sales may not be in line with our expectations. Our ability to conduct business internationally may be adversely impacted by political, economic and public health events (such as the COVID-19 pandemic), as well as the global economy. Any challenges that we encounter as we expand internationally may divert financial, operational and managerial resources from our existing operations, which could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

 

 34 

 

 

The United Kingdom ceased to be a part of the European Union on December 31, 2020 (which is commonly referred to as “Brexit”). We face risks associated with the potential uncertainty and disruptions relating to Brexit, including the risk of additional regulatory and other costs and challenges and/or limitations on our ability to sell particular products. In particular, these uncertainties may affect the viability of our operations through compliance with changing regulatory and disclosure requirements, re-determining our importation policies, and regulations regarding subsidies of consumer-facing taxes. As a result, the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Brexit could have a material adverse effect on our business (including our European growth plans), results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

 

In addition, we are increasingly exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk with respect to our revenue, profits, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

 

The global apparel industry is subject to intense pricing pressure.

 

The apparel industry is characterized by low barriers to entry for both suppliers and marketers, global sourcing through suppliers located throughout the world, trade liberalization, continuing movement of product sourcing to lower cost countries, regular promotional activity and the ongoing emergence of new competitors with widely varying strategies and resources. These factors have contributed, and may continue to contribute in the future, to intense pricing pressure and uncertainty throughout the supply chain. Pricing pressure has been exacerbated by the availability of raw materials in recent years. This pressure could have adverse effects on our business and financial condition, including:

 

  · reduced gross margins across our product lines and distribution channels;

 

  · increased supplier demands for allowances, incentives and other forms of economic support; and

 

  · increased pressure on us to reduce our product costs and operating expenses.

 

We operate in the highly competitive retail apparel industry, and the size and resources of some of our competitors may allow them to compete more effectively than we can, which could adversely impact our growth and market share, and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We operate in the highly competitive retail apparel industry. We compete on the basis of a combination of factors, including our quality, concept, price, breadth and style of merchandise, as well as our online experience and level of customer service, our brand image and our ability to anticipate, identify and respond to new and changing fashion trends and customer demands. While we believe that we compete primarily with apparel retailers and Internet businesses that specialize in apparel, accessories and home décor. We also face competition from national and regional department stores, specialty retailers, fast-fashion retailers, value retailers and mass merchants. In addition, our expansion into markets served by our competitors and entry of new competitors or expansion of existing competitors into our markets could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We also compete with a wide variety of large and small retailers for customers, suppliers, influencers and personnel. The competitive landscape we face, particularly among apparel retailers, is subject to rapid change as new competitors emerge and existing competitors change their offerings. We cannot assure investors that we will be able to continue to compete successfully and navigate the shifts in the competitive landscape in our markets.

 

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for traditional brick-and-mortar retailers to invest significant resources in their ecommerce operations, including traditional retailers that either did not have ecommerce operations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic or only had a nascent platform. As a result of these significant investments, the ecommerce market for apparel has become extremely competitive, and we now face competition from a broad range of national and international firms. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected demand for apparel and fashion as retail categories, this increased competition has resulted in greater and continued downward price pressure, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 35 

 

 

Many of our existing and potential competitors are, and many of our potential competitors may be, larger and have greater name recognition and access to greater financial, marketing and other resources than us. Therefore, these competitors may be able to adapt to changes in trends and customer desires more quickly, devote greater resources to the marketing and sale of their products, generate greater brand recognition or adopt more aggressive pricing policies than we can. Many of our competitors also utilize advertising and marketing media which we have not historically used, including advertising via newspapers, magazines and television, which may provide them with greater brand recognition than we have. As a result, we may lose market share, which could reduce our sales and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our competitors may also sell certain products or substantially similar products through outlet centers or discount stores, increasing the competitive pressure for those products. We cannot assure investors that we will continue to be able to compete successfully against existing or future competitors. Our expansion into markets served by our competitors and entry of new competitors or expansion of existing competitors into our markets could have a material adverse effect on us. Competitive forces and pressures may intensify as our presence in the retail marketplace grows.

 

We do not possess exclusive rights to many of the elements that comprise our online experience and merchandise offerings. Our merchandise offerings are sold to us on a non-exclusive basis. As a result, our current and future competitors, especially those with greater financial, marketing or other resources, may be able to duplicate or improve upon some or all of the elements of our online experience or merchandise offerings that we believe are important in differentiating our website and our customers’ shopping experience. If our competitors were to duplicate or improve upon some or all of the elements of our online experience or product offerings, our competitive position could suffer, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We rely on consumer discretionary spending and may be adversely affected by economic downturns and other macroeconomic conditions or trends.

 

Our business and results of operations are subject to global economic conditions and their impact on consumer discretionary spending. Customer purchases of discretionary retail items and specialty retail products, which include our apparel, accessories and home decor, may be adversely affected by economic conditions such as employment levels, salary and wage levels, the availability of customer credit, inflation, high interest rates, high tax rates, high fuel prices and customer confidence with respect to current and future economic conditions. Customer purchases may decline during recessionary periods or at other times when unemployment is higher, fuel prices are higher or disposable income is lower. These risks may be exacerbated for retailers like us that focus significantly on selling discretionary fashion merchandise to customers who seek value. Customer willingness to make discretionary purchases may decline, may stall or may be slow to increase due to national and regional economic conditions.

 

Our sales may be particularly susceptible to economic and other conditions in certain regions or states. Considerable uncertainty and volatility remain in the national and global economy, and any further or future slowdowns or disruptions in the economy could adversely affect online shopping traffic and customer discretionary spending and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we may not be able to maintain our recent rate of growth in net revenue if there is a decline in customer spending.

 

Just Style reported in late July 2022, that within the United States increasing inflation has discouraged consumers’ spending on clothing and has hurt the overall apparel industry. The article, found at https://www.just-style.com/analysis/us-apparel-sector-needs-inflation-reduction-act-to-move-quickly/ also noted that inflationary issues have caused retailers’ inventory levels to rise and implies that companies may have to offer deep discounts or cancel future sourcing orders. As the US economic growth slows, consumers are expected to turn more cautious about discretionary spending on clothing and accessories to prioritize other necessities. 

  

 36 

 

 

In the first nine months of 2022, we experienced a 40% decline in our total revenues as compared to the first nine months of 2021, which we believe is a direct reflection of consumers’ inflationary concerns and related downside pressure on our direct-to-consumer ecommerce sales. Concerns relating to inflationary pressures may not diminish and year-over-year sales performance could be adversely affected in 2022 and in the foreseeable future.

 

We have been adversely affected by the effects of inflation and a potential recession.

 

Inflation has adversely affected our liquidity, business, financial condition, and results of operations by increasing our overall cost structure and such affects will be further exacerbated if we are unable to achieve commensurate increases in the prices we charge our customers. The existence of inflation in the economy has resulted in, and may continue to result in, higher interest rates and capital costs, shipping costs, supply shortages, increased costs of labor, weakening exchange rates, and other similar effects. As a result of inflation, we have experienced and may continue to experience, cost increases. In addition, poor economic and market conditions, including a potential recession, may negatively impact market sentiment, decreasing the demand for sportswear and outerwear, which would adversely affect our operating income and results of operations. If we are unable to take effective measures in a timely manner to mitigate the impact of the inflation as well as a potential recession, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

The global apparel industry is subject to intense pricing pressure.

 

The apparel industry is characterized by low barriers to entry for both suppliers and marketers, global sourcing through suppliers located throughout the world, trade liberalization, continuing movement of product sourcing to lower cost countries, regular promotional activity and the ongoing emergence of new competitors with widely varying strategies and resources. These factors have contributed, and may continue to contribute in the future, to intense pricing pressure and uncertainty throughout the supply chain. Pricing pressure has been exacerbated by the availability of raw materials in recent years. Additionally, inflation and supply chain constraints caused by business challenges resulting from, among other things, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased pricing pressure on our business. This pressure could have adverse effects on our business and financial condition, including:

 

  · reduced gross margins across our product lines and distribution channels;

 

  · increased supplier demands for allowances, incentives, and other forms of economic support; and

 

  · increased pressure on us to reduce our product costs and operating expenses.

  

Merchandise returns could harm our business.

 

We allow our customers to return merchandise, subject to our return policy. If merchandise return economics become more costly, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed. Further, we may modify our policies relating to returns from time to time, which may result in customer dissatisfaction or an increase in the number of merchandise returns. Supplier non-compliance can also result in increased returns. From time to time our products are damaged in transit, which can increase return rates and harm our brand. Competitive pressures could cause us to alter our return policies or our shipping policies, which could result in an increase in damaged products and an increase in merchandise returns.

 

 37 

 

 

If new trade restrictions are imposed or existing trade restrictions become more burdensome, our ability to source imported merchandise efficiently and cost effectively could be materially adversely affected.

 

We purchase a portion of our inventory from foreign manufacturers, including those based in China, which is either directly imported by us from foreign suppliers or imported by domestic importers. Suppliers, to the extent they obtain merchandise from outside of the United States, are subject to trade restrictions, including tariffs, safeguards, or quotas, changes to which could increase the cost or reduce the supply of merchandise available to us. Under the World Trade Organization Agreement, effective January 1, 2005, the United States and other World Trade Organization member countries removed quotas on goods from World Trade Organization members, which in certain instances we believe affords our suppliers greater flexibility in importing textile and apparel products from World Trade Organization countries from which they source our merchandise. However, as the removal of quotas resulted in an import surge from China, the United States imposed safeguard quotas on a number of categories of goods and apparel from China and may impose additional quotas in the future. These and other trade restrictions could have a significant impact on our suppliers’ sourcing patterns in the future. The extent of this impact, if any, and the possible effect on our purchasing patterns and costs, cannot be determined at this time. We cannot predict whether any of the countries in which our suppliers’ merchandise is currently manufactured or may be manufactured in the future will be subject to additional trade restrictions imposed by the United States or foreign governments, nor can we predict the likelihood, type or effect of any restrictions. Trade restrictions, including increased tariffs or quotas, embargoes, safeguards and customs restrictions against items we offer, as well as U.S. or foreign labor strikes, work stoppages or boycotts, could increase the cost or reduce the supply of merchandise to our suppliers; and we would expect the costs to be passed along in increased prices to us, which we may be unable to pass on to our customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Certain trends relating to the COVID-19 pandemic have positively impacted our business, but there can be no assurance that these impacts will be sustained through the remainder of the pandemic or in the future.

 

The stay-at-home restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic led many traditional brick-and-mortar retailers to temporarily close their stores, while online retailers, such as us, continued to operate. We have benefited from increased sales as a result of a shift toward online shopping as customers stayed home. We may not continue to benefit from this trend toward online shopping, however, after the pandemic subsides, and some or all of the increases in demand for our products during the pandemic may be temporary. It is difficult to ascertain with precision how much of our recent growth is attributable to the stay-at-home restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and there can be no assurances that these positive trends during the COVID-19 pandemic will be sustained through the remainder of the pandemic or in the future. If the positive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business are not sustained through the remainder of the pandemic or in the future, or if customers’ purchases decline more than expected, our results of operations would be adversely impacted.

 

Our direct-to-consumer business model is subject to risks that could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

We sell merchandise direct-to-consumer through our online site and mobile app. Our direct-to-consumer business model is subject to numerous risks that could have a material adverse effect on our results. Risks include, but are not limited to, (i) resellers purchasing private label and exclusive merchandise and reselling it outside of authorized distribution channels,; (ii) failure of the systems that operate our ecommerce websites and their related support systems, including computer viruses; (iii) theft of customer information, privacy concerns, telecommunication failures and electronic break-ins and similar disruptions; (iv) credit card fraud; and (v) risks related to our supply chain and fulfillment operations. Risks specific to operating an ecommerce business also include (i) the ability to optimize the online experience and direct e-commerce channels to consumer needs, (ii) liability for copyright and trademark infringement, (iii) changing patterns of consumer behavior and (iv) competition from other ecommerce and brick-and-mortar retailers. Our failure to successfully respond to these risks might adversely affect our sales, as well as damage our reputation and brands.

 

Our brand depends on the promotion of diversity and equality and the ability to promote responsible fashion from an ethically and sustainably-sourced supply chain. If we are unable to do so, damage to our brand and reputation could result or failure to expand our brand which would harm our business and results of operations.

 

Our customers and employees are increasingly focused on environmental, social and governance or “sustainability” practices. We will depend significantly on building and maintaining our brand and reputation for promoting diversity and equality and responsible fashion from an ethically- and sustainably sourced supply chain to attract customers and employees and grow our business. If we are unable to, for instance, prioritize transparency among our employees, appropriately enforce fair labor practices, obtain our materials from ethical and sustainable suppliers or reduce waste, our brand and reputation could be significantly impaired, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Customer values could shift faster than we are able to adjust our merchandise proposition. For example, weather impacts from global warming could continue to intensify and fuel increased customer sentiment for apparel that is more sustainably produced. While we are increasing our mix of sustainable fabrics, it may not be fast enough to keep up with a rapidly shifting customer sentiment and value system that is being accelerated by the impacts of global warming. If we are unable to evolve with our customers’ and employees’ expectations and standards, our brand, reputation and customer and employee retention may be negatively impacted.

 

 38 

 

 

We could be required to collect additional sales taxes or be subject to other tax liabilities that may increase the costs our consumers would have to pay for our offering and adversely affect our operating results.

 

In general, we have not historically collected state or local sales, use or other similar taxes in any jurisdictions in which we do not have a tax nexus, in reliance on court decisions or applicable exemptions that restrict or preclude the imposition of obligations to collect such taxes with respect to online sales of our products. In addition, we have not historically collected state or local sales, use or other similar taxes in certain jurisdictions in which we do have a physical presence, in reliance on applicable exemptions. On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court decided, in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., that state and local jurisdictions may, at least in certain circumstances, enforce a sales and use tax collection obligation on remote vendors that have no physical presence in such jurisdiction. A number of states have already begun, or have positioned themselves to begin, requiring sales and use tax collection by remote vendors and/or by online marketplaces. The details and effective dates of these collection requirements vary from state to state. While we now collect, remit and report sales tax in all states that impose a sales tax, it is still possible that one or more jurisdictions may assert that we have liability for previous periods for which we did not collect sales, use or other similar taxes; and if such an assertion or assertions were successful, it could result in substantial tax liabilities, including for past sales taxes and penalties and interest, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

We do not have our own warehouse or distribution facilities, but rely on the sole third-party logistics provider responsible for warehousing and fulfilling our orders. If our third-party provider experiences disruptions to the operation of its distribution centers, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We rely on an international logistics company serving many renowned brands across global consumer goods industries for warehousing and fulfillment of our orders. This provider has distribution centers in Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the United States and has a capacity to process more than 300 million pieces of merchandise annually and distribute over 20 million packages through retail, wholesale and ecommerce sales channels. All of our merchandise is shipped from our suppliers to one of our provider’s distribution facilities and then packaged and shipped from our distribution facilities to our customers. The success of our business depends on our timely receipt of merchandise so we can continuously bring new, on-trend products online for sale. The success of our business also depends on customer orders being timely processed and delivered to meet promised delivery dates and satisfy our customers. The efficient flow of our merchandise requires that we have adequate capacity and uninterrupted service in our distribution facilities to support both our current level of operations and the anticipated increased levels that may follow from our growth plans. In order to accommodate future growth, we will either need to expand and upgrade distribution facilities with our existing provider or engage additional providers. Upgrading our existing arrangement or transferring our operations to another third-party provider with greater capacity will require us to incur additional costs, which could be significant, and may require us to obtain additional financing. Our failure to provide adequate order fulfillment, secure additional distribution capacity when necessary or retain a suitable third-party logistics provider could impede our growth plans. Further increasing this capacity could increase our costs, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

In addition, if our current provider encounters difficulties associated with its distribution facilities or if they were to shut down or be unable to operate for any reason, including because of fire, natural disaster, power outage or other event, we could face inventory shortages, resulting in “out-of-stock” conditions on our website, and delays in shipments, resulting in significantly higher costs and longer lead times distributing our merchandise.

 

 39 

 

 

Because we operate in an evolving industry, our past results may not be indicative of future performance, and our future performance may fluctuate materially which will increase your investment risk.

 

We operate in a rapidly evolving industry that may not develop as expected, if at all. Although we have experienced significant growth in net sales and the number of our active customers, it may be difficult to assess our future prospects. You should consider our business and prospects in light of the risks and difficulties we may encounter. These risks and difficulties include our ability to, among other things: acquire new customers who purchase products from us at the same rate and of the same type as existing customers; retain our existing customers and have them continue to purchase products from us at rates and methods consistent with their prior purchasing behavior; encourage customers to expand the categories of products they purchase from us; attract new brand partners so that we may offer a broader range of quality products to our customers at attractive prices; retain our existing brand partners and offer additional quality products to our customers at attractive prices; increase brand awareness; provide our customers with superior customer support; fulfill and deliver orders in a timely way and in accordance with customer expectations, which may change over time; respond to changes in consumer access to and use of the Internet and mobile devices; react to challenges from existing and new competitors; avoid interruptions or disruptions in our business; develop and maintain a scalable, high-performance technology and fulfillment infrastructure that can efficiently and reliably handle increased usage, as well as the deployment of new features and the sale of new products and services; respond to macroeconomic trends; and hire, integrate and retain qualified personnel.

 

If we fail to effectively manage our growth, our business, financial condition and operating results could be harmed.

 

To effectively manage our growth, we must continue to implement our operational plans and strategies, improve and expand our infrastructure of people and information systems and expand, train and manage our employee and contractor base. We have increased employee and contractor headcount since our inception to support the growth in our business, and we intend for this growth to continue for the foreseeable future. To support continued growth, we must effectively integrate, develop and motivate new employees, while maintaining our corporate culture. We face competition for qualified personnel. Additionally, we may not be able to hire new employees quickly enough to meet our needs. If we fail to effectively manage our hiring needs or successfully integrate our new hires, our efficiency and ability to meet our forecasts and our employee morale, productivity and retention could suffer, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

We also acquire and retain customers through paid search/product listing ads, paid social, retargeting, affiliate marketing, and personalized email and inbound marketing. If we are unable to cost-effectively drive traffic to our website or mobile app, our ability to acquire new customers and our financial condition would suffer.

 

Additionally, the growth and expansion of our business and our product offerings in the future will place significant demands on our management. The growth of our business may require significant additional resources, which may not scale in a cost-effective manner or may negatively affect the quality of our customer experience. We are also required to manage multiple relationships with various vendors, customers and other third parties. Further growth of our operations, our vendor base, our fulfillment process, information technology systems or our internal controls and procedures may not be adequate to support our operations. If we are unable to manage the growth of our organization effectively, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially and adversely affected.

 

If we are unable to obtain additional funding, we may not be able to grow our business operations.

 

We will require additional funds to implement our business strategy. We may issue additional equity securities to raise needed capital. We may be unable to secure such funding when needed in adequate amounts or on acceptable terms, if at all. Any additional equity financing may involve substantial dilution to our then existing stockholders. The inability to raise additional capital will restrict our ability to develop and conduct business operations.

 

We may be unable to accurately forecast net sales and appropriately plan our expenses in the future.

 

We may base our current and future expense levels on our operating forecasts and estimates of future net sales and gross margins. Net sales and operating results are difficult to forecast, because they generally depend on the volume, timing and type of the orders we receive, all of which are uncertain. Additionally, our business is affected by general economic and business conditions in the United States. A significant portion of our expenses is fixed, and as a result, we may be unable to adjust our spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected shortfall in net sales. Any failure to accurately predict net sales or gross margins could cause our operating results in any given quarter, or a series of quarters, to be lower than expected, which could cause the price of our Common Stock to decline substantially.

 

 40 

 

 

Competition from other brands may hinder development of our business.

 

Our competition includes the lifestyle brands of other professional athletes and celebrities. Those competing brands may attract consumers and sales away from our brand. We may not be able to grow our volumes or maintain our selling prices.

 

Increased competitor consolidations, marketplace competition, and competitive product and pricing pressures could impact our earnings, market share and volume growth. If, due to such pressure or other competitive threats, we are unable to sufficiently maintain or develop our sales, we may be unable to achieve our current revenue and financial targets. As a means of maintaining and expanding our sales revenues, we intend to introduce additional brands. We may not be successful in doing this, or it may take us longer than anticipated to achieve market acceptance of these new brands, if at all. Other companies may be more successful in this regard over the long term. Competition, particularly from companies with greater financial and marketing resources than ours, could have a material adverse effect on our existing markets, as well as on our ability to expand the market for our products.

 

We compete in an industry that is brand-conscious, so brand name recognition and acceptance of our products are critical to our success.

 

Our business is substantially dependent upon awareness and market acceptance of our products and brands by our target market: consumers who are fans of Leo Messi and other professional athletes or celebrities. In addition, our business depends on acceptance by ecommerce and social media sales and distribution platforms that have the potential to provide incremental sales growth. If we are not successful in the growth of our brand and product offerings or obtaining the rights to other professional athlete or celebrity brands, we may not achieve and maintain satisfactory levels of acceptance by ecommerce and social media platforms and retail consumers. In addition, we may not be able to effectively execute our marketing strategies in light of the various closures and cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any failure of our brands to maintain or increase acceptance or market penetration would likely have a material adverse effect on our revenues and financial results.

 

Our brand image may be adversely affected by any unfavorable reports about Leo Messi.

 

Our brand image is directly related to the reputation of Leo Messi and will be adversely affected by any unfavorable reports, news or information relating to Leo Messi, which would also have a material adverse effect on our financial results and the value of any investment in our Common Stock.

 

Our brand and image are keys to our business and any inability to maintain a positive brand image could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Our success depends on our ability to maintain a positive brand image for our existing products and effectively build up brand image for new products and brand extensions. We cannot predict whether our advertising, marketing and promotional programs will have the desired impact on our products’ branding and on consumer preferences. In addition, negative public relations and product quality issues, whether real or imagined, could tarnish our reputation and image of the affected brands and could cause consumers to choose other products. Our brand image can also be adversely affected by unfavorable reports, studies and articles or litigation involving our products or those of our competitors.

 

If the Messi License is terminated, expired or breached, we may be unable to continue our business.

 

We rely on the right to use Leo Messi’s image, likeness, trademarks and other intellectual property pursuant to the Messi License. This Messi License expires on December 31, 2024, without any automatic renewal. The Messi License can also be terminated by mutual consent of the parties; by a material breach of duty of one party; due to the liquidation or winding up of a party; by LMM’s request in case of MGO’s violation of certain terms, including, but not limited to a payment default in a minimum royalty payment due in any contract year, or in case MGO’s actions directly or indirectly damage good name, image or reputation of Leo Messi or LMM. There is no guarantee, and no assurance can be given that the Messi License will be renewed or extended past December 31, 2024, or that we will continue to be able to make the minimum royalty payments. If the Messi License is not renewed or is terminated, the minimum royalty payment clause could present a significant strain on our working capital and may cause us to breach the license agreement, which could lead the Messi License being terminated and us being unable to continue our business. For a more detailed description of the License Agreement see “Business—the Messi License.”

 

 41 

 

 

If we fail to protect our trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, we may be unable to successfully market our products and compete effectively.

 

We rely on a combination of trademark, copyrights and trade secrecy laws, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect our intellectual property rights. We also rely on the protection of intellectual property rights by our licensor, LMM. Failure to protect our intellectual property could harm our brand and our reputation, and adversely affect our ability to compete effectively. Further, enforcing or defending our intellectual property rights, including our trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources. We regard our intellectual property, particularly our trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, as crucial to our business and our success. However, the steps taken by us to protect these proprietary rights may not be adequate and may not prevent third parties from infringing or misappropriating our trademarks, copyrights trade secrets or similar proprietary rights. In addition, other parties may seek to assert infringement claims against us, and we may have to pursue litigation against other parties to assert our rights. Any such claim or litigation could be costly. Furthermore, any event that would jeopardize our proprietary rights or any claims of infringement by third parties could have a material adverse effect on our ability to market or sell our brands, profitably exploit our products or recoup our associated research and development costs.

 

If we lose any of our key management personnel, we may not be able to successfully manage our business or achieve our objectives.

 

Our future success depends in large part upon the leadership and performance of our management and consultants. The Company’s operations and business strategy are dependent upon the knowledge and business experience of our executive officers and our consultants. We have entered into employment agreements with Maximiliano Ojeda, our Chief Executive Officer, Virginia Hilfiger, our Chief Design Officer, and Julian Groves, our Chief Operating Officer. Nonetheless, if we were to lose the services of Mr. Ojeda, Ms. Hilfiger or Mr. Groves, our ability to manage our relationship with Leo Messi Management SL, create new products, as well as our ability to manage our operations, could be materially impaired. Although, we hope to retain the services of all of our officers, if an officer should choose to leave us for any reason before we have hired additional personnel, our operations may suffer. If we should lose their services before we are able to engage and retain qualified employees and consultants to execute our business plan, we may not be able to continue to develop our business as quickly or efficiently.

 

 42 

 

 

In addition, we must be able to attract, train, motivate and retain highly skilled and experienced employees in order to successfully develop our business. Qualified employees often are in great demand and may be unavailable in the time frame required to satisfy our business requirements. We may not be able to attract and retain sufficient numbers of qualified employees in the future. The loss of personnel or our inability to hire or retain sufficient personnel at competitive rates of compensation could impair our ability to successfully grow our business. If we lose the services of any of our consultants, we may not be able to replace them with similarly qualified personnel, which could harm our business.  

 

Our management team has no experience managing a public company, and regulatory compliance may divert its attention from the day-to-day management of our business.

 

The individuals who now constitute our management team have no experience managing a publicly-traded company and complying with the increasingly complex laws pertaining to public companies. Our management team may not successfully or efficiently manage our transition to being a public company subject to significant regulatory oversight and incremental reporting obligations under the federal securities laws. In particular, these new obligations will require substantial attention from our senior management and could divert their attention away from the day-to-day management of our business, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. 

 

We depend on the continued growth of ecommerce.

 

The business of selling products over the Internet is highly dynamic. If customers cease to find our website experience easy to use and offering good value, or otherwise lose interest in shopping in this manner, we may not acquire new customers at rates consistent with historical or projected periods, and existing customers’ buying patterns and levels may be less than historical or projected rates and our business, financial condition and operating results may suffer.

 

If we fail to acquire new customers, we may not be able to increase net sales or achieve profitability.

 

We have invested in marketing and branding related to customer acquisition and expect to continue to do so. We must continue to acquire customers in order to increase net sales and achieve profitability. In order to expand our customer base, we must appeal to and acquire customers who have historically used other means of commerce to purchase products and may prefer alternatives to our offerings, other retailers’ websites or the websites of our competitors. We cannot assure you that the net sales from new customers we acquire will ultimately exceed the cost of acquiring those customers. If consumers do not perceive the products we offer to be of high value and quality, we may not be able to acquire new customers. If we are unable to acquire new customers who purchase products in numbers sufficient to grow our business, the net sales we generate may decrease, and our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially and adversely affected.

 

We use social networking sites, such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, online services, search engines, affiliate marketing websites, directories and other social media websites and ecommerce businesses to advertise, market and direct potential customers to our site. As ecommerce and social networking continue to rapidly evolve, we must continue to use ecommerce and social media channels that are used by our current and prospective customers and cost-effectively drive traffic to our website. We believe that failure to utilize these channels as sources of traffic to our site to generate new customers would adversely affect our financial condition.

  

Our reliance on logistics service providers, distributors, ecommerce and social media platforms, retailers and brokers could affect our ability to efficiently and profitably promote, sell, distribute and market our products, maintain our existing markets and expand our business into other geographic markets.

 

Our ability to maintain and expand our existing markets for our products, and to establish markets in new geographic distribution areas, is dependent on our ability to establish and maintain successful relationships with reliable logistics service providers, distributors, ecommerce and social media platforms, retailers and brokers strategically positioned to serve those areas. Most of our distributors, retailers and brokers promote, sell and distribute competing products, and our products may represent a small portion of their businesses. The success of our distribution network depends on the performance of the logistics service providers, distributors, ecommerce and social media platforms, retailers and brokers in our network. There is a risk they may not adequately perform their functions within the network by, without limitation, failing to distribute to sufficient retailers or positioning our products in localities that may not be receptive to our product. Our ability to incentivize and motivate distributors to manage and sell our products is affected by competition from other companies who have greater resources than we do. To the extent that our distributors, retailers and brokers are distracted from selling our products or do not employ sufficient efforts in managing and selling our products, our sales and results of operations could be adversely affected. Furthermore, such third parties’ financial position or market share may deteriorate, which could adversely affect our distribution, marketing and sales activities.

 

 43 

 

 

We will be dependent on our suppliers and do not have supply agreements with our suppliers, events adversely affecting our suppliers, manufacturers and contractors would adversely affect us.

 

If we experience significant increased sales and since we do not have supply agreements to ensure our requirements, there can be no assurance that additional products will be available when required or on terms that are favorable to us, or that a supplier would allocate sufficient products to us in order to meet our requirements or fill our orders in a timely manner which could lead to delays to our customers, which could hurt our relationships with our customers, result in negative publicity, damage our brand and adversely affect our business, prospects and operating results.

 

We intend to maintain a full supply chain for the provision of our products. Suppliers, manufacturers, service providers and contractors may elect, at any time, to decline or withdraw services necessary for our operations. Loss of these suppliers, manufacturers, service providers and contractors may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In addition, any significant interruption, negative change in the availability or economics of the supply chain or increase in the prices for the production of our products provided by any such third-party suppliers, manufacturers, service providers and contractors could materially impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Any inability to secure required supplies or to do so on appropriate terms could have a materially adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. 

 

Our sales may be adversely affected if we fail to respond to changes in consumer preferences in a timely manner or are not successful in expanding our product offerings.

 

Our financial performance depends on our ability to identify, originate and define retail product trends, as well as to anticipate, gauge and react to changing consumer preferences in a timely manner. Our products must appeal to a broad audience whose preferences cannot be predicted with certainty and are subject to change. Our business fluctuates according to changes in consumer preferences dictated in part by fashion trends, perceived product value and seasonal variations.

 

We may broaden our product offerings in the future. We continue to explore additional categories which may be accepted by our target customers. If we offer new products or categories that are not accepted by our customers, our sales may fall short of expectations, our brand and reputation could be adversely affected and we may incur expenses that are not offset by sales. If we expand into new categories, consumer demands may be different, and there is no assurance that we will be successful in these new categories. We may make substantial investments in such new categories in anticipation of future net sales. If the launch of a new category requires investments greater than we expect, if we are unable to attract vendors that produce sufficient high quality, value-oriented products or if the sales generated from a new category grow more slowly or produce lower gross margins than we expect, our results of operations could be adversely impacted.

 

Expansion of our product lines may also strain our management and operational resources, specifically the need to hire and manage additional merchandise buyers to source these new products. We may also face greater competition in specific categories from Internet sites or retailers that are more focused on such categories. It may be difficult to differentiate our offering from other competitors as we offer additional product categories, and our customers may have additional considerations in deciding whether or not to purchase these additional product categories. In addition, the relative profitability, if any, of new product lines may be lower than what we have experienced historically, and we may not generate sufficient net sales from new product initiatives to recoup our investments in them. If any of these were to occur, it could damage our reputation, limit our growth and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

 44 

 

 

Uncertainties in economic conditions and their impact on consumer spending patterns could adversely impact our operating results.

 

Our performance is subject to economic conditions and their impact on levels of consumer spending. Some of the factors adversely affecting consumer spending include levels of unemployment, consumer debt levels, changes in net worth based on market changes and uncertainty, home foreclosures and changes in home values, fluctuating interest rates, credit availability, government actions, fluctuating fuel and other energy costs, fluctuating commodity prices and general uncertainty regarding the overall future economic environment. Consumer purchases of discretionary items, including our merchandise, generally decline during periods when disposable income is adversely affected or there is economic uncertainty. Adverse economic changes in any of the regions in which we sell our products could reduce consumer confidence and could negatively affect net sales and have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

 

Failure to continue to provide our customers with merchandise from vendors will harm our business.

 

Our net sales depend, in part, on our ability to continue to source merchandise in sufficient quantities at competitive prices from vendors. Offering a variety of styles, categories and products at affordable price points is important to our ability to acquire new customers and to keep our existing customers engaged and purchasing products. Growth in the number of our customers, as well as increased competition, may make it difficult to source additional brands and styles in sufficient quantities and on acceptable terms to meet the demand of our customers.

 

We have no contractual assurances of continued supply, pricing or access to new products, and vendors could change the terms upon which they sell to us or discontinue selling to us for future sales at any time. If we are not able to effectively promote our brand, we may lose customers to our competitors. Even if we identify new vendors, we may not be able to purchase desired merchandise in sufficient quantities on terms acceptable to us in the future, and products from alternative sources, if any, may be of a lesser quality or more expensive than those from existing vendors. An inability to purchase suitable merchandise on acceptable terms or to source new vendors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

Failure of our vendors to supply high quality and compliant merchandise in a timely manner may damage our reputation and brand and harm our business.

 

We depend on our vendors to supply high quality merchandise in a timely manner. The failure of these vendors to supply merchandise which meets our quality standards or the quality standards of our customers could damage our reputation and harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

Our vendors are subject to various risks, including raw material costs, inflation, labor disputes, union organizing activities, boycotts, financial liquidity, product merchantability, safety issues, inclement weather, natural disasters, disruptions in exports, trade restrictions, trade disruptions, currency fluctuations and general economic and political conditions that could limit the ability of our vendors to provide us with high quality merchandise on a timely basis and at prices and payment terms that are commercially acceptable. For these or other reasons, one or more of our vendors might not adhere to our vendor terms and conditions or their applicable contract or might stop providing us with high quality merchandise. If there are any deficiencies in the products our vendors have provided to us, we might not identify such deficiencies before products ship to our customers.

 

In addition, our vendors may have difficulty adjusting to our changing demands and growing business. Failure of our vendors to provide us with quality merchandise that complies with all applicable laws, including product safety regulations and legislation in a timely and effective manner could damage our reputation and brand. Further, any merchandise could become subject to a recall, regulatory action or legal claim, which could result in increased legal expenses as well as damage to our reputation and brand and harm to our business. We cannot predict whether any of the countries in which our merchandise currently is manufactured or may be manufactured in the future will be subject to additional trade restrictions imposed by the United States and other foreign governments, including the likelihood, type or effect of any such restrictions. Such developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

We purchase our merchandise from numerous domestic and international manufacturers. Failure of our vendors to comply with applicable laws and regulations and contractual requirements could lead to litigation against us, resulting in increased legal expenses and costs.

 

 45 

 

 

Our products for children may have safety concerns and may expose us to product liability claims.

 

We sell children apparel, and these products are often subject to enhanced safety concerns and additional scrutiny and regulation. Product safety concerns may require us to voluntarily remove selected products from our inventory. Such recalls and voluntary removal of products can result in, among other things, lost sales, diverted resources, potential harm to our reputation and increased customer service costs and legal expenses, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

Some of the products we sell may expose us to product liability claims and litigation or regulatory action relating to personal injury, death or environmental or property damage. While it is our intent to secure appropriate insurance coverage to protect us from possible product liability claims, litigation or regulatory actions, we currently do not maintain liability insurance at this time, which could result in potentially costly legal liabilities for our Company, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

 

If we do not successfully optimize and manage our fulfillment processes, our business, financial condition and operating results could be harmed.

 

If we do not optimize and manage our fulfillment processes successfully and efficiently, it could result in excess or insufficient fulfillment, an increase in costs or impairment charges or harm our business in other ways. If we do not have sufficient fulfillment capacity or experience a problem fulfilling orders in a timely manner, our customers may experience delays in receiving their purchases, which could harm our reputation and our relationship with our customers.

 

If we add new products or categories with different fulfillment requirements or change the mix in products that we sell, our fulfillment will become increasingly complex. Failure to successfully address such challenges in a cost-effective and timely manner could impair our ability to timely deliver our customers’ purchases and could harm our reputation and ultimately, our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

If we grow faster than we anticipate, we may exceed our fulfillment center’s capacity, we may experience problems fulfilling orders in a timely manner or our customers may experience delays in receiving their purchases, which could harm our reputation and our relationship with our customers, and we would need to increase our capital expenditures more than anticipated.

 

We are subject to payment-related risks.

 

We accept payments using a variety of methods, including credit card, debit card, PayPal, gift cards and interest-free payments through Klarna. For certain payment methods, including credit and debit cards, we pay interchange and other fees, which may increase over time and raise our operating costs and lower profitability. We are also subject to payment card association operating rules and certification requirements, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and rules governing electronic funds transfers, which could change or be reinterpreted to make it difficult or impossible for us to comply. If we fail to comply with the rules or requirements of any provider of a payment method we accept, among other things, we may be subject to fines or higher transaction fees and may lose, or face restrictions placed upon, our ability to accept credit and debit card payments from consumers or facilitate other types of online payments. If any of these events were to occur, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

 

We also may incur significant losses from fraud. We may incur losses from claims that the consumer did not authorize the purchase, from merchant fraud, from erroneous transmissions and from consumers who have closed bank accounts or have insufficient funds in them to satisfy payments. In addition to the direct costs of such losses, if they are related to credit card transactions and become excessive, they could potentially result in our losing the right to accept credit cards for payment. In addition, under current credit card practices, we are liable for fraudulent credit card transactions because we do not obtain a cardholder’s signature. We use a third-party fraud specialist to monitor our credit transactions. Our failure to adequately control fraudulent transactions could damage our reputation and brand and result in litigation or regulatory action, causing an increase in legal expenses and fees and substantially harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

 46 

 

 

Government regulation of the Internet and e-commerce is evolving, and unfavorable changes or failure by us to comply with these regulations could substantially harm our business and results of operations.

 

We are subject to general business regulations and laws as well as regulations and laws specifically governing the Internet and e-commerce. Existing and future regulations and laws could impede the growth of the Internet, ecommerce or mobile commerce. These regulations and laws may involve taxes, tariffs, privacy and data security, anti-spam, content protection, electronic contracts and communications, consumer protection and gift cards. We cannot guarantee that our practices have complied, comply or will comply fully with all such laws and regulations. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with any of these laws or regulations could result in damage to our reputation, a loss in business and proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others. Any such proceeding or action could hurt our reputation, force us to spend significant amounts in defense of these proceedings, distract our management, increase our costs of doing business, decrease the use of our site by consumers and vendors and may result in the imposition of monetary liability. We may also be contractually liable to indemnify and hold harmless third parties from the costs or consequences of non-compliance with any such laws or regulations.

 

Failure to comply with laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection, or the expansion of current or the enactment of new laws or regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection, could adversely affect our business and our financial condition.

 

A variety of laws and regulations govern the collection, use, retention, sharing and security of consumer data. Laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection are evolving and subject to potentially differing interpretations. We strive to comply with all applicable laws, regulations and other legal obligations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection, including those relating to the use of data for marketing purposes. It is possible, however, that these requirements may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another or may conflict with other rules or our practices. We cannot guarantee that our practices have complied or will comply fully with all such laws, regulations, requirements and obligations. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with any privacy or consumer protection-related laws, regulations, industry self-regulatory principles, industry standards or codes could adversely affect our reputations, brand and business, and may result in claims, proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others or other liabilities. Any such claim, proceeding or action could hurt our reputation, brand and business, force us to incur significant expenses in defense of such proceedings, distract our management, increase our costs of doing business, result in a loss of customers and vendors and may result in the imposition of monetary liability. We may also be contractually liable to indemnify and hold harmless third parties from the costs or consequences of non-compliance with any laws, regulations or other legal obligations relating to privacy or consumer protection or any inadvertent or unauthorized use or disclosure of data that we store or handle as part of operating our business.

 

Our failure or the failure of third-party service providers to protect our site, networks and systems against security breaches, or otherwise to protect our confidential information, could damage our reputation and brand and substantially harm our business and operating results.

 

We collect, maintain, transmit and store data about our customers, vendors and others, including credit card information and personally identifiable information, as well as other confidential and proprietary information. We also employ third-party service providers that store, process and transmit proprietary, personal and confidential information on our behalf. We rely on encryption and authentication technology licensed from third parties in an effort to securely transmit confidential and sensitive information, including credit card numbers. Advances in computer capabilities, new technological discoveries or other developments may result in the whole or partial failure of this technology to protect transaction data or other confidential and sensitive information from being breached or compromised. More generally, we take steps to protect the security, integrity and confidentiality of the information we collect, store or transmit, but there is no guarantee that inadvertent or unauthorized use or disclosure will not occur or that third parties will not gain unauthorized access to this information despite our efforts. Our security measures, and those of our third-party service providers, may not detect or prevent all attempts to hack our systems, denial-of-service attacks, viruses, malicious software, break-ins, phishing attacks, social engineering, security breaches or other attacks and similar disruptions that may jeopardize the security of information. We and our service providers may not have the resources or technical sophistication to anticipate or prevent all types of attacks, and techniques used to obtain unauthorized access or sabotage systems change frequently and may not be known until launched against us or our third-party service providers. In addition, security breaches can also occur as a result of non-technical issues, including intentional or inadvertent breaches by our employees or by persons with whom we have commercial relationships.

 

 47 

 

 

Any compromise or breach of our security measures, or those of our third-party service providers, could violate applicable privacy, data security and other laws, and cause significant legal and financial exposure, adverse publicity and a loss of confidence in our security measures, which could have an adverse and material effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. Although we maintain privacy, data breach and network security liability insurance, we cannot be certain that our coverage will be adequate for liabilities actually incurred or that insurance will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all. We may need to devote significant resources to protect against security breaches or to address problems caused by breaches, diverting resources from the growth and expansion of our business.

 

Breaches of our online commerce security could occur and could have an adverse effect on our reputation

 

A significant barrier to online commerce and communications is the secure transmission of confidential information over public networks. There can be no assurance that advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries in the field of cryptography and cybersecurity, or other events or developments will not result in a compromise or breach of the technology used by the Company to protect customer transaction data. If any such compromise of the Company’s security were to occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our reputation and, therefore, on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, a party who is able to circumvent our security measures could misappropriate proprietary information or cause interruptions in the Company’s operations. We may be required to expend significant capital and other resources to protect against such security breaches or to alleviate problems caused by such breaches. Concerns over the security of transactions conducted on the Internet and other online services and the privacy of users may also inhibit the growth of the Internet and other online services generally, and the Web in particular, especially as a means of conducting commercial transactions. To the extent that activities of the Company involve the storage and transmission of proprietary information, security breaches could damage our reputation and expose the Company to a risk of loss or litigation and possible liability. There can be no assurance our security measures will prevent security breaches or that failure to prevent such security breaches will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition

 

We may incur material losses and costs as a result of manufacturer’s product defects, warranty claims or product liability actions that may be brought against us.

 

We face an inherent business risk of exposure to product liability in the event that products that we sell fail to perform as expected or failure results in bodily injury or property damage which could cause us to lose revenues, incur increased costs associated with customer support, experience delays increased returns or discounts, and damage our reputation, all of which could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations. If any of the products we sell are or are alleged to be defective, we may be required to participate in a recall involving such products.

 

Our ability to raise capital in the future may be limited, and our failure to raise capital when needed could prevent us from growing.

 

In the future, we could be required to raise capital through public or private financing or other arrangements. Such financing may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all, and our failure to raise capital when needed could harm our business. If we sell any such securities in subsequent transactions, investors may be materially diluted. Debt financing, if available, may involve restrictive covenants and could reduce our operational flexibility or profitability, such as covenants that could limit our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, liens or other encumbrances, make dividends or other distributions to holders of our capital stock, and sell or transfer assets, as well as certain financial covenants. If we cannot raise funds on acceptable terms, we may not be able to grow our business or respond to competitive pressures.

 

The price of our Common Stock may fluctuate or may decline regardless of our operating performance, resulting in substantial losses for investors.

 

The market price of our Common Stock may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including: actual or anticipated fluctuations in our results of operations; the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in these projections or our failure to meet these projections; failure of securities analysts to initiate or maintain coverage of our Company, changes in financial estimates or ratings by any securities analysts who follow our Company or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors; announcements by us or our competitors of significant innovations, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, operating results or capital commitments; changes in operating performance and stock market valuations of other companies in our industry; price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market, including as a result of trends in the economy as a whole; changes in our Board or management; sales of large blocks of our Common Stock, including sales by our executive officers, directors and significant stockholders; lawsuits threatened or filed against us; changes in laws or regulations applicable to our business; the expiration of lock-up agreements; changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of debt or equity securities; short sales, hedging and other derivative transactions involving our capital stock; general economic and geopolitical conditions, including the current or anticipated impact of military conflict and related sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other countries due to Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine; and the other factors described in this section of the prospectus captioned “Risk Factors.”

 

 48 

 

 

Geopolitical conditions, including trade disputes and direct or indirect acts of war or terrorism, could have an adverse effect on our operations and financial results.

 

Our operations could be disrupted by geopolitical conditions, trade disputes, international boycotts and sanctions, political and social instability, acts of war, terrorist activity or other similar events. From time to time, we could have a large number of customers located in a particular geographic region. Decreased demand from a discrete event impacting a region in which we have a concentrated exposure could negatively impact our results of operations.

 

Recently, Russia initiated significant military action against Ukraine. In response, the U.S. and certain other countries imposed significant sanctions and export controls against Russia, Belarus and certain individuals and entities connected to Russian or Belarusian political, business, and financial organizations, and the U.S. and certain other countries could impose further sanctions, trade restrictions, and other retaliatory actions should the conflict continue or worsen. It is not possible to predict the broader consequences of the conflict, including related geopolitical tensions, and the measures and retaliatory actions taken by the U.S. and other countries in respect thereof as well as any counter measures or retaliatory actions by Russia or Belarus in response, including, for example, potential cyberattacks or the disruption of energy exports, is likely to cause regional instability, geopolitical shifts, and could materially adversely affect global trade, currency exchange rates, regional economies and the global economy. The situation remains uncertain, and while it is difficult to predict the impact of any of the foregoing, the conflict and actions taken in response to the conflict could increase our costs, disrupt our supply chain, reduce our sales and earnings, impair our ability to raise additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all, or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

We are exposed to foreign currency exchange risk.

 

If the U.S. dollar weakens against foreign currencies, the translation of these foreign-currency-denominated transactions will result in increased net revenues and operating expenses. Similarly, our net revenues and operating expenses will decrease if the U.S. dollar strengthens against foreign currencies. As we expand our international operations, our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations will become more pronounced. We may enter into short-term currency forward contracts to offset the foreign exchange gains and losses generated by the re-measurement of certain assets and liabilities recorded in non-functional currencies. The use of such hedging activities may not offset more than a portion of the adverse financial impact resulting from unfavorable movements in foreign exchange rates.

 

Climate change may negatively affect our business.

 

There is growing concern that a gradual increase in global average temperatures may cause an adverse change in weather patterns around the globe resulting in an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Increased frequency or duration of extreme weather conditions may disrupt the operation of our supply chain or impact demand for our products. In addition, the increasing concern over climate change may result in more regional, federal and global legal and regulatory requirements and could result in increased production and transportation costs. As a result, the effects of climate change could have a long-term adverse impact on our business and results of operations.

 

 49 

 

 

Risks Associated with our Common Stock and Company

 

We may not be able to maintain a listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq.

 

If our Common Stock is listed on Nasdaq, we must meet certain financial and liquidity criteria to maintain such listing. If we fail to meet any of Nasdaq’s continued listing standards or we violate Nasdaq listing requirements, our Common Stock may be delisted. In addition, our board of directors may determine that the cost of maintaining our listing on a national securities exchange outweighs the benefits of such listing. A delisting of our Common Stock from Nasdaq may materially impair our stockholders’ ability to buy and sell our Common Stock and could have an adverse effect on the market price of, and the efficiency of the trading market for, our Common Stock. The delisting of our Common Stock could significantly impair our ability to raise capital and the value of your investment.

 

We have broad discretion in how we use the proceeds of this offering and may not use these proceeds effectively, which could affect our results of operations.

 

We will have considerable discretion in the application of the net proceeds of this offering. We currently intend to use the net proceeds we receive from this offering primarily for capital expenditures and for general corporate purposes, including working capital, sales and marketing activities, research and development, and general and administrative matters, although we do not currently have any specific or preliminary plans with respect to the use of proceeds for such purposes. As a result, investors will be relying upon management’s judgment with only limited information about our specific intentions for the use of the net proceeds of this offering. We may use the net proceeds for purposes that do not yield a significant return or any return at all for our stockholders. In addition, pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value. Please see “Use of Proceeds” below for more information.

 

Because the initial public offering price of our Common Stock will be substantially higher than the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our outstanding Common Stock following this offering, new investors will experience immediate and substantial dilution. 

 

The initial public offering price of our Common Stock will be substantially higher than the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock immediately following this offering, based on the total value of our tangible assets less our total liabilities. Therefore, if you purchase shares of our Common Stock in this offering, you will experience immediate dilution of $4.61 per share, the difference between the price per share you pay for our Common Stock and its pro forma net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2022, after giving effect to the issuance of shares of our Common Stock in this offering and assuming an initial public offering price of $5.00 per share. Furthermore, if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares, if outstanding options and warrants are exercised, if we issue awards to our employees under our equity incentive plans, or if we otherwise issue additional shares of our Common Stock, you could experience further dilution. See “Dilution” for more information. 

 

Because we do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our shares of Common Stock, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless they sell them.

 

We intend to retain any future earnings to finance the development and expansion of our business. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. Unless we pay dividends, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless they sell them at a price higher than that which they initially paid for such shares.

 

There has been no prior market for our Common Stock. An active market may not develop or be sustainable.

 

There has been no public market for our Common Stock prior to this offering. An active or liquid market in our Common Stock may not develop or, if it does develop, it may not be sustainable. If an active trading market does not develop or is not sustained, it may be difficult for investors to sell shares of our Common Stock at a price that is attractive or at all. In such a case, you may find that you are unable to achieve any benefit from your investment or liquidate your shares.

 

The offering price of the primary offering and resale offering could differ.

 

The offering price of our Common Stock in the primary offering (the initial public offering) has been determined by negotiations between the Company and the underwriters based upon several factors, including prevailing market conditions, our historical performance, estimates of our business potential and earnings prospects, and the market valuations of similar companies. The offering price in the primary offering bears no relationship to our assets, earnings or book value, or any other objective standard of value. Additionally, the estimated offering price in the primary offering of $5 per share is substantially higher than the prices at which the selling stockholders acquired their shares ($1.00 per share), and we recently sold stock at prices ($1.00 per share) substantially less than the primary offering price. Our recent share issuances at prices substantially less than the primary offering price occurred while we were a non-public company, and the shares we issued were subject to transfer restrictions imposed by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and by lock-up restrictions, whereas shares issued in the primary offering will be issued after we are a public company and will be issued without restriction.

 

The selling stockholders may sell the resale shares at prevailing market prices or privately negotiated prices after close of the primary offering and listing of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Therefore, the offering prices of our Common Stock in the primary offering and the resale offering could differ. As a result, purchasers in the resale offering could pay more or less than the offering price in the primary offering.

 

The resale by the selling stockholders may cause the market price of our Common Stock to decline.

 

The resale of shares of our Common Stock by the selling stockholders in the resale offering could result in resales of our Common Stock by our other shareholders concerned about selling volume. In addition, the resale by the selling stockholders after expiration of the lock-up period could have the effect of depressing the market price for our Common Stock.

 

If securities industry analysts do not publish research reports on us, or publish unfavorable reports on us, then the market price and market trading volume of our Common Stock could be negatively affected.

 

Any trading market for our Common Stock may be influenced in part by any research reports that securities industry analysts publish about us. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities industry analysts. If no securities industry analysts commence coverage of us, the market price and market trading volume of our Common Stock could be negatively affected. In the event we are covered by analysts, and one or more of such analysts downgrade our securities, or otherwise reports on us unfavorably, or discontinues coverage of us, the market price and market trading volume of our Common Stock could be negatively affected.

 

The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources, divert management’s attention and affect our ability to attract and retain additional executive management and qualified board members.

 

 50 

 

 

As a public company, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and other applicable securities rules and regulations. Compliance with these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult, time-consuming or costly and increase demand on our systems and resources. The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and results of operations. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. In order to maintain and, if required, improve our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting to meet this standard, significant resources and management oversight may be required. As a result, management’s attention may be diverted from other business concerns, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations. We will need to hire additional employees or engage outside consultants to comply with these requirements, which will increase our costs and expenses.

  

As a result of becoming a public company, we will be obligated to develop and maintain proper and effective internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to do so in a timely manner, or our internal control over financial reporting is not determined to be effective, this may adversely affect investor confidence in our company and, as a result, the value of our Common Stock.

 

We will be required, pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to furnish a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for the first fiscal year beginning after the effective date of this offering. This assessment will need to include disclosure of any material weaknesses identified by our management in our internal control over financial reporting, as well as a statement that our independent registered public accounting firm has issued an opinion on our internal control over financial reporting, provided that our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until our first annual report required to be filed with the SEC following the date we are deemed to be an “accelerated filer” or a “large accelerated filer,” each as defined in the Exchange Act. We will be required to disclose changes made in our internal control and procedures on a quarterly basis. To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we may need to undertake various actions, such as implementing new internal controls and procedures and hiring accounting or internal audit staff.

 

In future periods, if during the evaluation and testing process, we identify any other material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, we will be unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective. If we are unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which would cause the price of our Common Stock to decline, and we may be subject to investigation or sanctions by the SEC.

 

Our Certificate of Incorporation will allow for our Board of Directors to create a new series of Preferred Stock without further approval by our stockholders, which could adversely affect the rights of the holders of our Common Stock.

 

Our Board of Directors will have the authority to fix and determine the relative rights and preferences of Preferred Stock. Our Board also will have the authority to issue Preferred Stock without further stockholder approval. As a result, our Board could authorize the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock that would grant to such holders (i) the preferred right to our assets upon liquidation, (ii) the right to receive dividend payments before dividends are distributed to the holders of Common Stock and (iii) the right to the redemption of the shares, together with a premium, prior to the redemption of our Common Stock. In addition, our Board could authorize the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock that has greater voting power than our Common Stock or that is convertible into our Common Stock, which could decrease the relative voting power of our Common Stock or result in dilution to our existing holders of Common Stock.

 

Any of the actions described in the preceding paragraph could significantly adversely affect the investment made by holders of our Common Stock. Holders of Common Stock could potentially not receive dividends that they might otherwise have received. In addition, holders of our Common Stock could receive less proceeds in connection with any future sale of the Company, whether in liquidation or on any other basis. 

 

Our officers and directors own a substantial amount of our Common Stock and, therefore, exercise significant control over our corporate governance and affairs which may result in their taking actions with which other stockholders do not agree.

 

 51 

 

 

Our executive officers and directors will control approximately 59% of our outstanding Common Stock after this offering. These stockholders, if they act together, may be able to exercise substantial influence over the outcome of all corporate actions requiring approval of our stockholders, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions, which may result in corporate action with which other stockholders do not agree. This concentration of ownership may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control which might be in other stockholders’ best interest but which might negatively affect the market price of our Common Stock.

 

Existing stockholders may sell significant quantities of Common Stock.

 

The existing stockholders will own approximately 87% of our Common Stock following the successful completion of this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase 225,000 additional shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Notwithstanding that officers and directors and more than 98% of our current stockholders will be locked up for a period of six (6) to twelve (12) months from the date our Common Stock is trading on Nasdaq, they may have acquired their shares at a lower price than that of this offering. Accordingly, they may be incentivized to sell all or part of their holdings as soon as any applicable transfer restrictions have ended and such sales could have a negative impact on the market price of our securities.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” under the JOBS Act, and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies will make our Common Stock less attractive to investors.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” and “smaller reporting companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We are choosing to take advantage of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards.

 

We will remain an “emerging growth company” until the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, although we will lose that status sooner if our revenues exceed $1.07 billion, if we issue more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt in a three year period, or if the market value of our Common Stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

 

We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies and will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as (i) the market value of our Common Stock held by non-affiliates is equal to or less than $250 million as of the last business day of the most recently completed second fiscal quarter, and (ii) our annual revenues is equal to or less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our Common Stock held by non-affiliates is equal to or less than $700 million as of the last business day of the most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

 

We cannot predict if investors will find our Common Stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our Common Stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Common Stock and our stock price may be more volatile. In addition, taking advantage of reduced disclosure obligations may make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible. If investors are unable to compare our business with other companies in our industry, we may not be able to raise additional capital as and when we need it, which may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. 

 

 52 

 

 

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE RISKS, BUSINESSES ARE OFTEN SUBJECT TO RISKS NOT FORESEEN OR FULLY APPRECIATED BY MANAGEMENT. IN REVIEWING THIS FILING, POTENTIAL INVESTORS SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT OTHER POSSIBLE RISKS MAY ADVERSELY IMPACT THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND THE VALUE OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES.

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements reflect our management’s current view about future events. When used in this prospectus, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward-looking statements. Such statements, include, but are not limited to, statements contained in this prospectus relating to our business strategy, our future operating results and liquidity and capital resources outlook. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward–looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees of assurance of future performance. We caution you therefore against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation:

 

  · Our ability to effectively operate our business segments;

 

  · Our ability to manage our research, development, expansion, growth and operating expenses;

 

  · Our ability to evaluate and measure our business, prospects and performance metrics;

 

  · Our ability to compete, directly and indirectly, and succeed in a highly competitive and evolving industry;

 

  · Our ability to respond and adapt to changes in technology and customer behavior;

 

  · Our ability to protect our intellectual property and to develop, maintain and enhance a strong brand; and

 

  · Other factors (including the risks contained in the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors”) relating to our industry, our operations and results of operations.

 

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned.

 

Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.

 

 53 

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS 

 

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds of approximately $5,857,000 (or approximately $6,892,000 if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full) from the sale of the Common Stock offered by us in this offering, based on public offering price of $5.00 per share after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We currently expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for the following purposes:

 

  · 65% of the net proceeds (approximately $3.8 million) for team expansion and marketing; and

 

  · 35% of the net proceeds (approximately $2.1 million) for general and administrative corporate purposes, including working capital and capital expenditures.

 

While we intend on acquiring other apparel companies to add to our portfolio of brands, we currently have not yet identified or begun active discussions or negotiations with any acquisition target.

 

While we expect to use the net proceeds for the purposes described above, the timing and amount of our actual expenditures will be based on many factors, including cash flows from operations, the anticipated growth of our business and the general economic conditions. We will retain broad discretion in the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering and could utilize the proceeds in ways that do not necessarily improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our Common Stock.

 

The foregoing information is an estimate based on our current business plan. We may find it necessary or advisable to re-allocate portions of the net proceeds reserved for one category to another, and we will have broad discretion in doing so. Pending these uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds of this offering in a money market or other interest-bearing account. See “Risk Factors— Risks Associated with our Common Stock and the Company — We have broad discretion in how we use the proceeds of this offering and may not use these proceeds effectively.”

 

DIVIDEND POLICY 

 

We have never declared any cash dividends since inception and we do not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. Instead, we anticipate that all of our earnings will be used to provide working capital, to support our operations, and to finance the growth and development of our business. The payment of dividends is within the discretion of the Board and will depend on our earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, prospects, applicable Delaware law, which provides that dividends are only payable out of surplus or current net profits, and other factors our Board might deem relevant. There are no restrictions that currently limit our ability to pay dividends on our Common Stock other than those generally imposed by applicable state law. See also "Risk Factors—Risks Associated with our Common Stock and the Company — Because we do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our shares of Common Stock, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless they sell them.”

 

 54 

 

 

MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Prior to this offering, our Common Stock has not been listed on any stock exchange or quoted on any over-the-counter market or quotation system and there has been no public market for our Common Stock. We intend to apply to have our Common Stock listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MGOL,” which listing is a condition to this offering. There can be no assurance that our listing application will be approved. For more information see the section “Risk Factors.”

 

As of November 15, 2022, we have 11,689,230 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding held by 46 stockholders of record.

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table shows our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of September 30, 2022, as follows:

 

  · on an actual basis;

 

  · on a proforma basis; to give effect to the issuance of (i) 700,000 shares of our Common Stock in the Second Private Placement (ii) 30,000 shares of our Common Stock issued to Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP, our counsel; and (iii) 91,230 shares of our Common Stock issued to Mario Kranjac in connection with anti-dilution provision included in his engagement letter for legal services;

 

  · on a pro forma, as adjusted basis to give further effect to our issuance and sale of 1,500,000 shares of our Common Stock in this offering (assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option) at an assumed initial public offering price of $5.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds to us of $5,857,000, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable.

 

The pro forma information below is illustrative only and our capitalization following the completion of this offering is subject to adjustment based on the public offering price of our Common Stock and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. You should read the following table in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and related notes included in this prospectus.

 

    Actual as of
September 30, 2022
     
Pro Forma
    Pro forma,
as Adjusted(1)
 
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 20,586     $ 644,586     $ 6,521,586  
Long-term debt   $ -     $ 0     $ 0  
Total long-term debt   $ -     $ 0     $ 0  
Stockholders’ equity:                        
Common stock, $0.00001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, actual; 150,000,000 authorized, pro forma and pro forma, as adjusted; 10,868,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 11,689,230, proforma and 13,189,230, pro forma, as adjusted     109       117       132  
Additional paid-in capital     4,123,349       4,889,071       12,246,056  
Accumulated deficit     (5,072,751 )     (5,194,481 )     (5,194,481 )
Total MGO stockholders’ deficit     (949,293 )     (305,293 )     7,051,707  
Non-controlling interest     (289,102 )     (289,102 )     (289,102 )
Total stockholders' deficit     (1,238,395 )     (594,395 )     6,762,605  
Total capitalization   $ (1,238,395 )   $ (594,395 )   $ 6,762,605  

 

(1)Does not include (i) 700,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying warrants issued to investors in the Second Private Placement; (ii) 78,225 shares of our Common Stock underlying warrants issued to the Boustead Securities, LLC in its capacity as placement agent in the Initial Private Placement; (iii) 105,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying the warrants that will be issued to Boustead Securities, LLC in its capacity as representative in this initial public offering (or 120,750 shares if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option in full); (iv) 100,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying options to be issued to Maximiliano Ojeda, our CEO, upon the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq; (v) 100,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying options to be issued to Virginia Hilfiger, our Chief Design Officer, upon the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq; (vi) 100,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying options to be issued to Julian Groves, our Chief Operating Officer, upon the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq, (vii) 100,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying options to be issued to Matt Harward, our Chief Marketing Officer, upon the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq; and (viii) 40,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying an option granted to Martin Scott, our Chief Financial Officer.

 

 55 

 

 

DILUTION

 

If you invest in our Common Stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted immediately to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share of our Common Stock and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock immediately after this offering.

 

Our historical net tangible book value (deficit) as of September 30, 2022, was ($1,238,395). Our historical net tangible book value (deficit) is the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities. Our historical net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2022, was ($0.11). Historical net tangible book value per share represents historical net tangible book value (deficit) divided by the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of September 30, 2022.

 

After giving further effect to our issuance and sale of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $5.00 per share after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2022 would have been approximately $4,832,942, or approximately $0.39 per share. This represents an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value per share of $0.48 to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value per share of approximately $4.61 to new investors purchasing Common Stock in this offering. Dilution per share to new investors purchasing Common Stock in this offering is determined by subtracting as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering from the assumed initial public offering price per share paid by new investors.

 

The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share      $5.00 
Historical net tangible book value (deficit) per share as of September 30, 2022  $(0.09)     
Increase in as adjusted net tangible book value (deficit) per share as of September 30, 2022   .48      
As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering  $0.39      
Dilution per share to new investors purchasing shares in this offering       $(4.61)

 

If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase 225,000 additional shares of Common Stock in this offering in full at the assumed initial public offering price of $5.00 per share assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, the as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering would be $0.46 per share, and the dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value per share to new investors purchasing Common Stock in this offering would be $4.54 per share.

 

 56 

 

 

We may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities may result in further dilution to our stockholders.

 

The following table sets forth the total number of shares of Common Stock previously issued and sold to the existing stockholder, the total consideration paid for the foregoing and the average price per share of Common Stock paid, or to be paid, by the existing stockholder and by the new investors. The calculation below is based on the assumed initial public offering price of $5.00 per share before deducting the estimated underwriters’ commissions and offering expenses, in each case payable by us.

 

    Shares Purchased     Total Consideration     Per Share  
    Number     Percent     Amount     Percent        
Existing stockholders before this offering     11,689,230       88.6 %   $ 4,123,768       35 %   $ 0.35  
Investors participating in this offering     1,500,000       11.4 %   $ 7,500,000       65 %   $ 5.00  
Total     13,189,230       100.0 %   $ 11,623,768       100 %   $ 0.88  

 

The table above assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase 225,000 additional shares in this offering. If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full, the percentage of shares of our Common Stock held by existing stockholders would be reduced to 87.1% of the total number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding after this offering, and the percentage of shares of Common Stock held by new investors participating in the offering would be increased to 12.9% of the total number of shares outstanding after this offering.

 

 57 

 

 

 

 58 

 

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis summarize the significant factors affecting our operating results, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows of our company as of and for the periods presented below. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. The discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in or implied by forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this prospectus, particularly in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”   

 

Overview

 

Headquartered in Florida with remote employees and specialty contractors in London, New York and Latin America, the Company is a performance-driven lifestyle brand portfolio company focused on strategically leveraging the fame, celebrity power and global social media influence of world class athletes, entertainers and other cultural icons to create fresh, modern and compelling product and apparel brands aligned with and inspired by the values, personal styles and aspirations of our valued brand partners.

 

Not new to building successful global lifestyle brands, MGO Global’s accomplished leadership team encompasses decades of experience in fashion design, brand development and management, sourcing and manufacturing, licensing, IT protection, corporate finance, consumer engagement and experience, ecommerce and retail sales and marketing. Moreover, we believe the leadership team has led prolific brand development initiatives for fashion industry titans that have included Tommy Hilfiger, Fila, Burberry, J Brand, GUESS, Brooks Brothers and True Religion, among many others, collectively generating billions of dollars in retail sales across the globe over the past 30 years.

 

Anchored by the Company’s end-to-end, scalable brand development platform, coupled with the MGO leadership’s track records of success and industry relationships and expertise, in 2018 the Company signed a global licensing agreement with legendary pro soccer player Lionel Messi, also known as Leo Messi, to spearhead the creation of the “Messi Brand” – a premium line of functional and sporty casual wear, accessories and home décor that is inspired by the superstar’s persona and trend-setting fashion sense – both on and off the pitch. The resulting in-demand collections reflect designs focused on being effortless and accessible to all, much like that of Messi’s personal style.

 

While The Messi Brand represents the first and only asset in MGO’s portfolio, the Company’s business model is underpinned by its intent to strategically expand its collection of lifestyle brands through industry collaborations, licensing, acquisitions and organic brand development. However, we are not currently in active discussions with any third parties relating to potential collaborations, licensing or acquisitions to expand our brand portfolio. While it is our intention to pursue growth and expansion of our brand portfolio in the future, we currently are not negotiating or have any probable agreements to add additional assets to the Messi Brand in our portfolio at this time.

 

Guided by the Company’s expertise and fueled by its team’s passion to ultimately grow MGO Global into a major brand portfolio company and its brands into universally recognized symbols of excellence, MGO is committed to exceeding its partners’ and customers’ expectations by creating and delivering innovative, premium lifestyle clothing and products and earning lifetime fidelity to its brands through high touch customer engagement, service and attention.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company generated revenues of $880,340 and $694,584, respectively; reported net losses attributable to MGO stockholders of $906,326 and $1,423,786, respectively; and negative cash flow from operating activities of $769,822 and $401,579, respectively. As noted in our financial statements, as of December 31, 2021 we had an accumulated deficit of $3,213,690. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, we generated revenues of $336,103 and $557,641, respectively; reported net losses attributable to MGO stockholders of $1,859,061 and $375,303, respectively; and negative cash flow from operating activities of $1,178,005 and $175,411, respectively. As noted in our financial statements, as of September 30, 2022, we had an accumulated deficit of $5,072,751. There is substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern as a result of our historical recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations, as well as our dependence on private equity and financings. See “Risk Factors – We have a history of operating losses and may continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future.”

 

Company History

 

MGO Global Inc. was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on November 30, 2021 through its subsidiary, MGO LLC. MGO LLC designs, manufactures, licenses, distributes, advertises and sells a range of products under the soccer legend Lionel Messi (“Leo Messi”) brand, referred to as the “The Messi Brand.” The Messi Brand is a premium lifestyle brand focused on providing consumers with a line of apparel, accessories and home décor inspired by and reflective of Leo Messi’s persona and trend-setting fashion style and preferences. In December 2021, the Company entered into an equity Rollover Agreement by and among MGO LLC and each of the members of MGO LLC (other than a member holing a 12% equity interest). Under the Rollover Agreement, the participating members of MGO LLC rolled over all of their membership interests in exchange for 8,818,000,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. On the execution date of December 6, 2021, the stockholder’s equity was retroactively restated to reflect the Rollover Agreement. As a result, MGO LLC became an 88% owned subsidiary of the Company and the Company succeeded to the business of MGO Global Inc. as its sole line of business.

 

 59 

 

 

Recent Development

 

Impact of COVID-19

 

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. In January 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” This worldwide outbreak has resulted in the implementation of significant governmental measures, including lockdowns, closures, quarantines and travel bans intended to control the spread of the virus. Companies are also taking precautions, such as requiring employees to work remotely, imposing travel restrictions and temporarily closing businesses and facilities. These restrictions, and future prevention and mitigation measures, have had an adverse impact on global economic conditions and are likely to have an adverse impact on consumer confidence and spending, which could materially adversely affect the supply of, as well as the demand for, our products. Uncertainties regarding the economic impact of COVID-19 is likely to result in sustained market turmoil, which could also negatively impact our business, financial condition and cash flows.  

 

The impacts of the pandemic on us have included, and in the future could include:

 

  · volatility in demand for our products as a result of, among other things, the inability of customers to purchase our products due to financial hardship, unemployment, illness or out of fear of exposure to COVID-19, shifts in demand away from consumer discretionary products and reduced options for marketing and promotion of products or other restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

  · increased materials and procurement costs as a result of scarcity of and/or increased prices for commodities and raw materials, and periods of reduced manufacturing capacity at our suppliers in response to the pandemic;

 

  · increased sea and air freight shipping costs as a result of increased levels of demand, reduced capacity, scrutiny or embargoing of goods produced in infected areas, port closures and other transportation challenges;

 

  · closures or other restrictions that limit capacity at our distribution facilities and restrict our employees’ ability to perform necessary business functions, including operations necessary for the design, development, production, sale, marketing, delivery and support of our products; and

 

  · failure of our suppliers and other third parties on which we rely to meet their obligations to us in a timely manner or at all, as a result of their own financial or operational difficulties, including business failure or insolvency, the inability to access financing in the credit and capital markets at reasonable rates or at all, collectability of existing receivables.

 

We source our products from suppliers and manufacturers located in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Latvia, Mexico, Peru, Portugal and Sri Lanka. The impact of COVID-19 on these suppliers, or any of our other suppliers, co-manufacturers, distributors or transportation or logistics providers, may negatively affect the price and availability of our ingredients and/or packaging materials and impact our supply chain. If the disruptions caused by COVID-19 continue for an extended period of time, our ability to meet the demands of our customers may be materially impacted. To date, we have not experienced any reduction in the available supply of our products.

 

If we are forced to scale back hours of operation in response to the pandemic, we expect our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially adversely affected. If our operations or productivity continue to be impacted throughout the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and government-mandated closures, our business, financial condition and cash flows may negatively be impacted. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will further impact our business will depend on future developments and, given the uncertainty around the extent and timing of the potential future spread or mitigation and around the imposition or relaxation of protective measures, we cannot reasonably estimate the impact to our business at this time.

 

The extent of COVID-19’s effect on our operational and financial performance will depend on future developments, including the duration, spread and intensity of the outbreak, all of which are uncertain and difficult to predict considering the rapidly evolving landscape. As a result, it is not currently possible to ascertain the overall impact of COVID-19 on our business. However, if the pandemic continues for a prolonged period, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and adversely impact the trading price of our Common Stock.

 

Emerging Growth Company

 

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As a result, we are permitted to, and intend to, rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements. For so long as we are an emerging growth company, we will not be required to:

 

  · have an auditor report on our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

 

 60 

 

 

  · comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (i.e., an auditor discussion and analysis);

 

  · submit certain executive compensation matters to stockholder advisory votes, such as “say-on-pay” and “say-on-frequency;” and

 

  · disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation.

 

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period. Our financial statements may therefore not be comparable to those of companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards.

 

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering, (ii) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our total annual gross revenues are $1.07 billion or more, (ii) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which would occur if the market value of our Common Stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter or (iv) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt during the preceding three year period.

 

Principal Factors Affecting Our Financial Performance

 

Our operating results are primarily affected by the following factors:

 

  · Net Sales. Our net sales currently consist of revenues generated from sales of apparel, accessories and home décor items marketed under The Messi Brand to consumers largely through our online website, The Messi Store (found at www.themessistore.com), as well as some modest wholesale distribution through select retailers, and are a function of sales volumes, price (after reduction from wholesale discounts, when applicable) and product mix. The principal drivers of sales volumes of our products include:

 

  · the global popularity of soccer legend Leo Messi among his hundreds of millions of fans and social media followers;

  · our ability to successfully manage our contract manufacturing, supplier and third party logistics relationships and respond swiftly to any operational disruptions that could impact our ability to fulfill sales orders on a timely basis;

  · our ability to design and deliver new collections and limited-edition capsule collections each spring and fall that meet consumers’ changing needs and preferences while staying true to the design aesthetic and fundamental alignment with Leo Messi’s style and personal values;

  · acceptance of our product mix, including new product design styles;

  · potential changes in raw materials and finishing prices; and

  · potential changes in the price of raw materials and finishings due to changes in the U.S. dollar exchange rate against the local currencies of the countries in which our third-party manufacturers and suppliers operate.

 

  · Cost of Sales. Our cost of sales consists primarily of raw materials, particularly fabrics, manufacturing, finishing, labor costs, transportation and shipping costs. The principal factors that affect our cost of sales include:

 

  · raw material and finishing prices and changes in the price of raw materials;

  · sales volumes;

  · our product mix; and

  · our ability to streamline or create efficiencies in our production and distribution processes.

 

  · Operating Expenses. Our operating expenses consist principally of selling expenses, as well as distribution, ecommerce technologies, marketing and general administrative expenses.

 

  · Key Drivers of Profitability. The key drivers of our achieving and sustaining profitability include:

 

  · Our ability to respond to economic conditions impacting the global fashion industry. In periods of recession when the GDP declines in any or all of our markets, consumers may switch from high to lower cost products. In order to achieve and sustain profitability, we must continue to offer a product mix comprised of both high end and affordable items that appeal to the customer base we serve.  In periods of economic growth, consumers are more willing to purchase premium or higher-end branded products and our challenge in such periods is to offer to and encourage our customers – through marketing and other initiatives – to purchase our higher-end and higher margin products.

  · Our ability to generally pass-through increases in raw material prices to our customers. The prominent status of The Messi Brand should allow us to increase the prices of our products, at times with a lag, when raw material prices pressure our gross profit margins and positive operating results, although there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so in the future.

  · Our ability to understand and attend to shifting fashion trends and consumer preferences through innovation. We believe that increasing our sales volume is critical for achieving and sustaining profitability. By focusing our design and product development activities on tailoring our products to the preferences of consumers, we believe that we will continue to increase sales volumes and improve our operating results.

  · Our ability to achieve efficiencies and economies of scale. The ability to grow our sales volume while maintaining our current cost structure is essential in order to achieve profitable results. In order to increase our productivity, we need to efficiently use our contracted production and distribution facilities and control variable costs and expenses.  In addition, within fixed costs and expenses, we need to achieve economies of scale as we intend to continue increasing our sales volumes without significant increases in our resources.

 

Our operating results are generally not materially affected by seasonality.

 

 61 

 

 

Results of Operations

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30,2021

 

The following table provides certain selected financial information for the period presented:

 

    September
30,2022
    September
30,2021
    $ Change     % Change  
Revenue, net   $ 336,103     $ 557,641     $ (221,538 )     -39.73 %
Cost of Goods Sold     77,558       296,427       (218,869 )     -73.84 %
Gross profit     258,545       261,214       (2,669 )     -1.02 %
Gross profit percentage     76.92 %     46.84 %     30.08 %        
Total operating expenses     2,228,005       643,774       1,584,231       246.08 %
Operating loss     (1,969,460 )     (382,560 )     (1,586,900 )     -414.81 %
Total other (income) expenses     111,732       (7,258 )     118,990       1639.43 %
Net loss   $ (2,081,192 )   $ (375,303 )   $ (1,211,597 )     -322.83 %
Less: net loss attributable to non- controlling interest     (222,131 )     -       (222,131 )     100.00 %
Net loss attributable to MGO stockholders   $ (1,859,061 )   $ (375,303 )   $ (1,483,758 )     -395.34 %

 

Net Revenue

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, revenues decreased 40% to $336,103 compared to $557,641 reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The decrease of $221,538 was primarily due to a decline in ecommerce sales to consumers caused by geoeconomic issues affecting consumer discretionary spending, including, but not limited to the rise in interest rates, declines in the stock market, continuing tight labor markets and the impact of inflationary pressures.

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Cost of goods sold for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2022 totaled $77,558, representing a 74% decrease over cost of goods sold of $296,427 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The decline in costs of goods sold of $218,869 was largely attributable to lower net revenue recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

 

Gross Profit Margin

 

The gross profit margin on sales for the comparable nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 were 76.92% and 46.84%, respectively.

 

Selling and Marketing Costs

 

Selling and marketing costs consisted of selling expenses, ecommerce expenses, royalty expenses and third-party logistics services. Selling and marketing costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 were $1,364,887, which compared to $391,242 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The 249% increase was primarily due to higher royalty expenses paid to LMM and ecommerce expenses incurred during the first nine months of 2022.

 

 62 

 

 

Payroll Expenses

 

Payroll expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 increased $150,758, or 72%, to $358,931, up from $208,173 reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. 

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, general and administrative expenses increased to $493,387, compared to $34,759 reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to higher legal, accounting and other professional fees associated with the Company’s capital raising activities and preparation for an Initial Public Offering.

 

Other Income (Expenses)

 

Total other (expenses) increased to ($111,732) for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to total other income of $7,258 reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The increase in total other expenses was primarily related to finance charges associated with remeasuring foreign currency transactions into functional currency and accounting for warrants issued to the representative. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, total other income was positively impacted by PPP loan forgiveness totaling $41,600.

 

Net Loss

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net loss increased 455% to $2,081,192, compared to a net loss of $375,303 reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. After factoring net loss attributable to non-controlling interest of $222,131 reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net loss attributable to MGO stockholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 totaled $1,859,061, or $0.18 loss per basic and diluted share.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2021 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

The following table provides certain selected financial information for the period presented:

 

   December 31, 2021   December 31, 2020   $ Changes   % Changes 
Sales, net  $880,340   $694,585   $185,755    26.7%
Cost of Goods Sold   392,407    382,820    9,587    2.5%
Gross profit   487,933    311,765    176,168    56.5%
Gross profit percentage   55.4%   44.9%   10.5%   23.5%
Total operating expenses   1,407,192    1,690,939    (283,747)   -16.8%
Operating loss   (919,259)   (1,379,174)   459,915    -33.3%
Total other (income) expenses   66,636    44,612    22,024    49.4%
Net loss  $(985,895)  $(1,423,786)  $437,891    -30.8%

 

Net Revenue

 

For the year ended December 31, 2021, revenues increased 26.7% to $880,340, compared to $694,585 reported for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase of $185,755 was primarily due to higher direct-to-consumer ecommerce sales as a result of increased awareness of The Messi Brand generated by a series of online and email marketing campaigns in 2021, ongoing search engine optimization initiatives and the late 2020 launch of the related mobile app, coupled with the expansion of the number of collections and limited-edition capsule collections offered to consumers through The Messi Store, found at www.themessistore.com.

 

 63 

 

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Cost of goods sold for the year ended December 31, 2021, totaled $392,407, representing a 2.5% increase over cost of goods sold of $382,820 in the prior year. The increase of $9,587 was attributable to the increase in the gross profit margin described below.

 

Gross Profit Margin

 

The gross profit margin on sales increased to 55.4% for the year ended December 31, 2021, which compared to 44.9% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2020. The 10.5% improvement is the result of the expanded mix of higher margin products in 2021.

 

Selling and Marketing Costs

 

Selling and marketing costs consisted of selling expenses, ecommerce expenses, royalty expenses and third-party logistics services. Selling and marketing costs for the 12 months ended December 31, 2021 were $726,662, compared to $589,108 for the 12 months ended December 31, 2020.  The increase of $137,554, or 23.3%, was largely due to an increase of $115,209 in royalty expenses associated with the Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL, coupled with higher ecommerce expenses, which increased $44,444 for the year ended December 30, 2021. The increase was offset by a modest decrease in selling expenses, which declined $3,170 on a comparable year-over-year basis. The increase was also offset by a decrease in logistics expenses, which declined $18,929 on a comparable year-over-year basis.

 

Payroll Expenses

 

Payroll expenses for the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, totaled $466,738, compared to $446,087 for the 12 months ended December 31, 2020. 

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses increased 40.9% to $199,224 for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $141,344 reported for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase of $58,048 was primarily attributable to increased costs associated with legal and accounting expenses associated with the formation of the Delaware corporation and related actions, as well as costs associated with preparation for the Company’s two-year audit, private placement financing activities and other related IPO planning strategies.

 

Other Expenses

 

Total other expenses increased 49.4% to $66,636 for the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, compared to $44,612 for the 12 months ended December 31, 2020. The increase was largely due to higher finance charges, which climbed $70,701, or 212.4%, offset by lower other net expenses of $7,077, and by other income of $41,600 relating to PPP loan forgiveness from the U.S. government.

  

 64 

 

 

Net Loss

 

For the year ended December 31, 2021, net loss decreased 30.8% to $985,895, or $0.09 loss per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1,423,786, or $0.16 loss per basic and diluted share reported for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Liquidity

 

We have primarily financed our operations through the sale of unregistered equity, promissory notes and other debt facilities.

 

As of September 30, 2022, our Company had cash and cash equivalents of $20,586, current assets totaling $214,412 and total assets of $214,412. In addition, our total liabilities were $1,452,807 and negative working capital was $1,238,395. Stockholders’ equity reflected a deficit of $1,238,395.

 

As of December 31, 2021, our Company had cash and cash equivalents of $87,922, accounts receivable, net of $3,285, current assets totaling $570,282 and total assets of $570,282. We had total liabilities of $984,289 and negative working capital of $393,160. Stockholders’ equity reflected a deficit of $414,007.

 

Sources and Uses of Cash for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021

 

Net cash used in our operating activities was $1,178,005 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, a 572% increase from net cash used in our operating activities of $175,411 during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The increase in net cash used in our operating activities was largely attributable to royalty expenses of $987,412 paid to Leo Messi Management.

 

Net cash provided by our financing activities totaled $1,110,669 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 as compared to net cash provided by our financing activities of $84,369 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The net cash provided by financing activities in the first nine months of 2022 was primarily associated with equity financings of $1,095,371.

 

Sources and Uses of Cash for the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020

 

Net cash used in our operating activities was $769,822 for the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, an increase from the net cash used by operating activities of $401,579 in the 12 months ended December 31, 2020. The increase in net cash used by our operating activities was largely attributable to higher stock compensation expenses, warrants used for financing expenses and prepaid royalty expense associated with the Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL. The increase in net cash used in our operations was offset by PPP loan forgiveness, lower inventory costs and the accounting for lease liabilities relating to our license agreement with Leo Messi.

 

Net cash used by investing activities was $0 and $250,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $735,908 for the 12 months ended December 31, 2021, which compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $39,542 recorded for the same 12-month period in 2020. The increase in 2021 was due primarily to shares used for cash totaling $659,100 and borrowings from loans provided by related parties and other loans totaling $122,877, offset by payments of loans to related parties and other loans to unrelated parties totaling $46,070.

 

Going Concern

 

The Company’s continuation as a going concern is dependent on its ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations to meet its obligations, in which it has not been successful, and/or obtaining additional financing from its shareholders or other sources, as may be required.

 

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. Such assumption contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

 

As reflected in the accompanying financial statements, the Company had a net loss attributable to MGO stockholders of $(906,326) and $(1,423,786) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, working capital deficit of $(393,160) and $(284,762) as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, and stockholder’s deficit of $(414,007) and $(284,762), respectively.

 

As reflected in the accompanying financial statements, the Company had a net loss of $2,081,192 and $375,303 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, working capital deficit of $1,238,395 and $393,160 as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, and stockholder’s deficit of $1,238,395 and $414,007, respectively. These factors among others raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

These factors among others raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. 

 

 65 

 

 

The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

 

Availability of Additional Funds

 

Our capital requirements going forward will consist of financing our operations until we are able to reach a level of revenues and gross margins adequate to equal or exceed our ongoing operating expenses. Other than the borrowings from related and third parties, we do not have any credit agreement or source of liquidity immediately available to us.

 

Since our inception, our operations have primarily been funded through proceeds from existing and new shareholders in exchange for equity and debt. Between January 1, 2022 and September 30, 2022, we have received an aggregate of $1,160,771 associated with the issuance of Common Stock, promissory notes and warrants to existing shareholders, related parties and lending institutions. Although we believe that we have access to capital resources, there are no commitments in place for new financings as of the filing date of this prospectus and there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain funds on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. We expect to have ongoing needs for working capital in order to fund the Company’s operations. To that end, while we are in the process of preparing to complete an Initial Public Offering of our Common Stock, we may be required to raise additional funds through equity or debt financing in the interim. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in securing additional capital or succeeding in our efforts to raise capital through an Initial Public Offering. If we are unsuccessful, we may need to (a) initiate cost reductions; (b) forego business development opportunities; and/or (c) seek extensions of time to fund our liabilities.

 

If we are able to raise additional capital, we do not know what the terms of any such capital raising would be. In addition, any future sale of our equity securities would dilute the ownership and control of your shares and could be at prices substantially below prices at which our shares currently trade. Our inability to raise capital could require us to significantly curtail or terminate our operations. We may seek to increase our cash reserves through the sale of additional equity or debt securities. The sale of convertible debt securities or additional equity securities could result in additional and potentially substantial dilution to our shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations and liquidity. In addition, our ability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms is subject to a variety of uncertainties.

 

Our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which contemplate our continuation as a going concern and the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The carrying amounts of assets and liabilities presented in the financial statements do not necessarily purport to represent realizable or settlement values. The financial statements do not include any adjustment that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements

 

We have no obligations, assets or liabilities which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.

  

 66 

 

 

Contractual Obligations

 

We do not have any long-term capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, except as follows:

 

Equity Joint Venture Contract and License Agreement with Shanghai Celebrity Import and Export Co., Ltd.

 

On August 29, 2019, we entered into an Equity Joint Venture Contract with Shanghai Celebrity Import and Export Co., Ltd. with respect to Shanghai Celebrity International Trading Co., Ltd and entered into a License Agreement with Shanghai Celebrity International Trading Co., Ltd (“SCIT”) for a (20) Twenty Years term commencing from the executive date of December 6, 2021. Per the Equity Joint Venture Contract and License Agreement, SCIT is to engage in the sale and distribution of MGO Products and/or other commercial products within the agreement defined Territories (PRC, Hong Kong S.A.R., Macau S.A.R., Taiwan, and Singapore). Under the terms and conditions of the agreement, we will receive USD $2 million from SCIT and invest $500,000 into the registered capital of the Joint Venture. On March 8, 2021, we terminated the License Agreement with SCIT unilaterally for breach of the agreement by SCIT.

 

As of December 31, 2021, we received $1,995,000 from SCIT, in which we invested $500,000 in SCIT, as disclosed and claimed in the agreement. We have impaired the $500,000 investment in SCIT since there has been no further development or operations in SCIT.

 

Leo Messi Management SL Lease Agreement

 

On November 20, 2021, the Company entered into a Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL (LMM) to have the worldwide license to use Leo Messi’s Trademarks for the purpose of developing, manufacturing, marketing, and promoting products carrying the “Messi Brand.” The Company is to pay LMM a minimum guaranteed amount on account of royalties amounting to Four Million Euros (4,000,000 €), net of taxes with the last payment due on November 15, 2024.

 

As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company paid the initial payment of $573,329 (500,000€) and $0 in royalty expenses to LMM, respectively. As of September 30, 2022, the Company paid the second installment of $526,981 (500,000€), and subsequent to the end of the third quarter period, paid the third installment of $492,562 (500,000€) in October 2022.

 

Loan Payable, Unrelated Party Transactions

 

On July 30, 2021 and September 10, 2021, the Company entered into two loan agreements with PayPal for the same amounts of $25,000, providing for principal and monthly payments of $560 and $587, respectively, of which incurred total interest of $4,122 and $5,539 over the term of the loans, respectively. The loan agreements will mature on November 30, 2025 and January 10, 2026, respectively. These two loans’ principal and accrued interest were paid off as of September 30, 2022. The balance as of September 30, 2022 and December 31 2021 was $0 and $34,615, respectively.

 

On May 25, 2022, the Company entered into a new loan with PayPal with an interest rate of 6.51%, principal balance of $25,000 and monthly payment of $539 over the term of the loan. This loan will mature on May 25, 2023. The Company paid principal balance of $9,709 and incurred $1,697 interest during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The balance as of September 30, 2022 of this loan was $16,989.

 

Loan Payable, Related Parties Transactions

 

The Company borrowed $72,877 from the Company’s officers and paid them $25,500 for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company also received $8,942 and paid $0 from and to the officers for the year ended December 31, 2020. During the first nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company borrowed $25,000 from and repaid $7,476 to the officers; and for the same nine-month period in 2021, officers and shareholders loaned the Company $52,877 and the Company repaid $4,508. These borrowings do not have a fixed maturity date or stated rate of interest.

 

As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the balance of loans payable to our officers was $120,794 and $103,270, respectively. Related party imputed interest recorded for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 totaled $10,346 and $7,892, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, related parties imputed interest was $10,519 and $6,176, respectively. The imputed interest was recorded as interest expense and an increase in additional paid-in capital based on a rate of 12%

 

 67 

 

 

Paycheck Protection Program

 

On May 8, 2020, the Company received $41,600 of proceeds from a note payable issued under either the Small Business Administration "the SBA" Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") under section 7(a)(36) of the Small Business Act or the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program Second Draw Loans under Section 7(a)(37) of the Small Business Act. The note matures in two years and bears interest at 1% per year. In April 2021, our PPP Loan was forgiven by the SBA in its entirety. The forgiveness was accounted for as other income which resulted in a gain of $41,600 recorded in our statement of operations.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) and include all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position for the periods presented.

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the accompanying financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the footnotes thereto. Actual results could differ from those estimates. It is reasonably possible that changes in estimates will occur in the near term.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivables are carried at their estimated collectible amounts, net of any estimated allowances for doubtful accounts. We grant unsecured credit to our customer’s deemed credit worthy. Ongoing credit evaluations are performed and potential credit losses estimated by management are charged to operations on a regular basis. At the time any particular account receivable is deemed uncollectible, the balance is charged to the allowance for doubtful accounts. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had no allowance for accounts receivable.

 

Inventory

 

Inventory consists of raw materials and finished goods ready for sale and is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. We value inventories using the weighted average costing method. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. We regularly review inventory and consider forecasts of future demand, market conditions and product obsolescence. If the estimated realized value of our inventory is less than cost, we make provisions in order to reduce its carrying value to its estimated net realizable value. 

 

 68 

 

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenues when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which it expects to receive in exchange for those goods. The Company recognizes revenues following the five-step model prescribed under ASU No. 2014-09: (i) identify contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenues when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation.

 

Revenue transactions associated with the sale of the Leo Messi Brand products, comprise a single performance obligation, which consists of the sale of products to customers either through direct wholesale or online sales through our website www.themessistore.com. We satisfy the performance obligation and record revenues when transfer of control to the customer has occurred, based on the terms of sale. A customer is considered to have control once they are able to direct the use and receive substantially all of the benefits of the product. Control is transferred to wholesale customers upon shipment or upon receipt depending on the country of the sale and the agreement with the customer. Control transfers to online customers at the time of shipment. The transactions price is determined based upon the invoiced sales price, less anticipated sales returns, discounts and miscellaneous claims from customers. Payment terms for wholesale transactions depend on the country of sale or agreement with the customer and payment is generally required within 30 days or less of shipment to or receipt by the wholesale customer. Payment is due at the time of sale for direct wholesale and online transactions.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. In estimating future tax consequences, the Company generally considers all expected future events other than enactments of changes in the tax law. For deferred tax assets, management evaluates the probability of realizing the future benefits of such assets. The Company establishes valuation allowances for its deferred tax assets when evidence suggests it is unlikely that the assets will be fully realized.

 

The Company recognizes the tax effects of an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits as of the reporting date and then only in an amount more likely than not to be sustained upon review by the tax authorities. Income tax positions that previously failed to meet the more likely than not threshold is recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more likely than not threshold is derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met. The Company classifies potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) as income tax expense.

  

 69 

 

 

Earnings Per Share

 

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the year. Diluted loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus Common Stock equivalents (if diluted) related to warrants and convertible instruments, if applicable.

 

Non-controlling Interest

 

One shareholder did not rollover his 11.82% membership interest from MGOTEAM 1 LLC to MGO Global Inc. as of December 6, 2021. According to ASC 810-10-45-22 through 810-10-45-24, carrying amount of the NCI will be adjusted to reflect the change in the NCI’s ownership interest in the subsidiary. Any difference between the amount by which the NCI is adjusted and the fair value of the consideration paid or received is recognized in equity/APIC and attributed to the equity holders of the parent in accordance with ASC 810-10-45-23. The Company accounted for this portion of shares as non-controlling interest as of December 6, 2021 for $12,598. The Company recorded non-controlling interest of $222,131 from the net loss for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2022. 

 

Foreign Currency

 

For all operations, gains or losses from remeasuring foreign currency transactions into the functional currency are included in the statements of operations as finance charges.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, (Topic 326), Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments which amends the current accounting guidance and requires the use of the new forward-looking “expected loss” model, rather than the “incurred loss” model, which requires all expected losses to be determined based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This guidance amends the accounting for credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments including trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other instruments. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10 to postpone the effective date of ASU No. 2016-13 for public business entities eligible to be smaller reporting companies defined by the SEC to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company believes the adoption of ASU No. 2016-13 will not have a material impact on its financial position and results of operations.

 

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, to improve financial reporting associated with accounting for convertible instruments and contracts in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 is effective for the Company for fiscal year beginning January 1, 2022. The adoption did not have any significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards could have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements. As new accounting pronouncements are issued, we will adopt those that are applicable under the circumstances.

 

 70 

 

 

 

 71 

 

 

 

 72 

 

 

 

 73 

 

 

 

 74 

 

 

 

 75 

 

 

OUR BUSINESS

 

Business Overview

 

Founded in October 2018 and headquartered in Florida with remote employees and specialty contractors in London, New York and Latin America, we are a performance-driven lifestyle brand portfolio company focused on strategically leveraging the fame, celebrity power and global social media influence of world class athletes, entertainers and other cultural icons to create fresh, modern and compelling product and apparel brands aligned with and inspired by the values, personal styles and aspirations of our valued brand partners.

 

Not new to building successful global lifestyle brands, our accomplished leadership team encompasses decades of experience in fashion design, brand development and management, sourcing and manufacturing, licensing, IP protection, corporate finance, consumer engagement and experience, ecommerce and retail sales and marketing. Moreover, members of our leadership team have led prolific brand development initiatives for fashion industry titans that have included Tommy Hilfiger, Fila, Burberry, J Brand, GUESS, Brooks Brothers and True Religion, among many others, collectively generating billions of dollars in retail sales across the globe over the past 30 years.

 

Anchored by our end-to-end, scalable brand development platform, coupled with our leadership’s track records of success and industry relationships and expertise, we have a global licensing agreement dated November 20, 2021, which provides us with the right to spearhead the creation of “The Messi Brand” – a premium line of functional and sporty casual wear, accessories and home décor that is inspired by legendary pro soccer player Lionel Messi. The resulting in-demand collections contain designs focused on being effortless and accessible to all, much like that of Messi’s personal style.

 

While The Messi Brand represents the first and only asset in our portfolio, our business model is underpinned by our intent to strategically expand our collection of lifestyle brands through industry collaborations, licensing, acquisitions and organic brand development. However, we are not currently in active discussions with any third parties relating to potential collaborations, licensing or acquisitions to expand our brand portfolio. While it is our intention to pursue growth and expansion of our brand portfolio in the future, we currently are not negotiating or have any probable agreements to add additional assets to the Messi Brand in our portfolio at this time.

 

Guided by our expertise and fueled by our passion to grow MGO Global into a major brand portfolio company and our brands into universally recognized symbols of excellence, we are committed to exceeding our partners’ and customers’ expectations by creating and delivering innovative, premium lifestyle clothing and products and earning lifetime fidelity to our brands through high touch customer engagement, service and attention.

 

Our Core Values

 

Since our inception, we have consciously fostered a corporate culture in which our core values are deeply ingrained in our identity and serve as a compass to guide our decision-making and business-building processes. Our core values are the source of our Company’s drive and distinctiveness, thoughtfully woven into our organizational fabric to influence how we think, work and act. These core values are:

 

  · Collaboration: we enthusiastically welcome and apply insight, experience, ideas and perspective gained from each other, our trusted business partners and our customers.

 

  · Integrity: we honor our word which earns trust.

 

  · Accountability: we trust our experience and apply common sense when implementing and adhering to financially, socially and environmentally responsible policies and practices that positively impact our stakeholders, the communities where we live and work, and the world, at large.

 

  · Passion: demonstrate pride in our brands, in the quality of our products and in each other through our words and actions.

 

  · Diversity and Inclusion: embrace and celebrate individual uniqueness and respect diversity of views, ideas and cultures.

 

The Messi Brand

 

Born in Argentina, Leo Messi discovered his love and great aptitude for soccer as a young boy. At age eight, he was recruited to the youth soccer system of Newell’s Old Boys, a local sports club affiliated with the Argentine Football Association. Considerably smaller than most kids his age, Messi was eventually diagnosed with a hormone deficiency that compromised his growth, resulting in his suffering through a costly regimen of nightly growth hormone injections. When he was offered the opportunity to train at soccer powerhouse FC Barcelona’s youth academy and have his medical bills covered by the team, he did not hesitate to migrate to Spain to pursue his passion. Today, Messi is widely regarded as one of the sport’s greatest players of all time.

 

 76 

 

 

Messi currently plays as a forward for France’s Paris Saint Germain team and captains the Argentina national team. Until joining the Paris Saint Germain club in 2021, he had spent his entire professional career with FC Barcelona, where he won a club-record 35 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and four Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions Leagues. His renowned skill on the field has led him to be universally recognized as one of the best soccer players in the world, earning him a record seven Ballon d’Or, an annual soccer award presented by French news magazine France Football; as well as nine European Golden Shoes, an award that is presented each season to the leading goal scorer in the top division of a European national soccer league. Among many other records, awards and acclaim, Messi also won a gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games when the Argentina National Team beat Nigeria.

 

In 2022, Messi claimed the top spot in Forbes’ 2022 annual ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes (for the second time – the other was in 2019), surpassing $1 billion in career earnings. Earlier in his career, Messi was recognized as one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2011 and 2012. Recently commenting on the impact of Messi’s career impact on the sport of soccer, The New York Times reported in March 2022, “It is likely the last 15 years will come to be seen almost exclusively through the lens of Messi and Ronaldo (Cristiano Ronaldo). They have, after all, dominated this era of soccer, and so it is fitting, in many ways, that they should come to define it.”

 

Having overcome his childhood health and physical challenges, Messi is to many people more than just a great soccer player – he is an idol, a leader, even a hero. Beloved by millions of fans worldwide, Messi boasts a massive, passionate social media following comprised of 345.7 million on Instagram (ranked #4 overall for most followers); 105 million on Facebook (ranked #14 overall for most followers); 1.32 million subscribers on YouTube and 7 million on Weibo, China’s largest social media platform.

 

Demonstrating just how impactful the Messi name is on the fashion industry, when 150,000 Messi soccer shirts went on sale on Paris Saint-Germain’s website on the day his transfer from Barcelona to France was announced, the shirts sold out in just seven minutes, according to SportBible.com.

 

MGO Global’s chief goal for The Messi Brand is to extend and amplify Leo Messi’s values, vision and uncompromising sportsmanship that have distinguished him on the soccer field and seamlessly translate them to high quality apparel and products created or curated for discerning customers who love and respect the celebrated athlete.

 

Brand Design and Aesthetic

 

The Messi Brand design team is led by MGO Global co-founder and Chief Design Officer Ginny Hilfiger, who works in close collaboration with Leo Messi to craft the fundamental design aesthetic that has continued to inform and inspire the development of each year’s casual, but elegant spring and fall collections. Two of the brand’s signature design elements, the color palette and the incorporation of “10” and “30,” are nods to Messi’s soccer teams – the color palette is largely composed of his teams’ colors, light blue, navy blue, white and red, the “10” is his jersey number both in Barcelona and the Argentinian national team, and the “30” is his jersey number for Paris Saint Germain.

 

Each item released is carefully constructed with high quality fabrics, and quality stitching and design techniques to create clothing that is as technically advanced as Messi’s style of play on the field. By way of examples, our embroidered polos are produced using light weight 95% piqué cotton and 5% spandex. Piqué fabric is a double weave knit – it is this twin layer that gives piqué its signature waffle or quilt texture on one side, and a smooth finish on the other side. The space between those layers allows for air flow, making the fabric breathable, more durable, more absorbent of dye and better at concealing sweat. Designed with a 100% cotton waistband for great comfort, our pants are constructed using light weight knit fabric comprised of 62% nylon, 32% cotton and 5% spandex. Our zip-front jackets are made using double-faced 75% long staple cotton, 18% polyester and 7% spandex. Long staple cotton is derived from the Gossypium barbadense species of cotton, which yields cotton with unusually long, silky fibers. This high quality cotton gives our jackets a smooth feel, while the double-faced fabric gives the jacket more body, providing a premium look. Similarly, our long sleeve knit tops are constructed using 100% long staple cotton, which makes it feel like silk to the touch and on the body.

 

A key design directive by Messi is to ensure quality, comfort and versatility always remain priorities for the brand.

 

More than ever, sustainability is dominating consumer priorities and the fashion agenda. We believe that one of the most important ways to reduce our environmental impact is to limit the production of virgin raw materials and decrease textile waste. By offering our customers a conscious shopping choice with sustainable, affordable pieces that are designed to be aligned with our brand values, while being on trend, The Messi Brand is committed to proactively supporting and promoting a much more circular, responsible economy. Moreover, we are thoughtfully choosing our supply chain partners to ensure that our core values are in sync with one another, and our combined sustainability initiatives serve as a force multiplier in aiding our industry to reduce textile waste worldwide.

 

 77 

 

 

The Messi Brand Collections

 

Current collections available in The Messi Store (www.themessistore.com) provide for a range of sporty menswear pieces from edgy graphic t-shirts and sweatshirts to well-cut quilted jackets and high performance polos and pants. In addition, graphic t-shirts for women and kids are offered, along with plush bathrobes, graphic beach towels, rugs, posters and keychains. Currently, best-selling mainstays and limited editions, or capsule collections, available for purchase from The Messi Store website include:

 

  · Messi Collection: a wide selection of long-sleeved rugby and crew t-shirts, signature track jackets, hooded jackets, two-way zip knit jackets and mixed media funnel jackets. This collection also includes an innovative, lightweight vest in classic camo which utilizes SOLAR ball Technology, an innovative insulation technology that is an animal-friendly alternative to winter jackets made with duck or goose down feathers.

 

  · LM Tattoo II: a capsule collection comprised of a limited number of hoodies and polos accented with embroidered replicas of Messi’s flower and crown tattoos, as well as a hummingbird. In game play, Messi has been compared to a hummingbird since Messi is smaller and faster, mesmerizing to watch, gentle on the pitch and graceful in action.

 

  · Messi Studio: available only for shipping in the U.S. and Canada, this capsule collection features the brand’s most bold, artsy and exclusive graphic t-shirt creations, each dropping in very limited quantities.

 

  · Messi Green: this capsule collection, which pronounces that “waste is a design error,” is responsibly made in Portugal using 100% deadstock (recycled) cotton, creating value for the waste generated along the production chain, reducing or eliminating waste and promoting the circular economy. This limited collection features sweatshirts, sweat pant French terry joggers and shorts, cargo sweat pant joggers, hoodies and t-shirts. All products in the Messi Green collection are marked with the stamp of eco-approval or feature a print of Vila Franca do Campo, one of the most iconic landscapes on the Azorean Island of Sao Miguel – home to thousands of endangered species and a symbolic reminder that few things on Earth are in infinite quantities.

 

  · Messi Signature Two Pocket Plaid Flannel Shirt: Messi’s preferred casual dress shirt.

 

  · Messi Signature Tech Flexweave Chino Pants: Messi’s preferred casual trouser, available in black and navy blue.

 

  · Messi Graphic Hoodies and T-Shirts: a line of classic graphic hoodies, sweatshirts and t-shirts featuring Messi silhouettes, logos and championship prints.

 

  · Messi Graphic T-Shirts for Kids: a line of Messi’s classic graphic t-shirts available in kids’ sizes.

 

  · Messi Graphic T-Shirts for Women: a diverse line of graphic t-shirts designed to fit and flatter Messi’s female soccer fans with most available in multiple colors.

 

Consumer Reviews

 

Based on customer feedback surveys emailed to The Messi Store customers and reviews posted on other online venues, consumer opinions of The Messi Brand have been highly complimentary of the quality and appeal of our products. Example reviews include:

 

  · “The Messi Store brand is amazing good quality and unique to Messi style and I love it! I will forever be a customer here!” Astri J., Verified Buyer, Feedback Survey

 

  · “Much love to the whole team @themessistore. I’m obsessed with these clothes. The feel definitely reflects quality/effort put into making them.” @WONDR94, Instagram testimonial

 

  · “Clothing worth Messi’s name attached to them. I purchased the Stencil Zip Through Hoodie and the new Signature Cuff Track Jacket for my son. We were amazed by the quality and comfort these provide. These were for my son, but I am considering getting my own.” Verified Buyer, Messi Store mobile app review

 

 78 

 

 

  · “I absolutely love what I have bought. I wear it with pride, it looks great and more importantly, it feels amazing. The quality has exceeded my expectations. Keep doing what you are doing! You guys rock!” Julian P., Verified Buyer, Feedback Survey

 

  · “Great Purchase. The quality was just as expected and it fit my son perfectly! Seeing the Messi log inside the (bomber) jacket was a bonus! Loved it.” Edith F. Verified Buyer, YOTPO Review

 

  · “Trust me; it will always be worth it because the clothes will stay in your closet forever. I love the material of Messi Brand clothing and I always see his brand as a luxury brand. The material, how they fit, and the colors are something else…” Manaseerx, Verified Buyer, Messi Store mobile app review

 

Expansion of The Messi Brand

 

Our Messi Brand development roadmap provides for the classic core of the collection to remain intact, supplemented with a line of cool, fun streetwear, and later, a higher-end collection of men’s casual tailored wear and functional outerwear. Expansion of our childrenswear, accessories and home product collections are also being considered. Further, given our core value of corporate social responsibility, we are committed to gradually expanding our sustainable, eco-friendly Messi Green line, which currently represents approximately 10% of the overall collection.

 

In addition, we will look to forge trusted brand collaborations to expand The Messi Brand into new consumer product categories – a strategy that has contributed to increasing brand awareness and market penetration for The Messi Brand since it was first launched.

 

For example, in tandem with the debut of The Messi Store in 2019, we partnered with Richard James Savile Row to design a one-time promotional limited edition/capsule collection titled Tailored by Richard James, which was exclusively featured on The Messi Store and in Santa Eulalia in Barcelona, which according to Pitti Uomo and The Business of Fashion is among the top 30 luxury menswear stores in the world. Santa Eulalia served as the venue for the official Messi Brand launch party, playing host to Messi, the MGO team, numerous reporters and photographers, and hundreds of fans who attended the event . Consisting of an unstructured, precision cut blazer, complimentary slim-fit chinos, shirts, polos and the finishing touches of socks, pocket squares and scarves, the Tailored by Richard James limited editions encapsulated Richard James’ contemporary, fashion-led Savile Row style and Messi’s distinctive fashion sense and commitment to excellence. The Messi Store currently has no other collaboration with Richard James Savile Row.

 

In 2021, The Messi Store formed a strategic collaboration with world-renowned floral display artist Mr. Flower Fantastic for a one-time drop (“drops” are special release products that are either scarce in quantity, due to intentional limited production, or scarce in availability, due to a limited-time purchase window, and in this case will not be restocked) of the collectible Handle with Care Messi 10 – a custom designed soccer ball-shaped planter handcrafted from solid marble and released exclusively on the NTWRK app and in The Messi Store. Aimed at Gen Z and Millennial consumers and boasting a monthly audience exceeding ten million viewers, NTWRK is a video shopping app that offers tools that allow creators to interact with viewers and sell curated products in real-time in what has been called a mix of QVC, Twitter and Twitch. The Messi Store currently has no other collaboration with Mr. Flower Fantastic.

 

 Prior to the onset of the COVID pandemic in 2020, we were engaged in exploring brand collaborations with a number of notable lifestyle brands, including opportunities with Lebron James’ UNKNWN, a Miami-based retail destination and culture creator within the worlds of art, fashion, sports and music; with Billionaire Boys Club, a globally recognized clothing, accessories and lifestyle brand founded by Pharrell Williams and Nigo; and with Thursday Boot Company, a high quality footwear brand based in New York City. While these early discussions were stalled and/or terminated due to the pandemic, we may pursue reviving these opportunities in the future while pursuing other collaboration, licensing and global or regional distribution opportunities.

 

 79 

 

 

Brand Marketing Strategy

 

We are actively engaged in implementing a purpose-driven brand marketing strategy that is founded on three primary pillars: business and financial discipline, consumer-centricity and amplified brand communication which leads with a digital-first mindset. By leveraging the influence and social following of Leo Messi, we are endeavoring to scale our sales and customer base through defined content and media strategies that will grow our customers from knowing our brand, liking our brand, loving our brand and to living our brand.

 

We believe that never before has the power to build a global consumer brand in a matter of a few years been more readily possible, due in large measure to the prominence, reach and influence of ecommerce, social media and digital marketing. This cultural phenomenon is expected to fuel and accelerate The Messi Brand’s growth, because we understand the mission critical significance of engaging and inspiring our target audiences through ‘shareworthy’ messaging and meaningful online interaction with and storytelling through our brand and brand identity. Moreover, we strive to attain enduring customer trust and loyalty by delivering on our brand promise of “Precision. Excellence. Humility” – all with an uncompromising commitment to excellence in all that we do.

 

Our ecommerce store is found at www.TheMessiStore.com, and our Messi Store mobile apps are available for download through both the App Store and Google Play app marketplaces. Created using the scalable, secure and proven ecommerce software Shopify, The Messi Store is accessible to consumers worldwide in a multi-currency environment with built-in customer engagement tools that drive highly personalized shopping experiences for our store visitors. According to information supplied on Shopify.com, Shopify is one of the most scalable, feature-rich and fastest growing ecommerce platforms, powering over one million ecommerce stores in 175 countries.

 

Social Media Marketing

 

We rely heavily on social media and digital marketing tools and content to reach and access prospective customers where they are online, with particular emphasis on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Weibo (in China). Currently, The Messi Store has 1.5 million followers on Instagram and over 205,000 followers on Facebook. When combined with Leo Messi’s personal social media following, we currently reach over 400 million on Instagram and 105+ million on Facebook, alone, representing a massive, passionate audience of prospective buyers of The Messi Brand apparel, accessories and home goods. Monthly marketing initiatives include Leo Messi posting selfies and other images wearing Messi Brand wear.

 

Pop-Up Stores and Kiosks

 

Pop-up stores and kiosks have become a viable new sales channel for consumer products companies of all scopes and sizes, enabling the implementation of low cost, temporary, seasonal or year-round Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) retail programs, and allowing companies to cost effectively test new markets, enhance brand exposure and drive incremental sales growth.

 

We will seek to identify potential strategic business partners interested in collaborating with us on testing pop-up stores and kiosks in highly trafficked venues where Messi fans may congregate, including major soccer events and in-store collection launches, among others. Assuming these tests prove successful, then we will look to implement a roll-out of pop-up stores and kiosks in geographic regions around the globe.

 

Our Supply Chain Strategy

 

Based on our leadership’s experience in building global lifestyle brands for many of the world’s leading apparel companies, we have established, long-standing relationships and key industry knowledge that empowers us to best identify and leverage qualified third-party suppliers and manufacturers to produce our raw materials and finished products.

 

We directly and actively manage every aspect of our product design, development and production process. Our in-house innovation and design team works closely with our suppliers to source or develop the materials for our products that meet our exact specifications for comfort, stretch, durability, functionality, sustainability and performance. Our in-house production team, comprised of contracted industry professionals with longstanding experience working with our Chief Design Officer, selects our fabric and trim suppliers, directly manages the relationships between these suppliers and our finished product manufacturers and drives our production allocation strategy and production schedules. We believe we have built a supply chain that is optimized for our business and through which we can control the design, development and fulfillment of our products.

 

We do not have any manufacturing facilities and do not manufacture any of our products. We purchase our finished products from third-party manufacturers on a purchase order basis and do not have any long-term agreements requiring us to use any specific supplier or manufacturer. We have long-standing relationships with our vendors, which we believe are strengthened by the consistency of our core fabrics and core style profile. Chosen based on desired design and production specifications of a particular product or collection, our global network of valued manufacturers are based in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Latvia, Mexico, Peru, Portugal and Sri Lanka. We regularly source new suppliers and manufacturers across the world to support our ongoing innovation and growth, and we carefully evaluate all new suppliers and manufacturers to ensure they share our high standards for quality and precision in manufacturing, ethical working conditions and social and environmental sustainability practices.

 

 80 

 

 

Distribution Channels for Messi Brand Products

 

Direct to Consumer (D2C) Channels

 

Ecommerce: The Messi Brand is a digitally native brand aimed at using proven technology to deliver a unique customer experience. Our first collection of Messi Brand apparel debuted in The Messi Store (www.themessistore.com) in September 2019. On launch day, fan traffic was so voluminous it caused the site to crash. Based on the Company’s site’s data analytics, since inception in September 2019, The Messi Store has had over 3.2 million unique online visitors – 90% of whom have accessed our ecommerce platform through mobile devices – and has shipped orders to customers in 110 countries, with more than half of all sales stemming from the United States.

 

Shopify, the platform on which TheMessieStore.com is built and operates, utilizes sophisticated algorithms to track unique visitors’ IP addresses and site visit sessions. Unique visitors are defined as the number of unduplicated visits (counted only once) to a website over the course of a specific time period, while a session is the number of times people have collectively visited the site in a designated timeframe. For example, if three separate people visited TheMessiStore.com one time, two times and three times, respectively, the number of unique visitors is three, and the number sessions is nine.

 

Mobile Commerce: In November 2020, MGO launched The Messi Store mobile app, which is available for download from the App Store and Google Play. The app provides us with the ability to provide users with exclusive and/or early access to newly released Messi Brand collections, collaborations and giveaways. Since its launch, the app has been downloaded by more than 120,000 users residing in over 120 countries worldwide.

 

Event-Specific Pop-Up Stores: As the world evolves and becomes more digitally focused and dependent, and virtually everything can be ordered and delivered in a matter of hours or days, it becomes more difficult for brands to stand out against their competitors. Moreover, we understand and appreciate that consumers are demanding and responding to novel, highly engaging experiences in their interactions with brands. To that end, we believe that event-specific pop-up stores could prove beneficial and cost efficient for The Messi Brand, providing us with unique and potentially meaningful brand exposure to our core target markets of Messi fans and supporters. Specifically, we may elect to explore creating pop-up stores at or near major men and women’s soccer events, such as FIFA World Cups, Champions League finals and competitive match-ups that draw passionate fans. In addition to allowing us to test consumer engagement campaigns or experiment with marketing new product categories in an environment where immediate consumer reaction and feedback can be readily captured, the use of pop-up stores may also drive more online traffic to The Messi Store by building memorable customer experiences, which we believe will retain new audiences and strengthen loyalty with our existing valued customers.

 

Wholesale Channels

 

We believe that by first creating a strong, direct and intimate connection with consumers through our proprietary D2C channels, we will gain critical market insight and the perspective necessary to guide traditional retailers and other wholesale channels on how best to showcase and merchandize our products, by arming us with smart demographic and psychographic intelligence and refining The Messi Brand voice and attitude.

 

Ultimately, we envision offering Messi Brand apparel and products through a robust bricks-and-mortar strategy, targeting high-end specialty clothing and home goods stores worldwide. However, we are currently pursuing this strategy slowly, responsibly and cautiously, particularly given the prevailing economic challenges confronting a retail environment still recovering from the COVID pandemic.

 

In partnership with travel retail specialist Duty Free Americas, Messi Brand products are now being sold in two duty-free stores at the Uruguay-Brazil border, with a third location set to open soon. Further, we expect to establish a department store presence in Latin America in the near future in major urban regions within Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.

 

Moving forward, we are also considering the merits of building a global network of distribution partners and sub-licensees which have established relationships with leading premium apparel retailers in key geographic regions around the world that present compelling new market penetration opportunities for The Messi Brand.

 

Finally, we believe that premium outlets may prove to be an attractive wholesale distribution channel for The Messi Brand in the future – one through which we can fill the niche for physical connection with our existing and prospective new customers and promote overall revenue and earnings growth.

 

Sub-Licensing Channels

 

Products made under sublicensing arrangements with The Messi Brand will, in most cases, be sold through retailer and other wholesale channels. We expect that, with our approval, the licensees with which we may elect to partner, will have the right to distribute products selectively through other venues, which provide additional, yet controlled, exposure of our brand. In addition, this strategy provides for a cost-effective means to produce Messi-branded apparel, accessories and home goods that may be more suitable for local niche markets and cultural-specific consumer trends.

 

 81 

 

 

We have recently negotiated a licensing and distribution agreement with a large Brazilian specialty apparel company to collaborate on the design and production of a collection of loungewear, underwear, socks and swimwear for The Messi Brand. This new partner will be responsible for marketing these product lines through its own established wholesale channel and retail stores throughout Latin America and will also supply products for The Messi Store ecommerce platform, thereby expanding the scope of our collections and consumer offerings and fueling greater revenue growth opportunities for our Company.

 

Warehousing and Logistics

 

MGO Global has partnered with an international logistics company serving many renowned brands across global consumer goods industries. With distribution centers spanning the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the United States, this bonded third-party logistics, or 3PL, company has the capacity to process more than 300 million pieces of merchandise annually and distribute over 20 million packages through retail, wholesale and ecommerce sales channels. In addition, this trusted partner shares our commitment to sustainability with specific initiatives focused on carbon footprint reduction, social involvement and becoming the employer of choice in its industry and ethical business practices and sustainable growth. More specifically, 85% of their operations run on renewable energy and they have committed to achieving a 90% recycling rate for 2023.

 

We regularly evaluate our distribution infrastructure and capacity to ensure that we remain positioned to timely and efficiently meet our anticipated needs and support our continued growth of The Messi Brand — and other brands that we may organically grow or acquire in the realization of our expanded portfolio of global lifestyle brands.

 

Market Opportunities

 

Total Addressable Market

 

In its 28 Dazzling Fashion Industry Statistics [2022] online article dated March 13, 2022, Zippia states that the global fashion industry was valued at $1.5 trillion in 2020 and accounts for two percent of the world’s GDP. Despite concerns that inflation would keep shoppers from spending their disposable income, consumer spending on clothing and footwear in the U.S. alone increased a seasonally adjusted 1.9 percent in April 2022 from the prior month to $505.4 billion, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) revealed in late May 2022 in its Personal Income and Outlays report.

 

Concurring, global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company reported in its The State of Fashion 2022 report that this year the fashion industry can return to growth as changing category landscapes, new digital frontiers and advances in sustainability continue to present opportunities. The report notes, “…after nearly two years of disruption, the [global fashion] industry is beginning to find its feet again.” The report further states “Overall, global fashion sales are on track to pick up momentum in 2022, as increasingly hopeful consumers unleash pent-up buying power, refreshing their wardrobes as social life begins to resume in many key markets around the world.”

 

From a demand perspective, Gen-Z and wealthier consumers from middle-income groups and upwards are predicted by McKinsey to demonstrate the strongest appetite for leisure spend in the United States with fashion being one of the top three categories on which they will seek to splurge or treat themselves. In China, there are strong prospects for growth in consumer spending power, where rising incomes will contribute to an anticipated increase of $10 trillion in consumption growth between 2021 and 2030. (Source: McKinsey & Company, Meet Your Future Asian Consumer, July 28, 2021.)

 

E-Commerce

 

Lower digital barriers to entry for all clothing brands offer the opportunity to market, sell and fulfill orders globally and automatically. As a result, worldwide revenue and revenue per user are projected to grow. In the U.S. alone, the apparel and accessory industries accounted for 29.5% of all ecommerce sales in 2021. (Source: Statista, Online Share of Total U.S. Retail Sales in 2021, by Product Category, March 8, 2022). In Europe, it is expected that by 2025, each consumer will spend nearly $1000 on fashion-related items over the course of the year. (Source: Statista, Retail E-Commerce ARPU in Europe, 2017-2025, May 20, 2021)

 

Sustainability

 

Consumers are increasingly aware of the impact their choices are making on the environment and seeking more sustainable alternatives. We believe the debate over whether sustainable clothing is a passing fad or a crucial segment for fashion brands is substantially over. The category has turned into a high-performance engine for online apparel sales – increasing 74% in 2021, according to Signifyd eCommerce Pulse data. This is compared to the increase in online sales of clothing other than sustainable apparel, which topped out at 25% last year.

 

 82 

 

 

Retail Landscape Realities

 

All lifestyle brands, whether accessible or luxury, have faced structural shifts in the retail landscape that have made it more challenging for them to succeed. Those challenges include: 

 

  · Decline of Traditional Wholesale Channels: It is estimated by analysts at UBS that between 40,000 to 50,000 retail stores in the Unites States will close down over the next five years. UBS sees the most closures happening among clothing and accessories retailers, consumer electronics businesses and home furnishing chains, or about 23,500 stores cumulatively within these categories by 2026. (Source: CNBC, UBS Expects 50,000 Store Closures in the U.S. Over the Next 5 Years After Pandemic Pause, April 13, 2022)

 

  · Heightened Competition from Fast Fashion: The desire for newness has led to enormous competition in the apparel industry, especially from fast fashion brands which can quickly manufacture and copy styles at lower prices than designer brands. The global fast fashion market is expected to grow from $91.23 billion in 2021 to $99.3 billion in 2022 and $133.43 billion in 2026. (Source: The Business Research Company, Fast Fashion Global Market Report 202 – By Gender  (Women's Wear, Men's Wear), By Age (Adults Wear, Teens Wear, Kids Wear, Other Ages), By Type (Pants, Coat, Skirt, Other Types) – Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2022-2026, March 2022)

 

  · Direct-to-Consumer, or DTC, as an Essential Channel for Every Brand:  Given the growth in online sales and the challenges associated with traditional wholesale channels, brands are increasingly seeking DTC channels but often lack the financial or human capital to build them.

 

  · Larger, More Fractured Discovery Landscape: According to Publicis Sapient, 87% of shoppers today begin product searches online, meaning that younger customers are focused on direct search for brands they already know.

 

  · Growing Importance of Data: Market and customer data is critical to helping brands assess their product and efficiently acquire customers. Through traditional wholesale channels, brands receive very minimal data, and the data they do receive is often a season old.

 

Social Media

 

On July 27, 2022, Statista Research, in its online article “Global number of internet users 2005-2021,” reported that in 2021, the number of internet users worldwide was 4.9 billion, up from 4.6 billion in the previous year Statista further reported that “[i]n 2022, Social networking sites are estimated to reach 3.96 billion users and these figures are still expected to grow as mobile device usage and mobile social networks increasingly gain traction in previously underserved market.”. The use of the Internet and social media have changed consumer shopping behavior and the ways in which companies grow their apparel brands, presenting significant opportunities for organizations to directly connect with customers, lower costs, improve brand awareness, influence consumers’ attitudes, receive real-time feedback and increase sales. Drilling deeper, mobile channels have become the norm and are now embedded within consumers daily lives via the use of mobile tools, shopping apps, location-based services and mobile wallets - all impacting the consumer online shopping experience.

 

Competitive Landscape

 

Competition in the global lifestyle apparel industry is principally based on product quality, innovation, style, price, brand image, distribution model, and definitive standards for customer experience and service. Generally speaking, our industry is intensely competitive, and many companies who may be perceived as our competitors have substantially greater financial, distribution and marketing resources, as well as greater brand awareness.

 

There are several sports celebrity-inspired lifestyle brands and brand collaborations with which we may directly compete for market share in the specific segments we serve, including several involving global soccer superstars, such as the likes of Christiano Ronaldo’s CR7, Memphis Depay’s MDC and Tiémoué Bakayoko’s Ètudes, among others.

 

 83 

 

 

Our Competitive Strengths

 

We believe that MGO Global stands to benefit from a number of competitive differentiators that serve to set our Company apart from other lifestyle brand portfolio companies. Chief among them are:

 

  · Proven, Premium Lifestyle Brand Builders. Our Company’s design and production team is led by 30-year industry veteran Ginny Hilfiger, younger sibling of Tommy Hilfiger, a globally renowned pioneer of classic American cool style. During her 15-year tenure as EVP of Design at Tommy Hilfiger’s namesake apparel brand, Ginny was the visionary behind Tommy Jeans, the women’s sportswear and junior lines, the H Hilfiger collection for Federated Department Stores and the successful brand collaboration between Tommy and supermodel Gigi Hadid – just to name a few key achievements. Following her run of successes at Tommy, she launched her own signature brand “Ginny H” before being recruited as Creative Director for FILA Global, charged with revamping FILA’s brand DNA globally. MGO’s executive leadership also includes Julian Groves, our Chief Operating Officer, who brings over 25 years of experience in global brand strategy and expansion for lifestyle brands that have included J. Brand, True Religion, GUESS and Burberry; and Maximiliano Ojeda, our Chief Executive Officer, an international business executive and entrepreneur who, along with Ginny Hilfiger, co-founded MGO and guides and directs our global business operations and brand-building architecture.

 

  · Established Relationships with Many of the World’s Leading Apparel Manufacturers. Through our team’s collective experience and sphere of influence in the global apparel industry, we have knowledge of and direct relationships with many of the world’s best manufacturers of premium materials and finished apparel and accessories. Chosen based on desired design and production specifications of a particular product or collection, our global network of valued manufacturers is based in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Latvia, Mexico, Peru, Portugal and Sri Lanka.

 

  · Deep Connections with Our Loyal and Passionate Customers. Younger generations are embracing social media platforms and mobile apps, in particular, as a means for community building and discovery. This seamless exchange of community-based inspiration encourages like-minded consumers to purchase flattering and stylish clothing that allows for unapologetic self-expression that reflects their passions and values. With hundreds of millions of social media followers and fans worldwide who admire Leo Messi for his distinctive fashion sense and style – on and off the pitch, The Messi Brand has an established global audience of prospective customers that we can readily reach and inspire.

 

  · Data Driven, Low-Risk Merchandizing Model. We employ a data-driven approach to design, merchandizing and inventory planning and allocation to ensure we deliver products that meet and exceed our customers’ high expectations for quality, precision and style. We have excellent visibility into our customers’ preferences through their purchasing history and direct feedback, which we leverage to inform our purchasing decisions. Through our vertical sourcing model and global network of manufacturers, coupled with our in-house IT and marketing teams, we have the flexibility to respond quickly to prevailing sales trends and make adjustments to our current offerings, when necessary. We utilize a read and react testing approach with shallow initial buys and data-driven repurchasing decisions to iterate our new product offerings, thereby minimizing our inventory risks and optimizing our gross profit margins on sales.

 

Potential Competitive Weaknesses

 

  · Expanding our workforce will be a key aspect of scaling our business over the long-term and achieving our stated growth objectives. Having more employees may present several challenges, from increasingly complex human resource administration to the difficult task of engaging with individuals and meeting specific needs within a larger workforce. However, the United States is currently experiencing a labor shortage, which may limit our access to qualified talent necessary to continue supporting our planned growth strategies.

 

  · Our growth will be dependent on increasing revenue by bringing in new ecommerce customers and wholesale business partners. The inevitable consequence of this is having a larger, more eclectic range of clients, all with their own unique needs and expectations. We expect to address these challenges by actively collecting feedback from our customers and partners through a variety of means, including customer surveys, technology-enabled business intelligence tools, direct sales relationship management and staying fully informed on evolving fashion trends and shifting market pressures. Nonetheless, we compete in the global fashion industry that is subject to fast-paced shifts in clothing trends that may outpace our ability to adapt our offerings to changing consumer preferences. Moreover, we must currently contend with rising inflationary concerns confronting our target consumers, who may elect to allocate their discretionary spend to more fundamental everyday expenses, limiting their buying of premium apparel, accessories and home décor items, such as those we offer.

 

 84 

 

 

  · Building and maintaining an efficient, functioning supply chain is vital to the timely fulfilment of orders for our apparel, accessories and home décor products, which will have a material impact on the success of our Company. To achieve this aim, it is imperative that we maintain a large and diverse global network of proven, reputable suppliers of fabrics and finishings and manufacturers with the production capacity, skill and capabilities to meet our needs. Because we focus on designing and releasing new Messi Brand seasonal collections and limited-edition capsule collections in the spring and fall of each year, we have established relationships with a broad number of reliable suppliers, providing us with the flexibility to select which suppliers, and/or alternate suppliers, we may require to meet our product release schedules. We continually assess and reassess our medium- to long-term forecasts so that we are well prepared to manage our production requirements and mitigate any potentially compromising supply chain bottlenecks. However, the loss of any of our supply relationships could adversely affect our business and financial position. In addition, the suppliers with which we choose to team with may experience their own challenges that could compromise their ability to meet our supply needs. These challenges may range from labor shortages in the geographic regions in which they operate; cyber security attacks or other potentially catastrophic events that could compromise their ability to operate; or encounter their own supply shortage and logistics issues that could diminish their ability to effectively and timely meet our needs for materials, finishings and finished goods.

 

  · Our Company’s compliance responsibilities will increase, including those related to managing our SEC reporting requirements, internal controls and other industry-related regulations and compliance matters. The General Data Protection Regulation and California Consumer Privacy Act are two regulations, in particular, that create a range of new compliance tasks that will increase in magnitude as our Company expands. It is incumbent on our leadership team to ensure that everyone in our workforce is aware of regulatory demands and their day-to-day significance to our business. In addition, key members of our senior leadership team have little to no direct experience managing a public company and the related SEC and Nasdaq compliance and regulatory requirements.

 

  · While The Messi Brand is our first and only brand in our current portfolio, it is our intention to license, acquire or organically grow additional brands to expand and diversify our portfolio in the future. We recognize that we are currently solely reliant on our relationship and licensing agreement with LLM to operate and build our business. Our business could suffer immeasurable harm in the event that we lost our relationship with LMM or in any way fail to meet the terms and conditions of our licensing agreement with LLM. There is no guarantee that we will prove successful at expanding our brand portfolio with the addition of newly acquired licensed, acquired or organically grown brands to offset the loss of The Messi Brand.

  

Our Growth Strategies

 

The key elements of our growth strategy are centered on:

 

  · Growing The Messi Brand’s global customer base. With our differentiated brand and organic virality, strong funnel of new customers and our continued focus on collaborative partnerships and marketing efficiencies, we remain intent on growing the number of customers passionate about and loyal to The Messi Brand through our dynamic direct to consumer business model. Our broad digital ecosystem – our engaging ecommerce website and mobile app to social media channels, coupled with our planned launch of a loyalty program in the near future – allows us to better connect, engage, track and service our customers. This ecosystem also provides us with robust quantitative and qualitative customer data that we use to inform all aspects of our business operations – from product development to merchandising to marketing.

 

 85 

 

 

  · Launching New Categories and Offerings under The Messi Brand. Through in-house development by our talented design team or collaborations with other leading brands and notable designers, we intend to continue to expand The Messi Brand line of products to broaden and deepen our categories to potentially include capsule collections featuring men’s business wear, special occasion wear, designer denim wear, non-athletic footwear, more diversified home décor offerings and expanded clothing collections designed specifically for women and children, among others.

 

  · Driving Leverage in Operational Efficiency. We are focused on using our customer and market data to drive actionable insights and improve key aspects of our brand management platform’s operations. Moreover, we plan to further deepen customer relationships with personalization and customization through the development and launch of a Messi Store loyalty program. Through this program, we expect to tailor our marketing messages, promotions and product recommendations to each customer’s unique preferences with a goal of enhancing customer engagement and capturing greater spend.

 

  · Implement New Technologies. We will continue to enhance our ecommerce functionality with tools for product recommendations, enhanced payment options (e.g., buy now pay later), and improved returns processes to drive conversions and increase order value. We also believe there is an opportunity to further leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning and geo-fencing technologies to drive better customer acquisition and more efficient retention marketing strategies.

 

  · Growing through Strategic Acquisitions and Brand Partnerships and Collaborations. Capitalizing on the platform infrastructure we have created to support the development, launch and success of The Messi Brand, we will actively look to identify and pursue opportunities to vertically integrate other prolific brand partnerships into our brand portfolio, replicating and scaling our licensing model. In addition, we aim to explore incremental growth opportunities to acquire existing lifestyle brands, products or intellectual property that will complement our brand mix and appeal to our customers. Finally, it is common practice in the fashion industry to establish brand collaborations with other leading lifestyle brands to penetrate new product categories, enter new markets and expand into new geographic regions. In this regard, we expect to seek out opportunities to identify and pursue brand collaborations with premium lifestyle brands with the goal of leveraging and cross-marketing new co-branded products to existing and prospective customer bases of both brands to fuel our respective revenue growth.

 

  · Developing a Premium Discount Outlet Distribution Channel. In recent years, an important retailing phenomenon has been the growth of premium discount outlet shopping venues, both online and bricks and mortar stores, where consumers go to find premium brand products at marked down pricing. As we continue to strategically expand our distribution channels into the broader retail environment, we believe that outlets may provide us with the opportunity to reach a broader universe of prospective buyers, while also giving us an effective method for managing and moving past-season articles that remain in inventory.

 

Corporate Structure

 

On October 11, 2018, MGOTEAM 1 LLC (“MGO LLC”) was formed in Delaware by our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Maximiliano Ojeda. On October 29, 2018, MGO LLC entered into a Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL, a company incorporated under the laws of Spain with VAT number B65073694 registered in the Commercial Registry of Barcelona (“LMM”). On November 20, 2021, MGO LLC entered into a Trademark License Agreement with LMM (the “Messi License”) expiring on December 31, 2024, which replaced the initial Trademark License Agreement dated October 29, 2018. Pursuant to the Messi License, LLM granted MGO LLC the worldwide rights to the “Messi” brand of apparel as further described in “Business—Messi License.” On November 30, 2021, MGO Global Inc. was incorporated in Delaware and on December 6, 2021 entered into a Rollover Agreement (the “Rollover Agreement”) with MGO LLC and members of MGO LLC holding 88% of its the membership interests (the “Rollover Members”). Pursuant to the Rollover Agreement, the Rollover Members exchanged all of their membership interests in MGO LLC with MGO for shares in MGO and MGO LLC became an 88% owned subsidiary of MGO.

 

Corporate Information 

 

We were incorporated in the State of Delaware on November 30, 2021. Our principal executive offices are located at 1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33346 and our telephone number is 347-913-3316. We also have employees and contracted talent working remotely in London, New York and Latin America. Our corporate website address is www.mgoglobalinc.com. Information on or that can be accessed through our website is not part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in determining whether to make an investment decision. 

 

 86 

 

 

Trade Names and Marks

 

We own or have rights to various trademarks, service marks and trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business. This prospectus may also contain trademarks, service marks and trade names of third parties, which are the property of their respective owners. Our use or display of third parties’ trademarks, service marks and trade names or products in this prospectus is not intended to, and does not imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship by us. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ®, TM or SM symbols, but the omission of such references is not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable owner of these trademarks, service marks and trade names. 

 

The Messi License

 

On October 29, 2018, we originally entered into a Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL, a company incorporated under the laws of Spain with VAT number B65073694 registered in the Commercial Registry of Barcelona (“LMM”). Pursuant to that agreement, LLM granted MGO LLC the worldwide rights to the “Messi” brand of apparel for a period of nine years.

 

On November 20, 2021, we entered into a new three (3) year Trademark License Agreement (the “Messi License”), replacing the prior license agreement. The Messi License provides for MGO and LLM to collaborate on a line of products, including: Apparel; Accessories; swimwear unrelated to sports; Cold Weather Accessories; outerwear; Casual Footwear; postcards (not including Player’s signature); posters (not including Player’s signature); paintings (not including Player’s signature) and Linen and Home Textiles (the “Products”).

 

For the purposes of this subsection, the terms:

 

  · “Accessories” means bags, leather goods, belts, hats (not caps), gloves and scarves, none of which can be sports related.

 

  · “Apparel” means T-shirts with artwork, woven shirts/woven tops (button front shirts) – polo shirts, sweatshirts, T-shirt sweatshirt, pants (example jeans), sweaters, dress suits (coat and pants), formal wear, underwear, bathing suits (not sports related), and socks.

 

  · “Assigned Trademark Rights” means the trademarks and trademark applications related to the LMM Trademark Rights that are set forth on a schedule to the Messi License.

 

  · “Casual Footwear” means non-active/sports footwear, and flip flops (except for those addressed to 0 to 12 years old children).

 

  · “Cold Weather Accessories” means hats (not including caps for practicing baseball, tennis, golf), gloves and scarves, none of which can be sports related.

 

  · “Linen and Home Textiles” means (except for those addressed to 0 to 12 years old children) or area rugs.

 

  · “LMM Trademark Rights” means LMM’s worldwide exclusive commercial and advertising exploitation rights of the image, voice, name and signature (the “Image Rights”) of the professional football player Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini (the “Player”) to the extent required in order to negotiate, manage and execute agreements relating to the assignment of and the promotional services by the Player

 

  · “Net Sales” means the gross revenues from all sales of Products made by both MGO and third-party licensees, deducting therefrom (i) indirect taxes such as VAT, (ii) returns as credited to such customers, and (iii) customary cash, trade and sales discounts and rebates actually taken.

 

Pursuant to the Messi License, LMM has granted us a worldwide license (with certain limitations) to use the Assigned Trademark Rights with the purpose of developing, manufacturing, trading and promoting the Products, however we do not have the right to sublicense the Messi License without the prior consent of LMM. LMM has retained the right to enter into cobranding deals with third parties with respect to certain Products. For example, LMM may enter a deal with an established brand that will jointly use the “Messi” name in conjunction with its brand on products it sells.

 

 87 

 

 

Limitations of the Messi License. The Messi License does not include the following products:

 

  · All sports footwear and related items, sports apparel and related items, and related products and sports compression garments, technical underwear, sports caps, sports visors headbands, sports hats and head protection, sports performance eyewear, heart rate, speed and distance monitoring devices, training and personal training tools, wristbands, ring covers, and sports bags; and

 

  · Pajamas, slippers, bathrobes, bath towels, bed linen, alarm clocks, strollers, school bag packs, lunch boxes and underwear, for children from 0 to 12 years old.

 

Royalty Payments. Under the Messi License, we will be required every five months in accordance with a schedule to pay LMM, as a royalty, 12% of our Net Sales from licensed products generated in the previous five months. The royalties we pay to LMM over the term of the Messi License are subject to a minimum guaranteed amount (the “Minimum Guaranteed Amount”), equal to four million Euros, which are payable in installments of 500,000 Euros on a semi-annual basis (each a “Minimum Guarantee Payment”). The amount of Minimum Guarantee Payments due in any contractual year shall be referred to herein as the “Annual Guaranteed Royalty”). Any payment required by us under the Messi License that is not timely made shall accrue at a higher default interest rate. No royalties shall be paid on the sales of The Messi Store online, and on the co-branded products, unless such sales are managed directly by MGO; in this specific event, MGO and LMM shall negotiate the appropriate royalty to be paid to LMM, providing that such royalty shall never be lower than the percentage rate applicable to normal royalty payments.

 

Indemnification. We have agreed to indemnify and hold the Player and LMM fully harmless from any and all damages (including the loss of profits), expenses or costs arising out of any actions, lawsuits, claims, sanctions or, in general, of any type of claims or proceedings directly or indirectly related to the breach of our obligations undertaken in the Messi License.

 

Each party to the Messi License shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the other party and its officers, directors, employees, agents, sublicensees, successors, and assigns from and against all losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, claims, actions, judgments, settlements, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs, or expenses of whatever kind, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of pursuing any insurance providers arising out of or in connection with any third-party claim, suit, action, or proceeding relating to any actual or alleged: (a) breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or obligation under the Messi License, (b) violation of any applicable statute, law, or regulation, or (c) negligence or willfull misconduct. the other party

 

Term and Termination. The Messi License will have an initial term of three (3) years that expires on December 31, 2024, with no automatic renewal (the “Term”).

 

The Messi License may be terminated: (a) by the expiration of the Term; (b) by mutual agreement in writing; (c) upon the written notice of the non-breaching Party for the material breach by the other party of its obligations under the Messi License , if the breach is not cured within fifteen (15) calendar days of the receipt of notification; (d) by means of a written notice by a party in case of liquidation or winding up of the legal entity of the other party.; or (e) at LMM’s request if: (i) there occurs a breach by us of the payment provisions of the Messi License that is not cured within fifteen (15), (ii) the aggregate consideration paid to LMM by us is not at least equal to the Annual Guaranteed Royalty in any contractual year or (iii) as a consequence of any action on the part of MGO and, specifically, those related to the manufacturing and marketing of the Products, or to the use and operation of the Assigned Trademark Rights, which cause or may cause, either directly or indirectly, any damage or alteration to the good name and image, reputation and prestige of the Player and of LMM. In such event, besides the immediate termination of the Agreement, LMM shall also be entitled to claim to MGO a compensation on the grounds of the damages that its behavior may cause or might have caused.

 

Upon termination, we must cease the use or exploitation of the Assigned Trademark Rights, but not limited to producing any goods, materials or mediums containing the Assigned Trademark Rights Likewise, MGO shall immediately cease to use The Messi Store website and its application and shall transfer to LMM all permissions and licenses necessary for the latter to continue operating said website and application. However, for a period of ninety (90) days from termination, we may distribute the remaining stock of the Products already manufactured through the same channels and under the same terms and conditions of the Messi License.

 

Assignment. The Messi License may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of the other party.

 

Intellectual Property

 

The Company does not have any registered trademarks and any patents. We rely on the Company’s right to use Leo Messi’s image, likeness, trademarks and other intellectual property pursuant to the Messi License with Leo Messi Management SL, Leo Messi’s family office. We also rely on copyright laws to protect the photographs and content on our site, as well as our site itself, although we have not sought copyright registrations to date. We have registered Internet domain names related to our business and The Messi Store.

 

 88 

 

 

Government and Industry Regulation

 

Our business is subject to a number of laws and regulations that affect companies conducting business on the Internet, many of which are still evolving and could be interpreted in ways that could harm our business. These laws and regulations include federal and state consumer protection laws protecting the privacy of consumer information and regulations prohibiting unfair and deceptive trade practices. In particular, under federal and state privacy laws and regulations, we must provide notice to consumers of our policies on sharing sensitive information with third parties, advance notice of any changes to our policies and, in some instances, we may be obligated to give customers the right to prevent sharing of their sensitive information with unaffiliated third parties. The growth and demand for e-commerce could result in more stringent consumer protection laws that impose additional compliance burdens on online companies. These consumer protection laws could result in substantial compliance costs.

 

In many jurisdictions, there is currently great uncertainty whether or how existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, sales and other taxes, libel and personal privacy apply to the Internet and e-commerce. In addition, new tax regulations in jurisdictions where we do not now collect state and local taxes may subject us to the obligation to collect and remit state and local taxes, or subject us to additional state and local sales and income taxes, or to requirements intended to assist states with their tax collection efforts. New legislation or regulation, the application of laws and regulations from jurisdictions whose laws do not currently apply to our business or the application of existing laws and regulations to the Internet and e-commerce could result in significant additional taxes on our business. These taxes or tax collection obligations could have an adverse effect on our cash flows and results of operations. Further, there is a possibility that we may be subject to significant fines or other payments for any past failures to comply with these requirements.

 

The manufacturers of products we sell may be subject to various regulations regarding the safety of such products.

 

Employees

 

As of November 11, 2022, we have 4 employees. However, we utilize the services of 17 individuals, seven (7) on a full-time basis and ten (10) on a part-time basis and compensate them in non-employee capacities as consultants. In addition to these individuals, we have retained the services of seven (7) additional persons and entities as independent contractors, including individuals and entities providing the following types of consulting services:

 

  Software Engineering and Architecture;

 

  IT Security;

 

  IT Quality Control;

 

  IT Security;

 

  Marketing and Communications;

 

  Legal Services; and

 

  Public Relations and Public Affairs.

 

We consider our relationships with our consultants and independent contractors to be good, and we have not been a party to any employment related claims, including sexual, age, racial or other discriminatory allegations.

 

Properties

 

Our Company’s employees and consultants work remotely from personal office locations based in Florida, New York, London and Latin America. Consequently, we have secured a virtual business address through the United States Postal Service located at 1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33346. Currently, we do not lease any office space.

 

 89 

 

 

We do not own any properties or land. We believe our facilities are adequate and suitable for our current needs and that, should it be needed, suitable additional or alternative space will be available.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings, which arise in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our business. We are currently not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that we believe will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

 

MANAGEMENT

 

The following are our executive officers and directors and their respective ages and positions as of November 18, 2022.

 

Name   Age   Position
Maximiliano Ojeda   45   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Virginia Hilfiger   58   Director and Chief Design Officer
Julian Groves   50   Director and Chief Operating Officer
Nicole Fernandez-McGovern*   47   Independent Director Nominee
Obie McKenzie*   77   Independent Director Nominee
Salima Popatia*   46   Independent Director Nominee
Paul Wahlgren*   56   Independent Director Nominee
Martin Scott   54   Chief Financial Officer
Matt Harward   52   Chief Marketing Officer

 

*Director Nominees are automatically appointed to the Board of Directors upon the listing of our Common Stock on any nationally recognized stock exchange.

 

Maximiliano Ojeda, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Mr. Ojeda is the co-founder of MGO Global and has served as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since the Company’s inception in 2017. An entrepreneur and international business executive, his career has largely focused on business development, contract negotiations, high-touch customer engagement and advanced technologies within the hospitality, U.S. real estate, land development and ecommerce industries.

 

Born in Argentina, Mr. Ojeda attended UADE Business School. He launched his professional career working in VIP client relations and management for luxury hoteliers in Argentina. He immigrated to the United States and, from January 2011 through 2017, he served as a real estate brokerage executive in New York City where he catered to high end clientele and led prolific land development projects first at Douglas Elliman Real Estate and then The Corcoran Group. It was through client relationships he established in the global real estate industry that led to his introduction to the Leo Messi organization and the subsequent formation of MGO in partnership with Virginia Hilfiger.

 

Mr. Ojeda does not hold, and has not previously held, any directorships in any reporting companies.

 

Virginia Hilfiger, Co-Founder and Chief Design Officer – Ms. Hilfiger has served as MGO’s Chief Design Officer since co-founding the Company in 2017 with Maximiliano Ojeda. She is the youngest sibling of Tommy Hilfiger, a renowned, globally respected American fashion designer and the founder of Tommy Hilfiger Corporation (THC). While attending the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where she studied fashion and apparel design, Ms. Hilfiger worked as an intern at THC, learning the ropes of high-end design working alongside her brother. After FIT, she joined the Tweeds Catalog company where she worked as a clothing designer for the high-end fashion company. She returned to THC in 1990, where for the next 15 years she served as Executive Vice President of Women’s Corporate and led the creation, development and launch of numerous iconic Tommy Hilfiger brands and collections, including Tommy Jeans, H Hilfiger and Tommy Girl; and she led the reimagining and relaunch of Tommy’s women’s sportwear division.

 

In 2005, Ms. Hilfiger left THC and founded Ginny H, a luxury women’s ready to wear clothing brand launched in Bergdorf Goodman in New York City and expanded to the online stores of Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. From 2011 through 2015, she served as Creative Director and Brand Builder for Fila, a globally renowned sportwear manufacturer based in South Korea that designs and markets an extensive line of footwear and apparel to consumers worldwide. Ms. Hilfiger was recruited to Fila to lead the redesign and relaunch of Fila’s Global Heritage brand through the development of modern, sporty lifestyle and tennis wear. From 2015 through the present, Ms. Hilfiger has served as Chief Designer of Fila’s Ginny H Modern Heritage, which currently retails exclusively in China. Designed exclusively by Ms. Hilfiger, the collections feature a resurgence of the ever popular knitted long-sleeve coat, as well as the Fila’s signature F-box polos, among other refined tennis and activewear. Ms. Hilfiger was also tapped by Turko Textile as a special consultant to design and develop a capsule collection for the Brooks Brothers Home Collection.

 

 90 

 

 

Ms. Hilfiger does not hold, and has not previously held, any directorships in any reporting companies.

 

Julian Groves, Chief Operating Officer – Mr. Groves was appointed as our Chief Operating Officer in February 2019 and is charged with guiding the commercial strategy behind The Messi Brand and any brands that the Company may license, acquire or organically develop in the future. He brings to MGO over 25 years of experience leading business-to-business, direct to consumer, retail, wholesale and ecommerce initiatives for numerous leading apparel brands.

 

From May 2014 through March 2021, Mr. Groves served as Chief Executive Officer of EC2M Holdings Limited, a lifestyle brand-building company which owned and operated London Persona, a growing men’s lifestyle brand launched as a direct-to-consumer shopping experience for men seeking season-to-season high-end wardrobes. EC2M also represented the lifestyle brand Trickers throughout North America and Canada, charged with developing and managing the brand’s B2B channel. From May 2013 through May 2014, he served as Sales Director, EMEA of J Brand Europe, a premium, American denim clothing company in which Fast Retailing acquired an 80% stake for $290 million in 2012. As General Manager, EMEA of True Religion from October 2010 through March 2013, Mr. Groves had full profit and loss (P&L) responsibility for the region, overseeing corporate operations in Switzerland and managing full P&L responsibility for the growing, fashion-forward denim brand.

 

In August 2007, Mr. Groves was recruited by GUESS Europe to serve as Country Manager of the casual lifestyle brand’s operations in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Under his leadership, GUESS Europe opened 32 concessions and 22 retail shops, including GUESS’ Central London flagship store. Earlier in his distinguished career, he was General Manager, UK and Ireland, for Groupe Zannier International from September 2004 through 2007; United Kingdom Sales Director for Burberry from September 2001 through 2004; and United Kingdom Sales Manager for LVMH Kenzo Homme UK Ltd. from November 1997 through August 2001.

 

Mr. Groves does not hold, and has not previously held, any directorships in any reporting companies.

 

Nicole Fernandez-McGovern, Independent Director Nominee – Since August 2016, Ms. Fernandez-McGovern has been serving as Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President of Operations at AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (“AgEagle”), charged with overseeing the NYSE-listed Company’s global financial operations to include managing financial planning, general tax and accounting activities, capital formation, SEC reporting and other key financial duties. From May 5, 2020 through May 18, 2020, Ms. Fernandez-McGovern also served as AgEagle’s Interim Chief Executive Officer during the Company’s transition to a new CEO.

 

From January 2014 through September 2022, she served as a Partner at Premier Financial Filings. Prior to joining AgEagle, Ms. Fernandez-McGovern served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Trunity Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded education technology company from April 2012 to January 2016. While at Trunity, she led the successful restructuring of the Company by acquiring a new compounding pharmacy business and finalizing the spin-out of the legacy education business into a newly formed private company. From 2011, she has been serving as President of RCM Financial Consulting, a specialized consulting firm she founded to focus on providing interim accounting and financial services to small- and medium-sized businesses.  For the preceding ten years from 2001 to 2010, she was a financial manager at Elizabeth Arden where she was involved with all aspects of the Nasdaq-listed company’s SEC and financial reporting processes. She launched her professional career at KPMG, LLP in its audit and assurance practice, where she managed various large scale engagements for both public and privately held companies.

 

Ms. Fernandez-McGovern earned a Master of Business Administration degree with concentration in Accounting and International Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with concentration in Accounting, both from the University of Miami. In addition to being fluent in Spanish, she is also a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Florida and serves on the boards of the South Florida Chapter of Financial Executives International and Pembroke Pines Charter Schools. 

 

Ms. Fernandez-McGovern does not hold, and has not previously held, any directorships in any reporting companies. We believe that Ms. Fernandez-McGovern’s experience in financial services business and her experience working for public companies makes her well qualified to serve on our Board and as an independent member of the Board’s committees.

 

Obie McKenzie, Independent Director Nominee – Beginning in January 2019 through to the present, Mr. McKenzie has served as Vice Chairman of Cordiant Capital, a global infrastructure and real assets investment firm focused on digital infrastructure, renewable energy infrastructure and agriculture. In his role as Managing Director of BlackRock Inc. from January 2000 through December 2018, he was wholly responsible for managing relationships with some of the largest pension funds in the United States to include the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, New York City Employees’ Retirement System and the Federal Reserve Employee Benefits System, among others.

 

During his accomplished career, Mr. McKenzie served as Managing Director at Merrill Lynch from 1990 through 2006; Executive Director at UBS Asset Management and Managing Director at Chase Investors from 1987 through 1990; as well as Founder and President of McKenzie & Company, an NASD registered broker-dealer from 1984 through 1987. During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, Mr. McKenzie held positions at Citibank, Chemical Bank and Freedom National Bank as a commercial banker. He was also Manager of Banking and Pensions at The New York Times in 1975 and began his career as a Corporate Finance Associate for Morgan Stanley in 1972.

 

 91 

 

 

Mr. McKenzie was a founding board member of the National Association of Securities Professionals, where he received the “Wall Street Hall of Fame Award” in 2001. In 2010, Mr. McKenzie received the AIMSE Richard A. Lothrop Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition for his outstanding achievements in the investment management industry and his community. In 2011, he was named by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the 75 Most Powerful Blacks on Wall Street; and in 2013, he was named Public Fund Marketer of the Year by Money Management Intelligence.  Mr. McKenzie earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee State University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

 

Mr. McKenzie does not hold, and has not previously held, any directorships in any reporting companies. We believe that Mr. McKenzie’s experience in banking and technologies business makes him well qualified to serve on our Board and as an independent member of the Board’s committees.

 

Salima Popatia, Independent Director Nominee – Ms. Popatia brings MGO nearly 20 years’ experience in digital branding and customer-first strategies for numerous premium brands in the beauty and fashion industries. In August 2022, she was named Chief Digital Officer of Orveon Global, a collective of premium and prestige beauty brands, including bareMinerals, Buxom and Laura Mercier.

 

During her career, she spent a total of nearly 15 years working at The Estée Lauder Companies overseeing marketing, merchandizing and analytic strategies across the Company’s portfolio of 30 leading prestige beauty brands. She first worked at Estee Lauder from August 2004 through December 2010, serving as Executive Director, Global Online Marketing for the Company’s MAC Cosmetics line and from January 2010 through October 2011 as Executive Director of the Digital Technology and Innovation Group. In 2015, she returned to Estée Lauder, serving as Vice President, Global Ecommerce, Marketing and Merchandizing from February 2015 through July 2019, before rising to Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Acquisition and Retention, a role she held from July 2019 through August 2022.

 

From January 2014 through January 2015, Ms. Popatia was Vice President, Ecommerce of Ray-Ban at Luxottica Group, a leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of fashion, luxury and sports eyewear; and from October 2011 through December 2013, she served as Senior Vice President of Global Omni-Commerce and Digital Strategy at Stuart Weitzman Holdings, a luxury footwear company. In January 2004, Ms. Popatia launched her career as an Online Marketing Manager at Digitas, where she spearheaded digital agency strategy and development of integrated marketing initiatives across all channels for the firm’s client, American Express. From August 2004 through December 2008, she also co-founded and led indomix, an innovative multi-channel retail concept that provided a platform for emerging South Asian designers in the U.S. market.

 

Ms. Popatia holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and International Business from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

 

She does not hold, and has not previously held, any directorships in any reporting companies. We believe that Ms. Popatia’s experience in ecommerce and fashion business makes her well qualified to serve on our Board and as an independent member of the Board’s committees.

 

Paul Wahlgren, Independent Director Nominee – an entrepreneurial senior business leader with over 40 years of experience in the luxury consumer goods, beauty and electronics industries, Mr. Wahlgren currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer of Simply Active Cosmetics, a company he co-founded in January 2018 to bring to market the BeautyStat Cosmetics line, a brand that is now offered worldwide through multiple channels, including DTC, retail and ecommerce. From January 2014 to January 2018, he has also served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Biomimetic Laboratories, Inc., founded by Mr. Wahlgren and a team of other leading beauty industry innovators. From 2011 through 2013 and 2003 through 2008, he was Managing Director and International Sales Manager, respectively, of New York-based Jacob & Co. Watches Inc., a luxury timepiece and fine jewelry designer and manufacturer; and from 2010 through 2011, he was Director of Wholesale at Theo Fennell Plc., another prestigious fine jewelry designer and manufacturer based in the United Kingdom. Earlier in his career, he also held senior leadership positions in Europe with Expert International GMBH and Philips Consumer Electronics.

 

In addition to being a hands-on operator, Mr. Wahlgren has consulted with companies on expanding their businesses and market penetration efforts. From 2018-2019, he lent his expertise to DFO Global, a digital performance marketing agency; from 2017-2018, he consulted with MiMedia, Inc., a next generation consumer cloud platform; and from 2016 through present day, he is advising the leadership of Fox Models International, a talent management agency.

 

Mr. Wahlgren is a graduate of State University College at Buffalo, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He also holds an MBA from Nyenrode Business Universiteit in the Netherlands and completed the Digital Strategy Program at Harvard University. He currently serves as board member American Friends of Nyenrode University Inc. (“AFNU”) and had served on the Parents Association Board and as the Annual Benefit Co-Chairman for the Hewitt School in New York City.

 

Mr. Wahlgren does not hold, and has not previously held, any directorships in any reporting companies. We believe that Mr. Wahlgren’s experience in luxury consumer goods, beauty and electronics industries makes him well qualified to serve on our Board and as an independent member of the Board’s committees.

 92 

 

 

Martin Scott, CPA, Chief Financial Officer – Mr. Scott was named our Chief Financial Officer in March 2022, bringing the Company over three decades of corporate finance and accounting experience working with public and private companies of all size, scopes and industry sectors. In 2004, Mr. Scott founded Martin Scott CFO Consulting, a consulting firm which provides outsourced CFO services to small- and medium-sized businesses. He is widely recognized as an expert in SEC reporting, financial planning and analysis, capital formation, mergers and acquisitions and audit planning and oversight. Mr. Scott is a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Scott graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance.

 

Mr. Scott does not hold, and has not previously held, any directorships in any reporting companies.

 

Matt Harward, Chief Marketing Officer – Mr. Harward is a serial digital entrepreneur with more than three decades of experience in software engineering, marketing automation and algorithm-oriented marketing via Google, Amazon and Facebook. His track record of success in the digital marketing industry over the past ten years alone has yielded more than $400 million in online sales, with two companies he co-founded generating $100 million+ in annual revenues.

 

Prior to joining MGO Global Inc., Mr. Harward was CEO of Unicorn Industries, a digital marketing firm he co-founded in 2021 which focused on developing Artificial Intelligence-assisted marketing technology, platforms and strategies for direct-to-consumer ecommerce businesses. Mr. Harward’s thought leadership and unique insights into algorithm-oriented marketing platforms have led to him being frequently featured in the media and sought after for speaking engagements at various trade shows and conferences. From June 2018 through 2021, he co-founded and served as Chief Marketing Officer of Harward Media, a collection of multiple house-owned, digitally native ecommerce brands.  In both 2020 and 2021, Harward Media was named to the Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing private companies in America.  In 2011, Mr. Harward co-founded Innitech, where he served as Chief Technology Officer until his departure in 2016 to launch a new private marketing services company, Strange Quarks. While at Innitech, the Company built three multi-eight-figure brands, including two in the ecommerce space. 

 

Mr. Harward does not hold, and has not previously held, any directorships in any reporting companies.

 

Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight

 

Our Board has responsibility for the oversight of our risk management processes and, either as a whole or through its committees, regularly discusses with management our major risk exposures, their potential impact on our business and the steps we take to manage them. The risk oversight process includes receiving regular reports from board committees and members of senior management to enable our Board to understand our risk identification, risk management, and risk mitigation strategies with respect to areas of potential material risk, including operations, finance, legal, regulatory, cybersecurity, strategic, and reputational risk. Our Board recognizes that it is neither possible nor prudent to eliminate all risk. Indeed, purposeful and appropriate risk-taking is essential for our company to be competitive on a global basis and to achieve its objectives.

 

Board of Directors

 

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. Our Board consists of three directors, none of whom qualify as “independent” under the listing standards of Nasdaq.

 

 93 

 

 

Directors serve until the next annual meeting and until their successors are elected and qualified. Officers are appointed to serve until their successors have been elected and qualified.

 

Director Independence

 

Prior to the closing of this initial public offering, our Board will be composed of a majority of “independent directors” as defined under the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”). We use the definition of “independence” applied by Nasdaq to make this determination. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) provides that an “independent director” is a person other than an officer or employee of the company or any other individual having a relationship which, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Nasdaq listing rules provide that a director cannot be considered independent if:  

 

  · the director is, or at any time during the past three (3) years was, an employee of the company;

 

  · the director or a family member of the director accepted any compensation from the company in excess of $120,000 during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months within the three (3) years preceding the independence determination (subject to certain exemptions, including, among other things, compensation for board or board committee service);

 

  · the director or a family member of the director is a partner in, controlling shareholder of, or an executive officer of an entity to which the company made, or from which the company received, payments in the current or any of the past three fiscal years that exceed 5% of the recipient’s gross revenue for that year or $200,000, whichever is greater (subject to certain exemptions);

 

  · the director or a family member of the director is employed as an executive officer of an entity where, at any time during the past three (3) years, any of the executive officers of the company served on the compensation committee of such other entity; or

 

  · the director or a family member of the director is a current partner of the Company’s outside auditor, or at any time during the past three (3) years was a partner or employee of the Company’s outside auditor, and who worked on the Company’s audit.

 

Under such definitions, our Board has undertaken a review of the independence of each director. Based on the information provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, our Board has determined that none of our directors are independent directors of the Company. However, our Common Stock is not currently quoted or listed on any national exchange or interdealer quotation system with a requirement that a majority of our Board be independent and, therefore, the Company is not subject to any director independence requirements.

 

Committees of the Board

 

Prior to our Common Stock being listed on Nasdaq, we will establish an audit committee (the “Audit Committee”), a compensation committee (the “Compensation Committee”) and a nominating and corporate governance committee (the “Nominating and Governance Committee”). Each such committee of the Board will have the composition and responsibilities described below.

 

Audit Committee

 

We will establish an Audit Committee which will consist of three independent directors. The initial members of the audit committee will be Nicole Fernandez-McGovern, Obie McKenzie and Paul Wahlgren. Nicole Fernandez-McGovern will be the Chairperson of the audit committee. In addition, our Board has determined that Nicole Fernandez-McGovern is an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.

 

The audit committee’s duties, which are specified in our Audit Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:

  

 94 

 

 

  · reviewing and discussing with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, and recommending to the Board whether the audited financial statements should be included in our annual disclosure report;

  · discussing with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our financial statements;

  · discussing with management major risk assessment and risk management policies;

  · monitoring the independence of the independent auditor;

  · verifying the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law;

  · reviewing and approving all related-party transactions;

  · inquiring and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

  · pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditor, including the fees and terms of the services to be performed;

  · appointing or replacing the independent auditor;

  · determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work;

  · establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies; and

  · approving reimbursement of expenses incurred by our management team in identifying potential target businesses.

 

The Audit Committee is composed exclusively of “independent directors” who are “financially literate” as defined under the Nasdaq listing standards. The Nasdaq listing standards define “financially literate” as being able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement.

 

In addition, the Company intends to certify to Nasdaq that the committee has, and will continue to have, at least one member who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or other comparable experience or background that results in the individual’s financial sophistication.

 

Compensation Committee

 

We will establish a Compensation Committee of the Board which will consist of three independent directors. The initial members of the Compensation Committee are Obie McKenzie, Nicole Fernandez-McGovern and Salima Popatia, each of whom is an independent director. Each member of our Compensation Committee is also a non-employee director, as defined under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and an outside director, as defined pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code. Obie McKenzie is the chairman of the compensation committee.

 

The Compensation Committee’s duties, which are specified in our Compensation Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:

 

  · reviews, approves and determines, or makes recommendations to our Board regarding, the compensation of our executive officers;
  · administers our equity compensation plans;
  · reviews and approves, or makes recommendations to our Board, regarding incentive compensation and equity compensation plans; and
  · establishes and reviews general policies relating to compensation and benefits of our employees.

 

 95 

 

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

We will establish a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consisting of two directors. The initial members of the nominating and corporate governance committee will be Salima Popatia and Paul Wahlgren. Julian Groves will serve as an advisor for a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with a right to advise and discuss with the members of the committee qualifications of the candidates. Mr. Groves will not have a right to nominate candidates or any other rights of the members of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Salima Popatia is the Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s duties, which are specified in our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:

 

  · identifying, reviewing and evaluating candidates to serve on our Board consistent with criteria approved by our Board;

  · evaluating director performance on our Board and applicable committees of our Board and determining whether continued service on our Board is appropriate;

  · evaluating nominations by stockholders of candidates for election to our Board; and

  · corporate governance matters.

 

Code of Ethics

 

Our Board plans to adopt a written code of business conduct and ethics (the “Code”) that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. Such Code addresses, among other things, honesty and ethical conduct, conflicts of interest, compliance with laws, regulations and policies, including disclosure requirements under the federal securities laws, and reporting of violations of the Code. We intend to post on our website a current copy of the Code and all disclosures that are required by law in regard to any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the Code. A copy of the Code has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers or directors.

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

To our knowledge, none of our current directors or executive officers has, during the past ten (10) years:

 

  · been convicted in a criminal proceeding or been subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);

 

  · had any bankruptcy petition filed by or against the business or property of the person, or of any partnership, corporation or business association of which he was a general partner or executive officer, either at the time of the bankruptcy filing or within two (2) years prior to that time;

 

  · been subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction or federal or state authority, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting, his involvement in any type of business, securities, futures, commodities, investment, banking, savings and loan, or insurance activities, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;

 

  · been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated;

 

  · been the subject of, or a party to, any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated (not including any settlement of a civil proceeding among private litigants), relating to an alleged violation of any federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation, any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order, or any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or

 

  · been the subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act), any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.

 

 96 

 

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following summary compensation table provides information concerning all cash and non-cash compensation awarded to, earned by or paid during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 to our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer), Chief Design Officer and Chief Operating Officer. We refer to these individuals as our “named executive officers.”

 

Name and Principal Position(1)   Year    

Salary

($)

   

Bonus

($)

   

Stock
Awards

($)

   

Option
Awards

($)

   

All Other
Compensation

($)

   

Total

($)

 
Maximiliano Ojeda,     2021       75,000       -       -       -       -       75,000  
Chief Executive Officer     2020       75,000       -       -       -       -       75,000  

 

  (1) No named executive officer earned more than $100,000 in fiscal year 2021. 

 

Employment Agreements

 

We have executed the following employment agreements with our named executive officers. The material terms of each of those arrangements are summarized below. The summaries are not complete description of all provisions of the employment arrangements and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the written employment arrangements, each filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Ojeda Employment Agreement. Maximiliano Ojeda, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and the Company entered into a two-year Employment Agreement dated as of July 19, 2022 (the “Ojeda Employment Agreement”), which was amended and restated on October 13, 2022. The Ojeda Employment Agreement provides Mr. Ojeda with an annual base salary of $180,000, a bi-annual bonus of up to 100% of the annual base salary and shall be based upon the achievement of predetermined performance goals to be determined by the board of directors in their sole discretion. Upon the listing of the Company’s Common Stock on Nasdaq and subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, Mr. Ojeda shall be granted a five-year option to purchase 300,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock as follows: 100,000 shares on the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; 100,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; and 25,000 shares on the last day of each quarter, or March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, in each calendar year. The per share exercise price of the Option shall be equal to the initial public offering price. 

 

Under the Ojeda Employment Agreement, in the event that Mr. Ojeda’s employment is terminated by us without cause (as described in the Ojeda Employment Agreement) or by Mr. Ojeda for good reason (as described in the Ojeda Employment Agreement), Mr. Ojeda would be entitled to (a) payment of any base salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination; (b) unused paid time off; (c) additional vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements; and (d) any unreimbursed expenses incurred (collectively, the “Accrued Amounts”) plus for a period of 12 months Mr. Ojeda would be entitled to receive base salary and COBRA payments plus a lump sum payment equal to 100% of his base salary. If Mr. Ojeda is terminated (a) by us (i) for “cause” as defined in the Ojeda Employment Agreement; (ii) due to death or disability; (iii) non-renewal of the Ojeda Employment Agreement or (b) by Mr. Ojeda without good reason, then Mr. Ojeda would only be entitled to receive the Accrued Amounts.

 

Hilfiger Employment Agreement. Virginia Hilfiger, our Director and Chief Design Officer, and the Company entered into a two-year Employment Agreement dated as of July 19, 2022 ( (the “Hilfiger Employment Agreement”), which was amended and restated on October 13, 2022. The Hilfiger Employment Agreement provides Ms. Hilfiger with an annual base salary of $144,000, a bi-annual bonus of up to 100% of the annual base salary and shall be based upon the achievement of predetermined performance goals to be determined by the board of directors in their sole discretion. Upon the listing of the Company’s Common Stock on Nasdaq and subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, Ms. Hilfiger shall be granted a five year option to purchase 300,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock as follows: 100,000 shares on the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; 100,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; and 25,000 shares on the last day of each quarter, or March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, in each calendar year. The per share exercise price of the Option shall be equal to the initial public offering price.

 

 97 

 

 

Under the Hilfiger Employment Agreement, in the event that Ms. Hilfiger’s employment is terminated by us without cause (as described in the Hilfiger Employment Agreement) or by Ms. Hilfiger for good reason (as described in the Hilfiger Employment Agreement), Ms. Hilfiger would be entitled to (a) payment of any base salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination; (b) unused paid time off; (c) additional vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements; and (d) any unreimbursed expenses incurred (collectively, the “Accrued Amounts”) plus for a period of 12 months Ms. Hilfiger would be entitled to receive base salary and COBRA payments plus a lump sum payment equal to 100% of his base salary. If Ms. Hilfiger is terminated (a) by us (i) for “cause” as defined in the Hilfiger Employment Agreement; (ii) due to death or disability; (iii) non-renewal of the Hilfiger Employment Agreement or (b) by Ms. Hilfiger without good reason, then Ms. Hilfiger would only be entitled to receive the Accrued Amounts.

 

Groves Employment Agreement. Julian Groves, our Director and Chief Operating Officer and the Company entered into a two-year Employment Agreement dated as of July 19, 2022 ( (the “Groves Employment Agreement”), which was amended and restated on October 13, 2022. The Grove Employment Agreement provides Mr. Groves with an annual base salary of $130,000, a bi-annual bonus of up to 100% of the annual base salary and shall be based upon the achievement of predetermined performance goals to be determined by the board of directors in their sole discretion. Upon the listing of the Company’s Common Stock on Nasdaq and subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, Mr. Groves shall be granted a five-year option to purchase 300,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock as follows: 100,000 shares on the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; 100,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; and 25,000 shares on the last day of each quarter, or March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, in each calendar year. The per share exercise price of the option shall be equal to the initial public offering price.

 

Under the Groves Employment Agreement, in the event that Mr. Groves’ employment is terminated by us without cause (as described in the Groves Employment Agreement) or by Mr. Groves for good reason (as described in the Groves Employment Agreement), Mr. Groves would be entitled to (a) payment of any base salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination; (b) unused paid time off; (c) additional vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements; and (d) any unreimbursed expenses incurred (collectively, the “Accrued Amounts”) plus for a period of 12 months Mr. Groves would be entitled to receive base salary and COBRA payments plus a lump sum payment equal to 100% of his base salary. If Mr. Groves is terminated (a) by us (i) for “cause” as defined in the Groves Employment Agreement; (ii) due to death or disability; (iii) non-renewal of the Groves Employment Agreement or (b) by Mr. Groves without good reason, then Mr. Groves would only be entitled to receive the Accrued Amounts.

 

 Harward Employment Agreement. Matt Harward, our Chief Marketing Officer, and the Company entered into a two-year employment agreement dated as of October 13, 2022 (the “Harward Employment Agreement”). The Harward Employment Agreement provides Mr. Harward with an annual base salary of $250,000, a bi-annual bonus of up to 100% of the annual base salary and shall be based upon the achievement of predetermined performance goals to be determined by the board of directors in their sole discretion. Upon the listing of the Company’s Common Stock on Nasdaq and subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, Mr. Harward shall be granted a five-year option to purchase 200,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock as follows: 100,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; and 25,000 shares on the last day of each quarter, or March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, in each calendar year. The per share exercise price of the option shall be equal to the initial public offering price. 

 

Under the Harward Employment Agreement, in the event that Mr. Harward’s employment is terminated by us without cause (as described in the Harward Employment Agreement) or by Mr. Harward for good reason (as described in the Harward Employment Agreement), Mr. Harward would be entitled to (a) payment of any base salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination; (b) unused paid time off; (c) additional vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements; and (d) any unreimbursed expenses incurred (collectively, the “Accrued Amounts”) plus for a period of 12 months Mr. Harward would be entitled to receive base salary and COBRA payments plus a lump sum payment equal to 100% of his base salary. If Mr. Harward is terminated (a) by us (i) for “cause” as defined in the Harward Employment Agreement; (ii) due to death or disability; (iii) non-renewal of the Harward Employment Agreement or (b) by Mr. Harward without good reason, then Mr. Harward would only be entitled to receive the Accrued Amounts.

 

2022 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Overview

 

On August 15, 2022 our Board and our stockholders approved our 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”). The 2022 Plan governs equity awards to our employees, directors, officers, consultants and other eligible participants. Initially, the maximum number of shares of our Common Stock that may be subject to awards under the 2022 Plan is 2,186,470. The maximum number of shares that are subject to awards under the 2022 is subject to an annual increase equal to the lesser of (i) 500,000 shares of our Common Stock; (ii) a number of shares of our Common Stock equal to 4% of the prior year’s maximum number or (iii) such number of shares of our Common Stock as determined by the 2022 Plan administrator. The 2022 Plan will not be effective until the day prior to the effective date of the registration statement related to this initial public offering.

 

The purpose of 2022 Plan is to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to employees, directors and consultants, and to promote the success of the Company’s business. The administrator of the 2022 Plan may, in its sole discretion, amend, alter, suspend or terminate the 2022 Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason. The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with legal and regulatory requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards. Unless earlier terminated by the administrator, the 2022 Plan will terminate ten years from the date it is adopted by our Board.

 

Authorized Shares

 

Initially, the maximum number of shares of our Common Stock that may be subject to awards under the 2022 Plan is 2,186,470. The maximum number of shares that are subject to awards under the 2022 Plan is subject to an annual increase equal to the lesser of (i) 500,000 shares of our Common Stock; (ii) a number of shares of our Common Stock equal to 4% of the prior year’s maximum number or (iii) such number of shares of our Common Stock as determined by the 2022 Plan administrator.

  

 98 

 

 

Additionally, if any award issued pursuant to the 2022 Plan expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, is surrendered pursuant to an exchange program, as provided in the 2022 Plan, or, with respect to restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance units or performance shares, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to the failure to vest, the unpurchased shares (or for awards other than stock options or stock appreciation rights the forfeited or repurchased shares) which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the 2022 Plan (unless the 2022 Plan has terminated). With respect to stock appreciation rights, only shares actually issued pursuant to a stock appreciation right will cease to be available under the 2022 Plan; all remaining shares under stock appreciation rights will remain available for future grant or sale under the 2022 Plan (unless the 2022 Plan has terminated). Shares that have actually been issued under the 2022 Plan under any award will not be returned to the 2022 Plan and will not become available for future distribution under the 2022 Plan; provided, however, that if shares issued pursuant to awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares or performance units are repurchased by the Company or are forfeited to the Company due to the failure to vest, such shares will become available for future grant under the 2022 Plan. Shares used to pay the exercise price of an award or to satisfy the tax withholdings related to an award will become available for future grant or sale under the 2022 Plan. To the extent an award under the 2022 Plan is paid out in cash rather than shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of shares available for issuance under the 2022 Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment as provided in the 2022 Plan, the maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options will equal the aggregate share number stated above, plus, to the extent allowable under Section 422 of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder, any shares that become available for issuance under the 2022 Plan in accordance with the foregoing.

 

Plan Administration

 

One or more committees appointed by our Board will administer the 2022 Plan. Initially, the Compensation Committee shall administer the 2022 Plan. In addition, if the Company determines it is desirable to qualify transactions under the 2022 Plan as exempt under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, such transactions will be structured with the intent that they satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3. Subject to the provisions of the 2022 Plan, the administrator has the power to administer the 2022 Plan and make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the 2022 Plan, including the power to determine the fair market value of our Common Stock, select the service providers to whom awards may be granted, determine the number of shares covered by each award, approve forms of award agreements for use under the 2022 Plan, determine the terms and conditions of awards (including the exercise price, the time or times at which the awards may be exercised, any vesting acceleration or waiver or forfeiture restrictions and any restriction or limitation regarding any award or the shares relating thereto), construe and interpret the terms of the 2022 Plan and awards granted under it, prescribe, amend and rescind rules relating to the 2022 Plan, rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of facilitating compliance with applicable non-U.S. laws, easing the administration of the 2022 Plan and/or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable non-U.S. laws, in each case as the administrator may deem necessary or advisable and modify or amend each award (subject to the provisions of the 2022 Plan), including the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of awards and to extend the maximum term of an option or stock appreciation right (subject to the provisions of the 2022 Plan), to allow participants to satisfy withholding tax obligations in a manner permissible under the 2022 Plan, 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 and to allow a participant to defer the receipt of payment of cash or the delivery of shares that would otherwise be due to such participant under an award. The administrator also has the authority to allow participants the opportunity to transfer outstanding awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the administrator and to institute an exchange program by which outstanding awards may be surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type which may have a higher or lower exercise price or different terms, awards of a different type or cash, or by which the exercise price of an outstanding award is increased or reduced. The administrator’s decisions, interpretations and other actions are final and binding on all participants.

 

Eligibility

 

Awards under the 2022 Plan, other than incentive stock options, may be granted to employees (including officers and directors) of the Company or a parent or subsidiary, members of our Board, or consultants engaged to render bona fide services to the Company or a parent or subsidiary. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of the Company or a subsidiary, provided the services (a) are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction, and (b) do not directly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities, in each case, within the meaning of Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act, and provided further, that a Consultant will include only those persons to whom the issuance of Shares may be registered under Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

 99 

 

 

Stock Options

 

Stock options may be granted under the 2022 Plan. The exercise price of options granted under the 2022 Plan generally must at least be equal to the fair market value of our Common Stock on the date of grant. The term of each option will be as stated in the applicable award agreement; provided, however, that the term may be no more than 10 years from the date of grant. The administrator will determine the methods of payment of the exercise price of an option, which may include cash, shares or other property acceptable to the administrator, as well as other types of consideration permitted by applicable law. After the termination of service of an employee, director or consultant, they may exercise their option for the period of time stated in their option agreement. In the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, if termination is due to death or disability, the option will remain exercisable for nine months. In all other cases, in the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, the option will remain exercisable for three months following the termination of service. An option may not be exercised later than the expiration of its term. Subject to the provisions of the 2022 Plan, the administrator determines the other terms of options.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights

 

Stock appreciation rights may be granted under the 2022 Plan. Stock appreciation rights allow the recipient to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of our Common Stock between the exercise date and the date of grant. Stock appreciation rights may not have a term exceeding 10 years. After the termination of service of an employee, director or consultant, they may exercise their stock appreciation right for the period of time stated in their stock appreciation right agreement. In the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, if termination is due to death or disability, the stock appreciation rights will remain exercisable for nine months. In all other cases, in the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, the stock appreciation rights will remain exercisable for three months following the termination of service. However, in no event may a stock appreciation right be exercised later than the expiration of its term. Subject to the provisions of the 2022 Plan, the administrator determines the other terms of stock appreciation rights, including when such rights become exercisable and whether to pay any increased appreciation in cash or with shares of our Common Stock, or a combination thereof, except that the per share exercise price for the shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right will be no less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant.

 

Restricted Stock

 

Restricted stock may be granted under the 2022 Plan. Restricted stock awards are grants of shares of our Common Stock that vest in accordance with terms and conditions established by the administrator. The administrator will determine the number of shares of restricted stock granted to any employee, director or consultant and, subject to the provisions of the 2022 Plan, will determine the terms and conditions of such awards. The administrator may impose whatever conditions to vesting it determines to be appropriate (for example, the administrator may set restrictions based on the achievement of specific performance goals or continued service to the Company); provided, however, that the administrator, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed. Recipients of restricted stock awards generally will have voting and dividend rights with respect to such shares upon grant without regard to vesting, unless the administrator provides otherwise. Shares of restricted stock that do not vest are subject to the Company’s right of repurchase or forfeiture.

 

Restricted Stock Units

 

RSUs may be granted under the 2022 Plan. RSUs are bookkeeping entries representing an amount equal to the fair market value of one share of our Common Stock. Subject to the provisions of the 2022 Plan, the administrator determines the terms and conditions of RSUs, including the vesting criteria and the form and timing of payment. The administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit or individual goals (including continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities laws or any other basis determined by the administrator in its discretion. The administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned RSUs in the form of cash, in shares of our Common Stock or in some combination thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the administrator, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the time at which any vesting requirements will be deemed satisfied.

 

Performance Awards

 

Performance awards may be granted under the 2022 Plan. Performance awards are awards that will result in a payment to a participant only if performance goals established by the administrator are achieved or the awards otherwise vest. The administrator will set objectives or vesting provisions, that, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value the payout for the performance awards. The administrator may set vesting criteria based on the achievement of company-wide, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), or any other basis determined by the administrator in its discretion. Each performance award’s threshold, target, and maximum payout values are established by the administrator on or before the grant date. After the grant of a performance award, the administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such performance award. The administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned performance awards in the form of cash, in shares, or in some combination thereof.

 

 100 

 

 

 Non-Employee Directors

 

The 2022 Plan provides that all non-employee directors will be eligible to receive all types of awards (except for incentive stock options) under the 2022 Plan. The 2022 Plan includes a maximum limit of $100,000 of equity awards that may be granted to a non-employee director in any fiscal year, increased to $200,000 in connection with his or her initial service. For purposes of this limitation, the value of equity awards is based on the grant date fair value (determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States). Any equity awards granted to a person for their services as an employee, or for their services as a consultant (other than as a non-employee director), will not count for purposes of the limitation. The maximum limit does not reflect the intended size of any potential compensation or equity awards to the Company’s non-employee directors.

 

Non-transferability of Awards

 

Unless the administrator provides otherwise, the 2022 Plan generally does not allow for the transfer of awards other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and only the recipient of an award may exercise an award during their lifetime. If the administrator makes an award transferrable, such award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the administrator deems appropriate.

 

Certain Adjustments

 

In the event of certain changes in the Company’s capitalization, to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits available under the 2022 Plan, the administrator will adjust the number and class of shares that may be delivered under the 2022 Plan or the number, and price of shares covered by each outstanding award and the numerical share limits set forth in the 2022 Plan.

 

Dissolution or Liquidation

 

In the event of the Company’s proposed liquidation or dissolution, the administrator will notify participants as soon as practicable and all awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed transaction.

 

Merger or Change in Control

 

The 2022 Plan provides that in the event of the Company’s merger with or into another corporation or entity or a “change in control” (as defined in the 2022 Plan), each outstanding award will be treated as the administrator determines, including, without limitation, that (i) awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; (ii) upon written notice to a participant, that the participant’s awards will terminate upon or immediately prior to the consummation of such merger or change in control; (iii) outstanding awards will vest and become exercisable, realizable or payable, or restrictions applicable to an award will lapse, in whole or in part, prior to or upon consummation of such merger or change in control and, to the extent the administrator determines, terminate upon or immediately prior to the effectiveness of such merger or change in control; (iv) (A) the termination of an award in exchange for an amount of cash or property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such award or realization of the participant’s rights as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction the administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such award or realization of the participant’s rights, then such award may be terminated by the Company without payment) or (B) the replacement of such award with other rights or property selected by the administrator in its sole discretion; or (v) any combination of the foregoing. The administrator will not be obligated to treat all awards, all awards a participant holds, or all awards of the same type, similarly. In the event that awards (or portion thereof) are not assumed or substituted for in the event of a merger or change in control, the participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of their outstanding options and stock appreciation rights, including shares as to which such awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on restricted stock and RSUs or performance awards will lapse and, with respect to awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions met, in all cases, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable award agreement or other written agreement between the participant and the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries or parents, as applicable. If an option or stock appreciation right is not assumed or substituted in the event of a merger or change in control, the administrator will notify the participant in writing or electronically that the option or stock appreciation right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the administrator in its sole discretion and the vested option or stock appreciation right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

 

 101 

 

 

For awards granted to an outside director, the outside director will fully vest in and have the right to exercise options and/or stock appreciation rights as to all of the shares underlying such award, including those shares which would not be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on restricted stock and RSUs will lapse, and, with respect to awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other terms and conditions met, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable award agreement or other written agreement between the participant and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or parents, as applicable..

 

Clawback

 

Awards will be subject to any Company clawback policy that the Company is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable laws. The administrator also may specify in an award agreement that the participant’s rights, payments or benefits with respect to an award will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events. The administrator may require a participant to forfeit, return or reimburse the Company all or a portion of the award or shares issued under the award, any amounts paid under the award and any payments or proceeds paid or provided upon disposition of the shares issued under the award in order to comply with such clawback policy or applicable laws.

 

Amendment and Termination

 

The administrator has the authority to amend, suspend or terminate the 2022 Plan provided such action does not impair the existing rights of any participant. The 2022 Plan automatically will terminate on August 15, 2032, unless it is terminated sooner.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

As of November 18, 2022, there have been no grants made under the 2022 Plan. 

 

Executive Compensation Philosophy

 

Our Compensation Committee determines the compensation given to our executive officers in its sole determination. Our Compensation Committee reserves the right to pay our executives or any future executives a salary, and/or issue them shares of Common Stock issued in consideration for services rendered and/or to award incentive bonuses which are linked to our performance, as well as to the individual executive officer’s performance. This package may also include long-term stock-based compensation to certain executives, which is intended to align the performance of our executives with our long-term business strategies.

 

Incentive Bonus

 

The Compensation Committee may grant incentive bonuses to our executive officers and/or future executive officers in its sole discretion, if the Compensation Committee believes such bonuses are in the Company’s best interest, after analyzing our current business objectives and growth, if any, and the amount of revenue we are able to generate each month, which revenue is a direct result of the actions and ability of such executives.

 

Long-Term, Stock-Based Compensation

 

In order to attract, retain and motivate executive talent necessary to support the Company’s long-term business strategy, we may award our executives and any future executives with long-term, stock-based compensation in the future, at the sole discretion of our compensation committee.

 

 102 

 

 

Outside Director Compensation

 

We did not provide any compensation or make any equity awards or non-equity awards to any person who served as a non-employee member of our board of directors during the year ended December 31, 2021. For the 2022 year, Maximiliano Ojeda, Chief Executive Officer; Virginia Hilfiger, Chief Design Officer; and Julian Groves, our Chief Commercial Officer, served as members of our Board of Directors, as well as employees, and received no additional compensation for their services as members of our Board of Directors.

 

After our independent directors are appointed, we are going to provide them with the compensation in accordance with the terms of our Outside Director Compensation Program described below.

 

We reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by directors for their attendance at meetings of our board of directors or any committee thereof.

 

Outside Director Compensation Program

 

Prior to this offering, we did not have a formal policy to compensate our independent directors and did not pay any cash compensation to any of non-employee directors. Immediately prior to the completion of this offering, we intend to implement a formal policy pursuant to which our independent directors will be eligible to receive the following cash retainers and equity awards:

 

Annual Retainer for Board Membership      
Annual service for board of directors   $ 35,000  
         
Additional Annual Retainer for Committee Membership        
Annual service as a member of the audit committee (other than chair)   $ 7,500  
Annual service as chair of the audit committee   $ 12,000  
Annual service a member of the compensation committee (other than chair)   $ 5,000  
Annual service as chair of the compensation committee   $ 10,000  
Annual service as member of the nominating and corporate governance committee (other than the chair)   $ 4,000  
Annual service as chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee   $ 8,000  

 

Our policy will provide that, upon initial election to our board of directors, each non-employee director will automatically be granted a restricted stock unit (“RSU”) grant with a value of $100,000, or the Initial Grant, based on the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of grant (or with respect to the initial grant to our initial non-employee directors, based on the initial public offering price), to vest in equal annual installments over three years subject to continued service as a director through each applicable vesting date. Furthermore, on the date of each of our annual meeting of stockholders following the completion of this offering, each non-employee director who will continue as a non-employee director following such meeting (other than any such director who received an Initial Grant within the immediately preceding three months) will be automatically granted an RSU grant with a value of $100,000, or the Annual Grant, based on the closing price of our Common Stock on the date of grant, to vest in full on the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the grant date or (ii) our next annual meeting of stockholders, subject to continued service as a director through the applicable vesting date.

 

The Initial Grant and Annual Grant shall accelerate and vest in full upon a Sale Event as defined in our 2022 Plan. Employee directors will receive no additional compensation for their service as a director.

 

We will reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by directors for their attendance at meetings of our board of directors or any committee thereof.  

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

There were no outstanding equity awards as of December 31, 2021. 

 

 103 

 

 

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

 

The following table sets forth certain information, as of November 18, 2022 with respect to the holdings of (1) each person who is the beneficial owner of more than 5% of Company voting stock, (2) each of our directors, (3) each executive officer, and (4) all of our current directors and executive officers as a group.

 

Beneficial ownership of the voting stock is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes any shares of company voting stock over which a person exercises sole or shared voting or investment power, or of which a person has a right to acquire ownership at any time within 60 days of November 18, 2022. Except as otherwise indicated, we believe that the persons named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of voting stock held by them. Applicable percentage ownership in the following table is based on 11,689,230 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on November 1, 2022, and 13,189,230 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding after this offering (excludes (i) 105,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying the representative’s warrants in this initial public offering (or 120,750 shares if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option in full); (ii) 100,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying options to be issued to Maximiliano Ojeda, our CEO, upon the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq; (iii) 100,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying options to be issued to Virginia Hilfiger, our Chief Design Officer, upon the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq; (iv) 100,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying options to be issued to Julian Groves, our Chief Operating Officer, upon the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq, (v) 100,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying options to be issued to Matt Harward, our Chief Marketing Officer, upon the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq, (vi) 78,225 shares of our Common Stock underling outstanding warrants issued to Boustead Securities LLC in connection with its role as placement agent in the Initial Private Placement or (vii) 40,000 shares of our Common Stock underlying an option granted to Martin Scott our Chief financial Officer), plus, for each individual, any securities that individual has the right to acquire within 60 days of November 18, 2022.

 

To the best of our knowledge, except as otherwise indicated, each of the persons named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of our Common Stock beneficially owned by such person, except to the extent such power may be shared with a spouse. To our knowledge, none of the shares listed below are held under a voting trust or similar agreement, except as noted. To our knowledge, there is no arrangement, including any pledge by any person of securities of the Company, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Company.

 

Name and Address
of Beneficial Owner
 (1)
  Title   Beneficially
owned
    Percent of Class
Before Offering
    Percent of
Class
After
Offering
 
Officers and Directors                            
Maximiliano Ojeda     Chief Executive Officer, Chairman     3,965,610  (2)     33.9 %     30.8  %
Virginia Hilfiger   Director, Chief Design Officer     3,965,610 (3)      33.9 %     30.8  %
Julian Groves   Chief Operating Officer     539,780 (2)     4.6 %     4.9 %
Martin Scott   Chief Financial Officer                 *  
Matt Harward   Chief Marketing Officer                 *  
All Officers and Directors as a Group (total of 5 persons)                            
          8,471,000       72.4 %     66.5 %
                              
5% Beneficial Owners of a Class of Voting Stock                            
Maximiliano Ojeda         3,965,610       33.9 %     30.8 %
Virginia Hilfiger         3,965,610       33.9 %     30.8 %

 

  * Less than 1%

(1) Except as noted below, the address for all beneficial owners in the table above is c/o MGO Global Inc., 1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33346.
(2) Includes 394,000 shares of our Common Stock owned by MGOTEAM LLC of which Maximiliano Ojeda, our CEO, shares control over voting and disposition with Virginia Hilfiger
(3) Includes 394,000 shares of our Common Stock owned by MGOTEAM LLC of which Virginia Hilfiger, our Chief Design Officer control over voting and disposition with Virginia Hilfiger
(2) Includes 150,000 shares of our Common Stock that are beneficially owned by Globally Digital Ltd., a company owned and controlled by our Chief Operating Officer, Julian Groves. The address of Mr. Groves is c/o Globally Digital Ltd, 3 Hertford Avenue, East Sheen, London, SW14 8EF.

 

 104 

 

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Company borrowed $72,877 from the Company’s officers, Maximiliano Ojeda and Virginia Hilfiger and paid them $25,500 for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company also received $8,942 and paid $0 from and to these officers for the year ended December 31, 2020. During the first nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company borrowed $25,000 from and repaid $7,476 to these officers; and for the same nine-month period in 2021, officers and shareholders loaned the Company $52,877 and the Company repaid $4,508. These borrowings do not have a fixed maturity date or stated rate of interest.

 

As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the balance of loans payable to our officers was $120,794 and $103,270, respectively. Related party imputed interest recorded for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 totaled $10,346 and $7,892, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, related parties imputed interest was $10,519 and $6,176, respectively. The imputed interest was recorded as interest expense and an increase in additional paid-in capital based on a rate of 12%

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company owed reimbursement of e-commerce expense of $10,378 and $0, respectively, to Julian Groves, our Chief Operating Officer and Director. 

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded and reimbursed $10,800 and $9,600 respectively, in month to month rent expense to Virginia Hilfiger, our Chief Design Officer and Director. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company recorded $14,568 and $14,400 respectively, in month to month rent expense to Virginia Hilfiger, our Chief Design Officer and Director and Maximiliano Ojeda, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. 

 

The accrued payroll owed to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Design Officer, and Chief Operating Officer as of September 30, 2022 and December 2021 was $510,547 and $298,297, respectively. The accrued payroll owed to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Design Officer, and Chief Operating Officer as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was $298,297 and $85,297, respectively.

 

Promoters and Certain Control Persons

 

Each of our executive officers may be deemed a "promoter" as defined by Rule 405 of the Securities Act. For information regarding compensation, including items of value that have been provided or that may be provided to these individuals, please refer to "Executive Compensation" above.

 

 105 

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

The following summary description sets forth some of the general terms and provisions of our capital stock. Because this is a summary description, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a more detailed description of our capital stock, you should refer to the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), our Charter and our Bylaws as currently in effect. Copies of our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

General

 

The Company is authorized to issue one class of stock. The total number of shares of stock which the Company is authorized to issue is 20,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share of which 11,689,230 shares of which are outstanding. Prior to the closing of this offering, the Company plans to amend its Certificate of Incorporation so that the Company had 170,000,000 shares of capital stock, 150,000,000 of which are Common Stock, and 20,000,000 shares of which are Preferred Stock. As of November 18, 2022, there were 42 holders of record of our Common Stock.

 

Common Stock

 

The holders of our Common Stock are entitled to the following rights:

 

Voting Rights. Each share of our Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote per share on all matters to be voted or consented upon by the stockholders.

 

Dividend Rights. Subject to limitations under the DGCL, holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends or other distributions, if any, as may be declared by our Board out of funds legally available therefor.

 

Liquidation Rights. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of our Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in the assets available for distribution after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities.

 

Other Matters. The holders of our Common Stock that are not to be issued upon conversion of the convertible promissory notes have no subscription, redemption or conversion privileges; in addition, such Common Stock does not entitle its holders to preemptive rights. All of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Preferred Stock

 

As of September 16, 2022, we were not authorized to issue and have not issued any shares of Preferred Stock. However, the Company plans to amend its Certificate of Incorporation so that our Board had the authority to issue up to 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock in one or more classes or series and to fix the designations, powers, preferences, and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof including dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any class or series, without further vote or action by the stockholders.

 

While we do not currently have any plans for the issuance of any shares of Preferred Stock, the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock could adversely affect the rights of the holders of Common Stock and, therefore, reduce the value of the Common Stock. It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares of Preferred Stock on the rights of holders of the Common Stock until the Board determines the specific rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock; however, these effects may include:

 

  Restricting dividends on the Common Stock;

 

  Diluting the voting power of the Common Stock;

 

  Impairing the liquidation rights of the Common Stock; or

 

  Delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company without further action by the stockholders.

 

 106 

 

 

Warrants

 

From December 2021 through February 2022, we issued warrants to purchase 78,225 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share to Boustead Securities, LLC, as placement agent in the Initial Private Placement.

 

Options

 

As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had no issued and outstanding stock options.

 

Notes

 

None.

 

Exclusive Forum

 

Our Charter provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. This exclusive forum provision may limit the ability of our stockholders to bring a claim in a judicial forum that such stockholders find favorable for disputes with us or our directors or officers, which may discourage lawsuits against us or our directors or officers. The provision does not apply to any actions arising under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as is set forth in Article VII of our certificate of incorporation. SeeRisk Factors.”

 

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law

 

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers. This statute prevents certain Delaware corporations, under certain circumstances, from engaging in a “business combination” with:

 

 107 

 

 

  · a stockholder who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock (otherwise known as an “interested stockholder”);

 

  · an affiliate of an interested stockholder; or

 

  · an associate of an interested stockholder, for three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder.

 

A “business combination” includes a merger or sale of more than 10% of our assets. However, the above provisions of Section 203 do not apply if:

 

  · our Board approves the transaction that made the stockholder an “interested stockholder,” prior to the date of the transaction; or

 

  · after the completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, that stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, other than statutorily excluded shares of Common Stock.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock is Transhare Corporation, located at Bayside Center 1, 17755 US Highway 19N, Suite 140, Clearwater, Florida 33764. Transhare’s phone number is 303-662-1112 and its website is www.transhare.com.

 

Listing

 

We intend to apply to have our Common Stock listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MGOL,” which listing is a condition to this offering.

 

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

 

There is not currently an established U.S. trading market for our Common Stock. We cannot predict the effect, if any, that market sales of shares of our Common Stock or the availability of shares of our Common Stock for sale will have on the market price of our Common Stock prevailing from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of our Common Stock, including shares issued upon exercise of outstanding warrants, in the public market after this offering, could adversely affect market prices prevailing from time to time and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of our equity securities.

 

Upon completion of the sale of 1,500,000 shares of our Common Stock pursuant to this offering, we will have 13,189,230 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding. In the event the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option in full, we will have 13,414,230 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding. The Common Stock sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration or qualification under the Securities Act.

 

All previously issued shares of our Common Stock that were not offered and sold in this offering, as well as shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants and subject to employee stock options, are or will be upon issuance, “restricted securities,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. These restricted securities are eligible for public sale only if such public resale is registered under the Securities Act or if the resale qualifies for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, which are summarized below.

 

In general, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares of our Common Stock for at least nine months in the event we have been a reporting company under the Exchange Act for at least ninety (90) days before the sale, would be entitled to sell such securities, provided that such person is not deemed to be an affiliate of ours at the time of sale or to have been an affiliate of ours at any time during the ninety (90) days preceding the sale. A person who is an affiliate of ours at such time would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of the following:

 

 108 

 

 

  · 1% of the number of shares of our Common Stock then outstanding; or

 

  · 1% of the average weekly trading volume of our Common Stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing by such person of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale;

 

provided that, in each case, we are subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for at least 90 days before the sale. Rule 144 trades must also comply with the manner of sale, notice, and other provisions of Rule 144, to the extent applicable.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

We and our officers, directors and more than 98% of our stockholders have agreed with the underwriters not to sell, transfer or dispose of any shares or similar securities for six (6) to twelve (12) months from the date on which our Common Stock is trading on Nasdaq. The underwriters have agreed to waive the lock-up requirement for shares of Common Stock being sold by the selling stockholders named in the Resale Prospectus. For additional information regarding our arrangement with the underwriters, please see “Underwriting.”

 

We, and our officers, directors and holders of 5% or greater of our Common Stock have agreed to be locked up for a period of twelve (12) months from the date on which the trading of our Common Stock commences. Holders less than 5% of our Common Stock (other than one holder who owns less than 2% of our Common Stock) have agreed to be locked up for a period of six (6) months from the date on which the trading of our Common Stock commences During the lock-up period, without the prior written consent of the representative, they shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, assign, encumber, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, any Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, owned either of record or beneficially by any signatory of the lock-up agreement on the date of the prospectus or thereafter acquired; (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clauses (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing; and (iii) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. See “Underwriting” for more information.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the underwriters may engage in stabilization activities as described above. The representative may in its sole discretion and at any time without notice release some or all of the shares subject to lock-up agreements prior to the expiration of the lock-up period. When determining whether or not to release shares from the lock-up agreements, the representative will consider, among other factors, the security holder’s reasons for requesting the release, the number of shares for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time.

 

 109 

 

 

UNDERWRITING

 

In connection with this offering, we expect to enter an underwriting agreement with Boustead Securities, LLC, as representative of the underwriters named in this prospectus, with respect to the Common Stock in this offering. Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, the representative will agree to purchase from us on a firm commitment basis the respective number of shares of Common Stock at the public price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and each of the underwriters has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, at the public offering price per share less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of shares of Common Stock listed next to its name in the following table.

 

Underwriter   Number of Shares
Boustead Securities, LLC    
Sutter Securities, Inc.    
Total    

 

The shares of Common Stock sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. Any shares of Common Stock sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the initial public offering price not to exceed $5.00 per share. If all of the shares are not sold at the initial offering price, the representative may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The representative has advised us that the underwriters do not intend to make sales to discretionary accounts. The underwriting agreement will provide that the obligations of the underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the shares of Common Stock are subject to the passing upon certain legal matters by counsel and certain conditions such as confirmation of the accuracy of representations and warranties by us about our financial condition and operations and other matters. The obligation of the underwriters to purchase the shares of Common Stock is conditioned upon our receiving approval to list the shares of Common Stock on Nasdaq.

 

If the underwriters sell more shares of Common Stock than the total number set forth in the table above, we have granted to the representative an option, exercisable one or more times in whole or in part, not later than 45 days after the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 225,000 additional shares of Common Stock at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, constituting 15% of the total number of shares of Common Stock to be offered in this offering (excluding shares subject to this option). The representative may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments in connection with this offering. This offering is being conducted on a firm commitment basis. Any shares of Common Stock issued or sold under the option will be issued and sold on the same terms and conditions as the other shares of Common Stock that are the subject of this offering.

 

Discounts and Commissions; Expenses

 

The underwriting discounts and commissions are a cash fee equal to seven percent (7%) of gross proceeds from the sale of securities in this offering. We have been advised by the representative that the underwriters propose to offer the Common Stock to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus and to dealers at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $5.00 per share under the public offering price. After the offering, the representative may change the public offering price and other selling terms.

 

The following table summarizes the public offering price and the underwriting discounts and commissions payable to the underwriters by us in connection with this offering (assuming an initial public offering price of $5.00 per share and assuming both the exercise and non-exercise of the over-allotment option that we have granted to the underwriters):

 

 

 

  Per Share   Total Without Over-
Allotment Option
  Total With Over-
Allotment Option
Initial public offering price   $ 5.00   $  7,500,000   $  8,625,000
Underwriting discounts and commissions (7%)(1)   $ 0.35   $  525,000   $  603,750
Non-accountable expense allowance (1%)   $ 0.05   $  75,000   $  86,250
Proceeds, before expenses, to us   $ 4.60   $  6,900,000   $  7,935,000

 

  (1) Does not include (i) the warrant to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock equal to 7% of the number of shares sold in the offering, or (ii) amounts representing reimbursement of certain out-of-pocket expenses, each as described below.

 

 110 

 

 

We have also agreed to pay the representative a non-accountable expense allowance equal to 1% of the gross proceeds received at the closing of this offering.

 

We have agreed to reimburse the representative for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the representative in connection with this offering, regardless of whether the offering is consummated, up to $283,000. The representative out-of-pocket expenses include but are not limited to: (i) road show and travel expenses, (ii) reasonable fees of Representative’s legal counsel, (iii) the cost of background check on our officers, directors and major shareholders and due diligence expenses. Any out-of-pocket expenses above $5,000 are to be pre-approved by our company in writing. As of the date of this prospectus, we have paid the representative refundable advances of approximately $52,000 which shall be applied against its actual out-of-pocket accountable expenses. Such advance payments will be returned to us to the extent any portion of the advance is not actually incurred, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(4)(A).

 

Representative’s Warrants

 

We have agreed to issue to the representative (or its permitted designees) warrants to purchase up to a total number of shares of Common Stock equal to 7% of the total number of shares of Common Stock sold in this offering at an exercise price equal to 125% of the public offering price of the Common Stock sold in this offering. The representative’s warrants will be exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, commencing from the closing of the offering and expiring three (3) years from the effectiveness of the offering, and will have a cashless exercise provision. The representative’s warrants are not exercisable or convertible for more than three years from the commencement of sales of the public offering. The representative’s warrants also provide for customary anti-dilution provisions and immediate “piggyback” registration rights with respect to the registration of the shares underlying the warrants for a period of seven years from commencement of sales of this offering. The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part also registers the issuance of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the representative’s warrants.

 

The representative’s warrants and the underlying shares are deemed to be compensation by FINRA, and therefore will be subject to a 180-day lock-up period pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1). In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1), neither the representative’s warrants nor any of our Common Stock issued upon exercise of the representative’s warrants may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities by any person, for a period of 180 days immediately following commencement of sale of this offering subject to certain exceptions permitted by FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2).

 

Private Placements

 

During December 2021 through May 2022, we issued 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock in a private placement (the “Initial Private Placement”) pursuant to Regulation D of the Securities Act to 32 accredited investors at a price of $1.00 per share for gross proceeds of $2,000,000 less cash placement agent fees paid to Boustead Securities, LLC, as placement agent.

 

In connection with the Initial Private Placement, the placement agent received a placement agent fee of 7% of the gross offering amount. In addition, in December of 2021 and February of 2022, the placement agent received warrants to purchase an aggregate of 78,225 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.00 that it received as part of its compensation in connection with the Initial Private Placement. The Selling Stockholder Prospectus will include the offering of 78,225 shares of Common Stock underlying the placement agent warrants. The placement agent’s warrants are exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, and expiring five (5) years from the date of issuance and have a cashless exercise provision.

  

In October 2022, the Company issued 700,000 shares of its Common Stock and warrants to purchase 700,000 shares of its Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share in a private placement pursuant to Regulation D of the Securities Act (the “Second Private Placement”) to seven accredited investors at a combined purchase price of $1.00 per share and warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock for gross proceeds of $700,000 less placement agent fees paid to Boustead Securities, LLC as placement agent.

 

Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

 

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares in the open market. Purchases and sales in the open market may include short sales, purchases to cover short positions, which may include purchases pursuant to the over-allotment option, and stabilizing purchases.

 

  · Short sales involve secondary market sales by an underwriter of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering.

 

  · “Covered” short sales are sales of shares in an amount up to the number of shares represented by the over-allotment option.

 

  · “Naked” short sales are sales of shares in an amount in excess of the number of shares represented by the over-allotment option.

 

  · Covering transactions involve purchases of shares either pursuant to the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions.

 

 111 

 

 

  · To close a naked short position, an underwriter must purchase shares in the open market after the distribution has been completed. A naked short position is more likely to be created if an underwriter is concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

 

  · To close a covered short position, an underwriter must purchase shares in the open market after the distribution has been completed or must exercise the over-allotment option. In determining the source of shares to close the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option.

 

  · Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase shares so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.

 

Purchases to cover short positions and stabilizing purchases, as well as other purchases by an underwriter for its own account, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Common Stock. They may also cause the price of the Common Stock to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

 

Determination of Offering Price

 

In determining the initial public offering price, we and the representative have considered a number of factors, including:

 

  · the information set forth in this prospectus and otherwise available to the representative;

 

  · our prospects and the history and prospects for the industry in which we compete;

 

  · an assessment of our management;

 

  · our prospects for future revenue and earnings;

 

  · the general condition of the securities markets at the time of this offering;

 

  · the recent market prices of, and demand for, publicly traded securities of generally comparable companies; and

 

  · other factors deemed relevant by the representative and us.

 

The estimated initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this preliminary prospectus is subject to change as a result of market conditions and other factors. Neither we nor the representative can assure investors that an active trading market will develop for our Common Stock, or that the shares will trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.

 

Indemnification

 

We have agreed to indemnify the representative and the other underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. If we are unable to provide this indemnification, we will contribute to payments that the representative and the other underwriters may be required to make for these liabilities.

 

Right of First Refusal

 

The representative has the right of first refusal for one (1) year following the consummation of this offering or the termination or expiration of the engagement with the representative to act as financial advisor or to act as joint financial advisor on at least equal economic terms on any public or private financing (debt or equity), merger, business combination, recapitalization or sale of some or all of our equity or our assets, whether in conjunction with another broker-dealer or on our own volition. In the event that we engage the representative to provide such future services, the representative will be compensated consistent with the engagement agreement with the representative, unless we mutually agree otherwise. To the extent we are approached by a third party to lead any public or private financing (debt or equity), merger, business combination, recapitalization or sale of some or all of our equity or assets, the representative will be notified of the transaction and be granted the right to participate in such transaction under any syndicate formed by such third party.

 

 112 

 

 

No Sales of Similar Securities

 

We have agreed, with certain exceptions, not to offer, issue, sell, contract to sell, encumber, grant any option for the sale of or otherwise dispose of any shares of our Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock at a price per share that is less than the price per shares of Common Stock in this offering, or modify the terms of any existing securities, whether in conjunction with another broker-dealer or on our own volition for a period of twelve (12) months following the date on which our Common Stock is trading on Nasdaq, without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

We, and our officers, directors and holders of 5% or greater of our Common Stock have agreed to be locked up for a period of twelve (12) months from the date on which the trading of our Common Stock commences. Holders less than 5% of our Common Stock (other than one holder who owns less than 2% of our Common Stock) have agreed to be locked up for a period of six (6) months from the date on which the trading of our Common Stock commences During the lock-up period, without the prior written consent of the underwriters, they shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, assign, encumber, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, any Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, owned either of record or beneficially by any signatory of the lock-up agreement on the date of the prospectus or thereafter acquired; (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clauses (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing; and (iii) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The underwriters have agreed to waive the lock-up requirement for shares of Common Stock being sold by the selling stockholders named in the Resale Prospectus.

 

Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Common Stock

 

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by the representative. In addition, shares of Common Stock may be sold by the representative to securities dealers who resell our Common Stock to online brokerage account holders. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on the representative’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by the representative is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the representative in its capacity as representative and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

Selling Restrictions

 

No action has been taken in any jurisdiction (except in the United States) that would permit a public offering of our Common Stock, or the possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus or any other material relating to us or our Common Stock, where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, our Common Stock may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this prospectus nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with our Common Stock may be distributed or published, in or from any country or jurisdiction except in compliance with any applicable rules and regulations of any such country or jurisdiction.

 

Offer Restrictions Outside the United States

 

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful. In particular, our Common Stock has not been qualified for distribution by prospectus in Canada and may not be offered or sold in Canada during the course of their distribution hereunder except pursuant to a Canadian prospectus or prospectus exemption.

 

Tail Financing

 

If, during the period that is 12 months following the termination or expiration of the Engagement Letter, we consummate a financing with a party, including any investor in pre-initial public offering financings, if any, and this initial public offering, or any party who became aware of us or who became known to us prior to such termination or expiration of the Engagement Letter, we will pay the representative a fee equal to a percentage ranging from 1% – 8% of the proceeds of such financing, of which the percentage will be dependent on the aggregate consideration of the financing (e.g., less than $10 million - 8% fee, more than $100 million - 1% fee). The representative will only be entitled to such fee to the extent that the parties were directly introduced to the Company by the representative, in accordance with FINRA Rule 2010).

 

 113 

 

  

Listing

 

We intend to apply for approval of our Common Stock for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MGOL.” Trading of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market is expected to begin following this prospectus being declared effective by the SEC.

 

EXPERTS

 

The audited consolidated financial statements of MGO Global Inc. and its subsidiaries included in this prospectus have been audited by BF Borgers CPA PC, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing herein. Such consolidated financial statements have been so included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon its authority as an expert in accounting and auditing.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of our Common Stock and certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriter by its counsel, Bevilacqua PLLC, Washington, DC. Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP have been issued 30,000 shares of our Common Stock as partial payment of its legal fees.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of our Common Stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, some of which is contained in exhibits to the registration statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and our Common Stock, we refer you to the registration statement, including the exhibits filed as a part of the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or any other document is not necessarily complete. If a contract or document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see the copy of the contract or document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a contract or document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit. You may obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference rooms by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.

 

We are subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with this law, are required to file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available for inspection and copying at the SEC’s public reference facilities and the website of the SEC referred to above. We also maintain a website at www.mgoglobalinc.com. You may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.

 

 114 

 

  

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements  
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 F-1
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations – For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 F-2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit  – For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 F-3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 F-4
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements F-5
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements  
Report Of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 5081) F-12
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2022 and 2021 F-13
Consolidated Statements of Operations as of September 30, 202 and 2021 F-14
Statements of Changes in Stockholder's Equity (Deficit) F-15
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-16
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements F-17

 

 115 

 

 

MGO GLOBAL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

   As of September
30,
   As of December
31,
 
   2022   2021 
         
Assets          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $20,586   $87,922 
Accounts Receivable   52,596    3,285 
Other current assets   17,203    9,339 
Prepaid Expense   31,680    - 
Prepaid royalty expense   -    401,330 
Inventories   92,347    68,406 
Total current assets   214,412    570,282 
Total assets  $214,412   $570,282 
           
Liabilities and stockholders' deficit          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $619,135   $272,401 
Accounts payable – related party   

49,933

    

36,178

 

Accrued liabilities

   114,945    225,894 
Accrued payroll   510,547    298,297 
Other current liabilities   20,464    13,634 
Current portion of loan payable   16,989    13,768 
Loan payable - related parties   120,794    103,270 
Total current liabilities   1,452,807    963,442 
           
Loan payable       20,847 
Total liabilities   1,452,807    984,289 
           
Stockholders' deficit:          
Common stock, par value $0.00001, authorized 20,000,000 shares; 10,868,000 and 9,593,000 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively   109    96 
Additional paid in capital   4,123,349    2,866,558 
Accumulated deficit   (5,072,751)   (3,213,690)
Total MGO stockholders' deficit   (949,293)   (347,036)
Non-controlling interest   (289,102)   (66,971)
Total stockholder's deficit   (1,238,395)   (414,007)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit  $214,412   $570,282 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  F-1 

 

  

MGO GLOBAL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

 

   For the Nine
Months
Ended
September 30,
2022
   For the Nine
Months
Ended
September 30,
2021
 
         
Sales, net  $336,103   $557,641 
Cost of Goods Sold   77,558    296,427 
Gross profit   258,545    261,214 
           
Operating expenses:          
Selling expenses   23,728    16,869 
E-Commerce expenses   317,345    274,873 
Payroll expenses   358,931    208,173 
Royalty Expense   987,412    57,848 
Third-party logistics services   36,402    41,652 
Rent expense – related party   

10,800

    

9,600

 
General and administrative expenses   493,387    34,759 
Total operating expenses   2,228,005    643,774 
           
Operating loss   (1,969,460)   (382,560)
           
Other (income) expenses:          

Finance expense

   111,346    21,859 
PPP loan forgiveness   -    (41,600)

Exchange gain/loss, net

   386    12,483 
Total other (income) expenses   111,732    (7,258)
           
Loss before income taxes   (2,081,192)   (375,303)
           

Income tax expense

   -    - 
Net loss  $(2,081,192)  $(375,303)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (222,131)    
Net loss attributable to MGO stockholders   (1,859,061)   (375,303)
           
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding   10,818,000    8,818,000 
           
Basic and diluted net loss per share to MGO stockholders  $(0.18)  $(0.04)

 

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  F-2 

 

  

MGO GLOBAL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN

STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(UNAUDITED)

 

                           Total         
                   Additional       MGO       Total 
   Common Stock   Preferred Shares   Paid-In   Accumulated   Stockholder's   Non-controlling   Stockholder's 
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Capital   Deficit   Equity (deficit)   Interests   Equity (deficit) 
                                     
Balance at December 31, 2020   8,818,000    88    -    -    2,022,515    (2,307,3640)   (284,762)   -    (284,762)
                                              
Imputed interest   -    -    -    -    7,892    -    7,892    -    7,892 
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    (375,303)   (375,303)   -    (375,303)
Balance at September 30, 2021   8,818,000    88    -    -    2,030,407    (2,682,667)   (652,173)   -    (652,173)
                                              
Balance at December 31, 2021   9,593,000   $96    -   $-   $2,866,558   $(3,213,690)  $(347,036)  $(66,971)  $(414,007)
                                              

Shares issued for cash

   1,225,000    12    -    -    1,095,359    -    1,095,371    -    1,095,371 

Shares issued for services

   50,000    1    -    -    49,999    -    50,000    -    50,000 

Capital contributions

   -    -    -    -    15,400    -    15,400    -    15,400 

Warrants issued for financing expenses

   -    -    -    -    85,686    -    85,686    -    85,686 
Imputed interest   -    -    -    -    10,346    -    10,346    -    10,346 
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    

(1,859,061

)   

(1,859,061

)   

(222,131

)   (2,081,192)
Balance at September 30, 2022   10,868,000   $109    -   $-   $

4,123,349

   $

(5,072,751

)  $

(949,293

)  $

(289,102

)  $(1,238,395)

 

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  F-3 

 

  

MGO GLOBAL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

(UNAUDITED)

 

   For the Nine
months ended
September 30,
2022
   For the Nine
months ended
September 30,
2021
 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net loss  $(2,081,192)  $(375,303)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:          
Imputed interest   10,346    7,892 
Stock compensation expense   50,000    - 
Warrants issued for financing expenses   85,686    - 
Loan Forgiveness - PPP   -    (41,600)
Net changes in operating assets & liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   (49,311)   (14,924)
Inventory   (23,941)   88,894 
Prepaid royalty expense   (39,544)   - 
Other current assets   -    9,339 
Accrued payroll   

212,250

    

74,453

 
Accounts payable – related party   

13,755

    

-

 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   643,946    75,838 
Net cash used in operating activities   (1,178,005)   (175,411)
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Shares issued for cash   1,095,371    - 
Proceeds from loans payable - related party   25,000    52,877 

Repayments of loans payable - related party

   (7,476)   (4,508)
Repayment of loans payable   (42,626)   (14,000)
Proceeds from loans payable   40,400    50,000 
Net cash provided by financing activities   1,110,669    84,369 
           
Net decrease in cash   (67,336)   (91,042)

Cash at beginning of period

   87,922    116,652 

Cash at end of period

  $20,586    25,610 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information          
Cash paid during the period for:          
Interest  $-   $- 
Income taxes  $-   $- 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  F-4 

 

  

MGO GLOBAL INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 AND 2021

 

NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS  

 

MGO Global, Inc. (“MGO”, “we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company”), was formed on November 30, 2021, which operates through its subsidiary, MGOTEAM 1 LLC that designs, manufactures, licenses, distributes, advertises, and sells a range of products under the soccer legend Lionel (‘Leo”) Messi brand “Messi Brand”. The Messi Brand is a premium lifestyle brand with a sporty edge and sells their products under their website www.themessistore.com.

 

On October 29, 2018, the Company entered into a Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL (“LMM”). LMM grants the Company a worldwide license, in order to use the Trademarks with the purpose of developing, manufacturing, trading and promoting of the Leo Messi Products.

 

On November 20, 2021, the Company entered into a Trademark License Agreement with LMM to have the worldwide license to use Leo Messi’s Trademarks for the purpose of developing, manufacturing, marketing, and promoting his products. The Company is to pay LMM a minimum guaranteed amount on account of royalties amounting to Four Million Euros (4,000,000 €), net of taxes and last payment due on November 15, 2024.

 

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of presentation

 

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) and include all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position for the periods presented.

 

MGOTEAM 1, LLC was formed on October 11, 2018, and the Company entered into a Rollover Agreement by and among MGOTEAM 1 LLC and members of MGOTEAM 1 LLC on December 6, 2021. All of the members of MGOTEAM 1 LLC, except for one member who owns an 11.82% membership interest in MGOTEAM 1 LLC, exchanged all of their membership interests with the Company for 8,818,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. We account for that remaining minority interest in MGOTEAM 1 LLC as non-controlling interest. Both the Company and MGGTEAM 1 LLC were under common control, the series of contractual arrangements between the Company and MGGTEAM 1 LLC in December 6, 2021 constituted a reorganization under common control and are required to be retrospectively applied to the consolidated financial statements at their historical amounts. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared as if the existing corporate structure had been in existence throughout all periods. This includes a retrospective presentation for all equity related disclosures, including issued shares and earnings per share, which have been revised to reflect the effects of the reorganization in accordance with ASC 250 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. ASC 250 requires that a change in the reporting entity from reorganization entities under common control, be retrospectively applied to the financials statements of all prior periods when the financial statements are issued for a period that includes the date the change in reporting entity of the transaction occurred.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the footnotes thereto. Actual results could differ from those estimates. It is reasonably possible that changes in estimates will occur in the near term.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain accounts have been reclassified to conform with classifications adopted in the period ended September 30, 2022. Such reclassifications had no effect on net earnings or financial position.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivables are carried at their estimated collectible amounts, net of any estimated allowances for doubtful accounts. We grant unsecured credit to our customer’s deemed credit worthy. Ongoing credit evaluations are performed and potential credit losses estimated by management are charged to operations on a regular basis. At the time any particular account receivable is deemed uncollectible, the balance is charged to the allowance for doubtful accounts. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had no allowance for accounts receivable.

 

  F-5 

 

  

Inventory

 

Inventory consists of raw materials and finished goods ready for sale and is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. We value inventories using the weighted average costing method. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. We regularly review inventory and consider forecasts of future demand, market conditions and product obsolescence. If the estimated realized value of our inventory is less than cost, we make provisions in order to reduce its carrying value to its estimated net realizable value.

 

Prepaid Royalty Expense

 

The Company is required to pay 500,000€ every five months according to the Trademark License Agreement payment schedule with LMM signed on November 20, 2021. The Company records each installment payment as prepaid expense and amortized over the license period granted by LMM. See Note10.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenues when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which it expects to receive in exchange for those goods. The Company recognizes revenues following the five step model prescribed under ASU No. 2014-09: (i) identify contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenues when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation.

 

Revenue transactions associated with the sale of the Leo Messi Brand products, comprise a single performance obligation, which consists of the sale of products to customers either through direct wholesale or online sales through our website www.themessistore.com. We satisfy the performance obligation and record revenues when transfer of control to the customer has occurred, based on the terms of sale. A customer is considered to have control once they are able to direct the use and receive substantially all of the benefits of the product. Control is transferred to wholesale customers upon shipment or upon receipt depending on the country of the sale and the agreement with the customer. Control transfers to online customers at the time upon shipment. The transactions price is determined based upon the invoiced sales price, less anticipated sales returns, discounts and miscellaneous claims from customers. Payment terms for wholesale transactions depend on the country of sale or agreement with the customer and payment is generally required within 30 days or less of shipment to or receipt by the wholesale customer. Payment is due at the time of sale for direct wholesale and online transactions.

 

The Company sold our product directly to consumers via our website and to wholesale customers. All our products are the Leo Messi Brand apparel.

 

For the nine month period ended September 30, 2022, the Company sold $189,929 directly to consumers via our website and $146,174 to wholesale customers.

 

For the nine month period ended September 30, 2021, the Company sold $498,196 directly to consumers via our website and $59,445 to wholesale customers.

 

Non-controlling interest

 

One shareholder did not rollover his 11.82% membership interest from MGOTEAM 1 LLC to MGO as of December 6, 2021. According to ASC 810-10-45-22 through 810-10-45-24, carrying amount of the NCI will be adjusted to reflect the change in the NCI’s ownership interest in the subsidiary. Any difference between the amount by which the NCI is adjusted and the fair value of the consideration paid or received is recognized in equity/APIC and attributed to the equity holders of the parent in accordance with ASC 810-10-45-23. The Company accounted for this portion of shares as non-controlling interest as of December 6, 2021 for $12,598. See note 9. The Company recorded non-controlling interest of $222,131 from the net loss for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2022. 

 

Foreign currency

 

For all operations, gains or losses from remeasuring foreign currency transactions into the functional currency are included in the statements of operations as finance charges.

 

Segment Reporting

 

The Company has one reportable segment which sells a range of products under the soccer legend Lionel (‘Leo”) Messi brand “Messi Brand”. The chief operating decision maker is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance and obtains financial information, being the consolidated statements of operations, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flow, about the Company as a whole.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. In estimating future tax consequences, the Company generally considers all expected future events other than enactments of changes in the tax law. For deferred tax assets, management evaluates the probability of realizing the future benefits of such assets. The Company establishes valuation allowances for its deferred tax assets when evidence suggests it is unlikely that the assets will be fully realized.

 

  F-6 

 

  

The Company recognizes the tax effects of an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits as of the reporting date and then only in an amount more likely than not to be sustained upon review by the tax authorities. Income tax positions that previously failed to meet the more likely than not threshold are recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more likely than not threshold are derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met. The Company classifies potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) as income tax expense.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, (Topic 326), Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments which amends the current accounting guidance and requires the use of the new forward-looking “expected loss” model, rather than the “incurred loss” model, which requires all expected losses to be determined based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This guidance amends the accounting for credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments including trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other instruments. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10 to postpone the effective date of ASU No. 2016-13 for public business entities eligible to be smaller reporting companies defined by the SEC to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company believes the adoption of ASU No. 2016-13 will not have a material impact on its financial position and results of operations.

 

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, to improve financial reporting associated with accounting for convertible instruments and contracts in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 is effective for the Company for fiscal year beginning January 1, 2022. The adoption did not have any significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards could have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements. As new accounting pronouncements are issued, we will adopt those that are applicable under the circumstances.

  

NOTE 3 – GOING CONCERN

 

The Company’s continuation as a going concern is dependent on its ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations to meet its obligations, in which it has not been successful, and/or obtaining additional financing from its shareholders or other sources, as may be required.

 

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. Such assumption contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

 

As reflected in the accompanying financial statements, the Company had a net loss of $2,081,192 and $375,303 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, working capital deficit of $1,238,395 and $393,160 as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, and stockholder’s deficit of $1,238,395 and $414,007, respectively. These factors among others raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

 

NOTE 4 – INVENTORY

 

As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, inventories amounted to $92,347 and $68,406, respectively.

 

   September 30,
2022
   December 31,
2021
 
Finished goods  $92,347   $68,406 
Total  $92,347   $68,406 

 

NOTE 5 - JOINT VENTURE

 

On August 29, 2019, the Company entered into an Equity Joint Venture Contract with Shanghai Celebrity International Trading Co., Ltd (SCIT) and invested $500,000 as a 40% shareholder of the joint venture. The term of the agreement is for (20) Twenty Years commencing from the Establishment Date on August 29, 2019. Per the Equity Joint Venture Contract, SCIT is to engage in the sale and distribution of MGO Products and/or other commercial products within the Territory (PRC, Hong Kong S.A.R., Macau S.A.R., Taiwan, and Singapore). The Company will be responsible for formulating business strategy and SCIT will be responsible for assisting the joint venture to apply for and being granted all necessary approvals, permits, certificates, licenses required from the relevant government authorities. Per the preferred membership interest purchase agreement, MGO will receive $2 million from SCIT. As of December 31, 2021 the Company received $1,995,000 from SCIT for 12% of MGOTeam1 LLC membership unit. The Company was obligated to and re-invested $500,000 from the proceeds of $2 million to this Joint Venture with SCIT. The Company does not expect to receive any of the royalties from this joint venture.

 

  F-7 

 

  

On August 29, 2019, the Company entered into a License Agreement with SSCIT for the use of Leo Messi trademarks and service marks.

 

For the period ended September 30, 2022 and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not receive any royalty from SCIT. Also, the Company initially recorded the $500,000 in the joint venture as equity investment since the Company only has 40% ownership, SCIT controlled the majority of the board, and the Company has no obligations to absorb the losses. As of December 31, 2020, the Company impaired the entire $500,000 investment in the joint venture because no business cooperation and communication exists between the Company and SCIT since 2020. We do not expect any resumption of the operations of the joint venture. The Company does not expect to receive any of the royalties from this joint venture. 

 

NOTE 6 – ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES (INCLUDING RELATED PARTIES)

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities were $784,013 and $534,473 as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Accounts payable are mainly payables to vendors and accrued liabilities consists of mainly credit card payable and sales and VAT tax payable.

  

   September 30,
2022
   December 31,
2021
 
Accounts payable  $317,774   $142,489 
Warehouse rent payable   34,856    74,172 
Legal payable   316,438    240,634 
Accrued liabilities   114,945    77,178 
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities:  $784,013   $534,473 

 

NOTE 7 – LOAN PAYABLE

 

On May 8, 2020, the Company received $41,600 of proceeds from a note payable issued under the Small Business Administration "the SBA" Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") under section 7(a)(36) of the Small Business Act or the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program Second Draw Loans under Section 7(a)(37) of the Small Business Act. The note matures in two years and bears interest at 1% per year. In April 2021 our PPP Loan was forgiven by the SBA in its entirety. The forgiveness was accounted for as other income which resulted in a gain of $41,600 recorded in our statement of operations.

 

On July 30, 2021, the Company entered into a loan with PayPal with an interest rate of 6.79% and principal balance of $25,000 and monthly payment of $560 over the term of the loan. This loan will mature on November 30, 2025. This loan principal and accrued interest have been paid off as of September 30, 2022.

 

On September 10, 2021, the Company entered into a loan with PayPal with an interest rate of 9.16% and principal balance of $25,000 and monthly payment of $588 over the term of the loan. This loan will mature on January 10, 2026. This loan principal and accrued interest have been paid off as of September 30, 2022.

 

On May 25, 2022, the Company entered into a new loan with PayPal with an interest rate of 6.51% and principal balance of $25,000 and monthly payment of $539 over the term of the loan. This loan will mature on May 25, 2023. The Company paid principal balance of $9,709 and incurred $1,697 interest during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The balance as of September 30, 2022 of this loan was $16,989.

 

   September 30,
2022
   December 31,
2021
 
Current portion of loans payable  $16,989   $13,768 
Non-current portion of loans payable  $-   $20,847 

 

NOTE 8 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Company borrowed $25,000 and paid $7,476 from shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The Company borrowed from shareholder $52,877 and paid $4,508 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. This borrowing does not have a fixed maturity date or stated rate of interest. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the balance of loans payable is $120,794 and $103,270, respectively.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company owed reimbursement of e-commerce expense of $10,378 and $0 respectively to Julian Groves, our Chief Operating Officer and Director. 

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded and reimbursed $10,800 and $9,600 respectively, in month to month rent expense to Virginia Hilfiger, our Chief Design Officer and Director. 

 

The accounts payable owed to related parties as of September 30, 2022 and December 2021 was $49,933 and $36,178, respectively.

 

The accrued payroll owed to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Design Officer, and Chief Operating Officer as of September 30, 2022 and December 2021 was $510,547 and $298,297, respectively.

 

  F-8 

 

  

During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, related party imputed interest was $10,346 and $7,892, respectively. The imputed interest was recorded as interest expense and an increase in additional paid-in capital based on a rate of 12%.

 

NOTE 9 – STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

 

Common Stock

 

MGOTEAM 1, LLC was formed on October 11, 2018, and the Company entered into a Rollover Agreement by and among MGOTEAM 1 LLC and members of MGOTEAM 1 LLC on December 6, 2021. The members of MGOTEAM 1 LLC exchanged all of their membership interests with the Company in exchange for 8,818,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The remaining 11.82% of MGOTeam1 LLC membership unit from SCIT did not rollover to MGO Global Inc., therefore, we accounted this 11.82% as non-controlling interest. Also, one of the original members of MGOTEAM1, LLC is entitled to receive an additional 200,000 shares of Common Stock if he meets criteria listed in his grant letter. The stockholder’s equity is retroactively restated to reflect the Rollover Agreement on December 6, 2021.

  

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued 775,000 shares with net proceeds of $659,100 from Pre-IPO funding.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company issued 1,225,000 shares with net proceeds of $1,095,371 from Pre-IPO funding.

 

In July 2022, the Company issued 50,000 shares to one consultant for services at fair value of $50,000.

 

Warrants

 

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued a total of 54,250 warrants for a period of five years at a price per share of $1.00. Upon the issuance of the warrants as compensation of its services as placement agent, the warrants were categorized as equity and the fair value of $54,217 was recorded as a finance expense.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company issued a total of 85,750 warrants for a period of five years at a price per share of $1.00. Upon the issuance of the warrant as compensation of its services as placement agent, the warrants were categorized as equity and the fair value of $85,686 was recorded as a finance expense.

 

The following is a summary of warrant activity.

 

   

Number of

Warrants

   

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

   

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Life

   

Aggregate

Intrinsic
Value

 
Outstanding, December 31, 2021     54,250     $ 1.00       4.23     $  
Granted     85,750       1.00       4.55        
Forfeited                        
Exercised                        
Outstanding, September 30, 2022     140,000     $ 1.00       4.43     $  
Exercisable, September 30, 2022     140,000     $ 1.00       4.43     $  

 

The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes model to value its warrants. The Company utilized the following assumptions:

 

    For the nine
months
ended
 
    September 30,  
    2022  
Expected term   5 years  
Expected average volatility   328% - 339 %  
Expected dividend yield   -  
Risk-free interest rate   1.76% - 2.89 %  

 

NOTE 10 –PREPAID ROYALTY EXPENSE

 

On October 29, 2018, the Company entered into a Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL (LMM) to have the right to license the Licensed Mark. Both parties agreed to cancel the original Trademark License Agreement due to COVID19 in 2021 and both parties are released from the obligations and responsibilities under the original Trademark License Agreement. The Company recorded the actual royalty expense paid on or before the new agreement in November 2021 since both parties agreed to waive the original payment schedule in the 2018 Trademark License agreement.

 

  F-9 

 

  

On November 20, 2021, the Company entered into a Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL (LMM) to have the worldwide license to use Leo Messi’s Trademarks for the purpose of developing, manufacturing, marketing, and promoting his products. The Company is to pay LMM a minimum guaranteed amount on account of royalties amounting to Four Million Euros (4,000,000 €), net of taxes and last payment due on November 15, 2024.

 

The Company recorded $987,412 and $57,848 royalty expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The prepaid expense as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was $0 and $401,330, respectively.

 

The following table presents the future royalty payments of the Trademark License Agreement based on exchange rate as of September 30, 2022:

 

Fiscal year ending December 31,   As of September 30, 2022
2022   $ 501,897 (500,000€)
2023         1,003,794 (1,000,000€)
2024     1,505,691 (1,500,000€)
Total     3,011,382 (3,000,000€)

 

NOTE 11 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Company has evaluated events subsequent to September 30, 2022, to assess the need for potential recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements. Such events were evaluated through November 18, 2022, the date and time the consolidated financial statements were issued, and it was determined that no subsequent events, except as follows, occurred that required recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.

 

In October 2022, the Company paid the third installment of 500,000€ $492,562 according to the Trademark License Agreement with LMM .

 

In October 2022, the Company issued 700,000 shares with net proceeds of $616,665 from Pre-IPO funding.

 

In October 2022, the Company issued a consultant 91,730 shares of Common Stock for services at fair value of $1 per share.

 

In October 2022, the Company agreed to exchange $30,000 accounts payable in legal fees for 30,000 shares of Common Stock.

 

In October 2022, the Company issued five-year warrants issued to the representative to purchase 98,000 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $7.50 per share. In November 2022, the Company cancelled warrants issued to the representative to purchase in May 2022 and 98,000 warrants issued in October 2022 to the representative. 

 

  F-10 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the shareholders and board of directors of MGO Global, Inc.

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of MGO Global, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Restatement of December 31, 2021 Financial Statements

 

As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the financial statements have been restated to correct certain misstatements.

 

Substantial Doubt about the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and net operating cash outflows during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 3. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ BF Borgers CPA PC

BF Borgers CPA PC

 

Served as auditor since 2022

Lakewood, CO

August 2, 2022, except for the effects of the restatement disclosed in Note 2, as to which the date is October 24, 2022

 

  F-11 

 

  

MGO Global Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

   As of December 31,   As of December 31, 
   2021   2020 
Assets  (Restated)      
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $87,922   $116,652 
Accounts Receivable, net   3,285    10,760 
Other current assets   9,339    9,339 
Prepaid licensing fee   401,330     
Inventories   68,406    198,484 
Total current assets   570,282    335,235 
Total assets  $570,282   $335,235 
           
Liabilities and stockholders' deficit          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $

272,401

   $273,108 
Accounts payable – related party   

36,178

    

9,545

 
Accrued liabilities   225,894    140,920 
Accrued payroll   298,297    85,297 
Other current liabilities   13,634    13,634 
Current portion of loan payable   13,768    - 
Loan payable - PPP   -    41,600 
Loan payable - related parties   103,270    55,893 
Total current liabilities   963,442    619,997 
           
Loan payable   20,847     
Total liabilities   984,289    619,997 
           
Stockholders' deficit:          
Common stock, par value $0.00001, authorized 20,000,000 shares; 9,593,000 and 8,818,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively   96    88 
Additional paid in capital   2,866,558    2,022,515 
Accumulated deficit   (3,213,690)   (2,307,364)
Total MGO stockholders' equity (deficit)   (347,036)   (284,762)
Non-controlling interest   (66,971)    
Total stockholder's deficit   (414,007)   (284,762)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit  $570,282   $335,235 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  F-12 

 

   

MGO Global Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

   For the Year Ended
December 31, 2021
   For the Year Ended
December 31, 2020
 
         
Sales, net  $880,340   $694,585 
Cost of Goods Sold   392,407    382,820 
Gross profit   487,933    311,765 
           
Operating expenses:          
Selling   29,748    32,918 
E-Commerce expenses   459,420    414,976 
Payroll   466,738    446,087 
Royalty   180,246    65,037 
Third-party logistics services   57,248    76,177 
Investment impairment   -    500,000 
Rent expense – related party   

14,568

    

14,400

 
General and administrative   199,224    

141,344

 
Total operating expenses   1,407,192    1,690,939 
           
Operating loss   (919,259)   (1,379,174)
           
Other (income) expenses:          
Finance expense   103,987    33,286 
PPP loan forgiveness   (41,600)    
Other (Income) expense, net   4,249    11,326 
Total other (income) expenses   66,636    44,612 
           
Loss before income taxes   (985,895)   (1,423,786)
           

Income tax expense

   -    - 
Net loss  $(985,895)  $(1,423,786)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (79,569)    
Net loss attributable to MGO stockholders   (906,326)   (1,423,786)
           
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding   10,019,110    8,818,000 
           
Basic and diluted net loss per share to MGO stockholders  $(0.09)  $(0.16)

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  F-13 

 

   

MGO Global Inc.

Statements of Changes in Stockholder's Equity (Deficit)

 

           Additional       Total MGO       Total 
   Common Stock   Preferred Shares   Paid-In   Accumulated   Stockholder's   Non-controlling   Stockholder's 
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Capital   Deficit   Equity (deficit)   Interests   Equity (deficit) 
Balance at December 31, 2019   8,818,000   $88    -   $-   $1,999,151   $(883,578)   1,115,661   $-   $1,115,661 
                                              
Imputed interest   -    -    -    -    6,176    -    6,176    -    6,176 
Stock compensation expense   -    -    -    -    17,188    -    17,188    -    17,188 
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    (1,423,786)   (1,423,786)   -    (1,423,786)
Balance at December 31, 2020   8,818,000    88    -    -    2,022,515    (2,307,364)   (284,762)   -    (284,762)
                                              
Share issued for cash   775,000    8    -    -    659,092    -    659,100    -    659,100 
Stock compensation expense   -    -    -    -    132,814    -    132,814    -    132,814 
Warrants issued for financing expenses   -    -    -    -    54,217    -    54,217    -    54,217 
Imputed interest   -    -    -    -    10,519    -    10,519    -    10,519 
Sale of subsidiary as non-controlling interest   -    -    -    -    (12,598)   -    (12,598)   12,598    - 
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    (906,326)   (906,326)   (79,569)   (985,895)
Balance at December 31, 2021   9,593,000   $96    -   $-   $2,866,558   $(3,213,690)  $(347,036)  $(66,971)  $(414,007)

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

  F-14 

 

   

MGO Global Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

   For the year ended
December 31,
2021
   For the year ended
December 31,
2020
 
Cash flows from operating activities:          

Net loss

   (985,895)   (1,423,786)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:          
Imputed interest   10,519    6,176 
Stock compensation expenses   132,814    17,188 
Warrants issued for financing expenses   54,217    - 
Loan forgiveness - PPP   (41,600)   - 
Impairment in investment   -    500,000 
Net changes in operating assets & liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   7,475    (10,760)
Inventory   130,078    236,443 
Prepaid licensing fee   (401,330)   - 
Other current assets   -    52,467 
Accounts payable – related party   

26,633

    

9,545

 
Accrued payroll   

213,000

    

85,297

 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   323,901    125,851 
Net cash used in operating activities   (769,822)   (401,579)
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Investment in joint venture   -    (250,000)
Net cash used in investing activities   -    (250,000)
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Shares issued for cash   659,100    - 
Proceeds from loans payable related party   72,877    8,942 
Payments to loans payable related party   (25,500)   (11,000)
Repayment to loans payable   (15,385)   - 
Proceeds from loans payable   50,000    - 
Proceeds from loan payable - PPP   -    41,600 
Net cash provided by financing activities   741,092    39,542 
           
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (28,730)   (612,037)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   116,652    728,689 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $87,922    116,652 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information          
Cash paid during the period for:          
Interest  $-   $- 
Income taxes  $-   $- 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  F-15 

 

  

MGO Global Inc.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS  

 

MGO Global, Inc. (“MGO”, “we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company”), was formed on November 30, 2021, which operates through its subsidiary, MGOTEAM 1 LLC that designs, manufactures, licenses, distributes, advertises, and sells a range of products under the soccer legend Lionel (“Leo”) Messi brand “Messi Brand”. The Messi Brand is a premium lifestyle brand with a sporty edge and sells their products under their website www.themessistore.com. 

 

On October 29, 2018, the Company entered into a Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL (“LMM”), which was further replaced by a Trademark License Agreement dated November 20, 2021. Under the terms of these agreements, LMM grants the Company a worldwide license to use the Trademarks with the purpose of developing, manufacturing, trading and promoting of the Leo Messi Products.

 

On November 20, 2021, the Company entered into a Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL (LMM) to have the worldwide license to use Leo Messi’s Trademarks for the purpose of developing, manufacturing, marketing, and promoting his products. The Company is to pay LMM a minimum guaranteed amount on account of royalties amounting to Four Million Euros (4,000,000 €), net of taxes and last payment due on November 15, 2024.

 

Note 2 — Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements

 

At the end of the Company’s year ending December 31, 2021, the Company has a typo in the additional paid in capital, accumulated deficit, and non-controlling interest account on the balance sheet. The Company restated to reclass these equity accounts to reflect the correct balances. The total stockholder’s deficit did not change because of these reclass.

 

Restatement Effect on Financial Statements

 

The following table illustrates the impact of the restatement of equity reclass in the restated audited consolidated balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2021.

 

Effects on the previously issued financial statements referencing the reclass of equity are as follows:  

(A)Change in net stockholder’s deficit 

 

      As
Previously
Reported
   Adjustment   Restated 
Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2021:                  
Cash and cash equivalents     $87,922   $   $87,922 
Accounts Receivable, net      3,285        3,285 
Other current assets      9,339         9,339 
Prepaid licensing fee      401,330        401,330 
Inventories      68,406         68,406 
Total current assets      570,282        570,282 
Total assets     $570,282   $   $570,282 
Liabilities and stockholders' deficit                  
Current liabilities:                  
Accounts payable     $308,579   $   $308,579 

Accrued liabilities

      225,894         225,894 

Accrued payroll

      298,297        298,297 
Other current liabilities      13,634        13,634 
Current portion of loan payable      13,768        13,768 
Loan payable - related parties      103,270        103,270 
Total current liabilities      963,442        963,442 
Loan payable      20,847        20,847 
Total liabilities      984,289        984,289 
                  
Commitments and contingencies                
                  
Stockholders' deficit:                 
Common stock, par value $0.00001, authorized 20,000,000 shares; 9,593,000 and 8,818,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively      96        96 
Additional paid in capital  A   2,879,156    (12,598)   2,866,558 
Accumulated deficit  A   (3,360,230)   146,540    (3,213,690)
Total MGO stockholders' equity (deficit)  A   (480,978)   133,942    (347,036)
Non-controlling interest  A   66,971    (133,942)   (66,971)
Total stockholder's deficit      (414,007)       (414,007)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit     $570,282   $   $570,282 

 

  F-16 

 

  

NOTE 3 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of presentation

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) and include all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position for the periods presented.

 

MGOTEAM 1, LLC was formed on October 11, 2018, and the Company entered into a Rollover Agreement by and among MGOTEAM 1 LLC and each of the members of MGOTEAM 1 LLC on December 6, 2021. The members of MGOTEAM 1 LLC rollover all of their membership interests in exchange for 8,818,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock except one shareholder so we account that as non-controlling interest. Both MGO and MGGTEAM 1 LLC were under common control, the series of contractual arrangements between the MGO and MGGTEAM 1 LLC in December 6, 2021 constituted a reorganization under common control and are required to be retrospectively applied to the consolidated financial statements at their historical amounts. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared as if the existing corporate structure had been in existence throughout all periods. This includes a retrospective presentation for all equity related disclosures, including issued shares and earnings per share, which have been revised to reflect the effects of the reorganization in accordance with ASC 250 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. ASC 250 requires that a change in the reporting entity from reorganization entities under common control, be retrospectively applied to the financials statements of all prior periods when the financials statements are issued for a period that includes the date the change in reporting entity of the transaction occurred.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the footnotes thereto. Actual results could differ from those estimates. It is reasonably possible that changes in estimates will occur in the near term.   

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivables are carried at their estimated collectible amounts, net of any estimated allowances for doubtful accounts. We grant unsecured credit to our customer’s deemed credit worthy. Ongoing credit evaluations are performed and potential credit losses estimated by management are charged to operations on a regular basis. At the time any particular account receivable is deemed uncollectible, the balance is charged to the allowance for doubtful accounts. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had no allowance for accounts receivable.

 

Prepaid Royalty Expense

 

The Company will pay 500,000€ every five months according to the Trademark License Agreement payment schedule with LMM signed on November 20, 2021. The Company records each installment payment as prepaid expense and amortized over the license period granted by LMM.

 

Inventory

 

Inventory consists of raw materials and finished goods ready for sale and is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. We value inventories using the weighted average costing method. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. We regularly review inventory and consider forecasts of future demand, market conditions and product obsolescence. If the estimated realized value of our inventory is less than cost, we make provisions in order to reduce its carrying value to its estimated net realizable value.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenues when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which it expects to receive in exchange for those goods. The Company recognizes revenues following the five step model prescribed under ASU No. 2014-09: (i) identify contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenues when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation.

 

  F-17 

 

   

Revenue transactions associated with the sale of the Leo Messi Brand products, comprise a single performance obligation, which consists of the sale of products to customers either through direct wholesale or online sales through our website www.themessistore.com. We satisfy the performance obligation and record revenues when transfer of control to the customer has occurred, based on the terms of sale. A customer is considered to have control once they are able to direct the use and receive substantially all of the benefits of the product. Control is transferred to wholesale customers upon shipment or upon receipt depending on the country of the sale and the agreement with the customer. Control transfers to online customers at the time upon shipment. The transactions price is determined based upon the invoiced sales price, less anticipated sales returns, discounts and miscellaneous claims from customers. Payment terms for wholesale transactions depend on the country of sale or agreement with the customer and payment is generally required within 30 days or less of shipment to or receipt by the wholesale customer. Payment is due at the time of sale for direct wholesale and online transactions.

 

The Company sold our product directly to consumers via our website and to wholesale customers. All our products are the Leo Messi Brand apparel. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company sold $778,571 directly to consumers via our website and $101,769 to wholesale customers.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company sold $675,672 directly to consumers via our website and $68,913 to wholesale customers.

 

Foreign currency

 

For all operations, gains or losses from remeasuring foreign currency transactions into the functional currency are included in the statements of operations as finance charges.

 

Segment Reporting

 

The Company has one reportable segment which sells a range of products under the soccer legend Lionel (‘Leo”) Messi brand “Messi Brand”. The chief operating decision maker is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance and obtains financial information, being the consolidated statements of operations, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flow, about the Company as a whole.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. In estimating future tax consequences, the Company generally considers all expected future events other than enactments of changes in the tax law. For deferred tax assets, management evaluates the probability of realizing the future benefits of such assets. The Company establishes valuation allowances for its deferred tax assets when evidence suggests it is unlikely that the assets will be fully realized.

 

The Company recognizes the tax effects of an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits as of the reporting date and then only in an amount more likely than not to be sustained upon review by the tax authorities. Income tax positions that previously failed to meet the more likely than not threshold are recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more likely than not threshold are derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met. The Company classifies potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) as income tax expense.

 

Non-controlling interest

 

One shareholder did not rollover his 11.82% shares from MGOTEAM 1 LLC to MGO as of December 6, 2021. According to ASC 810-10-45-22 through 810-10-45-24, carrying amount of the NCI will be adjusted to reflect the change in the NCI’s ownership interest in the subsidiary. Any difference between the amount by which the NCI is adjusted and the fair value of the consideration paid or received is recognized in equity/APIC and attributed to the equity holders of the parent in accordance with ASC 810-10-45-23. The Company accounted for this portion of shares as non-controlling interest as of December 6, 2021 for $12,598. See note 9.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, (Topic 326), Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments which amends the current accounting guidance and requires the use of the new forward-looking “expected loss” model, rather than the “incurred loss” model, which requires all expected losses to be determined based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This guidance amends the accounting for credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments including trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other instruments. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10 to postpone the effective date of ASU No. 2016-13 for public business entities eligible to be smaller reporting companies defined by the SEC to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company believes the adoption of ASU No. 2016-13 will not have a material impact on its financial position and results of operations.

 

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, to improve financial reporting associated with accounting for convertible instruments and contracts in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2022. The Company did not expect the adoption will have any significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

  F-18 

 

   

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards could have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements. As new accounting pronouncements are issued, we will adopt those that are applicable under the circumstances.

 

NOTE 4 – GOING CONCERN

 

The Company’s continuation as a going concern is dependent on its ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations to meet its obligations, in which it has not been successful, and/or obtaining additional financing from its shareholders or other sources, as may be required.

 

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. Such assumption contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

 

As reflected in the accompanying financial statements, the Company had a net loss of $906,326 and $1,423,786 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, working capital deficit of $393,160 and $284,762 as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, and stockholder’s deficit of $414,007 and $284,762, respectively. These factors among others raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

 

NOTE 5 – INVENTORY

 

As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, inventories amounted to $68,406 and $198,484, respectively.

 

   December 31, 2021   December 31, 2020 
Raw materials  $-   $26,526 
Finished goods   68,406    171,958 
Total   68,406    198,484 

 

NOTE 6 – JOINT VENTURE

 

On August 29, 2019, MGOTEAM1 LLC entered into an Equity Joint Venture Contract with Shanghai Celebrity Import and Export Co., Ltd. With respect to Shanghai Celebrity International Trading Co., Ltd (SCIT) and invested $500,000 as a 40 % shareholder of the joint venture. The term of the agreement is for (20) Twenty Years commencing from the Establishment Date on August 29, 2019. Per the Equity Joint Venture Contract, SCIT is to engage in the sale and distribution of MGO Products and/or other commercial products within the Territory (PRC, Hong Kong S.A.R., Macau S.A.R., Taiwan, and Singapore). The Company will be responsible for formulating business strategy and SCIT will be responsible for assisting the joint venture to apply for and being granted all necessary approvals, permits, certificates, licenses required from the relevant government authorities. Per the preferred membership interest purchase agreement, MGO will receive $2 million from SCIT. As of December 31, 2021 the Company received $1,995,000 from SCIT for 12% of MGOTeam1 LLC membership unit. The Company was obligated to and re-invested $500,000 from the proceeds of $2 million to this Joint Venture with SCIT. The Company does not expect to receive any royalties from this joint venture.

 

On August 29, 2019, the Company entered into a License Agreement with SCIT for the use of Leo Messi trademarks and service marks.

 

  F-19 

 

   

Minimum royalty to be received is initially $250,000 and will increase after the first anniversary of the Agreement.

 

Year   Minimum Royalty  
2021   $ 350,000  
2022     490,000  
2023     637,000  
2024     764,000  

 

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not receive any royalty from SCIT. Also, the Company initially recorded the $500,000 in the joint venture as equity investment since the Company only has 40% ownership, SCIT controlled the majority of the board, and the Company has no obligations to absorb the losses. As of December 31, 2020, the Company impaired the entire $500,000 investment in the joint venture because no business cooperation and communication between the Company and SCIT since 2020. We do not expect to resume the operations in the near future. The Company also does not expect to receive any of the royalties from this joint venture in the near future.

 

NOTE 7 – ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES (INCLUDING RELATED PARTIES)

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities were $534,473 and $423,573 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Accounts payable are mainly payables to vendors and accrued liabilities consists of mainly credit card payable and sales and VAT tax payable.

 

   December 31,
2021
   December 31,
2020
 
Accounts payable  $142,489   $153,569 
Warehouse rent payable   74,172    92,789 
Legal payable   240,634    91,919 
Accrued liabilities   77,178    85,296 
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities:  $534,473   $423,573 

 

NOTE 8 – LOAN PAYABLE  

 

On May 8, 2020, the Company received $41,600 of proceeds from a note payable issued under either the Small Business Administration "the SBA" Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") under section 7(a)(36) of the Small Business Act or the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program Second Draw Loans under Section 7(a)(37) of the Small Business Act. The note matures in two years and bears interest at 1% per year. In April 2021 our PPP Loan was forgiven by the SBA in its entirety. The forgiveness was accounted for as other income which resulted in a gain of $41,600 recorded in our statement of operations.

 

On July 30, 2021, the Company entered into a loan with PayPal with an interest rate of 6.79% and principal balance of $25,000 and monthly payment of $560 over the term of the loan. This loan will mature on November 30, 2025.

 

On September 10, 2021, the Company entered into a loan with PayPal with an interest rate of 9.16% and principal balance of $25,000 and monthly payment of $588 over the term of the loan. This loan will mature on January 10, 2026.

 

   December 31, 2021   December 31, 2020 
         
Current portion of loans payable  $13,768   $- 
Non-current portion of loans payable  $20,847   $- 

 

NOTE 9 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Company borrowed from shareholders $72,877 and paid $25,500 for the years ended December 31, 2021. The Company received $8,942 and paid $11,000 from shareholders for the years ended December 31, 2020. This borrowing does not have a fixed maturity date or stated rate of interest. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the balance of loans payable is $103,270 and $55,893, respectively.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, related party imputed interest was $10,519 and $6,176 respectively. The imputed interest was recorded as interest expense and an increase in additional paid-in capital based on a rate of 12%.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company recorded $14,568 and $14,400 respectively, in month to month rent expense to Virginia Hilfiger, our Chief Design Officer and Director and Maximiliano Ojeda, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. 

 

The accounts payable owed to related party as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was $36,178 and $9,545, respectively.

 

The accrued payroll owed to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Design Officer, and Chief Operating Officer as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was $298,297 and $85,297, respectively.

 

NOTE 10 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 

Common Stock

 

MGOTEAM 1, LLC was formed on October 11, 2018, and the Company entered into a Rollover Agreement by and among MGOTEAM 1 LLC and each of the members of MGOTEAM 1 LLC on December 6, 2021. The members of MGOTEAM 1 LLC rollover all of their membership interests in exchange for 8,818,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The remaining 11.82% of MGOTeam1 LLC membership unit from SCIT did not rollover to MGO Global Inc., therefore, we accounted this 11.82% as non-controlling interest. Also, one of the original members of MGOTEAM1, LLC is entitled to receive an additional 200,000 shares of Common Stock if he meets criteria listed in his grant letter. The stockholder’s equity is retroactively restated to reflect the Rollover Agreement on December 6, 2021.

 

  F-20 

 

   

For the year ended, December 31, 2021, the Company issued 775,000 shares with net proceeds of $659,100 from Pre-IPO funding.

 

Warrants

 

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued a total of 54,250 warrants for a period of five years at a price per share of $1.00. Upon the issuance of the warrants as compensation of its services as placement agent, the warrants were categorized as equity and the fair value of $54,217 was recorded as a finance expense.

 

The following is a summary of warrant activity.

 

    Number of
Warrants
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
    Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
    Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
Outstanding, December 31, 2020         $           $  
Granted     54,250       1.00       5.00        
Forfeited                        
Exercised                        
Outstanding, December 31, 2021     54,250     $ 1.00       5.00     $  
Exercisable, December 31, 2021     54,250     $ 1.00       5.00     $  

 

The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes model to value its warrants. The Company utilized the following assumptions:

 

    Year ended  
    December 31,  
    2021  
Expected term     5 years  
Expected average volatility     340 %
Expected dividend yield     -  
Risk-free interest rate     1.23 %

 

NOTE 11 –PREPAID ROYALTY EXPENSE

 

On October 29, 2018, the Company entered into a Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL (LMM) to have the right to license the Licensed Mark. Both parties agreed to cancel the original Trademark License Agreement due to COVID19 in 2021 and both parties are released from the obligations and responsibilities under the original Trademark License Agreement. The Company recorded the actual royalty expense paid on or before the new agreement in November 2021 since both parties agreed to waive the original payment schedule in the 2018 Trademark License agreement.

 

On November 20, 2021, the Company entered into a Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi Management SL (LMM) to have the worldwide license to use Leo Messi’s Trademarks for the purpose of developing, manufacturing, marketing, and promoting his products. The Company is to pay LMM a minimum guaranteed amount on account of royalties amounting to Four Million Euros (4,000,000 €), net of taxes and last payment due on November 15, 2024.

 

As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company has paid the initial payment of $573,329 (500,000€) and $0 in royalty expense to LMM, respectively.

 

The following table presents the future royalty payment of the Trademark License Agreement:

 

Fiscal year ending December 31,   As of December 31, 2021  
2022   $ 1,131,800  
2023     1,131,800  
2024     1,697,700  
Total     3,961,300  

 

  F-21 

 

   

NOTE 12 – INCOME TAXES

 

At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities were as follows:

 

   December 31,
2021
   December 31,
2020
 
Deferred tax asset -          
Net operating loss carry forwards  $49,365   $- 
Total deferred tax asset   49,365    - 
Less: valuation allowance   (49,365)   - 
Total deferred tax asset   -    - 
Total deferred tax liabilities   -    - 
           
Net deferred tax asset (liabilities)  $-   $- 

 

The valuation allowance increased by $49,365 during the period from December 6, 2021 to December 31, 2021, as a result of the Company’s net operating losses for the period from December 6, 2021 (the date of the incorporation and formation of MGO Global, Inc.) through December 31, 2021. The Company has net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $235,074 for both U.S. federal and state tax purposes as of December 31, 2021. Utilization of the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards is subject to a substantial annual limitation due to the “ownership change” limitations provided by Section 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and other similar state provisions. Any annual limitation may result in the expiration of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards before utilization.

 

The Company has not recorded any income tax expense or benefit in the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2021 or 2020, due to the benefit of net operating losses in these periods and the Company’s change during 2021 to a C corporation from a limited liability company that was disregarded for federal and state income tax purposes.

 

The reconciliation between the federal statutory income tax rate of 21% to the Company’s effective tax for the periods presented is as follows:

 

    Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent  
Federal provision at statutory rate   $ (60,751 )     21.0 %   $ -       0.0 %
State income taxes     -       0 %     -       0.0 %
Non-deductible expenses     11,386       (4 )%                
Change in valuation allowance     49,365       (17 )%     -       0.0 %
Effective tax rate   $ -       0.0 %   $ -       0.0 %

 

  F-22 

 

   

The Company’s effective tax rates differ from the federal statutory rate primarily due to the establishment of a valuation allowance.

 

The Company periodically evaluates the likelihood of the realization of deferred tax assets, and adjusts the carrying amount of the deferred tax assets by the valuation allowance to the extent the future realization of the deferred tax assets is not judged to be more likely than not. The Company considers many factors when assessing the likelihood of future realization of its deferred tax assets, including its recent cumulative earnings experience by taxing jurisdiction, expectations of future taxable income or loss, the carryforward periods available to the Company for tax reporting purposes, and other relevant factors.

 

Future changes in the unrecognized tax benefit will have no impact on the effective tax rate due to the existence of the valuation allowance. The Company estimates that the unrecognized tax benefit will not change significantly within the next twelve months. The Company classifies income tax penalties and interest as part of general and administrative expense in its consolidated statements of operations. There were no interest or penalties accrued as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.

 

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities, for which the Company’s major tax jurisdictions are the United States and various states. The Company has not filed any federal and state income tax returns as of this filing because MGO Global Inc. only formed in December 2021.

 

The Company’s tax provision has been calculated from the date of incorporation on November 30, 2021 through December 31, 2021. Prior to November 30, 2021, and the formation of MGO Global, Inc., the taxable income and loss of the entities included in this filing were reported on individual members’ personal tax returns.

 

Note 11 Risks and Uncertainties

 

During the year ended December 31, 2021, global financial markets have experienced and may continue to experience significant volatility resulting from the spread of a novel coronavirus known as COVID-19. The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in travel and border restrictions, quarantines, and general market uncertainty. The extent of the future impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s operational and financial performance will depend on certain developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak, and its impact on the Company’s customers, employees and vendors, which cannot be determined at this time.

 

The Company is subject to credit, liquidity, and market risks, as well as other payment-related risks such as risks associated with the fraudulent use of credit or debit cards and customer banking information, which could have adverse effects on our business and revenues due to chargebacks from customers.

 

NOTE 13 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Company has evaluated events subsequent to December 31, 2021, to assess the need for potential recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements. Such events were evaluated through July 28, 2022, the date and time the consolidated financial statements were issued, and it was determined that no subsequent events, except as follows, occurred that required recognition or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements.

 

In 2022, the Company issued a total of 1,225,000 shares at $1 per share with net proceeds of $1,095,372 from Pre-IPO funding and 85,750 warrants for a period of five years at a price per share of $1.00 as compensation to the service provider from the Pre-IPO funding.

 

In February 2022, the Company issued 50,000 shares of Common Stock to a consultant for services.

 

  F-23 

 

  

[______] Shares of Common Stock

 

  

 

MGO Global Inc.

 

PROSPECTUS

 

    , 2022

 

 

 

Boustead Securities, LLC Sutter Securities, Inc.

 

Through and including                 , 2022 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in the listing, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.

 

   

 

  

[Alternate Page for Resale Prospectus]

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED [__], 2022

 

 

 

MGO Global Inc.

1,500,000

Shares of Common Stock

 

This prospectus relates to 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of MGO Global Inc. that may be sold from time to time by the selling stockholders named in this prospectus.

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sales of outstanding Common Stock by the selling stockholders.

 

Currently, no public market exists for our Common Stock. We have applied to list our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “MGOL”. There can be no assurance that we will be able to meet Nasdaq’s initial listing requirements or that we will otherwise be approved for listing.

 

The selling stockholders may offer and sell the Common Stock being offered by this prospectus from time to time in public or private transactions, or both. These sales will occur at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may sell shares to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders, the purchasers of the shares, or both. Any participating broker-dealers and any selling stockholders who are affiliates of broker-dealers may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any commissions or discounts given to any such broker-dealer or affiliates of a broker-dealer may be regarded as underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The selling stockholders have informed us that they do not have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute their Common Stock. See “Plan of Distribution” for a more complete description of the ways in which the shares may be sold.

 

Investing in our securities is highly speculative and involves a significant degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page [__] of this prospectus for a discussion of information that should be considered before making a decision to purchase our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is [____], 2022.

 

  Alt-1 

 

  

[Alternate Page for Resale Prospectus]

 

The Offering

 

Common stock offered by the selling stockholders:   This prospectus relates to 1800,000 shares of Common Stock and up to 938,000 shares underlying warrants that may be sold from time to time by the selling stockholders named in this prospectus.
     
Shares outstanding:   11,689,230 shares of Common Stock (or 13,189,230 shares if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option in full).
     
Use of proceeds:   We will not receive any proceeds from the sales of outstanding Common Stock by the selling stockholders.
     
Risk factors:   Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. As an investor, you should be able to bear a complete loss of your investment. You should carefully consider the information set forth in the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page [____].
     
Trading market and symbol:   We have applied to list our Common Stock on Nasdaq under the symbol “MGOL.” There can be no assurance that we will be able to meet Nasdaq’s initial listing requirements or that we will otherwise be approved for listing.

 

The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding assumes the issuance by us of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Public Offering Prospectus filed contemporaneously herewith.

 

  Alt-2 

 

 

[Alternate Page for Resale Prospectus]

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of Common Stock by the selling stockholders.

 

The selling stockholders will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by them for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by them in disposing of the shares. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the shares covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and our accountants.

 

  Alt-3 

 

  

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

 

The following table sets forth the shares beneficially owned, as of November 15, 2022, by the selling stockholders identified below (the “Selling Stockholders”) prior to the offering contemplated by this prospectus, the number of shares each Selling Stockholder is offering by this prospectus, and the number of shares which each would own beneficially if all such offered shares are sold. The Selling Stockholders can offer all, some or none of their shares of Common Stock, and thus we have no way of determining the number of shares of Common Stock each Selling Stockholder will hold after this offering. Therefore, the fourth and fifth columns assume that each Selling Stockholder will sell all shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus.

 

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Under these rules, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or direct the voting of the security, or investment power, which includes the power to vote or direct the voting of the security. The person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any security of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under the Securities and Exchange Commission rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities, and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which he or she may not have any pecuniary beneficial interest. Except as noted below, each person has sole voting and investment power.

 

None of the Selling Stockholders, other than Boustead Securities LLC, is a registered broker-dealer or an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer. 1,100,000 of the shares being registered for resale by the Selling Stockholders were acquired by 19 investors in the Company’s offering of Common Stock at $1.00 per share in December 2021 through June 2022. Additionally, 1,400,000 of the shares being registered for resale by the Selling Stockholders consist of 700,000 shares of Common Stock and 700,000 shares underlying warrants that were acquired by 7 investors in the Company’s offering of Common Stock at $1.00 per share in October 2022.

 

The percentages below are calculated based on 11,689,230 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding as of November 18, 2022.

 

  

Common Stock

Beneficially

Owned by

  

Number of

Shares Offered
by

   Common Stock
Beneficially Owned
After this Offering
(1)
 
Name of Selling Stockholder 

Prior to this

Offering

   Selling
Stockholder
  

Number of

Shares

   Percent
of Class
 
Adewale Adegbenro (2)   50,000    25,000    25,000    0.21 
Omoniyi Aderinokyn (3)   25,000    12,500    12,500    0.11 
BaseStones, Inc. (4)   500,000    500,000    0    0 
Bolaji Bukola (5)   50,000    12,500    37,500    0.32 
Chris Etherington (6)   50,000    50,000    0    0 
Coyle Family Living Trust (7)   10,000    10,000    0    0 
Erick Rabins IRA (8)   25,000    10,000    15,000    0.13 
Eternal Horizon International Company Limited (9)   375,000    375,000    0    0 
Gilbert Bradshaw and Marin Bradshaw (10)   10,000    10,000    0    0 
Wing Kai Lam (11)   100,000    100,000    0    0 
Mark Olivier (12)   50,000    50,000    0    0 
Mike Gatto and Danielle Gatto (13)   25,000    25,000    0    0 
Robert Muh (14)   20,000    20,000    0    0 
Brendan O'Neil (15)   50,000    50,000    0    0 
Oleta Investments, LLC (16)   425,000    425,000    0    0 
One10 Food Sciences Pte Ltd (17)   100,000    100,000    0    0 
Michael Rich (18)   175,000    112,500    62,500    0.11 
Louis Sanzo (19)   175,000    112,500    62,500    0.11 
Patricia Sorbara (20)   20,000    20,000    0    0 
Varkes Churukian and Zovinar Churukian (21)   25,000    25,000    0    0 
Vertical Holdings, LLC (22)   200,000    200,000    0    0 
Rui Wu (23)   255,000    255,000    0    0 
Boustead Securities LLC (24)   78,225    78,225    0    0 
Total   2,578,225    2,578,225    215,000    0.98 

 

(1)Assumes all of the shares of Common Stock offered by the Selling Stockholders pursuant to the Resale Prospectus are sold and that the Selling Stockholders buy or sell no additional shares of Common Stock prior to the completion of this offering. The registration of these shares does not necessarily mean that the Selling Stockholders will sell all or any portion of the shares covered by this prospectus. Based on 11,689,230 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of November 15, 2022.
(2)The Selling Stockholder has voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 4315 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212.
(3)The Selling Stockholder has voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 130-11 178th St, Jamaica, NY 11434.

 

  Alt-4 

 

  

(4)Mohammad Ansari is the President of the Selling Stockholder and has voting and investment power over the shares. The number of shares or percentage of shares owned in each column includes 250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the full exercise of a warrant held by the Selling Stockholder. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 1901 Avenue of the Stars #200, Los Angeles, CA 90067.
(5)The Selling Stockholder has voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 124 Pendleton Place, Staten Island, NY, 10301.
(6)The Selling Stockholder has voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The number of shares or percentage of shares owned in each column includes 25,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the full exercise of a warrant held by the Selling Stockholder. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 318 N. Carson Street, Suite 208, Carson City, NV 89701.
(7)Andrew J. Coyle is the Trustee of the Selling Stockholder and has voting and investment power over the shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 1771 Thurston Dr., Laguna Beach, CA 92651.
(8)Erick Rabins is the beneficiary of the Selling Stockholder and has voting and investment power over the shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 113 Cherry Street #62753, Seattle, WA 98104.
(9)Jie Xu is the owner of the Selling Stockholder and has voting and investment power over the shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 30 de Castro St PO Box 4518, Wickams Cay, British Virgin Islands.
(10)Gilbert Bradshaw and Marin Bradshaw have voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 3368 Nevada Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
(11)The Selling Stockholder has voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 6/F, Block G Wai Kee House 91 Sai Yee Street, Mongkok, 852, Hong Kong.
(12)The Selling Stockholder has voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 10882 Coronel Road, Santa Ana, CA 92705.
(13)Mike Gatto and Danielle Gatto have voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 1452 Plaza Francisco, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274.
(14)The Selling Stockholder has voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 1150 Sacramento St., San Francisco, CA, 94108.
(15)The Selling Stockholder has voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 3053 Fillmore St. Suite 256, San Francisco, CA, 94123.
(16)Chris Etherington is the Manager Member of the Selling Stockholder and has voting and investment power over the shares. The number of shares or percentage of shares owned in each column includes 200,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the full exercise of a warrant held by the Selling Stockholder. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 318 N. Carson Street, Suite 208, Carson City, NV 89701.
(17)Timothy Londergan is the Chief Executive Office of the Selling Stockholder and has voting and investment power over the shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 10-01, George Street, Singapore, 049145 Singapore.
(18)The Selling Stockholder has voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The number of shares or percentage of shares owned in each column includes 50,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the full exercise of a warrant held by the Selling Stockholder. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 289 Bryant Ave, Plainedge, NY 11756.
(19)The Selling Stockholder has voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The number of shares or percentage of shares owned in each column includes 50,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the full exercise of a warrant held by the Selling Stockholder. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 32 Boulevard, Malba, NY 11357.
(20)The Selling Stockholder has voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 14 Wood Hallow Lane, Fort Salonga, NY 11768.
(21)Varkes Churukian and Zovina Churukian have voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 26664 Trillium Drive, Farmington Hills, MI 48331.
(22)Kevan Casey is the Manager of the Selling Stockholder and has voting and investment power over the shares. The number of shares or percentage of shares owned in each column includes 100,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the full exercise of a warrant held by the Selling Stockholder. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 9337B Katy Freeway #296, Houston, TX 77024.
(23)The Selling Stockholder has voting and investment power with respect to these shares. The address of the Selling Stockholder is Flat G12/F Block 23 Park Island Ma Wan, NT, Hong Kong.
(24)Keith Moore is the Chief Executive Officer of the Selling Stockholder and has voting and investment power over the shares. The number of shares or percentage of shares owned in each column consists of or is based upon 78,225 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the full exercise of the warrant held by the Selling Stockholder. The address of the Selling Stockholder is 6 Venture, Suite 395, Irvine, CA 92618.

 

We may require the Selling Stockholders to suspend the sales of the securities offered by this prospectus upon the occurrence of any event that makes any statement in this prospectus, or the related registration statement, untrue in any material respect, or that requires the changing of statements in these documents in order to make statements in those documents not misleading. We will file a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to reflect any material changes to this prospectus.

 

  Alt-5 

 

  

[Alternate Page for Resale Prospectus]

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Each Selling Stockholder and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities covered hereby on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. These sales will occur at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. A selling stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:

 

·ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

·block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

·purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

·an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

·privately negotiated transactions;

 

·settlement of short sales;

 

·in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;

 

·through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

·a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

·any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The selling stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders, or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser, in amounts to be negotiated. The Selling Stockholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.

 

The Selling Stockholders may from time to time pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell shares of our Common Stock from time to time under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933 amending the list of selling security holders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling security holders under this prospectus.

 

Upon our being notified in writing by a Selling Stockholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker- dealer for the sale of our Common Stock through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of each such Selling Stockholder and of the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved, (iii) the price at which such the shares of our Common Stock were sold, (iv)the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and (vi) other facts material to the transaction. In addition, upon our being notified in writing by a Selling Stockholder that a donee or pledgee intends to sell more than 500 shares of our Common Stock, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed if then required in accordance with applicable securities law.

 

The Selling Stockholders also may transfer the shares of our Common Stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

 

The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Discounts, concessions, commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, that can be attributed to the sale of Securities will be paid by the Selling Stockholder and/or the purchasers. Each Selling Stockholder has represented and warranted to us that it acquired the securities subject to this prospectus in the ordinary course of such Selling Stockholder’s business and, at the time of its purchase of such securities such Selling Stockholder had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute any such securities.

 

We have advised each Selling Stockholder that it may not use shares registered on this prospectus to cover short sales of our Common Stock made prior to the date on which this prospectus shall have been declared effective by the Commission. If a Selling Stockholder uses this prospectus for any sale of our Common Stock, it will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The Selling Stockholders will be responsible to comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder promulgated, including, without limitation, Regulation M, as applicable to such Selling Stockholders in connection with resales of their respective shares under this prospectus.

 

We are required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the registration of the shares, but we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of our Common Stock. We have agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

  Alt-6 

 

  

[Alternate Page for Resale Prospectus]

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the Common Stock covered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP. Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP have been issued 30,000 shares of our Common Stock as partial payment of its legal fees.

 

  Alt-7 

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 13.OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

 

The following table indicates the expenses to be incurred in connection with the offering described in this registration statement, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, all of which will be paid by us. All amounts are estimated except for the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) filing fee and the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC listing fee.

 

   Amount 
SEC registration fee  $2,000.75 
FINRA filing fee  $3,223.34 
NASDAQ listing fee  $50,000.00 
Accountants’ fees and expenses  $120,000.00 
Legal fees and expenses  $570,000.00 
Printing and engraving expenses  $10,500.00 
Miscellaneous  $4,275.91 
Total expenses  $760,000.00 

 

ITEM 14.INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

Section 102 of the General Company Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”) permits a Company to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a Company to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. Our charter provides that no director of the Company shall be personally liable to it or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.

 

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a Company has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company, or a person serving at the request of the Company for another Company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, ending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the Company, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

If a claim is not paid in full by the Company, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where any undertaking required by the Bylaws has been tendered to the Company) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL for the Company to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Company. Neither the failure of the Company (including its board of directors (“Board”), legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its Board, legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. Indemnification shall include payment by the Company of expenses in defending an action or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by the person indemnified to repay such payment if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.

 

  II-1 

 

  

In any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of Common Stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, our directors, our officers and persons who control us within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, against certain liabilities.

 

ITEM 15.RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES

 

Since the Company's incorporation on November 30, 2021, the registrant has granted or issued the following securities of the registrant that were not registered under the Securities Act:

 

(a) Issuance of Capital Stock.

 

On December 6, 2021, the Company issued 8,818,000 shares of its Common Stock to the initial shareholders of the Company

 

On February 1, 2022, the Company issued 50,000 shares of its Common Stock to Isaac Khafif pursuant to a consulting agreement and amendments thereto.

 

From December 2021 to June 2022, the Company issued 2,000,000 shares of its Common Stock to accredited investors in a private placement offering.

 

In October 2022, the Company issued 700,000 shares of its Common Stock to accredited investors in a private placement offering. 

 

The issuance of the capital stock in a private placements was deemed exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder in that the issuance of securities were made to an accredited investor and did not involve a public offering. The recipient of such securities represented its intention to acquire the securities for investment purposes only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof.

 

(b) Warrants.

 

In December 2021 and February 2022, the Company issued a total of 78,225 five year warrants to Boustead Securities, LLC at a price per share of $1.00.

 

In October 2022, the Company issued warrants to purchase 700,000 shares of its Common Stock in a private placement for a period of five years at a price per share of $1.00.  

  

(c) Option Grants.

 

None.

 

(d) Issuance of Notes.

 

None

 

  II-2 

 

  

ITEM 16.EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  Description
1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of MGO Global Inc.
3.2   Bylaws of MGO Global Inc.
3.3.   First Amendment to Bylaws of MGO Global Inc. dated August 24, 2022
3.4.   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated August 29, 2022
4.1   Form of Representative's Warrant
4.2   Form of Warrant issued to investors in private placement
4.3   Form of Placement Agent Warrant issued in first private placement
4.4   Form of Placement Agent Warrant issued in second private placement
5.1   Opinion of Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP as to the legality of the shares
10.1*   Trademark License Agreement between MGOTEAM 1 LLC and Leo Messi Management SL dated November 20, 2021
10.2†   Form of 2022 Equity Incentive Plan
10.3†   Executive Employment Agreement between MGO Global Inc. and Maximiliano Ojeda dated July 19, 2022
10.4†   Executive Employment Agreement between MGO Global Inc. and Virginia Hilfiger dated July 19, 2022
10.5†   Executive Employment Agreement between MGO Global Inc. and Julian Groves dated July 19, 2022
10.6†   Executive Employment Agreement between MGO Global Inc. and Matt Harward dated October 13, 2022
10.7†   Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement between MGO Global Inc. and Maximiliano Ojeda dated October 13, 2022
10.8†   Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement between MGO Global Inc. and Virginia Hilfiger dated October 13, 2022
10.9†   Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement between MGO Global Inc. and Julian Groves dated October 13, 2022
10.10†   Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement between MGO Global Inc. and Matt Harward dated October 24, 2022
10.11   Form of Subscription Agreement for first private placement
10.12   Form of Subscription Agreement for second private placement
14.1   Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
21.1   List of Subsidiaries
23.1   Consent of BF Borges CPA PC
23.2   Consent of Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement)
99.1   Audit Committee Charter
99.2   Compensation Committee Charter
99.3   Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter
99.4   Consent of Obie McKenzie (director nominee)
99.5   Consent of Paul Wahlgren (director nominee)
99.6   Consent of Nicole Fernandez-McGovern (director nominee)
99.7   Consent of Salima Popatia (director nominee)
107   Exhibit Filing Fees

 

Executive compensation plan or arrangement.

 

*portions will be redacted.

 

(b)Financial Statements Schedules.

 

No financial statement schedules are provided because the information called for is not applicable or not required or is shown in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

  

(c)Filing Fee Table.

 

The Filing Fee Table and related disclosure is filed herewith as Exhibit 107.

 

  II-3 

 

  

ITEM 17.UNDERTAKINGS

 

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(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, as amended (the “Securities Act”);

 

(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 Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

  

(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 (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above 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 Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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.

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

 

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(B) Each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

 

(5) That for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  II-4 

 

  

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to any charter provision, by law or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange 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 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 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.

 

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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.

 

  II-5 

 

  

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of New York, State of New York, on November 18, 2022.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.
     
  By: /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda
    Maximiliano Ojeda
    Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

We, the undersigned officers and directors of MGO Global Inc. hereby severally constitute and appoint Maximiliano Ojeda with full power of substitution and resubstitution and full power to act without the other, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act in his name, place and stead and to execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement (or any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange 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 or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as full 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 their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ Maximiliano Ojeda   Chief Executive Officer and Chairman  

November 18, 2022

Maximiliano Ojeda   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ Martin Scott   Chief Financial Officer  

November 18, 2022

Martin Scott   (Principal Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ Virginia Hilfiger   Director  

November 18, 2022

Virginia Hilfiger        
         
/s/ Julian Groves   Director  

November 18, 2022

Julian Groves        

 

  II-6 

 

 

Exhibit 1.1

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

[*], 2022

 

Boustead Securities, LLC

6 Venture, Suite 395

Irvine, CA 92618

 

As Representative of the several Underwriters named on Schedule 1 attached hereto

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned, MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with Boustead Securities, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “you” (including its correlatives) or the “Representative”) and with the other underwriters named on Schedule 1 hereto for which the Representative is acting as representative (the Representative and such other underwriters being collectively called the “Underwriters” or, individually, an “Underwriter”) as follows:

 

1.             Purchase and Sale of Shares.

 

1.1.          Firm Shares.

 

1.1.1.       Nature and Purchase of Firm Shares.

 

(i)            On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell in the aggregate [*] shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and each Underwriter agrees to purchase, severally and not jointly, at the Closing, an aggregate of [*] shares (the “Firm Shares”) of the Common Stock.

 

(ii)           The Firm Shares are to be offered together to the public at the offering price per one Firm Share as set forth on Schedule 2-A hereto (the “Purchase Price”). The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule 1 attached hereto and made a part hereof at the purchase price for one Firm Share of $[*] (or 93% of the Purchase Price).

 

1.1.2.       Firm Shares Payment and Delivery.

 

(i)            Delivery and payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the second (2nd) Business Day following the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below) (or the third (3rd) Business Day following the Effective Date if the Registration Statement is declared effective after 4:01 p.m., Eastern time) or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at the offices of Bevilacqua PLLC (“Representative’s Counsel”), or at such other place (or remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Shares is called the “Closing Date.”

 

(ii)            Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery of the certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Shares (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Shares except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all of the Firm Shares. The term “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York, New York.

 1 

 

 

1.2.         Over-allotment Option.

 

1.2.1.       Option Shares. For the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Shares, the Company hereby grants to the Underwriters an option (the “Over-allotment Option”) to purchase, in the aggregate, up to [*] additional shares of the Common Stock (the “Option Shares”, and along with the Firm Shares, the “Shares”), representing fifteen percent (15%) of the Firm Shares sold in the offering, from the Company. The purchase price to be paid per Option Share shall be equal to the price per Option Share set forth in Schedule 2-A. The Shares shall be issued directly by the Company and shall have the rights and privileges described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus referred to below. The offering and sale of the Shares is herein referred to as the “Offering.”

 

1.2.2.       Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Shares within forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date. The Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to purchase any of the Option Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of written notice to the Company from the Representative, setting forth the number of the Option Shares to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Shares (the “Option Closing Date”), which shall not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of Representative’s Counsel or at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Option Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option with respect to all or any portion of the Option Shares subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (i) the Company shall become obligated to sell to the Underwriters the number of the Option Shares specified in such notice and (ii) each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, shall purchase that portion of the total number of the Option Shares then being purchased as set forth in Schedule 1 opposite the name of such Underwriter.

 

1.2.3.       Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Option Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery to you of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Option Shares (or through the facilities of DTC or via DWAC transfer) for the account of the Underwriters. The Option Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing prior to the Option Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Shares except upon tender of payment by the Representative for applicable Option Shares.

 

1.3.         Representative’s Warrants.

 

1.3.1.       Purchase Warrants. The Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Representative (and/or its designees) on the Closing Date an option, as applicable, three-year warrants for the purchase of a number of the Firm Shares equal to 7% of the number of the Firm Shares and Option Shares, if any, issued in the Offering, pursuant to a warrant in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Representative’s Warrants”), at an initial exercise price of $[*] (or 125% of the public offering price per Firm Share). The Representative’s Warrants and the Shares issuable upon exercise thereof are hereinafter referred to together as the “Representative’s Securities.” The Representative understands and agrees that there are significant restrictions pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 against transferring the Representative’s Warrants and the underlying Shares during the one hundred eighty (180) days following commencement of sales in the Offering and by its acceptance thereof shall agree that it will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Representative’s Warrants, or any portion thereof, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following commencement of sales in the Offering other than as permitted by FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2).

 

 2 

 

 

1.3.2.       Delivery. Delivery of the Representative’s Warrants shall be made on the Closing Date and shall be issued in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request.

 

2.            Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as of the Applicable Time (as defined below), as of the Closing Date and as of the Option Closing Date, if any, as follows:

 

2.1.         Filing of Registration Statement.

 

2.1.1.       Pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement, and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-[*]), including any related prospectus or prospectuses, for the registration of the Shares and the Representative’s Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in all material respects in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act (the “Securities Act Regulations”) and will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement became effective (including the Preliminary Prospectus included in the registration statement, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of the Effective Date pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A of the Securities Act Regulations (the “Rule 430A Information”)), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement.” If the Company files any registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act Regulations, then after such filing, the term “Registration Statement” shall include such registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b). The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.

 

Each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is herein called a “Preliminary Prospectus.” The Preliminary Prospectus, subject to completion, dated [*], 2022, that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus.” The final prospectus in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in the Offering is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.” Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

 

Applicable Time” means 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement.

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including without limitation any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations) relating to the Shares that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Shares or of the Offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

 

Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors (other than a “bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433 (the “Bona Fide Electronic Road Show”)), as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule 2-B hereto.

 

Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

 

Pricing Disclosure Package” means any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the Pricing Prospectus and the information included on Schedule 2-A hereto, all considered together.

 3 

 

 

2.1.2.       Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (File Number [*]) providing for the registration pursuant to Section 12(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Common Stock. The registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act has become effective on or prior to the date hereof. The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration.

 

2.2.         Share Exchange ListingThe Shares and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Representative’s Warrants have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Exchange”), and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, delisting of the Shares or the shares of Common Stock underlying the Representative’s Warrants from the Exchange, nor has the Company received any written notification that the Exchange is contemplating terminating such listing.

 

2.3.         No Stop Orders, etcNeither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any state regulatory authority has issued any written order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or has instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute, any proceedings with respect to such an order. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.

 

2.4.         Disclosures in Registration Statement.

 

2.4.1.       Compliance with Securities Act and 10b-5 Representation.

 

(i)            Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Each Preliminary Prospectus, including the prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment or supplement thereto, and the Prospectus, at the time each was filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Each Preliminary Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this Offering and the Prospectus was or will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(ii)           Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time, as of the Applicable Time, at the Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date (if any), contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(iii)          The Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, at the Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date (if any), did not, does not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, and each such Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Prospectus as of the Applicable Time, did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; providedhowever, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company in writing with respect to the Underwriters by the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists solely of the disclosure contained in the “Underwriting” subsections “Discounts and Commissions; Expenses,” and “Representative’s Warrants,” of the Prospectus (the “Underwriters’ Information”).

 

(iv)          Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; providedhowever, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to the Underwriters’ Information.

 

 4 

 

 

2.4.2.       Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which it is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default thereunder, except for any default or event which would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change (as defined below). To the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses (each, a “Governmental Entity”), including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations, except for any violation which would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change (as defined below).

 

2.4.3.       Prior Securities Transactions. During the past three (3) years from the date of this Agreement, no securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and any Preliminary Prospectus.

 

2.4.4.       Regulations. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, state, local and all foreign regulation on the Offering and the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and no other such regulations are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus which are not so disclosed.

 

2.5.         Changes after Dates in Registration Statement.

 

2.5.1.       No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein: (i) there has been no material adverse change in the financial position or results of operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, nor any change or development that, singularly or in the aggregate, would involve a material adverse change in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, or assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; and (iii) no officer or director of the Company has resigned from any position with the Company.

 

2.5.2.       Recent Securities Transactions, etc. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its capital stock.

 

 5 

 

 

2.6.         Independent Accountants. To the knowledge of the Company, BF Borgers CPA PC (the “Auditor”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The Auditor has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.

 

2.7.         Financial Statements, etc. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, fairly present in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved (provided that unaudited interim financial statements are subject to year-end audit adjustments that are not expected to be material in the aggregate and do not contain all footnotes required by GAAP); and any supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations. The pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial information and the related notes, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus have been properly compiled and prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission), if any, comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. Each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus discloses all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement (each, a “Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (b) the Company has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its Common Stock or preferred stock (c) there has not been any change in the capital of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, other than in the course of business, any grants under any stock compensation plan, and (d) there has not been any Material Adverse Change in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt. The Company represents that it has no direct or indirect subsidiaries other than those listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement.

 

2.8.          Authorized Capital; Options, etc. The Company had, at the date or dates indicated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth therein. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date, as of the Applicable Time and on the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, there will be no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized, but unissued Common Stock or any security convertible or exercisable into Common Stock, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Common Stock or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.

 

 6 

 

 

2.9.         Valid Issuance of Securities, etc.

 

2.9.1.       Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The Common Stock, preferred stock, and any other securities outstanding or to be outstanding upon consummation of the Offering conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The offers and sales of the outstanding Common Stock were at all relevant times either registered under the Securities Act and the applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such shares, exempt from such registration requirements.

 

2.9.2.       Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement. The Shares and Representative’s Warrants have been duly authorized for issuance and sale and, when issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Shares and Representative’s Warrants are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares and Representative’s Warrants has been duly and validly taken; the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and when issued in accordance with such Representative’s Warrants, as the case may be, such Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Shares and the Representative’s Warrants conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

2.10.       Registration Rights of Third Parties. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Securities Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.

 

2.11.       Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements. This Agreement and the Representative’s Warrants have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, and, when executed and delivered, will constitute, the valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

2.12.       No Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and all ancillary documents, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a material breach of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a material default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (as the same may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Charter”) or the by-laws of the Company; or (iii) violate any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any Governmental Entity as of the date hereof.

 

 7 

 

 

2.13.       No Defaults; Violations. No material default exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not (i) in violation of any term or provision of its Charter or by-laws, or (ii) in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any Governmental Entity, except in the cases of clause (ii) for such violations which would not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.

 

2.14.       Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.

 

2.14.1.     Conduct of Business. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business purpose as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except for the absence of which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.

 

2.14.2.     Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency, the Exchange or other body is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement and the delivery of the Representative’s Warrants and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable Securities Act Regulations, state securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

 

2.15.        D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s directors and officers immediately prior to the Offering (the “Insiders”) as supplemented by all information concerning the Company’s directors, officers and principal shareholders as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as well as in the Lock-Up Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24 below), provided to the Underwriters, is true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires to become materially inaccurate and incorrect.

 

2.16.       Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any executive officer or director which has not been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

2.17.       Good StandingThe Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware as of the date hereof, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify, singularly or in the aggregate, would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. 

 

2.18.       Insurance. The Company carries or is entitled to the benefits of insurance, (including, without limitation, as to directors and officers insurance coverage), with, to the Company’s knowledge, reputable insurers, in the amount of directors and officers insurance coverage at least equal to $2,500,000 and the Company has included each Underwriter as an additional insured party to the directors and officers insurance coverage and all such insurance is in full force and effect. The Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Change.

 8 

 

 

2.19.       Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.

 

2.19.1.     Finder’s Fees. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider with respect to the sale of the Shares hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its shareholders that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.

 

2.19.2.     Payments within Six (6) Months. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) any FINRA member; or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the six (6) months immediately prior to the original filing of the Registration Statement, other than the payment to the Underwriters as provided hereunder in connection with the Offering.

 

2.19.3.     Use of Proceeds. None of the net proceeds of the Offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its affiliates, except as specifically authorized herein.

 

2.19.4.     FINRA Affiliation. To the Company’s knowledge, and except as may otherwise be disclosed in FINRA questionnaires provided to the Representative’s Counsel, there is no (i) officer or director of the Company, (ii) beneficial owner of 5% or more of any class of the Company's securities or (iii) beneficial owner of the Company's unregistered equity securities which were acquired during the 180-day period immediately preceding the filing of the Registration Statement that is an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA).

 

2.19.5.     Information. All information provided by the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, all information provided by its officers and directors in their respective FINRA questionnaires to Representative’s Counsel specifically for use by Representative’s Counsel in connection with its Public Offering System filings (and related disclosure) with FINRA is true, correct and complete in all material respects.

 

2.20.       Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any other person acting on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries, has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that (i) might subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the past, might have had a Material Adverse Change or (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company. The Company has taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

  

2.21.       Compliance with OFAC. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any other person acting on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries, is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”), and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Offering hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 9 

 

 

2.22.       Money Laundering LawsThe operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

2.23.       Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to you or to Representative’s Counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.

 

2.24.       Lock-Up Agreements. Schedule 3 hereto contains a complete and accurate list of the Company’s officers, directors and each owner of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock (or securities convertible or exercisable into Common Stock) (collectively, the “Lock-Up Parties”). The Company has caused each of the Lock-Up Parties to deliver to the Representative an executed Lock-Up Agreement, in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), prior to the execution of this Agreement.

 

2.25.       Subsidiaries. All Subsidiaries of the Company are duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the place of organization or incorporation, and each Subsidiary is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s ownership and control of each Subsidiary is as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

2.26.       Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus that have not been described as required by the Securities Act Regulations.

 

2.27.       Board of DirectorsThe Board of Directors of the Company is comprised of the persons set forth under the heading of the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus captioned “Management.” The qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board comply with the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Regulations, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) applicable to the Company and the listing rules of the Exchange. At least one member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined under Regulation S-K and the listing rules of the Exchange. In addition, at least a majority of the persons serving on the Board of Directors qualify as “independent,” as defined under the listing rules of the Exchange.

 

2.28.       Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance.

 

2.28.1.     Disclosure Controls. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has developed and currently maintains disclosure controls and procedures that will comply with Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations, and such controls and procedures are effective to ensure that all material information concerning the Company will be made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s Exchange Act filings and other public disclosure documents.

  

2.28.2.     Compliance. The Company is, or at the Applicable Time and on the Closing Date will be, in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act applicable to it, and has implemented or will implement such programs and has taken reasonable steps to ensure the Company’s future compliance (not later than the relevant statutory and regulatory deadlines therefor) with all of the material provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

 10 

 

 

2.29.       Accounting Controls. The Company is in the process of establishing systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined under Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations) that will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, its respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal controls. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are known to the Company’s management and that have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’ ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud known to the Company’s management, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

2.30.       No Investment Company Status. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the Offering and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, required to register as an “investment company,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

2.31.       No Labor Disputes. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent.

 

2.32.       Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns or possesses or has valid rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and similar rights (“Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. To the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries necessary for the conduct of its business as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will involve or give rise to any infringement of, or license or similar fees for, any Intellectual Property Rights of others. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice alleging any such infringement, fee or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Change (A) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no infringement, misappropriation or violation by third parties of any of the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company; (B) there is no pending (for which the Company has received notice) or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the rights of the Company in or to any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim, that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.32, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (C) the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property Rights licensed to the Company have not been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.32, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (D) there is no pending (for which the Company has received notice) or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property Rights or other proprietary rights of others, the Company has not received any written notice of such claim and the Company is unaware of any other facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.32, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and (E) to the Company’s knowledge, no employee of the Company is in or has ever been in violation in any material respect of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company, or actions undertaken by the employee while employed with the Company and could reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Change. To the Company’s knowledge, all material technical information developed by and belonging to the Company which has not been patented has been kept confidential. The Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and are not described therein. The Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus contain in all material respects the same description of the matters set forth in the preceding sentence. None of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained by the Company or is being used by the Company in violation of any material contractual obligation binding on the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its officers, directors or employees, or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons.

  

 11 

 

 

2.33.       Taxes. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has filed all returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof, except in any case in which the failure so to file would not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has paid all taxes (as hereinafter defined) shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on or assessed against the Company or such respective Subsidiary, except for any such taxes that are currently being contested in good faith or as would not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change. The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial statements filed with or as part of the Registration Statement are sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial statements. Except as disclosed in writing to the Underwriters, (i) no issues have been raised (and are currently pending) by any taxing authority in connection with any of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (ii) no waivers of statutes of limitation with respect to the returns or collection of taxes have been given by or requested from the Company or its Subsidiaries. The term “taxes” means all federal, state, local, foreign and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all returns, declarations, reports, statements and other documents required to be filed in respect to taxes.

 

2.34.       ERISA Compliance. The Company and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”)) established or maintained by the Company or its “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company, any member of any group of organizations described in Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”) of which the Company is a member. No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates. No “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any material liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

 

2.35.       Compliance with Laws. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus and as could not, individually or in the aggregate, be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, each of the Company and each Subsidiary, the Company: (A) is and at all times has been in compliance with all statutes, rules, or regulations applicable to the services provided by the Company (“Applicable Laws”), except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change; (B) has not received any warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or notice from any other governmental authority alleging or asserting noncompliance with any Applicable Laws or any licenses, certificates, approvals, clearances, authorizations, permits and supplements or amendments thereto required by any such Applicable Laws (“Authorizations”); (C) possesses all material Authorizations and such material Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and are not in material violation of any term of any such Authorizations; (D) has not received written notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any governmental authority or third party alleging that any product operation or activity is in violation of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such governmental authority or third party is considering any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding that if brought would result in a Material Adverse Change; (E) has not received written notice that any Governmental Authority has taken, is taking or intends to take action to limit, suspend, modify or revoke any Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such Governmental Authority is considering such action; (F) has filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all material reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and that all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were complete and correct in all material respects on the date filed (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission); and (G) has not, either voluntarily or involuntarily, initiated, conducted, or issued or caused to be initiated, conducted or issued, any recall, market withdrawal or replacement, safety alert, post-sale warning, or other notice or action relating to the alleged lack of safety of any product or any alleged product defect or violation and, to the Company’s knowledge, no third party has initiated, conducted or intends to initiate any such notice or action.

 

 12 

 

 

2.36.       [Reserved].

 

2.37.       Real Property. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real or personal property which are material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, claims and defects that do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or its Subsidiaries; and all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or such Subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease, which would result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

2.38.       Contracts Affecting Capital. There are no transactions, arrangements or other relationships between and/or among the Company, any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations) and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity that could reasonably be expected to materially affect the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ liquidity or the availability of or requirements for their capital resources required to be described or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus which have not been described or incorporated by reference as required.

 

2.39.       Loans to Directors or Officers. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company or its Subsidiaries to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

2.40.       Industry Data; Forward-looking statements. The statistical and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate or represent the Company’s good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such sources. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

 

 13 

 

 

2.41.       Intentionally omitted.

 

2.42.       Intentionally omitted.

 

2.43.       Electronic Road Show. The Company has made available a Bona Fide Electronic Road Show in compliance with Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) of the Securities Act Regulations such that no filing of any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433(h) of the Securities Act Regulations) is required in connection with the Offering.

 

2.44.       Margin Securities. The Company owns no “margin securities” as that term is defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), and none of the proceeds of Offering will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Common Stock to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meanings of Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.

 

2.45.       Dividends and Distributions. Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package, Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no Subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited or restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company.

 

2.46.       Lending Relationships. Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package, Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of the Underwriters and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of the Underwriters.

 

3.             Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

 

3.1.       Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company shall deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing. 

 

3.2.       Federal Securities Laws.

 

3.2.1.       Compliance. The Company, subject to Section 3.2.2, shall comply with the requirements of Rule 430A of the Securities Act Regulations, and will notify the Representative promptly, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed; (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares and the Representative’s Warrants for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the Offering of the Shares and Representative’s Warrants. The Company shall effect all filings required under Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act Regulations, in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and shall take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order, prevention or suspension and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

 14 

 

 

3.2.2.       Continued Compliance. The Company shall comply with the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Shares is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Shares, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representative notice of such event; (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representative with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative or Representative’s Counsel shall reasonably object. The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Company has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time. The Company shall give the Representative notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time until the later of the Closing Date and the exercise in full or expiration of the Over-allotment Option specified in Section 1.2 hereof and will furnish the Representative with copies of the related document(s) a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

 

3.2.3.       Exchange Act Registration. Until three (3) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act.

 

3.2.4.       Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Representative, it shall not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the Representative shall be deemed to have consented to each Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus set forth in Schedule 2-B. The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Underwriters as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

3.2.5.       Testing-the-Waters Communications. If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company shall promptly notify the Representative and shall promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

 

 15 

 

 

3.3.         Delivery to the Underwriters of Registration Statements. The Company has delivered or made available or shall deliver or make available to the Representative and Representative’s Counsel, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and upon request will also deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

3.4.         Delivery to the Underwriters of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered or made available or will deliver or make available to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the Securities Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Shares is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

3.5.         Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement covering the issuance of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Representative’s Warrants to remain effective with a current prospectus for at least nine (9) months after the Applicable Time, and shall notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the cessation of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the shares underlying the Representative’s Warrants for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event during the period described in this Section 3.5 that, in the judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in (a) the Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (b) in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Commission or any state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.

  

3.6.         Review of Financial Statements. For a period of three (3) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent registered public accounting firm to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the three fiscal quarters immediately preceding the announcement of any quarterly financial information.

 

3.7.         ListingThe Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Shares and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Representative’s Warrant on the Exchange for at least three (3) years from the date of this Agreement.

 

3.8.         Intentionally omitted.

 

3.9.         Reports to the Representative.

 

 16 

 

 

3.9.1.       Periodic Reports, etc. For a period of three (3) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall furnish or make available to the Representative copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities and also furnish or make available to the Representative: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission under the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations; (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs which was released by the Company; (iii) a copy of each Form 8-K prepared and filed by the Company; (iv) a copy of each registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act; and (v) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request; provided the Representative shall sign, if requested by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Representative and Representative’s Counsel in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section 3.9.1.

 

3.9.2.       Transfer Agent; Transfer Sheets. For a period of three (3) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and registrar acceptable to the Representative (the “Transfer Agent”) and shall furnish to the Representative at the Company’s sole cost and expense such transfer sheets of the Company’s securities as the Representative may reasonably request, including the daily and monthly consolidated transfer sheets of the Transfer Agent and DTC. Transhare Corporation is acceptable to the Representative to act as Transfer Agent for the Common Stock.

 

3.9.3.       Trading Reports. For a period of six (6) months after the date hereof, during such time as the Shares are listed on the Exchange, the Company shall provide to the Representative, at the Company’s expense, such reports published by the Exchange relating to price trading of the Shares, as the Representative shall reasonably request.

 

3.10.       Payment of Expenses

 

3.10.1.     General Expenses Related to the Offering. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the Closing Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (a) all filing fees and communication expenses relating to the registration of the Shares to be sold in the Offering (including the Over-allotment Option) with the Commission; (b) all Public Filing System filing fees associated with the review of the Offering by FINRA; (c) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of the Shares under the securities laws of such foreign jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate; (d) fees and expenses relating to background checks and due diligence; (e) fees and expenses of the Representative’s Counsel; and (f) the Underwriters’ “road show” expenses for the Offering, with all of the Underwriters’ actual out-of-pocket expenses under subsections 3.10.1(d)-(f) not to exceed $283,000. Any out-of-pocket expenses above $5,000 are to be pre-approved by the Company. The Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, if any, the expenses set forth herein to be paid by the Company to the Underwriters; providedhowever, that in the event that the Offering is terminated, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof.

 

3.10.2.     Non-accountable Expenses. The Company further agrees that, in addition to the expenses payable pursuant to Section 3.10.1, on the Closing Date it shall pay to the Representative, by deduction from the net proceeds of the Offering contemplated herein, a non-accountable expense allowance equal to one percent (1.0%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Firm Shares.

 

3.11.       Application of Net ProceedsThe Company shall apply the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner consistent with the application thereof described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

3.12.       Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth (15th) full calendar month following the date of this Agreement, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent registered public accounting firm unless required by the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) covering a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months beginning after the date of this Agreement.

 

 17 

 

 

3.13.       StabilizationNeither the Company nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or shareholders has taken or shall take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under Regulation M of the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

 

3.14.       Internal Controls The Company shall establish and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

3.15.       Accountants. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company has retained an independent registered public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative, and the Company shall continue to retain a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm for a period of at least three (3) years after the date of this Agreement. The Representative acknowledges that the Auditor is acceptable to the Representative.

 

3.16.       FINRA. For a period of ninety (90) days from the later of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, the Company shall advise the Representative (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is or becomes aware that (i) any officer or director of the Company, (ii) any beneficial owner of 5% or more of any class of the Company's securities or (iii) any beneficial owner of the Company's unregistered equity securities which were acquired during the 180 days immediately preceding the filing of the original Registration Statement is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA).

 

3.17.       No Fiduciary Duties. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters’ responsibility to the Company is solely contractual in nature and that none of the Underwriters or their affiliates or any selling agent shall be deemed to be acting in a fiduciary capacity, or otherwise owes any fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates in connection with the Offering and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

3.18.       Company Lock-Up. The Company, on behalf of itself and any successor entity, agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not, for a period of twelve (12) months after the date of this Agreement (the “Lock-Up Period”), (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant or modify the terms of any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company or modify the terms of any existing securities, in each case, whether in conjunction with another broker-dealer or on the Company’s own volition; (ii) file or cause to be filed any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company (other than pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 for employee benefit plans); or (iii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of capital stock of the Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of capital stock of the Company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The restrictions contained in this Section 3.18 shall not apply to (i) the Shares and the Representative’s Warrants and shares underlying the Representative’s Warrants to be sold hereunder; and (ii) the issuance by the Company of Common Stock upon the exercise of an outstanding option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof or disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Disclosure Package; (iii) the grant of options pursuant to the Company’s stock option plan or the issuance of its common stock pursuant to the exercise of such options; (iv) the issuance of its common stock as payment to consultants and (v) the issuance of its shares in an acquisition transaction; provided however that with respect to clauses (iii) through (v), the recipient of such shares agrees to execute a lock-up agreement similar to Exhibit B and terminating on the same date as contemplated by the lock-up contained in Exhibit B.

 

 18 

 

 

3.19.       Release of D&O Lock-up Period. If the Representative, in its sole discretion, agrees to release or waive the restrictions set forth in the Lock-Up Agreements described in Section 2.24 hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provides the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three (3) Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto through a major news service at least two (2) Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

 

3.20.       Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company shall use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, if necessary, to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Shares; providedhowever, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

 

3.21.       Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Shares is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and Exchange Act Regulations. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Shares as may be required under Rule 463 under the Securities Act Regulations.

 

3.22.       No Waiver of Leak Out Provisions. Without the Representative’s consent, the Company shall not waive any of the terms of Section 1(f) of Settlement Agreement and Release dated November 11, 2022 signed by and among Mario M. Kranjac, Kranjac Tripodi & Partners LLP, the Company and MGOTEAM LLC (“Leak Out Provisions”). Further, the Company shall enforce any of the Leak Out Provisions at the direction of the Representative.

 

4.             Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares, as provided herein, shall be subject to (i) the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any; (ii) the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof; (iii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder; and (iv) the following conditions:

 

4.1.         Regulatory Matters.

 

4.1.1.       Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Rule 430A Information. The Registration Statement has become effective not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by you, and, at each of the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated by the Commission. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. The Prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)) or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A.

 

4.1.2.       FINRA Clearance. On or before the date of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.

 

 19 

 

 

4.1.3.       Exchange Share Market Clearance. On the Closing Date, the Firm Shares shall have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance. On the first Option Closing Date (if any), the Option Shares shall have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance.

 

4.2.         Company Counsel Matters.

 

4.2.1.       Closing Date Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion and negative assurances statement of Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP, counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in customary form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Representative’s Counsel addressed to the Representative and stating that such opinions may be relied upon by Representative’s Counsel.

 

4.2.2.       [Reserved]

 

4.2.3.       Option Closing Date Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion and negative assurances statement of Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP, counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, addressed to the Representative and in customary form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, confirming as of the Option Closing Date, the statements made by such counsel in their opinions delivered on the Closing Date.

 

4.2.4.       [Reserved].

 

4.2.5.       Reliance. In rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely: (i) as to matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) of other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Representative, familiar with the applicable laws; and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to Representative’s Counsel if requested.

 

4.3.         Comfort Letters.

 

4.3.1.       Cold Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed you shall have received a cold comfort letter containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ comfort letters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to you and to the Auditor, dated as of the date of this Agreement.

 

4.3.2.       Bring-down Comfort Letter. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received from the Auditor a letter, dated as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, to the effect that the Auditor reaffirms the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to Section 4.3.1, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable.

 

 20 

 

 

4.4.         Officers’ Certificates.

 

4.4.1.       Officers’ Certificate. The Company shall have furnished to the Representative a certificate, dated the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date (if such date is other than the Closing Date), of its Chief Executive Officer, its President and its Chief Financial Officer stating that (i) such officers have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and, in their opinion, the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date) did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as of its date and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of the respective date thereof and as of the Closing Date, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, (ii) since the effective date of the Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (iii) to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties qualified as to materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects and except for those representations and warranties which refer to facts existing at a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such date) and the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), and (iv) there has not been, subsequent to the date of the most recent audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package, a Material Adverse Change.

 

4.4.2.       Secretary’s Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Date, as the case may be, respectively, certifying: (i) that each of the Charter and Bylaws is true and complete, has not been modified and is in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors (and any pricing committee thereof) relating to the Offering are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; and (iv) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.

 

4.5.         No Material Changes. Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any: (i) there shall have been no Material Adverse Change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (ii) no action, suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Insider before or by any court or federal or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and (iv) the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. 

 

4.6.         Delivery of Agreements.

 

4.6.1.       Lock-Up Agreements. On or before the date of this Agreement, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Lock-Up Agreements from each of the persons listed in Schedule 3 hereto.

 

 21 

 

 

4.7.         Additional Documents. At the Closing Date and at each Option Closing Date (if any) Representative’s Counsel shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling Representative’s Counsel to deliver an opinion to the Underwriters, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares and the Representative’s Warrants as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and Representative’s Counsel.

 

5.             Indemnification.

 

5.1.         Indemnification of the Underwriters.

 

5.1.1.       General. Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates and each of its and their respective directors, officers, members, employees, representatives, partners, shareholders, affiliates, counsel, and agents and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “Underwriter Indemnified Parties,” and each an “Underwriter Indemnified Party”), from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Underwriter Indemnified Parties and the Company or between any of the Underwriter Indemnified Parties and any third party, or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries (a “Claim”), arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in (A) the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or in any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (B) any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the Offering, including any “road show” or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically); or (C) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 5, collectively called “application”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Shares and Representative’s Warrants under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, the Exchange or any other national securities exchange; unless, with respect to each subsection (A) through (C), such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, the Underwriters’ Information. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 5.1.1 shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter Indemnified Party to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Underwriter Indemnified Party results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of the Shares to such person as required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and if the untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus, unless such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with its obligations under Section 3.3 hereof. The Company also agrees that it will reimburse each Underwriter Indemnified Party for all reasonable fees and expenses (including but not limited to any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Underwriter Indemnified Parties and the Company or between any of the Underwriter Indemnified Parties and any third party, or otherwise) (collectively, the “Expenses”), and further agrees wherever and whenever possible to advance payment of Expenses as they are incurred by an Underwriter Indemnified Party in investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any Claim.

  

 22 

 

 

5.1.2.       Procedure. If any action is brought against an Underwriter Indemnified Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 5.1.1, such Underwriter Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the approval of such Underwriter Indemnified Party (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld)) and payment of actual expenses if an Underwriter Indemnified Party requests that the Company do so. Such Underwriter Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, and the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Company and shall be advanced by the Company; providedhowever, that the Company shall not be obligated to bear the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one firm of attorneys selected by the Underwriter Indemnified Party (in addition to local counsel). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, and provided that the Company has timely honored its obligations under Section 5, the Underwriter Indemnified Party shall not enter into any settlement without the prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) of the terms of any settlement by the Company. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any action effected without its prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld). In addition, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriters (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened action in respect of which advancement, reimbursement, indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not such Underwriter Indemnified Party is a party thereto) unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination (i) includes an unconditional release of each Underwriter Indemnified Party, acceptable to such Underwriter Indemnified Party, from all liabilities, expenses and claims arising out of such action for which indemnification or contribution may be sought and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any Underwriter Indemnified Party.

 

5.2.         Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and persons who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the several Underwriters, as incurred, but only with respect to such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses (or actions in respect thereof) which arise out of or are based upon untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any application, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, the Underwriters’ Information. In case any action shall be brought against the Company or any other person so indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any application, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the several Underwriters by the provisions of Section 5.1.2. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Representative of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or any person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares or in connection with the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication.

 

5.3.         ContributionIf the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 5.1 or 5.2 in respect of any liabilities and Expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such liabilities and Expenses, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and each of the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the Offering, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the matters as to which such liabilities or Expenses relate, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to such Offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds actually received by the Company from the Offering of the Shares purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions actually received by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement, omission, act or failure to act; provided that the parties hereto agree that the written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, consists solely of the Underwriters’ Information. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the above, no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act shall be entitled to contribution from a party who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

  

 23 

 

 

5.4.         Limitation. The Company also agrees that no Underwriter Indemnified Party shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to the Company for or in connection with advice or services rendered or to be rendered by any Underwriter Indemnified Party pursuant to this Agreement, the transactions contemplated thereby or any Underwriter Indemnified Party’s actions or inactions in connection with any such advice, services or transactions, except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction has made a finding that liabilities (and related Expenses) of the Company have resulted from such Underwriter Indemnified Party’s fraud, bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with any such advice, actions, inactions or services or such Underwriter Indemnified Party’s breach of this Agreement or any obligations of confidentiality owed to the Company.

 

5.5.         Survival & Third-Party Beneficiaries. The advancement, reimbursement, indemnity and contribution obligations set forth in this Section 5 shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any termination of, or the completion of any Underwriter Indemnified Party’s services under or in connection with, this Agreement. Each Underwriter Indemnified Party’s is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Section 5, and has the right to enforce the provisions of Section 5 as if he/she/it was a party to this Agreement. 

 

6.             Right of First Refusal. During the period ending one year after the Closing Date, if and only if the closing of the purchase of the Firm Shares hereunder actually occurs, the Company grants the Representative the right of first refusal to act as financial advisor, or as lead managing underwriter, book runner, placement agent, or to act as joint advisor, underwriter, or placement agent, on at least equal economic terms on any public or private financing (debt or equity), merger, business combination, recapitalization or sale of some or all of the equity or assets of the Company (collectively, “Future Services”). In the event the Company notifies Representative of its intention to pursue an activity that would enable Representative to exercise its right of first refusal to provide Future Services, Representative shall notify the Company of its election to provide such Future Services, including notification of the compensation and other terms to which Representative shall be entitled, within thirty (30) days of written notice by the Company. In the event the Company engages Representative to provide such Future Services, Representative will be compensated consistent with the compensation in this Agreement, unless mutually agreed otherwise by the Company and Representative.

 

7.             Effective Date of this Agreement and Termination Thereof.

 

7.1.         Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective when both the Company and the Representative have executed the same and delivered counterparts of such signatures to the other party.

 

7.2.         TerminationThe Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in your opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction; or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in major hostilities; or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority; or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities markets; or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in your opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Firm Shares or Option Shares; or (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder; or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a Material Adverse Change, or such adverse material change in general market conditions as in the Representative’s judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Shares or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Shares.

 

 24 

 

 

7.3.         ExpensesNotwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Underwriters their actual and accountable out-of-pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein then due and payable up to the amounts set forth in Section 3.10.1 and upon demand the Company shall pay such amount thereof to the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters; providedhowever, that such expense cap in no way limits or impairs the indemnification and contribution provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any advance received by the Representative will be reimbursed to the Company to the extent not actually incurred in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(4)(A).

 

7.4.         Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be in any way affected by, such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.

 

7.5.         Representations, Warranties, Agreements to Survive. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company or (ii) delivery of and payment for the Shares.

 

8.             Miscellaneous.

 

8.1.         NoticesAll communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed (registered or certified mail, return receipt requested), personally delivered or sent by facsimile transmission and confirmed and shall be deemed given when so delivered or faxed and confirmed or if mailed, two (2) days after such mailing.

 

If to the Representative:

 

Boustead Securities, LLC 

6 Venture, Suite 395 

Irvine, CA 92618 

Attn: Keith Moore

Fax No: 815-301-8099

 

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Bevilacqua PLLC

1050 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20036

Attention: Louis A. Bevilacqua, Esq.

Fax No: 202-869-0889

 

If to the Company:

 

MGO Global Inc.

1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33345

Attention: Maximiliano Ojeda 

Fax No: [*]

 

 25 

 

 

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP

55 West 39th Street, 18th Floor

New York, NY 10018

Attention: Ross D. Carmel, Esq.

Jeffrey P. Wofford, Esq.

Fax No: 646-838-1314

 

8.2.         Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.

 

8.3.         Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.

 

8.4.         Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, it is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that all other terms and conditions of that certain engagement letter between the Company and the Representative, dated October 22, 2021, as such engagement letter may be amended from time to time, shall remain in full force and effect. 

 

8.5.         Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives, heirs and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities from any of the Underwriters.

 

8.6.         Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Trial by Jury. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts located in New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 8.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor. The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its Shareholders and affiliates) and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

8.7.         Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.

 

 26 

 

 

8.8.         Waiver, etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 27 

 

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.

 

Very truly yours,  
   
MGO Global Inc.  
   
   
By:    
  Name: Maximiliano Ojeda   
  Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

Confirmed as of the date first written above mentioned, on behalf of itself and as Representative of the several Underwriters named on Schedule 1 hereto:

 

   
Boustead Securities, LLC  
   
   
By:    
  Name: Keith Moore  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

 28 

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

Underwriter   Total
Number
of
Firm
Shares
to be
Purchased
    Number of
Additional
Option Shares
to be
Purchased if the
Over-
Allotment
Option is
Fully Exercised
 
Boustead Securities, LLC                
                 
TOTAL     [*]       [*]  

 

   

 

 

SCHEDULE 2-A

 

Pricing Information

 

Number of Firm Shares: [*]

 

Number of Option Shares: [*]

 

Public Offering Price per Firm Share: [*]

 

Public Offering Price per Option Share: [*]

 

Underwriting Discount per Firm Share: [*]

 

Underwriting Discount per Option Share: [*]

 

Non-Accountable Expense Allowance per Firm Share: [*]

 

Non-Accountable Expense Allowance per Option Share: [*]

 

   

 

 

SCHEDULE 2-B

 

Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses

 

None

 

   

 

 

SCHEDULE 2-C

 

Written Testing-the-Waters Communications

 

   

 

 

SCHEDULE 3

 

List of Lock-Up Parties

 

   

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Representative’s Warrant

 

   

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Lock-Up Agreement

 

   

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

Form of Press Release

  

   

 

 

 

 

Page 1

Delaware
The First State

 

I, JEFFREY W. BULLOCK, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF “MGO GLOBAL INC.”, FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE SIXTH DAY OF DECEMBER, A.D. 2021, AT 10:52 O`CLOCK A.M.

 

 

 

  

6430999 8100 Authentication: 204875057
SR# 20213984638 Date: 12-06-21
You may verify this certificate online at corp.delaware.gov/authver.shtml  

  

   

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

MGO Global Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), certifies that:

 

1.       The name of the Corporation is MGO Global Inc. The Corporation's original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 30, 2021.

 

2.       This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and has been duly approved by the written consent of the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

3.       The text of the Certificate of Incorporation is amended and restated to read as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, MGO Global Inc. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by Maximiliano Ojeda, a duly authorized officer of the Corporation, on December 6, 2021.

 

  By: /Maximiliano Ojeda/
  Name: Maximiliano Ojeda

 

State of Delaware    
Secretary of State    
Division of Corporations    
Delivered 10:52 AM 12/06/2021    
FILED 10:52 AM 12/06/2021    
SR 20213984638 – file Number 6430999    
     
   

 

  

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

1.       The name of the corporation is MGO Global Inc. (the "Corporation'').

 

2.       The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is c/ o United Corporate Services, Inc., 874 Walker Road, Suite C, in the City of Dover, County of Kent in the State of Delaware, 19904. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at such address is United Corporate Services, Inc.

 

3.       The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL'').

 

4.       The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 20,000,000. All shares shall be Common Stock, par value $.00001 per share, and are to be of one class.

 

5.       The name and mailing address of the incorporator of the Corporation are:

 

Maximiliano Ojeda

30 Wall Street, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10005

 

6.       Unless and except to the extent that the by-laws of the Corporation (the "By-Laws'') shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.

 

7.       The Corporation shall indemnify, advance expenses, and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a "Covered Person'') who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (a "Proceeding''), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise, or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys' fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except for claims for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) or advancement of expenses not paid in full, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the board of directors of the Corporation. Any amendment, repeal, or modification of this Paragraph 7 shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

 2 

 

 

8.       In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, or repeal the By-Laws or adopt new By-Laws without any action on the part of the stockholders; provided that any By-law adopted or amended by the board of directors, and any powers thereby conferred, may be amended, altered, or repealed by the stockholders.

 

9.       The Corporation shall have the right, subject to any express provisions or restrictions contained in this Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the "Certificate of Incorporation'') or the By-Laws, from time to time, to amend, alter, or repeal any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation in any manner now or hereafter provided by law, and all rights and powers of any kind conferred upon a director or stockholder of the Corporation by the Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment thereof are conferred subject to such right.

 

 3 

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

(Adopted as of December 6, 2021)

 

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

 

Section 1.      The registered office of the Corporation shall be located at c/o United Corporate Services, Inc., 874 Walker Road, Suite C, Dover, DE 19904.

 

Section 2.       The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the board of directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II

ANNUAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.       All meetings of stockholders for the election of directors shall be held within or outside the State of Delaware, at such place as may be fixed from time to time by the board of directors, as stated in the notice of meeting.

 

Section 2.       Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors and stated in the notice of meeting, at which they shall elect by a plurality vote, a board of directors, and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

 

Section 3.       Written or printed notice of the annual meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be delivered not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, either personally, by courier, by mail, or by electronic mail, by or at the direction of the president, the secretary, or the officer or persons calling the meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting.

 

Section 4.       The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

 

 1 

 

 

ARTICLE III

SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.       Special meetings of stockholders may be held at such time and place within or outside the State of Delaware as shall be stated in the notice of meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.

 

Section 2.       Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, may be called by the president, the board of directors, or the holders of not less than 10% of all the shares entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

Section 3.       Written or printed notice of a special meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, either personally, by courier, by mail, or by electronic mail, by or at the direction of, the president, the secretary, or the officer or persons calling the meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice should also indicate that it is being issued by, or at the direction of, the person calling the meeting.

 

Section 4.       The business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

 

ARTICLE IV

QUORUM AND VOTING OF STOCK

 

Section 1.       The holders of a majority of the shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

 

Section 2.       If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of stock represented at the meeting shall be the act of the stockholders, unless the vote of a greater or lesser number of shares of stock is required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 3.       Each outstanding share of stock having voting power shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders. A stockholder may vote either in person or by proxy executed in writing by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact.

 

 2 

 

 

Section 4.       The board of directors in advance of any stockholders' meeting may appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If inspectors are not so appointed, the person presiding at a stockholders' meeting may, and, on the request of any stockholder entitled to vote thereat, shall appoint one or more inspectors. In case any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by the board of directors in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the person presiding thereat. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

 

Section 5.       Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all the stockholders entitled to vote on the action. The action must be evidenced by one or more written consents signed by all the stockholders before or after such action, describing the action taken and delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records. In the event that the action which is consented to is such as would have required the filing of a certificate under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware if such action had been voted on by stockholders at a meeting thereof, the certificate filed shall state, in lieu of any statement concerning any vote of stockholders, that written consent has been given in accordance with this Section 5.

 

ARTICLE V

DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.       The number of directors which shall constitute the entire board shall not be less than one (1) or more than three (3). Directors shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and need not be residents of the State of Delaware nor stockholders of the Corporation. The first board shall consist of two (2) directors. The directors, other than the first board of directors, shall be determined by resolution of the board of directors or the stockholders at the annual meeting and shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as hereinafter provided, and each director elected shall serve until the next succeeding annual meeting and until his successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified. The first board of directors shall hold office until the first annual meeting of stockholders, unless the stockholders determine otherwise prior to the first annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 2.       Any or all of the directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the vote of the stockholders at a special meeting called for that purpose. Any director may be removed for cause by the action of the directors at a special meeting called for that purpose.

 

Section 3.       Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the board of directors and all vacancies occurring in the board of directors, including vacancies caused by removal without cause, may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next meeting of stockholders at which election of directors is the regular order of business, and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified. A director elected to fill a newly created directorship shall serve until the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified.

 

 3 

 

 

Section 4.       The business affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by its board of directors which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or in these Bylaws, the board of directors, by resolution, may authorize any officer(s) to enter into any contract or execute any instruments in the name and on behalf of the Corporation. This authorization may be general or confined to specific matters. No officer, agent, or employee shall have any authority to bind the Corporation in any way unless that person was acting with authority duly granted by the board of directors as provided in these Bylaws.

 

Section 5.       The directors may keep the books of the Corporation, except such as are required by law to be kept within the state, outside the State of Delaware, at such place or places as they may from time to time determine.

 

Section 6.       The board of directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and irrespective of any personal interest of any of its members, shall have authority to establish reasonable compensation of all directors for services to the Corporation as directors, officers or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE VI

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.       Meetings of the board of directors, regular or special, may be held either within or outside the State of Delaware.

 

Section 2.       The first meeting of each newly elected board of directors shall be held at such time and place as shall be fixed by the vote of the stockholders at the annual meeting and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order legally to constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present, or it may convene at such place and time as shall be fixed by the consent in writing of all the directors.

 

Section 3.       Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held upon such notice, or without notice, and at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the board.

 

Section 4.       Special meetings of the board of directors may be called by the president on three (3) days’ notice to each director, either personally, by courier, by mail, or by electronic mail; special meetings shall be called by the president or secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of a majority of the directors.

 

Section 5.       Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director who submits a signed waiver of notice whether before or after the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the board of directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

 4 

 

 

Section 6.       A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business unless a greater or lesser number is required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board of directors, unless the vote of a greater number is required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of directors, the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

Section 7.       Unless the Certificate of Incorporation provides otherwise, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the directors or a committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.

 

Section 8.       Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any one or more members of the board of directors or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of such board of directors or committee by means of a conference, telephone conference, or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

 

ARTICLE VII

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

Section 1.       The board of directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire board, may designate, from among its members, an executive committee and other committees, each consisting of one (1) or more directors, and each of which, to the extent provided in the resolution, shall have all the authority of the board, except as otherwise required by law. Vacancies in the membership of the committee shall be filled by the board of directors at a regular or special meeting of the board of directors. The executive committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and shall report the same to the board of directors when required.

 

ARTICLE VIII

NOTICES

 

Section 1.       Whenever, under the provisions of the statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these bylaws, notice is required to be given to any director or stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such director or stockholder, at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deposited in the United States mail. Notice to directors or shareholders may also be given by courier, electronic mail, confirmed facsimile or other electronic means.

 

 5 

 

  

Section 2.       Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.

 

ARTICLE IX

OFFICERS

 

Section 1.       The officers of the Corporation shall be appointed by the board of directors and shall be a president and a secretary. The board of directors may also appoint a treasurer, chief financial officer, vice-presidents, and one or more assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers.

 

Section 2.       The board of directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders shall appoint a president and a secretary, none of whom need be a member of the board.

 

Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. When all of the issued and outstanding stock of the Corporation is owned by one person, such person may hold all or any combination of offices.

 

Section 3.       The board of directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the board of directors.

 

Section 4.       The salaries of all officers and agents of the Corporation, if any, shall be fixed by the board of directors.

 

Section 5.       The officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify. Any officer appointed by the board of directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the board of directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the board of directors.

 

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

Section 6.       Subject to the control of the board of directors, the chief executive officer shall have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall supervise, coordinate and manage its operating expenses, capital allocation, and raising of capital. The chief executive officer shall, together with the President of the Corporation, see that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into effect, and shall also perform all duties incidental to this office that may be required by law and all such other duties as are properly required of this office by the board of directors.

 

THE PRESIDENT

 

Section 7.       The President shall have such powers and perform such duties, including those of chief operating officer, as may be assigned by the board of directors or by the chief executive officer. The President shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the board of directors, shall handle general and active management of the business of the Corporation, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into effect.

 

 6 

 

 

Section 8.       The President shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the board of directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.

 

THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

 

Section 9.       The Chief Financial Officer shall be responsible for the Corporation’s financial reporting to both the Corporation’s management and its stockholders.

 

THE VICE-PRESIDENTS

 

Section 10.       The Vice-president or, if there shall be more than one, the Vice-presidents in the order determined by the board of directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

THE SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES

 

Section 11.       The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the board of directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Corporation and of the board of directors in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the board of directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or president, under whose supervision he shall be. He shall have the custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation and he, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, it may be attested by his signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary. The board of directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his signature.

 

Section 12.       The Assistant Secretary or, if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the board of directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

THE TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS

 

Section 13.       The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the board of directors.

 

 7 

 

 

Section 14.       The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the President and the board of directors at its regular meetings, or when the board of directors so requires, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

 

Section 15.       If required by the board of directors, he shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the board of directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Corporation.

 

Section 16.       The Assistant Treasurer, or, if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the board of directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

ARTICLE X

CERTIFICATES FOR STOCK

 

Section 1.       The shares of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and if certificated, shall be represented by certificates signed by the chairman or vice-chairman of the board or the president or a vice-president and the secretary or an assistant secretary or the treasurer or an assistant treasurer of the Corporation and may be sealed with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof. A record shall be kept of the respective names of the persons, firms or corporations owning the stock of the Corporation, the number of shares held by such persons, firms or corporations and the respective dates of issuance, and in case of cancellation, the respective dates of cancellation.

 

When the Corporation is authorized to issue shares of more than one class there shall be set forth upon the face or back of the certificate, or the certificate shall have a statement that the Corporation will furnish to any stockholder upon request and without charge, a full statement of the designation, relative rights, preferences, and limitations of the shares of each class authorized to be issued and, if the Corporation is authorized to issue any class of preferred shares in series, the designation, relative rights, preferences and limitations of each such series so far as the same have been fixed and the authority of the board of directors to designate and fix the relative rights, preferences and limitations of other series.

 

Section 2.       The signatures of the officers of the Corporation upon a certificate may be facsimiles if the certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent or registered by a registrar other than the Corporation itself or an employee of the Corporation. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer at the date of issue.

 

 8 

 

 

LOST CERTIFICATES

 

Section 3.       The board of directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the board of directors, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, may prescribe such terms and conditions as it deems expedient, and may require such indemnities as it deems adequate, to protect the Corporation from any claim that may be made against it with respect to any such certificate alleged to have been lost or destroyed.

 

TRANSFERS OF STOCK

 

Section 4.       Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate representing shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, a new certificate shall be issued to the person entitled thereto, and the old certificate shall be canceled and the transaction shall be recorded upon the books of the Corporation.

 

FIXING RECORD DATE

 

Section 5.       For the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to or dissent from any proposal without a meeting, or for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any rights, or for the purpose of any other action, the board of directors may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for any such determination of stockholders. Such date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. When a determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless the board fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 6.       The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

 9 

 

 

LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 7.       A list of stockholders as of the record date, certified by the corporate officer responsible for its preparation or by a transfer agent, shall be produced at any meeting upon the request thereat or prior thereto of any stockholder. If the right to vote at any meeting is challenged, the inspectors of election, or person presiding thereat, shall require such list of stockholders to be produced as evidence of the right of the persons challenged to vote at such meeting and all persons who appear from such list to be stockholders entitled to vote thereat may vote as such meeting.

 

ARTICLE XI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

DIVIDENDS

 

Section 1.       Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation relating thereto, if any, dividends may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in shares of the Corporation's capital stock or in the Corporation's bonds or its property, including the shares or bonds of other corporations subject to any provisions of law and of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 2.       Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the Corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

CHECKS

 

Section 3.       All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the board of directors may from time to time designate.

 

FISCAL YEAR

 

Section 4.       The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 or such date as shall be fixed by resolution of the board of directors.

 

SEAL

 

Section 5.       The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any manner reproduced.

 

 10 

 

 

ARTICLE XII

AMENDMENTS

 

Section 1.       These bylaws may be amended or repealed or new bylaws may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present or represented, by the vote of the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election of any directors, provided notice of the proposed alteration, amendment or repeal be contained in the notice of such meeting. These bylaws may also be amended or repealed or new bylaws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the board of directors. If any bylaw regulating an impending election of directors is adopted, amended or repealed by the board, there shall be set forth in the notice of the next meeting of stockholders for the election of directors the bylaw so adopted, amended or repealed, together with a precise statement of the changes made. Bylaws adopted by the board of directors may be amended or repealed by the stockholders. 

 

ARTICLE XIII

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

Section 1.        (a)       Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) (hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is a legal representative, is or was a director or officer, of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to criminal action or proceeding shall there be no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in paragraph (b) hereof, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware permits, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director of officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise. The Corporation may, by action of its board of directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers.

 

 11 

 

  

(b)       If a claim under paragraph (a) of this Section is not paid in full by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(c)       The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Section shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

(d)       The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

(e)       Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between the Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this Corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of this Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this Corporation as consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made, to be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of the Corporation, as the case may be, and also on the Corporation.

 

 12 

 

  

(f)       The indemnification provided by this Section shall not limit the Corporation from providing any other indemnification permitted by law nor shall it be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

(g)       The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of the status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against liability under the provisions of this Section.

 

 

 

The undersigned, secretary of MGO Global Inc. (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies that the foregoing Bylaws were adopted by the Directors of the Corporation as of December 6, 2021.

 

     
  Virginia Hilfiger, Secretary  

 

 13 

 

 

Exhibit 3.3

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO BYLAWS

OF

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

The Bylaws of MGO Global Inc. (the “Bylaws”) are hereby amended as follows:

 

Article IV, Section 5 of the Bylaws is deleted in its entirety.

 

Except as herein amended, the provisions of the Bylaws shall remain in full force and effect.

 

The undersigned, secretary of MGO Global Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certifies that the foregoing First Amendment to Bylaws was approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on August 24, 2022.

 

  /s/ Virginia Hilfiger
  Virginia Hilfiger, Secretary

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.4

 

State of Delaware  
Secretary of State  
Division of Corporations  
Delivered 04:30 PM 08/29/2022  
FILED 04:30 PM 08/29/2022  
SR 20223389567 - File Number 6430999  

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

MGO Global Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), certifies that:

 

A. The name of the Corporation is MGO Global Inc. The Corporation’s original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 30, 2021.

 

B. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by the directors and stockholders of the Corporation, and written notice was duly given or will be given pursuant to Section 228 to those stockholders who did not approve the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation by written consent.

 

C. The text of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

The name of this corporation is MGO Global Inc.

 

ARTICLE II

 

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 874 Walker Road, Suite C, Dover, Delaware 19904, County of Kent. The registered agent of the corporation in the State of Delaware at such address is United Corporate Services, Inc.

 

ARTICLE III

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Section 1. Number of Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue shall be One Hundred Seventy Million (170,000,000) shares. The Corporation shall be authorized to issue two classes of shares of stock, designated as "Common Stock" and "Preferred Stock." The Corporation shall be authorized to issue One Hundred Fifty Million (150,000,000) shares of Common Stock, each share to have a par value of $0.00001 per share, and Twenty Million (20,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, each share to have a par value of $0.00001 per share.

 

Section 2. Common Stock. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may authorize the issuance of shares of Common Stock from time to time. The Corporation may reissue shares of Common Stock that are redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired by the Corporation unless otherwise provided by law.

 

Section 3. Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may by resolution authorize the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series. The Corporation may reissue shares of Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired by the Corporation unless otherwise provided by law. The Board of Directors is hereby authorized to fix or alter the designations, powers and preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such class or series as may be permitted by the DGCL, including, without limitation, dividend rights (and whether dividends are cumulative) conversion rights, if any, voting rights (including the number of votes, if any, per share, as well as the number of members, if any, of the Board of Directors or the percentage of members, if any, of the Board of Directors each class or series of Preferred Stock may be entitled to elect), rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions, if any), redemption price and liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, the number of shares constituting any such series and the designation thereof, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series subsequent to the issuance of shares of such series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding and other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such shares as are permitted by law, all as may be stated in such resolution.

 

  

 

 

Section 4. Dividends and Distributions. Subject to the preferences applicable to Preferred Stock outstanding at any time, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends, payable in cash or otherwise, as may be declared thereon by the Board of Directors from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefore.

 

Section 5. Voting Rights. Each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in DGCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of directors or in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by or in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation or amendment thereof duly adopted by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders of the Corporation. Newly created dictatorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled solely by the Board of Directors, acting by not less than a majority of the Directors then in office, although less than a quorum.

 

Any director so chosen shall hold office until his successor shall be elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.

 

No action, which has not been previously approved by the Board of Directors, shall be taken by the stockholders except at an annual meeting or a special meeting of the stockholders. Any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the powers conferred by statute, the board of directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the By-laws or adopt new By-laws without any action on the part of the stockholders; provided that any By-law adopted or amended by the board of directors, and any powers thereby conferred, may be amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders.

 

  

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of a director, then the liability of the directors shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or modification of this Article IX by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

 

ARTICLE X

 

The Corporation shall indemnify, advance expenses, and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a “Covered Person”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. The right to indemnification conferred by this Article X shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the reasonable expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, except where the Covered Person pleads guilty or nolo contendere in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses), upon receipt by the Corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person receiving advancement to repay the amount advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation under this Article X. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except for claims for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) or advancement of expenses not paid in full, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article X shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

Unless the Corporation (through approval of the Board of Directors) consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation's stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of incorporation or the By-laws or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.

 

This provision shall not apply to any actions arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction or for which the federal and state courts have concurrent jurisdiction in accordance with applicable law.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

The Corporation shall have the right, subject to any express provisions or restrictions contained in this Certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or the By-laws, from time to time, to amend this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision thereof in any manner now or hereafter provided by law, and all rights and powers of any kind conferred upon a director or stockholder of the Corporation by this Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment thereof are conferred subject to such right.

 

  

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

The name and mailing address of the incorporator were Maximiliano Ojeda, 30 Wall Street, 12th floor, New York, NY 10005.

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, MGO Global Inc. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation on this 24th day of August 2022.

 

   
  /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE WARRANT AGREES BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, THAT SUCH HOLDER WILL NOT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY (180) DAYS FOLLOWING [●], 2022, WHICH IS THE COMMENCEMENT OF SALES OF COMMON STOCK IN THE OFFERING: (A) SELL, TRANSFER, ASSIGN, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS PURCHASE WARRANT TO ANYONE OTHER THAN OFFICERS OR PARTNERS OF BOUSTEAD SECURITIES LLC, EACH OF WHOM SHALL HAVE AGREED TO THE RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH FINRA CONDUCT RULE 5110(E)(1), OR (B) CAUSE THIS PURCHASE WARRANT OR THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE HEREUNDER TO BE THE SUBJECT OF ANY HEDGING, SHORT SALE, DERIVATIVE, PUT OR CALL TRANSACTION THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC DISPOSITION OF THIS PURCHASE WARRANT OR THE SECURITIES HEREUNDER, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR IN FINRA RULE 5110(E)(2).

 

THIS PURCHASE WARRANT IS NOT EXERCISABLE PRIOR TO [●], 2022 (THE DATE OF ISSUANCE). VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, [●], 2025 (THE DATE THAT IS THREE YEARS FROM COMMENCEMENT OF SALES OF COMMON STOCK IN THE OFFERING).

  

COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

 

For the Purchase of [●] Shares of Common Stock

 

of

 

MGO Global Inc.

 

1.       Purchase Warrant. THIS CERTIFIES THAT, in consideration of funds duly paid by or on behalf of Boustead Securities, LLC (“Holder”), as registered owner of this Purchase Warrant, to MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Holder is entitled, at any time or from time to time beginning [●], 2022_(the “Issue Date”), and at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, [●], 2025_(the “Expiration Date”), but not thereafter, to subscribe for, purchase and receive, in whole or in part, up to [●] shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Shares”), subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6 hereof. If the Expiration Date is a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, then this Purchase Warrant may be exercised on the next succeeding day which is not such a day in accordance with the terms herein. During the period ending on the Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would terminate this Purchase Warrant. This Purchase Warrant is initially exercisable at $[●] per Share2provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6 hereof, the rights granted by this Purchase Warrant, including the exercise price per Share and the number of Shares to be received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein specified. The term “Exercise Price” shall mean the initial exercise price or the adjusted exercise price, depending on the context.

 

2.       Exercise.

 

2.1       Exercise Form. In order to exercise this Purchase Warrant, the exercise form attached hereto must be duly executed and completed and delivered to the Company, together with this Purchase Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares being purchased payable in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company or by certified check or official bank check. If the subscription rights represented hereby shall not be exercised at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Expiration Date, this Purchase Warrant shall become and be void without further force or effect, and all rights represented hereby shall cease and expire. Each exercise hereof shall be irrevocable.

 

[To be three years from the effective date of the Form S-1 for the offering.]

2 [To be 125% of the public offering price per Share]

 

   

 

 

2.2       Cashless Exercise. In lieu of exercising this Purchase Warrant by payment of cash or check payable to the order of the Company pursuant to Section 2.1 above, Holder may elect to receive the number of Shares equal to the value of this Purchase Warrant (or the portion thereof being exercised), by surrender of this Purchase Warrant to the Company, together with the exercise form attached hereto, in which event the Company will issue to Holder Shares in accordance with the following formula:

 

X = Y(A-B)  
A  

 

Where,      
  X = The number of Shares to be issued to Holder;
  Y = The number of Shares for which the Purchase Warrant is being exercised;
  A = The fair market value of one Share; and
  B = The Exercise Price.

 

For purposes of this Section 2.2, the fair market value means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the common stock is then listed or quoted on a Eligible Market, the value shall be deemed to be the highest intra-day or closing price on any trading day on such Eligible Market on which the common stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)) during the five trading days preceding the exercise, (b)  if OTCQB or OTCQX is not an Eligible Market, the value shall be deemed to be the highest intra-day or closing price on any trading day on the OTCQB or OTCQX on which the common stock is then quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)) during the five trading days preceding the exercise, as applicable, (c) if the common stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the common stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices) (the “OTC Markets Group”), the value shall be deemed to be the highest intra-day or closing price on any trading day on the Pink Sheets on which the common stock is then quoted as reported by OTC Markets Group (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)) during the five trading days preceding the exercise, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of common stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holder and reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

2.3        Legend. Each certificate for the securities purchased under this Purchase Warrant shall bear a legend as follows unless such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”):

 

“The securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), or applicable state law. Neither the securities nor any interest therein may be offered for sale, sold or otherwise transferred except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Act, or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state law which, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, is available.”

 

   

 

 

2.4       Resale of Shares. Holder and the Company acknowledge that as of the date hereof the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the SEC has published Compliance & Disclosure Interpretation 528.04 in the Securities Act Rules section thereof, stating that the holder of securities issued in connection with a public offering may not rely upon Rule 144 promulgated under the Act to establish an exemption from registration requirements under Section 4(a)(1) under the Act, but may nonetheless apply Rule 144 constructively for the resale of such shares in the following manner: (a) provided that six months has elapsed since the last sale under the registration statement, an underwriter or finder may resell the securities in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144(c), (e), and (f), except for the notice requirement; (b) a purchaser of the shares from an underwriter receives restricted securities unless the sale is made with an appropriate, current prospectus, or unless the sale is made pursuant to the conditions contained in (a) above; (c) a purchaser of the shares from an underwriter who receives restricted securities may include the underwriter’s holding period, provided that the underwriter or finder is not an affiliate of the issuer; and (d) if an underwriter transfers the shares to its employees, the employees may tack the firm’s holding period for purposes of Rule 144(d), but they must aggregate sales of the distributed shares with those of other employees, as well as those of the underwriter or finder, for a six-month period from the date of the transfer to the employees. Holder and the Company also acknowledge that the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the SEC has advised in various no-action letters that the holding period associated with securities issued without registration to a service provider commences upon the completion of the services, which the Company agrees and acknowledges shall be the final closing of the Offering, and that Rule 144(d)(3)(ii) provides that securities acquired from the issuer solely in exchange for other securities of the same issuer shall be deemed to have been acquired at the same time as the securities surrendered for conversion (which the Company agrees is the date of the initial issuance of this Purchase Warrant). In the event that following a reasonably-timed written request by Holder to transfer the Shares in accordance with Compliance & Disclosure Interpretation 528.04 counsel for the Company in good faith concludes that Compliance & Disclosure Interpretation 528.04 no longer may be relied upon as a result of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations of the SEC Division of Corporation Finance, or as a result of judicial interpretations not known by the Company or its counsel on the date hereof, then the Company shall promptly, and in any event within five (5) business days following the request, provide written notice to Holder of such determination. As a condition to giving such notice, the parties shall negotiate in good faith a single demand registration right pursuant to an agreement in customary form reasonably acceptable to the parties; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the obligations of the Company pursuant to this Section 2 shall terminate on the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date. In the absence of such conclusion by counsel for the Company, the Company shall, upon such a request of Holder given no earlier than six months after the final closing of the Offering, instruct its transfer agent to permit the transfer of such shares in accordance with Compliance & Disclosure Interpretation 528.04, provided that Holder has provided such documentation as shall be reasonably be requested by the Company to establish compliance with the conditions of Compliance & Disclosure Interpretation 528.04. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(B)-(D), the Holder shall not be entitled to more than one demand registration right hereunder and the duration of the registration rights hereunder shall not exceed five years from the Effective Date.

 

3.       Transfer.

 

3.1       General Restrictions. The registered Holder of this Purchase Warrant agrees by his, her or its acceptance hereof, that such Holder will not for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the Effective Date: (a) sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate this Purchase Warrant to anyone other than: (i) Boustead Securities LLC (“Boustead”) or an underwriter, placement agent, or a selected dealer participating in the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of Boustead or of any such underwriter, placement agent or selected dealer, in each case in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(e)(1), or (b) cause this Purchase Warrant or the securities issuable hereunder to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of this Purchase Warrant or the securities hereunder, except as provided for in FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2). After 180 days after the Effective Date, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws. In order to make any permitted assignment, the Holder must deliver to the Company the assignment form attached hereto duly executed and completed, together with the Purchase Warrant and payment of all transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection therewith. The Company shall within five (5) Business Days transfer this Purchase Warrant on the books of the Company and shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Warrant or Purchase Warrants of like tenor to the appropriate assignee(s) expressly evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of Shares purchasable hereunder or such portion of such number as shall be contemplated by any such assignment.

 

3.2        Restrictions Imposed by the Act. The securities evidenced by this Purchase Warrant shall not be transferred unless and until: (i) if required by applicable law, the Company has received the opinion of counsel for the Company that the securities may be transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state securities laws, or (ii) a registration statement or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of such securities has been filed by the Company and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the ”Commission”) and compliance with applicable state securities law has been established.

 

   

 

 

4.       Piggyback Registration Rights.

 

4.1       Grant of Right. Whenever the Company proposes to register any shares of its common stock under the Act (other than (i) a registration effected solely to implement an employee benefit plan or a transaction to which Rule 145 of the Act is applicable, or (ii) a registration statement on Form S-4, S-8 or any successor form thereto or another form not available for registering the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant for sale to the public, whether for its own account or for the account of one or more stockholders of the Company (a “Piggyback Registration”), the Company shall give prompt written notice (in any event no later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the filing of such registration statement) to the Holder of the Company’s intention to effect such a registration and, subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 4.1, shall include in such registration such number of Shares underlying this Purchase Warrant (the “Registrable Securities”) that the Holders have (within ten (10) Business Days of the respective Holder’s receipt of such notice) requested in writing (including such number) to be included within such registration. If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering and the managing underwriter advises the Company that it has determined in good faith that marketing factors require a limit on the number of shares of common stock to be included in such registration, including all Shares issuable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant (if the Holder has elected to include such shares in such Piggyback Registration) and all other shares of common stock proposed to be included in such underwritten offering, , the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the number of shares of common stock that the Company proposes to sell and (ii) second, the number of shares of common stock, if any, requested to be included therein by selling stockholders (including the Holder) allocated pro rata among all such persons on the basis of the number of shares of common stock then owned by each such person. If any Piggyback Registration is initiated as a primary underwritten offering on behalf of the Company, the Company shall select the investment banking firm or firms to act as the managing underwriter or underwriters in connection with such offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the obligations of the Company pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date and (ii) the date that Rule 144 would allow the Holder to sell its Registrable Securities during any ninety (90) day period.

 

4.2       Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to any registration statement hereunder and each person, if any, who controls such Holders within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any claim whatsoever) to which any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from such registration statement but only to the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions pursuant to which the Company has agreed to indemnify Boustead contained in the Underwriting Agreement between Boustead and the Company, dated as of [●], 2022. The Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such registration statement, and their successors and assigns, shall severally, and not jointly, indemnify the Company, against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any claim whatsoever) to which they may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from information furnished by or on behalf of such Holders, or their successors or assigns, in writing, for specific inclusion in such registration statement to the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions contained in the Underwriting Agreement pursuant to which Boustead has agreed to indemnify the Company.

 

4.3        Exercise of Purchase Warrants. Nothing contained in this Purchase Warrant shall be construed as requiring the Holder(s) to exercise their Purchase Warrants prior to or after the initial filing of any registration statement or the effectiveness thereof.

 

4.4        Documents Delivered to Holders. The Company shall deliver promptly to each Holder participating in the offering requesting the correspondence and memoranda described below, copies of all correspondence between the Commission and the Company, its counsel or auditors and all memoranda relating to discussions with the Commission or its staff with respect to the registration statement and permit each Holder and underwriter to do such investigation, upon reasonable advance notice, with respect to information contained in or omitted from the registration statement as it deems reasonably necessary to comply with applicable securities laws or rules of FINRA. Such investigation shall include access to books, records and properties and opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers and independent auditors, all to such reasonable extent and at such reasonable times, during normal business hours, as any such Holder shall reasonably request.

 

4.5        Underwriting Agreement. The Holders shall be parties to any underwriting agreement relating to a Piggyback Registration. Such Holders shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters except as they may relate to such Holders, their Shares and the amount and nature of their ownership thereof and their intended methods of distribution.

 

   

 

 

4.6        Documents to be Delivered by Holder(s). Each of the Holder(s) participating in any of the foregoing offerings shall furnish to the Company a completed and executed questionnaire provided by the Company requesting information customarily sought of selling security holders.

 

4.7        Damages. Should the Company fail to comply with such provisions, the Holder(s) shall, in addition to any other legal or other relief available to the Holder(s), be entitled to obtain specific performance or other equitable (including injunctive) relief against the threatened breach of such provisions or the continuation of any such breach, without the necessity of proving actual damages and without the necessity of posting bond or other security.

 

5.       New Purchase Warrants to be Issued.

 

5.1       Partial Exercise or Transfer. Subject to the restrictions in Section 3 hereof, this Purchase Warrant may be exercised or assigned in whole or in part. In the event of the exercise or assignment hereof in part only, upon surrender of this Purchase Warrant for cancellation, together with the duly executed exercise or assignment form and funds sufficient to pay any Exercise Price and/or transfer tax if exercised pursuant to Section 2.1 hereto, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Holder without charge a new Purchase Warrant of like tenor to this Purchase Warrant in the name of the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the number of Shares purchasable hereunder as to which this Purchase Warrant has not been exercised or assigned.

 

5.2        Lost Certificate. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Purchase Warrant and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification or the posting of a bond, determined in the sole discretion of the Company, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Warrant of like tenor and date. Any such new Purchase Warrant executed and delivered as a result of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation on the part of the Company.

 

6.       Adjustments.

 

6.1       Adjustments to Exercise Price and Number of Securities. The Exercise Price and the number of Shares underlying the Purchase Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter set forth:

 

6.1.1       Share Dividends; Split Ups. If, after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding Shares is increased by a stock dividend payable in Shares or by a split up of Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective day thereof, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding Shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately decreased.

 

6.1.2        Aggregation of Shares. If, after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination or reclassification of Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding Shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately increased.

 

6.1.3        Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Shares other than a change covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Shares, or in the case of any share reconstruction or amalgamation or consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Holder of this Purchase Warrant shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration of the right of exercise of this Purchase Warrant) to receive upon the exercise hereof, for the same aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder immediately prior to such event, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, share reconstruction or amalgamation, or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, by a Holder of the number of Shares of the Company obtainable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in Shares covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections 6.1.1 and 6.1.2 and this Section 6.1.3. The provisions of this Section 6.1.3 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, share reconstructions or amalgamations, or consolidations, sales or other transfers.

 

   

 

 

6.1.4        Changes in Form of Purchase Warrant. This form of Purchase Warrant need not be changed because of any change pursuant to this Section 6.1, and Purchase Warrants issued after such change may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of Shares as are stated in the Purchase Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. The acceptance by any Holder of the issuance of new Purchase Warrants reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed to waive any rights to an adjustment occurring after the Issue Date or the computation thereof.

 

6.2        Substitute Purchase Warrant. In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or share reconstruction or amalgamation or merger of the Company with or into, another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation or merger which does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding Shares), the corporation formed by such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation shall execute and deliver to the Holder a supplemental Purchase Warrant providing that the holder of each Purchase Warrant then outstanding or to be outstanding shall have the right thereafter (until the stated expiration of such Purchase Warrant) to receive, upon exercise of such Purchase Warrant, the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property receivable upon such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation, by a holder of the number of Shares of the Company for which such Purchase Warrant might have been exercised immediately prior to such consolidation, share reconstruction or amalgamation or merger, sale or transfer. Such supplemental Purchase Warrant shall provide for adjustments which shall be identical to the adjustments provided for in this Section 6. The above provision of this Section shall similarly apply to successive consolidations or share reconstructions or amalgamations or mergers.

 

6.3        Elimination of Fractional Interests. The Company shall not be required to issue certificates representing fractions of Shares upon the exercise of the Purchase Warrant, nor shall it be required to issue scrip or pay cash in lieu of any fractional interests, it being the intent of the parties that all fractional interests shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction up or down, as the case may be, to the nearest whole number of Shares or other securities, properties or rights.

 

7.        Reservation. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exercise of the Purchase Warrants, such number of Shares or other securities, properties or rights as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon exercise of the Purchase Warrants and payment of the Exercise Price therefor, in accordance with the terms hereby, all Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder.

 

8.       Certain Notice Requirements.

 

8.1       Holder’s Right to Receive Notice. Nothing herein shall be construed as conferring upon the Holders the right to vote or consent or to receive notice as a shareholder for the election of directors or any other matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as a shareholder of the Company. If, however, at any time prior to the expiration of the Purchase Warrants and their exercise, any of the events described in Section 8.2 shall occur, then, in one or more of said events, the Company shall deliver to each Holder a copy of each notice relating to such events given to the other shareholders of the Company at the same time and in the same manner that such notice is given to the shareholders.

 

8.2        Events Requiring Notice. The Company shall be required to give the notice described in this Section 8 upon one or more of the following events: (i) if the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Shares for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or distribution payable otherwise than in cash, or a cash dividend or distribution payable otherwise than out of retained earnings, as indicated by the accounting treatment of such dividend or distribution on the books of the Company, or (ii) the Company shall offer to all the holders of its Shares any additional shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company, or any option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor.

 

   

 

 

8.3        Notice of Change in Exercise Price. The Company shall, promptly after an event requiring a change in the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 6 hereof, send notice to the Holders of such event and change (“Price Notice”). The Price Notice shall describe the event causing the change and the method of calculating same.

 

8.4        Transmittal of Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications under this Purchase Warrant shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly made when hand delivered, or mailed by express mail or private courier service: (i) if to the registered Holder of the Purchase Warrant, to the address of such Holder as shown on the books of the Company, or (ii) if to the Company, to following address or to such other address as the Company may designate by notice to the Holders:

 

If to the Holder:

 

Boustead Securities, LLC

6 Venture, Suite 395

Irvine, CA 92618

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Fax No: (815) 301-8099

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:


Bevilacqua PLLC

1050 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20036

Attention: Louis Bevilacqua, Esq.

Fax No: (202) 869-0889

 

If to the Company:

 

MGO Global Inc.

1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33345

Attention: Maximiliano Ojeda

Fax No: [*]

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:


Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP

55 West 39th Street, 18th Floor

New York, NY 10018

Attention: Ross D. Carmel, Esq.

Jeffrey P. Wofford, Esq.

Fax No: [*]

 

9.       Miscellaneous.

 

9.1       Amendments. The Company and Boustead may from time to time supplement or amend this Purchase Warrant without the approval of any of the Holders in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder that the Company and Boustead may deem necessary or desirable and that the Company and Boustead deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent of and be signed by (i) the Company and (ii) the Holder(s) of Purchase Warrants then-exercisable for at least a majority of the Shares then-exercisable pursuant to all then-outstanding Purchase Warrants.

 

   

 

 

9.2        Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Purchase Warrant.

 

9.3.        Entire Agreement. This Purchase Warrant (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Purchase Warrant) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

9.4        Binding Effect. This Purchase Warrant shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon, the Holder and the Company and their permitted assignees, respective successors, legal representative and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Purchase Warrant or any provisions herein contained.

 

9.5        Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Trial by Jury. This Purchase Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Purchase Warrant shall be brought and enforced in the courts located in New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 8 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company and the Holder agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor. The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and the Holder hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

9.6        Waiver, etc. The failure of the Company or the Holder to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Purchase Warrant shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Purchase Warrant or any provision hereof or the right of the Company or any Holder to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Purchase Warrant. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Purchase Warrant shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.

 

9.7        Exchange Agreement. As a condition of the Holder’s receipt and acceptance of this Purchase Warrant, Holder agrees that, at any time prior to the complete exercise of this Purchase Warrant by Holder, if the Company and Boustead enter into an agreement (“Exchange Agreement”) pursuant to which they agree that all outstanding Purchase Warrants will be exchanged for securities or cash or a combination of both, then Holder shall agree to such exchange and become a party to the Exchange Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

   

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Purchase Warrant to be signed by its duly authorized officer as of the [●] day of [●], 2022. 

 

MGO Global Inc.  
     
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

  

   

 

 

[Form to be used to exercise Purchase Warrant]

 

Date: __________, 20_____

 

The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise the Purchase Warrant for ______ shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Shares”), of MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and hereby makes payment of $____ (at the rate of $____ per Share) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant thereto. Please issue the Shares as to which this Purchase Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Purchase Warrant representing the number of Shares for which this Purchase Warrant has not been exercised.

 

or

 

The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to convert its right to purchase ___ Shares of the Company under the Purchase Warrant for ______ Shares, as determined in accordance with the following formula:

 

  X = Y(A-B)  
A  

 

Where,      
  X = The number of Shares to be issued to Holder;
  Y = The number of Shares for which the Purchase Warrant is being exercised;
  A = The fair market value of one Share which is equal to $_____; and
  B = The Exercise Price which is equal to $______ per share

 

The undersigned agrees and acknowledges that the calculation set forth above is subject to confirmation by the Company and any disagreement with respect to the calculation shall be resolved by the Company in its sole discretion.

 

Please issue the Shares as to which this Purchase Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Purchase Warrant representing the number of Shares for which this Purchase Warrant has not been converted.

 

 

Signature _____________________________________________

  

 

Signature Guaranteed ____________________________________

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

 

Name:    
  (Print in Block Letters)  
     
Address:    
     
     

 

NOTICE: The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Purchase Warrant without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a trust company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities exchange.

 

   

 

 

[Form to be used to assign Purchase Warrant]

ASSIGNMENT

 

(To be executed by the registered Holder to effect a transfer of the within Purchase Warrant):

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, __________________ does hereby sell, assign and transfer unto the right to purchase shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), evidenced by the Purchase Warrant and does hereby authorize the Company to transfer such right on the books of the Company.

 

Dated: __________, 20____

 

 

Signature ____________________________________________

 

 

Signature Guaranteed ___________________________________

 

NOTICE: The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Purchase Warrant without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a trust company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities exchange.

 

   

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

FORM OF WARRANT

 

NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES FOR WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.

 

FORM OF COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

 

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

Warrant No. _____ Issue Date: _________202_

 

THIS COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, [ ] or any registered assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time following the Issue Date (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and on or prior to the close of business on ____________, 20271 (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), up to [ ] shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant Shares”). The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be $1.00.

 

Section 1. Definitions. For the purposes hereof, in addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, (a) capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Subscription Agreement entered into by the Company and the Holder of even day herewith and (b) the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which shall be a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

Common Stock” means the shares of common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, of the Company.

 

Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive Common Stock.

 

Exercise Period” shall have the meaning as that term is defined in Section 2(a) below.

 

 

1Five years from the Issue Date

 

  1

 

 

Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Trading Day” means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for business.

 

Trading Market” means the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock may be listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE MKT, LLC, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Transfer Agent” means Transhare Corporation

 

Section 2.               Exercise.

 

a)       Exercise of Warrant. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date (the “Exercise Period”) by delivery to the Company (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice in writing to the registered Holder at the address of the Holder appearing on the books of the Company) of a duly executed notice of exercise (“Notice of Exercise”) form attached hereto as Exhibit 1-A; and, within three (3) Trading Days of the date said Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company, the Company shall have received payment of the aggregate Exercise Price of the shares thereby purchased by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three (3) Trading Days of the date the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. In the event of any dispute or discrepancy, the records of the Company shall be controlling and determinative in the absence of manifest error.

 

b)       Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of the Common Stock under this Warrant shall be $1.00.

 

c)       Mechanics of Exercise.

 

i.       Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. Certificates for shares purchased hereunder shall be transmitted by the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission (“DWAC”) system if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective registration statement for its initial public offering registering the Warrants Shares, in which case the Holder will simultaneously exercise this Warrant upon the effectiveness of such registration statement, (B) there is a registration statement permitting the resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or (C) the shares are eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale limitations pursuant to Rule 144, and otherwise by physical delivery of certificates to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise within four (4) Trading Days from the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise Form, surrender of this Warrant (if required) and payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as set forth above (the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”). This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised on the date the Exercise Price is received by the Company. The Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have been issued, and Holder or any other person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such shares for all purposes, as of the date the Warrant has been exercised by payment to the Company of the Exercise Price and all taxes required to be paid by the Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 2(d)(vi) prior to the issuance of such shares, have been paid.

 

  2

 

 

ii.       Delivery of Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing Warrant Shares, deliver to Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.

 

iii.       Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder a certificate or the certificates representing the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.

 

iv.       No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.

 

v.       Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of certificates for Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such certificate, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such certificates shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event certificates for Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the assignment form (“Assignment Form”) attached hereto as Exhibit 1-B duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto.

 

vi.       Closing of Books. The Company will not close its shareholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

  3

 

 

 

Section 3.             Certain Adjustments.

 

 a)       Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any Warrant Shares issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.

 

 b)       Calculations. All calculations under this Section 4 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 4, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.

 

c)       Notice to Holder.

 

i.       Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 4, the Company shall promptly mail to the Holder a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

 

 ii.      Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any shareholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, of any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be mailed to the Holder at its last address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least 20 calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to mail such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. The Holder is entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice.

 

  4

 

 

Section 4.         Transfer of Warrant.

 

a)       Transferability. This Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. The Warrant, if properly assigned, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.

 

b)       Warrants. This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 5(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the Initial Exercise Date and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.

 

c)       Warrant Register. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.

 

Section 5.          Miscellaneous.

 

a)       No Rights as Shareholder Until Exercise. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a shareholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof.

 

b)       Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.

 

c)       Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

  5

 

 

d)       Authorized Shares. The Company covenants that, during the period the Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock one hundred (100%) of the number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. In case such amount of Common Stock is insufficient at any time, the Company shall call and hold a special meeting to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock. Management of the Company shall recommend to shareholders to vote in favor of increasing the number of authorized shares of common stock.

 

The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of executing stock certificates to execute and issue the necessary certificates for the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).

 

Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.

 

Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.

 

e)       Jurisdiction. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

f)       Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.

 

  6

 

 

g)      Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice Holder’s rights, powers or remedies, notwithstanding the fact that all rights hereunder terminate on the Termination Date. If the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.

 

h)      Notices. Any notice, request or other document required or permitted to be given or delivered to the Holder by the Company shall be delivered in accordance with the addresses provided by the Holder of this Warrant.

 

i)       Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of Holder, shall give rise to any liability of Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

 

j)       Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

k)       Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of all Holders from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.

 

l)       Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.

 

m)     Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.

 

n)     Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.

 

[Signature Page Follows.]

 

  7

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.

 
MGO GLOBAL INC.  
       
By:    
  Name: Maximiliano Ojeda  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer  

  8

 

 

EXHIBIT 1-A

 

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

 

TO:

 

(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

 

(2)       Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:

 

       

 

The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number or by physical delivery of a certificate to:

 

       
       
       

 

(3)       Accredited Investor. The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]  
   
   
Name of Investing Entity:  

 

 
   
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity:  

 

 
   
Name of Authorized Signatory:  

 

 
   
Title of Authorized Signatory:  

 

 
   
Date:  
   

 

  9

 

 

EXHIBIT 1-B

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

(To assign the foregoing warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to exercise the warrant.)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, [ ] all of or [ ] shares of the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to

 

   
  whose address is
   
 
   
 
   
Dated: _______________________,________

 

  Holder’s Signature:    
       
  Holder’s Address:    
       

 

Signature Guaranteed:      

 

NOTE: The signature to this Assignment Form must correspond with the name as it appears on the face of the Warrant, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank or trust company. Officers of corporations and those acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing Warrant.

 

  10

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.3

 

THESE WARRANTS AND ANY SHARES ACQUIRED UPON THE EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE WARRANTS AND SUCH SHARES AND ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN OR THEREIN MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SUCH ACT AND UNDER ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE WARRANTS AND SUCH SHARES MAY NOT BE EXERCISED OR TRANSFERRED EXCEPT UPON THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE, AND NO EXERCISE OR TRANSFER OF THESE WARRANTS OR TRANSFER OF SUCH SHARES SHALL BE VALID OR EFFECTIVE UNLESS AND UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS SHALL HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH.

 

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

Warrant To Purchase Common Stock

 

Warrant No.: _____

Date of Issuance: ____________ (“Issuance Date”)

 

MGO Global Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), hereby certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, ___________, the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns (the “Holder”), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company, at the Exercise Price (as defined below) then in effect, Company common stock, par value $0.01 (“Common Stock”) (including any Warrants to purchase shares issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, the “Warrant”), at any time or times on or after the date hereof but not after 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Expiration Date (as defined below), __________ (subject to adjustment as provided herein) fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant Shares”).

 

1.EXERCISE OF WARRANT.

 

(a)        Mechanics of Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder on any day on or after the date hereof, in whole or in part, by delivery (whether via facsimile, email, or otherwise) of a written notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”), of the Holder’s election to exercise this Warrant, by submitting information including the then-applicable Exercise Price, number of Warrant Shares purchased equal to or lower than the then-applicable number of Warrant Shares and the FMV (collectively, the “Exercise Information”). Within one (1) Trading Day following an exercise of this Warrant as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver payment to the Company of an amount equal to the Exercise Price in effect on the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant was so exercised (the “Aggregate Exercise Price”) in cash or via wire transfer of immediately available funds if, subject to the provisions of Section 1(d), the Holder has not notified the Company in such Exercise Notice that such exercise is made pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in Section 1(d)) at a time and under circumstances which permit a Cashless Exercise. The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original of this Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice for all of the then-remaining Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant after delivery of the Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof. On or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received an Exercise Notice, upon checking that the Exercise Information supplied by the Holder is accurate, the Company shall transmit by facsimile or email an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of such Exercise Notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, to the Holder and the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”). On or before the third (3rd) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received such Exercise Notice and, in the event that the Holder has chosen to exercise in cash, the receipt of the payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, the Company shall instruct the Transfer Agent to issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise and to, at the sole direction of the Holder pursuant to the Exercise Notice, hold such Warrant Shares in electronic form at the Transfer Agent registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee (as indicated in the applicable Exercise Notice), or mail to the Holder or, at the Holder’s instruction pursuant to the Exercise Notice, the Holder’s agent or designee, in each case, sent by reputable overnight courier to the address as specified in the applicable Exercise Notice, a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee (as indicated in the applicable Exercise Notice). Upon delivery of an Exercise Notice and in the event that the Holder has chosen to exercise in cash, the Company’s receipt of the payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares (as the case may be). If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 1(a) and the total number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired by the Holder upon an exercise, then, at the request of the Holder, the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Business Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. No fractional Warrant Shares are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of Warrant Shares to be issued shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. The Company will from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company in respect of the issuance or delivery of Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of this Warrant or such shares. Exercise Price. For purposes of this Warrant, “Exercise Price” means $1.00 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein.Company’s Failure to Timely Deliver Securities. If the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, to issue to the Holder within three (3) Trading Days after receipt of the applicable Exercise Notice, a certificate for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled and register such Warrant Shares on the Company’s share register, the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, to issue to the Holder within three (3) Trading Days after receipt of the applicable Exercise Notice, a certificate for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled and register such Warrant Shares on the Company’s share register and if on or after such third (3rd) Trading Day the Holder (or any other Person in respect, or on behalf, of the Holder) purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of all or any portion of the number of Warrant Shares, or a sale of a number of Warrant Shares equal to all or any portion of the number of Warrant Shares, issuable upon such exercise that the Holder so anticipated receiving from the Company, then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, the Company shall, within three (3) Business Days after the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including reasonable brokerage commissions and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the Warrant Shares so purchased (including, without limitation, by any other Person in respect, or on behalf, of the Holder) (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to so issue and deliver such certificate or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise hereunder (as the case may be) (and to issue such Warrant Shares) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to so issue and deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such Warrant Shares or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise hereunder (as the case may be) and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of Warrant Shares multiplied by (B) the lowest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date of the applicable Exercise Notice and ending on the date of such issuance and payment under this clause (ii).Cashless Exercise. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Holder may, in its sole discretion, exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon such exercise in payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the “Net Number” of Warrant Shares determined according to the following formula (a “Cashless Exercise”), provided that the Holder may elect to cashless exercise pursuant to this Section 1(d) only if B as set forth in the following formula is higher than C as set forth in the following formula:   Net Number = (A x B) - (A x C)

 

 1 

 

B

 

For purposes of the foregoing formula:

 

A= the total number of shares with respect to which this Warrant is then being exercised.

 

B= the FMV

 

C= the Exercise Price then in effect for the applicable Warrant Shares at the time of such exercise.

 

(e)         Disputes. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the number of Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company shall promptly issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares that are not disputed and resolve such dispute in accordance with Section 14.Intentionally Left Blank.

 

 2 

 

 

(g)         Insufficient Authorized Shares. The Company shall at all times keep reserved for issuance under this Warrant a number of shares of Common Stock as shall be necessary to satisfy the Company’s obligation to issue Warrant Shares hereunder (without regard to any limitation otherwise contained herein with respect to the number of Warrant Shares that may be acquirable upon exercise of this Warrant). If, notwithstanding the foregoing, and not in limitation thereof, at any time while the Warrant remains outstanding the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock to satisfy its obligation to reserve for issuance upon exercise of the Warrant at least a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of the Warrant then outstanding (the “Required Reserve Amount”) (an “Authorized Share Failure”), then the Company shall immediately take all action necessary to increase the Company’s authorized shares of Common Stock to an amount sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve Amount for the Warrant then outstanding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, as soon as practicable after the date of the occurrence of an Authorized Share Failure, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the occurrence of such Authorized Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its stockholders for the approval of an increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock. In connection with such meeting, the Company shall provide each stockholder with a proxy statement and shall use its best efforts to solicit its stockholders’ approval of such increase in authorized shares of Common Stock and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal. ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF WARRANT SHARES. The Exercise Price and number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in this Section 2.

 

(a)         Stock Dividends and Splits. Without limiting any provision of Section 4, if the Company, at any time on or after the date hereof, (i) pays a stock dividend on one or more classes of its then outstanding shares of Common Stock or otherwise makes a distribution on any class of capital stock that is payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) one or more classes of its then outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares or (iii) combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) one or more classes of its then outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution, and any adjustment pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or combination. If any event requiring an adjustment under this paragraph occurs during the period that an Exercise Price is calculated hereunder, then the calculation of such Exercise Price shall be adjusted appropriately to reflect such event.Intentionally Left Blank.

 

 3 

 

 

(c)        Number of Warrant Shares. Simultaneously with any adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to only paragraph (a) of this Section 2, the number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of this Warrant shall be increased or decreased proportionately, so that after such adjustment the aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder for the adjusted number of Warrant Shares shall be the same as the aggregate Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment (without regard to any limitations on exercise contained herein).Other Events. In the event that the Company (or any subsidiary) shall take any action to which the provisions hereof are not strictly applicable, or, if applicable, would not operate to protect the Holder from dilution or if any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section 2 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features), then the Company’s board of directors shall in good faith determine and implement an appropriate adjustment in the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares (if applicable) so as to protect the rights of the Holder, provided that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(d) will increase the Exercise Price or decrease the number of Warrant Shares as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 2, provided further that if the Holder does not accept such adjustments as appropriately protecting its interests hereunder against such dilution, then the Company’s board of directors and the Holder shall agree, in good faith, upon an independent investment bank of nationally recognized standing to make such appropriate adjustments, whose determination shall be final and binding and whose fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company.Calculations. All calculations under this Section 2 shall be made by rounding to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as applicable. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company, and the disposition of any such shares shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock.RIGHTS UPON DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon a complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution.

 

4.PURCHASE RIGHTS; FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTIONS.

 

(a)         Purchase Rights. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if at any time while the Warrant remains outstanding and before the Expiration Date, the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon a complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.Fundamental Transactions. During the term of this Warrant, the Company shall not enter into or be party to a Fundamental Transaction unless the Successor Entity assumes in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4(b) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder prior to such Fundamental Transaction, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, including agreements to deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant, including, without limitation, which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such adjustments to the number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction). Upon the consummation of each Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein. Upon consummation of each Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall deliver to the Holder confirmation that there shall be issued upon exercise of this Warrant at any time after the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, in lieu of the shares of Common Stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property (except such items still issuable under Sections 3 and 4(a) above, which shall continue to be receivable thereafter)) issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant prior to the applicable Fundamental Transaction, such shares of publicly traded Common Stock (or its equivalent) of the Successor Entity (including its Parent Entity) which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of the applicable Fundamental Transaction had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to the applicable Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant), as adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holder may elect, at its sole option, by delivery of written notice to the Company to waive this Section 4(b) to permit the Fundamental Transaction without the assumption of this Warrant. In addition to and not in substitution for any other rights hereunder, prior to the consummation of each Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive securities or other assets with respect to or in exchange for shares of Common Stock (a “Corporate Event”), the Company shall make appropriate provision to insure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to receive upon an exercise of this Warrant at any time after the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction but prior to the Expiration Date, in lieu of the shares of the Common Stock Shares (or other securities, cash, assets or other property (except such items still issuable under Sections 3 and 4(a) above, which shall continue to be receivable thereafter)) issuable upon the exercise of the Warrant prior to such Fundamental Transaction, such shares of stock, securities, cash, assets or any other property whatsoever (including warrants or other purchase or subscription rights) which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of the applicable Fundamental Transaction had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to the applicable Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant). Provision made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder.Reserved.

 

 4 

 

 

(c)      Application. The provisions of this Section 4 shall apply similarly and equally to successive Fundamental Transactions and Corporate Events and shall be applied as if this Warrant (and any such subsequent warrants) were fully exercisable and without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant.

 

5.             NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, and will at all times in good faith carry out all the provisions of this Warrant and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (a) shall not increase the par value of the Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, (b) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (c) shall, so long as the Warrant is outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of the Warrant, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of the Warrant then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercise).

 

6.             WARRANT HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in its capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which it is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 6, the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders.

 

 5 

 

 

7.             REISSUANCE OF WARRANTS.

 

(a)         Transfer of Warrant. If this Warrant is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the total number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant is being transferred, a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) to the Holder representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares not being transferred.Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Warrant. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant.Exchangeable for Multiple Warrants. This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Warrant or Warrants (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender; provided, however, no warrants for fractional shares of Common Stock shall be given.Issuance of New Warrants. Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Warrant, such new Warrant (i) shall be of like tenor with this Warrant, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant, the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant (or in the case of a new Warrant being issued pursuant to Section 7(a) or Section 7(c), the Warrant Shares designated by the Holder which, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the other new Warrants issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant which is the same as the Issuance Date, and (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Warrant.NOTICES; PAYMENTS.

 

(a)        The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Warrant, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) immediately upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment(s) and (ii) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the shares of Common Stock, (B) with respect to any grants, issuances or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property to holders of shares of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder and (iii) at least ten (10) Trading Days prior to the consummation of any Fundamental Transaction. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the SEC pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. It is expressly understood and agreed that the time of execution specified by the Holder in each Exercise Notice shall be definitive and may not be disputed or challenged by the Company.

 

 6 

 

 

(b)       Payments. Whenever any payment is to be made by the Company to any Person pursuant to this Warrant, such payment shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America via wire transfer of U.S. Dollars in immediately available funds in accordance with the Holder’s wire transfer instructions delivered to the Company on or prior to such payment date or, in the absence of such instructions, by a certified check drawn on the account of the Company and sent via overnight courier service to such Person at such address as previously provided to the Company in writing.

 

9.            AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant may be amended and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holder. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.

 

10.          SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Warrant is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Warrant so long as this Warrant as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

11.          GOVERNING LAW. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to the Holder or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder. If service of process is effected pursuant to the above sentence, such service will be deemed sufficient under New York law and the Company shall not assert otherwise. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS WARRANT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

 7 

 

 

12.           Reserved.

 

13.           CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant. Terms used in this Warrant but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.

 

14.           DISPUTE RESOLUTION. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or FMV or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares (as the case may be), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations (as the case may be) via facsimile (a) within two (2) Business Days after receipt of the applicable notice giving rise to such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) or (b) if no notice gave rise to such dispute, at any time after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute (including, without limitation, as to whether any issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale was an issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Excluded Securities). If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation (as the case may be) of the Exercise Price, or FMV or the number of Warrant Shares (as the case may be) within three (3) Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days submit via facsimile (i) the disputed determination of the Exercise Price or FMV (as the case may be) to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Holder or (ii) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company’s independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant (as the case may be) to perform the determinations or calculations (as the case may be) and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Business Days from the time it receives such disputed determinations or calculations (as the case may be). Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation (as the case may be) shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.

 

15.          REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATION, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, exercises and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Warrant (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 2 hereof). The issuance of shares and certificates for shares as contemplated hereby upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder or such shares for any issuance tax or other costs in respect thereof, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name other than the Holder or its agent on its behalf.

 

 8 

 

 

16.           TRANSFER. This Warrant may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without the consent of the Company.

 

17.           CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Warrant, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)       “Bloomberg” means Bloomberg, L.P.

 

(b)       “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

 

(c)       “Closing Sale Price” means, for any security as of any date, the last closing trade price for such security on the Eligible Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Eligible Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing trade price, then the last trade price of such security prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Eligible Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last trade price of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing does not apply, the last trade price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no last trade price is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the ask prices of any market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink Sheets LLC (formerly the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.). If the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Sale Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures in Section 14. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during such period.

 

 9 

 

 

(d)         “Convertible Securities” means any stock or other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock.

 

(e)         “Eligible Market” means The New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

(f)       “Expiration Date” means the date that is five years from the Issuance Date, or, if such date falls on a day other than a Business Day or on which trading does not take place on the Eligible Market (a “Holiday”), the next date that is not a Holiday.

 

(g)        Fundamental Transaction” means that (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, (A) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the surviving corporation) any other Person, or (B) sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its respective properties or assets to any other Person, or (C) allow any other Person to make a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the Person or Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or (D) consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with any other Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination), or (E) (1) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify the Common Stock, (2) effect or consummate a stock combination, reverse stock split or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock or (3) make any public announcement or disclosure with respect to any stock combination, reverse stock split or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock (including, without limitation, any public announcement or disclosure of (a) any potential, possible or actual stock combination, reverse stock split or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock or (b) board or stockholder approval thereof, or the intention of the Company to seek board or stockholder approval of any stock combination, reverse stock split or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock), or (ii) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Voting Stock of the Company.

 

(h)        “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

 

(i)          “Parent Entity” of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose Common Stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

 

 10 

 

 

(j)          “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

(k)         “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(l)          “Successor Entity” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.

 

(m)        “Trading Day” means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Eligible Market, or, if the Eligible Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock is suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time) unless such day is otherwise designated as a Trading Day in writing by the Holder.

 

(n)         “Voting Stock” of a Person means capital stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power to elect, or the general power to appoint, at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

 

(o)         “FMV” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Eligible Market, the value shall be deemed to be the highest intra-day or closing price on any trading day on such Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)) during the five trading days preceding the exercise, (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not an Eligible Market, the value shall be deemed to be the highest intra-day or closing price on any trading day on the OTCQB or OTCQX on which the Common Stock is then quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)) during the five trading days preceding the exercise, as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the “OTC Markets Group”, the value shall be deemed to be the highest intra-day or closing price on any trading day on the Pink Sheets on which the Common Stock is then quoted as reported by OTC Markets Group (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)) during the five trading days preceding the exercise, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holder and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

 

[signature page follows]

 

 11 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.
   
  By:
  Name: Maximiliano Ojeda
  Title: CEO

 

   

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EXERCISE NOTICE

 

TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase ________________________ Common Stock (“Warrant Shares”) of MGO Global Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), evidenced by Warrant to Purchase Common Stock No. _________ (the “Warrant”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

 

1.          Form of Exercise Price. The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as:

 

      a   “Cash Exercise”  with respect to Warrant Shares; and/or  
         
      a   “Cashless Exercise”  with respect to Warrant Shares.  

 

In the event that the Holder has elected a Cashless Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the Holder hereby represents and warrants that (i) this Exercise Notice was executed by the Holder on the date set forth below and (ii) if applicable, the FMV as of the date prior to the date of the Exercise Notice was $ ___________.]

 

1.        Form of Exercise Price.  The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as a “Cash Exercise”.]

 

2.        Payment of Exercise Price. In the event that the Holder has elected a Cash Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the Holder shall pay the Aggregate Exercise Price in the sum of $ ________________to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

3.        Delivery of Warrant Shares. The Company shall deliver to Holder, or its designee or agent as specified below, ___________ Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant. Delivery shall be made to Holder, or for its benefit, as follows:

 

¨        Check here if requesting delivery as a certificate to the following name and to the following address:

 

Issue to:      
       
       

 

   

 

 

¨        Check here if requesting delivery by Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian as follows:

 

DTC Participant:    
     
DTC Number:    
     
Account Number:    

 

Date:                                                

 

Name of Registered Holder  

 

By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  Tax ID:    
       
  Facsimile:    

 

   

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

The Company hereby acknowledges this Exercise Notice and hereby directs                                to issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Transfer Agent Instructions dated                    , 20     , from the Company and acknowledged and agreed to by                         .

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.  
       
  By:    
  Name:    
  Title:    

 

   

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.4 

 

THESE WARRANTS AND ANY SHARES ACQUIRED UPON THE EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE WARRANTS AND SUCH SHARES AND ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN OR THEREIN MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SUCH ACT AND UNDER ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE WARRANTS AND SUCH SHARES MAY NOT BE EXERCISED OR TRANSFERRED EXCEPT UPON THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE, AND NO EXERCISE OR TRANSFER OF THESE WARRANTS OR TRANSFER OF SUCH SHARES SHALL BE VALID OR EFFECTIVE UNLESS AND UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS SHALL HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH.

 

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

Warrant No.: _____

Date of Issuance: ____________ (“Issuance Date”)

 

MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Boustead Securities LLC, the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns (the “Holder”), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company, at the Exercise Price (as defined below) then in effect, Company common stock, par value $0.00001 (“Common Stock”) (including any Warrants to purchase shares issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, the “Warrant”), at any time or times on or after the date hereof but not after 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Expiration Date (as defined below), __________ (subject to adjustment as provided herein) fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant Shares”).

 

 1 

 

 

1. EXERCISE OF WARRANT.

 

(a)       Mechanics of Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder on any day on or after the date hereof, in whole or in part, by delivery (whether via facsimile, email, or otherwise) of a written notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”), of the Holder’s election to exercise this Warrant, by submitting information including the then-applicable Exercise Price, number of Warrant Shares purchased equal to or lower than the then-applicable number of Warrant Shares and the FMV (collectively, the “Exercise Information”). Within one (1) Trading Day following an exercise of this Warrant as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver payment to the Company of an amount equal to the Exercise Price in effect on the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant was so exercised (the “Aggregate Exercise Price”) in cash or via wire transfer of immediately available funds if, subject to the provisions of Section 1(d), the Holder has not notified the Company in such Exercise Notice that such exercise is made pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in Section 1(d)) at a time and under circumstances which permit a Cashless Exercise. The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original of this Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice for all of the then-remaining Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant after delivery of the Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof. On or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received an Exercise Notice, upon checking that the Exercise Information supplied by the Holder is accurate, the Company shall transmit by facsimile or email an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of such Exercise Notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, to the Holder and the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”). On or before the third (3rd) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received such Exercise Notice and, in the event that the Holder has chosen to exercise in cash, the receipt of the payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, the Company shall instruct the Transfer Agent to issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise and to, at the sole direction of the Holder pursuant to the Exercise Notice, hold such Warrant Shares in electronic form at the Transfer Agent registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee (as indicated in the applicable Exercise Notice), or mail to the Holder or, at the Holder’s instruction pursuant to the Exercise Notice, the Holder’s agent or designee, in each case, sent by reputable overnight courier to the address as specified in the applicable Exercise Notice, a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee (as indicated in the applicable Exercise Notice). Upon delivery of an Exercise Notice and in the event that the Holder has chosen to exercise in cash, the Company’s receipt of the payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares (as the case may be). If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 1(a) and the total number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired by the Holder upon an exercise, then, at the request of the Holder, the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Business Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. No fractional Warrant Shares are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of Warrant Shares to be issued shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. The Company will from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company in respect of the issuance or delivery of Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of this Warrant or such shares. Exercise Price. For purposes of this Warrant, “Exercise Price” means $1.00 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. Company’s Failure to Timely Deliver Securities. If the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, to issue to the Holder within three (3) Trading Days after receipt of the applicable Exercise Notice, a certificate for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled and register such Warrant Shares on the Company’s share register, the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, to issue to the Holder within three (3) Trading Days after receipt of the applicable Exercise Notice, a certificate for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled and register such Warrant Shares on the Company’s share register and if on or after such third (3rd) Trading Day the Holder (or any other Person in respect, or on behalf, of the Holder) purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of all or any portion of the number of Warrant Shares, or a sale of a number of Warrant Shares equal to all or any portion of the number of Warrant Shares, issuable upon such exercise that the Holder so anticipated receiving from the Company, then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, the Company shall, within three (3) Business Days after the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including reasonable brokerage commissions and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the Warrant Shares so purchased (including, without limitation, by any other Person in respect, or on behalf, of the Holder) (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to so issue and deliver such certificate or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise hereunder (as the case may be) (and to issue such Warrant Shares) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to so issue and deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such Warrant Shares or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise hereunder (as the case may be) and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of Warrant Shares multiplied by (B) the lowest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date of the applicable Exercise Notice and ending on the date of such issuance and payment under this clause (ii).Cashless Exercise. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Holder may, in its sole discretion, exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon such exercise in payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the “Net Number” of Warrant Shares determined according to the following formula (a “Cashless Exercise”), provided that the Holder may elect to cashless exercise pursuant to this Section 1(d) only if B as set forth in the following formula is higher than C as set forth in the following formula:     Net Number = (A x B) - (A x C)

 

B

 

For purposes of the foregoing formula:

 

A= the total number of shares with respect to which this Warrant is then being exercised.

 

B= the FMV

 

C= the Exercise Price then in effect for the applicable Warrant Shares at the time of such exercise.

 

(e)       Disputes. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the number of Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company shall promptly issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares that are not disputed and resolve such dispute in accordance with Section 14. Intentionally Left Blank.

 

 2 

 

 

(g)       Insufficient Authorized Shares. The Company shall at all times keep reserved for issuance under this Warrant a number of shares of Common Stock as shall be necessary to satisfy the Company’s obligation to issue Warrant Shares hereunder (without regard to any limitation otherwise contained herein with respect to the number of Warrant Shares that may be acquirable upon exercise of this Warrant). If, notwithstanding the foregoing, and not in limitation thereof, at any time while the Warrant remains outstanding the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock to satisfy its obligation to reserve for issuance upon exercise of the Warrant at least a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of the Warrant then outstanding (the “Required Reserve Amount”) (an “Authorized Share Failure”), then the Company shall immediately take all action necessary to increase the Company’s authorized shares of Common Stock to an amount sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve Amount for the Warrant then outstanding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, as soon as practicable after the date of the occurrence of an Authorized Share Failure, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the occurrence of such Authorized Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its stockholders for the approval of an increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock. In connection with such meeting, the Company shall provide each stockholder with a proxy statement and shall use its best efforts to solicit its stockholders’ approval of such increase in authorized shares of Common Stock and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal. ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF WARRANT SHARES. The Exercise Price and number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in this Section 2.

 

(a)       Stock Dividends and Splits. Without limiting any provision of Section 4, if the Company, at any time on or after the date hereof, (i) pays a stock dividend on one or more classes of its then outstanding shares of Common Stock or otherwise makes a distribution on any class of capital stock that is payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) one or more classes of its then outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares or (iii) combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) one or more classes of its then outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution, and any adjustment pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or combination. If any event requiring an adjustment under this paragraph occurs during the period that an Exercise Price is calculated hereunder, then the calculation of such Exercise Price shall be adjusted appropriately to reflect such event. Intentionally Left Blank.

 

 3 

 

 

(c)       Number of Warrant Shares. Simultaneously with any adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to only paragraph (a) of this Section 2, the number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of this Warrant shall be increased or decreased proportionately, so that after such adjustment the aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder for the adjusted number of Warrant Shares shall be the same as the aggregate Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment (without regard to any limitations on exercise contained herein). Other Events. In the event that the Company (or any subsidiary) shall take any action to which the provisions hereof are not strictly applicable, or, if applicable, would not operate to protect the Holder from dilution or if any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section 2 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features), then the Company’s board of directors shall in good faith determine and implement an appropriate adjustment in the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares (if applicable) so as to protect the rights of the Holder, provided that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(d) will increase the Exercise Price or decrease the number of Warrant Shares as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 2, provided further that if the Holder does not accept such adjustments as appropriately protecting its interests hereunder against such dilution, then the Company’s board of directors and the Holder shall agree, in good faith, upon an independent investment bank of nationally recognized standing to make such appropriate adjustments, whose determination shall be final and binding and whose fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company. Calculations. All calculations under this Section 2 shall be made by rounding to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as applicable. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company, and the disposition of any such shares shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock. RIGHTS UPON DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon a complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution.

 

 4 

 

 

  4. PURCHASE RIGHTS; FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTIONS.

 

(a)       Purchase Rights. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if at any time while the Warrant remains outstanding and before the Expiration Date, the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon a complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights. Fundamental Transactions. During the term of this Warrant, the Company shall not enter into or be party to a Fundamental Transaction unless the Successor Entity assumes in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4(b) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder prior to such Fundamental Transaction, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, including agreements to deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant, including, without limitation, which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such adjustments to the number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction). Upon the consummation of each Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein. Upon consummation of each Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall deliver to the Holder confirmation that there shall be issued upon exercise of this Warrant at any time after the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, in lieu of the shares of Common Stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property (except such items still issuable under Sections 3 and 4(a) above, which shall continue to be receivable thereafter)) issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant prior to the applicable Fundamental Transaction, such shares of publicly traded Common Stock (or its equivalent) of the Successor Entity (including its Parent Entity) which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of the applicable Fundamental Transaction had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to the applicable Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant), as adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holder may elect, at its sole option, by delivery of written notice to the Company to waive this Section 4(b) to permit the Fundamental Transaction without the assumption of this Warrant. In addition to and not in substitution for any other rights hereunder, prior to the consummation of each Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive securities or other assets with respect to or in exchange for shares of Common Stock (a “Corporate Event”), the Company shall make appropriate provision to insure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to receive upon an exercise of this Warrant at any time after the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction but prior to the Expiration Date, in lieu of the shares of the Common Stock Shares (or other securities, cash, assets or other property (except such items still issuable under Sections 3 and 4(a) above, which shall continue to be receivable thereafter)) issuable upon the exercise of the Warrant prior to such Fundamental Transaction, such shares of stock, securities, cash, assets or any other property whatsoever (including warrants or other purchase or subscription rights) which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of the applicable Fundamental Transaction had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to the applicable Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant). Provision made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder. Reserved.

 

 5 

 

 

(c)      Application. The provisions of this Section 4 shall apply similarly and equally to successive Fundamental Transactions and Corporate Events and shall be applied as if this Warrant (and any such subsequent warrants) were fully exercisable and without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant.

 

5.       NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, and will at all times in good faith carry out all the provisions of this Warrant and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (a) shall not increase the par value of the Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, (b) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (c) shall, so long as the Warrant is outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of the Warrant, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of the Warrant then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercise).

 

6.       WARRANT HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in its capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which it is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 6, the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders.

 

 6 

 

 

  7. REISSUANCE OF WARRANTS.

 

(a)       Transfer of Warrant. If this Warrant is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the total number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant is being transferred, a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) to the Holder representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares not being transferred. Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Warrant. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant. Exchangeable for Multiple Warrants. This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Warrant or Warrants (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender; provided, however, no warrants for fractional shares of Common Stock shall be given. Issuance of New Warrants. Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Warrant, such new Warrant (i) shall be of like tenor with this Warrant, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant, the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant (or in the case of a new Warrant being issued pursuant to Section 7(a) or Section 7(c), the Warrant Shares designated by the Holder which, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the other new Warrants issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant which is the same as the Issuance Date, and (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Warrant. NOTICES; PAYMENTS.

 

(a)       The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Warrant, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) immediately upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment(s) and (ii) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the shares of Common Stock, (B) with respect to any grants, issuances or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property to holders of shares of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder and (iii) at least ten (10) Trading Days prior to the consummation of any Fundamental Transaction. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the SEC pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. It is expressly understood and agreed that the time of execution specified by the Holder in each Exercise Notice shall be definitive and may not be disputed or challenged by the Company.

 

 7 

 

 

(b)       Payments. Whenever any payment is to be made by the Company to any Person pursuant to this Warrant, such payment shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America via wire transfer of U.S. Dollars in immediately available funds in accordance with the Holder’s wire transfer instructions delivered to the Company on or prior to such payment date or, in the absence of such instructions, by a certified check drawn on the account of the Company and sent via overnight courier service to such Person at such address as previously provided to the Company in writing.

 

9.       AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant may be amended and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holder. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.

 

10.       SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Warrant is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Warrant so long as this Warrant as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

11.       GOVERNING LAW. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to the Holder or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder. If service of process is effected pursuant to the above sentence, such service will be deemed sufficient under New York law and the Company shall not assert otherwise. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS WARRANT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

 8 

 

 

12. Reserved.

 

13.       CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant. Terms used in this Warrant but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.

 

14.       DISPUTE RESOLUTION. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or FMV or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares (as the case may be), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations (as the case may be) via facsimile (a) within two (2) Business Days after receipt of the applicable notice giving rise to such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) or (b) if no notice gave rise to such dispute, at any time after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute (including, without limitation, as to whether any issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale was an issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Excluded Securities). If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation (as the case may be) of the Exercise Price, or FMV or the number of Warrant Shares (as the case may be) within three (3) Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days submit via facsimile (i) the disputed determination of the Exercise Price or FMV (as the case may be) to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Holder or (ii) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company’s independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant (as the case may be) to perform the determinations or calculations (as the case may be) and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Business Days from the time it receives such disputed determinations or calculations (as the case may be). Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation (as the case may be) shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.

 

 9 

 

 

15.       REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATION, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, exercises and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Warrant (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 2 hereof). The issuance of shares and certificates for shares as contemplated hereby upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder or such shares for any issuance tax or other costs in respect thereof, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name other than the Holder or its agent on its behalf.

 

16.       TRANSFER. This Warrant may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without the consent of the Company.

 

17.       CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Warrant, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)      “Bloomberg” means Bloomberg, L.P.

 

(b)       “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

 

(c)       “Closing Sale Price” means, for any security as of any date, the last closing trade price for such security on the Eligible Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Eligible Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing trade price, then the last trade price of such security prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Eligible Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last trade price of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing does not apply, the last trade price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no last trade price is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the ask prices of any market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink Sheets LLC (formerly the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.). If the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Sale Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures in Section 14. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during such period.

 

 10 

 

 

(d)       “Convertible Securities” means any stock or other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock.

 

(e)       “Eligible Market” means The New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

(f)       “Expiration Date” means the date that is five years from the Issuance Date, or, if such date falls on a day other than a Business Day or on which trading does not take place on the Eligible Market (a “Holiday”), the next date that is not a Holiday.

 

(g)       Fundamental Transaction” means that (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, (A) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the surviving corporation) any other Person, or (B) sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its respective properties or assets to any other Person, or (C) allow any other Person to make a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the Person or Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or (D) consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with any other Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination), or (E) (1) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify the Common Stock, (2) effect or consummate a stock combination, reverse stock split or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock or (3) make any public announcement or disclosure with respect to any stock combination, reverse stock split or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock (including, without limitation, any public announcement or disclosure of (a) any potential, possible or actual stock combination, reverse stock split or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock or (b) board or stockholder approval thereof, or the intention of the Company to seek board or stockholder approval of any stock combination, reverse stock split or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock), or (ii) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Voting Stock of the Company.

 

(h)       “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

 

(i)       “Parent Entity” of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose Common Stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

 

 11 

 

 

(j)       “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

(k)      “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

  

(l)       “Successor Entity” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.

 

(m)       “Trading Day” means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Eligible Market, or, if the Eligible Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock is suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time) unless such day is otherwise designated as a Trading Day in writing by the Holder.

 

(n)       “Voting Stock” of a Person means capital stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power to elect, or the general power to appoint, at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

 

(o)        “FMV” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Eligible Market, the value shall be deemed to be the highest intra-day or closing price on any trading day on such Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)) during the five trading days preceding the exercise, (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not an Eligible Market, the value shall be deemed to be the highest intra-day or closing price on any trading day on the OTCQB or OTCQX on which the Common Stock is then quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)) during the five trading days preceding the exercise, as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the “OTC Markets Group”, the value shall be deemed to be the highest intra-day or closing price on any trading day on the Pink Sheets on which the Common Stock is then quoted as reported by OTC Markets Group (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)) during the five trading days preceding the exercise, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holder and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

 

[signature page follows]

 

 12 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.
     
  By:
  Name: Maximiliano Ojeda
  Title: CEO

  

 13 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EXERCISE NOTICE

 

TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS
WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase                                            Common Stock (“Warrant Shares”) of MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), evidenced by Warrant to Purchase Common Stock No.                     (the “Warrant”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

 

1.       Form of Exercise Price. The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as:

 

      a “Cash Exercise” with respect to  
      Warrant Shares; and/or  
         
      a “Cashless Exercise” with respect to
Warrant Shares.
 

 

 

In the event that the Holder has elected a Cashless Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the Holder hereby represents and warrants that (i) this Exercise Notice was executed by the Holder on the date set forth below and (ii) if applicable, the FMV as of the date prior to the date of the Exercise Notice was $                   .]

 

1.       Form of Exercise Price. The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as a “Cash Exercise”.]

 

2.       Payment of Exercise Price. In the event that the Holder has elected a Cash Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the Holder shall pay the Aggregate Exercise Price in the sum of $                                   to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

3.       Delivery of Warrant Shares. The Company shall deliver to Holder, or its designee or agent as specified below,                             Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant. Delivery shall be made to Holder, or for its benefit, as follows:

 

¨       Check here if requesting delivery as a certificate to the following name and to the following address:

 

  Issue to:  
     
     

 

   

 

 

¨      Check here if requesting delivery by Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian as follows:

 

  DTC Participant:  
     
  DTC Number:  
     
  Account Number:  

 

Date:                    ,         

 

   
Name of Registered Holder  

 

By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  Tax ID:                                               
  Facsimile:                                          

  

   

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

 

The Company hereby acknowledges this Exercise Notice and hereby directs                                    to issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Transfer Agent Instructions dated                   , 20      , from the Company and acknowledged and agreed to by                              .

  

  MGO GLOBAL INC.
   
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

   

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

November 18, 2022

 

MGO Global Inc.

1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33346

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-_____)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-_____), originally filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on ______, 2022 (the “Registration Statement”), pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for the registration of 1,845,750 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Common Stock”), which includes (i) up to 1,725,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.00001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), including up to 225,000 shares of Common Stock in the event that Boustead Securities, LLC, acting as representative of the underwriters and the sole book-running manager (the “Representative”) exercises its over-allotment option in full; (ii) warrants (the “Representative Warrants”) to purchase up to 120,750 shares (the “Representative Warrant Shares”) of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Representative Warrants, to be issued to the Representative as compensation for its services pursuant to the underwriting agreement to be entered into by and between the Company and the Representative (the “Underwriting Agreement”), and (iv) the Representative Warrant Shares. The Registration Statement also relates to the registration of the proposed offer and sale of 2,578,225 shares (the Selling Stockholders Shares) of Common Stock by the selling stockholders identified in the Registration Statement (the Selling Stockholders). The Selling Stockholders Shares include a) 700,000 shares of Common Stock underlying warrants issued to seven of Selling Stockholders and b) 78,225 shares of Common Stock underlying warrants issued to Boustead Securities, LLC as a placement agent. The Shares, the Representative Warrants, the Representative Warrant Shares and the Selling Stockholders Shares are collectively referred to as the “Securities.”

 

The Securities are to be sold by the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, or a committee thereof. This opinion is being furnished to you in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and may be relied upon by all purchasers of the Securities in the offering described in the Prospectus (as defined below).

 

You have requested our opinion as to the matters set forth below in connection with the Registration Statement. For purposes of rendering that opinion, we have examined: (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the most recent prospectus included in the Registration Statement on file with the Commission as of the date of this opinion letter; (iii) the form of Underwriting Agreement; (iv) the Company’s current Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the “Charter”) and Bylaws, each of which has been filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; and (v) the records of the corporate actions of the Company relating to the Registration Statement and the authorization for issuance and sale of the Securities, and matters in connection therewith. We have reviewed such other matters and made such other inquiries as we have deemed necessary to render the opinions expressed herein. For the purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed that each document submitted to us is accurate and complete, that each such document that is an original is authentic, that each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, the conformity to the original or final versions of the documents submitted to us as copies or drafts, including, without limitation, the Charter and that all signatures on each such document are genuine.

 

  

 

 

In rendering our opinion below, we have also assumed that: the Company will receive consideration for the Securities offered and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement at least equal to the par value of such share of Common Stock and in the amount required by the Underwriting Agreement. We have not verified any of those assumptions.

 

Our opinion set forth below is limited to Delaware General Corporations Law.

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, provided that the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement that is declared effective by the Commission (the “Prospectus”), required by applicable law have been delivered and filed as required by such laws, it is our opinion that:

  

The Securities are duly authorized for issuance by the Company and, when issued and paid for as described in the Prospectus and the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The opinion set forth above is subject to the following additional assumptions:

  

(i) All Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement will be issued and sold (a) in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations and solely in the manner provided in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and (b) only upon payment of the consideration fixed therefor in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement; and

 

(ii) To the extent that the obligations of the Company under any agreement pursuant to which any Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement are to be issued or governed, including any amendment or supplement thereto, may be dependent upon such matters, we assume for purposes of this opinion letter that (a) each party to any such agreement other than the Company will be duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; that each such other party will be duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated thereby; (b) each such agreement and the applicable Shares will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each such other party and will constitute the valid and binding obligations of each such other party, enforceable against each such other party in accordance with their terms; (c) each such other party will be in compliance, with respect to acting in any capacity contemplated by any such agreement, with all applicable laws and regulations; and (d) each such other party will have the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under each such agreement.

 

(iii) The Selling Stockholders Shares offered by the Selling Stockholders have been duly authorized for issuance, duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

We assume no obligation to update or supplement any of our opinions to reflect any changes of law or fact that may occur. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm in the related Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving our consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. 

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP
   
  Carmel, Milazzo & Feil LLP

  

  

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Certain identified information has been excluded from this Exhibit 10.1 because it is both not material and is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential.

 

Trademark License Agreement

 

Barcelona, November 20th 2021

 

I. Parties

 

Party of the first part,

LEO MESSI MANAGEMENT SL, a Company established and existing under the laws of Spain, with registered office at Avenida Diagonal, 682, 9o 1a, 08034, Barcelona, CIF B65073694 and duly registered before the Commercial Registry of Barcelona, herein represented by Mr. [__], in his capacity as Sole Manager of LEO MESSI MANAGEMENT SL (hereinafter referred to as “LMM”).

 

Party of the second part,

MGOTEAM 1 LLC, a Delaware limited liability Company, with registered office at 30 Wall Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10005, herein represented by Mr. Maximiliano Ojeda, acting in his capacity as Manager of such company (hereinafter referred to as “MGO”).

 

The companies MGO and LMM shall be hereinafter jointly referred to as the “Parties”, and individually referred to as the “Party”.

 

II.  Whereas

 

1.  LMM is the exclusive holder worldwide of all commercial and advertising rights to the image, voice, name and signature (hereinafter the “Image Rights”) of the professional soccer player Lionel Andres Messi [__] (hereinafter the “Player”) to the extent necessary to negotiate, manage and perform agreements related to the assignment of the Image Rights and the provision of advertising and promotional services on the part of the Player. The trademarks and trademark applications held by LMM to be applied to this license are those listed in Schedule 1 which constitutes an integral part hereof (hereinafter referred to as the “Trademarks”).

 

2.  On October 18th, 2018, the Parties entered into a trademark license agreement pursuant to which a line of apparel products, inspired by the Player and the Trademarks, was developed.

 

3.  Such agreement, in accordance with the document dated on 15th November, was terminated by mutual agreement of the Parties since the conditions of the agreement did not reflect the circumstances of the business and, consequently, many of its terms and conditions, especially the payment obligations binding MGO, became impossible for the latter to comply with.

 

4.  Owing to the previous statement, it is the Parties intention to subscribe a new agreement which may reflect accurately the reality of the commercial operation of this license, establishing obligations, especially payment obligations, that are in line with the aforementioned circumstances and which shall permit MGO to fully comply with them.

 

   

 

 

Therefore, in consideration of the mutual agreements and the terms and conditions established in this Trademark License Agreement (hereinafter the “Agreement” or “Contract”), the Parties hereby agree on the following, to wit:

 

III.  Terms

 

1.  Purpose

 

1.1  In accordance with this Agreement, LMM hereby grants to MGO a worldwide non-exclusive license, in order to use the Trademarks with the purpose of developing, manufacturing, trading and promoting the Products, strictly subject to the scope, terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

1.2  The territory applicable to the extent of this Agreement shall be the whole world (hereinafter the “Territory”).

 

1.3  This Agreement is granted non-exclusively in the Territory. To this extent, throughout the term of duration hereof, LMM shall be entitled to authorize, with no limits whatsoever, any brand cooperation or other commercial actions between LMM and the Player, using the Trademarks with other brands of clothing, textiles or Trademarks that trade any of the Products included in Schedule 2 of this Agreement. Likewise, LMM shall be entitled to authorize, with no limits whatsoever, the manufacturing and trade of brands of clothing, textiles or Trademarks that trade any of the Products included in Schedule 2 of this Agreement on the part of any third parties, by means of the “cobranded” system, together with Messi's trademark.

Notwithstanding the above, LMM shall not be entitled to sub-license to any third parties any licenses subject matter of this Agreement, without MGO's prior written consent.

It is hereby expressly stated that MGO and/or the sub-licensees approved by both Parties shall be the only ones authorized to manufacture and market Messi's line of products subject matter hereof, likewise, only MGO shall be authorized to manage The Messi Store.

 

1.4  LMM hereby agrees that MGO shall be entitled to sublicense the rights obtained by means of this Agreement to any appointed third parties or partners involved in the manufacturing, promotion, sale, distribution or marketing of the Products. The terms and conditions of such sublicenses shall always be agreed upon with LMM and shall always be subscribed by both MGO and LMM as a requirement for the effectiveness of such sublicenses. To this extent, it is hereby expressly made known, that LMM shall be entitled to refuse, with no need to allege any cause whatsoever, any sublicense proposal submitted by MGO, without MGO being entitled in any case to allege breach of contract or claim any damages as a consequence of such refusal.

Any sublicense entered into by any of the Parties individually, without the intervention of the other Party, shall have no legal effect whatsoever, and may be challenged by the Party that has not taken part in such execution.

 

1.5  LMM accepts that MGO may submit proposals for collaborations with third party brands, and the conditions of such collaborations shall always be agreed upon with LMM. The agreements arising from such collaborations shall always be executed by both MGO and LMM as a requirement for effectiveness.

To this extent, it is hereby expressly made known, that LMM shall be entitled to refuse, with no need to allege any cause whatsoever, any collaborations with third party brands submitted by MGO, without MGO being entitled in any case to allege breach of contract or claim any damages as a consequence of such refusal.

 

   

 

 

Any collaboration agreement entered into by MGO individually, without the intervention of LMM, shall have no legal effect whatsoever, and may be challenged by LMM.

 

1.6  Any and all subcontractors or sub-licensees shall acknowledge, be bound, and accept their full liability in connection with the proper use of the Trademarks. Since MGO shall manage and administer the sublicenses to be executed, MGO shall be jointly and severally liable together with the subcontractors or sub-licensees for the wrongful use of the Trademarks, or the violations to the provisions set forth herein made by these third parties. Therefore, MGO and its subcontractors or sub-licensees shall be jointly and severally liable before LMM for the use of the Trademarks, and shall indemnify and hold LMM and the Player harmless from any and all liabilities, damages, costs and expenses arising from their breach of duty. All agreements entered into with any subcontractors and/ or sub-licensees, shall remain in full force in connection with LMM in the event this Agreement expires or is terminated on any grounds whatsoever.

 

1.7  MGO acknowledges and agrees that LMM has entered into prior agreements with third parties that license the image Rights and Trademarks in order to promote certain textile products, accessories and other sports-related products, both on an exclusive and non-exclusive basis, all of which are listed in both Schedules 2 and 3; the following are among those entered into this date: Adidas, Hard Rock Cafe, SikSilk and SVG.

Likewise, LMM is developing a live entertainment show project to be produced by Cirque Du Soleil, regarding the life of the Player (hereinafter the “CDS Messi Show”). In such project, Messi shall market merchandise in the categories of products similar to the Products, as long as such products do not include the Trademarks. Therefore, MGO hereby acknowledges and accepts that the rights granted under this Agreement are limited in connection with such products and merchandising regarding the CDS Messi Show or any other similar project or entertainment show. Likewise, MGO accepts that LMM and the Player are fully authorized to renew these previous agreements and extend them in any manner whatsoever, without MGO's consent.

 

1.8   Moreover, MGO hereby represents and agrees to abide by and be bound by the restrictions, limitations and duties undertaken or to be undertaken by LMM and/ or by the Player with his team, his National Team, and their related present and future sponsors, which can and may develop, market and/or promote products which might be considered direct or indirect competitors of the Products that are the subject matter of this Agreement, or of MGO's.

 

2.  Conditions to develop and manufacture the Products.

 

2.1  Pursuant to this Agreement and according to the terms and conditions set forth herein, LMM hereby licenses and authorizes MGO, on a non-exclusive basis, to develop, manufacture, sell and market the Products in accordance with the designs, features, functions, materials, manufacturing, processes and technical specifications that shall be designed and performed by MGO, and that shall be included, once approved by LMM in accordance with the terms indicated in this section 2, as part of Schedule 4 of this Agreement (hereinafter the “Products Design”). The Products Design shall observe and preserve the good name and image, standing and reputation of the Player and of LMM, and it shall follow, in every case, the rules established in the Trademark Manual attached hereto as Schedule 6.

 

2.2  MGO shall submit to LMM the Design of each Product it wishes to develop. The draft of the final product should be sent to the following e-mail addresses, indicated by LMM case by case, for approval, and shall only be considered authorized when such approval is expressly made and sent from any of the e-mails indicated herein. The term for LMM to issue its opinion shall be fifteen (15) working days following reception of the e-mail requesting the approval of a certain Product. It is hereby established that the lack of response to a request for approval after the expiration of the term herein agreed shall imply a rejection of the requested approval. LMM shall use its reasonable discretion in approving the Product Design. The materials and manufacturing processes detailed in the Product Design submitted by MGO, which are used to manufacture the Products, as well as their place of origin, shall comply with the highest quality standards of the industry, and, among others, MGO hereby undertakes that the origin and characteristics of such materials and manufacturing processes shall not affect, directly or indirectly, the good name and image, standing and reputation of the Player, and of LMM. To this purpose, MGO hereby undertakes to send material samples of each new product to the address provided by LMM, in order to verify that the aforementioned quality standards are met. Should any objection arise on the part of LMM, the provisions of section 2.8 herein shall prevail.

 

   

 

 

If a design proposed by MGO is not approved, no Product bearing the rejected design shall be offered for sale, and selling such Products shall be considered a material breach of this Agreement which shall entitle LMM to early termination as provided in 8.1 (c).

 

2.3  LMM may provide any ideas, suggestions or modification proposals with respect to the Design of the Products as it may deem reasonable and appropriate in order to maintain the good name and image, standing and reputation of the Player, and of LMM. MGO shall make its best efforts to take into account the ideas, suggestions or proposals made by LMM, and therefore implement them in the design of the Products.

 

2.4  Once a Product is expressly approved by LMM via e-mail, the design of such Product shall be included in Schedule 4 of this Agreement, and MGO shall be entitled to start manufacturing such Products. After listing a Product in Schedule 4 of this Agreement, MGO shall not make any modifications or changes to the design of the Products without obtaining again LMM's prior written approval. LMM, in turn, may not make any subsequent changes to the Products once the Products have been approved.

 

2.5  MGO shall manufacture the Products in strict compliance with the design of the Products as approved by LMM. Any modification in the manufacture of the Product shall give LMM the right to contest the sale of such Products, and this circumstance shall not give rise to any claim by MGO, as set forth in 2.2 in fine.

 

2.6  In addition to the Product approvals, under the same terms and conditions described in the previous sections, MGO shall submit to LMM's approval all packaging, labeling and advertising formats of the Products. Likewise, it is of vital importance for LMM that all marketing, advertising or other campaigns aimed at promoting the Products should be previously approved by LMM, consequently, all the provisions of this section 2 shall also apply in this case.

 

Quality Control

 

2.7  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.2, LMM shall have the power to exercise the most extensive quality control over both the Products and the use of the Trademarks made by MGO and its subcontractors and licensees. Consequently, MGO hereby undertakes to authorize LMM's agents to inspect MGO's facilities, and MGO shall make all reasonable efforts to obtain access for LMM's agents to inspect the facilities of third party manufacturers with whom MGO may have engaged pursuant to this Agreement, by means of a previous reasonable written notice, and during regular working hours.

 

   

 

 

2.8  In the event that LMM may have any objection to any sample provided by MGO in accordance with paragraph 2.6 above, LMM shall give written notice to MGO providing specific details of such objection, in order to expedite its solution on the part of MGO. Should MGO not receive any written notice of any objection whatsoever, within fifteen (15) business days after inspection or reception of the sample by LMM, as applicable, LMM shall be deemed to have approved the Products and other inspected items. In the event that MGO fails to resolve LMM's objections or ignores them, the Product in dispute may not be released for sale, and, if released for sale, this action shall be considered a material breach of this Agreement which shall give rise to early termination pursuant to the provisions in 8.1 (c).

 

3.  Conditions for the operation and advertising of the Products.

 

3.1  MGO shall be authorized to use, advertise and market the Products, with the purpose of maximizing its distribution and correct implementation in the Territory, observing simultaneously the good name and image, standing and reputation of the Player and of LMM.

 

3.2  MGO shall strictly follow the conditions set forth in this Section 3 in connection with the activities related to the advertising of the Products. Particularly, MGO may broadcast and run various commercial or promotional advertisements through television, press, specialized publications, product catalogs, billboards or advertising media, and on MGO's websites and social media accounts, as well as on the websites of third parties authorized by LMM in accordance with this Section 3. All commercials, advertisements or broadcasting activities to be made by MGO shall have LMM's previous written approval, in accordance to the terms and conditions of subsection 2 above.

When promoting the Products, MGO shall strictly follow the Communication and Marketing Plan set forth in Schedule 5 of this Agreement, in particular, the Parties agree that regardless the ownership of the accounts or social networks used by MGO, all content related to this Agreement that is published through them must always be previously approved in writing by LMM under the terms of section 2 above.

 

3.3  Subject to the Player's previous engagements and/ or LMM's previous engagements with its sponsors and licensees, LMM shall make sure that the Player: (a) shall make his best efforts to advertise the sale of the Products; and (b) shall comply with all the promotional duties set forth in Schedule 7 hereof.

 

3.4  MGO has developed an e-commerce store called The Messi Store (www.themessistore.com), which also owns the related application. Such store has the sole purpose of promoting and selling the Products subject matter of this Agreement. All matters related to the content, sales mechanics and advertising of the store shall always be approved by LMM in accordance to the terms of section 2 above.

 

Since The Messi Store is an official channel of the Player, it is strictly forbidden to MGO to make on the website, in the application and/or in any other format connected to The Messi Store any posts referring to the Player's professional activities, including opinion pieces, press articles, live tracking of the Player's games or any other reference to the Player's personal or sporting life. The Messi Store is solely authorized to post articles and actions connected with the sale of the Products subject matter hereof.

 

   

 

 

As a consequence of the aforementioned, and the commitments undertaken herein, MGO hereby undertakes to remove the “Blog” section and all its contents from The Messi Store, within 30 days of the execution hereof.

 

Any posts, articles, editorials or information presented by The Messi Store, in violation of this provision, shall give rise to the immediate termination hereof, due to MGO's exclusive fault, with no need for any prior notice whatsoever.

 

Upon termination of this Agreement, MGO shall transfer to LMM the domains and control of both the website and the application, being the database and all other assets resulting from the execution of this website and its application the property of LMM.

 

3.5  Throughout the term of this Agreement, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith the conditions under which: (I) the Products should be advertised at www.messi.com, (ii) The Products may be sold in future Messi retail stores and online (which shall be previously approved by LMM); (iii) The Products may be sold at on-line stores belonging to the Player' sponsors or other on-line stores. Should the Parties not reach a final agreement on the aforementioned matters, this shall not constitute a breach of the Agreement nor shall it give rise to any liability whatsoever on the part of the Parties.

 

3.6  LMM shall introduce to MGO to the managers of the CDS Messi Show, so that they may jointly discuss which Products may be sold at the CDS Messi Show. Should MGO not reach a final agreement with CDS Messi Show, such circumstance shall not be deemed as a breach or termination hereof.

 

3.7  LMM shall be given notice of any changes to the conditions under which the advertising of the Products shall be carried out. Moreover, LMM shall approve in writing such modifications, in accordance with the terms and conditions of section 2 above.

 

3.8  In any event, the conditions under which the advertising of the Products shall be carried out, and especially the places and media where such promotion is made, shall observe the Communications and Marketing Plan established in Schedule 5, and preserve the good name and image, standing and reputation of the Player and of LMM

 

3.9  The advertising of the Products, and the distribution of the Images under the terms set forth in this Section 3, may be carried out by MGO worldwide, subject to the limitations agreed upon herein.

 

4.  Use of LMM's trademarks.

 

4.1  Throughout the term of this Agreement, LMM authorizes MGO to use the Trademarks in order to identify the Products and their packaging, under the terms and conditions set forth in this section 4. The right to use the Trademarks shall include their use for the advertising and sale of the Products, subject to the terms of this Agreement.

 

4.2  MGO shall be entitled to use the Trademarks only in the manner in which they are registered, observing their composition, colors and proportions, and only for the uses related to the Products, which are specified herein. Under no circumstances MGO shall be entitled to use the Trademarks by introducing any kind of alterations or changes (whether in their composition, colors or proportions), neither shall MGO be entitled to delete or add any element whatsoever to the

 

   

 

 

Trademarks. Moreover, MGO shall not carry out, directly or indirectly, any action, or fail to carry out any action, neither shall it make or allow to be made any use of the Trademarks which may discredit LMM, the Player, or any of their products or services, or which may impair the value of the Trademarks in any manner whatsoever. To this extent, it is also understood that MGO shall display the Trademarks in all packaging, advertising and marketing materials, in accordance to the provisions of Schedule 5.

 

4.3  As provided hereinbefore, LMM shall approve the designs and/ or prototypes of the Products, and, in general, it shall approve any other strategic and relevant decision related to the Products, their packaging and advertising material. For this purpose, before marketing any Product or packaging material (whether in the Products themselves, or in their packaging or in any other material), MGO shall submit a sample of such materials to LMM for approval. MGO shall not use any material which may include the Trademarks without the prior express written approval of LMM, which shall be entitled to propose any suggestions, ideas or amendments to MGO regarding the use of the Trademarks, and which suggestions shall be implemented by MGO.

 

4.4  LMM, at its own expense, shall maintain in full force all registrations of the Trademarks and shall process all Trademarks applications pending registration in the Territory. The Parties hereby agree that failure to register a certain trademark application in a country or certain trademark classes shall not be deemed as a breach or the Agreement on the part of LMM. In the event the Parties decide to use any trademarks, slogans, logos or isotypes different to those of the Trademarks, in order to identify the Products, LMM shall be the only party entitled to register such new trademarks before the Intellectual Property or Trademark Registry, as it may deem appropriate. MGO shall have no ownership or any other rights whatsoever on these new trademarks or logos to be registered by LLM.

 

4.5  MGO hereby acknowledges that the Trademarks subject matter of this Agreement have not been registered (and therefore they might not be protected) in all the countries or territories where the Products shall be marketed, consequently, MGO hereby exempts LMM and/ or the Player of such circumstance. Specifically, MGO acknowledges that the Trademarks have been registered only in the territories indicated in Schedule 1, and have been requested in the territories that are also shown in Schedule 1. Notwithstanding the above, LMM shall make its best efforts to register the Trademarks in the various jurisdictions to be agreed upon by the Parties.

 

5.  Consideration

 

5.1  As a consideration for the granting of this license and the use and commercial development of the Trademarks, MGO shall pay to LMM a royalty, net of taxes, of twelve percent (12%) of the Net Sales amount made directly by MGO, or indirectly through its sub-licensees or other systems. For the purposes hereof, the Parties agree that Net Sales shall mean the gross revenues from all sales of Products made by both MGO and third party licensees, deducting therefrom (I) indirect taxes (such as VAT); (ii) refunds credited to customers; and (iii) customary cash, trade and sales discounts and rebates actually taken (hereinafter “Net Sales”). No royalties shall be paid on the sales of The Messi Store online, and on the co-branded products, unless such sales are managed directly by MGO; in this specific event, the Parties shall negotiate case by case which should be the appropriate Royalty to be paid to LMM, providing that such Royalty shall never be lower than 12%. Royalties shall be settled to LMM on a quarterly basis.

 

Annual Guaranteed Royalty/ Minimum Guaranteed Amount

 

   

 

 

4.5  MGO hereby undertakes to pay to LMM a Minimum Guaranteed Amount on account of the royalties set forth herein, amounting to FOUR MILLION EUROS (4.000.000 - €), net of taxes, for the entire term of this Agreement.

Likewise, as shown in the payment schedule described below, each annual payment of the Minimum Guaranteed

Amount shall constitute the Annual Guaranteed Royalty.

 

The Minimum Guaranteed Amount undertaken herein, shall be paid by MGO in accordance with the following payment schedule, to wit:

 

       Dates
Payment #  Amount €   Invoice Date  Payment Due
1  500,000   15th Nov 2021  15th Dec 2021
2  500,000   15th April 2022  15th May 2022
3  500,000   15th Sep 2022  15th Oct 2022
4  500,000   15th Feb 2023  15th Mar 2023
S  500,000   15th July 2023  15th Ago 2023
6  500,000   15th Dec 2023  15th Jan 2024
7  500,000   15th May 2024  15th June 2024
8  500,000   15th Oct 2024  15th Nov 2024

 

THE MINIMUM GUARANTEED AMOUNT shall cover to the fullest extent the amounts that MGO must pay LMM as royalties as set forth herein. Therefore, if at the expiration of the Agreement the royalty payments to be borne by MGO should not cover the amount already paid to LMM as GUARANTEED MINIMUM AMOUNT, the resulting differences will definitively accrue to LMM.

 

Payment form and taxes

 

5.3  Royalties and any other amounts to be paid under this section, shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 8, within thirty (30) working days following the end of each Quarter in EUROS. At the expiration of each quarter, MGO shall provide LMM with an account statement evidencing the total Net Sales of each Product type received by MGO and its licensees and the total amount of royalties arising from the sublicenses and any other income obtained by MGO in the corresponding Quarter.

 

5.4  LMM shall submit to MGO the applicable statutory invoice for payment based on such statement. MGO shall make payments within thirty (30) calendar days after reception of such invoice on the part of MGO. Such payments shall always be made from an account which holder should be MGO, located in the United States of America.

 

5.5  In order to convert the various local currencies in which royalties are payable into Euros, the currency exchange rate to be applied shall be the exchange rate in effect on the date on which the corresponding payment should be made, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal.

 

5.5.  MGO shall be exclusively responsible for making and paying the legally applicable withholding taxes on the amounts that MGO is bound to pay as royalties to LMM. In the event that any withholding tax should be applicable, MGO shall bear all tax costs of such payments and accordingly shall add to each of the amounts payable under this section 5 to LMM, the additional amount necessary so that LMM should not bear any cost for any withholding tax to be actually withheld by MGO on each such payment.

 

   

 

 

Additionally, if applicable, MGO shall pay to LMM the amount corresponding to VAT or any other indirect tax, so that the amount paid to LMM shall coincide with the agreed net amounts, plus the corresponding VAT, which shall be calculated on the agreed gross amount.

 

5.6  MGO shall submit the corresponding payments together with the tax receipts, certificates or slips issued by the tax authorities evidencing the payment of such withholdings.

 

5.7  LMM shall provide MGO with properly executed tax forms and/or tax residency certificates as required by applicable law and the appropriate VAT Identification Number.

 

5.8  MGO shall provide LMM with its tax identification number.

 

5.9  LMM shall provide MGO with its full, accurate and proper invoices, within the deadlines established in 5.3. Additionally, MGO shall be bound to provide LMM with the information, documents and/ or certificates necessary to determine the VAT and other taxes to be charged in the invoices.

 

5.10  Payments shall be made by means of bank transfers to the account indicated by LMM at each time.

 

5.11  Delay on the part of MGO in complying with any of the payments provided for in this section shall accrue default interests in favor of LMM from the first due date of such amounts, computed in accordance with Act 3/2004, plus an increase of 4 percentage points per annum, with no need for previous notice to MGO.

 

5.12  In any event, any failure by MGO to pay any of the amounts undertaken under this Agreement shall entitle LMM to terminate this Agreement earlier, without further notice, should such failure to pay not be remedied within fifteen (15) days from the date the amounts become due and payable.

 

5.13  Notwithstanding LMM's right to audit all of MGO's relevant commercial or financial information connected to the sales of the Products, as set forth hereafter, with the purpose of verifying the accuracy of the amounts reported by MGO-TEAM to LMM, LMM shall be entitled to review and approve in writing all expenses that MGO expects to incur for the development, manufacture, marketing and advertising of the Products. To this extent, MGO hereby undertakes to provide LMM, on the date of the execution hereof, with an estimation which shall include the estimated expenses and profits for the following six (6) months. Each such estimation shall be approved in advance and in writing by LMM. MGO shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to remain within the parameters of such estimation; however, the Parties acknowledge that the estimation is only a guide and that business circumstances are likely to change.

 

Records and auditing.

 

5.14  MGO shall keep all records of its sales of Products and those of its sub-licensees necessary for the calculation of royalties and other amounts payable under this section.

   

 

 

 

5.15       LMM shall have the right, through an independent auditor, to inspect and/or audit the accounts of MGO at its premises or facilities, in order to verify the accuracy of the settlements and reports submitted by MGO and its compliance with the undertakings set forth in this Agreement. The charges arising from the auditing carried out by LMM shall be at its own expense, unless such audit results in a difference of more than 2% between the royalties reported and those actually paid by MGO pursuant to section 5 hereof, in which case the auditing costs shall be borne by MGO.

 

5.16       Likewise, should such audit show that any payment made by MGO has been lower than the amount actually due, MGO shall pay LMM the amount due within five (5) calendar days after reception of the audit report by MGO. Should such audit evidence that payments made by MGO exceeded the payment due, LMM shall pay MGO the exceeding amount at the time it furnishes a copy of the audit report to MGO.

 

6.   Representations and warranties.

 

6.1  Notwithstanding the remaining representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement:

 

(a)MGO shall perform its duties and fulfill its undertakings arising from this Agreement with the standard of care applicable in the industry, and shall use all reasonable efforts to promote the good name, positive image, standing and reputation of the Player and of LMM, specifically, but not limited to, MGO agrees not to make any statement, act or omission of any kind or nature whatsoever, that may damage, negatively affect or may affect, either directly or indirectly, the good name, positive image, standing and reputation of the Player and/or LMM or of third parties related to them;

 

(b)MGO shall not take any action or any steps which may adversely affect the validity of any part of, or all of the elements comprising the Image Rights and/or the Trademarks and shall ensure the protection of the goodwill associated to such elements. MGO hereby undertakes not to register nor apply for the registration of any name, domain name, trademark, symbol or other distinctive signs identical to the elements comprising the Image Rights and/or the Trademarks (or any other similar element that give rise or may give rise to confusion or association with the activity, services or companies of LMM or the Player) in any country or territory of the world;

 

(c)MGO shall not develop any Product which may be regarded as being in direct or indirect competition with products marketed by sponsors with whom LMM, the Player, his team and/or his national team have executed sponsorship agreements or authorizations for the use of their image or Trademarks and, in particular, but not limited to, products in competition with those marketed by ADIDAS INTERNATIONAL MARKETING BV, or in general, under the trademark “ADIDAS”. Notwithstanding the above, LMM hereby represents and warrants to MGO that (i) the categories of Products (as set forth in Schedule 2) and provided that they are observed by MGO, shall not place MGO In breach of this provision or any other provision set forth in this Agreement, and (ii) Product approvals by LMM, in accordance with the Product approval process set forth in this Agreement, shall ensure MGO that such approved Products do not conflict with this section;

 

(d)MGO shall not use the Trademarks except in the manners and for the purposes expressly authorized in this Agreement, and shall refrain from any use outside the scope of this Agreement;

 

   

 

 

 

(e)MGO shall organize and carry out, in the Territory, on an ongoing basis and with industry standard diligence, the promotional and advertising activities and initiatives, or any other type of action required by this Agreement in order to properly position the Products and promote the image of the Trademarks, provided that they have been previously approved by LMM under the terms of this Agreement. Moreover, MGO shall bear all expenses and costs arising from such promotional or advertising activities and efforts. MGO acknowledges that all promotion and advertising of the Products must be carried out in accordance with the image and reputation of LMM, the Player, the Image Rights and/or the Trademarks, in accordance with the restrictions set forth in this Agreement;

 

(f)              MGO shall be solely responsible for ensuring that commercial operation of the Trademarks made by it, its agents, subcontractors or sub-licensees under the terms of this Agreement shall comply with the applicable regulations of the various jurisdictions in which the Trademarks are used and, without limitation, with any and all applicable advertising, labor, tax, environmental, regulatory or child protection laws;

 

(g)MGO hereby warrants that both the production process of the Products and the Products themselves, and all their elements, comply with all applicable national and international regulations in all territories where the Products shall be marketed. Moreover, it warrants that the Products shall not cause a direct or indirect risk to the health or physical integrity of consumers and, in particularly, to children or minors;

 

(h)MGO warrants that the Products do not and will not infringe any third party rights (such as, but not limited to, intellectual or industrial property rights or others), and that it shall obtain the necessary authorizations, assignments and/or licenses for their development, manufacture, marketing and promotion throughout the Territory. LMM represents, and warrants that the Trademarks do not and shall not infringe any third party rights (such as, among others, intellectual or industrial property rights or others);

 

(i)MGO shall report to LMM in a reliable manner any infringement related to the Image Rights or the Trademarks as soon as it becomes aware of it. MGO acknowledges that it has no right, nor is it bound, to bring any claim or action in defense of the Image Rights or Trademarks without the prior consent of LMM;

 

(j)               MGO shall regularly report to LMM on the progress and development of the marketing of the Products and, specifically, it shall provide LMM with details of sales of the Products and any other confidential, financial or accounting information that may be relevant to the commercial operation of the Products on a quarterly basis. Likewise, MGO shall inform LMM about the state of the market and its trends;

 

(k)             MGO shall pay LMM the payments agreed upon in section 5 of this Agreement. Likewise, MGO shall be the sole responsible for and shall undertake any and all payment obligations to third parties acting on its behalf in connection with the performance of this Agreement. To this extent, MGO shall indemnify, defend and hold LMM, the Player and its parties and affiliates completely harmless against any claim, request or lawsuit from any third party requesting any amount of money due to its intervention in the execution of this Agreement, which shall always be paid by MGO.

 

   

 

 

(l)  MGO hereby undertakes to indemnify, defend and hold the Player and LMM completely harmless against any damages (including loss of profits), costs or expenses arising from any action, lawsuit, claim, penalty, or, in general, against any kind of claims or procedures related directly or indirectly to the execution hereof, or from the lack of veracity or accuracy, in whole or in part, of the statements provided in this section.

 

(m)  MGO shall be the sole responsible to assure that the sales of the Products made by it, its agents, subcontractors or its licensees, in order to perform this Agreement, shall comply with all the regulations applicable throughout the Territory, and with no limitations in connection with any regulations related to advertising, labor, taxes, environment, regulatory or any child protection regulations.

 

(n)  LMM shall make sure that at all times, throughout the term of this Agreement: (a) MGO shall be entitled to fully use the Trademarks, as set forth herein; (b) the Player shall comply with the provisions of Schedule 7 herein; and (c) the Player should not engage in any action that may place the Products or MGO in a situation of public discredit, contempt, scandal or ridicule.

 

6.2  Each Party hereby represents and warrants the following: (i) that it has obtained all the approvals, consents and authorizations necessary to enter into this Agreement, and to fulfill the duties undertaken herein worldwide; (ii) that the persons entering into this Agreement in the name, place and stead of the Party have full and express authorities to do so, and to bind such Party (iii) the performance, delivery and fulfillment of this Agreement does not infringe or violate any provision of any law, by laws, regulation, or any other authority governing the Party; (iv) this Agreement is a valid and binding undertaking of the Party; (v) there are no actions, claims, proceedings or investigations whatsoever pending or threatened against it or by it of which it is aware that may have a material effect on the subject matter hereof.

 

6.3  Each Party shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other and its officers, directors, employees, agents, sub-licensees, successors and assigns against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, any deficiency, claims, actions, judgments, settlements, interests, awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of any kind, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of pursuing insurance providers (collectively, “Losses”) arising out of or in connection with any claim, suit, action or proceeding by a third party related to any actual or alleged: (a) breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or duty under this Agreement,

 

7.  Term

 

This Agreement shall be valid as of the date of the subscription hereof, and shall remain in full force for a term of three (3) years, which expiration date shall be next December 31st, 2024.

This Agreement shall not be automatically extended, therefore it shall terminate on its due date. This Agreement shall only be extended by a new written agreement between the Parties hereto.

 

8.  Termination of the Agreement

 

8.1  The Agreement shall terminate in the following cases, to wit:

 

(a)  Expiration of the term of the Agreement as provided in section 8 above;

 

   

 

 

(b) By mutual written consent of the Parties;

 

(c)  Due to a material breach of duty of one of the Parties, in connection with any of the duties set forth herein, unless such breach may be remedied, and is indeed remedied within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date the breaching Party is served notice and is required to remedy such breach. Upon expiration of such term without the breach having been remedied, the Party giving notice shall be entitled to an early termination of the Agreement, effective immediately, by means of a written notice to the breaching Party, and to claim all applicable damages as well.

 

(d)  By means of a written notice by a Party in case of liquidation or winding up of the legal entity of the other Party.

 

(e)  At LMM's request, as a result of the breach on the part of MGO of section 5 hereof, and, specifically, in the event of default in payment within the agreed terms of both the Consideration and the Annual Guaranteed Royalties, in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.12;

 

(f)  At LMM's request, in the event that the consideration obtained by LMM fails to reach the Annual Guaranteed Royalty in a given contract year. For these purposes, the contractual year shall be deemed to be the calendar year.

 

(g)  At LMM's request, as a consequence of any action on the part of MGO and, specifically, those related to the manufacturing and marketing of the Products, or to the use and operation of the Trademarks, which cause or may cause, either directly or indirectly, any damage or alteration to the good name and image, reputation and prestige of the Player and of LMM. In such event, besides the immediate termination of the Agreement, LMM shall also be entitled to claim to MGO a compensation on the grounds of the damages that its behavior may cause or might have caused.

 

8.2. Upon termination of this Agreement on any grounds, MGO shall immediately cease to use or operate the Trademarks and, in particular, it shall cease to produce any goods, materials or media bearing the Trademarks. Likewise, MGO shall immediately cease to use The Messi Store website and its application, and shall transfer to LMM all permissions and licenses necessary for the latter to continue operating said website and application. In addition to the foregoing, MGO shall have a maximum period of ninety (90) days from the termination date of the Agreement due to any reason whatsoever (the “Settlement Period”) in order to distribute the remaining stock of Products already manufactured through the same channels and under the same conditions as those in force during the term of this Agreement. In this regard, MGO shall report to LMM on the stock of Products and the channels through which it expects to distribute them within this ninety (90) day period. Sales made by MGO during such term shall be fully computed for the purposes of the remuneration to be collected by LMM in accordance with section 5.

 

8.3  The sub-licensees granted by LMM and MGO which might exceed the term of this Agreement, shall remain in full force only in connection with LMM, and MGO shall not have any subsequent right over the them for the whole period of validity of the referred licenses.

 

9.  Confidentiality

 

9.1  The Parties hereby agree to keep the confidentiality of this Agreement, its terms and Conditions, as well as all the documents and pieces of information arising from or related to them (hereinafter referred to as the “Confidential Information”), therefore, they hereby undertake not to disclose them to any third parties other than those who are part of their management or management body, or those who take part professionally in the negotiations in their capacities as legal, accounting or financial advisors, or other specialists, or any other third party taking part as a subcontractor, licensee, or otherwise, unless a regulatory, inspecting or supervising entity, or court so requires.

 

   

 

 

9.2  In the event any of the Parties should be legally bound to disclose the Confidential Information, fully or partially, due to an order issued by a court of law or an administrative entity with jurisdiction on the matter:

 

(a)  The required Party shall give written notice to the other Party of such circumstance, as soon as possible and always prior to the disclosure or delivery of the Confidential Information, attaching to such notice a copy of the relevant documents and information so that the other Party may take such measures as it deems appropriate in order to protect its own rights and the Confidential Information; and

 

(b)  The Parties shall determine by mutual agreement the content of the Confidential Information that is legally required to be disclosed, unless such content is determined by the decision of the relevant authority requiring the Parties to provide such information.

 

9.3  The duties comprised in this Section shall remain in full force even after the termination of this Agreement on any grounds whatsoever, and until the Confidential Information is no longer classified as confidential.

 

10.  Assignment

 

No Party shall assign any of its rights and duties arising under this Agreement, or its position hereunder, without the prior written consent of the other Party.

 

11.  Rules for Interpretation

 

11.1  Headings

 

The headings used in this Agreement are included for reference purposes only and shall not affect its interpretation.

 

11.2  Validity

 

Should any inconsistencies arise between the contents of a supplementary document or a Schedule, and the contents of the terms and conditions hereof, the terms, essence, and purpose of this Agreement shall prevail, unless otherwise expressly provided.

 

11.3  Severability and incorporation of terms.

 

The illegality or invalidity of any provision of the Agreement shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions, provided that the rights and duties of the Parties under the Agreement are not materially affected. Essential shall refer to any situation which seriously harms the interests of either Party or which relates to the subject matter of the Agreement as provided in section 1 hereof. Such terms shall be replaced with others which, in accordance with the law, should comply with the purpose of the replaced terms. The Parties hereby waive any claim for damages that may be made for such events

 

   

 

 

11.4  Primacy and amendments to the Agreement.

 

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement reached by the Parties up to the date of its subscription, with respect to the matters contained below and supersedes all prior agreements regarding the subject matter hereof. Any amendments to this Agreement (including amendments to the Schedules) shall be valid only when made in writing in a document signed by both Parties.

 

11.5  Waiver.

 

No waiver by the Parties of any rights arising out of this Agreement or arising from a breach thereof shall be deemed to exist unless such waiver is expressly made in writing in accordance with section 13.

In the event either Party waives any right under the Agreement or any breach by the other Party pursuant to the preceding paragraph, such waiver shall in no event be construed as a waiver of any other right under the Agreement or any breach by the other Party, even if similar.

 

11.6  Language

 

This Agreement shall be construed in good faith, and shall be drafted in Spanish and English. Should any differences regarding the interpretation between both versions arise, or should this Agreement be submitted to any court, only the Spanish version shall be valid.

 

12.  Notices

 

12.1  All communications and notices to be made by the Parties in accordance herewith, or in connection with this Agreement, shall be made in writing and by means of:

 

(a)  hand delivery with a written confirmation of reception by the other Party;

(b)  notarial service; or

(c)  postal mail or e-mail, as well as any other means, provided that in all these cases its reception on the part of the addressee or addressees is duly evidenced.

 

12.2  Communications and notices between the Parties shall be delivered to the addresses and for the attention of the persons indicated below:

 

To LMM:

LEO MESSI MANAGEMENT SL 

[__]

 

To MGO:

MGOTEAM 1 LLC

30 Wall Street, piso 12, Nueva York, NY 10005

To the attention of: Maximiliano Ojeda

mgo@mgoteam.com

 

With copy to:

[__]

 

   

 

 

[__]

 

12.3

Any change in the addresses or persons for the purpose of notices shall be Immediately made known to the other Party in accordance with the rules set forth in this section. As long as a Party has not received notice of such changes, the notices served by it in accordance with such rules at the addresses herein established shall be deemed to have been properly served.

 

13. Applicable law and jurisdiction.

 

13.1  This Agreement shall be governed by Spains's legal system.

 

13.2   Any action or claim arising out of this Agreement, including any issue relating to the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement, shall be submitted to and finally settled by means of an arbitration, to be held in Barcelona, Spain. Such arbitration shall be carried out in accordance with the arbitration rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, which are deemed to be incorporated herein by means of reference. The arbitration court shall be made up of three (3) arbitrators, of which the plaintiff(s) and the defendant(s) shall appoint one arbitrator each, and the third arbitrator, who shall be the chairman of the arbitration court, shall be appointed by the two arbitrators appointed by the parties within thirty (30) days following the last of their appointments. The language of the arbitration shall be Spanish. Any award of the arbitration court shall be binding from the day on which it is rendered, and both parties waive their right to submit to any other court any legal issue or appeal that may be available to them. The award rendered by the relevant arbitration court may subsequently be enforced before any court having jurisdiction to do so. The parties agree to keep confidential all matters relating to this arbitration, including the existence of the arbitration itself. Such duty shall be discharged in the event that either party is required by any legal provision to disclose information in connection with the arbitration.

 

In witness whereof, two copies of the same tenor and to only one effect are subscribed by the Parties, in the place arid on the date indicated above.

 

/s/  
LEO MESSI MANAGEMENT SL,  
Duly represented by  
Mr. [__]   

 

   

 

 

 /s/   
MGOTEAM 1 LLC,  
Duly represented by  
Mr. Maximiliano Ojeda  

 

   

  

Exhibit 10.2

 

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

2022 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.            Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are:

 

·       to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility,

 

·       to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants, and

 

·       to promote the success of the Company’s business.

 

The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Non-statutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Awards.

 

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

 

2.1           “Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

 

2.2          “Applicable Laws” means the legal and regulatory requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards, including but not limited to the related issuance of shares of Common Stock, including but not limited to, under U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any non-U.S. country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.

 

2.3          “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Performance Awards.

 

2.4          “Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

2.5          “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.6           “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(a)       Change in Ownership of the Company. A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (a), the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control; provided, further, that any change in the ownership of the stock of the Company as a result of a private financing of the Company that is approved by the Board also will not be considered a Change in Control. Further, if the stockholders of the Company immediately before such change in ownership continue to retain immediately after the change in ownership, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company’s voting stock immediately prior to the change in ownership, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company or of the ultimate parent entity of the Company, such event will not be considered a Change in Control under this subsection (a). For this purpose, indirect beneficial ownership will include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities; or

 

(b)       Change in Effective Control of the Company. If the Company has a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, a change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the 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 Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of this subsection (b), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or

 

  1 

 

 

(c)       Change in Ownership of a Substantial Portion of the Company’s Assets. A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person or Persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (c), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets: (i) a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the transfer, or (ii) a transfer of assets by the Company to: (A) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock, (B) an entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, (C) a Person, 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 (D) 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 this subsection (c)(ii)(C). For purposes of this subsection (c), 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.

 

For purposes of this Section 2.6, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Section 409A. 

 

Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (x) its primary purpose is to change the jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation, or (y) its primary purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

 

2.7           “Clawback Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 24.

 

2.8           “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder will include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or other formal guidance of general or direct applicability promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

 

2.9           “Committee” means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board, or by a duly authorized committee of the Board, in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

 

2.10         “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

 

2.11         “Company” means MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.

 

2.12         “Consultant” means any natural person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or any of its Parent or Subsidiaries to render bona fide services to such entity, provided the services (a) are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction, and (b) do not directly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities, in each case, within the meaning of Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act, and provided further, that a Consultant will include only those persons to whom the issuance of Shares may be registered under Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

  2 

 

 

2.13         “Director” means a member of the Board.

 

2.14         “Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Code Section 22(e)(3), provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.

 

2.15         “Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

 

2.16         “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

2.17         “Exchange Program” means a program under which (a) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), awards of a different type, and/or cash, (b) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator, and/or (c) the exercise price of an outstanding Award is reduced or increased. The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole discretion.

 

2.18         “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date and unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

 

(a)       If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, or the Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such stock (or, if no closing sales price was reported on that date, as applicable, on the last Trading Day such closing sales price was reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the date of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

(b)       If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the day of determination (or, if no bids and asks were reported on that date, as applicable, on the last Trading Day such bids and asks were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

 

(c)       For purposes of any Awards granted on the Registration Date, the Fair Market Value will be the initial price to the public as set forth in the final prospectus included within the registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the initial public offering of the Common Stock; or

 

(d)       In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.

 

In addition, for purposes of determining the fair market value of shares for any reason other than the determination of the exercise price of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, fair market value will be determined by the Administrator in a manner compliant with Applicable Laws and applied consistently for such purpose. The determination of fair market value for purposes of tax withholding may be made in the Administrator’s sole discretion subject to Applicable Laws and is not required to be consistent with the determination of fair market value for other purposes.

 

2.19         “Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.

 

2.20         “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms qualifies and is otherwise intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Code Section 422 and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

  3 

 

 

2.21         “Legal Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6.4.

 

2.22         “Non-statutory Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.23         “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.

 

2.24         “Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

2.25         “Outside Director” means a Director who is not an Employee. Any member of the Board who is designated as the Executive Chairperson (or its equivalent) will not be considered an Outside Director for purposes of the Plan.

 

2.26         “Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(e).

 

2.27         “Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.

 

2.28         Performance Awards” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which may be cash- or stock-denominated and may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of the foregoing under Section 10.

 

2.29         “Performance Period” means has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.

 

2.30         “Period of Restriction” means the period (if any) during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.

 

2.31         “Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).

 

2.32         “Plan” means this MGO Global Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.

 

2.33         “Registration Date” means the effective date of the first registration statement that is filed by the Company and declared effective pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, with respect to any class of the Company’s securities.

 

2.34         “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued pursuant to an Award of Restricted Stock under Section 8 of the Plan, or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.

 

2.35         “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share, granted pursuant to Section 9. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.

 

2.36         “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan. 

 

2.37         “Section 16b” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

2.38         “Section 409A” means Code Section 409A and the U.S. Treasury Regulations and guidance thereunder, and any applicable state law equivalent, as each may be promulgated, amended or modified from time to time.

 

  4 

 

 

2.39         “Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

2.40         “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.

 

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

 

2.42         “Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award, granted alone or in connection with an Option, that pursuant to Section 7 is designated as a Stock Appreciation Right.

 

2.43         “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(f).

 

2.44         “Trading Day” means a day that the primary stock exchange, national market system, or other trading platform, as applicable, upon which the Common Stock is listed (or otherwise trades regularly, as determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion) is open for trading.

 

2.45         “U.S. Treasury Regulations” means the Treasury Regulations of the Code. Reference to a specific Treasury Regulation or Section of the Code will include such Treasury Regulation or Section, any valid regulation promulgated under such Section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such Section or regulation.

 

3.            Stock Subject to the Plan.

 

3.1          Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 15 of the Plan and the automatic increase set forth in Section 3.2 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to Awards and sold under the Plan will be equal to 2,186,470 Shares. In addition, Shares may become available for issuance under Sections 3.2 and 3.3 of the Plan. The Shares may be authorized but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

 

3.2           Automatic Share Reserve Increase. Subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 15, the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan will be increased on the first day of each Fiscal Year beginning with the 2023 Fiscal Year, in an amount equal to the least of (a) 500,000 Shares, (b) a number of Shares equal to four percent (4%) of the total number of shares of all classes of common stock of the Company outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year, or (c) such number of Shares determined by the Administrator no later than the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year.

 

3.3           Lapsed Awards. If an Award expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, is surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program, or, with respect to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Performance Awards is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to the failure to vest, the unpurchased Shares (or for Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights the forfeited or repurchased Shares) which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). With respect to Stock Appreciation Rights, only Shares actually issued (i.e., the net Shares issued) pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right will cease to be available under the Plan; all remaining Shares under Stock Appreciation Rights will remain available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). Shares that actually have been issued under the Plan under any Award will not be returned to the Plan and will not become available for future distribution under the Plan; provided, however, that if Shares issued pursuant to Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Awards are repurchased by the Company or are forfeited to the Company due to the failure to vest, such Shares will become available for future grant under the Plan. Shares used to pay the exercise price of an Award or to satisfy the tax liabilities or withholdings related to an Award will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. To the extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will equal the aggregate Share number stated in Section 3.1, plus, to the extent allowable under Code Section 422 and the U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, any Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Sections 3.2 and 3.3.

 

  5 

 

 

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

 

4.            Administration of the Plan.

 

4.1         Procedure.

 

4.1.1       Multiple Administrative Bodies. Different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers may administer the Plan. The Compensation Committee of the Board initial be the Administrator of the Plan.

 

4.1.2       Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.

 

4.1.3       Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which Committee will be constituted to comply with Applicable Laws.

 

4.2         Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:

 

(a)       to determine the Fair Market Value;

 

(b)       to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;

 

(c)       to determine the number of Shares or dollar amounts to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(d)       to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;

 

(e)       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 price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto (including but not limited to, temporarily suspending the exercisability of an Award if the Administrator deems such suspension to be necessary or appropriate for administrative purposes or to comply with Applicable Laws, provided that such suspension must be lifted prior to the expiration of the maximum term and post-termination exercisability period of an Award), based in each case on such factors as the Administrator will determine;

 

(f)        to institute and determine the terms and conditions of an Exchange Program, including, subject to Section 20.3, to unilaterally implement an Exchange Program without the consent of the applicable Award holder;

 

(g)       to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;

 

(h)       to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of facilitating compliance with applicable non-U.S. laws, easing the administration of the Plan and/or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable non-U.S. laws, in each case as the Administrator may deem necessary or advisable;

 

  6 

 

 

(i)        to modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 20.3), including but not limited to the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of Awards and to extend the maximum term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (subject to Sections 6.4 and 7.5);

 

(j)        to allow Participants to satisfy withholding tax obligations in a manner prescribed in Section 16;

 

(k)       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; 

 

(l)        to allow a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that otherwise would be due to such Participant under an Award; and

 

(m)      to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.

 

4.3         Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards and will be given the maximum deference permitted by Applicable Laws.

 

5.            Eligibility. Non-statutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Awards may be granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.

 

6.            Stock Options.

 

6.1        Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Options to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

6.2        Option Agreement. Each Award of an Option will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Option, the number of Shares subject to the Option, the exercise restrictions, if any, applicable to the Option, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

6.3        Limitations. Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-statutory Stock Option. Notwithstanding such designation, however, 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 Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), such Options will be treated as non-statutory stock options. For purposes of this Section 6.3, incentive stock options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, the fair market value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted, and calculation will be performed in accordance with Code Section 422 and the U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

6.4         Term of Option. The term of each Option will be stated in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the term will be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.

 

  7 

 

 

6.5          Option Exercise Price and Consideration.

 

6.5.1   Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option will be determined by the Administrator, but will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. In addition, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Employee who owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.5.1, Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Code Section 424(a). 

  

6.5.2   Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator will fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any conditions that must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised.

 

6.5.3   Form of Consideration. The Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of grant. Such consideration may consist entirely of: (a) cash (including cash equivalents); (b) check; (c) promissory note, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, (d) other Shares, provided that such Shares have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such Option will be exercised and provided further that accepting such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences to the Company, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion; (e) consideration received by the Company under a cashless exercise program (whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan; (f) by net exercise; (g) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, or (h) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. In making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the Administrator will consider if acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the Company.

 

6.6          Exercise of Option.

 

6.6.1    Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. Any Option granted hereunder will 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 Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

 

An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (a) notice of exercise (in such form as the Administrator may specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (b) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with applicable tax withholdings). Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Award Agreement and the Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant or, if requested by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse. 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 will exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 15 of the Plan. 

Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

 

6.6.2   Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon such cessation as the result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within three (3) months of such cessation, or such shorter or longer period of time, as is specified in the Award Agreement, in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement or Section 6.4. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator or set forth in the Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, if on such date of cessation the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan immediately. If after such cessation the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

 

  8 

 

 

6.6.3   Disability of Participant. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within six (6) months of such cessation, or such longer or shorter period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement or Section 6.4, as applicable) to the extent the Option is vested on such date of cessation. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator or set forth in the Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, if on the date of such cessation the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan immediately. If after such cessation the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

 

6.6.4   Death of Participant. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised within six (6) months following the Participant’s death, or within such longer or shorter period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement or Section 6.4, as applicable), by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to the Participant’s death in a form (if any) acceptable to the Administrator. If the Administrator has not permitted the designation of a beneficiary or if no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution (each, a “Legal Representative”). If the Option is exercised pursuant to this Section 6.6.4, Participant’s designated beneficiary or Legal Representative shall be subject to the terms of this Plan and the Award Agreement, including but not limited to the restrictions on transferability and forfeitability applicable to the Service Provider. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator or set forth in the Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, if at the time of death Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan immediately. If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

  

6.6.5   Tolling Expiration. A Participant’s Award Agreement may also provide that:

 

(a)       if the exercise of the Option following the cessation of Participant’s status as a Service Provider (other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would result in liability under Section 16b, then the Option will terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in the Award Agreement, or (ii) the tenth (10th) day after the last date on which such exercise would result in liability under Section 16b; or

 

(b)       if the exercise of the Option following the cessation of the Participant’s status as a Service Provider (other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of Shares would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option will terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term of the Option or (ii) the expiration of a period of thirty (30) days after the cessation of the Participant’s status as a Service Provider during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements.

 

7.            Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

7.1          Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.

 

7.2          Number of Shares. The Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Shares subject to any Award of Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

  9 

 

 

7.3          Exercise Price and Other Terms. The per Share exercise price for the Shares that will determine the amount of the payment to be received upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right as set forth in Section 7.6 will be determined by the Administrator and will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Otherwise, the Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, will have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan.

 

7.4          Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

7.5          Expiration of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan will expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 6.4 relating to the maximum term and Section 6.6 relating to exercise also will apply to Stock Appreciation Rights.

  

7.6          Payment of Stock Appreciation Right Amount. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:

 

(a)       The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; times

 

(b)       The number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.

 

At the discretion of the Administrator, the payment upon Stock Appreciation Right exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.

 

8.            Restricted Stock.

 

8.1          Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

8.2          Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction (if any), the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Company as escrow agent will hold Shares of Restricted Stock until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine that an Award of Restricted Stock will not be subject to any Period of Restriction and consideration for such Award is paid for by past services rendered as a Service Provider.

 

8.3          Transferability. Except as provided in this Section 8 or as the Administrator determines, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.

 

8.4          Other Restrictions. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate.

 

8.5          Removal of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction or at such other time as the Administrator may determine. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.

 

  10 

 

 

8.6          Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.

 

8.7          Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares, unless the Administrator provides otherwise. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.

 

8.8           Return of Restricted Stock to Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan.

 

9.           Restricted Stock Units.

 

9.1          Grant. Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and from time to time as determined by the Administrator. After the Administrator determines that it will grant Restricted Stock Units, it will advise the Participant in an Award Agreement of the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, including the number of Restricted Stock Units.

 

9.2          Vesting Criteria and Other Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the Participant. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities laws or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.

 

9.3           Earning Restricted Stock Units. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as determined by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout.

 

9.4           Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made at the time(s) determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may settle earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination of both.

 

9.5          Cancellation. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited to the Company.

 

10.          Performance Awards.

 

10.1        Award Agreement. Each Performance Award will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify any time period during which any performance objectives or other vesting provisions will be measured (“Performance Period”), and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator determines. Each Performance Award will have an initial value that is determined by the Administrator on or before its date of grant.

 

10.2        Objectives or Vesting Provisions and Other Terms. The Administrator will set any objectives or vesting provisions that, depending on the extent to which any such objectives or vesting provisions are met, will determine the value of the payout for the Performance Awards. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities laws, or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.

 

10.3        Earning Performance Awards. After an applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of a Performance Award will be entitled to receive a payout for the Performance Award earned by the Participant over the Performance Period. The Administrator, in its discretion, may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such Performance Award.

 

  11 

 

 

 

10.4        Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Performance Awards will be made at the time(s) determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may settle earned Performance Awards in cash, Shares, or a combination of both.

 

10.5        Cancellation of Performance Awards. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned or unvested Performance Awards will be forfeited to the Company, and again will be available for grant under the Plan.

 

11.         Outside Director Award Limitations. No Outside Director may be granted, in any Fiscal Year, equity awards (including any Awards granted under this Plan), the value of which will be based on their grant date fair value determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and be provided any other compensation (including without limitation any cash retainers or fees) in amounts that, in the aggregate, exceed $200,000, provided that such amount is increased to $300,000 in the Fiscal Year of such individual’s initial service as an Outside Director. Any Awards granted or other compensation provided to an individual (a) for such individual’s services as an Employee, or for such individual’s services as a Consultant (other than as an Outside Director), or (b) prior to the Registration Date, will be excluded for purposes of this Section 11.

 

12.         Compliance With Section 409A. Awards will be designed and operated in such a manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Section 409A, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. The Plan and each Award Agreement under the Plan is intended to be exempt from or meet the requirements of Section 409A and will be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent (including with respect to any ambiguities or ambiguous terms), except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. To the extent that an Award or payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Section 409A the Award will be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of Section 409A, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Section 409A. In no event will the Company or any of its Parent or Subsidiaries have any responsibility, liability, or obligation to reimburse, indemnify, or hold harmless a Participant (or any other person) in respect of Awards, for any taxes, penalties or interest that may be imposed on, or other costs incurred by, Participant (or any other person) as a result of Section 409A.

 

13.          Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between Locations. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise or as otherwise required by Applicable Laws, vesting of Awards granted hereunder will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence. A Participant will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (a) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (b) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parent, or any of its Subsidiaries. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed three (3) months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then six (6) months following the first (1st) day of such leave, any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Non-statutory Stock Option.

   

14.          Limited Transferability of Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (which, for purposes of clarification, shall be deemed to include through a beneficiary designation if available in accordance with Section 6.6.4), and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate.

 

15.          Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change in Control.

 

15.1       Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, reclassification, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs (other than any ordinary dividends or other ordinary distributions), the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, will adjust the number and class of shares of stock that may be delivered under the Plan and/or the number, class, and price of shares of stock covered by each outstanding Award, and numerical Share limits in Section 3.

 

  12 

 

 

15.2       Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.

 

15.3       Merger or Change in Control. In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or other entity or a Change in Control, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Administrator determines (subject to the provisions of the following paragraph) without a Participant’s consent, including, without limitation, that (a) Awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or successor corporation (or an affiliate thereof) with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; (b) upon written notice to a Participant, that the Participant’s Awards will terminate upon or immediately prior to the consummation of such merger or Change in Control; (c) outstanding Awards will vest and become exercisable, realizable, or payable, or restrictions applicable to an Award will lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon consummation of such merger or Change in Control, and, to the extent the Administrator determines, terminate upon or immediately prior to the effectiveness of such merger or Change in Control; (d) (i) the termination of an Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment), or (ii) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion; or (e) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 15.3, the Administrator will not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, all Awards of the same type, or all portions of Awards, similarly.

 

In the event that the acquiring or successor corporation (or an affiliate thereof) does not assume the Award (or portion thereof) as described below or substitute for the Award (or portion thereof) as described above, then the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise his or her outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (or portions thereof) not assumed or substituted for, including Shares as to which such Awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Performance Awards (or portions thereof) not assumed or substituted for will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting (or portions thereof) not assumed or substituted for, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other terms and conditions met, in each case, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable. In addition, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, if an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (or portion thereof) is not assumed or substituted in the event of a merger or Change in Control, the Administrator will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right (or its applicable portion) will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Option or Stock Appreciation Right (or its applicable portion) will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

 

For the purposes of this Section 15.3 and Section 15.4 below, an Award will be considered assumed if, following the merger or Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the merger or Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the 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 merger or Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of a Restricted Stock Unit or Performance Award, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the merger or Change in Control.

 

  13 

 

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 15.3 to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent, in all cases, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement authorized by the Administrator between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption. 

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 15.3 to the contrary, and unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, if an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out under an Award Agreement is subject to Section 409A and if the change in control definition contained in the Award Agreement (or other agreement related to the Award, as applicable) does not comply with the definition of “change in control” for purposes of a distribution under Section 409A, then any payment of an amount that is otherwise accelerated under this Section 15.3 will be delayed until the earliest time that such payment would be permissible under Section 409A without triggering any penalties applicable under Section 409A.

 

15.4        Outside Director Awards. With respect to Awards granted to an Outside Director, in the event of a Change in Control, the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights as to all of the Shares underlying such Award, including those Shares which would not be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other terms and conditions met, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable.

 

16.          Tax Withholding.

 

16.1       Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof) or such earlier time as any tax withholdings are due, the Company (or any of its Parent, Subsidiaries, or affiliates employing or retaining the services of a Participant, as applicable) will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company (or any of its Parent, Subsidiaries, or affiliates, as applicable) or a relevant tax authority, an amount sufficient to satisfy U.S. federal, state, local, non-U.S., and other taxes (including the Participant’s FICA or other social insurance contribution obligation) required to be withheld or paid with respect to such Award (or exercise thereof).

 

16.2       Withholding Arrangements. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax liability or withholding obligation, in whole or in part by such methods as the Administrator shall determine, including, without limitation, (a) paying cash, check or other cash equivalents, (b) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine if such amount would not have adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, (c) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine, in each case, provided the delivery of such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, (d) selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant through such means as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld or paid, (e) such other consideration and method of payment for the meeting of tax liabilities or withholding obligations as the Administrator may determine to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, or (f) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. The amount of the withholding obligation will be deemed to include any amount which the Administrator agrees may be withheld at the time the election is made, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state or local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant with respect to the Award on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine if such amount would not have adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion. The fair market value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.

 

  14 

 

 

17.          No Effect on Employment or Service. Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider with the Company or its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, nor will they interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the right of the Company and its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, to terminate such relationship at any time, free from any liability or claim under the Plan.

 

18.          Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

 

19.          Effective Date; Term of Plan. Subject to Section 23 of the Plan, the Plan will become effective upon the later to occur of (i) its adoption by the Board or (ii) the business day immediately prior to the Registration Date. It will continue in effect until terminated under Section 20, but no Incentive Stock Options may be granted after 10 years from the date adopted by the Board and Section 3.2 will operate only until the 10th anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

 

20.          Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

 

20.1       Amendment and Termination. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason.

 

20.2       Stockholder Approval. The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.

 

20.3       Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan will materially impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will 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.

 

21.          Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

 

21.1       Legal Compliance. Shares will not be issued pursuant to an Award unless the exercise or vesting of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

 

21.2       Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise or vesting of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising or vesting in such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise or vesting that the Shares are being acquired only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.

 

22.           Inability to Obtain Authority. If the Company determines it to be impossible or impractical to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction or to complete or comply with the requirements of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any U.S. state or federal law or non-U.S. law or under the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the stock exchange on which Shares of the same class are then listed, or any other governmental or regulatory body, which authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary or advisable for the issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, the Company will be relieved of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance will not have been obtained.

 

  15 

 

 

23.           Stockholder Approval. The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.

 

24.          Forfeiture Events. The Administrator may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award will be subject to the reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, recoupment, reimbursement, or reacquisition upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, without limitation, termination of such Participant’s status as an employee and/or other service provider for cause or any specified action or inaction by a Participant, whether before or after such termination of employment and/or other service, that would constitute cause for termination of such Participant’s status as an employee and/or other service provider. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary under this Plan, all Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, recoupment, reimbursement, or reacquisition under any clawback policy that the Company is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other Applicable Laws (the “Clawback Policy”). The Administrator may require a Participant to forfeit, or return to the Company, or reimburse the Company for, all or a portion of the Award and any amounts paid thereunder pursuant to the terms of the Clawback Policy or as necessary or appropriate to comply with Applicable Laws, including without limitation any reacquisition right regarding previously acquired Shares or other cash or property. Unless this Section 24 specifically is mentioned and waived in an Award Agreement or other document, no recovery of compensation under a Clawback Policy or otherwise will constitute an event that triggers or contributes to any right of a Participant to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

 

*            *            *

 

  16 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement” ) is made and entered effective as of the 19th day of July, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), by and between MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the

“Company”), and Maximiliano Ojeda (the “Executive”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has approved the Company entering into an employment agreement with the Executive;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is now the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and thus the key senior executive of the Company, as well as an executive member of the Board;

 

WHEREAS, the Company would like enter into a formal agreement with the Executive to set forth the terms of Executive’s employment and to provide for certain severance payments and other benefits in the event Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the Executive for “Good Reason” (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, Executive wishes to be employed by the Company and provide full-time services to the Company in return for the compensation and benefits detailed herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, including the agreements set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.Employment.

 

a.Term. Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”); provided however that the period of the Executive’s employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one-year periods thereafter (each, a “Renewal Term”), in each case unless either Party hereto provides the other Party hereto with written notice that such period shall not be so extended at least one hundred and twenty (120) days in advance of the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Term, as applicable (the Initial Term and any Renewal Term, collectively, the “Term”). The Executive’s period of employment pursuant to this Agreement shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Employment Period.”

 

b.Position and Duties. Executive (i) shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company with responsibilities, duties and authority customary for such position, subject to direction by the Board; (ii) shall report directly to the Board; (iii) shall devote substantially all Executive’s working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries; and (iv) agrees to observe and comply with the Company’s rules and policies as adopted by the Company from time to time. In addition, as of the Effective Date, the Executive shall retain his appointment as an executive member of the Board and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause Executive to be reelected as a member of the Board while employed hereunder.

 

 1 

 

 

c.Place of Employment. Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement at the Company’s executive offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In addition, the Company may from time to time require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations on the Company’s business.

 

2.Compensation and Related Matters.

 

a.Annual Base Salary. Executive shall receive a base salary at the rate of $300,000 per annum (the “Annual Base Salary”), subject to withholdings and deductions and which shall be paid to Executive in accordance with the customary payroll practices and procedures of the Company. Such Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Board’s Compensation Committee not less than annually and may be adjusted from time to time.

 

b.Bi-Annual Bonus. Commencing in the calendar year 2022 and each calendar year thereafter during Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will be eligible to receive a discretionary bi- annual performance bonus, with a target achievement of 25% of Annual Base Salary (the “Bi-Annual Bonus”). The amount of the Bi-Annual Bonus that shall be payable shall be based on the achievement of predetermined performance goals to be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. The amount of any Bi-Annual Bonus for which Executive is eligible shall be reviewed by the Board from time to time, provided that that target achievement for the Bi-Annual Bonus shall not be less than 25% of Annual Base Salary. Any Bi-Annual Bonus earned by Executive pursuant to this section shall be paid to Executive in accordance with Company policies, less authorized deductions and required withholding obligations, and is payable as follows: the first Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the second quarter ended June 30; and the second Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the calendar year, ended December 31.

 

c.Benefits. Executive shall participate in such full-time employee and executive benefit plans and programs as the Company may from time to time offer to senior executives of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, including, without limitation, an executive family medical package.

 

d.Life Insurance. The Company shall directly pay or reimburse Executive for the premiums of a term life insurance policy, up to a maximum of $10,000 annually. If Executive’s employment terminates for any or no reason, the Company shall have no obligation to continue to bear the costs of the life insurance policy for Executive, but Executive may choose to assume responsibility for payments required to continue the policy.

 

e.Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to 30-days of paid time-off for vacation, as well as sick leave, holidays and other paid time-off benefits provided by the Company from time to time which are applicable to the Company’s executive officers in accordance with Company policy. The opportunity to take paid time off is contingent upon Executive’s workload and ability to manage his schedule.

 

f.Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect from time to time.

 

 2 

 

 

3.Equity Awards.

 

a.Stock Option. Upon the Company becoming publicly traded on a national exchange, and further subject to approval by the Board, on the date determined in accordance with the Company’s established policy, Executive shall be granted a five-year option (the “Option”) to purchase a total of 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock as follows: 100,000 shares on the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; 100,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; and 25,000 shares on the last day of each quarter, or March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, in each calendar year. The per share exercise price of the Option shall be equal to the per share closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The Option shall vest and become exercisable subject to the terms set forth in the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan expected to be approved by the Board and effectuated prior to the Company going public by way of Initial Public Offering of its common stock on a national exchange. The Option shall otherwise be subject to the terms of the plan pursuant to which it is granted and/or an option agreement to be entered into between Executive and the Company.

 

b.Additional Equity Awards. Executive shall be eligible to be granted additional equity awards in accordance with the Company’s policies as in effect from time to time, as recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

 

4.Termination.

 

a.Termination of Employment. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, in each case (other than a termination by the Company for Cause) at any time upon not less than 90-days notice to the other Party (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “Termination Date”). Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (a) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination; (b) unused paid time off (consistent with Section 2.f. hereof) paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate; (c) additional vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements; and (d) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.g. hereof (collectively, the “Accrued Amounts”). The Accrued Amounts described in Section 4.a. shall by paid to the Executive within 30 days following the Termination Date (or, if later, following the Executive’s presentation of supporting documentation for unreimbursed expenses in accordance with 2.g.).

 

b.Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated (a) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (b) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, (i) the Executive shall be entitled to continuation of the Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date for 12 months following the Termination Date paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, but no less frequently than monthly (the “Base Salary Continuation”); and (ii) if the Executive elects to continue group health coverage under any Company group health plan pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall reimburse the Executive for a portion of his COBRA premiums, such that his unreimbursed cost of COBRA premiums does not exceed the cost to the Executive of such health plan premiums immediately prior to termination, for a period of up to one year after his termination (or until he is no longer eligible for COBRA continuation, if sooner). Notwithstanding clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, such reimbursements for COBRA premiums shall not be made to the extent such payments would result in any additional tax or penalty to the Company under the Affordable Care Act or any other applicable law. In the event the group health coverage is self-insured, the Company shall include in the Executive’s gross income, the imputed value of the employer-subsidized COBRA premiums. The Executive shall be responsible for the full amount of COBRA premiums for any periods exceeding the time set forth above. In addition, in the event of a termination covered by this Section 4.b., the Executive shall be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of his annual Base Salary (“Bonus Severance”).The Company’s obligations to pay the Base Salary Continuation, the Bonus Severance and COBRA premiums described above shall be conditioned upon the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, and without limitation of any remedies to which the Company may be entitled, the Base Salary Continuation shall be paid in equal installments commencing during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date, the Bonus Severance shall be paid during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date and the reimbursement of COBRA premiums shall be made after substantiation of such expenses; provided, that, the Executive has signed and delivered to the Company the release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and B (the “Release”) and the period (if any) during which the Release can be revoked has expired within such sixty (60) day period; provided, further, that, if such sixty (60) day period begins in one calendar year and ends in another calendar year, to the extent required under Section 409A (as defined below), payment of the Base Salary Continuation installments, Bonus Severance and reimbursement of the COBRA premiums that otherwise would have been paid during that sixty (60) day period shall be accumulated and paid in the second calendar year after expiration of the period for revoking the Release (but within the specified sixty (60) day period).

 

 3 

 

 

c.Voluntary Resignation by the Executive other than for Good Reason; Termination due to Death or Disability; Termination Due to, Upon or Following Non-Renewal of the Agreement. If (a) the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment at any time, other than for Good Reason, (b) if the Executive’s employment is terminated due to the Executive’s death or Disability or (c) if the Executive’s employment terminates due to, upon or following non-renewal of the Agreement by either Party in accordance with Section 1.a., then the Executive (or his estate) shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

d.Termination by the Company for Cause. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, then the Executive shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

e.Exclusive Remedy. The foregoing payments upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits due the Executive upon termination of his employment.

 

f.Resignation from All Positions. Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the Termination Date, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the boards of directors (and any committee thereof) of the Board, if applicable. The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

 4 

 

 

g.Cooperation. Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company.

 

h.Duty of Confidentiality. Executive agrees that during employment with the Company and for a period of two (2) years following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, divulge or make use of any Confidential Information of the Company other than in the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company. While employed by the Company, Executive shall make all reasonable efforts to protect and maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of the Company. In the event that Executive becomes aware of unauthorized disclosures of the Confidential Information by anyone at any time, whether intentionally or by accident, Executive shall promptly notify the Company. This Agreement does not limit the remedies available to the Company under common or statutory law as to trade secrets or other types of confidential information, which may impose longer duties of non-disclosure.

 

i.Return of Property and Information. Executive agrees not to remove any Company property from Company premises, except when authorized by the Company. Executive agrees to return all Company property and information (whether confidential or not) within Executive’s possession or control within seven (7) calendar days following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company. Such property and information includes, but is not limited to, the original and any copy (regardless of the manner in which it is recorded) of all information provided by Company to Executive or which Executive has developed or collected in the scope of Executive’s employment with the Company, as well as all Company-issued equipment, supplies, accessories, vehicles, keys, instruments, tools, devices, computers, cell phones, pagers, materials, documents, plans, records, notebooks, drawings, or papers. Upon request by the Company, Executive shall certify in writing that Executive has complied with this provision; and has permanently deleted all Company information from any computers or other electronic storage devices or media owned by Executive. Executive may only retain information relating the Executive’s benefit plans and compensation to the extent needed to prepare Executive’s tax returns.

 

j.Assignment of Work Product and Inventions. Executive hereby assigns and grants to the Company (and will upon request take any actions needed to formally assign and grant to Company and/or obtain patents, trademark registrations or copyrights belonging to Company) the sole and exclusive ownership of any and all inventions, information, reports, computer software or programs, writings, technical information or work product collected or developed by Executive, alone or with others, during the term of Executive's employment relating to the Company. This duty applies whether or not the forgoing inventions or information are made or prepared in the course of employment with the Company, so long as such inventions or information relate to the Business of Company and have been developed in whole or in part during the term of Executive's employment. Executive agrees to advise the Company in writing of each invention that Executive, alone or with others, makes or conceives during the term of Executive's employment and which relate to the Business of Company. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, Executive shall not be required to assign, nor shall Executive be deemed to have assigned, any of Executive’s rights in any invention that Executive develops entirely on his own time without using Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, or Trade Secrets, except for inventions that either: (1) relate, at the time that the invention is conceived or reduced to practice, to the Business of Company or to actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company; or (2) result from any work performed by Executive for the Company on behalf of the Company. Inventions which Executive developed before Executive came to work for the Company, if any, are described in the attached Exhibit B, and excluded from this Section. The failure of the parties to attach any Exhibit B to this agreement shall be deemed an admission by Executive that Executive does not have any pre-existing inventions.

 

 5 

 

 

k.Non-Competition. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, and within the Restricted Territory, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, perform services on behalf of a Competing Business, and which are the same as or similar to those types of services conducted, authorized, offered, or provided by Executive to the Company within 24 months prior to Executive’s termination or resignation.

 

l.Non-Recruitment of Company Employees and Contractors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit or induce any employee or independent contractor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, to terminate or lessen such employment or contract with the Company.

 

m.Non-Solicitation of Company Customers. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective customers of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of selling any products or services to such customers on behalf of a Competing Business.

 

n.Non-Solicitation of Company Vendors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective Vendor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of purchasing products or services to support a Competing Business.

 

o.Acknowledgements. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the provisions of Section 4 are reasonable as to time, scope and territory given the Company’s need to protect its Confidential Information and its relationships and goodwill with its customers, suppliers, employees and contractors, all of which have been developed at great time and expense to the Company. Executive represents that Executive has the skills and abilities to obtain alternative employment that would not violate these Restrictive Covenants in the event that Executive leaves employment with the Company, and that these Restrictive Covenants do not pose an undue hardship on Executive. Executive further acknowledges that Executive’s breach of any of the provisions of Section 4 would likely cause irreparable injury to the Company, and therefore entitle the Company to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedies available in law or equity, without the necessity of posting a bond.

 

5.Assignment and Successors.

 

The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise), and may assign or encumber this Agreement and its rights hereunder as security for indebtedness of the Company and its affiliates. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive and their respective successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees, as applicable. None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law.

 

 6 

 

 

6.Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

a.Work Eligibility; Confidentiality Agreement. As a condition of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will be required to provide evidence of Executive’s identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. It is required that Executive bring the appropriate documentation with Executive at the time of employment. As a further condition of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall enter into and abide by the Company’s standard Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement (the “Confidential Information Agreement”).

 

b.Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

 

c.Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any Party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid (or if it is sent through any other method agreed upon by the parties), as follows:

 

(i)If to the Company at:
MGO Global Inc.
1515 SE 17th St, Suite 121/ 460596
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33346

 

(ii)If to Executive, at the address set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

(iii)Or at any other address as any Party shall have specified by notice in writing to the other Party.

 

d.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

e.Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, is intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral. The Parties further intend that this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

 

 7 

 

 

f.Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of Company. By an instrument in writing similarly executed, Executive or a duly authorized officer of the Company, as applicable, may waive compliance by the other Party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; provided, however, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.

 

g.Arbitration. Executive and the Company agree that if any dispute, controversy or claim should arise between Executive and the Company (including claims against its employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, successors and assigns) relating or pertaining to or arising out of Executive’s employment with the Company or this Agreement, the dispute will be submitted exclusively to binding arbitration before a neutral arbitrator conducted in the state of Florida, in accordance with the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force. This means that disputes will be decided by an arbitrator rather than a court or jury, and that both Executive and the Company waive their respective rights to a court or jury trial. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive and the Company each have the right to resolve any issue or dispute over intellectual property rights by court action instead of arbitration.

 

h.Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any allowances and reimbursements) any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges which the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.

 

7.Section 409A.

 

The intent of the Parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (collectively with the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date, “Section 409A”), and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be exempt therefrom. If Executive notifies the Company that Executive has received advice of tax counsel of a national reputation with expertise in Section 409A that any provision of this Agreement would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A (with specificity as to the reason therefor) or the Company independently makes such determination, the Company and Executive shall take commercially reasonable efforts to reform such provision to try to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A, provided that any such modifications shall not increase the cost or liability to the Company. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to Executive and the Company of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A.

 

 8 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.  
       
  By:  /s/ Julian Groves    
       
  Name: Julian Groves, Chief Commercial Officer and Director  
       
  EXECUTIVE  
       
  By: /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda  
       
  Name: Maximiliano Ojeda  

 

 9 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between MGO GLOBAL INC., a Delaware company,, on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and other corporate affiliates (collectively referred to herein as the “Company”), and MAXIMILIANO OJEDA (“Employee”) (the Company and Employee are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”) as of July 19, 2022 (the “Effective Date”).

 

In consideration of Employee’s employment or continuing employment with the Company (hereafter, “employment”), which Employee acknowledges to be good and valuable consideration for Employee’s obligations hereunder, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Representations and Acknowledgements. Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) among the Company’s most valuable and indispensable assets are its Confidential Information and its close relationships with its Customers (defined below) and Suppliers (defined below, which includes, without limitation, employees), which the Company has devoted and continues to devote a substantial amount of time, money and other resources to develop; (ii) in connection with Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee will be exposed to and acquire the Company’s Confidential Information and develop, at the Company’s expense and support, special and close relationships with the Company’s Customers and Suppliers; (iii) Employee would not be able to engage in the activities restricted by this Sections 3 through 5 below without using or disclosing Confidential Information and trade secrets of the Company; (iv) the Company’s Confidential Information and close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers must be protected; (v) the Company is employing or continuing to employ Employee only because of the promises and acknowledgements that Employee makes in this Agreement; (vi) to the extent required by law, the covenants in this Agreement are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint on Employee than is necessary to protect the Company’s Confidential Information, close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers, and other legitimate business interests; (vii) Employee’s compliance with such covenants will not inhibit Employee from earning a living or from working in Employee’s chosen profession; and (viii) any breach of such covenants will result in the Company being placed at an unfair competitive disadvantage and cause the Company serious and irreparable harm to its business.

 

2.Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information. In the course of Employee's employment hereunder, Employee will receive, contribute to the production of, become privy to the Company's Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined). Employee further understands and acknowledges that this Confidential Information and the Company’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate.

 

 1 

 

 

2.1.Employee agrees that during and in perpetuity after Employee’s employment by Company, Employee shall (i) hold in confidence and treat all Confidential Information as strictly confidential; (ii) not directly or indirectly disclose, publish, communicate or make available Confidential Information, or allow it to be disclosed, published, communicated or made available, in whole or part, to any entity or person whatsoever, except as required in the good faith performance of Employee’s duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent); and (iii) not to access or use any Confidential Information, and not to copy any documents, records, files, media or other resources containing any Confidential Information, or remove any such documents, records, files, media or other resources from the premises or control of the Company, except as required in the good faith performance of Employee’s duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent). Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent disclosure of Confidential Information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or pursuant to the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that the disclosure does not exceed the extent of disclosure required by such law, regulation or order. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Employee shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to an authorized officer of the Company after receiving such order, but in any event sufficiently in advance of making any disclosure to permit the Company to contest the order or seek confidentiality protections, as determined in the Company’s sole discretion. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and in perpetuity thereafter, Employee shall hold in confidence and shall not directly or indirectly reveal report, publish, copy, duplicate, disclose, transfer or otherwise misappropriate any Confidential Information to any person or entity, or utilize such Confidential Information for any purpose, except within the course of Employee’s employment with Company.

 

2.2.All notes, data, reference materials, sketches, drawings, memoranda, documentation and records in any form or media in any way incorporating or reflecting any Confidential Information of Company shall belong exclusively to Company. Upon termination of his employment for any reason, or at any time Company may request prior thereto, Employee shall immediately surrender and turn over to Company any of Company’s property whatsoever and all Confidential Information of Company, whether the same be in writing, print, copy, audio or video tape, computer program or disc, picture, or any other medium whatsoever, and whether appearing in original documents, summaries, excerpts, abstracts or other formats, and shall provide Company with all information necessary to access and use said Confidential Information. Employee shall have no right to retain any originals or copies of the foregoing for any reason whatsoever after termination of his employment hereunder without the express prior written consent of Company and, upon termination, Employee shall certify in writing that he no longer possesses and has not distributed or retained any Confidential Information of Company or any of Company’s property whatsoever.

 

2.3.Notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement, the obligation of Employee to protect the confidentiality of any Confidential Information shall terminate as to any information or materials which: (i) are, or become, public knowledge through no act or failure to act of Employee in violation of Employee’s obligations to the Company; (ii) are publicly disclosed by the proprietor thereof; (iii) are lawfully obtained without obligations of confidentiality by Employee from a third party after reasonable inquiry regarding the authority of such third party to possess and divulge the same; (iv) are independently developed by Employee from sources or through persons that Employee can demonstrate had no access to Confidential Information; or (v) are lawfully known by Employee at the time of disclosure other than by reason of discussions with or disclosures by Company. Employee’s confidentiality obligations set forth herein shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employee’s rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and further described in Section 9 below.

 

 2 

 

 

2.4.As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information or material, whether oral or written, that is proprietary to Company or designated (either expressly or by virtue of the manner in which such information or material is traditionally treated in business settings) as confidential information by Company and not generally known by non-Company personnel, which Employee may develop or which Employee may receive, obtain knowledge of or become privy to through or as a result of Employee’s relationship with Company (including information conceived, originated, discovered or developed in whole or in part by Employee). “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to, the following types of information and other information of a similar nature (whether or not reduced to writing): trade secrets, discoveries, ideas, concepts, software in various stages of development, designs, drawings, specifications, techniques, models, data, source code, object code, documentation, diagrams, flow charts, research, development, processes, procedures, “know-how”, marketing techniques and materials, marketing and development plans, names of employees and information related to them, customer names, contacts, and other information related to customers, price lists, pricing policies, and financial data, information and projections. “Confidential Information” also includes any information described above which Company obtains from another party and which Company treats as proprietary or designates as “Confidential Information,” whether or not owned or developed by Company. Information that is publicly known and that is generally employed by the trade or generic information or knowledge which Employee would have learned in the course of similar work elsewhere in the trade is not intended to and shall be deemed not to be a part of the “Confidential Information.”

 

2.5.Employee understands that the above list is not exhaustive, and that Confidential Information also includes other information that is marked or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary, or that would otherwise appear to a reasonable person to be confidential or proprietary in the context and circumstances in which the information is known or used.

 

2.6.Employee acknowledges that Employee has been notified in accordance with the federal Uniform Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S. Code § 1839) that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (a) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Employee also acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit Employee from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or regulatory body or making other disclosures that are protected under any law or regulation, or from filing a charge with or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by any governmental agency or regulatory body.

 

3.Agreement Not to Solicit Customers. Employee agrees that during his employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason whatsoever, Employee shall not, either directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, (i) solicit, initiate contact with, call upon, or otherwise enter into a relationship with any customers or actively sought prospective customers of Company with whom Employee had material contact during his employment with Company or about which Employee obtained Confidential Information (collectively, “Customers”), for the purpose of soliciting, selling, diverting to or otherwise providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company (collectively, “Competitive Activities”), including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies, unless agreed to in writing by both parties; or (ii) solicit, induce, or cause any Customer to terminate, reduce or refrain from renewing or extending its contractual or other business relationship with the Company.

 

 3 

 

 

3.1.Material Contact. For purposes of this Agreement, “material contact” exists between Employee and each Customer with whom Employee personally interacts on behalf of Company, whether such interaction is conducted in person, in writing, by telephone or by other form of communication.

 

4.Agreement Not to Solicit Employees and Independent Contractors. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actively encourage or induce the voluntary termination of, or recruit or hire, or attempt to recruit or hire, any person(s) then employed by or associated with Company as an employee or, on an exclusive basis, an independent contractor, consultant or other supplier of goods or services to the Company (collectively, “Suppliers”), whether or not such recruit or hire is a full-time, part-time or temporary employee, independent contractor or consultant, and whether or not such employment or other engagement is for a determined period or is at-will, for the purpose of employment, consultancy, or serving as an independent contractor for, directly or indirectly, any business entity which engages in the business of design, manufacture and sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies.

 

5.Agreement Not to Compete. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, engage in the business of providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company, including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies, within the Territory (as defined below). As used herein, “Territory” means any state in the United States or any foreign country in which the Company is doing business or in which it is contemplating to do business pursuant to a then current business plan.

 

6.Proprietary Rights.

 

6.1.Work Product. Employee agrees that all inventions, ideas, writings, works of authorship, technology, discoveries, copyrightable or patentable subject matter, and other work product of any nature whatsoever that, in whole or in part, that are made, conceived, created, prepared, produced, authored, edited or amended (i) through the use of any of the Company’s Confidential Information or any of the Company’s equipment or facilities or (ii) by Employee, individually or jointly with others, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company and relating in any way to the business or contemplated business, research or development of the Company (regardless of when or where the Work Product is prepared or whose equipment or other resources is used in preparing the same) and all printed, physical and electronic copies, all improvements, rights and claims related to the foregoing, and other tangible embodiments thereof (collectively, “Work Product”), as well as any and all rights in and to copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks (and related goodwill), mask works, patents and other intellectual property rights therein arising in any jurisdiction throughout the world and all related rights of priority under international conventions with respect thereto, including all pending and future applications and registrations therefor, and continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, reissues, extensions and renewals thereof (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”), shall belong exclusively to Company and shall be considered part of Confidential Information (as the case may be) for purposes of this Agreement.

 

 4 

 

 

For purposes of this Agreement, Work Product includes, but is not limited to, Company information, including plans, publications, research, strategies, techniques, agreements, documents, negotiations, know-how, computer programs, computer applications, software design, web design, work in process, databases, manuals, developments, reports, graphics, drawings, sketches, market studies, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, product designs, styles, models, inventions, unpublished patent applications, original works of authorship, discoveries, experimental processes, specifications, customer information, customer lists, manufacturing information, marketing and advertising information, and sales information.

 

6.2.Company, its designees, and its assigns shall have the right to use and/or to apply for patents, copyrights or other statutory or common law protections for such Work Product in any and all countries. Employee shall provide reasonable assistance to Company (at Company’s expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law Intellectual Property Rights for such Work Product in any and all countries. To that end, Employee shall execute, during and after his employment with Company, all documents reasonably related to the application, procurement, and enforcement of patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law protections, as the Company or its counsel may request, together with any assignments thereof to Company or its designee.

 

6.3.Work Made for Hire; Assignment. Employee acknowledges that, by reason of being engaged by the Company at the relevant times, to the extent permitted by law, all of the Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is “work made for hire” as defined in the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 101), and such copyrights are therefore owned by the Company. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company, for no additional consideration, Employee’s entire right, title and interest in and to all Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights therein, including the right to sue, counterclaim and recover for all past, present and future infringement, misappropriation or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit the Company’s rights, title or interest in any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than that the Company would have had in the absence of this Agreement.

 

6.4.Further Assurances; Power of Attorney. During and after Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company to (i) apply for, obtain, perfect and transfer to the Company the Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights in the Work Product in any jurisdiction in the world; and (ii) maintain, protect and enforce the same, including, without limitation, executing and delivering to the Company any and all applications, oaths, declarations, affidavits, waivers, assignments and other documents and instruments as shall be requested by the Company. Employee hereby irrevocably grants the Company power of attorney to execute and deliver any such documents on Employee’s behalf in Employee’s name and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to transfer the Work Product to the Company and further the transfer, issuance, prosecution and maintenance of all Intellectual Property Rights therein, to the full extent permitted by law, if Employee does not promptly cooperate with the Company’s request (without limiting the rights the Company shall have in such circumstances by operation of law). The power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall not be affected by Employee’s subsequent incapacity.

 

 5 

 

 

6.5.Moral Rights. To the extent any copyrights are assigned under this Agreement, Employee hereby irrevocably waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any and all claims Employee may now or hereafter have in any jurisdiction to all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal and any other rights that may be known as “moral rights” with respect to all Work Product and all Intellectual Property Rights therein.

 

6.6.No License. Employee understands that this Agreement does not, and shall not be construed to, grant Employee any license or right of any nature with respect to any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights or any Confidential Information, materials, software or other tools made available to Employee by the Company.

 

6.7.No infringement. Employee represents and warrants to the Company that all Work Product Employee delivers to the Company shall be original and shall not infringe upon or violate any patent, copyright or proprietary right of any person or third party.

 

6.8.License to Prior Invention. If Employee in the course of Employee’s employment for the Company incorporates into a Company product Work Product that Employee has, alone or jointly with others, conceived, developed or reduced to practice prior to the commencement of Employee’s employment with the Company in which Employee has a property right (each, a “Prior Invention”), Employee hereby grants to the Company a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty free, irrevocable, worldwide license (with the full right to sublicense) to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Invention. Employee hereby represents and warrants that all Prior Inventions have been listed by Employee on Exhibit B hereto or, if no such list is attached, that there are no Prior Inventions. Employee will not incorporate any Work Product owned by any third party into any Company Work Product without the Company’s prior written permission.

 

6.9.License to Information and Likeness. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligations, to use Employee’s name, photograph, likeness and approved biographical data for the purpose of advertising, marketing, promoting, publicizing and exploiting any matter related to the Company, its products and services and/or Employee’s duties performed hereunder.

 

6.10.Severability. To the extent this Agreement is required to be construed in accordance with laws of any state which precludes as a requirement in an employee agreement the assignment of certain classes of inventions made by an employee, this Section 6 will be interpreted not to apply to any invention which a court rules and/or the Company agrees falls within such classes.

 

7.Conflicts of Interest. During the term of his employment, Employee shall not engage in activities or practices involving any possible conflict of interest. These activities or practices may subject Employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Employee should avoid at all times the appearance of, as well as an actual, conflict of interest.

 

 6 

 

 

7.1.Conflicts of interest activities or practices include, but are not limited to: engaging in business conduct that is damaging to the reputation of the Company, accepting outside employment in any organization that does business with the Company or is a competitor of the Company, investing or having a financial interest in a private company which does business with the Company or having stock ownership in a publicly traded company which does business with the Company if the relationship(s) may influence Employee’s business decisions (this applies to Employee and to close relatives and is applicable at the time of hire and at any time during the course of employment). If an individual does own stock in a company that does business with the Company, the relationship should be disclosed upon employment and all significant business dealings with that company will be reviewed.

 

7.2.Employee may not accept gifts from any person or company doing or seeking to do business with the Company. Employees are allowed to accept advertising novelties and other gifts of nominal value.

 

7.3.Employee may not give, offer, or promise, directly or indirectly, anything of value to any representative of any company doing business with the Company.

 

7.4.Employee may not select vendors on the basis of anything other than the merit of their products or services or prices for such products or services.

 

7.5.Discussing company information with the press without prior authorization from management is also a conflict of interest.

 

8.Security and Access. Employee agrees and covenants (i) to comply with all Company security policies and procedures as in force from time to time including without limitation those regarding computer equipment, telephone systems, voicemail systems, facilities access, monitoring, key cards, access codes, Company intranet, internet, social media and instant messaging systems, computer systems, e-mail systems, computer networks, document storage systems, software, data security, encryption, firewalls, passwords and any and all other Company facilities, IT resources and communication technologies (“Facilities and Information Technology Resources”); (ii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources except as authorized by Company; and (iii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources in any manner after the termination of Employee’s employment by the Company, whether termination is voluntary or involuntary. Employee agrees to notify the Company promptly in the event Employee learns of any violation of the foregoing by others, or of any other misappropriation or unauthorized access, use, reproduction or reverse engineering of, or tampering with any Facilities and Information Technology Resources or other Company property or materials by others. Employee acknowledges and agrees that any property situated on the Company’s premises and owned by the Company, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets, other work areas and other Facilities and Information Technology Resources, is subject to inspection by personnel of the Company at any time with or without notice. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has no expectation of privacy with respect to the Company’s Facilities and Information Technology Resources and that Employee’s activity and any files or messages on or using any of such Facilities and Information Technology Resources may be monitored at any time without notice.

 

 7 

 

 

8.1.Exit Obligations. Upon (i) voluntary or involuntary termination of Employee’s employment or (ii) the Company’s request at any time during Employee’s employment, Employee shall (a) provide or return to the Company any and all Company property, including keys, key cards, access cards, identification cards, security devices, Company credit cards, network access devices, computers, cell phones, smartphones, equipment, manuals, reports, files, books, compilations, work product, e-mail messages, recordings, tapes, disks, thumb drives or other removable information storage devices, hard drives and data and all Company documents and materials belonging to the Company and stored in any fashion, including but not limited to those that constitute or contain any Confidential Information or Work Product, that are in the possession or control of Employee, whether they were provided to Employee by the Company or any of its business associates or created by Employee in connection with Employee’s employment by the Company; and (b) delete or destroy all copies of any such documents and materials following return to the Company that remain in Employee’s possession or control, including those stored on any non-Company devices, networks, storage locations and media in Employee’s possession or control.

 

9.Non-disparagement. Employee agrees and covenants that Employee will not at any time make, publish or communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, statements or gestures concerning the Company’s products or services, and existing and prospective customers, suppliers, investors and other associated third parties, or make any maliciously false statements about the Company’s employees and officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 8 shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employee’s rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and described in Section 9 below. Further, this Section does not apply to (i) truthful statements made in connection with legal proceedings, governmental and regulatory investigations and actions; (ii) any other truthful statement or disclosure required by law; or (iii) good faith intra-Company communications made for legitimate business reasons.

 

10.NLRA Compliance. It is the policy of the Company to comply with the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), including without limitation, Section 7 thereof. Thus, to the extent Employee is covered by the NLRA, nothing herein, or in any other the agreement between Employee and the Company or Company policy, shall prohibit Employee together with other Company employees from (i) self-organizing, forming joining or assisting labor organizations; (ii) bargaining collectively through representatives of their own choosing; (iii) discussing wages, hours, working conditions, other labor policies or unionism or for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection; or (iv) posting pictures or videos of employees engaged in such activities or other activities involving collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. However, the Company has an “open door” policy and encourages employees to address such matters instead with their supervisors or a member of management.

 

11.Remedies. Employee acknowledges that the Company’s Confidential Information and the Company’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee, or any other material breach of Employees promises and covenants herein, will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement, Employee hereby consents and agrees that the Company shall be entitled to, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that monetary damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief. Additionally, each of the covenants and restrictions to which Employee is subject under this Agreement, including, without limitation those in Sections 2 through 4 above, shall each be construed as independent of any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement between Employee and the Company, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants and restrictions.

 

 8 

 

 

12.Successors and Assigns.

 

12.1.Assignment by the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement to any subsidiary or corporate affiliate, or to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and permitted successors and assigns.

 

12.2.No Assignment by Employee. Employee may not assign this Agreement or any part hereof. Any purported assignment by Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of purported assignment.

 

13.Governing Law; Jurisdiction and Venue; Jury Waiver. This Agreement, for all purposes, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts-of-law principles. Any action or proceeding by either Party against the other Party, including, without limitation, to enforce this Agreement or otherwise relating to or arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company (or the termination thereof), shall be brought only in any state or federal court located in or closest to Broward County, Florida. The Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue. Employee and the Company each hereby waive the right to trial by jury in any such court action or proceeding between them, regardless of the subject matter, including, without limitation, any action or proceeding based upon, arising out of, or in any way relating to this Agreement and all matters concerning Employee’s employment (or the termination thereof) with the Company.

 

14.Entire Agreement. Unless specifically provided herein, this Agreement contains all the understandings and representations between Employee and the Company pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

 

15.Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by Employee and by a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than Employee). No waiver by either of the Parties of any breach by the other Party hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other Party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time, nor shall the failure of or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver thereof to preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

 

 9 

 

 

16.Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the Parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. The Parties further agree that any such court is expressly authorized to modify any such unenforceable provision of this Agreement in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision from this Agreement in its entirety, whether by rewriting the offending provision, deleting any or all of the offending provision, adding additional language to this Agreement or by making such other modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the Parties as embodied herein to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Parties expressly agree that this Agreement as so modified by the court shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of them. In any event, should one or more of the provisions of this Agreement be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and if such provision or provisions are not modified as provided above, this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had not been set forth herein.

 

17.Captions. Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph.

 

18.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Photographic copies, electronically scanned copies and other facsimiles of this Agreement (including such signed counterparts) may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.

 

19.At-Will Employment; No Oral Agreements. The Company and Employee acknowledge and agree that this Agreement does not affect the ability of either party to terminate their employment relationship, which relationship, unless otherwise agreed to in writing signed by an officer of the Company, may be terminated at any time, for any or no reason. No supervisor, manager or other Company representative has the authority to make any verbal promises, commitments, or statements of any kind regarding the Company’s policies, procedures or any other issues that are legally binding on the Company.

 

EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND AGREES THAT THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE REASONABLE AND PROPER PROTECTION OF THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS. EMPLOYEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE COMPANY HAS ADVISED HIM THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO HAVE THIS AGREEMENT REVIEWED BY AN ATTORNEY OF HIS SELECTION PRIOR TO SIGNING, AND HE HAS EITHER DONE SO OR ELECTED TO FOREGO THAT RIGHT.

 

 10 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date above.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.  
       
  Signature:  /s/ Julian Groves    
  By: Name: Julian Groves    
  Title: Chief Commercial Officer  
       
  EMPLOYEE:    
       
  Signature: /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda  
  Maximiliano Ojeda  

 

 11 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP

 

Title   Date   Identifying Number or Brief Description
         
         
         
         
         

 

####

 

 1 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF RELEASE

GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS

 

 

 

1.Maximiliano Ojeda, (“Executive”), for himself and his family, heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and their respective successors and assigns, in exchange for the Severance Benefits, as defined under the Executive Employment Agreement made and entered effective as of the 19th day of July 2022, by and between MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) and the Executive to which this release is attached as Exhibit C to the Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), does hereby release and forever discharge the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliated companies, successors and assigns, and its current or former directors, officers or shareholders in such capacities (collectively with the Company, the “Released Parties”) from any and all actions, causes of action, suits, controversies, claims and demands whatsoever, for or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever, whether known or unknown including, but not limited to, all claims under any applicable laws arising under or in connection with Executive’s employment or termination thereof, whether for tort, breach of express or implied employment contract, wrongful discharge, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or defamation or injuries incurred on the job or incurred as a result of loss of employment. Executive acknowledges that the Company encouraged him to consult with an attorney of his choosing, and through this General Release of Claims encourages him to consult with his attorney with respect to possible claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) and that he understands that the ADEA is a Federal statute that, among other things, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in employment and employee benefits and benefit plans. Without limiting the generality of the release provided above, Executive expressly waives any and all claims under ADEA that he may have as of the date hereof. Executive further understands that by signing this General Release of Claims he is in fact waiving, releasing and forever giving up any claim under the ADEA as well as all other laws within the scope of this paragraph 1 that may have existed on or prior to the date hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph 1 to the contrary, this General Release of Claims shall not apply to (i) any rights to receive any payments or benefits to which Executive is entitled under COBRA, the Employment agreement or any other compensation or employee benefit plans in which Executive is eligible to participate at the time of execution of this General Release of Claims, (ii) any rights or claims that may arise as a result of events occurring after the date this General Release of Claims is executed, any indemnification and advancement rights Executive may have as a former employee, officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies including, without limitation, any rights arising pursuant to the articles of incorporation, bylaws and any other organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any claims for benefits under any directors’ and officers’ liability policy maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies in accordance with the terms of such policy, and (iv) any rights as a holder of equity securities of the Company (clauses (i) through (iv), the "Reserved Claims").

 

2.Executive represents that he has not filed against the Released Parties any complaints, charges, or lawsuits arising out of his employment, or any other matter arising on or prior to the date of this General Release of Claims other than Reserved Claims, and covenants and agrees that he will never individually or with any person file, or commence the filing of any lawsuits, complaints or proceedings with any governmental agency, or against the Released Parties with respect to any of the matters released by Executive pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof (a “Proceeding”); provided, however, Executive shall not have relinquished his right to (i) commence a Proceeding to challenge whether Executive knowingly and voluntarily waived his rights under ADEA; (ii) file a charge with an administrative agency or take part in any agency investigation or (iii) commence a Proceeding pursuant to the Reserved Claims. Executive does agree, however, that he is waiving his right to recover any money in connection with such an investigation or charge filed by him or by any other individual, or a charge filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other federal, state or local agency, except as prohibited by law.

 

 1 

 

 

3.Executive hereby acknowledges that the Company has informed him that he has up to twenty-one (21) days to sign this General Release of Claims and he may knowingly and voluntarily waive that twenty-one (21) day period by signing this General Release of Claims earlier. Executive also understands that he shall have seven (7) days following the date on which he signs this General Release of Claims within which to revoke it by providing a written notice of his revocation to the Company.

 

4.Executive acknowledges that this General Release of Claims will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the laws of Florida, without giving effect to any choice of law principles.

 

5.Executive acknowledges that he has read this General Release of Claims, that he has been advised that he should consult with an attorney before he executes this general release of claims, and that he understands all of its terms and executes it voluntarily and with full knowledge of its significance and the consequences thereof.

 

This General Release of Claims shall take effect on the eighth day following Executive’s execution of this General Release of Claims unless Executive’s written revocation is delivered to the Company within seven (7) days after such execution.

 

  EXECUTIVE  
     
     
  Maximiliano Ojeda  

 

####

 

 2 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the Agreement) is made and entered effective as of the 19th day of July, 2022 (the Effective Date), by and between MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and Virginia Hilfiger (the Executive).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board) has approved the Company entering into an employment agreement with the Executive;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is now the Chief Design Officer of the Company and thus a key senior executive of the Company, as well as an executive member of the Board;

 

WHEREAS, the Company would like enter into a formal agreement with the Executive to set forth the terms of Executives employment and to provide for certain severance payments and other benefits in the event Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the Executive for Good Reason(as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, Executive wishes to be employed by the Company and provide full-time services to the Company in return for the compensation and benefits detailed herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, including the agreements set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.Employment.

 

a.Term. Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the Initial Term); provided however that the period of the Executives employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one-year periods thereafter (each, a Renewal Term), in each case unless either Party hereto provides the other Party hereto with written notice that such period shall not be so extended at least one hundred and twenty (120) days in advance of the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Term, as applicable (the Initial Term and any Renewal Term, collectively, the Term). The Executives period of employment pursuant to this Agreement shall hereinafter be referred to as the Employment Period.

 

b.Position and Duties. Executive (i) shall serve as the Chief Design Officer of the Company with responsibilities, duties and authority customary for such position, subject to direction by the Chief Executive Officer and the Board; (ii) shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer; (iii) shall devote substantially all Executives working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries; and (iv) agrees to observe and comply with the Companys rules and policies as adopted by the Company from time to time. In addition, as of the Effective Date, the Executive shall retain his appointment as an executive member of the Board and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause Executive to be reelected as a member of the Board while employed hereunder.

 

 1 

 

 

c.Place of Employment. Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement at the Companys executive offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In addition, the Company may from time to time require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations on the Companys business.

 

2.Compensation and Related Matters.

 

a.Annual Base Salary. Executive shall receive a base salary at the rate of $275,000 per annum (the “Annual Base Salary), subject to withholdings and deductions and which shall be paid to Executive in accordance with the customary payroll practices and procedures of the Company. Such Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Boards Compensation Committee not less than annually and may be adjusted from time to time.

 

b.Bi-Annual Bonus. Commencing in the calendar year 2022 and each calendar year thereafter during Executives employment with the Company, Executive will be eligible to receive a discretionary bi- annual performance bonus, with a target achievement of 25% of Annual Base Salary (the Bi-Annual Bonus). The amount of the Bi-Annual Bonus that shall be payable shall be based on the achievement of predetermined performance goals to be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. The amount of any Bi-Annual Bonus for which Executive is eligible shall be reviewed by the Board from time to time, provided that that target achievement for the Bi-Annual Bonus shall not be less than 25% of Annual Base Salary. Any Bi-Annual Bonus earned by Executive pursuant to this section shall be paid to Executive in accordance with Company policies, less authorized deductions and required withholding obligations, and is payable as follows: the first Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the second quarter ended June 30; and the second Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the calendar year, ended December 31.

 

c.Benefits. Executive shall participate in such full-time employee and executive benefit plans and programs as the Company may from time to time offer to senior executives of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, including, without limitation, an executive family medical package.

 

d.Life Insurance. The Company shall directly pay or reimburse Executive for the premiums of a term life insurance policy, up to a maximum of $10,000 annually. If Executives employment terminates for any or no reason, the Company shall have no obligation to continue to bear the costs of the life insurance policy for Executive, but Executive may choose to assume responsibility for payments required to continue the policy.

 

e.Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to 30-days of paid time-off for vacation, as well as sick leave, holidays and other paid time-off benefits provided by the Company from time to time which are applicable to the Companys executive officers in accordance with Company policy. The opportunity to take paid time off is contingent upon Executives workload and ability to manage his schedule.

 

f.Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executives duties to the Company in accordance with the Companys applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect from time to time.

 

 2 

 

 

3.Equity Awards.

 

a.Stock Option. Upon the Company becoming publicly traded on a national exchange, and further subject to approval by the Board, on the date determined in accordance with the Companys established policy, Executive shall be granted a five-year option (the Option) to purchase a total of 300,000 shares of the Companys common stock as follows: 100,000 shares on the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; 100,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; and 25,000 shares on the last day of each quarter, or March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, in each calendar year. The per share exercise price of the Option shall be equal to the per share closing price of the Companys common stock on the date of grant. The Option shall vest and become exercisable subject to the terms set forth in the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan expected to be approved by the Board and effectuated prior to the Company going public by way of Initial Public Offering of its common stock on a national exchange. The Option shall otherwise be subject to the terms of the plan pursuant to which it is granted and/or an option agreement to be entered into between Executive and the Company.

 

b.Additional Equity Awards. Executive shall be eligible to be granted additional equity awards in accordance with the Companys policies as in effect from time to time, as recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

 

4.Termination.

 

a.Termination of Employment. The Company may terminate the Executives employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, and the Executive may voluntarily terminate her employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, in each case (other than a termination by the Company for Cause) at any time upon not less than 90-days notice to the other Party (the date on which the Executives employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the Termination Date). Upon the termination of the Executives employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (a) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination; (b) unused paid time off (consistent with Section 2.f. hereof) paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate; (c) additional vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements; and (d) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.g. hereof (collectively, the Accrued Amounts). The Accrued Amounts described in Section 4.a. shall by paid to the Executive within 30 days following the Termination Date (or, if later, following the Executives presentation of supporting documentation for unreimbursed expenses in accordance with 2.g.).

 

b.Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. If the Executives employment is terminated (a) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (b) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, (i) the Executive shall be entitled to continuation of the Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date for 12 months following the Termination Date paid in accordance with the Companys normal payroll practices, but no less frequently than monthly (the Base Salary Continuation); and (ii) if the Executive elects to continue group health coverage under any Company group health plan pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (COBRA), the Company shall reimburse the Executive for a portion of her COBRA premiums, such that her unreimbursed cost of COBRA premiums does not exceed the cost to the Executive of such health plan premiums immediately prior to termination, for a period of up to one year after her termination (or until she is no longer eligible for COBRA continuation, if sooner).

 

 3 

 

 

Notwithstanding clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, such reimbursements for COBRA premiums shall not be made to the extent such payments would result in any additional tax or penalty to the Company under the Affordable Care Act or any other applicable law. In the event the group health coverage is self-insured, the Company shall include in the Executives gross income, the imputed value of the employer-subsidized COBRA premiums. The Executive shall be responsible for the full amount of COBRA premiums for any periods exceeding the time set forth above. In addition, in the event of a termination covered by this Section 4.b., the Executive shall be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of her annual Base Salary (Bonus Severance).The Companys obligations to pay the Base Salary Continuation, the Bonus Severance and COBRA premiums described above shall be conditioned upon the Executives continued compliance with her obligations under Section 4 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, and without limitation of any remedies to which the Company may be entitled, the Base Salary Continuation shall be paid in equal installments commencing during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date, the Bonus Severance shall be paid during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date and the reimbursement of COBRA premiums shall be made after substantiation of such expenses; provided, that, the Executive has signed and delivered to the Company the release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and B (the Release) and the period (if any) during which the Release can be revoked has expired within such sixty (60) day period; provided, further, that, if such sixty (60) day period begins in one calendar year and ends in another calendar year, to the extent required under Section 409A (as defined below), payment of the Base Salary Continuation installments, Bonus Severance and reimbursement of the COBRA premiums that otherwise would have been paid during that sixty (60) day period shall be accumulated and paid in the second calendar year after expiration of the period for revoking the Release (but within the specified sixty (60) day period).

 

c.Voluntary Resignation by the Executive other than for Good Reason; Termination due to Death or Disability; Termination Due to, Upon or Following Non-Renewal of the Agreement. If (a) the Executive voluntarily terminates her employment at any time, other than for Good Reason, (b) if the Executives employment is terminated due to the Executives death or Disability or (c) if the Executives employment terminates due to, upon or following non-renewal of the Agreement by either Party in accordance with Section 1.a., then the Executive (or her estate) shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

d.Termination by the Company for Cause. If the Company terminates the Executives employment for Cause, then the Executive shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

e.Exclusive Remedy. The foregoing payments upon termination of the Executives employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits due the Executive upon termination of her employment.

 

f.Resignation from All Positions. Upon the termination of the Executives employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the Termination Date, from all positions she then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the boards of directors (and any committee thereof) of the Board, if applicable. The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

 4 

 

 

g.Cooperation. Following the termination of the Executives employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executives services to the Company.

 

h.Duty of Confidentiality. Executive agrees that during employment with the Company and for a period of two (2) years following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, divulge or make use of any Confidential Information of the Company other than in the performance of Executives duties for the Company. While employed by the Company, Executive shall make all reasonable efforts to protect and maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of the Company. In the event that Executive becomes aware of unauthorized disclosures of the Confidential Information by anyone at any time, whether intentionally or by accident, Executive shall promptly notify the Company. This Agreement does not limit the remedies available to the Company under common or statutory law as to trade secrets or other types of confidential information, which may impose longer duties of non-disclosure.

 

i.Return of Property and Information. Executive agrees not to remove any Company property from Company premises, except when authorized by the Company. Executive agrees to return all Company property and information (whether confidential or not) within Executives possession or control within seven (7) calendar days following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company. Such property and information includes, but is not limited to, the original and any copy (regardless of the manner in which it is recorded) of all information provided by Company to Executive or which Executive has developed or collected in the scope of Executives employment with the Company, as well as all Company-issued equipment, supplies, accessories, vehicles, keys, instruments, tools, devices, computers, cell phones, pagers, materials, documents, plans, records, notebooks, drawings, or papers. Upon request by the Company, Executive shall certify in writing that Executive has complied with this provision; and has permanently deleted all Company information from any computers or other electronic storage devices or media owned by Executive. Executive may only retain information relating the Executives benefit plans and compensation to the extent needed to prepare Executives tax returns.

 

j.Assignment of Work Product and Inventions. Executive hereby assigns and grants to the Company (and will upon request take any actions needed to formally assign and grant to Company and/or obtain patents, trademark registrations or copyrights belonging to Company) the sole and exclusive ownership of any and all inventions, information, reports, computer software or programs, writings, technical information or work product collected or developed by Executive, alone or with others, during the term of Executive's employment relating to the Company. This duty applies whether or not the forgoing inventions or information are made or prepared in the course of employment with the Company, so long as such inventions or information relate to the Business of Company and have been developed in whole or in part during the term of Executive's employment. Executive agrees to advise the Company in writing of each invention that Executive, alone or with others, makes or conceives during the term of Executive's employment and which relate to the Business of Company. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, Executive shall not be required to assign, nor shall Executive be deemed to have assigned, any of Executives rights in any invention that Executive develops entirely on her own time without using Companys equipment, supplies, facilities, or Trade Secrets, except for inventions that either: (1) relate, at the time that the invention is conceived or reduced to practice, to the Business of Company or to actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company; or (2) result from any work performed by Executive for the Company on behalf of the Company. Inventions which Executive developed before Executive came to work for the Company, if any, are described in the attached Exhibit B, and excluded from this Section. The failure of the parties to attach any Exhibit B to this agreement shall be deemed an admission by Executive that Executive does not have any pre-existing inventions.

 

 5 

 

 

k.Non-Competition. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, and within the Restricted Territory, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executives own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, perform services on behalf of a Competing Business, and which are the same as or similar to those types of services conducted, authorized, offered, or provided by Executive to the Company within 24 months prior to Executives termination or resignation.

 

l.Non-Recruitment of Company Employees and Contractors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executives own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit or induce any employee or independent contractor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, to terminate or lessen such employment or contract with the Company.

 

m.Non-Solicitation of Company Customers. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executives own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective customers of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of selling any products or services to such customers on behalf of a Competing Business.

 

n.Non-Solicitation of Company Vendors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executives own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective Vendor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of purchasing products or services to support a Competing Business.

 

o.Acknowledgements. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the provisions of Section 4 are reasonable as to time, scope and territory given the Companys need to protect its Confidential Information and its relationships and goodwill with its customers, suppliers, employees and contractors, all of which have been developed at great time and expense to the Company. Executive represents that Executive has the skills and abilities to obtain alternative employment that would not violate these Restrictive Covenants in the event that Executive leaves employment with the Company, and that these Restrictive Covenants do not pose an undue hardship on Executive. Executive further acknowledges that Executives breach of any of the provisions of Section 4 would likely cause irreparable injury to the Company, and therefore entitle the Company to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedies available in law or equity, without the necessity of posting a bond.

 

5.Assignment and Successors.

 

The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise), and may assign or encumber this Agreement and its rights hereunder as security for indebtedness of the Company and its affiliates. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive and their respective successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees, as applicable. None of Executives rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executives rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law.

 

 6 

 

 

6.Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

a.Work Eligibility; Confidentiality Agreement. As a condition of Executives employment with the Company, Executive will be required to provide evidence of Executives identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. It is required that Executive bring the appropriate documentation with Executive at the time of employment. As a further condition of Executives employment with the Company, Executive shall enter into and abide by the Companys standard Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement (the Confidential Information Agreement).

 

b.Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

 

c.Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any Party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid (or if it is sent through any other method agreed upon by the parties), as follows:

 

  (i) If to the Company at:
    MGO Global Inc.
    1515 SE 17th St, Suite 121/ 460596
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33346

 

(ii)If to Executive, at the address set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

(iii)Or at any other address as any Party shall have specified by notice in writing to the other Party.

 

d.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

e.Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, is intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral. The Parties further intend that this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

 

 7 

 

 

f.Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of Company. By an instrument in writing similarly executed, Executive or a duly authorized officer of the Company, as applicable, may waive compliance by the other Party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; provided, however, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.

 

g.Arbitration. Executive and the Company agree that if any dispute, controversy or claim should arise between Executive and the Company (including claims against its employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, successors and assigns) relating or pertaining to or arising out of Executives employment with the Company or this Agreement, the dispute will be submitted exclusively to binding arbitration before a neutral arbitrator conducted in the state of Florida, in accordance with the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force. This means that disputes will be decided by an arbitrator rather than a court or jury, and that both Executive and the Company waive their respective rights to a court or jury trial. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive and the Company each have the right to resolve any issue or dispute over intellectual property rights by court action instead of arbitration.

 

h.Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any allowances and reimbursements) any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges which the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.

 

7.Section 409A.

 

The intent of the Parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (collectively with the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date, Section 409A), and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be exempt therefrom. If Executive notifies the Company that Executive has received advice of tax counsel of a national reputation with expertise in Section 409A that any provision of this Agreement would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A (with specificity as to the reason therefor) or the Company independently makes such determination, the Company and Executive shall take commercially reasonable efforts to reform such provision to try to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A, provided that any such modifications shall not increase the cost or liability to the Company. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to Executive and the Company of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 8 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.  
       
  By: /s/ Julian Groves  
     
  Name: Julian Groves, Chief Commercial Officer and Director  
     
  EXECUTIVE  
       
  By: /s/ Virginia Hilfiger  
       
  Name: Virginia Hilfiger  

 

 9 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement (Agreement) is entered into by and between MGO GLOBAL INC., a Delaware company,, on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and other corporate affiliates (collectively referred to herein as the Company), and VIRGINIA HILFIGER (Employee) (the Company and Employee are collectively referred to herein as the Parties) as of July 19, 2022 (the Effective Date).

 

In consideration of Employees employment or continuing employment with the Company (hereafter, employment), which Employee acknowledges to be good and valuable consideration for Employees obligations hereunder, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Representations and Acknowledgements. Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) among the Companys most valuable and indispensable assets are its Confidential Information and its close relationships with its Customers (defined below) and Suppliers (defined below, which includes, without limitation, employees), which the Company has devoted and continues to devote a substantial amount of time, money and other resources to develop; (ii) in connection with Employees employment with the Company, Employee will be exposed to and acquire the Companys Confidential Information and develop, at the Companys expense and support, special and close relationships with the Companys Customers and Suppliers; (iii) Employee would not be able to engage in the activities restricted by this Sections 3 through 5 below without using or disclosing

Confidential Information and trade secrets of the Company; (iv) the Companys Confidential Information and close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers must be protected; (v) the Company is employing or continuing to employ Employee only because of the promises and acknowledgements that Employee makes in this Agreement; (vi) to the extent required by law, the covenants in this Agreement are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint on Employee than is necessary to protect the Companys Confidential Information, close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers, and other legitimate business interests; (vii) Employees compliance with such covenants will not inhibit Employee from earning a living or from working in Employees chosen profession; and (viii) any breach of such covenants will result in the Company being placed at an unfair competitive disadvantage and cause the Company serious and irreparable harm to its business.

 

2.Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information. In the course of Employee's employment hereunder, Employee will receive, contribute to the production of, become privy to the Company's Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined). Employee further understands and acknowledges that this Confidential Information and the Companys ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate.

 

2.1.Employee agrees that during and in perpetuity after Employees employment by Company, Employee shall (i) hold in confidence and treat all Confidential Information as strictly confidential; (ii) not directly or indirectly disclose, publish, communicate or make available Confidential Information, or allow it to be disclosed, published, communicated or made available, in whole or part, to any entity or person whatsoever, except as required in the good faith performance of Employees duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent); and (iii) not to access or use any Confidential Information, and not to copy any documents, records, files, media or other resources containing any Confidential Information, or remove any such documents, records, files, media or other resources from the premises or control of the Company, except as required in the good faith performance of Employees duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent). Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent disclosure of Confidential Information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or pursuant to the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that the disclosure does not exceed the extent of disclosure required by such law, regulation or order. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Employee shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to an authorized officer of the Company after receiving such order, but in any event sufficiently in advance of making any disclosure to permit the Company to contest the order or seek confidentiality protections, as determined in the Companys sole discretion. Employee agrees that during Employees employment by Company and in perpetuity thereafter, Employee shall hold in confidence and shall not directly or indirectly reveal report, publish, copy, duplicate, disclose, transfer or otherwise misappropriate any Confidential Information to any person or entity, or utilize such Confidential Information for any purpose, except within the course of Employees employment with Company.

 

 1 

 

 

2.2.All notes, data, reference materials, sketches, drawings, memoranda, documentation and records in any form or media in any way incorporating or reflecting any Confidential Information of Company shall belong exclusively to Company. Upon termination of her employment for any reason, or at any time Company may request prior thereto, Employee shall immediately surrender and turn over to Company any of Companys property whatsoever and all Confidential Information of Company, whether the same be in writing, print, copy, audio or video tape, computer program or disc, picture, or any other medium whatsoever, and whether appearing in original documents, summaries, excerpts, abstracts or other formats, and shall provide Company with all information necessary to access and use said Confidential Information. Employee shall have no right to retain any originals or copies of the foregoing for any reason whatsoever after termination of her employment hereunder without the express prior written consent of Company and, upon termination, Employee shall certify in writing that she no longer possesses and has not distributed or retained any Confidential Information of Company or any of Companys property whatsoever.

 

2.3.Notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement, the obligation of Employee to protect the confidentiality of any Confidential Information shall terminate as to any information or materials which: (i) are, or become, public knowledge through no act or failure to act of Employee in violation of Employees obligations to the Company; (ii) are publicly disclosed by the proprietor thereof; (iii) are lawfully obtained without obligations of confidentiality by Employee from a third party after reasonable inquiry regarding the authority of such third party to possess and divulge the same; (iv) are independently developed by Employee from sources or through persons that Employee can demonstrate had no access to Confidential Information; or (v) are lawfully known by Employee at the time of disclosure other than by reason of discussions with or disclosures by Company. Employees confidentiality obligations set forth herein shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employees rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and further described in Section 9 below.

 

 2 

 

 

2.4.As used in this Agreement, Confidential Informationmeans information or material, whether oral or written, that is proprietary to Company or designated (either expressly or by virtue of the manner in which such information or material is traditionally treated in business settings) as confidential information by Company and not generally known by non-Company personnel, which Employee may develop or which Employee may receive, obtain knowledge of or become privy to through or as a result of Employees relationship with Company (including information conceived, originated, discovered or developed in whole or in part by Employee). Confidential Informationincludes, but is not limited to, the following types of information and other information of a similar nature (whether or not reduced to writing): trade secrets, discoveries, ideas, concepts, software in various stages of development, designs, drawings, specifications, techniques, models, data, source code, object code, documentation, diagrams, flow charts, research, development, processes, procedures, know-how, marketing techniques and materials, marketing and development plans, names of employees and information related to them, customer names, contacts, and other information related to customers, price lists, pricing policies, and financial data, information and projections. Confidential Informationalso includes any information described above which Company obtains from another party and which Company treats as proprietary or designates as Confidential Information,whether or not owned or developed by Company. Information that is publicly known and that is generally employed by the trade or generic information or knowledge which Employee would have learned in the course of similar work elsewhere in the trade is not intended to and shall be deemed not to be a part of the Confidential Information.

 

2.5.Employee understands that the above list is not exhaustive, and that Confidential Information also includes other information that is marked or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary, or that would otherwise appear to a reasonable person to be confidential or proprietary in the context and circumstances in which the information is known or used.

 

2.6.Employee acknowledges that Employee has been notified in accordance with the federal Uniform Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S. Code § 1839) that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (a) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Employee also acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit Employee from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or regulatory body or making other disclosures that are protected under any law or regulation, or from filing a charge with or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by any governmental agency or regulatory body.

 

3.Agreement Not to Solicit Customers. Employee agrees that during her employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason whatsoever, Employee shall not, either directly or indirectly, on her own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, (i) solicit, initiate contact with, call upon, or otherwise enter into a relationship with any customers or actively sought prospective customers of Company with whom Employee had material contact during her employment with Company or about which Employee obtained Confidential Information (collectively, Customers), for the purpose of soliciting, selling, diverting to or otherwise providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company (collectively, Competitive Activities), including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies, unless agreed to in writing by both parties; or (ii) solicit, induce, or cause any Customer to terminate, reduce or refrain from renewing or extending its contractual or other business relationship with the Company.

 

 3 

 

 

3.1.Material Contact. For purposes of this Agreement, material contactexists between Employee and each Customer with whom Employee personally interacts on behalf of Company, whether such interaction is conducted in person, in writing, by telephone or by other form of communication.

 

4.Agreement Not to Solicit Employees and Independent Contractors. Employee agrees that during Employees employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employees own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actively encourage or induce the voluntary termination of, or recruit or hire, or attempt to recruit or hire, any person(s) then employed by or associated with Company as an employee or, on an exclusive basis, an independent contractor, consultant or other supplier of goods or services to the Company (collectively, Suppliers), whether or not such recruit or hire is a full-time, part-time or temporary employee, independent contractor or consultant, and whether or not such employment or other engagement is for a determined period or is at-will, for the purpose of employment, consultancy, or serving as an independent contractor for, directly or indirectly, any business entity which engages in the business of design, manufacture and sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies.

 

5.Agreement Not to Compete. Employee agrees that during Employees employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employees own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, engage in the business of providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company, including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies, within the Territory (as defined below). As used herein, Territorymeans any state in the United States or any foreign country in which the Company is doing business or in which it is contemplating to do business pursuant to a then current business plan.

 

6.Proprietary Rights.

 

6.1.Work Product. Employee agrees that all inventions, ideas, writings, works of authorship, technology, discoveries, copyrightable or patentable subject matter, and other work product of any nature whatsoever that, in whole or in part, that are made, conceived, created, prepared, produced, authored, edited or amended (i) through the use of any of the Companys Confidential Information or any of the Companys equipment or facilities or (ii) by Employee, individually or jointly with others, during the period of Employees employment by the Company and relating in any way to the business or contemplated business, research or development of the Company (regardless of when or where the Work Product is prepared or whose equipment or other resources is used in preparing the same) and all printed, physical and electronic copies, all improvements, rights and claims related to the foregoing, and other tangible embodiments thereof (collectively, Work Product), as well as any and all rights in and to copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks (and related goodwill), mask works, patents and other intellectual property rights therein arising in any jurisdiction throughout the world and all related rights of priority under international conventions with respect thereto, including all pending and future applications and registrations therefor, and continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, reissues, extensions and renewals thereof (collectively, Intellectual Property Rights), shall belong exclusively to Company and shall be considered part of Confidential Information (as the case may be) for purposes of this Agreement.

 

 4 

 

 

 

For purposes of this Agreement, Work Product includes, but is not limited to, Company information, including plans, publications, research, strategies, techniques, agreements, documents, negotiations, know-how, computer programs, computer applications, software design, web design, work in process, databases, manuals, developments, reports, graphics, drawings, sketches, market studies, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, product designs, styles, models, inventions, unpublished patent applications, original works of authorship, discoveries, experimental processes, specifications, customer information, customer lists, manufacturing information, marketing and advertising information, and sales information.

 

6.2.Company, its designees, and its assigns shall have the right to use and/or to apply for patents, copyrights or other statutory or common law protections for such Work Product in any and all countries. Employee shall provide reasonable assistance to Company (at Companys expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law Intellectual Property Rights for such Work Product in any and all countries. To that end, Employee shall execute, during and after her employment with Company, all documents reasonably related to the application, procurement, and enforcement of patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law protections, as the Company or its counsel may request, together with any assignments thereof to Company or its designee.

 

6.3.Work Made for Hire; Assignment. Employee acknowledges that, by reason of being engaged by the Company at the relevant times, to the extent permitted by law, all of the Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is work made for hireas defined in the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 101), and such copyrights are therefore owned by the Company. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company, for no additional consideration, Employees entire right, title and interest in and to all Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights therein, including the right to sue, counterclaim and recover for all past, present and future infringement, misappropriation or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit the Companys rights, title or interest in any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than that the Company would have had in the absence of this Agreement.

 

6.4.Further Assurances; Power of Attorney. During and after Employees employment by the Company, Employee agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company to (i) apply for, obtain, perfect and transfer to the Company the Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights in the Work Product in any jurisdiction in the world; and (ii) maintain, protect and enforce the same, including, without limitation, executing and delivering to the Company any and all applications, oaths, declarations, affidavits, waivers, assignments and other documents and instruments as shall be requested by the Company. Employee hereby irrevocably grants the Company power of attorney to execute and deliver any such documents on Employees behalf in Employees name and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to transfer the Work Product to the Company and further the transfer, issuance, prosecution and maintenance of all Intellectual Property Rights therein, to the full extent permitted by law, if Employee does not promptly cooperate with the Companys request (without limiting the rights the Company shall have in such circumstances by operation of law). The power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall not be affected by Employees subsequent incapacity.

 

 5 

 

 

6.5.Moral Rights. To the extent any copyrights are assigned under this Agreement, Employee hereby irrevocably waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any and all claims Employee may now or hereafter have in any jurisdiction to all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal and any other rights that may be known as moral rightswith respect to all Work Product and all Intellectual Property Rights therein.

 

6.6.No License. Employee understands that this Agreement does not, and shall not be construed to, grant Employee any license or right of any nature with respect to any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights or any Confidential Information, materials, software or other tools made available to Employee by the Company.

 

6.7.No infringement. Employee represents and warrants to the Company that all Work Product Employee delivers to the Company shall be original and shall not infringe upon or violate any patent, copyright or proprietary right of any person or third party.

 

6.8.License to Prior Invention. If Employee in the course of Employees employment for the Company incorporates into a Company product Work Product that Employee has, alone or jointly with others, conceived, developed or reduced to practice prior to the commencement of Employees employment with the Company in which Employee has a property right (each, a Prior Invention), Employee hereby grants to the Company a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty free, irrevocable, worldwide license (with the full right to sublicense) to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Invention. Employee hereby represents and warrants that all Prior Inventions have been listed by Employee on Exhibit B hereto or, if no such list is attached, that there are no Prior Inventions. Employee will not incorporate any Work Product owned by any third party into any Company Work Product without the Companys prior written permission.

 

6.9.License to Information and Likeness. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligations, to use Employees name, photograph, likeness and approved biographical data for the purpose of advertising, marketing, promoting, publicizing and exploiting any matter related to the Company, its products and services and/or Employees duties performed hereunder.

 

6.10.   Severability. To the extent this Agreement is required to be construed in accordance with laws of any state which precludes as a requirement in an employee agreement the assignment of certain classes of inventions made by an employee, this Section 6 will be interpreted not to apply to any invention which a court rules and/or the Company agrees falls within such classes.

 

 6 

 

 

7.Conflicts of Interest. During the term of her employment, Employee shall not engage in activities or practices involving any possible conflict of interest. These activities or practices may subject Employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Employee should avoid at all times the appearance of, as well as an actual, conflict of interest.

 

7.1.Conflicts of interest activities or practices include, but are not limited to: engaging in business conduct that is damaging to the reputation of the Company, accepting outside employment in any organization that does business with the Company or is a competitor of the Company, investing or having a financial interest in a private company which does business with the Company or having stock ownership in a publicly traded company which does business with the Company if the relationship(s) may influence Employees business decisions (this applies to Employee and to close relatives and is applicable at the time of hire and at any time during the course of employment). If an individual does own stock in a company that does business with the Company, the relationship should be disclosed upon employment and all significant business dealings with that company will be reviewed.

 

7.2.Employee may not accept gifts from any person or company doing or seeking to do business with the Company. Employees are allowed to accept advertising novelties and other gifts of nominal value.

 

7.3.Employee may not give, offer, or promise, directly or indirectly, anything of value to any representative of any company doing business with the Company.

 

7.4.Employee may not select vendors on the basis of anything other than the merit of their products or services or prices for such products or services.

 

7.5.Discussing company information with the press without prior authorization from management is also a conflict of interest.

 

8.Security and Access. Employee agrees and covenants (i) to comply with all Company security policies and procedures as in force from time to time including without limitation those regarding computer equipment, telephone systems, voicemail systems, facilities access, monitoring, key cards, access codes, Company intranet, internet, social media and instant messaging systems, computer systems, e-mail systems, computer networks, document storage systems, software, data security, encryption, firewalls, passwords and any and all other Company facilities, IT resources and communication technologies (Facilities and Information Technology Resources); (ii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources except as authorized by Company; and (iii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources in any manner after the termination of Employees employment by the Company, whether termination is voluntary or involuntary. Employee agrees to notify the Company promptly in the event Employee learns of any violation of the foregoing by others, or of any other misappropriation or unauthorized access, use, reproduction or reverse engineering of, or tampering with any Facilities and Information Technology Resources or other Company property or materials by others. Employee acknowledges and agrees that any property situated on the Companys premises and owned by the Company, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets, other work areas and other Facilities and Information Technology Resources, is subject to inspection by personnel of the Company at any time with or without notice. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has no expectation of privacy with respect to the Companys Facilities and Information Technology Resources and that Employees activity and any files or messages on or using any of such Facilities and Information Technology Resources may be monitored at any time without notice.

 

 7 

 

 

8.1.Exit Obligations. Upon (i) voluntary or involuntary termination of Employees employment or (ii) the Companys request at any time during Employees employment, Employee shall (a) provide or return to the Company any and all Company property, including keys, key cards, access cards, identification cards, security devices, Company credit cards, network access devices, computers, cell phones, smartphones, equipment, manuals, reports, files, books, compilations, work product, e-mail messages, recordings, tapes, disks, thumb drives or other removable information storage devices, hard drives and data and all Company documents and materials belonging to the Company and stored in any fashion, including but not limited to those that constitute or contain any Confidential Information or Work Product, that are in the possession or control of Employee, whether they were provided to Employee by the Company or any of its business associates or created by Employee in connection with Employees employment by the Company; and (b) delete or destroy all copies of any such documents and materials following return to the Company that remain in Employees possession or control, including those stored on any non-Company devices, networks, storage locations and media in Employees possession or control.

 

9.Non-disparagement. Employee agrees and covenants that Employee will not at any time make, publish or communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, statements or gestures concerning the Companys products or services, and existing and prospective customers, suppliers, investors and other associated third parties, or make any maliciously false statements about the Companys employees and officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 8 shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employees rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and described in Section 9 below. Further, this Section does not apply to (i) truthful statements made in connection with legal proceedings, governmental and regulatory investigations and actions; (ii) any other truthful statement or disclosure required by law; or (iii) good faith intra-Company communications made for legitimate business reasons.

 

10.NLRA Compliance. It is the policy of the Company to comply with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), including without limitation, Section 7 thereof. Thus, to the extent Employee is covered by the NLRA, nothing herein, or in any other the agreement between Employee and the Company or Company policy, shall prohibit Employee together with other Company employees from (i) self-organizing, forming joining or assisting labor organizations; (ii) bargaining collectively through representatives of their own choosing; (iii) discussing wages, hours, working conditions, other labor policies or unionism or for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection; or (iv) posting pictures or videos of employees engaged in such activities or other activities involving collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. However, the Company has an open doorpolicy and encourages employees to address such matters instead with their supervisors or a member of management.

 

11.Remedies. Employee acknowledges that the Companys Confidential Information and the Companys ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee, or any other material breach of Employees promises and covenants herein, will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement, Employee hereby consents and agrees that the Company shall be entitled to, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that monetary damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief. Additionally, each of the covenants and restrictions to which Employee is subject under this Agreement, including, without limitation those in Sections 2 through 4 above, shall each be construed as independent of any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement between Employee and the Company, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants and restrictions.

 

 8 

 

 

12.Successors and Assigns.

 

12.1.  Assignment by the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement to any subsidiary or corporate affiliate, or to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and permitted successors and assigns.

 

12.2.  No Assignment by Employee. Employee may not assign this Agreement or any part hereof. Any purported assignment by Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of purported assignment.

 

13.Governing Law; Jurisdiction and Venue; Jury Waiver. This Agreement, for all purposes, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts-of-law principles. Any action or proceeding by either Party against the other Party, including, without limitation, to enforce this Agreement or otherwise relating to or arising out of Employees employment with the Company (or the termination thereof), shall be brought only in any state or federal court located in or closest to Broward County, Florida. The Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue. Employee and the Company each hereby waive the right to trial by jury in any such court action or proceeding between them, regardless of the subject matter, including, without limitation, any action or proceeding based upon, arising out of, or in any way relating to this Agreement and all matters concerning Employees employment (or the termination thereof) with the Company.

 

14.Entire Agreement. Unless specifically provided herein, this Agreement contains all the understandings and representations between Employee and the Company pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

 

Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by Employee and by a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than Employee). No waiver by either of the Parties of any breach by the other Party hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other Party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time, nor shall the failure of or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver thereof to preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

 

 9 

 

 

 

15.Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the Parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. The Parties further agree that any such court is expressly authorized to modify any such unenforceable provision of this Agreement in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision from this Agreement in its entirety, whether by rewriting the offending provision, deleting any or all of the offending provision, adding additional language to this Agreement or by making such other modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the Parties as embodied herein to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Parties expressly agree that this Agreement as so modified by the court shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of them. In any event, should one or more of the provisions of this Agreement be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and if such provision or provisions are not modified as provided above, this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had not been set forth herein.

 

16.Captions. Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph.

 

17.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Photographic copies, electronically scanned copies and other facsimiles of this Agreement (including such signed counterparts) may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.
  
18.At-Will Employment; No Oral Agreements. The Company and Employee acknowledge and agree that this Agreement does not affect the ability of either party to terminate their employment relationship, which relationship, unless otherwise agreed to in writing signed by an officer of the Company, may be terminated at any time, for any or no reason. No supervisor, manager or other Company representative has the authority to make any verbal promises, commitments, or statements of any kind regarding the Companys policies, procedures or any other issues that are legally binding on the Company.

 

EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SHE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND AGREES THAT THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE REASONABLE AND PROPER PROTECTION OF THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS. EMPLOYEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE COMPANY HAS ADVISED HIM THAT SHE IS ENTITLED TO HAVE THIS AGREEMENT REVIEWED BY AN ATTORNEY OF HER

 

 10 

 

 

SELECTION PRIOR TO SIGNING, AND SHE HAS EITHER DONE SO OR ELECTED TO FOREGO THAT RIGHT.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date above.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.:  
     
  Signature: /s/ Julian Groves  
     
  By: Name: Julian Groves  
     
  Title: Chief Commercial Officer and Director  
     
  EMPLOYEE:    
       
  Signature: /s/ Virginia Hilfiger  
     
  Virginia Hilfiger  

 

 11 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP

 

Title   Date   Identifying Number or Brief Description
         
         
         
         
         

 

 

####

 

 1 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF RELEASE

GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS

 

1.

Virginia Hilfiger, (Executive), for himself and his family, heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and their respective successors and assigns, in exchange for the Severance Benefits, as defined under the Executive Employment Agreement made and entered effective as of the 19th day of July, 2022, by and between MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the Company) and the Executive to which this release is attached as Exhibit C to the Employment Agreement (the Employment Agreement), does hereby release and forever discharge the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliated companies, successors and assigns, and its current or former directors, officers or shareholders in such capacities (collectively with the Company, the Released Parties) from any and all actions, causes of action, suits, controversies, claims and demands whatsoever, for or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever, whether known or unknown including, but not limited to, all claims under any applicable laws arising under or in connection with Executives employment or termination thereof, whether for tort, breach of express or implied employment contract, wrongful discharge, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or defamation or injuries incurred on the job or incurred as a result of loss of employment. Executive acknowledges that the Company encouraged him to consult with an attorney of his choosing, and through this General Release of Claims encourages him to consult with his attorney with respect to possible claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and that she understands that the ADEA is a Federal statute that, among other things, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in employment and employee benefits and benefit plans. Without limiting the generality of the release provided above, Executive expressly waives any and all claims under ADEA that she may have as of the date hereof. Executive further understands that by signing this General Release of Claims she is in fact waiving, releasing and forever giving up any claim under the ADEA as well as all other laws within the scope of this paragraph 1 that may have existed on or prior to the date hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph 1 to the contrary, this General Release of Claims shall not apply to (i) any rights to receive any payments or benefits to which Executive is entitled under COBRA, the Employment agreement or any other compensation or employee benefit plans in which Executive is eligible to participate at the time of execution of this General Release of Claims, (ii) any rights or claims that may arise as a result of events occurring after the date this General Release of Claims is executed, any indemnification and advancement rights Executive may have as a former employee, officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies including, without limitation, any rights arising pursuant to the articles of incorporation, bylaws and any other organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any claims for benefits under any directorsand officersliability policy maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies in accordance with the terms of such policy, and (iv) any rights as a holder of equity securities of the Company (clauses (i) through (iv), the “Reserved Claims”).

 

2.Executive represents that she has not filed against the Released Parties any complaints, charges, or lawsuits arising out of his employment, or any other matter arising on or prior to the date of this General Release of Claims other than Reserved Claims, and covenants and agrees that she will never individually or with any person file, or commence the filing of any lawsuits, complaints or proceedings with any governmental agency, or against the Released Parties with respect to any of the matters released by Executive pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof (a Proceeding); provided, however, Executive shall not have relinquished his right to (i) commence a Proceeding to challenge whether Executive knowingly and voluntarily waived his rights under ADEA; (ii) file a charge with an administrative agency or take part in any agency investigation or (iii) commence a Proceeding pursuant to the Reserved Claims. Executive does agree, however, that she is waiving his right to recover any money in connection with such an investigation or charge filed by him or by any other individual, or a charge filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other federal, state or local agency, except as prohibited by law.

 

 1 

 

 

3.Executive hereby acknowledges that the Company has informed him that she has up to twenty-one (21) days to sign this General Release of Claims and she may knowingly and voluntarily waive that twenty-one (21) day period by signing this General Release of Claims earlier. Executive also understands that she shall have seven (7) days following the date on which she signs this General Release of Claims within which to revoke it by providing a written notice of his revocation to the Company.

 

4.Executive acknowledges that this General Release of Claims will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the laws of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law principles.

 

5.Executive acknowledges that she has read this General Release of Claims, that she has been advised that she should consult with an attorney before she executes this general release of claims, and that she understands all of its terms and executes it voluntarily and with full knowledge of its significance and the consequences thereof.

 

This General Release of Claims shall take effect on the eighth day following Executives execution of this General Release of Claims unless Executives written revocation is delivered to the Company within seven (7) days after such execution.

 

  EXECUTIVE  
     
     
  Virginia Hilfiger  

 

####

 

 2 

 

 

Exhibit 10.5 

  

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the Agreement) is made and entered effective as of the 19th day of July, 2022 (the Effective Date), by and between MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and Julian Groves (the Executive).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board) has approved the Company entering into an employment agreement with the Executive;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is now the Chief Commercial Officer of the Company and thus a key senior executive of the Company, as well as an executive member of the Board;

 

WHEREAS, the Company would like enter into a formal agreement with the Executive to set forth the terms of Executives employment and to provide for certain severance payments and other benefits in the event Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the Executive for Good Reason(as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, Executive wishes to be employed by the Company and provide full-time services to the Company in return for the compensation and benefits detailed herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, including the agreements set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.Employment.

 

a.Term. Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the Initial Term); provided however that the period of the Executives employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one-year periods thereafter (each, a Renewal Term), in each case unless either Party hereto provides the other Party hereto with written notice that such period shall not be so extended at least one hundred and twenty (120) days in advance of the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Term, as applicable (the Initial Term and any Renewal Term, collectively, the Term). The Executives period of employment pursuant to this Agreement shall hereinafter be referred to as the Employment Period.

 

b.Position and Duties. Executive (i) shall serve as the Chief Commercial Officer of the Company with responsibilities, duties and authority customary for such position, subject to direction by the Chief Executive Officer; (ii) shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer; (iii) shall devote substantially all Executives working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries; and (iv) agrees to observe and comply with the Companys rules and policies as adopted by the Company from time to time. In addition, as of the Effective Date, the Executive shall retain his appointment as an executive member of the Board and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause Executive to be reelected as a member of the Board while employed hereunder.

 

c.Place of Employment. Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement on a remote basis with his primary operations based in London, England. In addition, the Company may from time to time require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations on the Companys business to include the Companys corporate offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

 

 1 

 

 

2.Compensation and Related Matters.

 

a.Annual Base Salary. Executive shall receive a base salary at the rate of $130,000 per annum (the Annual Base Salary), subject to withholdings and deductions and which shall be paid to Executive in accordance with the customary payroll practices and procedures of the Company. Such Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Boards Compensation Committee not less than annually and may be adjusted from time to time.

 

b.Bi-Annual Bonus. Commencing in the calendar year 2022 and each calendar year thereafter during Executives employment with the Company, Executive will be eligible to receive a discretionary bi- annual performance bonus, with a target achievement of 20% of Annual Base Salary (the Bi-Annual Bonus). The amount of the Bi-Annual Bonus that shall be payable shall be based on the achievement of predetermined performance goals to be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. The amount of any Bi-Annual Bonus for which Executive is eligible shall be reviewed by the Board from time to time, provided that that target achievement for the Bi-Annual Bonus shall not be less than 25% of Annual Base Salary. Any Bi-Annual Bonus earned by Executive pursuant to this section shall be paid to Executive in accordance with Company policies, less authorized deductions and required withholding obligations, and is payable as follows: the first Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the second quarter ended June 30; and the second Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the calendar year, ended December 31.

 

c.Benefits. Executive shall participate in such full-time employee and executive benefit plans and programs as the Company may from time to time offer to senior executives of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, including, without limitation, an executive family medical package.

 

d.Life Insurance. The Company shall directly pay or reimburse Executive for the premiums of a term life insurance policy, up to a maximum of $10,000 annually. If Executives employment terminates for any or no reason, the Company shall have no obligation to continue to bear the costs of the life insurance policy for Executive, but Executive may choose to assume responsibility for payments required to continue the policy.

 

e.Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to 30-days of paid time-off for vacation, as well as sick leave, holidays and other paid time-off benefits provided by the Company from time to time which are applicable to the Companys executive officers in accordance with Company policy. The opportunity to take paid time off is contingent upon Executives workload and ability to manage his schedule.

 

f.Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executives duties to the Company in accordance with the Companys applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect from time to time.

 

 2 

 

 

3.Equity Awards.

 

a.Stock Option. Upon the Company becoming publicly traded on a national exchange, and further subject to approval by the Board, on the date determined in accordance with the Companys established policy, Executive shall be granted a five-year option (the Option) to purchase a total of 300,000 shares of the Companys common stock as follows: 100,000 shares on the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; 100,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; and 25,000 shares on the last day of each quarter, or March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, in each calendar year. The per share exercise price of the Option shall be equal to the per share closing price of the Companys common stock on the date of grant. The Option shall vest and become exercisable subject to the terms set forth in the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan expected to be approved by the Board and effectuated prior to the Company going public by way of Initial Public Offering of its common stock on a national exchange. The Option shall otherwise be subject to the terms of the plan pursuant to which it is granted and/or an option agreement to be entered into between Executive and the Company.

 

b.Additional Equity Awards. Executive shall be eligible to be granted additional equity awards in accordance with the Companys policies as in effect from time to time, as recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

 

4.Termination.

 

a.Termination of Employment. The Company may terminate the Executives employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, in each case (other than a termination by the Company for Cause) at any time upon not less than 90-days notice to the other Party (the date on which the Executives employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the Termination Date). Upon the termination of the Executives employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (a) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination; (b) unused paid time off (consistent with Section 2.f. hereof) paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate; (c) additional vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements; and (d) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.g. hereof (collectively, the Accrued Amounts). The Accrued Amounts described in Section 4.a. shall by paid to the Executive within 30 days following the Termination Date (or, if later, following the Executives presentation of supporting documentation for unreimbursed expenses in accordance with 2.g.).

 

b.Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. If the Executives employment is terminated (a) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (b) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, (i) the Executive shall be entitled to continuation of the Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date for 12 months following the Termination Date paid in accordance with the Companys normal payroll practices, but no less frequently than monthly (the Base Salary Continuation); and (ii) if the Executive elects to continue group health coverage under any Company group health plan pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (COBRA), the Company shall reimburse the Executive for a portion of his COBRA premiums, such that his unreimbursed cost of COBRA premiums does not exceed the cost to the Executive of such health plan premiums immediately prior to termination, for a period of up to one year after his termination (or until he is no longer eligible for COBRA continuation, if sooner).

 

 3 

 

 

Notwithstanding clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, such reimbursements for COBRA premiums shall not be made to the extent such payments would result in any additional tax or penalty to the Company under the Affordable Care Act or any other applicable law. In the event the group health coverage is self-insured, the Company shall include in the Executives gross income, the imputed value of the employer-subsidized COBRA premiums. The Executive shall be responsible for the full amount of COBRA premiums for any periods exceeding the time set forth above. In addition, in the event of a termination covered by this Section 4.b., the Executive shall be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of his annual Base Salary (Bonus Severance).The Companys obligations to pay the Base Salary Continuation, the Bonus Severance and COBRA premiums described above shall be conditioned upon the Executives continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, and without limitation of any remedies to which the Company may be entitled, the Base Salary Continuation shall be paid in equal installments commencing during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date, the Bonus Severance shall be paid during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date and the reimbursement of COBRA premiums shall be made after substantiation of such expenses; provided, that, the Executive has signed and delivered to the Company the release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and B (the Release) and the period (if any) during which the Release can be revoked has expired within such sixty (60) day period; provided, further, that, if such sixty (60) day period begins in one calendar year and ends in another calendar year, to the extent required under Section 409A (as defined below), payment of the Base Salary Continuation installments, Bonus Severance and reimbursement of the COBRA premiums that otherwise would have been paid during that sixty (60) day period shall be accumulated and paid in the second calendar year after expiration of the period for revoking the Release (but within the specified sixty (60) day period).

 

c.Voluntary Resignation by the Executive other than for Good Reason; Termination due to Death or Disability; Termination Due to, Upon or Following Non-Renewal of the Agreement. If (a) the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment at any time, other than for Good Reason, (b) if the Executives employment is terminated due to the Executives death or Disability or (c) if the Executives employment terminates due to, upon or following non-renewal of the Agreement by either Party in accordance with Section 1.a., then the Executive (or his estate) shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

d.Termination by the Company for Cause. If the Company terminates the Executives employment for Cause, then the Executive shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

e.Exclusive Remedy. The foregoing payments upon termination of the Executives employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits due the Executive upon termination of his employment.

 

f.Resignation from All Positions. Upon the termination of the Executives employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the Termination Date, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the boards of directors (and any committee thereof) of the Board, if applicable. The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

 4 

 

 

 

g.Cooperation. Following the termination of the Executives employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executives services to the Company.

 

h.Duty of Confidentiality. Executive agrees that during employment with the Company and for a period of two (2) years following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, divulge or make use of any Confidential Information of the Company other than in the performance of Executives duties for the Company. While employed by the Company, Executive shall make all reasonable efforts to protect and maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of the Company. In the event that Executive becomes aware of unauthorized disclosures of the Confidential Information by anyone at any time, whether intentionally or by accident, Executive shall promptly notify the Company. This Agreement does not limit the remedies available to the Company under common or statutory law as to trade secrets or other types of confidential information, which may impose longer duties of non-disclosure.

 

i.Return of Property and Information. Executive agrees not to remove any Company property from Company premises, except when authorized by the Company. Executive agrees to return all Company property and information (whether confidential or not) within Executives possession or control within seven (7) calendar days following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company. Such property and information includes, but is not limited to, the original and any copy (regardless of the manner in which it is recorded) of all information provided by Company to Executive or which Executive has developed or collected in the scope of Executives employment with the Company, as well as all Company-issued equipment, supplies, accessories, vehicles, keys, instruments, tools, devices, computers, cell phones, pagers, materials, documents, plans, records, notebooks, drawings, or papers. Upon request by the Company, Executive shall certify in writing that Executive has complied with this provision; and has permanently deleted all Company information from any computers or other electronic storage devices or media owned by Executive. Executive may only retain information relating the Executives benefit plans and compensation to the extent needed to prepare Executives tax returns.

 

j.Assignment of Work Product and Inventions. Executive hereby assigns and grants to the Company (and will upon request take any actions needed to formally assign and grant to Company and/or obtain patents, trademark registrations or copyrights belonging to Company) the sole and exclusive ownership of any and all inventions, information, reports, computer software or programs, writings, technical information or work product collected or developed by Executive, alone or with others, during the term of Executive's employment relating to the Company. This duty applies whether or not the forgoing inventions or information are made or prepared in the course of employment with the Company, so long as such inventions or information relate to the Business of Company and have been developed in whole or in part during the term of Executive's employment. Executive agrees to advise the Company in writing of each invention that Executive, alone or with others, makes or conceives during the term of Executive's employment and which relate to the Business of Company. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, Executive shall not be required to assign, nor shall Executive be deemed to have assigned, any of Executives rights in any invention that Executive develops entirely on his own time without using Companys equipment, supplies, facilities, or Trade Secrets, except for inventions that either: (1) relate, at the time that the invention is conceived or reduced to practice, to the Business of Company or to actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company; or (2) result from any work performed by Executive for the Company on behalf of the Company. Inventions which Executive developed before Executive came to work for the Company, if any, are described in the attached Exhibit B, and excluded from this Section. The failure of the parties to attach any Exhibit B to this agreement shall be deemed an admission by Executive that Executive does not have any pre-existing inventions.

 

 5 

 

 

k.Non-Competition. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, and within the Restricted Territory, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executives own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, perform services on behalf of a Competing Business, and which are the same as or similar to those types of services conducted, authorized, offered, or provided by Executive to the Company within 24 months prior to Executives termination or resignation.

 

l.Non-Recruitment of Company Employees and Contractors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executives own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit or induce any employee or independent contractor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, to terminate or lessen such employment or contract with the Company.

 

m.Non-Solicitation of Company Customers. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executives own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective customers of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of selling any products or services to such customers on behalf of a Competing Business.

 

n.Non-Solicitation of Company Vendors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executives own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective Vendor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of purchasing products or services to support a Competing Business.

 

o.Acknowledgements. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the provisions of Section 4 are reasonable as to time, scope and territory given the Companys need to protect its Confidential Information and its relationships and goodwill with its customers, suppliers, employees and contractors, all of which have been developed at great time and expense to the Company. Executive represents that Executive has the skills and abilities to obtain alternative employment that would not violate these Restrictive Covenants in the event that Executive leaves employment with the Company, and that these Restrictive Covenants do not pose an undue hardship on Executive. Executive further acknowledges that Executives breach of any of the provisions of Section 4 would likely cause irreparable injury to the Company, and therefore entitle the Company to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedies available in law or equity, without the necessity of posting a bond.

 

5.Assignment and Successors.

 

The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise), and may assign or encumber this Agreement and its rights hereunder as security for indebtedness of the Company and its affiliates. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive and their respective successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees, as applicable. None of Executives rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executives rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law.

 

 6 

 

 

 

6.Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

a.Work Eligibility; Confidentiality Agreement. As a condition of Executives employment with the Company, Executive will be required to provide evidence of Executives identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. It is required that Executive bring the appropriate documentation with Executive at the time of employment. As a further condition of Executives employment with the Company, Executive shall enter into and abide by the Companys standard Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement (the Confidential Information Agreement).

 

b.Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

 

c.Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any Party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid (or if it is sent through any other method agreed upon by the parties), as follows:

 

  (i) If to the Company at:
    MGO Global Inc.
    1515 SE 17th St, Suite 121/ 460596
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33346

 

(ii)If to Executive, at the address set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

(iii)Or at any other address as any Party shall have specified by notice in writing to the other Party.

 

d.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

e.Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, is intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral. The Parties further intend that this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

 

 7 

 

 

 

f.Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of Company. By an instrument in writing similarly executed, Executive or a duly authorized officer of the Company, as applicable, may waive compliance by the other Party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; provided, however, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.

 

g.Arbitration. Executive and the Company agree that if any dispute, controversy or claim should arise between Executive and the Company (including claims against its employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, successors and assigns) relating or pertaining to or arising out of Executives employment with the Company or this Agreement, the dispute will be submitted exclusively to binding arbitration before a neutral arbitrator conducted in the state of Florida, in accordance with the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force. This means that disputes will be decided by an arbitrator rather than a court or jury, and that both Executive and the Company waive their respective rights to a court or jury trial. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive and the Company each have the right to resolve any issue or dispute over intellectual property rights by court action instead of arbitration.

 

h.Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any allowances and reimbursements) any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges which the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.

 

7.Section 409A.

 

The intent of the Parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (collectively with the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date, Section 409A), and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be exempt therefrom. If Executive notifies the Company that Executive has received advice of tax counsel of a national reputation with expertise in Section 409A that any provision of this Agreement would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A (with specificity as to the reason therefor) or the Company independently makes such determination, the Company and Executive shall take commercially reasonable efforts to reform such provision to try to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A, provided that any such modifications shall not increase the cost or liability to the Company. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to Executive and the Company of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A.

 

 8 

 

 

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 9 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

 

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.  
       
  By: /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda  
     
 

Name: Maximiliano Ojeda, Chief Executive Officer and

Chairman of the Board

 
       
  EXECUTIVE  
       
  By: /s/ Julian Groves  
  Name: Julian Groves  

 

 10 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement (Agreement) is entered into by and between MGO GLOBAL INC., a Delaware company,, on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and other corporate affiliates (collectively referred to herein as the Company), and JULIAN GROVES (Employee) (the Company and Employee are collectively referred to herein as the Parties) as of July 19, 2022 (the Effective Date).

 

In consideration of Employees employment or continuing employment with the Company (hereafter, employment), which Employee acknowledges to be good and valuable consideration for Employees obligations hereunder, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Representations and Acknowledgements. Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) among the Companys most valuable and indispensable assets are its Confidential Information and its close relationships with its Customers (defined below) and Suppliers (defined below, which includes, without limitation, employees), which the Company has devoted and continues to devote a substantial amount of time, money and other resources to develop; (ii) in connection with Employees employment with the Company, Employee will be exposed to and acquire the Companys Confidential Information and develop, at the Companys expense and support, special and close relationships with the Companys Customers and Suppliers; (iii) Employee would not be able to engage in the activities restricted by this Sections 3 through 5 below without using or disclosing Confidential Information and trade secrets of the Company; (iv) the Companys Confidential Information and close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers must be protected; (v) the Company is employing or continuing to employ Employee only because of the promises and acknowledgements that Employee makes in this Agreement; (vi) to the extent required by law, the covenants in this Agreement are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint on Employee than is necessary to protect the Companys Confidential Information, close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers, and other legitimate business interests; (vii) Employees compliance with such covenants will not inhibit Employee from earning a living or from working in Employees chosen profession; and (viii) any breach of such covenants will result in the Company being placed at an unfair competitive disadvantage and cause the Company serious and irreparable harm to its business.

 

2.Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information. In the course of Employee's employment hereunder, Employee will receive, contribute to the production of, become privy to the Company's Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined). Employee further understands and acknowledges that this Confidential Information and the Companys ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate.

 

2.1.Employee agrees that during and in perpetuity after Employees employment by Company, Employee shall (i) hold in confidence and treat all Confidential Information as strictly confidential; (ii) not directly or indirectly disclose, publish, communicate or make available Confidential Information, or allow it to be disclosed, published, communicated or made available, in whole or part, to any entity or person whatsoever, except as required in the good faith performance of Employees duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent); and (iii) not to access or use any Confidential Information, and not to copy any documents, records, files, media or other resources containing any Confidential Information, or remove any such documents, records, files, media or other resources from the premises or control of the Company, except as required in the good faith performance of Employees duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent). Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent disclosure of Confidential Information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or pursuant to the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that the disclosure does not exceed the extent of disclosure required by such law, regulation or order. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Employee shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to an authorized officer of the Company after receiving such order, but in any event sufficiently in advance of making any disclosure to permit the Company to contest the order or seek confidentiality protections, as determined in the Companys sole discretion. Employee agrees that during Employees employment by Company and in perpetuity thereafter, Employee shall hold in confidence and shall not directly or indirectly reveal report, publish, copy, duplicate, disclose, transfer or otherwise misappropriate any Confidential Information to any person or entity, or utilize such Confidential Information for any purpose, except within the course of Employees employment with Company.

 

 1 

 

 

2.2.All notes, data, reference materials, sketches, drawings, memoranda, documentation and records in any form or media in any way incorporating or reflecting any Confidential Information of Company shall belong exclusively to Company. Upon termination of his employment for any reason, or at any time Company may request prior thereto, Employee shall immediately surrender and turn over to Company any of Companys property whatsoever and all Confidential Information of Company, whether the same be in writing, print, copy, audio or video tape, computer program or disc, picture, or any other medium whatsoever, and whether appearing in original documents, summaries, excerpts, abstracts or other formats, and shall provide Company with all information necessary to access and use said Confidential Information. Employee shall have no right to retain any originals or copies of the foregoing for any reason whatsoever after termination of his employment hereunder without the express prior written consent of Company and, upon termination, Employee shall certify in writing that he no longer possesses and has not distributed or retained any Confidential Information of Company or any of Companys property whatsoever.

 

2.3.Notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement, the obligation of Employee to protect the confidentiality of any Confidential Information shall terminate as to any information or materials which: (i) are, or become, public knowledge through no act or failure to act of Employee in violation of Employees obligations to the Company; (ii) are publicly disclosed by the proprietor thereof; (iii) are lawfully obtained without obligations of confidentiality by Employee from a third party after reasonable inquiry regarding the authority of such third party to possess and divulge the same; (iv) are independently developed by Employee from sources or through persons that Employee can demonstrate had no access to Confidential Information; or (v) are lawfully known by Employee at the time of disclosure other than by reason of discussions with or disclosures by Company. Employees confidentiality obligations set forth herein shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employees rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and further described in Section 9 below.

 

2.4.As used in this Agreement, Confidential Informationmeans information or material, whether oral or written, that is proprietary to Company or designated (either expressly or by virtue of the manner in which such information or material is traditionally treated in business settings) as confidential information by Company and not generally known by non-Company personnel, which Employee may develop or which Employee may receive, obtain knowledge of or become privy to through or as a result of Employees relationship with Company (including information conceived, originated, discovered or developed in whole or in part by Employee). Confidential Informationincludes, but is not limited to, the following types of information and other information of a similar nature (whether or not reduced to writing): trade secrets, discoveries, ideas, concepts, software in various stages of development, designs, drawings, specifications, techniques, models, data, source code, object code, documentation, diagrams, flow charts, research, development, processes, procedures, know-how, marketing techniques and materials, marketing and development plans, names of employees and information related to them, customer names, contacts, and other information related to customers, price lists, pricing policies, and financial data, information and projections. Confidential Informationalso includes any information described above which Company obtains from another party and which Company treats as proprietary or designates as Confidential Information,whether or not owned or developed by Company. Information that is publicly known and that is generally employed by the trade or generic information or knowledge which Employee would have learned in the course of similar work elsewhere in the trade is not intended to and shall be deemed not to be a part of the Confidential Information.

 

 2 

 

 

2.5.Employee understands that the above list is not exhaustive, and that Confidential Information also includes other information that is marked or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary, or that would otherwise appear to a reasonable person to be confidential or proprietary in the context and circumstances in which the information is known or used.

 

2.6.Employee acknowledges that Employee has been notified in accordance with the federal Uniform Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S. Code § 1839) that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (a) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Employee also acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit Employee from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or regulatory body or making other disclosures that are protected under any law or regulation, or from filing a charge with or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by any governmental agency or regulatory body.

 

3.Agreement Not to Solicit Customers. Employee agrees that during his employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason whatsoever, Employee shall not, either directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, (i) solicit, initiate contact with, call upon, or otherwise enter into a relationship with any customers or actively sought prospective customers of Company with whom Employee had material contact during his employment with Company or about which Employee obtained Confidential Information (collectively, Customers), for the purpose of soliciting, selling, diverting to or otherwise providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company (collectively, Competitive Activities), including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies, unless agreed to in writing by both parties; or (ii) solicit, induce, or cause any Customer to terminate, reduce or refrain from renewing or extending its contractual or other business relationship with the Company.

 

 3 

 

 

 

3.1.Material Contact. For purposes of this Agreement, material contactexists between Employee and each Customer with whom Employee personally interacts on behalf of Company, whether such interaction is conducted in person, in writing, by telephone or by other form of communication.

 

4.Agreement Not to Solicit Employees and Independent Contractors. Employee agrees that during Employees employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employees own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actively encourage or induce the voluntary termination of, or recruit or hire, or attempt to recruit or hire, any person(s) then employed by or associated with Company as an employee or, on an exclusive basis, an independent contractor, consultant or other supplier of goods or services to the Company (collectively, Suppliers), whether or not such recruit or hire is a full-time, part-time or temporary employee, independent contractor or consultant, and whether or not such employment or other engagement is for a determined period or is at-will, for the purpose of employment, consultancy, or serving as an independent contractor for, directly or indirectly, any business entity which engages in the business of design, manufacture and sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies.

 

5.Agreement Not to Compete. Employee agrees that during Employees employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employees own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, engage in the business of providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company, including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies, within the Territory (as defined below). As used herein, Territorymeans any state in the United States or any foreign country in which the Company is doing business or in which it is contemplating to do business pursuant to a then current business plan.

 

6.Proprietary Rights.

 

6.1.Work Product. Employee agrees that all inventions, ideas, writings, works of authorship, technology, discoveries, copyrightable or patentable subject matter, and other work product of any nature whatsoever that, in whole or in part, that are made, conceived, created, prepared, produced, authored, edited or amended (i) through the use of any of the Companys Confidential Information or any of the Companys equipment or facilities or (ii) by Employee, individually or jointly with others, during the period of Employees employment by the Company and relating in any way to the business or contemplated business, research or development of the Company (regardless of when or where the Work Product is prepared or whose equipment or other resources is used in preparing the same) and all printed, physical and electronic copies, all improvements, rights and claims related to the foregoing, and other tangible embodiments thereof (collectively, Work Product), as well as any and all rights in and to copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks (and related goodwill), mask works, patents and other intellectual property rights therein arising in any jurisdiction throughout the world and all related rights of priority under international conventions with respect thereto, including all pending and future applications and registrations therefor, and continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, reissues, extensions and renewals thereof (collectively, Intellectual Property Rights), shall belong exclusively to Company and shall be considered part of Confidential Information (as the case may be) for purposes of this Agreement.

 

 4 

 

 

For purposes of this Agreement, Work Product includes, but is not limited to, Company information, including plans, publications, research, strategies, techniques, agreements, documents, negotiations, know-how, computer programs, computer applications, software design, web design, work in process, databases, manuals, developments, reports, graphics, drawings, sketches, market studies, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, product designs, styles, models, inventions, unpublished patent applications, original works of authorship, discoveries, experimental processes, specifications, customer information, customer lists, manufacturing information, marketing and advertising information, and sales information.

 

6.2.Company, its designees, and its assigns shall have the right to use and/or to apply for patents, copyrights or other statutory or common law protections for such Work Product in any and all countries. Employee shall provide reasonable assistance to Company (at Companys expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law Intellectual Property Rights for such Work Product in any and all countries. To that end, Employee shall execute, during and after his employment with Company, all documents reasonably related to the application, procurement, and enforcement of patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law protections, as the Company or its counsel may request, together with any assignments thereof to Company or its designee.

 

6.3.Work Made for Hire; Assignment. Employee acknowledges that, by reason of being engaged by the Company at the relevant times, to the extent permitted by law, all of the Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is work made for hireas defined in the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 101), and such copyrights are therefore owned by the Company. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company, for no additional consideration, Employees entire right, title and interest in and to all Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights therein, including the right to sue, counterclaim and recover for all past, present and future infringement, misappropriation or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit the Companys rights, title or interest in any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than that the Company would have had in the absence of this Agreement.

 

6.4.Further Assurances; Power of Attorney. During and after Employees employment by the Company, Employee agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company to (i) apply for, obtain, perfect and transfer to the Company the Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights in the Work Product in any jurisdiction in the world; and (ii) maintain, protect and enforce the same, including, without limitation, executing and delivering to the Company any and all applications, oaths, declarations, affidavits, waivers, assignments and other documents and instruments as shall be requested by the Company. Employee hereby irrevocably grants the Company power of attorney to execute and deliver any such documents on Employees behalf in Employees name and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to transfer the Work Product to the Company and further the transfer, issuance, prosecution and maintenance of all Intellectual Property Rights therein, to the full extent permitted by law, if Employee does not promptly cooperate with the Companys request (without limiting the rights the Company shall have in such circumstances by operation of law).

 

 5 

 

 

 

The power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall not be affected by Employees subsequent incapacity.

 

6.5.Moral Rights. To the extent any copyrights are assigned under this Agreement, Employee hereby irrevocably waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any and all claims Employee may now or hereafter have in any jurisdiction to all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal and any other rights that may be known as moral rightswith respect to all Work Product and all Intellectual Property Rights therein.

 

6.6.No License. Employee understands that this Agreement does not, and shall not be construed to, grant Employee any license or right of any nature with respect to any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights or any Confidential Information, materials, software or other tools made available to Employee by the Company.

 

6.7.No infringement. Employee represents and warrants to the Company that all Work Product Employee delivers to the Company shall be original and shall not infringe upon or violate any patent, copyright or proprietary right of any person or third party.

 

6.8.License to Prior Invention. If Employee in the course of Employees employment for the Company incorporates into a Company product Work Product that Employee has, alone or jointly with others, conceived, developed or reduced to practice prior to the commencement of Employees employment with the Company in which Employee has a property right (each, a Prior Invention), Employee hereby grants to the Company a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty free, irrevocable, worldwide license (with the full right to sublicense) to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Invention. Employee hereby represents and warrants that all Prior Inventions have been listed by Employee on Exhibit B hereto or, if no such list is attached, that there are no Prior Inventions. Employee will not incorporate any Work Product owned by any third party into any Company Work Product without the Companys prior written permission.

 

6.9.License to Information and Likeness. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligations, to use Employees name, photograph, likeness and approved biographical data for the purpose of advertising, marketing, promoting, publicizing and exploiting any matter related to the Company, its products and services and/or Employees duties performed hereunder.

 

6.10. Severability. To the extent this Agreement is required to be construed in accordance with laws of any state which precludes as a requirement in an employee agreement the assignment of certain classes of inventions made by an employee, this Section 6 will be interpreted not to apply to any invention which a court rules and/or the Company agrees falls within such classes.

 

7.Conflicts of Interest. During the term of his employment, Employee shall not engage in activities or practices involving any possible conflict of interest. These activities or practices may subject Employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Employee should avoid at all times the appearance of, as well as an actual, conflict of interest.

 

 6 

 

 

7.1.Conflicts of interest activities or practices include, but are not limited to: engaging in business conduct that is damaging to the reputation of the Company, accepting outside employment in any organization that does business with the Company or is a competitor of the Company, investing or having a financial interest in a private company which does business with the Company or having stock ownership in a publicly traded company which does business with the Company if the relationship(s) may influence Employees business decisions (this applies to Employee and to close relatives and is applicable at the time of hire and at any time during the course of employment). If an individual does own stock in a company that does business with the Company, the relationship should be disclosed upon employment and all significant business dealings with that company will be reviewed.

 

7.2.Employee may not accept gifts from any person or company doing or seeking to do business with the Company. Employees are allowed to accept advertising novelties and other gifts of nominal value.

 

7.3.Employee may not give, offer, or promise, directly or indirectly, anything of value to any representative of any company doing business with the Company.

 

7.4.Employee may not select vendors on the basis of anything other than the merit of their products or services or prices for such products or services.

 

7.5.Discussing company information with the press without prior authorization from management is also a conflict of interest.

 

8.Security and Access. Employee agrees and covenants (i) to comply with all Company security policies and procedures as in force from time to time including without limitation those regarding computer equipment, telephone systems, voicemail systems, facilities access, monitoring, key cards, access codes, Company intranet, internet, social media and instant messaging systems, computer systems, e-mail systems, computer networks, document storage systems, software, data security, encryption, firewalls, passwords and any and all other Company facilities, IT resources and communication technologies (Facilities and Information Technology Resources); (ii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources except as authorized by Company; and (iii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources in any manner after the termination of Employees employment by the Company, whether termination is voluntary or involuntary. Employee agrees to notify the Company promptly in the event Employee learns of any violation of the foregoing by others, or of any other misappropriation or unauthorized access, use, reproduction or reverse engineering of, or tampering with any Facilities and Information Technology Resources or other Company property or materials by others. Employee acknowledges and agrees that any property situated on the Companys premises and owned by the Company, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets, other work areas and other Facilities and Information Technology Resources, is subject to inspection by personnel of the Company at any time with or without notice. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has no expectation of privacy with respect to the Companys Facilities and Information Technology Resources and that Employees activity and any files or messages on or using any of such Facilities and Information Technology Resources may be monitored at any time without notice.

 

 7 

 

 

 

8.1.Exit Obligations. Upon (i) voluntary or involuntary termination of Employees employment or (ii) the Companys request at any time during Employees employment, Employee shall (a) provide or return to the Company any and all Company property, including keys, key cards, access cards, identification cards, security devices, Company credit cards, network access devices, computers, cell phones, smartphones, equipment, manuals, reports, files, books, compilations, work product, e-mail messages, recordings, tapes, disks, thumb drives or other removable information storage devices, hard drives and data and all Company documents and materials belonging to the Company and stored in any fashion, including but not limited to those that constitute or contain any Confidential Information or Work Product, that are in the possession or control of Employee, whether they were provided to Employee by the Company or any of its business associates or created by Employee in connection with Employees employment by the Company; and (b) delete or destroy all copies of any such documents and materials following return to the Company that remain in Employees possession or control, including those stored on any non-Company devices, networks, storage locations and media in Employees possession or control.

 

9.Non-disparagement. Employee agrees and covenants that Employee will not at any time make, publish or communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, statements or gestures concerning the Companys products or services, and existing and prospective customers, suppliers, investors and other associated third parties, or make any maliciously false statements about the Companys employees and officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 8 shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employees rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and described in Section 9 below. Further, this Section does not apply to (i) truthful statements made in connection with legal proceedings, governmental and regulatory investigations and actions; (ii) any other truthful statement or disclosure required by law; or (iii) good faith intra-Company communications made for legitimate business reasons.

 

 

10.NLRA Compliance. It is the policy of the Company to comply with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), including without limitation, Section 7 thereof. Thus, to the extent Employee is covered by the NLRA, nothing herein, or in any other the agreement between Employee and the Company or Company policy, shall prohibit Employee together with other Company employees from (i) self-organizing, forming joining or assisting labor organizations; (ii) bargaining collectively through representatives of their own choosing; (iii) discussing wages, hours, working conditions, other labor policies or unionism or for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection; or (iv) posting pictures or videos of employees engaged in such activities or other activities involving collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. However, the Company has an open doorpolicy and encourages employees to address such matters instead with their supervisors or a member of management.

 

11.Remedies. Employee acknowledges that the Companys Confidential Information and the Companys ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee, or any other material breach of Employees promises and covenants herein, will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement, Employee hereby consents and agrees that the Company shall be entitled to, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that monetary damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief. Additionally, each of the covenants and restrictions to which Employee is subject under this Agreement, including, without limitation those in Sections 2 through 4 above, shall each be construed as independent of any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement between Employee and the Company, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants and restrictions.

 

 8 

 

 

 

12.Successors and Assigns.

 

12.1. Assignment by the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement to any subsidiary or corporate affiliate, or to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and permitted successors and assigns.

 

12.2. No Assignment by Employee. Employee may not assign this Agreement or any part hereof. Any purported assignment by Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of purported assignment.

 

13.Governing Law; Jurisdiction and Venue; Jury Waiver. This Agreement, for all purposes, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts-of-law principles. Any action or proceeding by either Party against the other Party, including, without limitation, to enforce this Agreement or otherwise relating to or arising out of Employees employment with the Company (or the termination thereof), shall be brought only in any state or federal court located in or closest to Broward County, Florida. The Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue. Employee and the Company each hereby waive the right to trial by jury in any such court action or proceeding between them, regardless of the subject matter, including, without limitation, any action or proceeding based upon, arising out of, or in any way relating to this Agreement and all matters concerning Employees employment (or the termination thereof) with the Company.

 

14.Entire Agreement. Unless specifically provided herein, this Agreement contains all the understandings and representations between Employee and the Company pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

 

15.Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by Employee and by a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than Employee). No waiver by either of the Parties of any breach by the other Party hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other Party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time, nor shall the failure of or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver thereof to preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

 

 9 

 

 

16.Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the Parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. The Parties further agree that any such court is expressly authorized to modify any such unenforceable provision of this Agreement in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision from this Agreement in its entirety, whether by rewriting the offending provision, deleting any or all of the offending provision, adding additional language to this Agreement or by making such other modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the Parties as embodied herein to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Parties expressly agree that this Agreement as so modified by the court shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of them. In any event, should one or more of the provisions of this Agreement be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and if such provision or provisions are not modified as provided above, this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had not been set forth herein.

 

17.Captions. Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph.

 

18.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Photographic copies, electronically scanned copies and other facsimiles of this Agreement (including such signed counterparts) may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.

 

19.At-Will Employment; No Oral Agreements. The Company and Employee acknowledge and agree that this Agreement does not affect the ability of either party to terminate their employment relationship, which relationship, unless otherwise agreed to in writing signed by an officer of the Company, may be terminated at any time, for any or no reason. No supervisor, manager or other Company representative has the authority to make any verbal promises, commitments, or statements of any kind regarding the Companys policies, procedures or any other issues that are legally binding on the Company.

 

EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND AGREES THAT THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE REASONABLE AND PROPER PROTECTION OF THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS. EMPLOYEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE COMPANY HAS ADVISED HIM THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO HAVE THIS AGREEMENT REVIEWED BY AN ATTORNEY OF HIS SELECTION PRIOR TO SIGNING, AND HE HAS EITHER DONE SO OR ELECTED TO FOREGO THAT RIGHT.

 

 10 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date above.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.  
     
  Signature: /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda    
     
  By: Name: Maximiliano Ojeda    
     
  Title: Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board  
     
  EMPLOYEE:    
       
  Signature: /s/ Julian Groves  
     
  Julian Groves  

 

 11 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP

  

Title   Date   Identifying Number or Brief Description
         
         
         
         
         

 

####

 

 1 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF RELEASE

 GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS

 

1.Julian Groves, (Executive), for himself and his family, heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and their respective successors and assigns, in exchange for the Severance Benefits, as defined under the Executive Employment Agreement made and entered effective as of the 19th day of July, 2022, by and between MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the Company) and the Executive to which this release is attached as Exhibit C to the Employment Agreement (the Employment Agreement), does hereby release and forever discharge the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliated companies, successors and assigns, and its current or former directors, officers or shareholders in such capacities (collectively with the Company, the Released Parties) from any and all actions, causes of action, suits, controversies, claims and demands whatsoever, for or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever, whether known or unknown including, but not limited to, all claims under any applicable laws arising under or in connection with Executives employment or termination thereof, whether for tort, breach of express or implied employment contract, wrongful discharge, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or defamation or injuries incurred on the job or incurred as a result of loss of employment. Executive acknowledges that the Company encouraged him to consult with an attorney of his choosing, and through this General Release of Claims encourages him to consult with his attorney with respect to possible claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and that he understands that the ADEA is a Federal statute that, among other things, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in employment and employee benefits and benefit plans. Without limiting the generality of the release provided above, Executive expressly waives any and all claims under ADEA that he may have as of the date hereof. Executive further understands that by signing this General Release of Claims he is in fact waiving, releasing and forever giving up any claim under the ADEA as well as all other laws within the scope of this paragraph 1 that may have existed on or prior to the date hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph 1 to the contrary, this General Release of Claims shall not apply to (i) any rights to receive any payments or benefits to which Executive is entitled under COBRA, the Employment agreement or any other compensation or employee benefit plans in which Executive is eligible to participate at the time of execution of this General Release of Claims, (ii) any rights or claims that may arise as a result of events occurring after the date this General Release of Claims is executed, any indemnification and advancement rights Executive may have as a former employee, officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies including, without limitation, any rights arising pursuant to the articles of incorporation, bylaws and any other organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any claims for benefits under any directorsand officersliability policy maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies in accordance with the terms of such policy, and (iv) any rights as a holder of equity securities of the Company (clauses (i) through (iv), the “Reserved Claims”).

 

2.Executive represents that he has not filed against the Released Parties any complaints, charges, or lawsuits arising out of his employment, or any other matter arising on or prior to the date of this General Release of Claims other than Reserved Claims, and covenants and agrees that he will never individually or with any person file, or commence the filing of any lawsuits, complaints or proceedings with any governmental agency, or against the Released Parties with respect to any of the matters released by Executive pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof (a Proceeding); provided, however, Executive shall not have relinquished his right to (i) commence a Proceeding to challenge whether Executive knowingly and voluntarily waived his rights under ADEA; (ii) file a charge with an administrative agency or take part in any agency investigation or (iii) commence a Proceeding pursuant to the Reserved Claims. Executive does agree, however, that he is waiving his right to recover any money in connection with such an investigation or charge filed by him or by any other individual, or a charge filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other federal, state or local agency, except as prohibited by law.

 

 1 

 

 

3.Executive hereby acknowledges that the Company has informed him that he has up to twenty-one (21) days to sign this General Release of Claims and he may knowingly and voluntarily waive that twenty-one (21) day period by signing this General Release of Claims earlier. Executive also understands that he shall have seven (7) days following the date on which he signs this General Release of Claims within which to revoke it by providing a written notice of his revocation to the Company.

 

4.Executive acknowledges that this General Release of Claims will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the laws of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law principles.

 

5.Executive acknowledges that he has read this General Release of Claims, that he has been advised that he should consult with an attorney before he executes this general release of claims, and that he understands all of its terms and executes it voluntarily and with full knowledge of its significance and the consequences thereof.

 

This General Release of Claims shall take effect on the eighth day following Executives execution of this General Release of Claims unless Executives written revocation is delivered to the Company within seven (7) days after such execution.

 

  EXECUTIVE  
     
  /s/ Julian Groves  
  Julian Groves  

 

####

 

 2 

 

 

 

 

 Exhibit 10.6

 

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered effective as of the 13th day of October 2022 (the “Effective Date”), by and between MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Matt Harward (the “Executive”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has approved the Company entering into an employment agreement with the Executive;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is now the Chief Marketing Officer of the Company and thus a key senior executive of the Company, as well as an executive member of the Board;

 

WHEREAS, the Company would like enter into a formal agreement with the Executive to set forth the terms of Executive’s employment and to provide for certain severance payments and other benefits in the event Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the Executive for “Good Reason” (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, Executive wishes to be employed by the Company and provide full-time services to the Company in return for the compensation and benefits detailed herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, including the agreements set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.Employment.

 

a.Term. Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”); provided however that the period of the Executive’s employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one-year periods thereafter (each, a “Renewal Term”), in each case unless either Party hereto provides the other Party hereto with written notice that such period shall not be so extended at least one hundred and twenty (120) days in advance of the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Term, as applicable (the Initial Term and any Renewal Term, collectively, the “Term”). The Executive’s period of employment pursuant to this Agreement shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Employment Period.”

 

b.Position and Duties. Executive (i) shall serve as the Chief Marketing Officer of the Company with responsibilities, duties and authority customary for such position, subject to direction by the Chief Executive Officer; (ii) shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer; (iii) shall devote substantially all Executive’s working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries; and (iv) agrees to observe and comply with the Company’s rules and policies as adopted by the Company from time to time. In addition, as of the Effective Date, the Executive shall retain his appointment as an executive member of the Board and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause Executive to be reelected as a member of the Board while employed hereunder.

 

 1  

 

 

c.Place of Employment. Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement on a remote basis with his primary operations based in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, the Company may from time to time require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations on the Company’s business to include the Company’s corporate offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

 

2.Compensation and Related Matters.

 

a.Annual Base Salary. Executive shall receive a base salary at the rate of $250,000 per annum (the “Annual Base Salary”), subject to withholdings and deductions and which shall be paid to Executive in accordance with the customary payroll practices and procedures of the Company. Such Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Board’s Compensation Committee not less than annually and may be adjusted from time to time.

 

b.Bi-Annual Bonus. Commencing in the calendar year 2022 and each calendar year thereafter during Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will be eligible to receive a discretionary bi-annual performance bonus, with a target achievement of up to 100% of Annual Base Salary (the “Bi-Annual Bonus”). The amount of the Bi-Annual Bonus that shall be payable shall be based on the achievement of predetermined performance goals to be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. The amount of any Bi-Annual Bonus for which Executive is eligible shall be reviewed by the Board from time to time, provided that that target achievement for the Bi-Annual Bonus shall not be less than up to 100% of the Annual Base Salary. Any Bi-Annual Bonus earned by Executive pursuant to this section shall be paid to Executive in accordance with Company policies, less authorized deductions and required withholding obligations, and is payable as follows: the first Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the second quarter ended June 30; and the second Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the calendar year, ended December 31.

 

c.Benefits. Executive shall participate in such full-time employee and executive benefit plans and programs as the Company may from time to time offer to senior executives of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, including, without limitation, an executive family medical package.

 

d.Life Insurance. The Company shall directly pay or reimburse Executive for the premiums of a term life insurance policy, up to a maximum of $10,000 annually. If Executive’s employment terminates for any or no reason, the Company shall have no obligation to continue to bear the costs of the life insurance policy for Executive, but Executive may choose to assume responsibility for payments required to continue the policy.

 

e.Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to 30-days of paid time-off for vacation, as well as sick leave, holidays and other paid time-off benefits provided by the Company from time to time which are applicable to the Company’s executive officers in accordance with Company policy. The opportunity to take paid time off is contingent upon Executive’s workload and ability to manage his schedule.

 

f.Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect from time to time.

 

 2  

 

 

3.Equity Awards.

 

a.Stock Option. Upon the Company becoming publicly traded on a national exchange, and further subject to approval by the Board, on the date determined in accordance with the Company’s established policy, Executive shall be granted a five-year option (the “Option”) to purchase a total of 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock as follows: 100,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; and 25,000 shares on the last day of each quarter, or March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, in each calendar year. The per share exercise price of the Option shall be equal to the per share closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The Option shall vest and become exercisable subject to the terms set forth in the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan expected to be approved by the Board and effectuated prior to the Company going public by way of Initial Public Offering of its common stock on a national exchange. The Option shall otherwise be subject to the terms of the plan pursuant to which it is granted and/or an option agreement to be entered into between Executive and the Company.

 

b.Additional Equity Awards. Executive shall be eligible to be granted additional equity awards in accordance with the Company’s policies as in effect from time to time, as recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

 

4.Termination.

 

a.Termination of Employment. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, in each case (other than a termination by the Company for Cause) at any time upon not less than 90-days notice to the other Party (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “Termination Date”). Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (a) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination; (b) unused paid time off (consistent with Section 2.f. hereof) paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate; (c) additional vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements; and (d) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.g. hereof (collectively, the “Accrued Amounts”). The Accrued Amounts described in Section 4.a. shall by paid to the Executive within 30 days following the Termination Date (or, if later, following the Executive’s presentation of supporting documentation for unreimbursed expenses in accordance with 2.g.).

 

 3  

 

 

b.Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated (a) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (b) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, (i) the Executive shall be entitled to continuation of the Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date for 12 months following the Termination Date paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, but no less frequently than monthly (the “Base Salary Continuation”); and (ii) if the Executive elects to continue group health coverage under any Company group health plan pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall reimburse the Executive for a portion of his COBRA premiums, such that his unreimbursed cost of COBRA premiums does not exceed the cost to the Executive of such health plan premiums immediately prior to termination, for a period of up to one year after his termination (or until he is no longer eligible for COBRA continuation, if sooner). Notwithstanding clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, such reimbursements for COBRA premiums shall not be made to the extent such payments would result in any additional tax or penalty to the Company under the Affordable Care Act or any other applicable law. In the event the group health coverage is self-insured, the Company shall include in the Executive’s gross income, the imputed value of the employer-subsidized COBRA premiums. The Executive shall be responsible for the full amount of COBRA premiums for any periods exceeding the time set forth above. In addition, in the event of a termination covered by this Section 4.b., the Executive shall be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of his annual Base Salary (“Bonus Severance”).The Company’s obligations to pay the Base Salary Continuation, the Bonus Severance and COBRA premiums described above shall be conditioned upon the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, and without limitation of any remedies to which the Company may be entitled, the Base Salary Continuation shall be paid in equal installments commencing during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date, the Bonus Severance shall be paid during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date and the reimbursement of COBRA premiums shall be made after substantiation of such expenses; providedthat, the Executive has signed and delivered to the Company the release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and C (the “Release”) and the period (if any) during which the Release can be revoked has expired within such sixty (60) day period; providedfurther, that, if such sixty (60) day period begins in one calendar year and ends in another calendar year, to the extent required under Section 409A (as defined below), payment of the Base Salary Continuation installments, Bonus Severance and reimbursement of the COBRA premiums that otherwise would have been paid during that sixty (60) day period shall be accumulated and paid in the second calendar year after expiration of the period for revoking the Release (but within the specified sixty (60) day period).

 

c.Voluntary Resignation by the Executive other than for Good Reason; Termination due to Death or Disability; Termination Due to, Upon or Following Non-Renewal of the Agreement. If (a) the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment at any time, other than for Good Reason, (b) if the Executive’s employment is terminated due to the Executive’s death or Disability or (c) if the Executive’s employment terminates due to, upon or following non-renewal of the Agreement by either Party in accordance with Section 1.a., then the Executive (or his estate) shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

d.Termination by the Company for Cause. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, then the Executive shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

e.Exclusive Remedy. The foregoing payments upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits due the Executive upon termination of his employment.

 

f.Resignation from All Positions. Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the Termination Date, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the boards of directors (and any committee thereof) of the Board, if applicable. The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

 4  

 

 

g.Cooperation. Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company.

 

h.Duty of Confidentiality. Executive agrees that during employment with the Company and for a period of two (2) years following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, divulge or make use of any Confidential Information of the Company other than in the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company. While employed by the Company, Executive shall make all reasonable efforts to protect and maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of the Company. In the event that Executive becomes aware of unauthorized disclosures of the Confidential Information by anyone at any time, whether intentionally or by accident, Executive shall promptly notify the Company. This Agreement does not limit the remedies available to the Company under common or statutory law as to trade secrets or other types of confidential information, which may impose longer duties of non-disclosure.

 

i.Return of Property and Information. Executive agrees not to remove any Company property from Company premises, except when authorized by the Company. Executive agrees to return all Company property and information (whether confidential or not) within Executive’s possession or control within seven (7) calendar days following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company. Such property and information includes, but is not limited to, the original and any copy (regardless of the manner in which it is recorded) of all information provided by Company to Executive or which Executive has developed or collected in the scope of Executive’s employment with the Company, as well as all Company-issued equipment, supplies, accessories, vehicles, keys, instruments, tools, devices, computers, cell phones, pagers, materials, documents, plans, records, notebooks, drawings, or papers. Upon request by the Company, Executive shall certify in writing that Executive has complied with this provision; and has permanently deleted all Company information from any computers or other electronic storage devices or media owned by Executive. Executive may only retain information relating the Executive’s benefit plans and compensation to the extent needed to prepare Executive’s tax returns.

 

j.Assignment of Work Product and Inventions. Executive hereby assigns and grants to the Company (and will upon request take any actions needed to formally assign and grant to Company and/or obtain patents, trademark registrations or copyrights belonging to Company) the sole and exclusive ownership of any and all inventions, information, reports, computer software or programs, writings, technical information or work product collected or developed by Executive, alone or with others, during the term of Executive's employment relating to the Company. This duty applies whether or not the forgoing inventions or information are made or prepared in the course of employment with the Company, so long as such inventions or information relate to the Business of Company and have been developed in whole or in part during the term of Executive's employment. Executive agrees to advise the Company in writing of each invention that Executive, alone or with others, makes or conceives during the term of Executive's employment and which relate to the Business of Company. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, Executive shall not be required to assign, nor shall Executive be deemed to have assigned, any of Executive’s rights in any invention that Executive develops entirely on his own time without using Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, or Trade Secrets, except for inventions that result from any work performed by Executive for the Company on behalf of the Company. Inventions which Executive developed before Executive came to work for the Company, or are in active development at the time Executive came to work for the Company, if any, are described in the attached Exhibit B, and excluded from this Section. The failure of the parties to attach any Exhibit B to this agreement shall be deemed an admission by Executive that Executive does not have any pre-existing inventions.

 

 5  

 

 

k.Non-Competition. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, and within the Restricted Territory, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, perform services on behalf of a Competing Business, and which are the same as or similar to those types of services conducted, authorized, offered, or provided by Executive to the Company within 24 months prior to Executive’s termination or resignation.

 

l.Non-Recruitment of Company Employees and Contractors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit or induce any employee or independent contractor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, to terminate or lessen such employment or contract with the Company.

 

m.Non-Solicitation of Company Customers. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective customers of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of selling any products or services to such customers on behalf of a Competing Business.

 

n.Non-Solicitation of Company Vendors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective Vendor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of purchasing products or services to support a Competing Business.

 

o.Acknowledgements. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the provisions of Section 4 are reasonable as to time, scope and territory given the Company’s need to protect its Confidential Information and its relationships and goodwill with its customers, suppliers, employees and contractors, all of which have been developed at great time and expense to the Company. Executive represents that Executive has the skills and abilities to obtain alternative employment that would not violate these Restrictive Covenants in the event that Executive leaves employment with the Company, and that these Restrictive Covenants do not pose an undue hardship on Executive. Executive further acknowledges that Executive’s breach of any of the provisions of Section 4 would likely cause irreparable injury to the Company, and therefore entitle the Company to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedies available in law or equity, without the necessity of posting a bond.

 

5.Assignment and Successors.

 

The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise), and may assign or encumber this Agreement and its rights hereunder as security for indebtedness of the Company and its affiliates. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive and their respective successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees, as applicable. None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law.

 

 6  

 

 

6.Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

a.Work Eligibility; Confidentiality Agreement. As a condition of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will be required to provide evidence of Executive’s identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. It is required that Executive bring the appropriate documentation with Executive at the time of employment. As a further condition of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall enter into and abide by the Company’s standard Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement (the “Confidential Information Agreement”).

 

b.Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

 

c.Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any Party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid (or if it is sent through any other method agreed upon by the parties), as follows:

 

(i)If to the Company at:

 

MGO Global Inc.

1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33345

 

(ii)If to Executive, at the address set forth on Exhibit D.

 

(iii)Or at any other address as any Party shall have specified by notice in writing to the other Party.

 

d.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

e.Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement, collectively with the Confidential Information Agreement, is intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral. The Parties further intend that this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

 

 7  

 

 

f.Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of Company. By an instrument in writing similarly executed, Executive or a duly authorized officer of the Company, as applicable, may waive compliance by the other Party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; providedhowever, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.

 

g.Arbitration. Executive and the Company agree that if any dispute, controversy or claim should arise between Executive and the Company (including claims against its employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, successors and assigns) relating or pertaining to or arising out of Executive’s employment with the Company or this Agreement, the dispute will be submitted exclusively to binding arbitration before a neutral arbitrator conducted in the state of Florida, in accordance with the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force. This means that disputes will be decided by an arbitrator rather than a court or jury, and that both Executive and the Company waive their respective rights to a court or jury trial. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive and the Company each have the right to resolve any issue or dispute over intellectual property rights by court action instead of arbitration.

 

h.Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any allowances and reimbursements) any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges which the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.

 

7.Section 409A.

 

The intent of the Parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (collectively with the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date, “Section 409A”), and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be exempt therefrom. If Executive notifies the Company that Executive has received advice of tax counsel of a national reputation with expertise in Section 409A that any provision of this Agreement would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A (with specificity as to the reason therefor) or the Company independently makes such determination, the Company and Executive shall take commercially reasonable efforts to reform such provision to try to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A, provided that any such modifications shall not increase the cost or liability to the Company. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to Executive and the Company of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 8  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.
   
  By:  /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda
   
  Name: Maximiliano Ojeda, Chief Executive Officer and
  Chairman of the Board
   
  EXECUTIVE
   
  By:  /s/ Matt Harward
   
  Name: Matt Harward

 

 9  

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between MGO GLOBAL INC., a Delaware company, on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and other corporate affiliates (collectively referred to herein as the “Company”), and MATT HARWARD (“Employee”) (the Company and Employee are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”) as of October 13, 2022 (the “Effective Date”).

 

In consideration of Employee’s employment or continuing employment with the Company (hereafter, “employment”), which Employee acknowledges to be good and valuable consideration for Employee’s obligations hereunder, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

Representations and Acknowledgements. Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) among the Company’s most valuable and indispensable assets are its Confidential Information and its close relationships with its Customers (defined below) and Suppliers (defined below, which includes, without limitation, employees), which the Company has devoted and continues to devote a substantial amount of time, money and other resources to develop; (ii) in connection with Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee will be exposed to and acquire the Company’s Confidential Information and develop, at the Company’s expense and support, special and close relationships with the Company’s Customers and Suppliers; (iii) Employee would not be able to engage in the activities restricted by this Sections 3 through 5 below without using or disclosing Confidential Information and trade secrets of the Company; (iv) the Company’s Confidential Information and close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers must be protected; (v) the Company is employing or continuing to employ Employee only because of the promises and acknowledgements that Employee makes in this Agreement; (vi) to the extent required by law, the covenants in this Agreement are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint on Employee than is necessary to protect the Company’s Confidential Information, close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers, and other legitimate business interests; (vii) Employee’s compliance with such covenants will not inhibit Employee from earning a living or from working in Employee’s chosen profession; and (viii) any breach of such covenants will result in the Company being placed at an unfair competitive disadvantage and cause the Company serious and irreparable harm to its business.

 

Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information. In the course of Employee's employment hereunder, Employee will receive, contribute to the production of, become privy to the Company's Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined). Employee further understands and acknowledges that this Confidential Information and the Company’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate.

 

 1  

 

 

Employee agrees that during and in perpetuity after Employee’s employment by Company, Employee shall (i) hold in confidence and treat all Confidential Information as strictly confidential; (ii) not directly or indirectly disclose, publish, communicate or make available Confidential Information, or allow it to be disclosed, published, communicated or made available, in whole or part, to any entity or person whatsoever, except as required in the good faith performance of Employee’s duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent); and (iii) not to access or use any Confidential Information, and not to copy any documents, records, files, media or other resources containing any Confidential Information, or remove any such documents, records, files, media or other resources from the premises or control of the Company, except as required in the good faith performance of Employee’s duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent). Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent disclosure of Confidential Information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or pursuant to the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that the disclosure does not exceed the extent of disclosure required by such law, regulation or order. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Employee shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to an authorized officer of the Company after receiving such order, but in any event sufficiently in advance of making any disclosure to permit the Company to contest the order or seek confidentiality protections, as determined in the Company’s sole discretion. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and in perpetuity thereafter, Employee shall hold in confidence and shall not directly or indirectly reveal report, publish, copy, duplicate, disclose, transfer or otherwise misappropriate any Confidential Information to any person or entity, or utilize such Confidential Information for any purpose, except within the course of Employee’s employment with Company.

 

All notes, data, reference materials, sketches, drawings, memoranda, documentation and records in any form or media in any way incorporating or reflecting any Confidential Information of Company shall belong exclusively to Company. Upon termination of his employment for any reason, or at any time Company may request prior thereto, Employee shall immediately surrender and turn over to Company any of Company’s property whatsoever and all Confidential Information of Company, whether the same be in writing, print, copy, audio or video tape, computer program or disc, picture, or any other medium whatsoever, and whether appearing in original documents, summaries, excerpts, abstracts or other formats, and shall provide Company with all information necessary to access and use said Confidential Information. Employee shall have no right to retain any originals or copies of the foregoing for any reason whatsoever after termination of his employment hereunder without the express prior written consent of Company and, upon termination, Employee shall certify in writing that he no longer possesses and has not distributed or retained any Confidential Information of Company or any of Company’s property whatsoever.

 

Notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement, the obligation of Employee to protect the confidentiality of any Confidential Information shall terminate as to any information or materials which: (i) are, or become, public knowledge through no act or failure to act of Employee in violation of Employee’s obligations to the Company; (ii) are publicly disclosed by the proprietor thereof; (iii) are lawfully obtained without obligations of confidentiality by Employee from a third party after reasonable inquiry regarding the authority of such third party to possess and divulge the same; (iv) are independently developed by Employee from sources or through persons that Employee can demonstrate had no access to Confidential Information; or (v) are lawfully known by Employee at the time of disclosure other than by reason of discussions with or disclosures by Company. Employee’s confidentiality obligations set forth herein shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employee’s rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and further described in Section 9 below.

 

 2  

 

 

As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information or material, whether oral or written, that is proprietary to Company or designated (either expressly or by virtue of the manner in which such information or material is traditionally treated in business settings) as confidential information by Company and not generally known by non-Company personnel, which Employee may develop or which Employee may receive, obtain knowledge of or become privy to through or as a result of Employee’s relationship with Company (including information conceived, originated, discovered or developed in whole or in part by Employee). “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to, the following types of information and other information of a similar nature (whether or not reduced to writing): trade secrets, discoveries, ideas, concepts, software in various stages of development, designs, drawings, specifications, techniques, models, data, source code, object code, documentation, diagrams, flow charts, research, development, processes, procedures, “know-how”, marketing techniques and materials, marketing and development plans, names of employees and information related to them, customer names, contacts, and other information related to customers, price lists, pricing policies, and financial data, information and projections. “Confidential Information” also includes any information described above which Company obtains from another party and which Company treats as proprietary or designates as “Confidential Information,” whether or not owned or developed by Company. Information that is publicly known and that is generally employed by the trade or generic information or knowledge which Employee would have learned in the course of similar work elsewhere in the trade is not intended to and shall be deemed not to be a part of the “Confidential Information.”

 

Employee understands that the above list is not exhaustive, and that Confidential Information also includes other information that is marked or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary, or that would otherwise appear to a reasonable person to be confidential or proprietary in the context and circumstances in which the information is known or used.

 

Employee acknowledges that Employee has been notified in accordance with the federal Uniform Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S. Code § 1839) that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (a) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Employee also acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit Employee from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or regulatory body or making other disclosures that are protected under any law or regulation, or from filing a charge with or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by any governmental agency or regulatory body.

 

Agreement Not to Solicit Customers. Employee agrees that during his employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason whatsoever, Employee shall not, either directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, (i) solicit, initiate contact with, call upon, or otherwise enter into a relationship with any customers or actively sought prospective customers of Company with whom Employee had material contact during his employment with Company or about which Employee obtained Confidential Information (collectively, “Customers”), for the purpose of soliciting, selling, diverting to or otherwise providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company (collectively, “Competitive Activities”), including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies, unless agreed to in writing by both parties; or (ii) solicit, induce, or cause any Customer to terminate, reduce or refrain from renewing or extending its contractual or other business relationship with the Company.

 

 3  

 

 

Material Contact. For purposes of this Agreement, “material contact” exists between Employee and each Customer with whom Employee personally interacts on behalf of Company, whether such interaction is conducted in person, in writing, by telephone or by other form of communication.

 

Agreement Not to Solicit Employees and Independent Contractors. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actively encourage or induce the voluntary termination of, or recruit or hire, or attempt to recruit or hire, any person(s) then employed by or associated with Company as an employee or, on an exclusive basis, an independent contractor, consultant or other supplier of goods or services to the Company (collectively, “Suppliers”), whether or not such recruit or hire is a full-time, part-time or temporary employee, independent contractor or consultant, and whether or not such employment or other engagement is for a determined period or is at-will, for the purpose of employment, consultancy, or serving as an independent contractor for, directly or indirectly, any business entity which engages in the business of premium fashion brands.

 

Agreement Not to Compete. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, engage in the business of providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company, including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies, within the Territory (as defined below). As used herein, “Territory” means any state in the United States or any foreign country in which the Company is doing business or in which it is contemplating to do business pursuant to a then current business plan.

 

Proprietary Rights.

 

Work Product. Employee agrees that all inventions, ideas, writings, works of authorship, technology, discoveries, copyrightable or patentable subject matter, and other work product of any nature whatsoever that, in whole or in part, are made, conceived, created, prepared, produced, authored, edited or amended (i) through the use of any of the Company’s Confidential Information or any of the Company’s equipment or facilities or (ii) by Employee, individually or jointly with others, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company that result from any work performed by Executive for the Company on behalf of the Company (regardless of when or where the Work Product is prepared or whose equipment or other resources is used in preparing the same) and all printed, physical and electronic copies, all improvements, rights and claims related to the foregoing, and other tangible embodiments thereof (collectively, “Work Product”), as well as any and all rights in and to copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks (and related goodwill), mask works, patents and other intellectual property rights therein arising in any jurisdiction throughout the world and all related rights of priority under international conventions with respect thereto, including all pending and future applications and registrations therefor, and continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, reissues, extensions and renewals thereof (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”), shall belong exclusively to Company and shall be considered part of Confidential Information (as the case may be) for purposes of this Agreement.

 

 4  

 

 

For purposes of this Agreement, Work Product includes, but is not limited to, Company information, including plans, publications, research, strategies, techniques, agreements, documents, negotiations, know-how, computer programs, computer applications, software design, web design, work in process, databases, manuals, developments, reports, graphics, drawings, sketches, market studies, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, product designs, styles, models, inventions, unpublished patent applications, original works of authorship, discoveries, experimental processes, specifications, customer information, customer lists, manufacturing information, marketing and advertising information, and sales information.

 

Work Product which Employee developed prior to working for the Company, or is in active development at the time Employee came to work for the Company, if any, is described in the attached Exhibit B, and excluded from this Section. The failure of the parties to attach any Exhibit B to this agreement shall be deemed an admission by Employee that Employee does not have pre-existing Work Product.

 

Company, its designees, and its assigns shall have the right to use and/or to apply for patents, copyrights or other statutory or common law protections for such Work Product in any and all countries. Employee shall provide reasonable assistance to Company (at Company’s expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law Intellectual Property Rights for such Work Product in any and all countries. To that end, Employee shall execute, during and after his employment with Company, all documents reasonably related to the application, procurement, and enforcement of patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law protections, as the Company or its counsel may request, together with any assignments thereof to Company or its designee.

 

Work Made for Hire; Assignment. Employee acknowledges that, by reason of being engaged by the Company at the relevant times, to the extent permitted by law, all of the Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is “work made for hire” as defined in the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 101), and such copyrights are therefore owned by the Company. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company, for no additional consideration, Employee’s entire right, title and interest in and to all Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights therein, including the right to sue, counterclaim and recover for all past, present and future infringement, misappropriation or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit the Company’s rights, title or interest in any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than that the Company would have had in the absence of this Agreement.

 

 5  

 

 

Further Assurances; Power of Attorney. During and after Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company to (i) apply for, obtain, perfect and transfer to the Company the Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights in the Work Product in any jurisdiction in the world; and (ii) maintain, protect and enforce the same, including, without limitation, executing and delivering to the Company any and all applications, oaths, declarations, affidavits, waivers, assignments and other documents and instruments as shall be requested by the Company. Employee hereby irrevocably grants the Company power of attorney to execute and deliver any such documents on Employee’s behalf in Employee’s name and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to transfer the Work Product to the Company and further the transfer, issuance, prosecution and maintenance of all Intellectual Property Rights therein, to the full extent permitted by law, if Employee does not promptly cooperate with the Company’s request (without limiting the rights the Company shall have in such circumstances by operation of law). The power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall not be affected by Employee’s subsequent incapacity.

 

Moral Rights. To the extent any copyrights are assigned under this Agreement, Employee hereby irrevocably waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any and all claims Employee may now or hereafter have in any jurisdiction to all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal and any other rights that may be known as “moral rights” with respect to all Work Product and all Intellectual Property Rights therein.

 

No License. Employee understands that this Agreement does not, and shall not be construed to, grant Employee any license or right of any nature with respect to any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights or any Confidential Information, materials, software or other tools made available to Employee by the Company.

 

No infringement. Employee represents and warrants to the Company that all Work Product Employee delivers to the Company shall be original and shall not infringe upon or violate any patent, copyright or proprietary right of any person or third party.

 

License to Prior Invention. If Employee in the course of Employee’s employment for the Company incorporates into a Company product Work Product that Employee has, alone or jointly with others, conceived, developed or reduced to practice prior to the commencement of Employee’s employment with the Company in which Employee has a property right (each, a “Prior Invention”), Employee hereby grants to the Company a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty free, irrevocable, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, and use such Prior Invention. Employee hereby represents and warrants that all Prior Inventions have been listed by Employee on Exhibit B hereto or, if no such list is attached, that there are no Prior Inventions. Employee will not incorporate any Work Product owned by any third party into any Company Work Product without the Company’s prior written permission.

 

License to Information and Likeness. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligations, to use Employee’s name, photograph, likeness and approved biographical data for the purpose of advertising, marketing, promoting, publicizing and exploiting any matter related to the Company, its products and services and/or Employee’s duties performed hereunder.

 

Severability. To the extent this Agreement is required to be construed in accordance with laws of any state which precludes as a requirement in an employee agreement the assignment of certain classes of inventions made by an employee, this Section 6 will be interpreted not to apply to any invention which a court rules and/or the Company agrees falls within such classes.

 

Conflicts of Interest. During the term of his employment, Employee shall not engage in activities or practices involving any possible conflict of interest. These activities or practices may subject Employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Employee should avoid at all times the appearance of, as well as an actual, conflict of interest.

 

 6  

 

 

Conflicts of interest activities or practices include, but are not limited to: engaging in business conduct that is damaging to the reputation of the Company, accepting outside employment in any organization that does business with the Company or is a competitor of the Company, investing or having a financial interest in a private company which does business with the Company or having stock ownership in a publicly traded company which does business with the Company if the relationship(s) may influence Employee’s business decisions (this applies to Employee and to close relatives and is applicable at the time of hire and at any time during the course of employment). If an individual does own stock in a company that does business with the Company, the relationship should be disclosed upon employment and all significant business dealings with that company will be reviewed.

 

Employee may not accept gifts from any person or company doing or seeking to do business with the Company. Employees are allowed to accept advertising novelties and other gifts of nominal value.

 

Employee may not give, offer, or promise, directly or indirectly, anything of value to any representative of any company doing business with the Company.

 

Employee may not select vendors on the basis of anything other than the merit of their products or services or prices for such products or services.

 

Discussing company information with the press without prior authorization from management is also a conflict of interest.

 

Security and Access. Employee agrees and covenants (i) to comply with all Company security policies and procedures as in force from time to time including without limitation those regarding computer equipment, telephone systems, voicemail systems, facilities access, monitoring, key cards, access codes, Company intranet, internet, social media and instant messaging systems, computer systems, e-mail systems, computer networks, document storage systems, software, data security, encryption, firewalls, passwords and any and all other Company facilities, IT resources and communication technologies (“Facilities and Information Technology Resources”); (ii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources except as authorized by Company; and (iii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources in any manner after the termination of Employee’s employment by the Company, whether termination is voluntary or involuntary. Employee agrees to notify the Company promptly in the event Employee learns of any violation of the foregoing by others, or of any other misappropriation or unauthorized access, use, reproduction or reverse engineering of, or tampering with any Facilities and Information Technology Resources or other Company property or materials by others. Employee acknowledges and agrees that any property situated on the Company’s premises and owned by the Company, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets, other work areas and other Facilities and Information Technology Resources, is subject to inspection by personnel of the Company at any time with or without notice. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has no expectation of privacy with respect to the Company’s Facilities and Information Technology Resources and that Employee’s activity and any files or messages on or using any of such Facilities and Information Technology Resources may be monitored at any time without notice.

 

 7  

 

 

Exit Obligations. Upon (i) voluntary or involuntary termination of Employee’s employment or (ii) the Company’s request at any time during Employee’s employment, Employee shall (a) provide or return to the Company any and all Company property, including keys, key cards, access cards, identification cards, security devices, Company credit cards, network access devices, computers, cell phones, smartphones, equipment, manuals, reports, files, books, compilations, work product, e-mail messages, recordings, tapes, disks, thumb drives or other removable information storage devices, hard drives and data and all Company documents and materials belonging to the Company and stored in any fashion, including but not limited to those that constitute or contain any Confidential Information or Work Product, that are in the possession or control of Employee, whether they were provided to Employee by the Company or any of its business associates or created by Employee in connection with Employee’s employment by the Company; and (b) delete or destroy all copies of any such documents and materials following return to the Company that remain in Employee’s possession or control, including those stored on any non-Company devices, networks, storage locations and media in Employee’s possession or control.

 

Non-disparagement. Employee agrees and covenants that Employee will not at any time make, publish or communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, statements or gestures concerning the Company’s products or services, and existing and prospective customers, suppliers, investors and other associated third parties, or make any maliciously false statements about the Company’s employees and officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 8 shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employee’s rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and described in Section 9 below. Further, this Section does not apply to (i) truthful statements made in connection with legal proceedings, governmental and regulatory investigations and actions; (ii) any other truthful statement or disclosure required by law; or (iii) good faith intra-Company communications made for legitimate business reasons.

 

NLRA Compliance. It is the policy of the Company to comply with the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), including without limitation, Section 7 thereof. Thus, to the extent Employee is covered by the NLRA, nothing herein, or in any other the agreement between Employee and the Company or Company policy, shall prohibit Employee together with other Company employees from (i) self-organizing, forming joining or assisting labor organizations; (ii) bargaining collectively through representatives of their own choosing; (iii) discussing wages, hours, working conditions, other labor policies or unionism or for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection; or (iv) posting pictures or videos of employees engaged in such activities or other activities involving collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. However, the Company has an “open door” policy and encourages employees to address such matters instead with their supervisors or a member of management.

 

Remedies. Employee acknowledges that the Company’s Confidential Information and the Company’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee, or any other material breach of Employees promises and covenants herein, will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement, Employee hereby consents and agrees that the Company shall be entitled to, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that monetary damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief. Additionally, each of the covenants and restrictions to which Employee is subject under this Agreement, including, without limitation those in Sections 2 through 4 above, shall each be construed as independent of any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement between Employee and the Company, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants and restrictions.

 

 8  

 

 

Successors and Assigns.

 

Assignment by the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement to any subsidiary or corporate affiliate, or to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and permitted successors and assigns.

 

No Assignment by Employee. Employee may not assign this Agreement or any part hereof. Any purported assignment by Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of purported assignment.

 

Governing Law; Jurisdiction and Venue; Jury Waiver. This Agreement, for all purposes, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts-of-law principles. Any action or proceeding by either Party against the other Party, including, without limitation, to enforce this Agreement or otherwise relating to or arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company (or the termination thereof), shall be brought only in any state or federal court located in or closest to Broward County, Florida. The Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue. Employee and the Company each hereby waive the right to trial by jury in any such court action or proceeding between them, regardless of the subject matter, including, without limitation, any action or proceeding based upon, arising out of, or in any way relating to this Agreement and all matters concerning Employee’s employment (or the termination thereof) with the Company.

 

Entire Agreement. Unless specifically provided herein, this Agreement contains all the understandings and representations between Employee and the Company pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

 

Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by Employee and by a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than Employee). No waiver by either of the Parties of any breach by the other Party hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other Party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time, nor shall the failure of or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver thereof to preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

 

 9  

 

 

Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the Parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. The Parties further agree that any such court is expressly authorized to modify any such unenforceable provision of this Agreement in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision from this Agreement in its entirety, whether by rewriting the offending provision, deleting any or all of the offending provision, adding additional language to this Agreement or by making such other modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the Parties as embodied herein to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Parties expressly agree that this Agreement as so modified by the court shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of them. In any event, should one or more of the provisions of this Agreement be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and if such provision or provisions are not modified as provided above, this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had not been set forth herein.

 

Captions. Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph.

 

Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Photographic copies, electronically scanned copies and other facsimiles of this Agreement (including such signed counterparts) may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.

 

At-Will Employment; No Oral Agreements. The Company and Employee acknowledge and agree that this Agreement does not affect the ability of either party to terminate their employment relationship, which relationship, unless otherwise agreed to in writing signed by an officer of the Company, may be terminated at any time, for any or no reason. No supervisor, manager or other Company representative has the authority to make any verbal promises, commitments, or statements of any kind regarding the Company’s policies, procedures or any other issues that are legally binding on the Company.

 

EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND AGREES THAT THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE REASONABLE AND PROPER PROTECTION OF THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS. EMPLOYEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE COMPANY HAS ADVISED HIM THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO HAVE THIS AGREEMENT REVIEWED BY AN ATTORNEY OF HIS SELECTION PRIOR TO SIGNING, AND HE HAS EITHER DONE SO OR ELECTED TO FOREGO THAT RIGHT.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 10  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date above.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.
   
  Signature: /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda
   
  By: Name: Maximiliano Ojeda
   
  Title: Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board
   
  EMPLOYEE:
   
  Signature: /s/ Matt Harward
   
  Matt Harward

 

 11  

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS, WORK PRODUCT AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP

 

1.Bitesize AI, Sandbox Funnels and associated software, technology, methods, documentation, and instructional content of Unicorn Industries, LLC. This work started in February of 2021 and is ongoing. Furthermore, this work is directly related the expertise of Executive/Employee and may substantially overlap with work related to the Company. This work relates to marketing technology and methods to improve performance on algorithm-oriented marketing platforms, including use of AI (artificial intelligence) and ML (machine learning). It includes proprietary methods, software, and instruction. Unicorn Industries, LLC may perform marketing services substantially similar to the expertise of the Executive/Employee for clients. Executive/Employee is a founder and member of the board of Unicorn Industries, LLC, but is not an employee.

 

####

 

 1  

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF RELEASE

GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS

 

Matt Harward, (“Executive”), for himself and his family, heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and their respective successors and assigns, in exchange for the Severance Benefits, as defined under the Executive Employment Agreement made and entered effective as of the 13th day of October, 2022, by and between MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) and the Executive to which this release is attached as Exhibit C to the Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), does hereby release and forever discharge the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliated companies, successors and assigns, and its current or former directors, officers or shareholders in such capacities (collectively with the Company, the “Released Parties”) from any and all actions, causes of action, suits, controversies, claims and demands whatsoever, for or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever, whether known or unknown including, but not limited to, all claims under any applicable laws arising under or in connection with Executive’s employment or termination thereof, whether for tort, breach of express or implied employment contract, wrongful discharge, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or defamation or injuries incurred on the job or incurred as a result of loss of employment. Executive acknowledges that the Company encouraged him to consult with an attorney of his choosing, and through this General Release of Claims encourages him to consult with his attorney with respect to possible claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) and that he understands that the ADEA is a Federal statute that, among other things, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in employment and employee benefits and benefit plans. Without limiting the generality of the release provided above, Executive expressly waives any and all claims under ADEA that he may have as of the date hereof. Executive further understands that by signing this General Release of Claims he is in fact waiving, releasing and forever giving up any claim under the ADEA as well as all other laws within the scope of this paragraph 1 that may have existed on or prior to the date hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph 1 to the contrary, this General Release of Claims shall not apply to (i) any rights to receive any payments or benefits to which Executive is entitled under COBRA, the Employment agreement or any other compensation or employee benefit plans in which Executive is eligible to participate at the time of execution of this General Release of Claims, (ii) any rights or claims that may arise as a result of events occurring after the date this General Release of Claims is executed, any indemnification and advancement rights Executive may have as a former employee, officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies including, without limitation, any rights arising pursuant to the articles of incorporation, bylaws and any other organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any claims for benefits under any directors’ and officers’ liability policy maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies in accordance with the terms of such policy, and (iv) any rights as a holder of equity securities of the Company (clauses (i) through (iv), the "Reserved Claims").

 

Executive represents that he has not filed against the Released Parties any complaints, charges, or lawsuits arising out of his employment, or any other matter arising on or prior to the date of this General Release of Claims other than Reserved Claims, and covenants and agrees that he will never individually or with any person file, or commence the filing of any lawsuits, complaints or proceedings with any governmental agency, or against the Released Parties with respect to any of the matters released by Executive pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof (a “Proceeding”); providedhowever, Executive shall not have relinquished his right to (i) commence a Proceeding to challenge whether Executive knowingly and voluntarily waived his rights under ADEA; (ii) file a charge with an administrative agency or take part in any agency investigation or (iii) commence a Proceeding pursuant to the Reserved Claims. Executive does agree, however, that he is waiving his right to recover any money in connection with such an investigation or charge filed by him or by any other individual, or a charge filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other federal, state or local agency, except as prohibited by law.

 

 1  

 

 

Executive hereby acknowledges that the Company has informed him that he has up to twenty-one (21) days to sign this General Release of Claims and he may knowingly and voluntarily waive that twenty-one (21) day period by signing this General Release of Claims earlier. Executive also understands that he shall have seven (7) days following the date on which he signs this General Release of Claims within which to revoke it by providing a written notice of his revocation to the Company.

 

Executive acknowledges that this General Release of Claims will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the laws of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law principles.

 

Executive acknowledges that he has read this General Release of Claims, that he has been advised that he should consult with an attorney before he executes this general release of claims, and that he understands all of its terms and executes it voluntarily and with full knowledge of its significance and the consequences thereof.

 

This General Release of Claims shall take effect on the eighth day following Executive’s execution of this General Release of Claims unless Executive’s written revocation is delivered to the Company within seven (7) days after such execution.

 

  EXECUTIVE
   
  /s/ Matt Harward  
  Matt Harward

 

####

 2  

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into by and between MGO GLOBAL INC. (the “Company”) and MAXIMILIANO OJEDA (the “Executive”). The Company and the Executive may hereinafter be referred to jointly as the “Parties.”

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company entered into an employment agreement, dated July 19, 2022 (the “Original Effective Date”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend and restate the employment agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment shall continue under this agreement on October 13, 2022 (the “Effective Date”);

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has approved the Company entering into an employment agreement with the Executive;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is now the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and thus the key senior executive of the Company, as well as an executive member of the Board;

 

WHEREAS, the Company would like enter into a formal agreement with the Executive to set forth the terms of Executive’s employment and to provide for certain severance payments and other benefits in the event Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the Executive for “Good Reason” (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, Executive wishes to be employed by the Company and provide full-time services to the Company in return for the compensation and benefits detailed herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, including the agreements set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.Employment.

 

a.Term. Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”); provided however that the period of the Executive’s employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one-year periods thereafter (each, a “Renewal Term”), in each case unless either Party hereto provides the other Party hereto with written notice that such period shall not be so extended at least one hundred and twenty (120) days in advance of the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Term, as applicable (the Initial Term and any Renewal Term, collectively, the “Term”). The Executive’s period of employment pursuant to this Agreement shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Employment Period.”

 

 1 

 

  

b.Position and Duties. Executive (i) shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company with responsibilities, duties and authority customary for such position, subject to direction by the Board; (ii) shall report directly to the Board; (iii) shall devote substantially all Executive’s working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries; and (iv) agrees to observe and comply with the Company’s rules and policies as adopted by the Company from time to time. In addition, as of the Effective Date, the Executive shall retain his appointment as an executive member of the Board and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause Executive to be reflected as a member of the Board while employed hereunder.

 

c.Place of Employment Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement at the Company’s executive offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In addition, the Company may from time to time require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations on the Company’s business.

 

2.Compensation and Related Matters.

 

a.Annual Base Salary. Executive shall receive a base salary at the rate of $180,000 per annum (the “Annual Base Salary”), subject to withholdings and deductions and which shall be paid to Executive in accordance with the customary payroll practices and procedures of the Company. Such Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Board’s Compensation Committee not less than annually and may be adjusted from time to time.

 

b.Bi-Annual Bonus. Commencing in the calendar year 2022 and each calendar year thereafter during Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will be eligible to receive a discretionary bi-annual performance bonus, with a target achievement of up to 100% of Annual Base Salary (the “Bi-Annual Bonus”). The amount of the Bi-Annual Bonus that shall be payable shall be based on the achievement of predetermined performance goals to be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. The amount of any Bi-Annual Bonus for which Executive is eligible shall be reviewed by the Board from time to time, provided that that target achievement for the Bi-Annual Bonus shall not be less than up to 100% of Annual Base Salary. Any Bi-Annual Bonus earned by Executive pursuant to this section shall be paid to Executive in accordance with Company policies, less authorized deductions and required withholding obligations, and is payable as follows: the first Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the second quarter ended June 30; and the second Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the calendar year, ended December 31.

 

c.Benefits. Executive shall participate in such full-time employee and executive benefit plans and programs as the Company may from time to time offer to senior executives of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, including, without limitation, an executive family medical package.

 

d.Life Insurance. The Company shall directly pay or reimburse Executive for the premiums of a term life insurance policy, up to a maximum of $10,000 annually. If Executive’s employment terminates for any or no reason, the Company shall have no obligation to continue to bear the costs of the life insurance policy for Executive, but Executive may choose to assume responsibility for payments required to continue the policy.

 

e.Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to 30-days of paid time-off for vacation, as well as sick leave, holidays and other paid time-off benefits provided by the Company from time to time which are applicable to the Company’s executive officers in accordance with Company policy. The opportunity to take paid time off is contingent upon Executive’s workload and ability to manage his schedule.

 

 2 

 

  

f.Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect from time to time.

 

3.Equity Awards.

 

a.Stock Option. Upon the Company becoming publicly traded on a national exchange, and further subject to approval by the Board, on the date determined in accordance with the Company’s established policy, Executive shall be granted a five-year option (the “Option”) to purchase a total of 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock as follows: 100,000 shares on the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; 100,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; and 25,000 shares on the last day of each quarter, or March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, in each calendar year. The per share exercise price of the Option shall be equal to initial public offering price of the Company’s common stock. The Option shall vest and become exercisable subject to the terms set forth in the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan expected to be approved by the Board and effectuated prior to the Company going public by way of Initial Public Offering of its common stock on a national exchange. The Option shall otherwise be subject to the terms of the plan pursuant to which it is granted and/or an option agreement to be entered into between Executive and the Company.

 

b.Additional Equity Awards. Executive shall be eligible to be granted additional equity awards in accordance with the Company’s policies as in effect from time to time, as recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

 

4.Termination.

 

a.Termination of Employment. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, in each case (other than a termination by the Company for Cause) at any time upon not less than 90-days notice to the other Party (toe date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “Termination Date”). Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (a) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination; (b) unused paid time off (consistent with Section 2.f. hereof) paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate; (c) additional vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements; and (d) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.g. hereof (collectively, the “Accrued Amounts”). The Accrued Amounts described in Section 4.a shall by paid to the Executive within 30 days following the Termination Date (or, if after, following the Executive’s presentation of supporting documentation for unreimbursed expenses in accordance with 2.g.).

 

 3 

 

 

b.Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated (a) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (b) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, (i) the Executive shall be entitled to continuation of the Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date for 12 months following the Termination Date paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, but no less frequently than monthly (the “Base Salary Continuation”); and (ii) if the Executive elects to continue group health coverage under any Company group health plan pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall reimburse the Executive for a portion of his COBRA premiums, such that his unreimbursed cost of COBRA premiums does not exceed the cost to the Executive of such health plan premiums immediately prior to termination, for a period of up to one year after his termination (or until he is no longer eligible for COBRA continuation, if sooner). Notwithstanding clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, such reimbursements for COBRA premiums shall not be made to the extent such payments would result in any additional tax or penalty to the Company under the Affordable Care Act or any other applicable law. In the event the group health coverage is self-insured, the Company shall include in the Executive’s gross income, the imputed value of the employer-subsidized COBRA premiums. The Executive shall be responsible for the full amount of COBRA premiums for any periods exceeding the time set forth above. In addition, in the event of a termination covered by this Section 4.b., the Executive shall be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of his annual Base Salary (“Bonus Severance”).The Company’s obligations to pay the Base Salary Continuation, the Bonus Severance and COBRA premiums described above shall be conditioned upon the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, and without limitation of any remedies to which the Company may be entitled, the Base Salary Continuation shall be paid in equal installments commencing during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date, the Bonus Severance shall be paid during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date and the reimbursement of COBRA premiums shall be made after substantiation of such expenses; provided, that the Executive has signed and delivered to the Company the release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and B (the “Release”) and the period (if any) during which the Release can be revoked has expired within such sixty (60) day period; provided, further, that, if such sixty (60) day period begins in one calendar year and ends in another calendar year, to the extent required under Section 409A (as defined below), payment of the Base Salary Continuation installments, Bonus Severance and reimbursement of the COBRA premiums that otherwise would have been paid during that sixty (60) day period shall be accumulated and paid in the second calendar year after expiration of the period for revoking the Release (but within the specified sixty (60) day period).

 

c.Voluntary Resignation by the Executive other than for Good Reason; Termination due to Death or Disability; Termination Due to, Upon or Following Non-Renewal of the Agreement. If (a) the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment at any time, other than for Good Reason, (b) if the Executive’s employment is terminated due to the Executive’s death or Disability or (c) if the Executive’s employment terminates due to, upon or following non-renewal of the Agreement by either Party in accordance with Section 1.a., then the Executive (or his estate) shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

d.Termination by the Company for Cause. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, then the Executive shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

 4 

 

  

e.Exclusive Remedy. The foregoing payments upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits due the Executive upon termination of his employment.

 

f.Resignation from All Positions. Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the Termination Date, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the boards of directors (and any committee thereof) of the Board, if applicable. The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

g.Cooperation. Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company.

 

h.Duty of Confidentiality. Executive agrees that during employment with the Company and for a period of two (2) years following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, divulge or make use of any Confidential Information of the Company other than in the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company. While employed by the Company, Executive shall make all reasonable efforts to protect and maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of the Company. In the event that Executive becomes aware of unauthorized disclosures of the Confidential Information by anyone at any time, whether intentionally or by accident, Executive shall promptly notify the Company. This Agreement does not limit the remedies available to the Company under common or statutory law as to trade secrets or other types of confidential information, which may impose longer duties of non-disclosure.

 

i.Return of Property and Information. Executive agrees not to remove any Company property from Company premises, except when authorized by the Company. Executive agrees to return all Company property and information (whether confidential or not) within Executive’s possession or control within seven (7) calendar days following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company. Such property and information includes, but is not limited to, the original and any copy (regardless of the manner in which it is recorded) of all information provided by Company to Executive or which Executive has developed or collected in the scope of Executive’s employment with the Company, as well as all Company-issued equipment, supplies, accessories, vehicles, keys, instruments, tools, devices, computers, cell phones, pagers, materials, documents, plans, records, notebooks, drawings, or papers. Upon request by the Company, Executive shall certify in writing that Executive has complied with this provision; and has permanently deleted all Company information from any computers or other electronic storage devices or media owned by Executive. Executive may only retain information relating the Executive’s benefit plans and compensation to the extent needed to prepare Executive’s tax returns.

 

 5 

 

  

j.Assignment of Work Product and Inventions. Executive hereby assigns and grants to the Company (and will upon request take any actions needed to formally assign and grant to Company and/or obtain patents, trademark registrations or copyrights belonging to Company) the sole and exclusive ownership of any and all inventions, information, reports, computer software or programs, writings, technical information or work product collected or developed by Executive, alone or with others, during the term of Executive’s employment relating to the Company. This duty applies whether or not the forgoing inventions or information are made or prepared in the course of employment with the Company, so long as such inventions or information relate to the Business of Company and have been developed in whole or in part during the term of Executive’s employment. Executive agrees to advise the Company in writing of each invention that Executive, alone or with others, makes or conceives during the term of Executive’s employment and which relate to the Business of Company. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, Executive shall not be required to assign, nor shall Executive be deemed to have assigned, any of Executive’s rights in any invention that Executive develops entirely on his own time without using Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, or Trade Secrets, except for inventions that either: (1) relate, at the time that the invention is conceived or reduced to practice, to the Business of Company or to actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company; or (2) result from any work performed by Executive for the Company on behalf of the Company. Inventions which Executive developed before Executive came to work for the Company, if any, are described in the attached Exhibit B, and excluded from this Section. The failure of the parties to attach any Exhibit B to this agreement shall be deemed an admission by Executive that Executive does not have any pre-existing inventions.

 

k.Non-Competition. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, and within the Restricted Territory, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, perform services on behalf of a Competing Business, and which are the same as or similar to those types of services conducted, authorized, offered, or provided by Executive to the Company within 24 months prior to Executive’s termination or resignation.

 

l.Non-Recruitment of Company Employees and Contractors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit or induce any employee or independent contractor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, to terminate or lessen such employment or contract with the Company.

 

m.Non-Solicitation of Company Customers. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective customers of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of selling any products or services to such customers on behalf of a Competing Business.

 

n.Non-Solicitation of Company Vendors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective Vendor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of purchasing products or services to support a Competing Business.

 

o.Acknowledgements. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the provisions of Section 4 are reasonable as to time, scope and territory given the Company’s need to protect its Confidential Information and its relationships and goodwill with its customers, suppliers, employees and contractors, all of which have been developed at great time and expense to the Company. Executive represents that Executive has the skills and abilities to obtain alternative employment that would not violate these Restrictive Covenants in the event tori Executive leaves employment with the Company, and that these Restrictive Covenants do not pose an undue hardship on Executive. Executive further acknowledges that Executive’s breach of any of the provisions of Section 4 would likely cause irreparable injury to the Company, and therefore entitle the Company to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedies available in law or equity, without the necessity of posting a bond.

 

 6 

 

  

5.Assignment and Successors.

 

The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise), and may assign or encumber this Agreement and its rights hereunder as security for indebtedness of the Company and its affiliates. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company , Executive and their respective successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees, as applicable. None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law.

 

6.Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

a.Work Eligibility; Confidentiality Agreement. As a condition of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will be required to provide evidence of Executive’s identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. It is required that Executive bring the appropriate documentation with Executive at the time of employment. As a further condition of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall enter into and abide by the Company’s standard Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement (the Confidential Information Agreement).

 

b.Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

 

c.Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any Party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid (or if it is sent through any other method agreed upon by the parties), as follows:

 

(i)If to the Company at:

MGO Global Inc.

1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596

 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33345

 

347-913-3316

 

(ii)If to Executive, at the address set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

(iii)Or at any other address as any Party shall have specified by notice in writing to the other Party.

 

 7 

 

  

d.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

e.Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, is intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral. The Parties further intend that this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

 

f.Amendments; Waivers, This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of Company. By an instrument in writing similarly executed, Executive or a duly authorized officer of the Company, as applicable, may waive compliance by the other Party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; provided, however, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.

 

g.Arbitration. Executive and the Company agree that if my dispute, controversy or claim should arise between Executive and the Company (including claims against its employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, successors and assigns) relating or pertaining to or arising out of Executive’s employment with the Company or this Agreement, the dispute will be submitted exclusively to binding arbitration before a neutral arbitrator conducted in the state of Florida, in accordance with the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force. This means that disputes will be decided by an arbitrator rather than a court or jury, and that both Executive and the Company waive their respective rights to a court or jury trial. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive and the Company each have the right to resolve any issue or dispute over intellectual property rights by court action instead of arbitration.

 

h.Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any allowances and reimbursements) any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges which the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.

 

 8 

 

  

7.Section 409A.

 

The intent of the Parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (collectively with the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date, “Section 409A”). and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be exempt therefrom. If Executive notifies the Company that Executive has received advice of tax counsel of a national reputation with expertise in Section 409A that any provision of this Agreement would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A (with specificity as to the reason therefor) or the Company independently makes such determination, the Company and Executive shall take commercially reasonable efforts to reform such provision to try to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A, provided that any such modifications shall not increase the cost or liability to the Company. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to Executive and the Company of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.
   
  By: /s/ Julian Groves
   
  Name: Julian Groves, Chief Operating Officer and Director
   
   
  EXECUTIVE
   
  By: /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda
   
  Name: Maximiliano Ojeda
   
  Address: 1515 SE 17th Street Suite 121/#460596
   
  Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33345

 

 9 

 

  

EXHIBIT A

 

EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between MGO GLOBAL INC., a Delaware company, on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and other corporate affiliates (collectively referred to herein as the “Company”), and MAXIMILIANO OJEDA (“Employee”) (the Company and Employee are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”) as of October 13, 2022 (the “Effective Date”).

 

In consideration of Employee’s employment or continuing employment with the Company (hereafter, “employment”), which Employee acknowledges to be good and valuable consideration for Employee’s obligations hereunder, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Representations and Acknowledgements. Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) among the Company’s most valuable and indispensable assets are its Confidential Information and its close relationships with its Customers (defined below) and Suppliers (defined below, which includes, without limitation, employees which the Company has devoted and continues to devote a substantial amount of time, money and otter resources to develop; (ii) in connection with Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee will be exposed to and acquire the Company’s Confidential Information and develop, at the Company’s expense and support, special and close relationships with the Company’s Customers and Suppliers; (iii) Employee would not be able to engage in the activities restricted by this Sections 3 through 5 below without using or disclosing Confidential Information and trade secrets of the Company; (iv) the Company’s Confidential Information and close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers must be protected; (v) the Company is employing or continuing to employ Employee only because of the promises and acknowledgements that Employee makes in this Agreement; (vi) to the extent required by law, the covenants in this Agreement are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint on Employee than is necessary to protect the Company’s Confidential Information, close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers, and other legitimate business interests; (vii) Employee’s compliance with such covenants will not inhibit Employee from earning a living or from working in Employee’s chosen profession; and (viii) any breach of such covenants will result in the Company bang placed at an unfair competitive disadvantage and cause the Company serious and irreparable harm to its business.

 

2.Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information, In the course of Employee’s employment hereunder, Employee will receive, contribute to the production of, become privy to the Company’s Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined). Employee further understands and acknowledges that this Confidential Information and the Company’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate.

 

 1 

 

  

2.1.Employee agrees that during and in perpetuity after Employee’s employment by Company, Employee shall (i) hold in confidence and treat all Confidential Information as strictly confidential; (ii) not directly or indirectly disclose, publish, communicate or make available Confidential Information, or allow it to be disclosed, published, communicated or made available, in whole or part, to any entity or person whatsoever, except as required in the good faith performance of Employee’s duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent); and (iii) not to access or use any Confidential Information, and not to copy any documents, records, files, media or other resources containing any Confidential Information, or remove any such documents, records, files, media or other resources from the premises or control of the Company, except as required in the good faith performance of Employee’s duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent). Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent disclosure of Confidential Information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or pursuant to the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that the disclosure does not exceed the extent of disclosure required by such law, regulation or order. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Employee shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to an authorized officer of the Company after receiving such order, but in any event sufficiently in advance of making any disclosure to permit the Company to contest the order or seek confidentiality protections, as determined in the Company’s sole discretion. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and in perpetuity thereafter, Employee shall hold in confidence and shall not directly or indirectly reveal report, publish, copy, duplicate, disclose, transfer or otherwise misappropriate any Confidential Information to any person or entity, or utilize such Confidential Information for any purpose, except within the course of Employee’s employment with Company.

 

2.2.All notes, data, reference materials, sketches, drawings, memoranda, documentation and records in any form or media in any way incorporating or reflecting any Confidential Information of Company shall belong exclusively to Company. Upon termination of his employment for any reason, or at any time Company may request prior thereto, Employee shall immediately surrender and turn over to Company any of Company’s property whatsoever and all Confidential Information of Company, whether the same be in writing, print, copy, audio or video tape, computer program or disc, picture, or any other medium whatsoever, and whether appearing in original documents, summaries, excerpts, abstracts or other formats, and shall provide Company with all information necessary to access and use said Confidential Information. Employee shall have no right to retain any originals or copies of the foregoing for any reason whatsoever after termination of his employment hereunder without the express prior written consent of Company and, upon termination, Employee shall certify in writing that he no longer possesses and has not distributed or retained any Confidential Information of Company or any of Company’s property whatsoever.

 

2.3.Notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement, the obligation of Employee to protect the confidentiality of any Confidential Information shall terminate as to any information or materials which: (i) are, or become, public knowledge through no act or failure to act of Employee in violation of Employee’s obligations to the Company; (ii) are publicly disclosed by the proprietor thereof; (iii) are lawfully obtained without obligations of confidentiality by Employee from a third party after reasonable inquiry regarding the authority of such third party to possess and divulge the same; (iv) are independently developed by Employee from sources or through persons that Employee can demonstrate had no access to Confidential Information; or (v) are lawfully known by Employee at the time of disclosure other than by reason of discussions with or disclosures by Company. Employee’s confidentiality obligations set forth herein shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employee’s rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and further described in Section 9 below.

 

 2 

 

  

2.4.As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information or material, whether oral or written, that is proprietary to Company or designated (either expressly or by virtue of the manner in which such information or material is traditionally treated in business settings) as confidential information by Company and not generally known by non-Company personnel, which Employee may develop or which Employee may receive, obtain knowledge of or become privy to through or as a result of Employee’s relationship with Company (including information conceived, originated, discovered or developed in whole or in part by Employee). “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to, the following types of information and other information of a similar nature (whether or not reduced to writing): trade secrets, discoveries, ideas, concepts, software in various stages of development, designs, drawings, specifications, techniques, models, data, source code, object code, documentation, diagrams, flow charts, research, development, processes, procedures, “know-how”, marketing techniques and materials, marketing and development plans, names of employees and information related to them, customer names, contacts, and other information related to customers, price lists, pricing policies, and financial data, information and projections. “Confidential Information” also includes any information described above which Company obtains from another party and which Company treats as proprietary or designates as “Confidential Information,” whether or not owned or developed by Company. Information that is publicly known and that is generally employed by the trade or generic information or knowledge which Employee would have learned in the course of similar work elsewhere in the trade is not intended to and shall be deemed not to be a part of the “Confidential Information.”

 

2.5.Employee understands that the above list is not exhaustive, and that Confidential Information also includes other information that is marked or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary, or that would otherwise appear to a reasonable person to be confidential or proprietary in the context and circumstances in which the information is known or used.

 

2.6.Employee acknowledges that Employee has been notified in accordance with the federal Uniform Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S. Code § 1839) that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (a) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Employee also acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit Employee from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or regulatory body or making other disclosures that are protected under any law or regulation, or from filing a charge with or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by any governmental agency or regulatory body.

 

3.Agreement Not to Solicit Customers. Employee agrees that during his employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason whatsoever, Employee shall not, either directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, (i) solicit, initiate contact with, call upon, or otherwise enter into a relationship with any customers or actively sought prospective customers of Company with whom Employee had material contact during his employment with Company or about which Employee obtained Confidential Information (collectively, “Customers”), for the purpose of soliciting, selling, diverting to or otherwise providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company (collectively, “Competitive Activities”), including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of premium fashion products, unless agreed to in writing by both parties; or (ii) solicit, induce, or cause any Customer to terminate, reduce or refrain from renewing or extending its contractual or other business relationship with the Company.

 

 3 

 

  

3.1.Material Contact. For purposes of this Agreement, “material contact” exists between Employee and each Customer with whom Employee personally interacts on behalf of Company, whether such interaction is conducted in person, in writing, by telephone or by other form of communication.

 

4.Agreement Not to Solicit Employees and Independent Contractors. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actively encourage or induce the voluntary termination of, or recruit or hire, or attempt to recruit or hire, any person(s) then employed by or associated with Company as an employee or, on an exclusive basis, an independent contractor, consultant or other supplier of goods or services to the Company (collectively, “Suppliers”), whether or not such recruit or hire is a full-time, part-time or temporary employee, independent contractor or consultant, and whether or not such employment or other engagement is for a determined period or is at-will, for the purpose of employment, consultancy, or serving as an independent contractor for, directly or indirectly, any business entity which engages in the business of design, manufacture and sale of premium fashion products.

 

5.Agreement Not to Compete. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, engage in the business of providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company, including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of premium fashion products, within the Territory (as defined below). As used herein, “Territory” means any state in the United States or any foreign country in which the Company is doing business or in which it is contemplating to do business pursuant to a then current business plan.

 

6.Proprietary Rights.

 

6.1.Work Product. Employee agrees that all inventions, ideas, writings, works of authorship, technology, discoveries, copyrightable or patentable subject matter, and other work product of any nature whatsoever that ,in whole or in part, that are made, conceived, created, prepared, produced, authored, edited or amended (i) through the use of any of the Company’s Confidential Information or any of the Company’s equipment or facilities or (ii) by Employee, individually or jointly with others, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company and relating in any way to the business or contemplated business, research or development of the Company (regardless of when or where the Work Product is prepared or whose equipment or other resources is used in preparing the same) and all printed, physical and electronic copies, all improvements, rights and claims related to the foregoing and other tangible embodiments thereof (collectively, “Work Product”), as well as any and all rights in and to copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks (and related goodwill), mask works, patents and other intellectual property rights therein arising in any jurisdiction throughout the world and till related rights of priority under international conventions with respect thereto, including all pending and future applications and registrations therefor, and continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, reissues, extensions and renewals thereof (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”), shall belong exclusively to Company and shall be considered part of Confidential Information (as the case may be) for purposes of this Agreement

 

 4 

 

  

For purposes of his Agreement Work Product includes, but is not limited to, Company information, including plans, publications, research, strategies, techniques, agreements, documents, negotiations, know-how, computer programs, computer applications, software design, web design, work in process, databases, manuals, developments, reports, graphics, drawings, sketches, market studies, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, product designs, styles, models, inventions, unpublished patent applications, original works of authorship, discoveries, experimental processes, specifications, customer information, customer lists, manufacturing information, marketing and advertising information, and sales information.

 

6.2.Company, its designees, and its assigns shall have the right to use and/or to apply for patents, copyrights or other statutory or common law protections for such Work Product in any and all countries. Employee shall provide reasonable assistance to Company (at Company’s expense) to obtain and from time to lime enforce patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law Intellectual Property Rights for such Work Product in any and all countries. To that end, Employee shall execute, during and after his employment with Company, all documents reasonably related to the application, procurement, and enforcement of patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law protections, as the Company or its counsel may request, together with any assignments hereof to Company or its designee.

 

6.3.Work Made for Hire; Assignment. Employee acknowledges that, by reason of being engaged by the Company at the relevant times, to the extent permitted by law, all of the Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is “work made for hire” as defined in the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 101), and such copyrights are therefore owned by the Company. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company, for no additional consideration, Employee’s entire right, title and interest in and to all Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights herein, including the right to sue, counterclaim and recover for all past, present and future infringement, misappropriation or dilution hereof, and all rights corresponding hereto throughout the world. Nothing contained in his Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit the Company’s rights, title or interest in any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than that the Company would have had in the absence of this Agreement.

 

6.4.Further Assurances; Power of Attorney. During and after Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company to (i) apply for, obtain, perfect and transfer to the Company he Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights in the Work Product in any jurisdiction in the world; and (ii) maintain, protect and enforce the same, including, without limitation, executing and delivering to the Company any and all applications, oaths, declarations, affidavits, waivers, assignments and other documents and instruments as shall be requested by the Company. Employee hereby irrevocably grants he Company power of attorney to execute and deliver any such documents on Employee’s behalf in Employee’s name and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to transfer he Work Product to the Company and further the transfer, issuance, prosecution and maintenance of all Intellectual Property Rights herein, to the full extent permitted by law, if Employee does not promptly cooperate with the Company’s request (without limiting the rights he Company shall have in such circumstances by operation of law). The power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall not be affected by Employee’s subsequent incapacity.

 

 5 

 

  

6.5.Moral Rights. To the extent any copyrights are assigned under this Agreement, Employee hereby irrevocably waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any and all claims Employee may now or hereafter have in any jurisdiction to all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal and any other rights that may be known as “moral rights” with respect to all Work Product and all Intellectual Property Rights therein.

 

6.6.No License. Employee understands that this Agreement does not, and shall not be construed to, grant Employee any license or right of any nature with respect to any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights or any Confidential Information, materials, software or other tools made available to Employee by the Company.

 

6.7.No Infringement. Employee represents and warrants to the Company that all Work Product Employee delivers to the Company shall be original and shall not infringe upon or violate any patent, copyright or proprietary right of any person or third party.

 

6.8.License to Prior Invention. If Employee in the course of Employee’s employment for the Company incorporates into a Company product Work Product that Employee has, alone or jointly with others, conceived, developed or reduced to practice prior to the commencement of Employee’s employment with the Company in which Employee has a property right (each, a “Prior Invention”), Employee hereby grants to the Company a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty free, irrevocable, worldwide license (with the full right to sublicense) to make, have made; modify, use and sell such Prior Invention. Employee hereby represents and warrants that all Prior Inventions have been listed by Employee on Exhibit B hereto or, if no such list is attached, that there are no Prior Inventions. Employee will not incorporate any Work Product owned by any third party into any Company Work Product without the Company’s prior written permission.

 

6.9.License to Information and Likeness. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligations, to use Employee’s name, photograph, likeness and approved biographical data for the purpose of advertising marketing promoting publicizing and exploiting any matter related to the Company, its products and services and/or Employee’s duties performed hereunder.

 

6.10.Severability. To the extent this Agreement is required to be construed in accordance with laws of any state which precludes as a requirement in an employee agreement the assignment of certain classes of inventions made by an employee, this Section 6 will be interpreted not to apply to any invention which a court rules and/or the Company agrees falls within such classes.

 

7.Conflicts of Interest. During the term of his employment, Employee shall not engage in activities or practices involving any possible conflict of interest These activities or practices may subject Employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Employee should avoid at all times the appearance of, as well as an actual, conflict of interest

 

 6 

 

  

7.1.Conflicts of interest activities or practices include, but are not limited to: engaging in business conduct that is damaging to the reputation of the Company, accepting outside employment in any organization that does business with the Company or is a competitor of the Company, investing or having a financial interest in a private company which does business with the Company or having stock ownership in a publicly traded company which does business with the Company if the relationship(s) may influence Employee’s business decisions (this applies to Employee and to close relatives and is applicable at the time of hire and at any time during the course of employment). If an individual does own stock in a company that does business with the Company, the relationship should be disclosed upon employment and all significant business dealings with that company will be reviewed.

 

7.2.Employee may not accept gifts from any person or company doing or seeking to do business with the Company. Employees are allowed to accept advertising novelties and other gifts of nominal value.

 

7.3.Employee may not give, offer, or promise, directly or indirectly, anything of value to any representative of any company doing business with the Company.

 

7.4.Employee may not select vendors on the basis of anything other than the merit of their products or services or prices for such products or services.

 

7.5.Discussing company information with the press without prior authorization from management is also a conflict of interest.

 

8.Security and Access. Employee agrees and covenants (i) to comply with all Company security policies and procedures as in force from time to time including without limitation those regarding computer equipment, telephone systems, voicemail systems, facilities access, monitoring, key cards, access codes, Company intranet, internet, social media and instant messaging systems, computer systems, e-mail systems, computer networks, document storage systems, software, data security, encryption firewalls, passwords and any and all other Company facilities, IT resources and communication technologies (“Facilities and Information Technology Resources”); (ii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources except as authorized by Company; and (iii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources in any manner after the termination of Employee’s employment by the Company, whether termination is voluntary or involuntary. Employee agrees to notify the Company promptly in the event Employee learns of any violation of the foregoing by others, or of any other misappropriation or unauthorized access, use, reproduction or reverse engineering of, or tampering with any Facilities and Information Technology Resources or other Company property or materials by others. Employee acknowledges and agrees that any property situated on the Company’s premises and owned by the Company, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets, other work areas and other Facilities and Information Technology Resources, is subject to inspection by personnel of the Company at any time with or without notice. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has no expectation of privacy with respect to the Company’s Facilities and Information Technology Resources and that Employee’s activity and any files or messages on or using any of such Facilities and Information Technology Resources may be monitored at any time without notice.

 

 7 

 

  

8.1.Exit Obligations. Upon (i) voluntary or involuntary termination of Employee’s employment or (ii) the Company’s request at any time during Employee’s employment, Employee shall (a) provide or return to the Company any and all Company property, including keys, key cards, access cards, identification cards, security devices, Company credit cards, network access devices, computers, cell phones, smartphones, equipment, manuals, reports, files, books, compilations, work product, e-mail messages, recordings, tapes, disks, thumb drives or other removable information storage devices, hard drives and data and all Company documents and materials belonging to the Company and stored in any fashion, including but not limited to hose hat constitute or contain any Confidential Information or Work Product, hat are in the possession or control of Employee, whether they were provided to Employee by the Company or any of its business associates or created by Employee in connection with Employee’s employment by the Company; and (b) delete or destroy all copies of any such documents and materials following return to the Company hat remain in Employee’s possession or control, including those stored on any non-Company devices, networks, storage locations and media in Employee’s possession or control.

 

9.Non-disparagement. Employee agrees and covenants hat Employee will not at any time make, publish or communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, statements or gestures concerning the Company’s products or services, and existing and prospective customers, suppliers, investors and other associated third parties, or make any maliciously false statements about the Company’s employees and officers. Notwithstanding he foregoing, his Section 8 shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employee’s rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and described in Section 9 below. Further, this Section does not apply to (i) truthful statements made in connection with legal proceedings, governmental and regulatory investigations and actions; (ii) any other truthful statement or disclosure required by law; or (iii) good faith intra-Company communications made for legitimate business reasons.

 

10.NLRA Compliance. It is the policy of the Company to comply with the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), including without limitation, Section 7 thereof. Thus, to the extent Employee is covered by the NLRA, nothing herein, or in any other the agreement between Employee and the Company or Company policy, shall prohibit Employee together with other Company employees from (i) self-organizing, forming joining or assisting labor organizations; (ii) bargaining collectively through representatives of their own choosing; (iii) discussing wages, hours, working conditions, other labor policies or unionism or for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection; or (iv) posting pictures or videos of employees engaged in such activities or other activities involving collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. However, the Company has an “open door” policy and encourages employees to address such matters instead with their supervisors or a member of management

 

11.Remedies. Employee acknowledges that the Company’s Confidential Information and the Company’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee, or any other material breach of Employees promises and covenants herein, will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement Employee hereby consents and agrees that the Company shall be entitled to, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that monetary damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief. Additionally, each of the covenants and restrictions to which Employee is subject under this Agreement, including, without limitation those in Sections 2 through 4 above, shall each be construed as independent of any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement between Employee and the Company, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants and restrictions.

 

 8 

 

  

12.Successors and Assigns.

 

12.1.Assignment by the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement to any subsidiary or corporate affiliate, or to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and permitted successors and assigns.

 

12.2.No Assignment by Employee. Employee may not assign this Agreement or any part hereof. Any purported assignment by Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of purported assignment.

 

13.Governing Law; Jurisdiction and Venue; Jury Waiver. This Agreement, for all purposes, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts-of-law principles. Any action or proceeding by either Party against the other Party, including, without limitation, to enforce this Agreement or otherwise relating to or arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company (or the termination thereof), shall be brought only in any state or federal court located in or closest to Broward County, Florida The Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue Employee and the Company each hereby waive the right to trial by jury in any such court action or proceeding between them, regardless of the subject matter, including, without limitation, any action or proceeding based upon, arising out of, or in any way relating to this Agreement and all matters concerning Employee’s employment (or the termination thereof) with the Company.

 

14.Entire Agreement. Unless specifically provided herein, this Agreement contains all the understandings and representations between Employee and the Company pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

 

15.Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by Employee and by a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than Employee). No waiver by either of the Parties of any breach by the other Party hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other Party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time, nor shall the failure of or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver thereof to preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

 

 9 

 

  

16.Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the Parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. The Parties further agree that any such court is expressly authorized to modify any such unenforceable provision of this Agreement in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision from this Agreement in its entirety, whether by rewriting the offending provision, deleting any or all of the offending provision, adding additional language to this Agreement or by making such other modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the Parties as embodied herein to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Parties expressly agree that this Agreement as so modified by the court shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of them. In any event, should one or more of the provisions of this Agreement be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and if such provision or provisions are not modified as provided above, this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had not been set forth herein.

 

17.Captions. Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph.

 

18.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Photographic copies, electronically scanned copies and other facsimiles of this Agreement (including such signed counterparts) may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.

 

19.At-Will Employment; No Oral Agreements. The Company and Employee acknowledge and agree that this Agreement does not affect the ability of either party to terminate their employment relationship, which relationship, unless otherwise agreed to in writing signed by an officer of the Company, may be terminated at any time, for any or no reason. No supervisor, manager or other Company representative has the authority to make any verbal promises, commitments, or statements of any kind regarding the Company’s policies, procedures or any other issues that are legally binding on the Company.

 

EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND AGREES THAT THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE REASONABLE AND PROPER PROTECTION OF THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS. EMPLOYEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE COMPANY HAS ADVISED HIM THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO HAVE THIS AGREEMENT REVIEWED BY AN ATTORNEY OF HIS SELECTION PRIOR TO SIGNING, AND HE HAS EITHER DONE SO OR ELECTED TO FOREGO THAT RIGHT.

 

 10 

 

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date above.

 

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.
   
  Signature: /s/ Julian Groves
   
  By: Name: Julian Groves
   
  Title: Chief Operating Officer and Director
   
  EMPLOYEE:
   
  Signature: /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda
   
  Maximiliano Ojeda

 

 11 

 

  

EXHIBIT B

 

LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP

 

Title   Date   Identifying Number or Brief Description

 

####

 

 1 

 

  

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF RELEASE
GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS

 

1.Maximiliano Ojeda, (“Executive”), for himself and his family, heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and their respective successors and assigns, in exchange for the Severance Benefits, as defined under the Executive Employment Agreement made and entered effective as of the 19th day of July 2022, by and between MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) and the Executive to which this release is attached as Exhibit C to the Employment: Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), does hereby release and forever discharge the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliated companies, successors and assigns, and its current or former directors, officers or shareholders in such capacities (collectively with the Company, the “Released Parties”)from any and all actions, causes of action, suits, controversies, claims and demands whatsoever, for or by reason of any matter, or use or thing whatsoever, whether known or unknown including, but not limited to, all claims under any applicable laws arising under or in connection with Executive’s employment or termination thereof, whether for tort, breach of express or implied employment contract, wrongful discharge, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or defamation or injuries incurred on the job or incurred as a result of loss of employment. Executive acknowledges that the Company encouraged him to consult with an attorney of his choosing, and through this General Release of Claims encourages him to consult with his attorney with respect to possible claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) and that he understands that the ADEA is a Federal statute that, among other things, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in employment and employee benefits and benefit plans. Without limiting the generality of there lease provided above, Executive expressly waives any and all claims under ADEA that he may have as of the date hereof. Executive further understands that by signing this General Release of Claims he is in fact waiving, releasing and forever giving up any claim under the ADEA as well as all other laws within the scope of this paragraph 1 that may have existed on or prior to the date hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph 1 to the contrary, this General Release of Claims shall not apply to (i) any rights to receive any payments or benefits to which Executive is entitled under COBRA, the Employment agreement or any other compensation or employee benefit plans in which Executive is eligible to participate at the time of execution of this General Release of Claims, (ii) any rights or claims that may arise as a result of events occurring after the date this General Release of Claims is executed, any indemnification and advancement rights Executive may have as a former employee, officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies including, without limitation, any rights arising pursuant to the articles of incorporation, bylaws and any other organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any claims for benefits under any directors’ and officers’ liability policy maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies in accordance with the terms of such policy, and (iv) any rights as a holder of equity securities of the Company (clauses (i) through (iv), the “Reserved Claims”).

 

2.Executive represents that he has not filed against the Released Parties any complaints, charges, or lawsuits arising out of his employment, or any other matter arising on or prior to the date of this General Release of Claims other than Reserved Claims, and covenants and agrees that he will never individually or with any person file, or commence the filing of any lawsuits, complaints or proceedings with any governmental agency, or against the Released Parties with respect to any of the matters released by Executive pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof (a “Proceeding”); provided, however. Executive shall not have relinquished his right to (i) commence a Proceeding to challenge whether Executive knowingly and voluntarily waived his rights under ADEA; (ii) file a charge with an administrative agency or take part in any agency investigation or (iii) commence a Proceeding pursuant to the Reserved Clair as. Executive does agree, however, that he is waiving his right to recover any money in connection with such an investigation or charge filed by him or by any other individual, or a charge filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other federal, state or local agency, except as prohibited by law.

 

 1 

 

  

3.Executive hereby acknowledges that the Company has informed him that he has up to twenty-one (21) days to sign this General Release of Claims and he may knowingly and voluntarily waive that twenty -one (21) day period by signing this General Release of Claims earlier. Executive also understands that he shall have seven (7) days following the date on which he signs this General Release of Claims within which to revoke it by providing a written notice of his revocation to the Company.

 

4.Executive acknowledges that this General Release of Claims will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the laws of Florida, without giving effect to any choke of law principles.

 

5.Executive acknowledges that he has read this General Release of Claims, that he has been advised that he should consult with an attorney before he executes this general release of claims, and that he understands all of its terms and executes it voluntarily and with full knowledge of its significance and the consequences thereof.

 

This General Release of Claims shall take effect on the eighth day following Executive’s execution of this General Release of Claims unless Executive’s written revocation is delivered to the Company within seven (7) days after such execution.

 

 

  EXECUTIVE
   
   
  Maximiliano Ojeda

 

####

 

 2 

 

 

Exhibit 10.8

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into by and between MGO GLOBAL INC. (the “Company”) and VIRGINIA HILFIGER (the “Executive”). The Company and the Executive may hereinafter be referred to jointly as the “Parties.”

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company entered into an employment agreement, dated July 19, 2022 (the “Original Effective Date”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend and restate the employment agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment shall continue under this agreement on October 13, 2022 (the “Effective Date”);

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has approved the Company entering into an employment agreement with the Executive;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is now the Chief Design Officer of the Company and thus a key senior executive of the Company, as well as an executive member of the Board;

 

WHEREAS, the Company would like enter into a formal agreement with the Executive to set forth the terms of Executive’s employment and to provide for certain severance payments and other benefits in the event Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the Executive for “Good Reason” (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, Executive wishes to be employed by the Company and provide full-time services to the Company in return for the compensation and benefits detailed herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, including the agreements set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.Employment.

 

a.Term. Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”); provided however that the period of the Executive's employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one-year periods thereafter (each, a “Renewal Term”), in each case unless either Party hereto provides the other Party hereto with written notice that such period shall not be so extended at least one hundred and twenty (120) days in advance of the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Term, as applicable (the Initial Term and any Renewal Term, collectively, the “Term”). The Executive’s period of employment pursuant to this Agreement shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Employment Period.”

  

 1 

 

 

b.Position and Duties. Executive (i) shall serve as the Chief Design Officer of the Company with responsibilities, duties and authority customary for such position, subject to direction by the Chief Executive Officer and the Board; (ii) shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer; (iii) shall devote substantially all Executive’s working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries; and (iv) agrees to observe and comply with the Company’s rules and policies as adopted by the Company from time to time. In addition, as of the Effective Date, the Executive shall retain his appointment as an executive member of the Board and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause Executive to be reelected as a member of the Board while employed hereunder.

 

c.Place of Employment. Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement at the Company’s executive offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In addition, the Company may from time to time require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations on the Company’s business.

 

2.Compensation and Related Matters.

 

a.Annual Base Salary. Executive shall receive a base salary at the rate of $144,000 per annum (the “Annual Base Salary”), subject to withholdings and deductions and which shall be paid to Executive in accordance with the customary payroll practices and procedures of the Company. Such Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Board’s Compensation Committee not less than annually and may be adjusted from time to time.

 

b.Bi-Annual Bonus. Commencing in the calendar year 2022 and each calendar year thereafter during Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will be eligible to receive a discretionary biannual performance bonus, with a target achievement of up to 100% of Annual Base Salary (the “Bi-Annual Bonus”). The amount of the Bi-Annual Bonus that shall be payable shall be based on the achievement of predetermined performance goals to be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion The amount of any Bi-Annual Bonus for which Executive is eligible shall be reviewed by the Board from time to time, provided that that target achievement for the Bi-Annual Bonus shall not be less than up to 100% of Annual Base Salary. Any Bi-Annual Bonus earned by Executive pursuant to this section shall be paid to Executive in accordance with Company policies, less authorized deductions and required withholding obligations, and is payable as follows: the first Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the second quarter ended June 30; and the second Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the calendar year, ended December 31.

 

c.Benefits. Executive shall participate in such full-time employee and executive benefit plans and programs as the Company may from time to time offer to senior executives of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, including, without limitation, an executive family medical package.

 

d.Life Insurance. The Company shall directly pay or reimburse Executive for the premiums of a term life insurance policy, up to a maximum of $10,000 annually. If Executive’s employment terminates for any or no reason, the Company shall have no obligation to continue to bear the costs of the life insurance policy for Executive, but Executive may choose to assume responsibility for payments required to continue the policy.

  

 2 

 

 

e.Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to 30-days of paid time-off for vacation, as well as side leave, holidays and other paid time-off benefits provided by the Company from time to time which are applicable to the Company's executive officers in accordance with Company policy. The opportunity to take paid time off is contingent upon Executive’s workload and ability to manage his schedule.

 

f.Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect from time to time.

 

3.Equity Awards.

 

a.Stock Option. Upon the Company becoming publicly traded on a national exchange, and further subject to approval by the Board, on the date determined in accordance with the Company’s established policy, Executive shall be granted a five-year option (the Option) to purchase a total of 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock as follows: 100,000 shares on the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; 100,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; and 25,000 shares on the last day of each quarter, or March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, in each calendar year. The per share exercise price of the Option shall be equal to initial public offering price of the Company’s common stock. The Option shall vest and become exercisable subject to the terms set forth in the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan expected to be approved by the Board and effectuated prior to the Company going public by way of Initial Public Offering of its common stock on a national exchange. The Option shall otherwise be subject to the terms of the plan pursuant to which it is granted and/or an option agreement to be entered into between Executive and the Company.

 

b.Additional Equity Awards. Executive shall be eligible to be granted additional equity awards in accordance with the Company’s policies as in effect from time to time, as recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

 

4.Termination.

 

a.Termination of Employment. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, and the Executive may voluntarily terminate her employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, in each case (other than a termination by the Company for Cause) at any time upon not less than 90-days notice to the other Party (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the Termination Date). Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (a) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination; (b) unused paid time off (consistent with Section 2.f. hereof) paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate; (c) additional vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements; and (d) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.g. hereof (collectively, the Accrued Amounts). The Accrued Amounts described in Section 4 a. shall by paid to the Executive within 30 days following the Termination Date (or, if later, following the Executive’s presentation of supporting documentation for unreimbursed expenses in accordance with 2.g).

  

 3 

 

 

  b. Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated (a) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (b) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, (i) the Executive shall be entitled to continuation of the Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date for 12 months following the Termination Date paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, but no less frequently than monthly (the “Base Salary Continuation”): and (ii) if the Executive elects to continue group health coverage under any Company group health plan pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall reimburse the Executive for a portion of her COBRA premiums, such that her unreimbursed cost of COBRA premiums does not exceed the cost to the Executive of such health plan premiums immediately prior to termination, for a period of up to one year after her termination (or until she is no longer eligible for COBRA continuation, if sooner). Notwithstanding clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, such reimbursements for COBRA premiums shall not be made to the extent such payments would result in any additional tax or penalty to the Company under the Affordable Care Act or any other applicable law. In the event the group health coverage is self-insured, the Company shall include in the Executive’s gross income, the imputed value of the employer-subsidized COBRA premiums. The Executive shall be responsible for the full amount of COBRA premiums for any periods exceeding the time set forth above. In addition, in the event of a termination covered by this Section 4.b., the Executive shall be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of her annual Base Salary (“Bonus Severance”). The Company’s obligations to pay the Base Salary Continuation, the Bonus Severance and COBRA premiums described above shall be conditioned upon the Executive’s continued compliance with her obligations under Section 4 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, and without limitation of any remedies to which the Company may be entitled, the Base Salary Continuation shall be paid in equal installments commencing during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date, the Bonus Severance shall be paid during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date and the reimbursement of COBRA premiums shall be made after substantiation of such expenses; provided, that, the Executive has signed and delivered to the Company the release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and B (the “Release”) and the period (if any) during which the Release can be revoked has expired within such sixty (60) day period; provided, further, that, if such sixty (60) day period begins in one calendar year and ends in another calendar year, to the extent required under Section 409A (as defined below), payment of the Base Salary Continuation installments, Bonus Severance and reimbursement of the COBRA premiums that otherwise would have been paid during that sixty (60) day period shall be accumulated and paid in the second calendar year after expiration of the period for revoking the Release (but within the specified sixty (60) day period).

 

  c. Voluntary Resignation by the Executive other than for Good Reason; Termination due to Death or Disability; Termination Due to, Upon or Following Non-Renewal of the Agreement. If (a) the Executive voluntarily terminates her employment at any time, other than for Good Reason, (b) if the Executive’s employment is terminated due to the Executive’s death or Disability or (c) if the Executive’s employment terminates due to, upon or following non-renewal of the Agreement by either Party in accordance with Section l.a., then the Executive (or her estate) shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

  d. Termination by the Company for Cause. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, then the Executive shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

  

 4 

 

 

e.Exclusive Remedy. The foregoing payments upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits due the Executive upon termination of her employment.

 

f.Resignation from All Positions. Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the Termination Date, from all positions she then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the boards of directors (and any committee thereof) of the Board, if applicable. The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.
   
g.Cooperation. Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company.

 

h.Duty of Confidentiality. Executive agrees that during employment with the Company and for a period of two (2) years following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, divulge or make use of any Confidential Information of the Company other than in the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company. While employed by the Company, Executive shall make all reasonable efforts to protect and maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of the Company. In the event that Executive becomes aware of unauthorized disclosures of the Confidential Information by anyone at any time, whether intentionally or by accident, Executive shall promptly notify the Company. This Agreement does not limit the remedies available to the Company under common or statutory law as to trade secrets or other types of confidential information, which may impose longer duties of non-disclosure.

 

i.Return of Property and Information. Executive agrees not to remove any Company property from Company premises, except when authorized by the Company. Executive agrees to return all Company property and information (whether confidential or not) within Executive’s possession or control within seven (7) calendar day s following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company. Such property and information includes, but is not limited to, the original and any copy (regardless of  the manner in which it is recorded) of all information provided by Company to Executive or which Executive has developed or collected in the scope of Executive’s employment with the Company, as well as all Company-issued equipment, supplies, accessories, vehicles, keys, instruments, tools, devices, computers, cell phones, pagers, materials, documents, plans, records, notebooks, drawings, or papers. Upon request by the Company, Executive shall certify in writing that Executive has complied with this provision; and has permanently deleted all Company information from any computers or other electronic storage devices or media owned by Executive. Executive may only retain information relating the Executive’s benefit plans and compensation to the extent needed to prepare Executive’s tax returns.

 

 5 

 

 

j.Assignment of Work Product and Inventions. Executive hereby assigns and grants to the Company (and will upon request take any actions needed to formally assign and grant to Company and/or obtain patents, trademark registrations or copyrights belonging to Company) the sole and exclusive ownership of any and all inventions, information, reports, computer software or programs, writings, technical information or work product collected or developed by Executive, alone or with others, during the term of Executive’s employment relating to the Company. This duty applies whether or not the forgoing inventions or information are made or prepared in the course of employment with the Company, so long as such inventions or information relate to the Business of Company and have been developed in whole or in part during the term of Executive’s employment. Executive agrees to advise the Company in writing of each invention that Executive, alone or with others, makes or conceives during the term of Executive's employment and which relate to the Business of Company. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, Executive shall not be required to assign, nor shall Executive be deemed to have assigned, any of Executive’s rights in any invention that Executive develops entirely on her own time without using Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, or Trade Secrets, except for inventions that either: (1) relate, at the time that the invention is conceived or reduced to practice, to the Business of Company or to actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company; or (2) result from any work performed by Executive for the Company on behalf of the Company. Inventions which Executive developed before Executive came to work for the Company, if any, are described in the attached Exhibit B, and excluded from this Section. The failure of the parties to attach any Exhibit B to this agreement shall be deemed an admission by Executive that Executive does not have any pre-existing inventions.

  

k.Non-Competition. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, and within the Restricted Territory, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, perform services on behalf of a Competing Business, and which are the same as or similar to those types of services conducted, authorized, offered, or provided by Executive to the Company within 24 months prior to Executive’s termination or resignation.

 

l.Non-Recruitment of Company Employees and Contractors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit or induce any employee or independent contractor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, to terminate or lessen such employment or contract with the Company.

 

m.Non-Solicitation of Company Customers. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective customers of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of selling any products or services to such customers on behalf of a Competing Business.

 

n.Non-Solicitation of Company Vendors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective Vendor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of purchasing products or services to support a Competing Business.

 

 6 

 

 

o.Acknowledgements. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the provisions of Section 4 are reasonable as to time, scope and territory given the Company’s need to protect its Confidential Information and its relationships and goodwill with its customers, suppliers, employees and contractors, all of which have been developed at great time and expense to the Company. Executive represents that Executive has the skills and abilities to obtain alternative employment that would not violate these Restrictive Covenants in the event that Executive leaves employment with the Company, and that these Restrictive Covenants do not pose an undue hardship on Executive. Executive further acknowledges that Executive’s breach of any of the provisions of Section 4 would likely cause irreparable injury to the Company, and therefore entitle the Company to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedies available in law or equity, without the necessity of posting a bond.

  

5.Assignment and Successors.

 

The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise), and may assign or encumber this Agreement and its rights hereunder as security for indebtedness of the Company and its affiliates. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive and their respective successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees, as applicable. None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law.

 

6.Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

a.Work Eligibility; Confidentiality Agreement. As a condition of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will be required to provide evidence of Executive’s identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. It is required that Executive bring the appropriate documentation with Executive at the time of employment. As a further condition of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall enter into and abide by the Company’s standard Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement (the “Confidential Information Agreement”).

 

b.Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

 

c.Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any Party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid (or if it is sent through any other method agreed upon by the parties), as follows:

 

(i)If to the Company at:

MGO Global Inc.

1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596

 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33345

 

347-913-3316

 

(ii)If to Executive, at the address set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

(iii)Or at any other address as any Party shall have specified by notice in writing to the other Party.

 

 7 

 

 

d.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

e.Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, is intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral. The Parties further intend that this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

 

f.Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of Company. By an instrument in writing similarly executed, Executive or a duly authorized officer of the Company, as applicable, may waive compliance by the other Party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; provided, however, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.

 

g.Arbitration. Executive and the Company agree that if any dispute, controversy or claim should arise between Executive and the Company (including claims against its employees, officers, directors; shareholders, agents, successors and assigns) relating or pertaining to or arising out of Executive’s employment with the Company or this Agreement, the dispute will be submitted exclusively to binding arbitration before a neutral arbitrator conducted in the state of Florida, in accordance with the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force. This means that disputes will be decided by an arbitrator rather than a court or jury, and that both Executive and the Company waive their respective rights to a court or jury trial. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive and the Company each have the right to resolve any issue or dispute over intellectual property rights by court action instead of arbitration.

 

h.Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any allowances and reimbursements) any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges which the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.

 

 8 

 

 

7.Section 409A.

 

The intent of the Parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (collectively with the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date, “Section 409A”), and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be exempt therefrom. If Executive notifies tire Company that Executive has received advice of tax counsel of a national reputation with expertise in Section 409A that any provision of this Agreement would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A (with specificity as to the reason therefor) or the Company independently makes such determination, the Company and Executive shall take commercially reasonable efforts to reform such provision to try to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A, provided that any such modifications shall not increase the cost or liability to the Company. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to Executive and the Company of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

  

 9 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

  

  MGO GLOBAL INC
     
  By: /s/ Julian Groves
     
  Name: Julian Groves, Chief Operating Officer and Director
     
  EXECUTIVE
     
  By: /s/ Virginia Hilfiger
     
  Name: Virginia Hilfiger

 

Address: 1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596

 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33345

  

 10 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between MGO GLOBAL INC., a Delaware company, on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and other corporate affiliates (collectively referred to herein as the “Company”), and VIRGINIAHILFIGER (“Employee”) (the Company and Employee are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”) as of October 13, 2022 (the “Effective Date”).

 

In consideration of Employee’s employment or continuing employment with the Company (hereafter, “employment”), which Employee acknowledges to be good and valuable consideration for Employee’s obligations hereunder, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Representations and Acknowledgements. Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) among the Company’s most valuable and indispensable assets are its Confidential Information and its close relationships with its Customers (defined below) and Suppliers (defined below, which includes, without limitation, employees), which the Company has devoted and continues to devote a substantial amount of time, money and otter resources to develop; (ii) in connection with Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee will be exposed to and acquire the Company’s Confidential Information and develop, at the Company’s expense and support, special and close relationships with the Company’s Customers and Suppliers; (iii) Employee would not be able to engage in the activities restricted by this Sections 3 through 5 below without using or disclosing Confidential Information and trade secrets of the Company; (iv) the Company’s Confidential Information and close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers must be protected; (v) the Company is employing or continuing to employ Employee only because of the promises and acknowledgements that Employee makes in this Agreement; (vi) to the extent required by law, the covenants in this Agreement are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint on Employee titan is necessary to protect the Company’s Confidential Information, close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers, and other legitimate business interests; (vii) Employee’s compliance with such covenants will not exhibit Employee from earning a living or from working in Employee’s chosen profession; and (viii) any breach of such covenants will result in the Company being placed at an unfair competitive disadvantage and cause the Company serious and irreparable harm to its business.

 

2.Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information. In the course of Employee's employment hereunder, Employee will receive, contribute to the production of, become privy to the Company's Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined). Employee further understands and acknowledges that this Confidential Information and the Company’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate.

 

 1 

 

 

2.1.Employee agrees that during and in perpetuity after Employee’s employment by Company, Employee shall (i) hold in confidence and treat all Confidential Information as strictly confidential; (ii) not directly or indirectly disclose, publish, communicate or make available Confidential Information, or allow it to be disclosed, published, communicated or made available, in whole or part, to any entity or person whatsoever, except as required in the good faith performance of Employee’s duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent); and (iii) not to access or use any Confidential Information, and not to copy any documents, records, files, media or other resources containing any Confidential Information, or remove any such documents, records, files, media or other resources from the premises or control of the Company, except as required in the good faith performance of Employee’s duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent). Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent disclosure of Confidential Information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or pursuant to the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that the disclosure does not exceed the extent of disclosure required by such law, regulation or order. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Employee shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to an authorized officer of the Company after receiving such order, but in any event sufficiently in advance of making any disclosure to permit the Company to contest the order or seek confidentiality protections, as determined in the Company’s sole discretion. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and in perpetuity thereafter, Employee shall hold in confidence and shall not directly or indirectly reveal report, publish, copy, duplicate, disclose, transfer or otherwise misappropriate any Confidential Information to any person or entity, or utilize such Confidential Information for any purpose, except within the course of Employee’s employment with Company.

  

2.2.All notes, data, reference materials, sketches, drawings, memoranda documentation and records in any form or media in any way incorporating or reflecting any Confidential Information of Company shall belong exclusively to Company. Upon termination of her employment for any reason, or at any time Company may request prior thereto, Employee shall immediately surrender and turn over to Company any of Company’s property whatsoever and all Confidential Information of Company, whether the same be in writing, print, copy, audio or video tape, computer program or disc, picture, or any other medium whatsoever, and whether appearing in original documents, summaries, excerpts, abstracts or other formats, and shall provide Company with all information necessary to access and use said Confidential Information. Employee shall have no right to retain any originals or copies of the foregoing for any reason whatsoever after termination over employment hereunder without the express prior written consent of Company and, upon termination, Employee shall certify in writing that she no longer possesses and has not distributed or retained any Confidential Information of Company or any of Company’s property whatsoever.

 

2.3.Notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement, the obligation of Employee to protect the confidentiality of any Confidential Information shall terminate as to any information or materials which: (i) are, or become, public knowledge through no act or failure to act of Employee in violation of Employee’s obligations to the Company; (ii) are publicly disclosed by the proprietor thereof; (iii) are lawfully obtained without obligations of confidentiality by Employee from a third party after reasonable inquiry regarding the authority of such third party to possess and divulge the same; (iv) are independently developed by Employee from sources or through persons that Employee can demonstrate had no access to Confidential Information; or (v) are lawfully known by Employee at the time of disclosure other than by reason of discussions with or disclosures by Company. Employee’s confidentiality obligations set forth herein shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employee’s rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and further described in Section 9 below.

  

 2 

 

 

2.4.As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information or material, whether oral or written, that is proprietary to Company or designated (either expressly or by virtue of the manner in which such information or material is traditionally treated in business settings) as confidential information by Company and not generally known by non-Company personnel, which Employee may develop or which Employee may receive, obtain knowledge of or become privy to through or as a result of Employee’s relationship with Company (including information conceived, originated, discovered or developed in whole or in part by Employee). “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to, the following types of information and other information of a similar nature (whether or not reduced to writing): trade secrets, discoveries, ideas, concepts, software in various stages of development, designs, drawings, specifications, techniques, models, date, source code, object code, documentation, diagrams, flow charts, research, development, processes, procedures, “know-how”, marketing techniques and materials, marketing and development plans, names of employees and information related to than, customer names, contacts, and other information related to customers, price lists, pricing policies, and financial date, information and projections. “Confidential Information” also includes any information described above which Company obtains from another party and which Company treats as proprietary or designates as “Confidential Information,” whether or not owned or developed by Company. Information that is publicly known and that is generally employed by the trade or generic information or knowledge which Employee would have learned in the course of similar work elsewhere in the trade is not intended to and shall be deemed not to be a part of the “Confidential Information.”

 

2.5.Employee understands that the above list is not exhaustive, and that Confidential Information also includes other information that is marked or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary, or that would otherwise appear to a reasonable person to be confidential or proprietary in the context and circumstances in which the information is known or used.

 

2.6.Employee acknowledges that Employee has been notified in accordance with the federal Uniform Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S. Code § 1839) that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (a) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Employee also acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit Employee from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or regulatory body or making other disclosures that are protected under any law or regulation, or from filing a charge with or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by any governmental agency or regulatory body.

 

3.Agreement Not to Solicit Customers. Employee agrees that during her employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason whatsoever, Employee shall not, either directly or indirectly, on her own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, (i) solicit, initiate contact with, call upon, or otherwise enter into a relationship with any customers or actively sought prospective customers of Company with whom Employee had material contact during her employment with Company or about which Employee obtained Confidential Information (collectively, “Customers”), for the purpose of soliciting, selling, diverting to or otherwise providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company (collectively, “Competitive Activities”), including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of premium fashion products, unless agreed to in writing by both parties; or (ii) solicit, induce, or cause any Customer to terminate, reduce or refrain from renewing or extending its contractual or other business relationship with the Company.

 

 3 

 

 

3.1.Material Contact For purposes of this Agreement, “material contact” exists between Employee and each Customer with whom Employee personally interacts on behalf of Company, whether such interaction is conducted in person, in writing, by telephone or by other form of communication

 

4.Agreement Not to Solicit Employees and Independent Contractors. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actively encourage or induce the voluntary termination of, or recruit or hire, or attempt to recruit or hire, any person(s) then employed by or associated with Company as an employee or, on an exclusive basis, an independent contractor, consultant or other supplier of goods or services to the Company (collectively, “Suppliers”), whether or not such recruit or hire is a full-time, part-time or temporary employee, independent contractor or consultant, and whether or not such employment or other engagement is for a determined period or is at-will, for the purpose of employment, consultancy, or serving as an independent contractor for, directly or indirectly, any business entity which engages in the business of design, manufacture and sale of premium fashion products.

 

5.Agreement Not to Compete. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, engage in the business of providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company, including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of premium fashion products, within the Territory (as defined below). As used herein, “Territory” means any state in the United States or any foreign country in which the Company is doing business or in which it is contemplating to do business pursuant to a then current business plan.

 

6.Proprietary Rights.

 

6.1Work Product. Employee agrees that all inventions, ideas, writings, works of authorship, technology, discoveries, copyrightable or patentable subject matter, and other work product of any nature whatsoever that, in whole or in part, that are made, conceived, created, prepared, produced, authored, edited or amended (i) through the use of any of the Company’s Confidential Information or any of the Company’s equipment or facilities or (ii) by Employee, individually or jointly with others, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company and relating in any way to the business or contemplated business, research or development of the Company (regardless of when or where the Work Product is prepared or whose equipment or other resources is used in preparing the same) and all printed, physical and electronic copies, all improvements, rights and claims related to the foregoing, and other tangible embodiments thereof (collectively, “Work Product”), as well as any and all rights in and to copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks (and related goodwill), mask works, patents and other intellectual property rights therein arising in any jurisdiction throughout the world and all related rights of priority under international conventions with respect thereto, including all pending and future applications and registrations therefor, and continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, reissues, extensions and renewals thereof (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”), shall belong exclusively to Company and shall be considered part of Confidential Information (as the case may be) for purposes of this Agreement

  

 4 

 

 

For purposes of this Agreement, Work Product includes, but is not limited to, Company information, including plans, publications, research, strategies, techniques, agreements, documents, negotiations, know how, computer programs, computer applications, software design, web design, work in process, databases, manuals, developments, reports, graphics, drawings, sketches, market studies, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, product designs, styles, models, inventions, unpublished patent applications, original works of authorship, discoveries, experimental processes, specifications, customer information, customer lists, manufacturing information, marketing and advertising information, and sales information.

 

6.2.Company, its designees, and its assigns shall have the right to use and/or to apply for patents, copyrights or other statutory or common law protections for such Work Product in any and all countries. Employee shall provide reasonable assistance to Company (at Company’s expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law Intellectual Property Rights for such Work Product in any and all countries. To that end, Employee shall execute, during and after her employment with Company, all documents reasonably related to the application, procurement, and enforcement of patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law protections, as the Company or its counsel may request, together with any assignments thereof to Company or its designee.

 

6.3.Work Made for Hire; Assignment. Employee acknowledges that, by reason of being engaged by the Company at the relevant times, to the extent permitted by law, all of the Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is “work made for hire” as defined in the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. §101), and such copyrights are therefore owned by the Company. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company, for no additional consideration, Employee’s entire right, title and interest in and to all Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights therein, including the right to sue, counterclaim and recover for all past, present and future infringement, misappropriation or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world. Nothing contained in tins Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit the Company’s rights, title or interest in any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than that the Company would have had in tire absence of this Agreement.

  

 5 

 

 

6.4.Further Assurances; Power of Attorney. During and after Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company to (i) apply for, obtain, perfect and transfer to the Company the Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights in the Work Product in any jurisdiction in the world; and (ii) maintain, protect and enforce the same, including, without limitation, executing and delivering to the Company any and all applications, oaths, declarations, affidavits, waivers, assignments and other documents and instruments as shall be requested by the Company. Employee hereby irrevocably grants the Company power of attorney to execute and deliver any such documents on Employee’s behalf in Employee’s name and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to transfer the Work Product to the Company and further the transfer, issuance, prosecution and maintenance of all Intellectual Property Rights therein, to the full extent permitted by law, if Employee does not promptly cooperate with the Company’s request (without limiting the rights the Company shall have in such circumstances by operation of law). The power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall not be affected by Employee’s subsequent incapacity.

  

6.5.Moral Rights. To the extent any copyrights are assigned under this Agreement, Employee hereby irrevocably waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any and all claims Employee may now or hereafter have in any jurisdiction to all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal and any other rights that may be known as “moral rights” with respect to all Work Product and all Intellectual Property Rights therein.

 

6.6.No License. Employee understands that this Agreement does not, and shall not be construed to, grant Employee any license or right of any nature with respect to any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights or any Confidential Information, materials, software or other tools made available to Employee by the Company.

 

6.7.No infringement. Employee represents and warrants to the Company that all Work Product Employee delivers to the Company shall be original and shall not infringe upon or violate any patent, copyright or proprietary right of any person or third party.

 

6.8.License to Prior Invention. If Employee in the course of Employee’s employment for the Company incorporates into a Company product Work Product that Employee has, alone or jointly with others, conceived, developed or reduced to practice prior to the commencement of Employee’s employment with the Company in which Employee has a property right (each, a “Prior Invention”), Employee hereby grants to the Company a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty free, irrevocable, worldwide license (with the full right to sublicense) to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Invention. Employee hereby represents and warrants that all Prior Inventions have been listed by Employee on Exhibit B hereto or, if no such list is attached, that there are no Prior Inventions. Employee will not incorporate any Work Product owned by any third party into any Company Work Product without the Company’s prior written permission.

 

6.9.License to Information and Likeness. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligations, to use Employee’s name, photograph, likeness and approved biographical data for the purpose of advertising, marketing, promoting publicizing and exploiting any matter related to the Company, its products and services and/or Employee’s duties performed hereunder.

 

6.10.Severability. To the extent this Agreement is required to be construed in accordance with laws of any state which precludes as a requirement in an employee agreement the assignment of certain classes of inventions made by an employee, this Section 6 will be interpreted not to apply to any invention which a court rules and/or the Company agrees falls within such classes.

 

 6 

 

 

7.Conflicts of Interest During the term of her employment, Employee shall not engage in activities or practices involving any possible conflict of interest These activities or practices may subject Employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Employee should avoid at all times the appearance of, as well as an actual, conflict of interest.

 

7.1.Conflicts of interest activities or practices include, but are not limited to: engaging in business conduct that is damaging to the reputation of the Company, accepting outside employment in any organization that does business with the Company or is a competitor of the Company, investing or having a financial interest in a private company which does business with the Company or having stock ownership in a publicly traded company which does business with the Company if the relationship(s) may influence Employee’s business decisions (this applies to Employee and to close relatives and is applicable at the time of hire and at any time during the course of employment). If an individual does own stock in a company that does business with the Company, the relationship should be disclosed upon employment and all significant business dealings with that company will be reviewed.

 

7.2.Employee may not accept gifts from any person or company doing or seeking to do business with the Company. Employees are allowed to accept advertising novelties and other gifts of nominal value.

 

7.3.Employee may not give, offer, or promise, directly or indirectly, anything of value to any representative of any company doing business with the Company.

 

7.4.Employee may not select vendors on the basis of anything other than the merit of their products or services or prices for such products or services.

 

7.5.Discussing company information with the press without prior authorization from management is also a conflict of interest.

 

8.Security and Access. Employee agrees and covenants (i) to comply with all Company security policies and procedures as in force from time to time including without limitation those regarding computer equipment telephone systems, voicemail systems, facilities access, monitoring, key cards, access codes, Company intranet, internet, social media and instant messaging systems, computer systems, e-mail systems, computer networks, document storage systems, software, data security, encryption, firewalls, passwords and any and all other Company facilities, IT resources and communication technologies (“Facilities and Information Technology Resources”); (ii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources except as authorized by Company; and (iii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources in any manner after the termination of Employee’s employment by the Company, whether termination is voluntary or involuntary. Employee agrees to notify the Company promptly in the event Employee learns of any violation of the foregoing by others, or of any other misappropriation or unauthorized access, use, reproduction or reverse engineering of, or tampering with any Facilities and Information Technology Resources or other Company property or materials by others. Employee acknowledges and agrees that any property situated on the Company’s premises and owned by the Company, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets, other work areas and other Facilities and Information Technology Resources, is subject to inspection by personnel of the Company at any time with or without notice. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has no expectation of privacy with respect to the Company’s Facilities and Information Technology Resources and that Employee’s activity and any files or messages on or using any of such Facilities and Information Technology Resources may be monitored at any time without notice.

 

 7 

 

 

8.1.Exit Obligations. Upon (i) voluntary or involuntary termination of Employee’s employment or (ii) the Company’s request at any time during Employee’s employment, Employee shall (a) provide or return to the Company any and all Company property, including keys, key cards, access cards, identification cards, security devices, Company credit cards, network access devices, computers, cell phones, smartphones, equipment, manuals, reports, files, books, compilations, work product, e-mail messages, recordings, tapes, disks, thumb drives or other removable information storage devices, hard drives and data and all Company documents and materials belonging to the Company and stored in any fashion, including but not limited to those that constitute or contain any Confidential Information or Work Product, that are in the possession or control of Employee, whether they were provided to Employee by the Company or any of its business associates or created by Employee in connection with Employee’s employment by the Company; and (b) delete or destroy all copies of any such documents and materials following return to the Company that remain in Employee’s possession or control, including those stored on any non-Company devices, networks, storage locations and media in Employee’s possession or control.

 

9.Non-disparagement. Employee agrees and covenants that Employee will not at any time make, publish or communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, statements or gestures concerning the Company’s products or services, and existing and prospective customers, suppliers, investors and other associated third parties, or make any maliciously false statements about the Company’s employees and officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 8 shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employee’s rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and described in Section 9 below. Further, this Section does not apply to (i) truthful statements made in connection with legal proceedings, governmental and regulatory investigations and actions; (ii) any other truthful statement or disclosure required by law; or (iii) good faith intra-Company communications made for legitimate business reasons.

 

10.NLRA Compliance. It is the policy of the Company to comply with the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), including without limitation, Section 7 thereof. Thus, to the extent Employee is covered by the NLRA, nothing herein, or in any other the agreement between Employee and the Company or Company policy, shall prohibit Employee together with other Company employees from (i) self-organizing forming joining or assisting labor organizations; (ii) bargaining collectively through representatives of their own choosing; (iii) discussing wages, hours, working conditions, other labor policies or unionism or for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection; or (iv) posting pictures or videos of employees engaged in such activities or other activities involving collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. However, ire Company has an “open door” policy and encourages employees to address such matters instead with their supervisors or a member of management.

  

 8 

 

 

11.Remedies. Employee acknowledges that the Company’s Confidential Information and the Company’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee, or any other material breach of Employees promises and covenants herein, will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement, Employee hereby consents and agrees that the Company shall be entitled to, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that monetary damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief. Additionally, each of the covenants and restrictions to which Employee is subject under this Agreement, including, without limitation those in Sections 2 through 4 above, shall each be construed as independent of any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement between Employee and the Company, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants and restrictions.

  

12.Successors and Assigns.

 

12.1.            Assignment by the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement to any subsidiary or corporate affiliate, or to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and permitted successors and assigns.

 

12.2.            No Assignment by Employee. Employee may not assign this Agreement or any part hereof. Any purported assignment by Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of purported assignment.

 

13.Governing Law; Jurisdiction and Venue; Jury Waiver. This Agreement, for all purposes, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts-of-law principles. Any action or proceeding by either Party against the other Party, including, without limitation, to enforce this Agreement or otherwise relating to or arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company (or the termination thereof), shall be brought only in any state or federal court located in or closest to Broward County, Florida The Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue Employee and the Company each hereby waive the right to trial by jury in any such court action or proceeding between them, regardless of the subject matter, including, without limitation, any action or proceeding based upon, arising out of, or in any way relating to this Agreement and all matters concerning Employee’s employment (or the termination thereof) with the Company.

 

14.Entire Agreement. Unless specifically provided herein, this Agreement contains all the understandings and representations between Employee and the Company pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

 

 9 

 

 

Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by Employee and by a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than Employee) No waiver by either of the Parties of any breach by the other Party hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other Party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time, nor shall the failure of or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver thereof to preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

 

15.Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the Parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. The Parties further agree that any such court is expressly authorized to modify any such unenforceable provision of this Agreement in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision from this Agreement in its entirety, whether by rewriting the offending provision, deleting any or all of the offending provision, adding additional language to this Agreement or by making such other modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the Parties as embodied herein to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Parties expressly agree that this Agreement as so modified by the court shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of  them In any event, should one or more of   the provisions of this Agreement be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and if such provision or provisions are not modified as provided above, this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had not been set forth herein.

 

16.Captions. Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph.

 

17.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Photographic copies, electronically scanned copies and other facsimiles of this Agreement (including such signed counterparts) may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.

 

18.At-Will Employment; No Oral Agreements. The Company and Employee acknowledge and agree that this Agreement does not affect the ability of either party to terminate their employment relationship, which relationship, unless otherwise agreed to in writing signed by an officer of the Company, may be terminated at any time, for any or no reason. No supervisor, manager or other Company representative has the authority to make any verbal promises, commitments, or statements of any kind regarding the Company’s policies, procedures or any other issues that are legally binding on the Company.

 

 10 

 

 

EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SHE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND AGREES THAT THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE REASONABLE AND PROPER PROTECTION OF THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS. EMPLOYEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE COMPANY HAS ADVISED HIM THAT SHE IS ENTITLED TO HAVE THIS AGREEMENT REVIEWED BY AN ATTORNEY OF HER SELECTION PRIOR TO SIGNING, AND SHE HAS EITHER DONE SO OR ELECTED TO FOREGO THAT RIGHT.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date above.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.:
   
  Signature: /s/ Julian Groves
   
  By: Name: Julian Groves
   
  Title: Chief Operating Officer and Director
   
  EMPLOYEE:
 
  Signature: /s/ Virginia Hilfiger
   
  Virginia Hilfiger

  

 11 

 

 

EXHIBIT B
LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP

 

Title   Date   Identifying Number or Brief Description

 

####

 

 1 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF RELEASE
GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS

 

1.Virginia Hilfiger, (Executive), for himself and his family, heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and their respective successors and assigns, in exchange for the Severance Benefits, as defined under the Executive Employment Agreement made and entered effective as of the 19th day of July, 2022, by and between MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) and the Executive to which this release is attached as Exhibit C to the Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement), does hereby release and forever discharge the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliated companies, successors and assigns, and its current or former directors, officers or shareholders in such capacities (collectively with the Company, the “Released Parties) from any and all actions, causes of action, suits, controversies, claims and demands whatsoever, for or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever, whether known or unknown including, but not limited to, all claims under any applicable laws arising under or in connection with Executive’s employment or termination thereof, whether for tort, breach of express or implied employment contract, wrongful discharge, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or defamation or injuries incurred on the job or incurred as a result of loss of employment Executive acknowledges that the Company encouraged him to consult with an attorney of his choosing, and through this General Release of Claims encourages him to consult with his attorney with respect to possible claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA) and that she understands that the ADEA is a Federal statute that, among other things, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in employment and employee benefits and benefit plans. Without limiting the generality of the release provided above, Executive expressly waives any and all claims under ADEA that she may have as of the date hereof. Executive further understands that by signing this General Release of Claims she is in fact waiving, releasing and forever giving up any claim under the ADEA as well as all other laws within the scope of this paragraph 1 that may have existed on or prior to the date hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph 1 to the contrary, this General Release of Claims shall not apply to (i) any rights to receive any payments or benefits to which Executive is entitled under COBRA, the Employment agreement or any other compensation or employee benefit plans in which Executive is eligible to participate at the time of execution of this General Release of Claims, (ii) any rights or claims that may arise as a result of events occurring after the date this General Release of Claims is executed, any indemnification and advancement rights Executive may have as a former employee, officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies including without limitation, any rights arising pursuant to the articles of incorporation, bylaws and any other organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any claims for benefits under any directors’ and officers’ liability policy maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies in accordance with the terms of such policy, and (iv) any rights as a holder of equity securities of the Company (clauses (i) through (iv), tire “Reserved Claims”).

 

 1 

 

 

2.Executive represents that she has not filed against the Released Parties any complaints, charges, or lawsuits arising out of his employment, or any other matter arising on or prior to the date of this General Release of Claims other than Reserved Claims, and covenants and agrees that she will never individually or with any person file, or commence the filing of any lawsuits, complaints or proceedings with any governmental agency, or against the Released Parties with respect to any of the matters released by Executive pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof (a Proceeding); provided, however. Executive shall not have relinquished his right to (i) commence a Proceeding to challenge whether Executive knowingly and voluntarily waived his rights under ADEA; (ii) file a charge with an administrative agency or take part in any agency investigation or (iii) commence a Proceeding pursuant to the Reserved Claims. Executive does agree, however, that she is waiving his right to recover any money in connection with such an investigation or charge filed by him or by any other individual, or a charge filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other federal, state or local agency, except as prohibited by law.

  

3.Executive hereby acknowledges that the Company has informed him that she has up to twenty-one (21) days to sign this General Release of Claims and she may knowingly and voluntarily waive that twenty-one (21) day period by signing this General Release of Claims earlier. Executive also understands that she shall have seven (7) days following the date on which she signs this General Release of Claims within which to revoke it by providing a written notice of his revocation to the Company.

 

4.Executive acknowledges that this General Release of Claims will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the laws of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law principles.

 

5.Executive acknowledges that she has read this General Release of Claims, that she has been advised that she should consult with an attorney before she executes this general release of claims, and that she understands all of its terms and executes it voluntarily and with full knowledge of its significance and the consequences thereof.

 

This General Release of Claims shall take effect on the eighth day following Executive’s execution of this General Release of Claims unless Executive’s written revocation is delivered to the Company within seven (7) days after such execution.

 

  EXECUTIVE
   
     
  Virginia Hilfiger

 

####

 

 2 

 

 

Exhibit 10.9

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into by and between MGO GLOBAL INC. (the “Company”) and JULIAN GROVES (the “Executive”). The Company and the Executive may hereinafter be referred to jointly as the “Parties.”

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company entered into an employment agreement, dated July 19, 2022 (the “Original Effective Date”);

 

WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend and restate the employment agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment shall continue under this agreement on October 13, 2022 (the “Effective Date”).

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is now the Chief Operating Officer of the Company and thus a key senior executive of the Company, as well as an executive member of the Board;

 

WHEREAS, the Company would like enter into a formal agreement with the Executive to set forth the terms of Executive’s employment and to provide for certain severance payments and other benefits in the event Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the Executive for “Good Reason” (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, Executive wishes to be employed by the Company and provide full-time services to the Company in return for the compensation and benefits detailed herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, including the agreements set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.Employment.

 

a.Term. Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”); provided however that the period of the Executive’s employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one-year periods thereafter (each, a “Renewal Term”), in each case unless either Party hereto provides the other Party hereto with written notice that such period shall not be so extended at least one hundred and twenty (120) days in advance of the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Term, as applicable (the Initial Term and any Renewal Term, collectively, the “Term”). The Executive’s period of employment pursuant to this Agreement shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Employment Period.”

 

b.Position and Duties. Executive (i) shall serve as the Chief Commercial Officer of the Company with responsibilities, duties and authority customary for such position, subject to direction by the Chief Executive Officer; (ii) shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer; (iii) shall devote substantially all Executive’s working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries; and (iv) agrees to observe and comply with the Company’s rules and policies as adopted by the Company from time to time. In addition, as of the Effective Date, the Executive shall retain his appointment as an executive member of the Board and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause Executive to be reelected as a member of the Board while employed hereunder.

 

 1 

 

 

c.Place of Employment. Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement on a remote basis with his primary operations based in London, England. In addition, the Company may from time to time require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations on the Company’s business to include the Company’s corporate offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

 

2.Compensation and Related Matters.

 

a.Annual Base Salary. Executive shall receive a base salary at the rate of $130,000 per annum (the “Annual Base Salary”), subject to withholdings and deductions and which shall be paid to Executive in accordance with the customary payroll practices and procedures of the Company. Such Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Board’s Compensation Committee not less than annually and may be adjusted from time to time.

 

b.Bi-Annual Bonus. Commencing in the calendar year 2022 and each calendar year thereafter during Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will be eligible to receive a discretionary biannual performance bonus, with a target achievement of up to 100% of the Annual Base Salary (the “Bi-Annual Bonus”). The amount of the Bi-Annual Bonus that shall be payable shall be based on the achievement of predetermined performance goals to be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. The amount of any Bi-Annual Bonus for which Executive is eligible shall be reviewed by the Board from time to time, provided that that target achievement for the Bi-Annual Bonus shall not be less than up to 100% of the Annual Base Salary. Any Bi-Annual Bonus earned by Executive pursuant to this section shall be paid to Executive in accordance with Company policies, less authorized deductions and required withholding obligations, and is payable as follows: the first Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the second quarter ended June 30; and the second Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the calendar year, ended December 31.

 

c.Benefits. Executive shall participate in such full-time employee and executive benefit plans and programs as the Company may from time to time offer to senior executives of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, including, without limitation, an executive family medical package.

 

d.Life Insurance. The Company shall directly pay or reimburse Executive for the premiums of a term life insurance policy, up to a maximum of $10,000 annually. If Executive’s employment terminates for any or no reason, the Company shall have no obligation to continue to bear the costs of the life insurance policy for Executive, but Executive may choose to assume responsibility for payments required to continue the policy.

 

e.Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to 30-days of paid time-off for vacation, as well as sick leave, holidays and other paid time-off benefits provided by the Company from time to time which are applicable to the Company’s executive officers in accordance with Company policy. The opportunity to take paid time off is contingent upon Executive’s workload and ability to manage his schedule.

 

 2 

 

 

f.Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect from time to time.

 

3.Equity Awards.

 

a.Stock Option. Upon the Company becoming publicly traded on a national exchange, and further subject to approval by the Board, on the date determined in accordance with the Company’s established policy, Executive shall be granted a five-year option (the “Option”) to purchase a total of 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock as follows: 100,000 shares on the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; 100,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; and 25,000 shares on the last day of each quarter, or March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, in each calendar year. The per share exercise price of the Option shall be equal to initial public offering price of the Company’s common stock. The Option shall vest and become exercisable subject to the terms set forth in the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan expected to be approved by the Board and effectuated prior to the Company going public by way of Initial Public Offering of its common stock on a national exchange. The Option shall otherwise be subject to the terms of the plan pursuant to which it is granted and/or an option agreement to be entered into between Executive and the Company.

 

b.Additional Equity Awards. Executive shall be eligible to be granted additional equity awards in accordance with the Company’s policies as in effect from time to time, as recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

 

4.Termination.

 

a.Termination of Employment. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, in each case (other than a termination by the Company for Cause) at any time upon not less than 90-days notice to the other Party (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “Termination Date”). Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (a) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination; (b) unused paid time off (consistent with Section 2.f. hereof) paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate; (c) additional vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements; and (d) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.g. hereof (collectively, the “Accrued Amounts”). The Accrued Amounts described in Section 4.a. shall by paid to the Executive within 30 days following the Termination Date (or, if later, following the Executive’s presentation of supporting documentation for unreimbursed expenses in accordance with 2.g.).

 

 3 

 

 

b.Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated (a) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (b) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, (i) the Executive shall be entitled to continuation of the Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date for 12 months following the Termination Date paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, but no less frequently than monthly (the “Base Salary Continuation”); and (ii) if the Executive elects to continue group health coverage under any Company group health plan pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall reimburse the Executive for a portion of his COBRA premiums, such that his unreimbursed cost of COBRA premiums does not exceed the cost to the Executive of such health plan premiums immediately prior to termination, for a period of up to one year after his termination (or until he is no longer eligible for COBRA continuation, if sooner). Notwithstanding clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, such reimbursements for COBRA premiums shall not be made to the extent such payments would result in any additional tax or penalty to the Company under the Affordable Care Act or any other applicable law. In the event the group health coverage is self-insured, the Company shall include in the Executive’s gross income, the imputed value of the employer-subsidized COBRA premiums. The Executive shall be responsible for the full amount of COBRA premiums for any periods exceeding the time set forth above. In addition, in the event of a termination covered by this Section 4.b., the Executive shall be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of his annual Base Salary (“Bonus Severance”).The Company’s obligations to pay the Base Salary Continuation, the Bonus Severance and COBRA premiums described above shall be conditioned upon the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, and without limitation of any remedies to which the Company may be entitled, the Base Salary Continuation shall be paid in equal installments commencing during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date, the Bonus Severance shall be paid during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date and the reimbursement of COBRA premiums shall be made after substantiation of such expenses; provided, that, the Executive has signed and delivered to the Company the release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and B (the “Release”) and the period (if any) during which the Release can be revoked has expired within such sixty (60) day period; provided, further, that, if such sixty (60) day period begins in one calendar year and ends in another calendar year, to the extent required under Section 409A (as defined below), payment of the Base Salary Continuation installments, Bonus Severance and reimbursement of the COBRA premiums that otherwise would have been paid during that sixty (60) day period shall be accumulated and paid in the second calendar year after expiration of the period for revoking the Release (but within the specified sixty (60) day period).

 

c.Voluntary Resignation by the Executive other than for Good Reason; Termination due to Death or Disability; Termination Due to, Upon or Following Non-Renewal of the Agreement. If (a) the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment at any time, other than for Good Reason, (b) if the Executive’s employment is terminated due to the Executive’s death or Disability or (c) if the Executive’s employment terminates due to, upon or following non-renewal of the Agreement by either Party in accordance with Section 1.a., then the Executive (or his estate) shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

d.Termination by the Company for Cause. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, then the Executive shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

e.Exclusive Remedy. The foregoing payments upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits due the Executive upon termination of his employment.

 

 4 

 

 

f.Resignation from All Positions. Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the Termination Date, from all positions he then holds as an officer, director, employee and member of the boards of directors (and any committee thereof) of the Board, if applicable. The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

g.Cooperation. Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company.

 

h.Duty of Confidentiality. Executive agrees that during employment with the Company and for a period of two (2) years following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, divulge or make use of any Confidential Information of the Company other than in the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company. While employed by the Company, Executive shall make all reasonable efforts to protect and maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of the Company. In the event that Executive becomes aware of unauthorized disclosures of the Confidential Information by anyone at any time, whether intentionally or by accident, Executive shall promptly notify the Company. This Agreement does not limit the remedies available to the Company under common or statutory law as to trade secrets or other types of confidential information, which may impose longer duties of non-disclosure.

 

i.Return of Property and Information. Executive agrees not to remove any Company property from Company premises, except when authorized by the Company. Executive agrees to return all Company property and information (whether confidential or not) within Executive’s possession or control within seven (7) calendar days following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company. Such property and information includes, but is not limited to, the original and any copy (regardless of the manner in which it is recorded) of all information provided by Company to Executive or which Executive has developed or collected in the scope of Executive’s employment with the Company, as well as all Company-issued equipment, supplies, accessories, vehicles, keys, instruments, tools, devices, computers, cell phones, pagers, materials, documents, plans, records, notebooks, drawings, or papers. Upon request by the Company, Executive shall certify in writing that Executive has complied with this provision; and has permanently deleted all Company information from any computers or other electronic storage devices or media owned by Executive. Executive may only retain information relating the Executive’s benefit plans and compensation to the extent needed to prepare Executive’s tax returns.

 

 5 

 

 

j.Assignment of Work Product and Inventions. Executive hereby assigns and grants to the Company (and will upon request take any actions needed to formally assign and grant to Company and/or obtain patents, trademark registrations or copyrights belonging to Company) the sole and exclusive ownership of any and all inventions, information, reports, computer software or programs, writings, technical information or work product collected or developed by Executive, alone or with others, during the term of Executive's employment relating to the Company. This duty applies whether or not the forgoing inventions or information are made or prepared in the course of employment with the Company, so long as such inventions or information relate to the Business of Company and have been developed in whole or in part during the term of Executive's employment. Executive agrees to advise the Company in writing of each invention that Executive, alone or with others, makes or conceives during the term of Executive's employment and which relate to the Business of Company. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, Executive shall not be required to assign, nor shall Executive be deemed to have assigned, any of Executive’s rights in any invention that Executive develops entirely on his own time without using Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, or Trade Secrets, except for inventions that either: (1) relate, at the time that the invention is conceived or reduced to practice, to the Business of Company or to actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company; or (2) result from any work performed by Executive for the Company on behalf of the Company. Inventions which Executive developed before Executive came to work for the Company, if any, are described in the attached Exhibit B, and excluded from this Section. The failure of the parties to attach any Exhibit B to this agreement shall be deemed an admission by Executive that Executive does not have any pre-existing inventions.

 

k.Non-Competition. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, and within the Restricted Territory, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, perform services on behalf of a Competing Business, and which are the same as or similar to those types of services conducted, authorized, offered, or provided by Executive to the Company within 24 months prior to Executive’s termination or resignation.

 

l.Non-Recruitment of Company Employees and Contractors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit or induce any employee or independent contractor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, to terminate or lessen such employment or contract with the Company.

 

m.Non-Solicitation of Company Customers. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective customers of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of selling any products or services to such customers on behalf of a Competing Business.

 

n.Non-Solicitation of Company Vendors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective Vendor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of purchasing products or services to support a Competing Business.

 

o.Acknowledgements. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the provisions of Section 4 are reasonable as to time, scope and territory given the Company’s need to protect its Confidential Information and its relationships and goodwill with its customers, suppliers, employees and contractors, all of which have been developed at great time and expense to the Company. Executive represents that Executive has the skills and abilities to obtain alternative employment that would not violate these Restrictive Covenants in the event that Executive leaves employment with the Company, and that these Restrictive Covenants do not pose an undue hardship on Executive. Executive further acknowledges that Executive’s breach of any of the provisions of Section 4 would likely cause irreparable injury to the Company, and therefore entitle the Company to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedies available in law or equity, without the necessity of posting a bond.

 

 6 

 

 

5.Assignment and Successors.

 

The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise), and may assign or encumber this Agreement and its rights hereunder as security for indebtedness of the Company and its affiliates. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive and their respective successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees, as applicable. None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law.

 

6.Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

a.Work Eligibility; Confidentiality Agreement. As a condition of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will be required to provide evidence of Executive’s identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. It is required that Executive bring the appropriate documentation with Executive at the time of employment. As a further condition of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall enter into and abide by the Company’s standard Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement (the “Confidential Information Agreement”).

 

b.Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

 

c.Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any Party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid (or if it is sent through any other method agreed upon by the parties), as follows:

 

(i)If to the Company at:

MGO Global Ic

1515 SE 17th St

Suite 121/#460596

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33346

 

(ii)If to Executive, at the address set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

(iii)Or at any other address as any Party shall have specified by notice in writing to the other Party.

 

d.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

 7 

 

 

e.Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, is intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral. The Parties further intend that this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

 

f.Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of Company. By an instrument in writing similarly executed, Executive or a duly authorized officer of the Company, as applicable, may waive compliance by the other Party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; provided, however, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.

 

g.Arbitration. Executive and the Company agree that if any dispute, controversy or claim should arise between Executive and the Company (including claims against its employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, successors and assigns) relating or pertaining to or arising out of Executive’s employment with the Company or this Agreement, the dispute will be submitted exclusively to binding arbitration before a neutral arbitrator conducted in the state of Florida, in accordance with the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force. This means that disputes will be decided by an arbitrator rather than a court or jury, and that both Executive and the Company waive their respective rights to a court or jury trial. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive and the Company each have the right to resolve any issue or dispute over intellectual property rights by court action instead of arbitration.

 

h.Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any allowances and reimbursements) any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges which the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.

 

7.Section 409A.

 

The intent of the Parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (collectively with the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date, “Section 409A”), and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be exempt therefrom. If Executive notifies the Company that Executive has received advice of tax counsel of a national reputation with expertise in Section 409A that any provision of this Agreement would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A (with specificity as to the reason therefor) or the Company independently makes such determination, the Company and Executive shall take commercially reasonable efforts to reform such provision to try to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A, provided that any such modifications shall not increase the cost or liability to the Company. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to Executive and the Company of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 8 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.
   
  By: /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda
     
  Name: Maximiliano Ojeda, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

 

  EXECUTIVE
   
  By: /s/ Julian Groves
     
  Name: Julian Groves

 

 9 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between MGO GLOBAL INC., a Delaware company,, on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and other corporate affiliates (collectively referred to herein as the “Company”), and JULIAN GROVES (“Employee”) (the Company and Employee are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”) as of July 19, 2022 (the “Effective Date”).

 

In consideration of Employee’s employment or continuing employment with the Company (hereafter, “employment”), which Employee acknowledges to be good and valuable consideration for Employee’s obligations hereunder, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Representations and Acknowledgements. Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) among the Company’s most valuable and indispensable assets are its Confidential Information and its close relationships with its Customers (defined below) and Suppliers (defined below, which includes, without limitation, employees), which the Company has devoted and continues to devote a substantial amount of time, money and other resources to develop; (ii) in connection with Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee will be exposed to and acquire the Company’s Confidential Information and develop, at the Company’s expense and support, special and close relationships with the Company’s Customers and Suppliers; (iii) Employee would not be able to engage in the activities restricted by this Sections 3 through 5 below without using or disclosing Confidential Information and trade secrets of the Company; (iv) the Company’s Confidential Information and close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers must be protected; (v) the Company is employing or continuing to employ Employee only because of the promises and acknowledgements that Employee makes in this Agreement; (vi) to the extent required by law, the covenants in this Agreement are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint on Employee than is necessary to protect the Company’s Confidential Information, close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers, and other legitimate business interests; (vii) Employee’s compliance with such covenants will not inhibit Employee from earning a living or from working in Employee’s chosen profession; and (viii) any breach of such covenants will result in the Company being placed at an unfair competitive disadvantage and cause the Company serious and irreparable harm to its business.

 

2.Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information. In the course of Employee's employment hereunder, Employee will receive, contribute to the production of, become privy to the Company's Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined). Employee further understands and acknowledges that this Confidential Information and the Company’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate.

 

 1 

 

 

2.1.Employee agrees that during and in perpetuity after Employee’s employment by Company, Employee shall (i) hold in confidence and treat all Confidential Information as strictly confidential; (ii) not directly or indirectly disclose, publish, communicate or make available Confidential Information, or allow it to be disclosed, published, communicated or made available, in whole or part, to any entity or person whatsoever, except as required in the good faith performance of Employee’s duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent); and (iii) not to access or use any Confidential Information, and not to copy any documents, records, files, media or other resources containing any Confidential Information, or remove any such documents, records, files, media or other resources from the premises or control of the Company, except as required in the good faith performance of Employee’s duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent). Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent disclosure of Confidential Information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or pursuant to the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that the disclosure does not exceed the extent of disclosure required by such law, regulation or order. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Employee shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to an authorized officer of the Company after receiving such order, but in any event sufficiently in advance of making any disclosure to permit the Company to contest the order or seek confidentiality protections, as determined in the Company’s sole discretion. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and in perpetuity thereafter, Employee shall hold in confidence and shall not directly or indirectly reveal report, publish, copy, duplicate, disclose, transfer or otherwise misappropriate any Confidential Information to any person or entity, or utilize such Confidential Information for any purpose, except within the course of Employee’s employment with Company.

 

2.2.All notes, data, reference materials, sketches, drawings, memoranda, documentation and records in any form or media in any way incorporating or reflecting any Confidential Information of Company shall belong exclusively to Company. Upon termination of his employment for any reason, or at any time Company may request prior thereto, Employee shall immediately surrender and turn over to Company any of Company’s property whatsoever and all Confidential Information of Company, whether the same be in writing, print, copy, audio or video tape, computer program or disc, picture, or any other medium whatsoever, and whether appearing in original documents, summaries, excerpts, abstracts or other formats, and shall provide Company with all information necessary to access and use said Confidential Information. Employee shall have no right to retain any originals or copies of the foregoing for any reason whatsoever after termination of his employment hereunder without the express prior written consent of Company and, upon termination, Employee shall certify in writing that he no longer possesses and has not distributed or retained any Confidential Information of Company or any of Company’s property whatsoever.

 

2.3.Notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement, the obligation of Employee to protect the confidentiality of any Confidential Information shall terminate as to any information or materials which: (i) are, or become, public knowledge through no act or failure to act of Employee in violation of Employee’s obligations to the Company; (ii) are publicly disclosed by the proprietor thereof; (iii) are lawfully obtained without obligations of confidentiality by Employee from a third party after reasonable inquiry regarding the authority of such third party to possess and divulge the same; (iv) are independently developed by Employee from sources or through persons that Employee can demonstrate had no access to Confidential Information; or (v) are lawfully known by Employee at the time of disclosure other than by reason of discussions with or disclosures by Company. Employee’s confidentiality obligations set forth herein shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employee’s rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and further described in Section 9 below.

 

 2 

 

 

2.4.As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information or material, whether oral or written, that is proprietary to Company or designated (either expressly or by virtue of the manner in which such information or material is traditionally treated in business settings) as confidential information by Company and not generally known by non-Company personnel, which Employee may develop or which Employee may receive, obtain knowledge of or become privy to through or as a result of Employee’s relationship with Company (including information conceived, originated, discovered or developed in whole or in part by Employee). “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to, the following types of information and other information of a similar nature (whether or not reduced to writing): trade secrets, discoveries, ideas, concepts, software in various stages of development, designs, drawings, specifications, techniques, models, data, source code, object code, documentation, diagrams, flow charts, research, development, processes, procedures, “know-how”, marketing techniques and materials, marketing and development plans, names of employees and information related to them, customer names, contacts, and other information related to customers, price lists, pricing policies, and financial data, information and projections. “Confidential Information” also includes any information described above which Company obtains from another party and which Company treats as proprietary or designates as “Confidential Information,” whether or not owned or developed by Company. Information that is publicly known and that is generally employed by the trade or generic information or knowledge which Employee would have learned in the course of similar work elsewhere in the trade is not intended to and shall be deemed not to be a part of the “Confidential Information.”

 

2.5.Employee understands that the above list is not exhaustive, and that Confidential Information also includes other information that is marked or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary, or that would otherwise appear to a reasonable person to be confidential or proprietary in the context and circumstances in which the information is known or used.

 

2.6.Employee acknowledges that Employee has been notified in accordance with the federal Uniform Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S. Code § 1839) that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (a) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Employee also acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit Employee from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or regulatory body or making other disclosures that are protected under any law or regulation, or from filing a charge with or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by any governmental agency or regulatory body.

 

3.Agreement Not to Solicit Customers. Employee agrees that during his employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason whatsoever, Employee shall not, either directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, (i) solicit, initiate contact with, call upon, or otherwise enter into a relationship with any customers or actively sought prospective customers of Company with whom Employee had material contact during his employment with Company or about which Employee obtained Confidential Information (collectively, “Customers”), for the purpose of soliciting, selling, diverting to or otherwise providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company (collectively, “Competitive Activities”), including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of premium fashion brands, unless agreed to in writing by both parties; or (ii) solicit, induce, or cause any Customer to terminate, reduce or refrain from renewing or extending its contractual or other business relationship with the Company.

 

 3 

 

 

3.1.Material Contact. For purposes of this Agreement, “material contact” exists between Employee and each Customer with whom Employee personally interacts on behalf of Company, whether such interaction is conducted in person, in writing, by telephone or by other form of communication.

 

4.Agreement Not to Solicit Employees and Independent Contractors. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actively encourage or induce the voluntary termination of, or recruit or hire, or attempt to recruit or hire, any person(s) then employed by or associated with Company as an employee or, on an exclusive basis, an independent contractor, consultant or other supplier of goods or services to the Company (collectively, “Suppliers”), whether or not such recruit or hire is a full-time, part-time or temporary employee, independent contractor or consultant, and whether or not such employment or other engagement is for a determined period or is at-will, for the purpose of employment, consultancy, or serving as an independent contractor for, directly or indirectly, any business entity which engages in the business of design, manufacture and sale of premium fashion products.

 

5.Agreement Not to Compete. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, engage in the business of providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company, including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of premium fashion products, within the Territory (as defined below). As used herein, “Territory” means any state in the United States or any foreign country in which the Company is doing business or in which it is contemplating to do business pursuant to a then current business plan.

 

6.Proprietary Rights.

 

6.1.Work Product. Employee agrees that all inventions, ideas, writings, works of authorship, technology, discoveries, copyrightable or patentable subject matter, and other work product of any nature whatsoever that, in whole or in part, that are made, conceived, created, prepared, produced, authored, edited or amended (i) through the use of any of the Company’s Confidential Information or any of the Company’s equipment or facilities or (ii) by Employee, individually or jointly with others, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company and relating in any way to the business or contemplated business, research or development of the Company (regardless of when or where the Work Product is prepared or whose equipment or other resources is used in preparing the same) and all printed, physical and electronic copies, all improvements, rights and claims related to the foregoing, and other tangible embodiments thereof (collectively, “Work Product”), as well as any and all rights in and to copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks (and related goodwill), mask works, patents and other intellectual property rights therein arising in any jurisdiction throughout the world and all related rights of priority under international conventions with respect thereto, including all pending and future applications and registrations therefor, and continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, reissues, extensions and renewals thereof (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”), shall belong exclusively to Company and shall be considered part of Confidential Information (as the case may be) for purposes of this Agreement.

 

 4 

 

 

For purposes of this Agreement, Work Product includes, but is not limited to, Company information, including plans, publications, research, strategies, techniques, agreements, documents, negotiations, knowhow, computer programs, computer applications, software design, web design, work in process, databases, manuals, developments, reports, graphics, drawings, sketches, market studies, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, product designs, styles, models, inventions, unpublished patent applications, original works of authorship, discoveries, experimental processes, specifications, customer information, customer lists, manufacturing information, marketing and advertising information, and sales information.

 

6.2.Company, its designees, and its assigns shall have the right to use and/or to apply for patents, copyrights or other statutory or common law protections for such Work Product in any and all countries. Employee shall provide reasonable assistance to Company (at Company’s expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law Intellectual Property Rights for such Work Product in any and all countries. To that end, Employee shall execute, during and after his employment with Company, all documents reasonably related to the application, procurement, and enforcement of patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law protections, as the Company or its counsel may request, together with any assignments thereof to Company or its designee.

 

6.3.Work Made for Hire; Assignment. Employee acknowledges that, by reason of being engaged by the Company at the relevant times, to the extent permitted by law, all of the Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is “work made for hire” as defined in the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 101), and such copyrights are therefore owned by the Company. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company, for no additional consideration, Employee’s entire right, title and interest in and to all Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights therein, including the right to sue, counterclaim and recover for all past, present and future infringement, misappropriation or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit the Company’s rights, title or interest in any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than that the Company would have had in the absence of this Agreement.

 

6.4.Further Assurances; Power of Attorney. During and after Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company to (i) apply for, obtain, perfect and transfer to the Company the Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights in the Work Product in any jurisdiction in the world; and (ii) maintain, protect and enforce the same, including, without limitation, executing and delivering to the Company any and all applications, oaths, declarations, affidavits, waivers, assignments and other documents and instruments as shall be requested by the Company. Employee hereby irrevocably grants the Company power of attorney to execute and deliver any such documents on Employee’s behalf in Employee’s name and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to transfer the Work Product to the Company and further the transfer, issuance, prosecution and maintenance of all Intellectual Property Rights therein, to the full extent permitted by law, if Employee does not promptly cooperate with the Company’s request (without limiting the rights the Company shall have in such circumstances by operation of law). The power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall not be affected by Employee’s subsequent incapacity.

 

 5 

 

 

6.5.Moral Rights. To the extent any copyrights are assigned under this Agreement, Employee hereby irrevocably waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any and all claims Employee may now or hereafter have in any jurisdiction to all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal and any other rights that may be known as “moral rights” with respect to all Work Product and all Intellectual Property Rights therein.

 

6.6.No License. Employee understands that this Agreement does not, and shall not be construed to, grant Employee any license or right of any nature with respect to any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights or any Confidential Information, materials, software or other tools made available to Employee by the Company.

 

6.7.No infringement. Employee represents and warrants to the Company that all Work Product Employee delivers to the Company shall be original and shall not infringe upon or violate any patent, copyright or proprietary right of any person or third party.

 

6.8.License to Prior Invention. If Employee in the course of Employee’s employment for the Company incorporates into a Company product Work Product that Employee has, alone or jointly with others, conceived, developed or reduced to practice prior to the commencement of Employee’s employment with the Company in which Employee has a property right (each, a “Prior Invention”), Employee hereby grants to the Company a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty free, irrevocable, worldwide license (with the full right to sublicense) to make, have made, modify, use and sell such Prior Invention. Employee hereby represents and warrants that all Prior Inventions have been listed by Employee on Exhibit B hereto or, if no such list is attached, that there are no Prior Inventions. Employee will not incorporate any Work Product owned by any third party into any Company Work Product without the Company’s prior written permission.

 

6.9.License to Information and Likeness. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligations, to use Employee’s name, photograph, likeness and approved biographical data for the purpose of advertising, marketing, promoting, publicizing and exploiting any matter related to the Company, its products and services and/or Employee’s duties performed hereunder.

 

6.10.Severability. To the extent this Agreement is required to be construed in accordance with laws of any state which precludes as a requirement in an employee agreement the assignment of certain classes of inventions made by an employee, this Section 6 will be interpreted not to apply to any invention which a court rules and/or the Company agrees falls within such classes.

 

7.Conflicts of Interest. During the term of his employment, Employee shall not engage in activities or practices involving any possible conflict of interest. These activities or practices may subject Employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Employee should avoid at all times the appearance of, as well as an actual, conflict of interest.

 

 6 

 

 

7.1.Conflicts of interest activities or practices include, but are not limited to: engaging in business conduct that is damaging to the reputation of the Company, accepting outside employment in any organization that does business with the Company or is a competitor of the Company, investing or having a financial interest in a private company which does business with the Company or having stock ownership in a publicly traded company which does business with the Company if the relationship(s) may influence Employee’s business decisions (this applies to Employee and to close relatives and is applicable at the time of hire and at any time during the course of employment). If an individual does own stock in a company that does business with the Company, the relationship should be disclosed upon employment and all significant business dealings with that company will be reviewed.

 

7.2.Employee may not accept gifts from any person or company doing or seeking to do business with the Company. Employees are allowed to accept advertising novelties and other gifts of nominal value.

 

7.3.Employee may not give, offer, or promise, directly or indirectly, anything of value to any representative of any company doing business with the Company.

 

7.4.Employee may not select vendors on the basis of anything other than the merit of their products or services or prices for such products or services.

 

7.5.Discussing company information with the press without prior authorization from management is also a conflict of interest.

 

8.Security and Access. Employee agrees and covenants (i) to comply with all Company security policies and procedures as in force from time to time including without limitation those regarding computer equipment, telephone systems, voicemail systems, facilities access, monitoring, key cards, access codes, Company intranet, internet, social media and instant messaging systems, computer systems, e-mail systems, computer networks, document storage systems, software, data security, encryption, firewalls, passwords and any and all other Company facilities, IT resources and communication technologies (“Facilities and Information Technology Resources”); (ii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources except as authorized by Company; and (iii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources in any manner after the termination of Employee’s employment by the Company, whether termination is voluntary or involuntary. Employee agrees to notify the Company promptly in the event Employee learns of any violation of the foregoing by others, or of any other misappropriation or unauthorized access, use, reproduction or reverse engineering of, or tampering with any Facilities and Information Technology Resources or other Company property or materials by others. Employee acknowledges and agrees that any property situated on the Company’s premises and owned by the Company, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets, other work areas and other Facilities and Information Technology Resources, is subject to inspection by personnel of the Company at any time with or without notice. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has no expectation of privacy with respect to the Company’s Facilities and Information Technology Resources and that Employee’s activity and any files or messages on or using any of such Facilities and Information Technology Resources may be monitored at any time without notice.

 

 7 

 

 

8.1.Exit Obligations. Upon (i) voluntary or involuntary termination of Employee’s employment or (ii) the Company’s request at any time during Employee’s employment, Employee shall (a) provide or return to the Company any and all Company property, including keys, key cards, access cards, identification cards, security devices, Company credit cards, network access devices, computers, cell phones, smartphones, equipment, manuals, reports, files, books, compilations, work product, e-mail messages, recordings, tapes, disks, thumb drives or other removable information storage devices, hard drives and data and all Company documents and materials belonging to the Company and stored in any fashion, including but not limited to those that constitute or contain any Confidential Information or Work Product, that are in the possession or control of Employee, whether they were provided to Employee by the Company or any of its business associates or created by Employee in connection with Employee’s employment by the Company; and (b) delete or destroy all copies of any such documents and materials following return to the Company that remain in Employee’s possession or control, including those stored on any non-Company devices, networks, storage locations and media in Employee’s possession or control.

 

9.Non-disparagement. Employee agrees and covenants that Employee will not at any time make, publish or communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, statements or gestures concerning the Company’s products or services, and existing and prospective customers, suppliers, investors and other associated third parties, or make any maliciously false statements about the Company’s employees and officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 8 shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employee’s rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and described in Section 9 below. Further, this Section does not apply to (i) truthful statements made in connection with legal proceedings, governmental and regulatory investigations and actions; (ii) any other truthful statement or disclosure required by law; or (iii) good faith intra-Company communications made for legitimate business reasons.

 

10.NLRA Compliance. It is the policy of the Company to comply with the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), including without limitation, Section 7 thereof. Thus, to the extent Employee is covered by the NLRA, nothing herein, or in any other the agreement between Employee and the Company or Company policy, shall prohibit Employee together with other Company employees from (i) self-organizing, forming joining or assisting labor organizations; (ii) bargaining collectively through representatives of their own choosing; (iii) discussing wages, hours, working conditions, other labor policies or unionism or for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection; or (iv) posting pictures or videos of employees engaged in such activities or other activities involving collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. However, the Company has an “open door” policy and encourages employees to address such matters instead with their supervisors or a member of management.

 

11.Remedies. Employee acknowledges that the Company’s Confidential Information and the Company’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee, or any other material breach of Employees promises and covenants herein, will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement, Employee hereby consents and agrees that the Company shall be entitled to, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that monetary damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief. Additionally, each of the covenants and restrictions to which Employee is subject under this Agreement, including, without limitation those in Sections 2 through 4 above, shall each be construed as independent of any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement between Employee and the Company, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants and restrictions.

 

 8 

 

 

12.Successors and Assigns.

 

12.1.Assignment by the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement to any subsidiary or corporate affiliate, or to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and permitted successors and assigns.

 

12.2.No Assignment by Employee. Employee may not assign this Agreement or any part hereof. Any purported assignment by Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of purported assignment.

 

13.Governing Law; Jurisdiction and Venue; Jury Waiver. This Agreement, for all purposes, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts-of-law principles. Any action or proceeding by either Party against the other Party, including, without limitation, to enforce this Agreement or otherwise relating to or arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company (or the termination thereof), shall be brought only in any state or federal court located in or closest to Broward County, Florida. The Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue. Employee and the Company each hereby waive the right to trial by jury in any such court action or proceeding between them, regardless of the subject matter, including, without limitation, any action or proceeding based upon, arising out of, or in any way relating to this Agreement and all matters concerning Employee’s employment (or the termination thereof) with the Company.

 

14.Entire Agreement. Unless specifically provided herein, this Agreement contains all the understandings and representations between Employee and the Company pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

 

15.Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by Employee and by a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than Employee). No waiver by either of the Parties of any breach by the other Party hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other Party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time, nor shall the failure of or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver thereof to preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

 

 9 

 

 

16.Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the Parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. The Parties further agree that any such court is expressly authorized to modify any such unenforceable provision of this Agreement in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision from this Agreement in its entirety, whether by rewriting the offending provision, deleting any or all of the offending provision, adding additional language to this Agreement or by making such other modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the Parties as embodied herein to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Parties expressly agree that this Agreement as so modified by the court shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of them. In any event, should one or more of the provisions of this Agreement be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and if such provision or provisions are not modified as provided above, this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had not been set forth herein.

 

17.Captions. Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph.

 

18.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Photographic copies, electronically scanned copies and other facsimiles of this Agreement (including such signed counterparts) may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.

 

19.At-Will Employment; No Oral Agreements. The Company and Employee acknowledge and agree that this Agreement does not affect the ability of either party to terminate their employment relationship, which relationship, unless otherwise agreed to in writing signed by an officer of the Company, may be terminated at any time, for any or no reason. No supervisor, manager or other Company representative has the authority to make any verbal promises, commitments, or statements of any kind regarding the Company’s policies, procedures or any other issues that are legally binding on the Company.

 

EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND AGREES THAT THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE REASONABLE AND PROPER PROTECTION OF THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS. EMPLOYEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE COMPANY HAS ADVISED HIM THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO HAVE THIS AGREEMENT REVIEWED BY AN ATTORNEY OF HIS SELECTION PRIOR TO SIGNING, AND HE HAS EITHER DONE SO OR ELECTED TO FOREGO THAT RIGHT.

 

 10 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date above.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.  
       
  Signature: /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda  
  By: Name: Maximiliano Ojeda  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board  
       
  EMPLOYEE:  
       
  Signature: /s/ Julian Groves  
  Julian Groves  

 

 11 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP

 

Title Date Identifying Number or Brief Description

 

####

 

 1 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF RELEASE

GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS

 

1.Julian Groves, (“Executive”), for himself and his family, heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and their respective successors and assigns, in exchange for the Severance Benefits, as defined under the Executive Employment Agreement made and entered effective as of the 19th day of July, 2022, by and between MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) and the Executive to which this release is attached as Exhibit C to the Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), does hereby release and forever discharge the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliated companies, successors and assigns, and its current or former directors, officers or shareholders in such capacities (collectively with the Company, the “Released Parties”) from any and all actions, causes of action, suits, controversies, claims and demands whatsoever, for or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever, whether known or unknown including, but not limited to, all claims under any applicable laws arising under or in connection with Executive’s employment or termination thereof, whether for tort, breach of express or implied employment contract, wrongful discharge, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or defamation or injuries incurred on the job or incurred as a result of loss of employment. Executive acknowledges that the Company encouraged him to consult with an attorney of his choosing, and through this General Release of Claims encourages him to consult with his attorney with respect to possible claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) and that he understands that the ADEA is a Federal statute that, among other things, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in employment and employee benefits and benefit plans. Without limiting the generality of the release provided above, Executive expressly waives any and all claims under ADEA that he may have as of the date hereof. Executive further understands that by signing this General Release of Claims he is in fact waiving, releasing and forever giving up any claim under the ADEA as well as all other laws within the scope of this paragraph 1 that may have existed on or prior to the date hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph 1 to the contrary, this General Release of Claims shall not apply to (i) any rights to receive any payments or benefits to which Executive is entitled under COBRA, the Employment agreement or any other compensation or employee benefit plans in which Executive is eligible to participate at the time of execution of this General Release of Claims, (ii) any rights or claims that may arise as a result of events occurring after the date this General Release of Claims is executed, any indemnification and advancement rights Executive may have as a former employee, officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies including, without limitation, any rights arising pursuant to the articles of incorporation, bylaws and any other organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any claims for benefits under any directors’ and officers’ liability policy maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies in accordance with the terms of such policy, and (iv) any rights as a holder of equity securities of the Company (clauses (i) through (iv), the "Reserved Claims").

 

2.Executive represents that he has not filed against the Released Parties any complaints, charges, or lawsuits arising out of his employment, or any other matter arising on or prior to the date of this General Release of Claims other than Reserved Claims, and covenants and agrees that he will never individually or with any person file, or commence the filing of any lawsuits, complaints or proceedings with any governmental agency, or against the Released Parties with respect to any of the matters released by Executive pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof (a “Proceeding”); provided, however, Executive shall not have relinquished his right to (i) commence a Proceeding to challenge whether Executive knowingly and voluntarily waived his rights under ADEA; (ii) file a charge with an administrative agency or take part in any agency investigation or (iii) commence a Proceeding pursuant to the Reserved Claims. Executive does agree, however, that he is waiving his right to recover any money in connection with such an investigation or charge filed by him or by any other individual, or a charge filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other federal, state or local agency, except as prohibited by law.

 

 1 

 

 

3.Executive hereby acknowledges that the Company has informed him that he has up to twenty-one (21) days to sign this General Release of Claims and he may knowingly and voluntarily waive that twenty-one (21) day period by signing this General Release of Claims earlier. Executive also understands that he shall have seven (7) days following the date on which he signs this General Release of Claims within which to revoke it by providing a written notice of his revocation to the Company.

 

4.Executive acknowledges that this General Release of Claims will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the laws of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law principles.

 

5.Executive acknowledges that he has read this General Release of Claims, that he has been advised that he should consult with an attorney before he executes this general release of claims, and that he understands all of its terms and executes it voluntarily and with full knowledge of its significance and the consequences thereof.

 

This General Release of Claims shall take effect on the eighth day following Executive’s execution of this General Release of Claims unless Executive’s written revocation is delivered to the Company within seven (7) days after such execution.

 

  EXECUTIVE  
     
   
  Julian Groves  

 

####

 

 2 

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

ADDRESS OF EXECUTIVE

 

Julian Groves

MGO Global Inc.

1515 SE 17th St

Suite 121/#460596

Fort Lauderdale,
FL 33346

 

 3 

 

 

 Exhibit 10.10

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into by and between MGO GLOBAL INC. (the “Company”) and MATT HARWARD (the “Executive”). The Company and the Executive may hereinafter be referred to jointly as the “Parties.”

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company entered into an employment agreement, dated October 13, 2022 (the “Original Effective Date”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend and restate the employment agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment shall continue under this agreement on October 24, 2022 (the “Effective Date”);

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has approved the Company entering into an employment agreement with the Executive;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is now the Chief Marketing Officer of the Company and thus a key senior executive of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Company would like enter into a formal agreement with the Executive to set forth the terms of Executive’s employment and to provide for certain severance payments and other benefits in the event Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the Executive for “Good Reason” (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, Executive wishes to be employed by the Company and provide full-time services to the Company in return for the compensation and benefits detailed herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, including the agreements set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.Employment.

 

a.Term. Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”); provided however that the period of the Executive’s employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one-year periods thereafter (each, a “Renewal Term”), in each case unless either Party hereto provides the other Party hereto with written notice that such period shall not be so extended at least one hundred and twenty (120) days in advance of the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Term, as applicable (the Initial Term and any Renewal Term, collectively, the “Term”). The Executive’s period of employment pursuant to this Agreement shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Employment Period.”

 

 1 

 

 

b.Position and Duties. Executive (i) shall serve as the Chief Marketing Officer of the Company with responsibilities, duties and authority customary for such position, subject to direction by the Chief Executive Officer; (ii) shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer; (iii) shall devote substantially all Executive’s working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries; and (iv) agrees to observe and comply with the Company’s rules and policies as adopted by the Company from time to time.

 

c.Place of Employment. Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement on a remote basis with his primary operations based in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, the Company may from time to time require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations on the Company’s business to include the Company’s corporate offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

 

2.Compensation and Related Matters.

 

a.Annual Base Salary. Executive shall receive a base salary at the rate of $250,000 per annum (the “Annual Base Salary”), subject to withholdings and deductions and which shall be paid to Executive in accordance with the customary payroll practices and procedures of the Company. Such Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Board’s Compensation Committee not less than annually and may be adjusted from time to time.

 

b.Bi-Annual Bonus. Commencing in the calendar year 2022 and each calendar year thereafter during Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will be eligible to receive a discretionary bi-annual performance bonus, with a target achievement of up to 100% of Annual Base Salary (the “Bi-Annual Bonus”). The amount of the Bi-Annual Bonus that shall be payable shall be based on the achievement of predetermined performance goals to be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. The amount of any Bi-Annual Bonus for which Executive is eligible shall be reviewed by the Board from time to time, provided that that target achievement for the Bi-Annual Bonus shall not be less than up to 100% of the Annual Base Salary. Any Bi-Annual Bonus earned by Executive pursuant to this section shall be paid to Executive in accordance with Company policies, less authorized deductions and required withholding obligations, and is payable as follows: the first Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the second quarter ended June 30; and the second Bi-Annual Bonus shall be paid within 75 days following the end of the calendar year, ended December 31.

 

c.Benefits. Executive shall participate in such full-time employee and executive benefit plans and programs as the Company may from time to time offer to senior executives of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, including, without limitation, an executive family medical package.

 

d.Life Insurance. The Company shall directly pay or reimburse Executive for the premiums of a term life insurance policy, up to a maximum of $10,000 annually. If Executive’s employment terminates for any or no reason, the Company shall have no obligation to continue to bear the costs of the life insurance policy for Executive, but Executive may choose to assume responsibility for payments required to continue the policy.

 

e.Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to 30-days of paid time-off for vacation, as well as sick leave, holidays and other paid time-off benefits provided by the Company from time to time which are applicable to the Company’s executive officers in accordance with Company policy. The opportunity to take paid time off is contingent upon Executive’s workload and ability to manage his schedule.

 

 2 

 

 

f.Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect from time to time.

 

3.Equity Awards.

 

a.Stock Option. Upon the Company becoming publicly traded on a national exchange, and further subject to approval by the Board, on the date determined in accordance with the Company’s established policy, Executive shall be granted a five-year option (the “Option”) to purchase a total of 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock as follows:100,000 shares on the one-year anniversary of the date the Company commences trading on a national exchange; and 25,000 shares on the last day of each quarter, or March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, in each calendar year. The per share exercise price of the Option shall be equal to initial public offering price of the Company’s common stock. The Option shall vest and become exercisable subject to the terms set forth in the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan expected to be approved by the Board and effectuated prior to the Company going public by way of Initial Public Offering of its common stock on a national exchange. The Option shall otherwise be subject to the terms of the plan pursuant to which it is granted and/or an option agreement to be entered into between Executive and the Company.

 

b.Additional Equity Awards. Executive shall be eligible to be granted additional equity awards in accordance with the Company’s policies as in effect from time to time, as recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

 

4.Termination.

 

a.Termination of Employment. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, and the Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder for any reason during the Term, in each case (other than a termination by the Company for Cause) at any time upon not less than 90-days notice to the other Party (the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason is herein referred to as the “Termination Date”). Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall be entitled to (a) payment of any Base Salary earned but unpaid through the date of termination; (b) unused paid time off (consistent with Section 2.f. hereof) paid out at the per-business-day Base Salary rate; (c) additional vested benefits (if any) in accordance with the applicable terms of applicable Company arrangements; and (d) any unreimbursed expenses in accordance with Section 2.g. hereof (collectively, the “Accrued Amounts”). The Accrued Amounts described in Section 4.a. shall by paid to the Executive within 30 days following the Termination Date (or, if later, following the Executive’s presentation of supporting documentation for unreimbursed expenses in accordance with 2.g.).

 

 3 

 

 

b.Termination by the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability; Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated (a) by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or (b) by the Executive for Good Reason, in addition to the Accrued Amounts, (i) the Executive shall be entitled to continuation of the Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date for 12 months following the Termination Date paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, but no less frequently than monthly (the “Base Salary Continuation”); and (ii) if the Executive elects to continue group health coverage under any Company group health plan pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall reimburse the Executive for a portion of his COBRA premiums, such that his unreimbursed cost of COBRA premiums does not exceed the cost to the Executive of such health plan premiums immediately prior to termination, for a period of up to one year after his termination (or until he is no longer eligible for COBRA continuation, if sooner). Notwithstanding clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, such reimbursements for COBRA premiums shall not be made to the extent such payments would result in any additional tax or penalty to the Company under the Affordable Care Act or any other applicable law. In the event the group health coverage is self-insured, the Company shall include in the Executive’s gross income, the imputed value of the employer-subsidized COBRA premiums. The Executive shall be responsible for the full amount of COBRA premiums for any periods exceeding the time set forth above. In addition, in the event of a termination covered by this Section 4.b., the Executive shall be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one hundred percent (100%) of his annual Base Salary (“Bonus Severance”).The Company’s obligations to pay the Base Salary Continuation, the Bonus Severance and COBRA premiums described above shall be conditioned upon the Executive’s continued compliance with his obligations under Section 4 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, and without limitation of any remedies to which the Company may be entitled, the Base Salary Continuation shall be paid in equal installments commencing during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date, the Bonus Severance shall be paid during the sixty (60) day period following the Termination Date and the reimbursement of COBRA premiums shall be made after substantiation of such expenses; provided, that, the Executive has signed and delivered to the Company the release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A and C (the “Release”) and the period (if any) during which the Release can be revoked has expired within such sixty (60) day period; provided, further, that, if such sixty (60) day period begins in one calendar year and ends in another calendar year, to the extent required under Section 409A (as defined below), payment of the Base Salary Continuation installments, Bonus Severance and reimbursement of the COBRA premiums that otherwise would have been paid during that sixty (60) day period shall be accumulated and paid in the second calendar year after expiration of the period for revoking the Release (but within the specified sixty (60) day period).

 

c.Voluntary Resignation by the Executive other than for Good Reason; Termination due to Death or Disability; Termination Due to, Upon or Following Non-Renewal of the Agreement. If (a) the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment at any time, other than for Good Reason, (b) if the Executive’s employment is terminated due to the Executive’s death or Disability or (c) if the Executive’s employment terminates due to, upon or following non-renewal of the Agreement by either Party in accordance with Section 1.a., then the Executive (or his estate) shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

d.Termination by the Company for Cause. If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause, then the Executive shall be entitled to no payment or compensation whatsoever from the Company under this Agreement, other than the Accrued Amounts.

 

e.Exclusive Remedy. The foregoing payments upon termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute the exclusive severance payments and benefits due the Executive upon termination of his employment.

 

f.Resignation from All Positions. Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall resign, as of the Termination Date, from all positions he then holds as an officer and employee. The Executive shall be required to execute such writings as are required to effectuate the foregoing.

 

 4 

 

 

g.Cooperation. Following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company upon reasonable request of the Board and be reasonably available to the Company (taking into account any other full-time employment of the Executive) with respect to matters arising out of the Executive’s services to the Company.

 

h.Duty of Confidentiality. Executive agrees that during employment with the Company and for a period of two (2) years following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, divulge or make use of any Confidential Information of the Company other than in the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company. While employed by the Company, Executive shall make all reasonable efforts to protect and maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of the Company. In the event that Executive becomes aware of unauthorized disclosures of the Confidential Information by anyone at any time, whether intentionally or by accident, Executive shall promptly notify the Company. This Agreement does not limit the remedies available to the Company under common or statutory law as to trade secrets or other types of confidential information, which may impose longer duties of non-disclosure.

 

i.Return of Property and Information. Executive agrees not to remove any Company property from Company premises, except when authorized by the Company. Executive agrees to return all Company property and information (whether confidential or not) within Executive’s possession or control within seven (7) calendar days following the termination or resignation of Executive from employment with the Company. Such property and information includes, but is not limited to, the original and any copy (regardless of the manner in which it is recorded) of all information provided by Company to Executive or which Executive has developed or collected in the scope of Executive’s employment with the Company, as well as all Company-issued equipment, supplies, accessories, vehicles, keys, instruments, tools, devices, computers, cell phones, pagers, materials, documents, plans, records, notebooks, drawings, or papers. Upon request by the Company, Executive shall certify in writing that Executive has complied with this provision; and has permanently deleted all Company information from any computers or other electronic storage devices or media owned by Executive. Executive may only retain information relating the Executive’s benefit plans and compensation to the extent needed to prepare Executive’s tax returns.

 

j.Assignment of Work Product and Inventions. Executive hereby assigns and grants to the Company (and will upon request take any actions needed to formally assign and grant to Company and/or obtain patents, trademark registrations or copyrights belonging to Company) the sole and exclusive ownership of any and all inventions, information, reports, computer software or programs, writings, technical information or work product collected or developed by Executive, alone or with others, during the term of Executive's employment relating to the Company. This duty applies whether or not the forgoing inventions or information are made or prepared in the course of employment with the Company, so long as such inventions or information relate to the Business of Company and have been developed in whole or in part during the term of Executive's employment. Executive agrees to advise the Company in writing of each invention that Executive, alone or with others, makes or conceives during the term of Executive's employment and which relate to the Business of Company. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, Executive shall not be required to assign, nor shall Executive be deemed to have assigned, any of Executive’s rights in any invention that Executive develops entirely on his own time without using Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, or Trade Secrets, except for inventions that result from any work performed by Executive for the Company on behalf of the Company. Inventions which Executive developed before Executive came to work for the Company, or are in active development at the time Executive came to work for the Company, if any, are described in the attached Exhibit B, and excluded from this Section. The failure of the parties to attach any Exhibit B to this agreement shall be deemed an admission by Executive that Executive does not have any pre-existing inventions.

 

 5 

 

 

k.Non-Competition. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, and within the Restricted Territory, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, perform services on behalf of a Competing Business, and which are the same as or similar to those types of services conducted, authorized, offered, or provided by Executive to the Company within 24 months prior to Executive’s termination or resignation.

 

l.Non-Recruitment of Company Employees and Contractors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit or induce any employee or independent contractor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, to terminate or lessen such employment or contract with the Company.

 

m.Non-Solicitation of Company Customers. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective customers of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of selling any products or services to such customers on behalf of a Competing Business.

 

n.Non-Solicitation of Company Vendors. Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, solicit any actual or prospective Vendor of the Company with whom Executive had Material Contact, for the purpose of purchasing products or services to support a Competing Business.

 

o.Acknowledgements. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the provisions of Section 4 are reasonable as to time, scope and territory given the Company’s need to protect its Confidential Information and its relationships and goodwill with its customers, suppliers, employees and contractors, all of which have been developed at great time and expense to the Company. Executive represents that Executive has the skills and abilities to obtain alternative employment that would not violate these Restrictive Covenants in the event that Executive leaves employment with the Company, and that these Restrictive Covenants do not pose an undue hardship on Executive. Executive further acknowledges that Executive’s breach of any of the provisions of Section 4 would likely cause irreparable injury to the Company, and therefore entitle the Company to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedies available in law or equity, without the necessity of posting a bond.

 

5.Assignment and Successors.

 

The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise), and may assign or encumber this Agreement and its rights hereunder as security for indebtedness of the Company and its affiliates. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive and their respective successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees, as applicable. None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will or operation of law.

 

 6 

 

 

6.Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

a.Work Eligibility; Confidentiality Agreement. As a condition of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will be required to provide evidence of Executive’s identity and eligibility for employment in the United States. It is required that Executive bring the appropriate documentation with Executive at the time of employment. As a further condition of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall enter into and abide by the Company’s standard Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement (the “Confidential Information Agreement”).

 

b.Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

 

c.Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any Party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid (or if it is sent through any other method agreed upon by the parties), as follows:

 

(i)If to the Company at:

MGO Global Inc.

1515 SE 17th Street, Suite 121/#460596

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33345

 

(ii)If to Executive, at the address set forth on Exhibit D.

 

(iii)Or at any other address as any Party shall have specified by notice in writing to the other Party.

 

d.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

 

e.Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement, collectively with the Confidential Information Agreement, is intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral. The Parties further intend that this Agreement, collectively with the Change in Control and Severance Agreement and the Confidential Information Agreement, shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

 

 7 

 

 

f.Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of Company. By an instrument in writing similarly executed, Executive or a duly authorized officer of the Company, as applicable, may waive compliance by the other Party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; provided, however, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.

 

g.Arbitration. Executive and the Company agree that if any dispute, controversy or claim should arise between Executive and the Company (including claims against its employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, successors and assigns) relating or pertaining to or arising out of Executive’s employment with the Company or this Agreement, the dispute will be submitted exclusively to binding arbitration before a neutral arbitrator conducted in the state of Florida, in accordance with the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force. This means that disputes will be decided by an arbitrator rather than a court or jury, and that both Executive and the Company waive their respective rights to a court or jury trial. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either Executive or the Company from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive and the Company each have the right to resolve any issue or dispute over intellectual property rights by court action instead of arbitration.

 

h.Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement (including, without limitation, any allowances and reimbursements) any federal, state, local or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges which the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.

 

7.Section 409A.

 

The intent of the Parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (collectively with the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date, “Section 409A”), and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be exempt therefrom. If Executive notifies the Company that Executive has received advice of tax counsel of a national reputation with expertise in Section 409A that any provision of this Agreement would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A (with specificity as to the reason therefor) or the Company independently makes such determination, the Company and Executive shall take commercially reasonable efforts to reform such provision to try to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A through good faith modifications to the minimum extent reasonably appropriate to conform with Section 409A, provided that any such modifications shall not increase the cost or liability to the Company. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to Executive and the Company of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 8 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.  
       
  By: /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda  
       
  Name: Maximiliano Ojeda, Chief Executive Officer and  
Chairman of the Board
       
  EXECUTIVE  
       
  By: /s/ Matt Harward  
       
  Name: Matt Harward  

 

 9 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EMPLOYEE CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Confidentiality and Proprietary Rights Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between MGO GLOBAL INC., a Delaware company, on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries and other corporate affiliates (collectively referred to herein as the “Company”), and MATT HARWARD (“Employee”) (the Company and Employee are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”) as of October 24, 2022 (the “Effective Date”).

 

In consideration of Employee’s employment or continuing employment with the Company (hereafter, “employment”), which Employee acknowledges to be good and valuable consideration for Employee’s obligations hereunder, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

 

Representations and Acknowledgements. Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) among the Company’s most valuable and indispensable assets are its Confidential Information and its close relationships with its Customers (defined below) and Suppliers (defined below, which includes, without limitation, employees), which the Company has devoted and continues to devote a substantial amount of time, money and other resources to develop; (ii) in connection with Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee will be exposed to and acquire the Company’s Confidential Information and develop, at the Company’s expense and support, special and close relationships with the Company’s Customers and Suppliers; (iii) Employee would not be able to engage in the activities restricted by this Sections 3 through 5 below without using or disclosing Confidential Information and trade secrets of the Company; (iv) the Company’s Confidential Information and close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers must be protected; (v) the Company is employing or continuing to employ Employee only because of the promises and acknowledgements that Employee makes in this Agreement; (vi) to the extent required by law, the covenants in this Agreement are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint on Employee than is necessary to protect the Company’s Confidential Information, close relationships with its Customers and Suppliers, and other legitimate business interests; (vii) Employee’s compliance with such covenants will not inhibit Employee from earning a living or from working in Employee’s chosen profession; and (viii) any breach of such covenants will result in the Company being placed at an unfair competitive disadvantage and cause the Company serious and irreparable harm to its business.

 

Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information. In the course of Employee's employment hereunder, Employee will receive, contribute to the production of, become privy to the Company's Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined). Employee further understands and acknowledges that this Confidential Information and the Company’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate.

 

 1 

 

 

Employee agrees that during and in perpetuity after Employee’s employment by Company, Employee shall (i) hold in confidence and treat all Confidential Information as strictly confidential; (ii) not directly or indirectly disclose, publish, communicate or make available Confidential Information, or allow it to be disclosed, published, communicated or made available, in whole or part, to any entity or person whatsoever, except as required in the good faith performance of Employee’s duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent); and (iii) not to access or use any Confidential Information, and not to copy any documents, records, files, media or other resources containing any Confidential Information, or remove any such documents, records, files, media or other resources from the premises or control of the Company, except as required in the good faith performance of Employee’s duties to the Company or with the prior consent of an authorized officer acting on behalf of the Company in each instance (and then, such disclosure shall be made only within the limits and to the extent of such duties or consent). Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent disclosure of Confidential Information as may be required by applicable law or regulation, or pursuant to the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency, provided that the disclosure does not exceed the extent of disclosure required by such law, regulation or order. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Employee shall promptly provide written notice of any such order to an authorized officer of the Company after receiving such order, but in any event sufficiently in advance of making any disclosure to permit the Company to contest the order or seek confidentiality protections, as determined in the Company’s sole discretion. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and in perpetuity thereafter, Employee shall hold in confidence and shall not directly or indirectly reveal report, publish, copy, duplicate, disclose, transfer or otherwise misappropriate any Confidential Information to any person or entity, or utilize such Confidential Information for any purpose, except within the course of Employee’s employment with Company.

 

All notes, data, reference materials, sketches, drawings, memoranda, documentation and records in any form or media in any way incorporating or reflecting any Confidential Information of Company shall belong exclusively to Company. Upon termination of his employment for any reason, or at any time Company may request prior thereto, Employee shall immediately surrender and turn over to Company any of Company’s property whatsoever and all Confidential Information of Company, whether the same be in writing, print, copy, audio or video tape, computer program or disc, picture, or any other medium whatsoever, and whether appearing in original documents, summaries, excerpts, abstracts or other formats, and shall provide Company with all information necessary to access and use said Confidential Information. Employee shall have no right to retain any originals or copies of the foregoing for any reason whatsoever after termination of his employment hereunder without the express prior written consent of Company and, upon termination, Employee shall certify in writing that he no longer possesses and has not distributed or retained any Confidential Information of Company or any of Company’s property whatsoever.

 

Notwithstanding the terms of this Agreement, the obligation of Employee to protect the confidentiality of any Confidential Information shall terminate as to any information or materials which: (i) are, or become, public knowledge through no act or failure to act of Employee in violation of Employee’s obligations to the Company; (ii) are publicly disclosed by the proprietor thereof; (iii) are lawfully obtained without obligations of confidentiality by Employee from a third party after reasonable inquiry regarding the authority of such third party to possess and divulge the same; (iv) are independently developed by Employee from sources or through persons that Employee can demonstrate had no access to Confidential Information; or (v) are lawfully known by Employee at the time of disclosure other than by reason of discussions with or disclosures by Company. Employee’s confidentiality obligations set forth herein shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employee’s rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and further described in Section 9 below.

 

 2 

 

 

As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information or material, whether oral or written, that is proprietary to Company or designated (either expressly or by virtue of the manner in which such information or material is traditionally treated in business settings) as confidential information by Company and not generally known by non-Company personnel, which Employee may develop or which Employee may receive, obtain knowledge of or become privy to through or as a result of Employee’s relationship with Company (including information conceived, originated, discovered or developed in whole or in part by Employee). “Confidential Information” includes, but is not limited to, the following types of information and other information of a similar nature (whether or not reduced to writing): trade secrets, discoveries, ideas, concepts, software in various stages of development, designs, drawings, specifications, techniques, models, data, source code, object code, documentation, diagrams, flow charts, research, development, processes, procedures, “know-how”, marketing techniques and materials, marketing and development plans, names of employees and information related to them, customer names, contacts, and other information related to customers, price lists, pricing policies, and financial data, information and projections. “Confidential Information” also includes any information described above which Company obtains from another party and which Company treats as proprietary or designates as “Confidential Information,” whether or not owned or developed by Company. Information that is publicly known and that is generally employed by the trade or generic information or knowledge which Employee would have learned in the course of similar work elsewhere in the trade is not intended to and shall be deemed not to be a part of the “Confidential Information.”

 

Employee understands that the above list is not exhaustive, and that Confidential Information also includes other information that is marked or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary, or that would otherwise appear to a reasonable person to be confidential or proprietary in the context and circumstances in which the information is known or used.

 

Employee acknowledges that Employee has been notified in accordance with the federal Uniform Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S. Code § 1839) that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (a) is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Employee also acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit Employee from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or regulatory body or making other disclosures that are protected under any law or regulation, or from filing a charge with or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by any governmental agency or regulatory body.

 

Agreement Not to Solicit Customers. Employee agrees that during his employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason whatsoever, Employee shall not, either directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, (i) solicit, initiate contact with, call upon, or otherwise enter into a relationship with any customers or actively sought prospective customers of Company with whom Employee had material contact during his employment with Company or about which Employee obtained Confidential Information (collectively, “Customers”), for the purpose of soliciting, selling, diverting to or otherwise providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company (collectively, “Competitive Activities”), including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies, unless agreed to in writing by both parties; or (ii) solicit, induce, or cause any Customer to terminate, reduce or refrain from renewing or extending its contractual or other business relationship with the Company.

 

 3 

 

 

Material Contact. For purposes of this Agreement, “material contact” exists between Employee and each Customer with whom Employee personally interacts on behalf of Company, whether such interaction is conducted in person, in writing, by telephone or by other form of communication.

 

Agreement Not to Solicit Employees and Independent Contractors. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actively encourage or induce the voluntary termination of, or recruit or hire, or attempt to recruit or hire, any person(s) then employed by or associated with Company as an employee or, on an exclusive basis, an independent contractor, consultant or other supplier of goods or services to the Company (collectively, “Suppliers”), whether or not such recruit or hire is a full-time, part-time or temporary employee, independent contractor or consultant, and whether or not such employment or other engagement is for a determined period or is at-will, for the purpose of employment, consultancy, or serving as an independent contractor for, directly or indirectly, any business entity which engages in the business of premium fashion brands.

 

Agreement Not to Compete. Employee agrees that during Employee’s employment by Company and for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination of such employment for any reason, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or in the service of, or on behalf of others, actually or attempt to, engage in the business of providing products or services that are the same or similar to, or otherwise compete with, those of the Company, including, without limitation, engaging in the business of design, manufacture or sale of unmanned aerial aircraft technologies, within the Territory (as defined below). As used herein, “Territory” means any state in the United States or any foreign country in which the Company is doing business or in which it is contemplating to do business pursuant to a then current business plan.

 

Proprietary Rights.

 

Work Product. Employee agrees that all inventions, ideas, writings, works of authorship, technology, discoveries, copyrightable or patentable subject matter, and other work product of any nature whatsoever that, in whole or in part, are made, conceived, created, prepared, produced, authored, edited or amended (i) through the use of any of the Company’s Confidential Information or any of the Company’s equipment or facilities or (ii) by Employee, individually or jointly with others, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company that result from any work performed by Executive for the Company on behalf of the Company (regardless of when or where the Work Product is prepared or whose equipment or other resources is used in preparing the same) and all printed, physical and electronic copies, all improvements, rights and claims related to the foregoing, and other tangible embodiments thereof (collectively, “Work Product”), as well as any and all rights in and to copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks (and related goodwill), mask works, patents and other intellectual property rights therein arising in any jurisdiction throughout the world and all related rights of priority under international conventions with respect thereto, including all pending and future applications and registrations therefor, and continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, reissues, extensions and renewals thereof (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”), shall belong exclusively to Company and shall be considered part of Confidential Information (as the case may be) for purposes of this Agreement.

 

 4 

 

 

For purposes of this Agreement, Work Product includes, but is not limited to, Company information, including plans, publications, research, strategies, techniques, agreements, documents, negotiations, know-how, computer programs, computer applications, software design, web design, work in process, databases, manuals, developments, reports, graphics, drawings, sketches, market studies, formulae, notes, communications, algorithms, product plans, product designs, styles, models, inventions, unpublished patent applications, original works of authorship, discoveries, experimental processes, specifications, customer information, customer lists, manufacturing information, marketing and advertising information, and sales information.

 

Work Product which Employee developed prior to working for the Company, or is in active development at the time Employee came to work for the Company, if any, is described in the attached Exhibit B, and excluded from this Section. The failure of the parties to attach any Exhibit B to this agreement shall be deemed an admission by Employee that Employee does not have pre-existing Work Product.

 

Company, its designees, and its assigns shall have the right to use and/or to apply for patents, copyrights or other statutory or common law protections for such Work Product in any and all countries. Employee shall provide reasonable assistance to Company (at Company’s expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law Intellectual Property Rights for such Work Product in any and all countries. To that end, Employee shall execute, during and after his employment with Company, all documents reasonably related to the application, procurement, and enforcement of patents, copyrights, and other statutory or common law protections, as the Company or its counsel may request, together with any assignments thereof to Company or its designee.

 

Work Made for Hire; Assignment. Employee acknowledges that, by reason of being engaged by the Company at the relevant times, to the extent permitted by law, all of the Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is “work made for hire” as defined in the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 101), and such copyrights are therefore owned by the Company. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company, for no additional consideration, Employee’s entire right, title and interest in and to all Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights therein, including the right to sue, counterclaim and recover for all past, present and future infringement, misappropriation or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit the Company’s rights, title or interest in any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than that the Company would have had in the absence of this Agreement.

 

Further Assurances; Power of Attorney. During and after Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company to (i) apply for, obtain, perfect and transfer to the Company the Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights in the Work Product in any jurisdiction in the world; and (ii) maintain, protect and enforce the same, including, without limitation, executing and delivering to the Company any and all applications, oaths, declarations, affidavits, waivers, assignments and other documents and instruments as shall be requested by the Company. Employee hereby irrevocably grants the Company power of attorney to execute and deliver any such documents on Employee’s behalf in Employee’s name and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to transfer the Work Product to the Company and further the transfer, issuance, prosecution and maintenance of all Intellectual Property Rights therein, to the full extent permitted by law, if Employee does not promptly cooperate with the Company’s request (without limiting the rights the Company shall have in such circumstances by operation of law). The power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall not be affected by Employee’s subsequent incapacity.

 

 5 

 

 

Moral Rights. To the extent any copyrights are assigned under this Agreement, Employee hereby irrevocably waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any and all claims Employee may now or hereafter have in any jurisdiction to all rights of paternity, integrity, disclosure and withdrawal and any other rights that may be known as “moral rights” with respect to all Work Product and all Intellectual Property Rights therein.

 

No License. Employee understands that this Agreement does not, and shall not be construed to, grant Employee any license or right of any nature with respect to any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights or any Confidential Information, materials, software or other tools made available to Employee by the Company.

 

No infringement. Employee represents and warrants to the Company that all Work Product Employee delivers to the Company shall be original and shall not infringe upon or violate any patent, copyright or proprietary right of any person or third party.

 

License to Prior Invention. If Employee in the course of Employee’s employment for the Company incorporates into a Company product Work Product that Employee has, alone or jointly with others, conceived, developed or reduced to practice prior to the commencement of Employee’s employment with the Company in which Employee has a property right (each, a “Prior Invention”), Employee hereby grants to the Company a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty free, irrevocable, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, and use such Prior Invention. Employee hereby represents and warrants that all Prior Inventions have been listed by Employee on Exhibit B hereto or, if no such list is attached, that there are no Prior Inventions. Employee will not incorporate any Work Product owned by any third party into any Company Work Product without the Company’s prior written permission.

 

License to Information and Likeness. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligations, to use Employee’s name, photograph, likeness and approved biographical data for the purpose of advertising, marketing, promoting, publicizing and exploiting any matter related to the Company, its products and services and/or Employee’s duties performed hereunder.

 

Severability. To the extent this Agreement is required to be construed in accordance with laws of any state which precludes as a requirement in an employee agreement the assignment of certain classes of inventions made by an employee, this Section 6 will be interpreted not to apply to any invention which a court rules and/or the Company agrees falls within such classes.

 

Conflicts of Interest. During the term of his employment, Employee shall not engage in activities or practices involving any possible conflict of interest. These activities or practices may subject Employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Employee should avoid at all times the appearance of, as well as an actual, conflict of interest.

 

Conflicts of interest activities or practices include, but are not limited to: engaging in business conduct that is damaging to the reputation of the Company, accepting outside employment in any organization that does business with the Company or is a competitor of the Company, investing or having a financial interest in a private company which does business with the Company or having stock ownership in a publicly traded company which does business with the Company if the relationship(s) may influence Employee’s business decisions (this applies to Employee and to close relatives and is applicable at the time of hire and at any time during the course of employment). If an individual does own stock in a company that does business with the

 

 6 

 

 

Company, the relationship should be disclosed upon employment and all significant business dealings with that company will be reviewed.

 

Employee may not accept gifts from any person or company doing or seeking to do business with the Company. Employees are allowed to accept advertising novelties and other gifts of nominal value.

 

Employee may not give, offer, or promise, directly or indirectly, anything of value to any representative of any company doing business with the Company.

 

Employee may not select vendors on the basis of anything other than the merit of their products or services or prices for such products or services.

 

Discussing company information with the press without prior authorization from management is also a conflict of interest.

 

Security and Access. Employee agrees and covenants (i) to comply with all Company security policies and procedures as in force from time to time including without limitation those regarding computer equipment, telephone systems, voicemail systems, facilities access, monitoring, key cards, access codes, Company intranet, internet, social media and instant messaging systems, computer systems, e-mail systems, computer networks, document storage systems, software, data security, encryption, firewalls, passwords and any and all other Company facilities, IT resources and communication technologies (“Facilities and Information Technology Resources”); (ii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources except as authorized by Company; and (iii) not to access or use any Facilities and Information Technology Resources in any manner after the termination of Employee’s employment by the Company, whether termination is voluntary or involuntary. Employee agrees to notify the Company promptly in the event Employee learns of any violation of the foregoing by others, or of any other misappropriation or unauthorized access, use, reproduction or reverse engineering of, or tampering with any Facilities and Information Technology Resources or other Company property or materials by others. Employee acknowledges and agrees that any property situated on the Company’s premises and owned by the Company, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets, other work areas and other Facilities and Information Technology Resources, is subject to inspection by personnel of the Company at any time with or without notice. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has no expectation of privacy with respect to the Company’s Facilities and Information Technology Resources and that Employee’s activity and any files or messages on or using any of such Facilities and Information Technology Resources may be monitored at any time without notice.

 

Exit Obligations. Upon (i) voluntary or involuntary termination of Employee’s employment or (ii) the Company’s request at any time during Employee’s employment, Employee shall (a) provide or return to the Company any and all Company property, including keys, key cards, access cards, identification cards, security devices, Company credit cards, network access devices, computers, cell phones, smartphones, equipment, manuals, reports, files, books, compilations, work product, e-mail messages, recordings, tapes, disks, thumb drives or other removable information storage devices, hard drives and data and all Company documents and materials belonging to the Company and stored in any fashion, including but not limited to those that constitute or contain any Confidential Information or Work Product, that are in the possession or control of Employee, whether they were provided to Employee by the Company or any of its business associates or created by Employee in connection with Employee’s employment by the Company; and (b) delete or destroy all copies of any such documents and materials following return to the Company that remain in Employee’s possession or control, including those stored on any non-Company devices, networks, storage locations and media in Employee’s possession or control.

 

 7 

 

 

Non-disparagement. Employee agrees and covenants that Employee will not at any time make, publish or communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, statements or gestures concerning the Company’s products or services, and existing and prospective customers, suppliers, investors and other associated third parties, or make any maliciously false statements about the Company’s employees and officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 8 shall not be interpreted or applied in a manner that would conflict with Employee’s rights, if any, under the NLRA, as defined and described in Section 9 below. Further, this Section does not apply to (i) truthful statements made in connection with legal proceedings, governmental and regulatory investigations and actions; (ii) any other truthful statement or disclosure required by law; or (iii) good faith intra-Company communications made for legitimate business reasons.

 

NLRA Compliance. It is the policy of the Company to comply with the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), including without limitation, Section 7 thereof. Thus, to the extent Employee is covered by the NLRA, nothing herein, or in any other the agreement between Employee and the Company or Company policy, shall prohibit Employee together with other Company employees from (i) self-organizing, forming joining or assisting labor organizations; (ii) bargaining collectively through representatives of their own choosing; (iii) discussing wages, hours, working conditions, other labor policies or unionism or for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection; or (iv) posting pictures or videos of employees engaged in such activities or other activities involving collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. However, the Company has an “open door” policy and encourages employees to address such matters instead with their supervisors or a member of management.

 

Remedies. Employee acknowledges that the Company’s Confidential Information and the Company’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee, or any other material breach of Employees promises and covenants herein, will cause irreparable harm to the Company, for which remedies at law will not be adequate. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement, Employee hereby consents and agrees that the Company shall be entitled to, in addition to other available remedies, a temporary or permanent injunction or other equitable relief against such breach or threatened breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that monetary damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available forms of relief. Additionally, each of the covenants and restrictions to which Employee is subject under this Agreement, including, without limitation those in Sections 2 through 4 above, shall each be construed as independent of any other provision in this Agreement or any other agreement between Employee and the Company, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants and restrictions.

 

 8 

 

 

Assignment by the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement to any subsidiary or corporate affiliate, or to any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and permitted successors and assigns.

 

No Assignment by Employee. Employee may not assign this Agreement or any part hereof. Any purported assignment by Employee shall be null and void from the initial date of purported assignment.

 

Governing Law; Jurisdiction and Venue; Jury Waiver. This Agreement, for all purposes, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts-of-law principles. Any action or proceeding by either Party against the other Party, including, without limitation, to enforce this Agreement or otherwise relating to or arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company (or the termination thereof), shall be brought only in any state or federal court located in or closest to Broward County, Florida. The Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waive the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding in such venue. Employee and the Company each hereby waive the right to trial by jury in any such court action or proceeding between them, regardless of the subject matter, including, without limitation, any action or proceeding based upon, arising out of, or in any way relating to this Agreement and all matters concerning Employee’s employment (or the termination thereof) with the Company.

 

Entire Agreement. Unless specifically provided herein, this Agreement contains all the understandings and representations between Employee and the Company pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.

 

Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is agreed to in writing and signed by Employee and by a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than Employee). No waiver by either of the Parties of any breach by the other Party hereto of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other Party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time, nor shall the failure of or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver thereof to preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege.

 

Severability. Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be enforceable only if modified, or if any portion of this Agreement shall be held as unenforceable and thus stricken, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, the balance of which shall continue to be binding upon the Parties with any such modification to become a part hereof and treated as though originally set forth in this Agreement. The Parties further agree that any such court is expressly authorized to modify any such unenforceable provision of this Agreement in lieu of severing such unenforceable provision from this Agreement in its entirety, whether by rewriting the offending provision, deleting any or all of the offending provision, adding additional language to this Agreement or by making such other modifications as it deems warranted to carry out the intent and agreement of the Parties as embodied herein to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Parties expressly agree that this Agreement as so modified by the court shall be binding upon and enforceable against each of them. In any event, should one or more of the provisions of this Agreement be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and if such provision or provisions are not modified as provided above, this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had not been set forth herein.

 

 9 

 

 

Captions. Captions and headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the caption or heading of any section or paragraph.

 

Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Photographic copies, electronically scanned copies and other facsimiles of this Agreement (including such signed counterparts) may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.

 

At-Will Employment; No Oral Agreements. The Company and Employee acknowledge and agree that this Agreement does not affect the ability of either party to terminate their employment relationship, which relationship, unless otherwise agreed to in writing signed by an officer of the Company, may be terminated at any time, for any or no reason. No supervisor, manager or other Company representative has the authority to make any verbal promises, commitments, or statements of any kind regarding the Company’s policies, procedures or any other issues that are legally binding on the Company.

 

EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND AGREES THAT THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE REASONABLE AND PROPER PROTECTION OF THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS. EMPLOYEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE COMPANY HAS ADVISED HIM THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO HAVE THIS AGREEMENT REVIEWED BY AN ATTORNEY OF HIS SELECTION PRIOR TO SIGNING, AND HE HAS EITHER DONE SO OR ELECTED TO FOREGO THAT RIGHT.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 10 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date above.

 

  MGO GLOBAL INC.  
       
  Signature: /s/ Maximiliano Ojeda    
        
  By: Name: Maximiliano Ojeda    
       
  Title: Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board
       
  EMPLOYEE:    
     
  Signature: /s/ Matt Harward  
       
  Matt Harward  

 

 11 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS, WORK PRODUCT AND ORIGINAL WORKS OF AUTHORSHIP

 

1.Bitesize AI, Sandbox Funnels and associated software, technology, methods, documentation, and instructional content of Unicorn Industries, LLC. This work started in February of 2021 and is ongoing. Furthermore, this work is directly related the expertise of Executive/Employee and may substantially overlap with work related to the Company. This work relates to marketing technology and methods to improve performance on algorithm-oriented marketing platforms, including use of AI (artificial intelligence) and ML (machine learning). It includes proprietary methods, software, and instruction. Unicorn Industries, LLC may perform marketing services substantially similar to the expertise of the Executive/Employee for clients. Executive/Employee is a founder and member of the board of Unicorn Industries, LLC, but is not an employee.

 

####

 

 1 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF RELEASE

GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS

 

Matt Harward, (“Executive”), for himself and his family, heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and their respective successors and assigns, in exchange for the Severance Benefits, as defined under the Executive Employment Agreement made and entered effective as of the 24th day of October, 2022, by and between MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) and the Executive to which this release is attached as Exhibit C to the Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), does hereby release and forever discharge the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliated companies, successors and assigns, and its current or former directors, officers or shareholders in such capacities (collectively with the Company, the “Released Parties”) from any and all actions, causes of action, suits, controversies, claims and demands whatsoever, for or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever, whether known or unknown including, but not limited to, all claims under any applicable laws arising under or in connection with Executive’s employment or termination thereof, whether for tort, breach of express or implied employment contract, wrongful discharge, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or defamation or injuries incurred on the job or incurred as a result of loss of employment. Executive acknowledges that the Company encouraged him to consult with an attorney of his choosing, and through this General Release of Claims encourages him to consult with his attorney with respect to possible claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) and that he understands that the ADEA is a Federal statute that, among other things, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in employment and employee benefits and benefit plans. Without limiting the generality of the release provided above, Executive expressly waives any and all claims under ADEA that he may have as of the date hereof. Executive further understands that by signing this General Release of Claims he is in fact waiving, releasing and forever giving up any claim under the ADEA as well as all other laws within the scope of this paragraph 1 that may have existed on or prior to the date hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph 1 to the contrary, this General Release of Claims shall not apply to (i) any rights to receive any payments or benefits to which Executive is entitled under COBRA, the Employment agreement or any other compensation or employee benefit plans in which Executive is eligible to participate at the time of execution of this General Release of Claims, (ii) any rights or claims that may arise as a result of events occurring after the date this General Release of Claims is executed, any indemnification and advancement rights Executive may have as a former employee, officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies including, without limitation, any rights arising pursuant to the articles of incorporation, bylaws and any other organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any claims for benefits under any directors’ and officers’ liability policy maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies in accordance with the terms of such policy, and (iv) any rights as a holder of equity securities of the Company (clauses (i) through (iv), the "Reserved Claims").

 

Executive represents that he has not filed against the Released Parties any complaints, charges, or lawsuits arising out of his employment, or any other matter arising on or prior to the date of this General Release of Claims other than Reserved Claims, and covenants and agrees that he will never individually or with any person file, or commence the filing of any lawsuits, complaints or proceedings with any governmental agency, or against the Released Parties with respect to any of the matters released by Executive pursuant to paragraph 1 hereof (a “Proceeding”); provided, however, Executive shall not have relinquished his right to (i) commence a Proceeding to challenge whether Executive knowingly and voluntarily waived his rights under ADEA; (ii) file a charge with an administrative agency or take part in any agency investigation or (iii) commence a Proceeding pursuant to the Reserved Claims. Executive does agree, however, that he is waiving his right to recover any money in connection with such an investigation or charge filed by him or by any other individual, or a charge filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other federal, state or local agency, except as prohibited by law.

 

 1 

 

 

Executive hereby acknowledges that the Company has informed him that he has up to twenty-one (21) days to sign this General Release of Claims and he may knowingly and voluntarily waive that twenty-one (21) day period by signing this General Release of Claims earlier. Executive also understands that he shall have seven (7) days following the date on which he signs this General Release of Claims within which to revoke it by providing a written notice of his revocation to the Company.

 

Executive acknowledges that this General Release of Claims will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the laws of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law principles.

 

Executive acknowledges that he has read this General Release of Claims, that he has been advised that he should consult with an attorney before he executes this general release of claims, and that he understands all of its terms and executes it voluntarily and with full knowledge of its significance and the consequences thereof.

 

This General Release of Claims shall take effect on the eighth day following Executive’s execution of this General Release of Claims unless Executive’s written revocation is delivered to the Company within seven (7) days after such execution.

 

  EXECUTIVE    
       
  /s/ Matt Harward    
  Matt Harward    

 

####

 

 2 

 

Exhibit 10.11

 

THE SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (“SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD UNLESS REGISTERED THEREUNDER OR UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

MGO Global Inc.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Subscription. I (sometimes referred to herein as the “Investor”) hereby subscribe for and agree to purchase the Securities (as defined below) of MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for the purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) set forth on the signature page to this Subscription Agreement (this “Agreement”) and on the terms and conditions described in this Agreement, which is Exhibit A to the Amended and Restated Investor Package (together with all exhibits, the “Subscription Package” or “Investor Package”) and in Exhibits B, C, D and E to the Subscription Package. Terms not defined herein in this Agreement are defined elsewhere in the Subscription Package. The Company is seeking to raise a minimum of $750,000 (the “Minimum Offering Amount”) and maximum of $2,000,000 (the “Maximum Offering Amount”) in this Offering. The minimum amount of investment required from any one subscriber to participate in this Offering is $25,000. All references to $ means United States Dollars.

 

1.Description of Securities; Description of Company and Risk Factors; Lock-Up.

 

a.           Description of Securities. The Company is offering (the “Offering”) to the Investor common stock, par value $.00001 per share, of the Company (“Shares” or “Securities”) at a purchase price of $1 per share. For a more detailed description of the Securities see the Term of the Offering attached as Exhibit B to the Subscription Package.

 

b.           Risks Related to the Investment in the Securities. Investing in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. Before investing, Investors should carefully consider the description of our business and the risks related to our business, as set forth in Exhibit C, the Investor Presentation set forth in Exhibit D, and the Business Overview set forth in Exhibit E, together with the other information contained in the Subscription Package.

 

c.           Lock-Up. In connection with this Offering, the Investor agrees to the following lock-up agreement with respect to the purchased Shares:

 

i.From and after the date hereof and until the 180th day after the date the Company’s common stock is first listed for trading on a national securities exchange (such first trading day, the “Lock-Up Trigger Date”), the Investor agrees not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Shares.

 

ii.Between the 181st and 270th day after the Lock-Up Trigger Date, the Investor agrees not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of more than one-third of the Shares purchased pursuant to the Agreement, subject to a maximum sale on any trading day of 3% of the daily volume.

 

 1 

 


 

iii.Between the 271st and 365th day after the Lock-Up Trigger Date, the Investor agrees not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of more than one-third of the Shares purchased pursuant to the Agreement, subject to a maximum sale on any trading day of 3% of the daily volume.

 

iv.After the 365th day after the Lock-Up Trigger Date, the Investor will be entitled to sell the remaining Shares purchased hereunder without contractual restriction, but subject to any restrictions arising under applicable law, including the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Notwithstanding the above, commencing 90 days after the Lock-Up Trigger Date, if the price per share of the Company’s common stock is at least 50% higher than the IPO Price (as defined below) per share and trades at least 100,000 shares daily, both for ten (10) consecutive trading days, the Investor may sell one-third of its shares subject to a maximum sale on any trading day of 3% of the daily volume; and if the Company’s common share price is at least 100% higher than the IPO Price per share and trades at least 100,000 shares daily, both for ten (10) consecutive trading days, the Investor may sell up to an additional one-third of its shares subject to a maximum sale on any trading day of 3% of the daily volume; and if the Company common share price is at least 150% higher than the IPO Price per share and trades at least 100,000 shares daily, both for ten (10) consecutive trading days, the Investor may sell an additional one-third constituting a maximum total of all of its shares subject to a maximum sale on any trading day of 3% of the daily volume. For purpose of this term, the “IPO Price” shall mean the price the Company’s common shares are first sold to the public pursuant to an underwritten registered offering resulting in a listing of its common shares on the NASDAQ Stock Market or another national stock exchange.

 

2.Purchase.

 

a.I hereby agree to tender to Sutter Securities Inc. (the “Escrow Agent”), by check or wire transfer of immediately available funds (to a bank account and related wire instructions to be provided to me on my request) made payable to “MGO Global Inc.” for such number of Shares indicated on the signature page hereto, an executed copy of this Agreement and an executed copy of my Investor Representation and Suitability Questionnaire included within this Agreement. Funds will be held in escrow, as set forth in more detail below (the “Escrow Account”), pending the Initial Closing.

 

b.This Offering will continue until the earlier of (a) the sale of 2,000,000 Shares for $2,000,000 of gross proceeds being the Maximum Offering Amount, or (b) May 31, 2022 (the “Termination Date”). Upon the earlier of a Closing (defined below) on my subscription or completion of the Offering, the Investor will be notified promptly by the Company as to whether the Investor’s subscription has been accepted by the Company.

 

c.Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, affiliates of the Company and the Placement Agent (as defined below) may purchase securities in this Offering and the amount that such affiliates invest will be counted toward achieving the Minimum Offering Amount condition set forth in Section 4 below. Furthermore, affiliates of the Company or the Placement Agent purchasing Securities in this offering may pay for Securities they purchase by converting or forgiving at the Purchase Price existing indebtedness of the Company owed to such affiliates, and such purchase(s) of Securities would also be credited towards satisfying the Minimum Offering Amount condition set forth in Section 4 below.

 

 2 

 

 

3.Acceptance or Rejection of Subscription.

 

a.I understand and agree that the Company reserves the right to reject this subscription for the Securities, in whole or in part, for any reason and at any time prior to the Closing (defined below) of my subscription.

 

b.In the event the Company rejects this subscription, my subscription payment will be promptly returned to me without interest or deduction and this Agreement shall be of no force or effect. In the event my subscription is accepted and the Offering is completed, the subscription funds submitted by me shall be released to the Company.

 

4.          Closing. The closing (“Closing”) of this Offering may occur at any time and from time to time on or before the Termination Date. The Company must achieve the $750,000 Minimum Offering Amount prior to conducting an initial Closing (the “Initial Closing”). Upon receipt of the Minimum Offering Amount, an Initial Closing will be held, and all funds will be released from the Escrow Account and paid to the Company, less professional fees and compensation paid to the Placement Agent and syndicate members. Thereafter, additional Closings will be held as funds are received up to the earlier to occur of receipt of the $2,000,000 Maximum Offering Amount or the Termination Date. Pending receipt of the Minimum Offering Amount, all subscriptions will be placed in escrow with the Escrow Agent. If, for any reason, the Minimum Offering Amount of subscriptions are not received by the Termination Date, all escrowed funds will be returned to subscribers promptly, without interest or deduction. The Securities subscribed for herein shall not be deemed issued to or owned by me until one copy of this Agreement has been executed by me and countersigned by the Company and the Closing with respect to such Securities has occurred. Among other Closing requirements as set forth herein, upon the Closing, the Investor shall deliver to the Company its signature to the Joinder to the Company’s Stockholders’ Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit F.

 

5.          Disclosure. Because this Offering is limited to accredited investors as defined in Section 2(a)(15) of the Securities Act, and Rule 501 promulgated thereunder, in reliance upon the exemption contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the Securities are being sold without registration under the Securities Act. I acknowledge receipt of the Subscription Package and represent that I have carefully reviewed and understand the Subscription Package, including all exhibits attached thereto. I have received all information and materials regarding the Company that I have requested. I fully understand that the Company has a limited financial and operating history and that the Securities are speculative investments which involve a high degree of risk, including the potential loss of my entire investment. I fully understand the nature of the risks involved in purchasing the Securities, and I am qualified to make such investment based on my knowledge of and experience in investing in securities of this type. I have carefully considered the potential risks relating to the Company and purchase of its Securities and have, in particular, reviewed each of the risks set forth in the Subscription Package. Both my advisors and I have had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company or persons acting on its behalf concerning the Company and the terms and conditions of a proposed investment in the Company, and my advisors and I have also had the opportunity to obtain additional information necessary to verify the accuracy of information furnished about the Company. Accordingly, I have independently evaluated the risks of purchasing the Securities.

 

6.          Investor Representations and Warranties. I acknowledge, represent and warrant to, and agree with, the Company as follows:

 

a.I am aware that my investment involves a high degree of risk as disclosed herein and in the Subscription Package and have read carefully the Subscription Package, and I understand that by signing this Agreement I am agreeing to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of herein and in the Subscription Package.

 

 3 

 

 

b.I acknowledge and am aware that there is no assurance as to the future performance of the Company.

 

c.I acknowledge that there may be certain adverse tax consequences to me in connection with my purchase of Securities, and the Company has advised me to seek the advice of experts in such areas prior to making this investment.

 

d.I am purchasing the Securities for my own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with the distribution of the Securities, nor with any present intention of selling or otherwise disposing of all or any part of the foregoing securities. I agree that I must bear the entire economic risk of my investment for an indefinite period of time because, among other reasons, the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or under the securities laws of any state and, therefore, cannot be resold, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and under applicable securities laws of certain states or an exemption from such registration is available. I hereby authorize the Company to place a restrictive legend on the Securities that are issued to me.

 

e.I recognize that the Securities, as an investment, involve a high degree of risk including, but not limited to, the risk of economic losses from operations of the Company and the total loss of my investment. I believe that the investment in the Securities is suitable for me based upon my investment objectives and financial needs, and I have adequate means for providing for my current financial needs and contingencies and have no need for liquidity with respect to my investment in the Company.

 

f.I have been given access to full and complete information regarding the Company and have utilized such access to my satisfaction for the purpose of obtaining information in addition to, or verifying information included in, the Subscription Package, and I have either met with or been given reasonable opportunity to meet with officers of the Company for the purpose of asking questions of, and receiving answers from, such officers concerning the terms and conditions of the Offering of the Securities and the business and operations of the Company and to obtain any additional information, to the extent reasonably available.

 

g.I have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and have obtained, in my judgment, sufficient information from the Company to evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in the Company. I have not utilized any person as my purchaser representative as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act in connection with evaluating such merits and risks.

 

h.I have relied solely upon my own investigation in deciding to invest in the Company.

 

i.I have received no representation or warranty from the Company or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents in respect of my investment in the Company, and I have received no information (written or otherwise) from them relating to the Company or its business other than as set forth in the Subscription Package. I am not participating in the Offering as a result of or subsequent to: (i) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or (ii) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising.

 

 4 

 

 

j.I have had full opportunity to ask questions and to receive satisfactory answers concerning the Offering and other matters pertaining to my investment, and all such questions have been answered to my full satisfaction.

 

k.I have been provided an opportunity to obtain any additional information concerning the Offering and the Company and all other information to the extent the Company possesses such information or can acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense.

 

l.I am an “accredited investor” as defined in Section 2(a)(15) of the Securities Act and in Rule 501 promulgated thereunder and have attached the completed Investor Representation and Suitability Questionnaire that is included in this Agreement to indicate my “accredited investor” status. I can bear the entire economic risk of the investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time, and I am knowledgeable about and experienced in making investments in the equity securities of non-publicly traded companies, including early-stage companies. I am not acting as an underwriter or a conduit for sale to the public or to others of unregistered securities, directly or indirectly, on behalf of the Company or any person with respect to such securities.

 

m.I understand that (1) the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, or the securities laws of certain states, in reliance on specific exemptions from registration, (2) no securities administrator of any state or the federal government has recommended or endorsed this Offering or made any finding or determination relating to the fairness of an investment in the Company, and (3) the Company is relying on my representations and agreements for the purpose of determining whether this transaction meets the requirements of certain exemptions from registration afforded by the Securities Act and certain state securities laws.

 

n.I understand that since neither the offer nor sale of the Securities has been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state, the Securities may not be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise disposed of unless they are so registered or an exemption from such registration is available.

 

o.I have had the opportunity to seek independent advice from my professional advisors relating to the suitability of an investment in the Company in view of my overall financial needs and with respect to the legal and tax implications of such investment.

 

p.If the Investor is a corporation, company, trust, employee benefit plan, individual retirement account, Keogh Plan, or other tax-exempt entity, it is authorized and qualified to become an Investor in the Company and the person signing this Agreement on behalf of such entity has been duly authorized by such entity to do so.

 

q.The information contained in my Investor Representation and Suitability Questionnaire, as well as any information which I have furnished to the Company with respect to my financial position and business experience, is correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement, and, if there should be any material change in such information prior to the Closing of the Offering, I will furnish such revised or corrected information to the Company. I hereby acknowledge and am aware that except for any rescission rights that may be provided under applicable laws, I am not entitled to cancel, terminate or revoke this subscription and any agreements made in connection herewith shall survive my death or disability.

 

 5 

 

 

7.          Placement Agent. The Company has engaged Boustead Securities LLC, a broker-dealer licensed with FINRA (the “Placement Agent”), as placement agent for the Offering on a reasonable best efforts basis. The Company anticipates that the Placement Agent and its sub-agents or syndicate members, if any, will be paid at each Closing from the proceeds in the Escrow Account, fees including and not to exceed: (i) cash, equal to seven percent (7%) of the gross amount to be disbursed to the Company from each such Closing, plus (ii) a non-accountable expense allowance equal to one percent (1%) of the gross amount to be disbursed to the Company from each such Closing, plus (iii) warrants equal to seven percent (7%) of the gross amount to be disbursed to the Company from each such Closing, including (without limitation) shares issuable upon conversion or exercise of the securities sold at any Closing, and in the event that warrants or other rights are issued in any Closing, seven percent (7%) of the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants or other rights, and in the event of a debt or convertible debt financing warrants to purchase an amount of Company stock equal to the seven percent (7%) of the gross amount or facility received by the Company in a debt financing divided by the Strike Price per Share. The warrant exercise price, i.e. the “Strike Price per Share”, shall be defined as the lower of: (1) the fair market value price per share of the Company’s common stock as of each such financing closing date, (2) the price per share paid by investors in each respective Financing, (3) in the event that securities convertible are sold in the financing, the conversion price of such securities, or (4) in the event that warrants or other rights are issued in the financing, the exercise price of such warrants or other rights.

 

Any sub-agent or syndicate member of the Placement Agent that introduces investors to the Offering will be entitled to share in the cash fees attributable to those investors as described above, pursuant to the terms of an executed sub-agent or selected dealer agreement. The Company will also pay certain expenses of the Placement Agent.

 

8.          Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Investor, as of the date hereof and on each Closing Date, the following:

 

a.Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of its subsidiaries is a corporation or other business entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company and each of its subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the assets, business, financial condition, results of operations or future prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

b.Authorization, Enforcement, Compliance with Other Instruments. (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and each of the other agreements and documents that are exhibits hereto or thereto or are contemplated hereby or thereby or necessary or desirable to effect the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (the “Transaction Documents”) and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) the execution and delivery by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance of the Securities have been, or will be at the time of execution of such Transaction Document, duly authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors, and no further consent or authorization is, or will be at the time of execution of such Transaction Document, required by the Company, its respective Board of Directors or its stockholders, (iii) each of the Transaction Documents will be duly executed and delivered by the Company, (iv) the Transaction Documents when executed and delivered by the Company and each other party thereto will constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies.

 

c.Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 20,000,000 shares of common stock, par value of $0.00001 per share. Immediately prior to the Initial Closing, the Company will have 10,000,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding on a “fully diluted” basis, except as set forth on the Company’s capitalization table, attached hereto. All of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company and of any of its subsidiaries have been or will be, as of the Initial Closing, duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. No shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries will be subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company; (ii) there will be no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the Securities Act, and (iii) there are no securities or instruments of the Company or any of its subsidiaries containing anti-dilution or similar provisions, including the right to adjust the exercise, exchange or reset price under such securities, that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities as described in this Agreement. Upon request, the Company will make available to the Investor true and correct copies of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, and as in effect on the date hereof (the “Articles of Incorporation”), and the Company’s By-laws, as in effect on the date hereof (the “By-laws”), and the terms of all securities exercisable for common stock and the material rights of the holders thereof in respect thereto other than stock options issued to officers, directors, employees and consultants.

 

d.Subsidiaries. As further set forth in our Risk Factors in Exhibit C hereto, MGOTEAM 1 LLC is a subsidiary of the Company and is party to that certain Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi’s family office, LEO MESSI MANAGEMENT SL (“LMM”).

 

e.Issuance of Securities. The Securities are duly authorized and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms hereof, shall be duly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and are free and clear of all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.

 

 6 

 

 

f.No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of each of the Transaction Documents by the Company, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the Articles of Incorporation or the By-laws (or equivalent constitutive document) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) violate or conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party, except for those which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including U.S. federal and state securities laws and regulations) applicable to the Company or any subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any subsidiary is bound or affected except for those which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except those which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation of any term of or in default under its constitutive documents. Except those which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation of any term of or in default under any material contract, agreement, mortgage, indebtedness, indenture, instrument, judgment, decree or order or any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any subsidiary. The business of the Company and its subsidiaries is not being conducted, and shall not be conducted in violation of any law, ordinance, or regulation of any governmental entity, except for any violation which could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement and as required under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is required to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof. Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Documents, nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, will require any notice, consent or waiver under any contract or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any subsidiary is bound or to which any of their assets is subject, except for any notice, consent or waiver the absence of which would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect and would not adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding two sentences have been or will be obtained or effected on or prior to the Closing.

 

g.Absence of Litigation. There is no action, suit, claim, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding (including any partial proceeding such as a deposition) or investigation before or by any court, public board, governmental or administrative agency, self-regulatory organization, arbitrator, regulatory authority, stock market, stock exchange or trading facility (an “Action”) now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding would (i) adversely affect the validity or enforceability of, or the authority or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, or (ii) have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

h.Acknowledgment Regarding Investor’s Purchase of the Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Investor is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company further acknowledges that each Investor is not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and any advice given by such Investor or any of their respective representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to such Investor’s purchase of the Securities.

 

 7 

 

 

i.No General Solicitation. Neither the Company, nor any of its “affiliates” (as used herein, “affiliate” shall have the meaning defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act), nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.

 

j.No Integrated Offering. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the Securities under the Securities Act or cause this Offering of the Securities to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act.

 

k.Employee Relations. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is involved in any labor dispute nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is any such dispute threatened. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is party to any collective bargaining agreement. The Company’s and/or its subsidiaries’ employees are not members of any union, and the Company believes that its and its subsidiaries’ relationship with their respective employees is good.

 

l.Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries have all authorizations, approvals, clearances, licenses, permits, certificates or exemptions (including manufacturing approvals and authorizations, pricing and reimbursement approvals, labeling approvals, registration notifications or their foreign equivalent) issued by any regulatory authority or governmental agency (collectively, “Permits”) required to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted except to the extent that the failure to have such Permits would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company or its subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed in all material respects their obligations under each Permit, and, as of the date hereof, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred or condition or state of facts exists which would constitute a breach or default or would cause revocation or termination of any such Permit except to the extent that such breach, default, revocation or termination would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

m.Title. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all of its real and personal property and assets, free and clear of any material restriction, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest or other charge, claim or encumbrance which would have a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to properties and assets it leases, each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in material compliance with such leases and holds a valid leasehold interest free of any liens, claims or encumbrances which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

n.Rights of First Refusal. The Company is not obligated to offer the securities offered hereunder on a right of first refusal basis or otherwise to any third parties including, but not limited to, current or former stockholders of the Company, underwriters, brokers, agents or other third parties.

 

o.Reliance. The Company acknowledges that the Investor is relying on the representations and warranties made by the Company hereunder and that such representations and warranties are a material inducement to the Investor purchasing the Securities. The Company further acknowledges that without such representations and warranties of the Company made hereunder, the Investors would not enter into this Agreement.

 

 8 

 

 

p.Brokers’ Fees. The Company does not have any liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder or agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for the payment of fees to the Placement Agent as described above.

 

q.Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company or any subsidiary and an unconsolidated or other off- balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in the Financial Statements and is not so disclosed or that otherwise would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

r.Investment Company. The Company is not required to be registered as, and is not an affiliate of, and immediately following the Closing will not be required to register as, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

s.Patents and Trademarks. The Company and its subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and other similar rights that are necessary or material for use in connection with their respective businesses and which the failure to so have could have a material adverse effect. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received a written notice that the intellectual property rights used by the Company or any subsidiary violates or infringes upon the rights of any person. To the knowledge of the Company, all such intellectual property rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another person of any of the intellectual property rights.

 

9.          Indemnification. I hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, advisors and counsel, and Boustead Securities, LLC and its officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, advisors and counsel, against any and all losses, claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable legal or other expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by each such person in connection with defending or investigating any such claims or liabilities, whether or not resulting in any liability to such person, to which any such indemnified party may become subject under the Securities Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact made by me and contained in this Agreement or my Investor Representation and Suitability Questionnaire, or (b) arise out of or are based upon any breach by me of any representation, warranty, or agreement made by me contained herein or therein.

 

10.         Severability. In the event any parts of this Agreement are found to be void, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless be binding with the same effect as though the void parts were deleted.

 

11.         Choice of Law and Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware as applied to contracts entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware. Any action arising out of this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, and the parties hereby irrevocably waive any objections they may have to venue in the State of Delaware.

 

12.         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The execution of this Agreement may be by actual or facsimile signature.

 

 9 

 

 

13.         Benefit; Intended Third Party Beneficiary. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto. The Placement Agent is an intended third party beneficiary of this Agreement, including the representations and warranties made by both the Company and the Investor herein and the indemnification provided by the Investor herein and may directly enforce this Agreement and its rights hereunder.

 

14.         Notices and Addresses. All notices, offers, acceptance and any other acts under this Agreement (except payment) shall be in writing, and shall be sufficiently given if delivered to the addresses in person, by Federal Express or similar courier delivery, as follows:

 

  Investor: At the address designated on the signature page of this Agreement.

 

  The Company: MGO Global Inc.
    30 Wall Street, 12th Floor
    New York, NY 10005

 

or to such other address as any of them, by notice to the others may designate from time to time. The transmission confirmation receipt from the sender’s facsimile machine shall be conclusive evidence of successful facsimile delivery. Time shall be counted to, or from, as the case may be, the delivery in person or by mailing.

 

15.         Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral and written agreements between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be changed, waived, discharged, or terminated orally but, rather, only by a statement in writing signed by the party or parties against which enforcement or the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.

 

16.         Section Headings. Section headings herein have been inserted for reference only and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect, in any matter, or be deemed to interpret in whole or in part, any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.

 

17.         Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. The representations, warranties and agreements contained herein shall survive the delivery of, and the payment for, the Securities.

 

18.         Acceptance of Subscription. The Company may accept this Agreement at any time for all or any portion of the Securities subscribed for by executing a copy hereof as provided and notifying me within a reasonable time thereafter.

 

RESIDENTS OF ALL STATES: THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION AND ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD IN RELIANCE ON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT AND SUCH LAWS. THE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER SAID ACT AND SUCH LAWS PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM. INVESTORS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL RISKS OF THIS INVESTMENT FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY, NOR HAVE ANY OF THE FOREGOING AUTHORITIES PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THIS OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL.

 

 10 

 

 

FOR FLORIDA RESIDENTS: THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY WILL BE SOLD, AND ACQUIRED, IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT UNDER SECTION 517.061(11) OF THE FLORIDA SECURITIES AND INVESTOR PROTECTION ACT. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER SAID ACT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. PURSUANT TO SECTION 517.061(11) OF THE FLORIDA SECURITIES AND INVESTOR PROTECTION ACT, WHEN SALES ARE MADE TO FIVE (5) OR MORE PERSONS (EXCLUDING ACCREDITED INVESTORS) IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ANY SALE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA MADE PURSUANT TO SECTION 517.061(11) OF SUCH ACT IS VOIDABLE BY THE PURCHASER IN SUCH SALE (WITHOUT INCURRING ANY LIABILITY TO THE COMPANY OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY) EITHER WITHIN THREE (3) DAYS AFTER THE FIRST TENDER OF CONSIDERATION IS MADE BY SUCH PURCHASER TO THE ISSUER, AN AGENT OF THE ISSUER, OR AN ESCROW AGENT OR WITHIN THREE (3) DAYS AFTER THE AVAILABILITY OF THAT PRIVILEGE IS COMMUNICATED TO SUCH PURCHASER, WHICHEVER OCCURS LATER. TO VOID HIS OR HER PURCHASE, THE PURCHASER NEED ONLY SEND A LETTER OR TELEGRAM TO THE COMPANY AT THE ADDRESS INDICATED HEREIN. ANY SUCH LETTER OR TELEGRAM SHOULD BE SENT AND POSTMARKED PRIOR TO THE END OF THE AFOREMENTIONED THREE (3) DAY PERIOD. IT IS PRUDENT TO SEND ANY SUCH LETTER BY CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO ASSURE THAT IT IS RECEIVED AND ALSO TO HAVE EVIDENCE OF THE TIME THAT IT WAS MAILED. SHOULD A PURCHASER MAKE THIS REQUEST ORALLY, THAT PURCHASER MUST ASK FOR WRITTEN CONFIRMATION THAT THE REQUEST HAS BEEN RECEIVED. IF NOTICE IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT SPECIFIED HEREIN, THE FOREGOING RIGHT TO VOID THE PURCHASE SHALL BE NULL AND VOID.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 11 

 

 

THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT SUBSCRIBED FOR HEREBY IS:

 

                                     Shares at a per Share Purchase Price of $1.00 per share

 

Manner in Which Title is to be Held. (check one)

 

Individual Ownership Community Property
Joint Tenant with Right of Survivorship (both parties must sign)
Partnership Tenants in common
Corporation Trust IRA or Keogh
Other (please indicate)    

 

INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS   ENTITY INVESTORS
    Name of entity, if any
       
Signature (Individual)   By:  
    *Signature
    Its:  
    Title:                                     
     
     

 Signature (Joint)

(all record holders must sign)

   
     
Name(s) Typed or Printed   Name Typed or Printed  
       

Address to Which Correspondence

Should be Directed

 

Address to Which Correspondence

Should be Directed

       
     
     
     
City, State and Zip Code   City, State and Zip Code  
       
     
Email Address   Email Address  
       
     

Tax Identification or

Social Security Number

 

Tax Identification or

Social Security Number

  

*If Securities are being subscribed for by any entity, the Certificate of Signatory on the next page must also be completed

 

The foregoing subscription is accepted and the Company hereby agrees to be bound by its terms on                day of                , 202  .

 

  MGO Global Inc.
     
Dated: By:  
  Name:
  Its:

 

 12 

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF SIGNATORY

 

(To be completed if Securities are being subscribed for by an entity)

 

I,                                                     , the                                                         

(name of signatory)                                  (title)

 

of                                                     (“Entity”), a                                                      

(name of entity)                                    (type of entity)

 

Organized under the laws of                   , hereby certify that I am empowered and duly authorized by the Entity to execute the Agreement and to purchase the Securities, and certify further that the Agreement has been duly and validly executed on behalf of the Entity and constitutes a legal and binding obligation of the Entity.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand this                    day of                        , 202   .

 

   
  (Signature)

 

 13 

 

Exhibit 10.12

 

THE SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (“SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD UNLESS REGISTERED THEREUNDER OR UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

MGO Global Inc.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Subscription. I (sometimes referred to herein as the “Investor”) hereby subscribe for and agree to purchase the Securities (as defined below) of MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for the purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) set forth on the signature page to this Subscription Agreement (this “Agreement”) and on the terms and conditions described in this Agreement, which is Exhibit A to the Amended and Restated Investor Package (together with all exhibits, the “Subscription Package” or “Investor Package”) and in Exhibits B, C, D and E to the Subscription Package. Terms not defined herein in this Agreement are defined elsewhere in the Subscription Package. The Company is seeking to raise a minimum of $750,000 (the “Minimum Offering Amount”) and maximum of $2,000,000 (the “Maximum Offering Amount”) in this Offering. The minimum amount of investment required from any one subscriber to participate in this Offering is $25,000. All references to $ means United States Dollars.

 

1.Description of Securities; Description of Company and Risk Factors; Lock-Up.

 

a.Description of Securities. The Company is offering (the “Offering”) to the Investor common stock, par value $.00001 per share, of the Company (“Shares” or “Securities”) at a purchase price of $1 per share. For a more detailed description of the Securities see the Term of the Offering attached as Exhibit B to the Subscription Package.

 

b.Risks Related to the Investment in the Securities. Investing in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. Before investing, Investors should carefully consider the description of our business and the risks related to our business, as set forth in Exhibit C, the Investor Presentation set forth in Exhibit D, and the Business Overview set forth in Exhibit E, together with the other information contained in the Subscription Package.

 

c.Lock-Up. In connection with this Offering, the Investor agrees to the following lock-up agreement with respect to the purchased Shares:

 

i.From and after the date hereof and until the 180th day after the date the Company’s common stock is first listed for trading on a national securities exchange (such first trading day, the “Lock-Up Trigger Date”), the Investor agrees not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Shares.

 

ii.Between the 181st and 270th day after the Lock-Up Trigger Date, the Investor agrees not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of more than one-third of the Shares purchased pursuant to the Agreement, subject to a maximum sale on any trading day of 3% of the daily volume.

 

 7 

 

 

iii.Between the 271st and 365th day after the Lock-Up Trigger Date, the Investor agrees not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of more than one-third of the Shares purchased pursuant to the Agreement, subject to a maximum sale on any trading day of 3% of the daily volume.

 

iv.After the 365th day after the Lock-Up Trigger Date, the Investor will be entitled to sell the remaining Shares purchased hereunder without contractual restriction, but subject to any restrictions arising under applicable law, including the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Notwithstanding the above, commencing 90 days after the Lock-Up Trigger Date, if the price per share of the Company’s common stock is at least 50% higher than the IPO Price (as defined below) per share and trades at least 100,000 shares daily, both for ten (10) consecutive trading days, the Investor may sell one-third of its shares subject to a maximum sale on any trading day of 3% of the daily volume; and if the Company’s common share price is at least 100% higher than the IPO Price per share and trades at least 100,000 shares daily, both for ten (10) consecutive trading days, the Investor may sell up to an additional one-third of its shares subject to a maximum sale on any trading day of 3% of the daily volume; and if the Company common share price is at least 150% higher than the IPO Price per share and trades at least 100,000 shares daily, both for ten (10) consecutive trading days, the Investor may sell an additional one-third constituting a maximum total of all of its shares subject to a maximum sale on any trading day of 3% of the daily volume. For purpose of this term, the “IPO Price” shall mean the price the Company’s common shares are first sold to the public pursuant to an underwritten registered offering resulting in a listing of its common shares on the NASDAQ Stock Market or another national stock exchange.

 

2.Purchase.

 

a.I hereby agree to tender to Sutter Securities Inc. (the “Escrow Agent”), by check or wire transfer of immediately available funds (to a bank account and related wire instructions to be provided to me on my request) made payable to “MGO Global Inc.” for such number of Shares indicated on the signature page hereto, an executed copy of this Agreement and an executed copy of my Investor Representation and Suitability Questionnaire included within this Agreement. Funds will be held in escrow, as set forth in more detail below (the “Escrow Account”), pending the Initial Closing.

 

b.This Offering will continue until the earlier of (a) the sale of 2,000,000 Shares for $2,000,000 of gross proceeds being the Maximum Offering Amount, or (b) May 31, 2022 (the “Termination Date”). Upon the earlier of a Closing (defined below) on my subscription or completion of the Offering, the Investor will be notified promptly by the Company as to whether the Investor’s subscription has been accepted by the Company.

 

c.Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, affiliates of the Company and the Placement Agent (as defined below) may purchase securities in this Offering and the amount that such affiliates invest will be counted toward achieving the Minimum Offering Amount condition set forth in Section 4 below. Furthermore, affiliates of the Company or the Placement Agent purchasing Securities in this offering may pay for Securities they purchase by converting or forgiving at the Purchase Price existing indebtedness of the Company owed to such affiliates, and such purchase(s) of Securities would also be credited towards satisfying the Minimum Offering Amount condition set forth in Section 4 below.

 

 8 

 

 

3.Acceptance or Rejection of Subscription.

 

a.I understand and agree that the Company reserves the right to reject this subscription for the Securities, in whole or in part, for any reason and at any time prior to the Closing (defined below) of my subscription.

 

b.In the event the Company rejects this subscription, my subscription payment will be promptly returned to me without interest or deduction and this Agreement shall be of no force or effect. In the event my subscription is accepted and the Offering is completed, the subscription funds submitted by me shall be released to the Company.

 

4.            Closing. The closing (“Closing”) of this Offering may occur at any time and from time to time on or before the Termination Date. The Company must achieve the $750,000 Minimum Offering Amount prior to conducting an initial Closing (the “Initial Closing”). Upon receipt of the Minimum Offering Amount, an Initial Closing will be held, and all funds will be released from the Escrow Account and paid to the Company, less professional fees and compensation paid to the Placement Agent and syndicate members. Thereafter, additional Closings will be held as funds are received up to the earlier to occur of receipt of the $2,000,000 Maximum Offering Amount or the Termination Date. Pending receipt of the Minimum Offering Amount, all subscriptions will be placed in escrow with the Escrow Agent. If, for any reason, the Minimum Offering Amount of subscriptions are not received by the Termination Date, all escrowed funds will be returned to subscribers promptly, without interest or deduction. The Securities subscribed for herein shall not be deemed issued to or owned by me until one copy of this Agreement has been executed by me and countersigned by the Company and the Closing with respect to such Securities has occurred. Among other Closing requirements as set forth herein, upon the Closing, the Investor shall deliver to the Company its signature to the Joinder to the Company’s Stockholders’ Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit F.

 

5.            Disclosure. Because this Offering is limited to accredited investors as defined in Section 2(a)(15) of the Securities Act, and Rule 501 promulgated thereunder, in reliance upon the exemption contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the Securities are being sold without registration under the Securities Act. I acknowledge receipt of the Subscription Package and represent that I have carefully reviewed and understand the Subscription Package, including all exhibits attached thereto. I have received all information and materials regarding the Company that I have requested. I fully understand that the Company has a limited financial and operating history and that the Securities are speculative investments which involve a high degree of risk, including the potential loss of my entire investment. I fully understand the nature of the risks involved in purchasing the Securities, and I am qualified to make such investment based on my knowledge of and experience in investing in securities of this type. I have carefully considered the potential risks relating to the Company and purchase of its Securities and have, in particular, reviewed each of the risks set forth in the Subscription Package. Both my advisors and I have had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company or persons acting on its behalf concerning the Company and the terms and conditions of a proposed investment in the Company, and my advisors and I have also had the opportunity to obtain additional information necessary to verify the accuracy of information furnished about the Company. Accordingly, I have independently evaluated the risks of purchasing the Securities.

 

6.            Investor Representations and Warranties. I acknowledge, represent and warrant to, and agree with, the Company as follows:

 

a.I am aware that my investment involves a high degree of risk as disclosed herein and in the Subscription Package and have read carefully the Subscription Package, and I understand that by signing this Agreement I am agreeing to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of herein and in the Subscription Package.

 

 9 

 

 

b.I acknowledge and am aware that there is no assurance as to the future performance of the Company.

 

c.I acknowledge that there may be certain adverse tax consequences to me in connection with my purchase of Securities, and the Company has advised me to seek the advice of experts in such areas prior to making this investment.

 

d.I am purchasing the Securities for my own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with the distribution of the Securities, nor with any present intention of selling or otherwise disposing of all or any part of the foregoing securities. I agree that I must bear the entire economic risk of my investment for an indefinite period of time because, among other reasons, the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or under the securities laws of any state and, therefore, cannot be resold, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and under applicable securities laws of certain states or an exemption from such registration is available. I hereby authorize the Company to place a restrictive legend on the Securities that are issued to me.

 

e.I recognize that the Securities, as an investment, involve a high degree of risk including, but not limited to, the risk of economic losses from operations of the Company and the total loss of my investment. I believe that the investment in the Securities is suitable for me based upon my investment objectives and financial needs, and I have adequate means for providing for my current financial needs and contingencies and have no need for liquidity with respect to my investment in the Company.

 

f.I have been given access to full and complete information regarding the Company and have utilized such access to my satisfaction for the purpose of obtaining information in addition to, or verifying information included in, the Subscription Package, and I have either met with or been given reasonable opportunity to meet with officers of the Company for the purpose of asking questions of, and receiving answers from, such officers concerning the terms and conditions of the Offering of the Securities and the business and operations of the Company and to obtain any additional information, to the extent reasonably available.

 

g.I have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and have obtained, in my judgment, sufficient information from the Company to evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in the Company. I have not utilized any person as my purchaser representative as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act in connection with evaluating such merits and risks.

 

h.I have relied solely upon my own investigation in deciding to invest in the Company.

 

i.I have received no representation or warranty from the Company or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents in respect of my investment in the Company, and I have received no information (written or otherwise) from them relating to the Company or its business other than as set forth in the Subscription Package. I am not participating in the Offering as a result of or subsequent to: (i) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or (ii) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising.

 

 10 

 

 

j.I have had full opportunity to ask questions and to receive satisfactory answers concerning the Offering and other matters pertaining to my investment, and all such questions have been answered to my full satisfaction.

 

k.I have been provided an opportunity to obtain any additional information concerning the Offering and the Company and all other information to the extent the Company possesses such information or can acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense.

 

l.I am an “accredited investor” as defined in Section 2(a)(15) of the Securities Act and in Rule 501 promulgated thereunder and have attached the completed Investor Representation and Suitability Questionnaire that is included in this Agreement to indicate my “accredited investor” status. I can bear the entire economic risk of the investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time, and I am knowledgeable about and experienced in making investments in the equity securities of non-publicly traded companies, including early-stage companies. I am not acting as an underwriter or a conduit for sale to the public or to others of unregistered securities, directly or indirectly, on behalf of the Company or any person with respect to such securities.

 

m.I understand that (1) the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, or the securities laws of certain states, in reliance on specific exemptions from registration, (2) no securities administrator of any state or the federal government has recommended or endorsed this Offering or made any finding or determination relating to the fairness of an investment in the Company, and (3) the Company is relying on my representations and agreements for the purpose of determining whether this transaction meets the requirements of certain exemptions from registration afforded by the Securities Act and certain state securities laws.

 

n.I understand that since neither the offer nor sale of the Securities has been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state, the Securities may not be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise disposed of unless they are so registered or an exemption from such registration is available.

 

o.I have had the opportunity to seek independent advice from my professional advisors relating to the suitability of an investment in the Company in view of my overall financial needs and with respect to the legal and tax implications of such investment.

 

p.If the Investor is a corporation, company, trust, employee benefit plan, individual retirement account, Keogh Plan, or other tax-exempt entity, it is authorized and qualified to become an Investor in the Company and the person signing this Agreement on behalf of such entity has been duly authorized by such entity to do so.

 

q.The information contained in my Investor Representation and Suitability Questionnaire, as well as any information which I have furnished to the Company with respect to my financial position and business experience, is correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement, and, if there should be any material change in such information prior to the Closing of the Offering, I will furnish such revised or corrected information to the Company. I hereby acknowledge and am aware that except for any rescission rights that may be provided under applicable laws, I am not entitled to cancel, terminate or revoke this subscription and any agreements made in connection herewith shall survive my death or disability.

 

 11 

 

 

7.            Placement Agent. The Company has engaged Boustead Securities LLC, a broker-dealer licensed with FINRA (the “Placement Agent”), as placement agent for the Offering on a reasonable best efforts basis. The Company anticipates that the Placement Agent and its sub-agents or syndicate members, if any, will be paid at each Closing from the proceeds in the Escrow Account, fees including and not to exceed: (i) cash, equal to seven percent (7%) of the gross amount to be disbursed to the Company from each such Closing, plus (ii) a non-accountable expense allowance equal to one percent (1%) of the gross amount to be disbursed to the Company from each such Closing, plus (iii) warrants equal to seven percent (7%) of the gross amount to be disbursed to the Company from each such Closing, including (without limitation) shares issuable upon conversion or exercise of the securities sold at any Closing, and in the event that warrants or other rights are issued in any Closing, seven percent (7%) of the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants or other rights, and in the event of a debt or convertible debt financing warrants to purchase an amount of Company stock equal to the seven percent (7%) of the gross amount or facility received by the Company in a debt financing divided by the Strike Price per Share. The warrant exercise price, i.e. the “Strike Price per Share”, shall be defined as the lower of: (1) the fair market value price per share of the Company’s common stock as of each such financing closing date, (2) the price per share paid by investors in each respective Financing, (3) in the event that securities convertible are sold in the financing, the conversion price of such securities, or (4) in the event that warrants or other rights are issued in the financing, the exercise price of such warrants or other rights.

 

Any sub-agent or syndicate member of the Placement Agent that introduces investors to the Offering will be entitled to share in the cash fees attributable to those investors as described above, pursuant to the terms of an executed sub-agent or selected dealer agreement. The Company will also pay certain expenses of the Placement Agent.

 

8.           Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Investor, as of the date hereof and on each Closing Date, the following:

 

a.Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of its subsidiaries is a corporation or other business entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and has the requisite corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company and each of its subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the assets, business, financial condition, results of operations or future prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

b.Authorization, Enforcement, Compliance with Other Instruments. (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and each of the other agreements and documents that are exhibits hereto or thereto or are contemplated hereby or thereby or necessary or desirable to effect the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (the “Transaction Documents”) and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) the execution and delivery by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance of the Securities have been, or will be at the time of execution of such Transaction Document, duly authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors, and no further consent or authorization is, or will be at the time of execution of such Transaction Document, required by the Company, its respective Board of Directors or its stockholders, (iii) each of the Transaction Documents will be duly executed and delivered by the Company, (iv) the Transaction Documents when executed and delivered by the Company and each other party thereto will constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies.

 

 12 

 

 

c.Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 20,000,000 shares of common stock, par value of $0.00001 per share. Immediately prior to the Initial Closing, the Company will have 10,000,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding on a “fully diluted” basis, except as set forth on the Company’s capitalization table, attached hereto. All of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company and of any of its subsidiaries have been or will be, as of the Initial Closing, duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. No shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries will be subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company; (ii) there will be no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the Securities Act, and (iii) there are no securities or instruments of the Company or any of its subsidiaries containing anti-dilution or similar provisions, including the right to adjust the exercise, exchange or reset price under such securities, that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities as described in this Agreement. Upon request, the Company will make available to the Investor true and correct copies of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, and as in effect on the date hereof (the “Articles of Incorporation”), and the Company’s By-laws, as in effect on the date hereof (the “By-laws”), and the terms of all securities exercisable for common stock and the material rights of the holders thereof in respect thereto other than stock options issued to officers, directors, employees and consultants.

 

d.Subsidiaries. As further set forth in our Risk Factors in Exhibit C hereto, MGOTEAM 1 LLC is a subsidiary of the Company and is party to that certain Trademark License Agreement with Leo Messi’s family office, LEO MESSI MANAGEMENT SL (“LMM”).

 

e.Issuance of Securities. The Securities are duly authorized and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms hereof, shall be duly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and are free and clear of all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.

 

f.No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of each of the Transaction Documents by the Company, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the Articles of Incorporation or the By-laws (or equivalent constitutive document) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) violate or conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party, except for those which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including U.S. federal and state securities laws and regulations) applicable to the Company or any subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any subsidiary is bound or affected except for those which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except those which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation of any term of or in default under its constitutive documents. Except those which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation of any term of or in default under any material contract, agreement, mortgage, indebtedness, indenture, instrument, judgment, decree or order or any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any subsidiary. The business of the Company and its subsidiaries is not being conducted, and shall not be conducted in violation of any law, ordinance, or regulation of any governmental entity, except for any violation which could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement and as required under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is required to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof. Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Documents, nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, will require any notice, consent or waiver under any contract or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any subsidiary is bound or to which any of their assets is subject, except for any notice, consent or waiver the absence of which would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect and would not adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding two sentences have been or will be obtained or effected on or prior to the Closing.

 

 13 

 

 

g.Absence of Litigation. There is no action, suit, claim, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding (including any partial proceeding such as a deposition) or investigation before or by any court, public board, governmental or administrative agency, self-regulatory organization, arbitrator, regulatory authority, stock market, stock exchange or trading facility (an “Action”) now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding would (i) adversely affect the validity or enforceability of, or the authority or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, or (ii) have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

h.Acknowledgment Regarding Investor’s Purchase of the Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Investor is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company further acknowledges that each Investor is not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and any advice given by such Investor or any of their respective representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to such Investor’s purchase of the Securities.

 

 14 

 

 

i.No General Solicitation. Neither the Company, nor any of its “affiliates” (as used herein, “affiliate” shall have the meaning defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act), nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.

 

j.No Integrated Offering. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the Securities under the Securities Act or cause this Offering of the Securities to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act.

 

k.Employee Relations. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is involved in any labor dispute nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is any such dispute threatened. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is party to any collective bargaining agreement. The Company’s and/or its subsidiaries’ employees are not members of any union, and the Company believes that its and its subsidiaries’ relationship with their respective employees is good.

 

l.Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries have all authorizations, approvals, clearances, licenses, permits, certificates or exemptions (including manufacturing approvals and authorizations, pricing and reimbursement approvals, labeling approvals, registration notifications or their foreign equivalent) issued by any regulatory authority or governmental agency (collectively, “Permits”) required to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted except to the extent that the failure to have such Permits would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company or its subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed in all material respects their obligations under each Permit, and, as of the date hereof, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred or condition or state of facts exists which would constitute a breach or default or would cause revocation or termination of any such Permit except to the extent that such breach, default, revocation or termination would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

m.Title. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all of its real and personal property and assets, free and clear of any material restriction, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest or other charge, claim or encumbrance which would have a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to properties and assets it leases, each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in material compliance with such leases and holds a valid leasehold interest free of any liens, claims or encumbrances which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

n.Rights of First Refusal. The Company is not obligated to offer the securities offered hereunder on a right of first refusal basis or otherwise to any third parties including, but not limited to, current or former stockholders of the Company, underwriters, brokers, agents or other third parties.

 

o.Reliance. The Company acknowledges that the Investor is relying on the representations and warranties made by the Company hereunder and that such representations and warranties are a material inducement to the Investor purchasing the Securities. The Company further acknowledges that without such representations and warranties of the Company made hereunder, the Investors would not enter into this Agreement.

 

 15 

 

 

p.Brokers’ Fees. The Company does not have any liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder or agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for the payment of fees to the Placement Agent as described above.

 

q.Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company or any subsidiary and an unconsolidated or other off- balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in the Financial Statements and is not so disclosed or that otherwise would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

r.Investment Company. The Company is not required to be registered as, and is not an affiliate of, and immediately following the Closing will not be required to register as, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

s.Patents and Trademarks. The Company and its subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and other similar rights that are necessary or material for use in connection with their respective businesses and which the failure to so have could have a material adverse effect. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received a written notice that the intellectual property rights used by the Company or any subsidiary violates or infringes upon the rights of any person. To the knowledge of the Company, all such intellectual property rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another person of any of the intellectual property rights.

 

9.            Indemnification. I hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, advisors and counsel, and Boustead Securities, LLC and its officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, advisors and counsel, against any and all losses, claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable legal or other expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by each such person in connection with defending or investigating any such claims or liabilities, whether or not resulting in any liability to such person, to which any such indemnified party may become subject under the Securities Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact made by me and contained in this Agreement or my Investor Representation and Suitability Questionnaire, or (b) arise out of or are based upon any breach by me of any representation, warranty, or agreement made by me contained herein or therein.

 

10.          Severability. In the event any parts of this Agreement are found to be void, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless be binding with the same effect as though the void parts were deleted.

 

11.          Choice of Law and Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware as applied to contracts entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware. Any action arising out of this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware, and the parties hereby irrevocably waive any objections they may have to venue in the State of Delaware.

 

12.          Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The execution of this Agreement may be by actual or facsimile signature.

 

 16 

 

 

13.         Benefit; Intended Third Party Beneficiary. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto. The Placement Agent is an intended third party beneficiary of this Agreement, including the representations and warranties made by both the Company and the Investor herein and the indemnification provided by the Investor herein and may directly enforce this Agreement and its rights hereunder.

 

14.         Notices and Addresses. All notices, offers, acceptance and any other acts under this Agreement (except payment) shall be in writing, and shall be sufficiently given if delivered to the addresses in person, by Federal Express or similar courier delivery, as follows:

 

  Investor: At the address designated on the signature page of this Agreement.
     
  The Company: MGO Global Inc.
    30 Wall Street, 12th Floor
    New York, NY 10005

 

or to such other address as any of them, by notice to the others may designate from time to time. The transmission confirmation receipt from the sender’s facsimile machine shall be conclusive evidence of successful facsimile delivery. Time shall be counted to, or from, as the case may be, the delivery in person or by mailing.

 

15.         Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral and written agreements between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be changed, waived, discharged, or terminated orally but, rather, only by a statement in writing signed by the party or parties against which enforcement or the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought.

 

16.         Section Headings. Section headings herein have been inserted for reference only and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect, in any matter, or be deemed to interpret in whole or in part, any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.

 

17.         Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. The representations, warranties and agreements contained herein shall survive the delivery of, and the payment for, the Securities.

 

18.          Acceptance of Subscription. The Company may accept this Agreement at any time for all or any portion of the Securities subscribed for by executing a copy hereof as provided and notifying me within a reasonable time thereafter.

 

RESIDENTS OF ALL STATES: THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION AND ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD IN RELIANCE ON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT AND SUCH LAWS. THE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER SAID ACT AND SUCH LAWS PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM. INVESTORS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL RISKS OF THIS INVESTMENT FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY, NOR HAVE ANY OF THE FOREGOING AUTHORITIES PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THIS OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL.

 

 17 

 

 

FOR FLORIDA RESIDENTS: THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY WILL BE SOLD, AND ACQUIRED, IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT UNDER SECTION 517.061(11) OF THE FLORIDA SECURITIES AND INVESTOR PROTECTION ACT. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER SAID ACT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. PURSUANT TO SECTION 517.061(11) OF THE FLORIDA SECURITIES AND INVESTOR PROTECTION ACT, WHEN SALES ARE MADE TO FIVE (5) OR MORE PERSONS (EXCLUDING ACCREDITED INVESTORS) IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ANY SALE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA MADE PURSUANT TO SECTION 517.061(11) OF SUCH ACT IS VOIDABLE BY THE PURCHASER IN SUCH SALE (WITHOUT INCURRING ANY LIABILITY TO THE COMPANY OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY) EITHER WITHIN THREE (3) DAYS AFTER THE FIRST TENDER OF CONSIDERATION IS MADE BY SUCH PURCHASER TO THE ISSUER, AN AGENT OF THE ISSUER, OR AN ESCROW AGENT OR WITHIN THREE (3) DAYS AFTER THE AVAILABILITY OF THAT PRIVILEGE IS COMMUNICATED TO SUCH PURCHASER, WHICHEVER OCCURS LATER. TO VOID HIS OR HER PURCHASE, THE PURCHASER NEED ONLY SEND A LETTER OR TELEGRAM TO THE COMPANY AT THE ADDRESS INDICATED HEREIN. ANY SUCH LETTER OR TELEGRAM SHOULD BE SENT AND POSTMARKED PRIOR TO THE END OF THE AFOREMENTIONED THREE (3) DAY PERIOD. IT IS PRUDENT TO SEND ANY SUCH LETTER BY CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO ASSURE THAT IT IS RECEIVED AND ALSO TO HAVE EVIDENCE OF THE TIME THAT IT WAS MAILED. SHOULD A PURCHASER MAKE THIS REQUEST ORALLY, THAT PURCHASER MUST ASK FOR WRITTEN CONFIRMATION THAT THE REQUEST HAS BEEN RECEIVED. IF NOTICE IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT SPECIFIED HEREIN, THE FOREGOING RIGHT TO VOID THE PURCHASE SHALL BE NULL AND VOID.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 18 

 

 

THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT SUBSCRIBED FOR HEREBY IS:

 

  Shares at a per Share Purchase Price of $1.00 per share

 

Manner in Which Title is to be Held. (check one)

 

Individual Ownership Community Property
Joint Tenant with Right of Survivorship (both parties must sign)  
Partnership Tenants in common
Corporation Trust IRA or Keogh
Other (please indicate)  

 

INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS   ENTITY INVESTORS
    Name of entity, if any
     
Signature (Individual)   By: ____________________________________
    *Signature
    Its:
Signature (Joint) (all record holders must sign)   Title: ___________________________________
     
     
Name(s) Typed or Printed   Name Typed or Printed
     
Address to Which Correspondence Should be Directed   Address to Which Correspondence Should be Directed
      
     
     
     
City, State and Zip Code   City, State and Zip Code
     
     
Email Address   Email Address
     
     

Tax Identification or

Social Security Number

 

Tax Identification or

Social Security Number

 

*If Securities are being subscribed for by any entity, the Certificate of Signatory on the next page must also be completed

 

The foregoing subscription is accepted and the Company hereby agrees to be bound by its terms on ______day of_______________________________, 202_.

 

  MGO Global Inc.
Dated: By:  
  Name:  
  Its:  

 

 19 

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF SIGNATORY

 

(To be completed if Securities are being subscribed for by an entity)

 

I, , the________________________________________
(name of signatory) (title)  

 

of ______________________________________________(“Entity”), a

 

   
(name of entity) (type of entity)

 

Organized under the laws of ___________________________, hereby certify that I am empowered and duly authorized by the Entity to execute the Agreement and to purchase the Securities, and certify further that the Agreement has been duly and validly executed on behalf of the Entity and constitutes a legal and binding obligation of the Entity.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand this day of , 202 .

 

   
  (Signature)

 

 20 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 14.1

 

CODE OF CONDUCT OF

MGO GLOBAL INC.

  

Adopted by the Board of Directors on August 24, 2022

 

I.       Covered Persons and Purpose

 

This code of conduct (this “Code”) for MGO Global Inc., a Delaware Corporation (the “Company”), applies to the Company’s directors, officers, controllers, consultants and employees (collectively, the “Covered Persons”) and shall be publicly available for the purpose of promoting:

 

·honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 

·full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Nasdaq Capital Market (“NASDAQ”) and in other public communications made by the Company;

 

·compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations;

 

·the prompt internal reporting of violations of this Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in this Code; and

 

·accountability for adherence to this Code.

 

Each Covered Person should adhere to a high standard of business ethics and should be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest. This Code is intended to comply with the requirements of SEC Regulation S-K, Item 406 as well as SEC Rule 10A-3(b)(3) and NASDAQ Listing Rule 5610.

 

II.       Compliance with Law

  

The Company requires that all Covered Persons strictly adhere to all applicable local, state, and federal laws. If a Covered Person has questions about what laws we are subject to, or about how to comply with certain laws, it is important that such Covered Person shall alert an officer of the Company to regarding such question. The Company relies on Covered Persons not only to act ethically, but also to assist fellow Covered Persons in following the law.

 

When appropriate, the Company will provide information and training to promote compliance with laws, rules and regulations, including insider-trading laws.

  

III.       Conflicts of Interest

 

The Company’s Covered Persons are expected to make or participate in business decisions and actions based on the best interests of the Company as a whole, and not based on personal relationships or personal gain. A “conflict of interest” exists when a person’s private interest interferes in any way with the interest of the Company, or even when a private interest creates an appearance of impropriety. A conflict situation can arise when Covered Persons have interests that make it difficult for Covered Persons to perform their work objectively, or when a Covered Person receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position with the Company.

 

·It is almost always a conflict of interest for a Covered Person to work simultaneously for a competitor, customer, or supplier.

 

 

 

 

·It is also almost always a conflict of interest for a full-time Company employee to have a second job elsewhere, whether or not with a competitor, customer or supplier unless you have notified the president of Company of the second job, and the president approves.

 

Covered Persons should avoid any relationship that would cause a conflict of interest with their duties and responsibilities at the Company. All Covered Persons are expected to disclose to management any situations that may involve inappropriate or improper conflicts of interests affecting them personally or affecting other Covered Persons.

 

Members of the Company’s Board of Directors have a special responsibility to the Company and the Stockholders. To avoid conflicts of interest, directors are required to disclose to their fellow directors any personal interest they may have in a transaction being considered by the Board of Directors and, when appropriate, to recuse themselves from any decision involving a conflict of interest. Unless and until such responsibility is delegated to a committee of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors as a whole is charged with reviewing and approving all related party transactions and potential conflict of interest situations. Waivers of a conflict of interest or this Code involving executive officers and directors require approval by the Board of Directors. Any such waiver will be disclosed to our stockholders within four (4) business days, along with the reasons for the waiver, through the filing of a Form 8-K.

 

Each Covered Person must not:

 

·use his personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence decisions or financial reporting by the Company whereby the Covered Person would benefit personally to the detriment of the Company;

 

·cause the Company to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Person rather than for the benefit of the Company; or

 

·use material non-public knowledge to trade personally, or cause others to trade personally, in contemplation of the market effect of such non-public knowledge.

 

Covered Persons should be aware that conflicts are also likely to exist where a member of his or her family engages in an act or has a relationship that would present a conflict for such Covered Person.

 

Any discovery of a potential or existing conflict of interest should be immediately disclosed to management.

 

IV.       Disclosure and Compliance

 

Each Covered Person:

 

·should be familiar with the disclosure requirements generally applicable to the Company;

 

·should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Company to others, whether within or outside the Company, including to the Company’s directors and auditors, and to governmental regulators, and self-regulatory organizations;

 

·should, to the extent appropriate within his/her area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the Company and the Company’s investment adviser or sub-adviser with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the Company files with, or submits to, the SEC or NASDAQ and in other public communications made by the Company; and

 

·has the responsibility to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

  

 

Page 2 of 4 

Code of Conduct
 

 

 

Each Covered Person must:

 

·upon adoption of this Code (or thereafter as applicable, upon becoming a Covered Person), affirm in writing to the Board of Directors that he/she has received, read, and understands this Code;

 

·annually thereafter affirm in writing to the Board of Directors that he/she has complied with the requirements of this Code;

 

·not retaliate against any of the Company’s or its Service Providers’ employees or any other Covered Person or their affiliated persons for reports of potential violations of this Code that are made in good faith;

 

·notify the Audit committee promptly if he/she knows or learns of any violation of this Code. Failure to do so is itself a violation of this Code; and

 

·report promptly any change in his/her affiliations.

 

The audit committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) is responsible for granting waivers and determining sanctions, as appropriate, provided that any approvals, interpretations or waivers sought by the Company’s principal executive officers or directors will be considered by the Board of Directors.

 

The Company will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code:

 

·the audit committee will take any action it considers appropriate to investigate any actual or potential violations reported to it;

 

·if, after such investigation, the audit committee believes that no violation has occurred, the audit committee shall meet with or contact the person reporting the violation for the purposes of informing such person of the reason for not taking action;

 

·any matter that the audit committee concludes is a violation will be reported to the Board of Directors. If the committee concludes that a violation has occurred, it will inform and make a recommendation to the full Board of Directors, which will consider appropriate action, which may include review of, and appropriate modifications to: applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel, Covered Person, or a third party; a recommendation to a third party to dismiss the Covered Person; or dismissal of the Covered Person as an officer of the Company;

 

·the audit committee will be responsible for granting waivers, as appropriate; and

 

·any changes to, or waivers of, this Code will, to the extent required, be disclosed as provided by SEC rules.

 

The audit committee, in determining whether waivers should be granted and whether violations have occurred, and the Board of Directors, in rendering decisions and interpretations and in conducting investigations of potential violations under this Code, may, at their discretion, consult with such other persons as they may determine to be appropriate, including a senior legal officer of the Company or its investment adviser, counsel to the Company, independent auditors or other consultants, subject to any requirement to seek pre-approval from the Committee for the retention of independent auditors to perform permissible non-audit services.

 

V.       Waivers

 

A Covered Person may request a waiver of any of the provisions of this Code by submitting a written request for such waiver to the Committee setting forth the basis for such request and explaining how the waiver would be consistent with the standards of conduct described herein. The committee shall review such request and make a determination thereon in writing, which shall be binding, and shall inform the Board of Directors of the granting of any waiver.

 

 

Page 3 of 4 

Code of Conduct
 

 

 

In determining whether to waive any provisions of this Code, the Committee shall consider whether the proposed waiver is consistent with honest and ethical conduct.

 

The audit committee shall submit an annual report to the Board of Directors regarding waivers granted.

 

VI.       Other Policies and Procedures

 

This Code shall be the sole “code of ethics” adopted by the Company for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and forms applicable to it thereunder and the sole “code of conduct” adopted by the Company under Rule 5610 of the NASDAQ listing rules. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the Company govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of the Covered Persons who are subject to this Code, they are superseded by this Code to the extent that they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code.

 

Any amendments to this Code must be approved or ratified by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, including a majority of independent directors.

 

This Code is intended solely for the internal use by the Company and does not constitute an admission, by or on behalf of any person, as to any fact, circumstance or legal conclusion.

  

VII.       Confidentiality

 

All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by law, regulation or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the Board of Directors and its counsel or independent auditors, attorneys, or other consultants retained by the Board of Directors. 

 

 

Page 4 of 4 

Code of Conduct
 

 

Exhibit 21.1

 

List of Subsidiaries of MGO Global Inc.

 

-MGOTEAM 1 LLC
-MGO Global One LLC

 

   

 

 

Exhibit 23.1 

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors of

 

MGO Global, Inc.

 

We consent to the inclusion in the Form S-1 Registration Statement of MGO Global, Inc. (the “Company”) our report dated August 2, 2022, except for the effects of the restatement disclosed in Note 2, as to which the date is October 24, 2022, relating to our audits of the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021, and 2020, and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020.

 

We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement.

 

/s/ BF Borgers CPA PC

 

Certified Public Accountants

Lakewood, Colorado

November 18, 2022

 

   

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

  

1.Purpose

 

The purpose of the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) is to assist the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation) in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to:

 

·the Corporation’s financial statements;

 

·the integrity of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting and management information systems;

 

·the qualifications and independence of the Corporation’s external auditor;

 

·the performance of the Corporation’s internal audit function and external auditor; and

 

·any other matters assigned to the Committee by the Board or as mandated by applicable laws, rules, and regulations, as well as the NASDAQ listing standards.

 

Although the Committee has the powers and responsibilities set forth in this Board resolution, the role of the Committee is an oversight. The members of the Committee (the “Members”) are not full-time employees of the Corporation and may or may not be accountants or auditors by profession or experts in the fields of accounting or auditing and, in any event, do not serve in such capacity. Consequently, it is not the duty of the Committee to conduct audits or to determine that the Corporation’s financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and are in accordance with applicable financial reporting standards and other applicable regulatory requirements. These are the responsibilities of management and the Corporation’s external auditor.

 

2.Composition and Membership

 

2.1.       Independence. The Committee shall consist of three or more members of the Board, and the Chairman of the Board in an ex-officio role. Each member the Board has selected and determined to be “independent” for purposes of the Committee membership in accordance with the applicable listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).

 

2.2.       Financial Literacy. All members of the Committee shall meet the financial literacy requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market and at least one member shall be an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined under applicable rules of the Commission.

 

2.3.       Serving on Multiple Audit Committees. No Member of the Committee may serve on the audit committee of more than three (3) public companies, inclusive of the Company, unless the Board has determined that such simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on the Committee.

 

2.4.       Tenure. Except as otherwise directed by the Board, a director selected as a Committee member shall continue to be a member for as long as he or she remains a director or until his or her earlier resignation from the Committee. Any member may be removed from the Committee by the Board, with or without cause, at any time.

 

 

 

 

2.5       Committee Chair. The Chair of the Committee shall be appointed from among the Committee members by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Board, shall preside at meetings of the Committee and shall have authority to convene meetings, set agendas for meetings, and determine the Committee’s information needs, except as otherwise provided by action of the Committee. In the absence of the Chair at a duly convened meeting, the Committee shall select a temporary substitute from among its Members to serve as chair of the meeting.

 

3.Meetings

 

3.1.       Meetings of the Committee will be held at such times and places as the Chair may determine, but in any event not less than four (4) times per year. Twenty-four (24) hours’ advance notice of each meeting will be given to each member orally, by telephone, by facsimile or e-mail, unless all members are present and waive notice, or if those absent waive notice before or after a meeting. Members may attend all meetings either in person or by electronic communications.

 

3.2.       The Chair, if present, will act as the chair of meetings of the Committee. If the Chair is not present at a meeting of the Committee, the members in attendance may select one of their members to act as chair of the meeting.

 

3.3.       The Committee will appoint any person in attendance at the meeting, who may, but need not, be a member to act as the secretary of that meeting, and such person will maintain minutes of the meeting and deliberations of the Committee. The secretary of the meeting will circulate the minutes of each meeting of the Committee to the members of the Board.

 

3.4.       A majority of Members will constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Committee. Each Member will have one vote and decisions of the Committee will be made by an affirmative vote of the majority. The Chair will not have a deciding or casting vote in the case of an equality of votes. Powers of the Committee may also be exercised by written resolutions signed by all Members.

 

3.5.       The Committee may invite from time to time such persons as it sees fit to attend its meetings and to take part in the discussion and consideration of the affairs of the Committee.

 

3.6.       In advance of every regular meeting of the Committee, the Chair will prepare and distribute to the members and others as deemed appropriate by the Chair, an agenda of matters to be addressed at the meeting together with appropriate briefing materials. The Committee may require officers and employees of the Corporation to produce such information and reports as the Committee may deem appropriate in order for it to fulfill its duties.

 

4.Powers and Responsibilities

 

4.1.       In fulfilling exercising its powers hereunder, the Committee will be entitled to rely reasonably on the integrity of those persons within the Corporation and the professionals and experts (such as the Corporation’s external auditor) from whom it receives information, the accuracy of the financial and other information provided to the Committee by such persons and representations made by the Corporation’s external auditor as to any services provided by such firm to the Corporation.

 

4.2.       External Auditor

 

(i)the Corporation’s external auditor is required to report directly to the Committee;

 

(ii)the Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the work of any external auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an auditor’s report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Corporation;

 

 Page 2 of 4
Audit Committee Charter
 

 

 

(iii)the Committee is directly responsible for overseeing the work of the external auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an auditor’s report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Corporation, including the resolution of disagreements between management and the external auditor regarding financial reporting;

 

(iv)the Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the proposed audit scope, focus areas, timing and key decisions underlying the audit plan by the Corporation’s external auditor;

 

(v)the Committee is also responsible for:

 

monitoring and reporting to the Board with regards to the qualifications, independence, and performance of the external auditor, including the lead audit partner, on an annual basis or more frequently as determined by the Committee;

 

receiving and reviewing reports from the external auditor on the progress against the approved audit plan, important findings, recommendations for improvements and the auditors’ final report;

 

for pre-approving (which may be pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures) all audit and non-audit services to be provided to the Corporation or its subsidiary entities by the Corporation’s external auditor as permitted under Applicable Regulatory Requirements and to approve all related fees and other terms of engagement; and

 

reviewing and discussing with management and the external auditor the Corporation’s annual audited financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis (the “MD&A”) and annual and interim earnings press releases, as well as financial information and earnings guidance, if applicable, provided to analysts and rating agencies, before the Corporation publicly discloses this information. The Committee, if the authority is so granted to it by the Board from time to time, will be responsible for reviewing and approving the Corporation’s quarterly interim financial statements and related MD&A. The Committee shall also review and approve disclosures required to be included by the Corporation in periodic reports with respect to audit and non-audit services.

 

(vi)Review of public disclosure of financial information.

 

(vii)The Committee is additionally responsible for:

 

·being satisfied that adequate procedures are in place for the review of the Corporation’s public disclosure of financial information extracted or derived from the Corporation’s financial statements and periodically assessing the adequacy of those procedures;

 

·recommending to the Board whether the Corporation’s annual audited financial statements should be included in the Corporation’s annual report for filing with the SEC and timely prepare the report required by the SEC to be included in the Corporation’s annual proxy statement, if applicable, and any other reports of the Committee required by any Applicable Regulatory Requirement;

 

 Page 3 of 4
Audit Committee Charter
 

 

 

·reviewing and discussing with management and the Corporation’s external auditor (i) major issues regarding, or significant changes in, the Corporation’s accounting principles and financial statement presentations, (ii) analyses prepared by management or the Corporation’s external auditor concerning significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, (iii) the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Corporation, and (iv) the type and presentation of information to be included in earnings press releases and any financial information and earnings guidance, if applicable, provided to analysts and rating agencies; and

 

·reviewing and discussing with management all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations) and other relationships of the Corporation with unconsolidated entities or other persons.

 

5.Reporting

 

The Chair of the Committee shall report to the Board at Board meetings on the Committee’s activities.

 

6.Access to Information

 

The Committee will be granted unrestricted access to all information regarding the Corporation that is necessary or desirable to fulfill its duties and all directors, officers, and employees will be directed to cooperate as requested by Members.

 

The Committee has the sole authority:

 

to engage or terminate independent counsel and other advisors as it determines necessary or advisable to carry out its duties and shall be directly responsible for overseeing the work of such advisors;

 

to set and pay the compensation for any advisors employed by the Committee; and

 

to communicate directly with the internal and external auditors.

 

In discharging its oversight role, the Committee is empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention with full access to all books, records, facilities, and personnel of the Corporation.

 

7.Funding

 

The Corporation shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, for payment of:

 

(i)compensation to any registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attest services for the listed issuer;

 

(ii)compensation to any advisers employed by the Committee; and

 

(iii)Ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.

 

 Page 4 of 4
Audit Committee Charter
 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER

 

I. Adoption of Charter

 

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) has adopted this Charter (the “Charter”) of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”).

 

II. Organization

 

1. Committee Structure and Membership

 

The Committee shall consist of at least two (2) directors of the Company (each, a “member”), as determined from time to time by the Board. Each member of the Committee shall be “independent” in accordance with the standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC or New York Stock Exchange, LLC (the “Exchange Rules”), as well as guidelines set forth by the Board from time to time, which guidelines the Board will base on, among other things, the provisions of Rule 10C1(b)(1) under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

The Board must consider all factors relevant to determining whether a director has a relationship to the Company which is material to that director’s ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a Committee member, including, but not limited to:

 

a. the source of compensation of such director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee paid by the Company to such director; and

 

b. whether such director is affiliated with the Company, a subsidiary of the Company or an affiliate of a subsidiary of the Company.

 

Each member of the Committee must further qualify as a “non-employee director” for the purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and as an “outside director” for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

2. Appointment

 

The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board. Candidates to fill subsequent vacancies shall be recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board and thereafter appointed by the Board. The members of the Committee shall serve one (1)-year terms and shall serve for such term or terms as the Board may determine or until earlier resignation or death. The Board may remove any member from the Committee at any time with or without cause.

 

Unless a Chairman is elected by the full Board, the members of the Committee shall designate a Chairman of the Committee by the majority vote of the full Committee membership. In the event of a tie vote on any issue, the Chairman’s vote shall decide the issue. The Chairman of the Committee will chair all regular sessions of the Committee and set agendas for Committee meetings.

 

3. Committee Meetings

 

The Committee shall meet as often as it deems necessary. The Committee shall be governed by the same rules regarding meetings (including meetings in person or by telephone or other similar communications equipment), action without meetings, notice, waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements as are applicable to the Board. The Committee may invite such members of management to its meetings as it deems appropriate.

 

 

Page 1 of 4

Compensation Committee Charter

 

 

 

4. Resources and Authority

 

The Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its duties and responsibilities, including the authority to select, retain, terminate and approve the fees and other retention terms of special counsel or other experts or consultants, as it deems appropriate, without having to seek the approval of the Board. The Committee shall have authority to elect, retain, terminate and approve the fees and other retention terms of consultants or search firms used to identify director candidates and to assist in the evaluation of director compensation.

 

5. Reports to the Board

 

The Committee shall take written minutes of its meetings and activities and submit such minutes to the recording secretary of the Company for filing. The Chair of the Committee shall report to the Board following meetings of the Committee and as otherwise requested by the Chairman of the Board.

 

III. Purpose and Responsibilities

 

1. Purpose

 

The purpose of the Committee is to carry out the responsibilities delegated by the Board relating to the review and determination of executive compensation.

 

2. Responsibilities

 

The Committee shall have the following authority and responsibilities:

 

a. To review and determine, or recommend to the Board to determine, annually, the corporate goals and objectives applicable to the compensation of the chief executive officer (“CEO”), evaluate at least annually the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and determine or recommend to the Board to determine, the CEO’s compensation level based on this evaluation. The Committee’s decisions regarding performance goals and objectives and the compensation of the CEO are to be reviewed and ratified by the Company’s full Board, provided, however, the CEO shall not be present during voting or deliberations regarding his or her compensation.

 

b. To review, approve and determine, or make recommendations to the Board to determine, the compensation of all other executive officers of the Company.

 

c. To review, approve and determine, or make recommendations to the Board regarding, incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans, as applicable.

 

d. To administer the Company’s incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans, except as reserved or otherwise delegated by the Board, as applicable.

 

e. To review the Company’s incentive compensation arrangements to determine whether they encourage excessive risk-taking, to review and discuss the relationship between risk management policies and practices and compensation, and to evaluate compensation policies and practices that could mitigate any such risk.

 

 

Page 2 of 4

Compensation Committee Charter

 

 

 

f. To make recommendations to the Board regarding director compensation.

 

g. To review with management and approve the Company’s disclosures under the caption “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” in the Company’s periodic reports or proxy statements to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

h. To establish and review general policies relating to compensation and benefits of the employees.

 

IV. Outside Advisors

 

The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to select, retain and obtain the advice of a compensation consultant as necessary to assist with the execution of its duties and responsibilities as set forth in this Charter. The Committee shall set the compensation, and oversee the work, of the compensation consultant. The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to retain and obtain the advice and assistance of outside counsel and such other advisors as it deems necessary to fulfil its duties and responsibilities under this Charter. The Committee shall set the compensation, and directly oversee the work, of its outside counsel and other advisors. The Committee shall receive appropriate funding from the Company, as determined by the Committee in its capacity as a committee of the Board, for the payment of reasonable compensation to its compensation consultants, outside counsel and any other advisors. Nothing in this Charter shall limit the Committee’s ability or obligation to exercise its own judgment in fulfilment of its duties, nor shall any provision of this Charter require the Committee to implement or act consistently with the advice or recommendations of the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser to the Committee.

 

The Committee may select or receive advice from, a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser to the Committee, other than in-house legal counsel, only after taking into consideration the following factors:

 

a. the provision of other services to the Company by the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser;

 

b. the amount of fees received from the Company by the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser, as a percentage of the total revenue of the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser;

 

c. the policies and procedures of the person that employs the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest;

 

d. any business or personal relationship of the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser with a member of the Committee;

 

e. any stock of the Company owned by the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser; and

 

f. any business or personal relationship of the compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser, or the person employing the adviser with an executive officer of the Company.

 

Subject to applicable Exchange Rules, the Committee shall conduct the same “independence” assessment as set forth in Article II, Section 1 of this Charter for each compensation consultant, outside counsel and any other advisors retained by the Committee.

 

 

Page 3 of 4

Compensation Committee Charter

 

 

 

The compensation consultant, outside counsel and any other advisors retained by the Committee shall be “independent” in accordance with guidelines set by the Board from time to time, which guidelines the Board will base, to the extent required or deemed appropriate, on the provisions of the Exchange Rules promulgated in response to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC.

 

The Committee shall evaluate whether any compensation consultant retained or to be retained by it has any conflict of interest in accordance with Item 407(e)(3)(iv) of Regulation S-K. Any compensation consultant retained by the Committee to assist with its responsibilities relating to executive compensation or director compensation shall not be retained by the Company for any compensation or other human resource matters.

 

V. Delegation of Authority

 

The Committee shall have the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities, along with the authority to take action in relation to such responsibilities, to one (1) or more subcommittees as the Committee may deem appropriate in its sole discretion.

 

VI. Periodic Review and Amendment of Charter and Committee

 

The Committee shall perform a periodic review and evaluation of the performance of the Committee and its members, including by reviewing the compliance of the Committee with this Charter. In addition, the Committee shall review and reassess annually the adequacy of this Charter and recommend to the Board any improvements to this Charter that the Committee considers necessary or valuable. The Committee shall conduct such evaluations and reviews in such manner, and at such times, as it deems appropriate.

 

 

Page 4 of 4

Compensation Committee Charter

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.3

 

MGO GLOBAL INC.

 

NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER

 

I. Adoption of Charter

 

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) has adopted this Charter (the “Charter”) of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Committee”), effective as of the date first indicated above.

 

II. Organization

 

1. Committee Structure and Membership

 

a. The Committee shall consist of at least two (2) directors of the Company (each, a “member”), as determined from time to time by the Board.

 

b. Each member of the Committee shall be “independent” in accordance with the rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC or New York Stock Exchange, LLC (the “Exchange Rules”), as well as guidelines set forth by the Board from time to time, which guidelines the Board will base on, among other things, the provisions under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).

 

2. Appointment

 

The Committee members will be appointed by the Board. Candidates to fill subsequent vacancies shall be nominated by the Committee as set forth below and appointed by the Board. Each member of the Committee may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the Board. The members of the Committee shall serve one (1)-year terms and shall serve for such term or terms as the Board may determine and until their successors are elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal. Unless a Chairman is elected by the full Board, the members of the Committee shall designate a Chairman of the Committee by the majority vote of the full Committee membership. In the event of a tie vote on any issue, the Chairman’s vote shall decide the issue. The Chairman of the Committee will chair all regular sessions of the Committee and set agendas for Committee meetings.

 

3. Committee Meetings

 

The Committee shall meet as often as it deems necessary. The Chairman of the Board or any member of the Committee may call meetings of the Committee. The Committee shall be governed by the same rules regarding meetings (including meetings in person or by telephone or other similar communications equipment), action without meetings, notice, waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements as are applicable to the Board.

 

The Committee may request any officer or employee of the Company, the Company’s outside counsel or independent auditor to attend a meeting of the Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Committee. The Committee may also exclude from its meetings any persons it deems appropriate in order to carry out its responsibilities.

 

4. Resources and Authority

 

The Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its duties and responsibilities, including the authority to select, retain, terminate and approve the fees and other retention terms of special counsel or other experts or consultants, as it deems appropriate, without having to seek the approval of the Board. The Committee shall have authority to elect, retain, terminate and approve the fees and other retention terms of consultants or search firms used to identify director candidates and to assist in the evaluation of director compensation. The Committee shall have the authority to conduct or authorize investigations into any matter within the scope of its responsibilities as it shall deem appropriate, including the authority to request any officer, employee or advisor of the Company to meet with the Committee or any advisors engaged by the Committee.

 

 

 

 

5. Reports to the Board

 

The Committee shall take written minutes of its meetings and activities and submit such minutes to the recording secretary of the Company for filing. The Chairman of the Committee shall report to the Board following meetings of the Committee and as otherwise requested by the Chairman of the Board.

 

III. Purpose

 

1. The Committee is appointed by the Board for the purposes of:

 

a. developing and recommending criteria for selecting new directors;

 

b. identifying and recommending to the Board individuals qualified to become Board members and Committee members consistent with criteria approved by the Board;

 

c. receiving communications from stockholders directed to the Board, including stockholder proposals regarding director nominees to the Board;

 

d. recommending to the Board corporate governance principles, codes of conduct and applicable compliance mechanisms;

 

e. overseeing evaluations of the Board, individual Board members and the Committees of the Board; and

 

f. performing such other activities consistent with this Charter, the Certificate of Incorporation, as may be amended from time to time, the Bylaws, as may be amended from time to time, and governing law, as the Committee deems appropriate or necessary or as delegated to the Committee by the Board.

 

IV. Function and Responsibilities

 

To fulfill its purpose and responsibilities, the Committee’s functions will include the following with respect to the Company:

 

1. Review the size and composition of the Board.

 

2. Identify individuals believed to be qualified to become Board members, consistent with the corporate governance principles and any other factors deemed appropriate, and consider and recommend to the Board nominees for election as directors, including nominees recommended by members of the Board and stockholders of the Company, and consider the performance of incumbent directors whose terms are expiring in determining whether to nominate them to stand for reelection at the next annual meeting of the stockholders.

 

3. In the event of a vacancy on the Board or any committee of the Board (including a vacancy created by an increase in the size of the Board or any committee of the Board), identify individuals qualified to fill such vacancy, consistent with any criterion set forth in the Company’s corporate governance principles from time to time, as well as any other factors it deems appropriate.

 

 Page 2 of 3 
 Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter 

 

 

4. Establish procedures for, and administer periodic performance evaluations of the Board as deemed appropriate.

 

5. Review periodically the composition, structure and function of the committees of the Board and recommend, as appropriate, changes in the number, function or membership of such committees.

 

6. Develop and recommend to the Board from time to time corporate governance guidelines applicable to the Company.

 

7. Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Certificate of Incorporation, as may be amended from time to time, the Bylaws, as may be amended from time to time, and governing law, as the Committee deems appropriate or necessary or as delegated to the Committee by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the Exchange Rules, Committee oversight of director nominations shall not apply in cases where the right to nominate a director legally belongs to a third party.

 

V. Delegation of Authority

 

The Committee shall have the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities, along with the authority to take action in relation to such responsibilities, to one (1) or more subcommittees as the Committee may deem appropriate in its sole discretion.

 

VI. Outside Advisors

 

The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to select, retain and obtain the advice of consultants as necessary to assist with the execution of its duties and responsibilities as set forth in this Charter. The Committee shall set the compensation, and oversee the work, of any such consultants. The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to retain and obtain the advice and assistance of outside counsel and such other advisors as it deems necessary to fulfill its duties and responsibilities under this Charter. The Committee shall set the compensation, and oversee the work, of its outside counsel and other advisors. The Committee shall receive appropriate funding from the Company, as determined by the Committee in its capacity as a committee of the Board, for the payment of compensation to its compensation consultants, outside counsel and any other advisors.

 

VII. Periodic Review and Amendment of Charter and Committee

 

The Committee shall perform a periodic review and evaluation of the performance of the Committee and its members, including by reviewing the compliance of the Committee with this Charter. In addition, the Committee shall review and reassess periodically the adequacy of this Charter and recommend to the Board any improvements to this Charter that the Committee considers necessary or valuable. The Committee shall conduct such evaluations and reviews in such manner, and at such times, as it deems appropriate. Any amendment or other modification of this Charter shall be made and approved by the full Board.

 

 Page 3 of 3 
 Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter 

 

Exhibit 99.4

 

CONSENT OF DIRECTOR NOMINEE

 

Pursuant to Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent to being named as a person who will be appointed to the Board of Directors of MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and to all other references to me, in the Company’s Draft Registration Statement on Form S-1 (CIK No. 0001902794) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act, and any and all public filings of, and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to such Registration Statement and in any registration statement for the same securities offering filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto (collectively, the “Registration Statement”). I hereby consent to the inclusion of any of my biographical and other information required to be included therein pursuant to federal securities laws. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

     
Dated:  October 6, 2022  /s/Obie McKenzie  
  Obie McKenzie  

 

  

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.5

 

CONSENT OF DIRECTOR NOMINEE

 

Pursuant to Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent to being named as a person who will be appointed to the Board of Directors of MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and to all other references to me, in the Company’s Draft Registration Statement on Form S-1 (CIK No. 0001902794) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act, and any and all public filings of, and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to such Registration Statement and in any registration statement for the same securities offering filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto (collectively, the “Registration Statement”). I hereby consent to the inclusion of any of my biographical and other information required to be included therein pursuant to federal securities laws. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

Dated:  October 8, 2022  /s/ Paul Wahlgren  
  Paul Wahlgren  

  

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.6

 

CONSENT OF DIRECTOR NOMINEE

 

Pursuant to Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent to being named as a person who will be appointed to the Board of Directors of MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and to all other references to me, in the Company’s Draft Registration Statement on Form S-1 (CIK No. 0001902794) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act, and any and all public filings of, and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to such Registration Statement and in any registration statement for the same securities offering filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto (collectively, the “Registration Statement”). I hereby consent to the inclusion of any of my biographical and other information required to be included therein pursuant to federal securities laws. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

Dated:  October 6, 2022  /s/ Nicole Fernandez-McGovern  
  Nicole Fernandez-McGovern  

 

  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.7

 

CONSENT OF DIRECTOR NOMINEE

 

Pursuant to Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent to being named as a person who will be appointed to the Board of Directors of MGO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and to all other references to me, in the Company’s Draft Registration Statement on Form S-1 (CIK No. 0001902794) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act, and any and all public filings of, and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to such Registration Statement and in any registration statement for the same securities offering filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto (collectively, the “Registration Statement”). I hereby consent to the inclusion of any of my biographical and other information required to be included therein pursuant to federal securities laws. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

Dated:  October 6, 2022  /s/ Salima Popatia  
  Salima Popatia  

 

   

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

 

Form S-1

(Form Type)

 

MGO Global Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

  Security Type  Security
Class
Title
  Fee
Calculation
or Carry
Forward
Rule
   Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share(1)
   Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
   Fee Rate   Amount of
Registration
Fee
 
Fees to Be Paid  Equity  Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share   457(o)  $5.00   $8,625,000.00(2)    0.00011020   $950.48 
                                
Fees to Be Paid  Equity  Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (3)   457(o)  $5.00   $12,500,000.00    0.00011020   $1,377.50 
                                
Fees to Be Paid  Equity  Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (4)   457(g)  $6.25   $754,687.50(2)   0.00011020   $83.17 
Fees to Be Paid  Equity  Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (5)   457(g)  $

5.00

(6)  $391,125.00    0.00011020    43.10 
                                
   Total Offering Amounts            $22,270,812.50      $2,454.25 
   Total Fees Previously Paid                         
   Total Fee Offsets                         
      Net Fee Due                    $2,454.25 

  

(1)This registration statement also relates to such additional shares of Common Stock as may be issued in connection with a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, or similar transaction effected without receipt of consideration that increases the number of the registrant’s outstanding shares of Common Stock, pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

(2)Includes an additional 15% related to the exercise in full of the over-allotment option.

 

(3)Consists of 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock registered for sale by certain of the selling stockholders named in this registration statement and includes 700,000 shares of Common Stock underlying warrants issuable upon exercise for $1.00 per share for sale by certain of the selling stockholders named in this prospectus.

 

(4)Represents 7% of the total number of shares of Common Stock sold in this offering and consists of 120,750 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Underwriter’s Warrants for $6.25 per share.

 

(5)Consists of 78,225 shares of Common Stock issuable to the Underwriter upon the exercise of the Underwriter’s Placement Agent Warrants for $1.00 per share.

  

(6) Pursuant to Rule 457(g), the registration fee is calculated on highest of (1) the price at which the warrants or rights may be exercised ($1.00) and (2) the offering price of the Common Stock ($5.00).