UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from _________________ to _________________

 

Commission File No.: 000-54959

 

EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada 20-3937596
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
1805 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Portland, Oregon 97214
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Issuer’s telephone number: (971) 888-4264

 

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x     No ¨

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨ Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes    ¨ No x

 

As of November 14, 2016, 4,766,659 shares of our common stock were outstanding.

 

 

 

 

EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC.

 

FORM 10-Q

 

September 30, 2016

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
PART I— FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
     
Item 1. Financial Statements  
  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 3
  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 4
  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 5
  Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 6
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 22
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 32
Item 4 Control and Procedures 33
     
PART II— OTHER INFORMATION  
     
Item 1 Legal Proceedings 34
Item 1A Risk Factors 34
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 34
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 34
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 34
Item 5. Other Information 34
Item 6. Exhibits 35
     
SIGNATURES 36

 

2

 

 

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1 –FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015

 

    September
30, 2016
(unaudited)
    December 31,
2015
 
Assets                
Current assets:                
Cash   $ 400,178     $ 141,317  
Trade receivables     383,004       142,206  
Inventories     881,652       683,824  
Prepaid expenses     70,379       163,506  
Total current assets     1,735,213       1,130,853  
Property and equipment - net     102,378       112,005  
Other assets     48,000       49,000  
Total Assets   $ 1,885,591     $ 1,291,858  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Deficit                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable   $ 805,161     $ 1,300,532  
Accrued liabilities     818,164       563,814  
Deferred revenue     3,194       727  
Current portion of notes payable     4,424       4,098  
Related party note payable     12,500       12,500  
Convertible notes payable - net of debt discounts     -       455,958  
Total current liabilities     1,643,443       2,337,629  
Notes payable - less current portion and debt discount     929,537       17,842  
Total liabilities     2,572,980       2,355,471  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)                
                 
Stockholders' deficit:                
Series A convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 972 and 0 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively (liquidation value of $2,430,000 at September 30, 2016)     756,835       -  
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 45,000,000 shares authorized; 4,766,659 and 2,309,750 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively     9,535       4,620  
Additional paid-in capital     9,905,980       6,493,518  
Accumulated deficit     (11,359,739 )     (7,561,751 )
Total stockholders' deficit     (687,389 )     (1,063,613 )
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Deficit   $ 1,885,591     $ 1,291,858  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

(unaudited)

 

    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September
30, 2016
    September
30, 2015
    September
30, 2016
    September
30, 2015
 
Sales   $ 796,222     $ 492,380     $ 2,045,568     $ 1,344,881  
Less excise taxes     188,375       140,299       469,936       363,316  
Net sales     607,847       352,081       1,575,632       981,565  
Cost of sales     370,854       167,524       895,239       518,356  
Gross profit     236,993       184,557       680,393       463,209  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses     1,583,553       1,587,260       3,948,010       3,431,143  
Loss from operations     (1,346,560 )     (1,402,703 )     (3,267,617 )     (2,967,934 )
Other (expense) income - net     (89,889 )     (9,909 )     (493,012 )     36,244  
Loss before income taxes     (1,436,449 )     (1,412,612 )     (3,760,629 )     (2,931,690 )
Provision for income taxes     -       -       -       -  
Net loss     (1,436,449 )     (1,412,612 )     (3,760,629 )     (2,931,690 )
                                 
Dividends on convertible preferred stock     (19,600 )     -       (37,359 )     -  
                                 
Net loss available to common shareholders   $ (1,456,049 )   $ (1,412,612 )   $ (3,797,988 )   $ (2,931,690 )
                                 
Basic and diluted net loss per common share   $ (0.31 )   $ (0.62 )   $ (1.14 )   $ (1.28 )
                                 
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding     4,761,854       2,291,489       3,320,494       2,281,548  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

(unaudited)

 

    Nine Months Ended  
    September
30, 2016
    September
30, 2015
 
Cash Flows From Operating Activities                
Net loss   $ (3,760,629 )   $ (2,931,690 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization     16,579       13,927  
Amortization of debt issuance costs     116,750       -  
Amortization of beneficial conversion feature     228,549       -  
Issuance of common stock in exchange for services     218,970       715,871  
Stock-based compensation     208,977       124,250  
Gain on spin-off of subsidiary     -       (52,890 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Trade receivables     (240,798 )     74,103  
Inventories     (197,828 )     (436,565 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets     94,127       89,704  
Accounts payable     (476,158 )     821,457  
Accrued liabilities     657,650       338,770  
Deferred revenue     2,467       1,139  
Net cash used in operating activities     (3,131,344 )     (1,241,924 )
Cash Flows From Investing Activities                
Purchases of property and equipment     (6,952 )     (42,856 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (6,952 )     (42,856 )
Cash Flows From Financing Activities                
Proceeds from preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $35,920, with warrants     463,080       -  
Proceeds from common stock with detachable warrants     2,000,000       -  
Payments on convertible notes payable     (500,923 )     (3,632 )
Proceeds from notes payable with warrants issued     1,250,000       -  
Proceeds from convertible notes payable, net of issuance costs     185,000       291,500  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     3,397,157       287,868  
Net increase (decrease) in cash     258,861       (996,912 )
Cash - beginning of period     141,317       1,082,290  
Cash - end of period   $ 400,178     $ 85,378  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information                
Cash paid during the period for interest   $ 294,240     $ 4,593  
Cash paid during the period for income taxes   $ -     $ -  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Financing Activity                
Stock issued for payment of trade debt   $ 19,213     $ -  
Series A preferred issued in exchange of compensation   $ 423,000     $ -  
Series A preferred issued in exchange of debt   $ 50,000     $ -  
Common stock issued in exchange of notes payable   $ 196,330     $ -  
Common stock issued in exchange for dividend   $ 17,759     $ -  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

1. Description of Business and Liquidity

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. (the “Company” or “Eastside”) was formed in 2008 and is a manufacturer, developer, producer, and marketer of hand-crafted spirits in the following beverage alcohol categories: bourbon, whiskey, rum, and vodka. The Company currently distributes its products in 22 states (California, New York, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington) and is authorized to distribute its products in the province of Ontario, Canada. The Company also generates revenue from tastings, tasting room tours, private parties, and merchandise sales from its facilities in Oregon. The Company is subject to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). The Company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

 

The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 referred to in these condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of Eastside’s wholly-owned subsidiary Michael Williams Web Design Inc. of New York, NY (“MWWD”) (through February 3, 2015).

   

2. Going Concern

 

Our financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. We have incurred a loss of $3,797,988 and have an accumulated deficit of $11,359,739 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, and expect to incur further losses in the development of our business. We have been dependent on funding operations through the issuance of debt, convertible debt and private sale of equity securities. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans include continuing to finance operations through the private or public placement of debt and/or equity securities and the reduction of expenses. The financial statements do not include any adjustment relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company completed equity and debt financings totaling approximately $3.9 million in net cash proceeds. Management believes that its successful efforts to raise capital and increases in revenues will provide the opportunity for the Company to continue as a going concern. The Company's ultimate success depends on its ability to achieve profitable operations and generate positive cash flow from operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will achieve profitable operations or raise additional capital or financing at acceptable terms.

 

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and with instructions for Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all disclosures necessary for a complete presentation of financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows in conformity with GAAP. However, all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The unaudited condensed consolidated results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Eastside Distilling, Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiary MWWD (through February 3, 2015). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

6

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

Segment Reporting

 

The Company determined its operating segment on the same basis that it uses to evaluate its performance internally. The Company has one business activity, marketing and distributing hand-crafted spirits, and operates as one segment. The Company's chief operating decision makers, its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, review the Company's operating results on an aggregate basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company records revenue when all four of the following criteria are met: (i) there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery of the products and/or services has occurred; (iii) the selling price is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

 

The Company recognizes sales when merchandise is shipped from a warehouse directly to wholesale customers (except in the case of a consignment sale). For consignment sales, the Company recognizes sales upon the consignee’s shipment to the customer. Postage and handling charges billed to customers are also recognized as sales upon shipment of the related merchandise. Shipping terms are generally FOB shipping point, and title passes to the customer at the time and place of shipment or purchase by customers at a retail location. The customer has no cancellation privileges after shipment or upon purchase at retail locations, other than customary rights of return. The Company excludes sales tax collected and remitted to various states from sales and cost of sales. Sales from items sold through the Company’s retail locations are recognized at the time of sale.

 

Revenue received from online merchants who sell discounted gift certificates for the Company's merchandise and tastings is deferred until the customer has redeemed the discounted gift certificate or the gift certificate has expired, whichever occurs earlier.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales consists of the costs of ingredients utilized in the production of spirits, manufacturing labor and overhead, warehousing rent, packaging, and in-bound freight charges. Ingredients account for the largest portion of the cost of sales, followed by contract production fees and packaging.

 

Shipping and Fulfillment Costs

 

Freight costs incurred related to shipment of merchandise from the Company’s distribution facilities to customers are recorded in cost of sales.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash equivalents are considered to be highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of the purchase. The Company had no cash equivalents at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

7

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

Concentrations

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of trade receivables. At September 30, 2016 and 2015, two distributors accounted for trade receivables greater than 10% of the total trade receivables at an aggregate of 77% and 85%, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, sales to three distributors exceeded 10% of the total consolidated revenues at an aggregate of 57%. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, sales to one distributor exceeded 10% of the total consolidated revenues at 35%.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

GAAP defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements. GAAP permits an entity to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value and contains financial statement presentation and disclosure requirements for assets and liabilities for which the fair value option is elected. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, management has not elected to report any of the Company's assets or liabilities at fair value under the "fair value option" provided by GAAP.

 

The hierarchy of fair value valuation techniques under GAAP provides for three levels: Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, whereas Level 3, if applicable, generally would require significant management judgment. The three levels for categorizing assets and liabilities under GAAP's fair value measurement requirements are as follows:

 

  Level 1: Fair value of the asset or liability is determined using unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
     
  Level 2: Fair value of the asset or liability is determined using inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the applicable asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar (as opposed to identical) assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
     
  Level 3: Fair value of the asset or liability is determined using unobservable inputs that are significant to the fair value measurement and reflect management's own assumptions regarding the applicable asset or liability.

 

None of the Company's assets or liabilities were measured at fair value at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. However, GAAP requires the disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments that are not measured at fair value. Financial instruments consist principally of trade receivables, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, note payable, and convertible note payable. The estimated fair value of trade receivables, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximates their carrying value due to the short period of time to their maturities. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company’s note payable and convertible notes payable are at fixed rates and their carrying value approximates fair value.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories primarily consist of bulk and bottled liquor and merchandise and are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using an average costing methodology, which approximates cost under the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. A portion of inventory is held by the OLCC on consignment until it is sold to a third party. The Company regularly monitors inventory quantities on hand and records write-downs for excess and obsolete inventories based primarily on the Company’s estimated forecast of product demand and production requirements. Such write-downs establish a new cost basis of accounting for the related inventory. The Company has recorded no write-downs of inventory for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

8

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from two to seven years. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed using the straight-line method over the life of the lease or the useful lives of the assets, whichever is shorter. The cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization of property and equipment sold or otherwise disposed of are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reported as current period income or expense. The costs of repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

 

Long-lived Assets

 

The Company accounts for long-lived assets, including property and equipment, at amortized cost. Management reviews long-lived assets for probable impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If there is an indication of impairment, management would prepare an estimate of future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. If these estimated cash flows were less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss would be recognized to write down the asset to its estimated fair value.

 

Income Taxes

 

The provision for income taxes is based on income and expenses as reported for financial statement purposes using the "asset and liability method" for accounting for deferred taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are reflected at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income taxes. A valuation allowance, if needed, reduces deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company established valuation allowances against its net deferred tax assets.

 

Income tax positions that meet the "more-likely-than-not" recognition threshold are measured at the largest amount of income tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority. The portion of the benefits associated with income tax positions taken that exceeds the amount measured as described above would be reflected as a liability for unrecognized income tax benefits in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets along with any associated interest and penalties that would be payable to the taxing authorities upon examination. Interest and penalties associated with unrecognized income tax benefits would be classified as additional income taxes in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. There were no unrecognized income tax benefits, nor any interest and penalties associated with unrecognized income tax benefits, accrued or expensed at and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

The Company files federal income tax returns in the U.S. and various state income tax returns. The Company is no longer subject to examinations by the related tax authorities for the Company's U.S. federal and state income tax returns for years prior to 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Advertising

 

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was approximately $170,000 and $240,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

9

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

Comprehensive Income

 

Comprehensive (loss) income consists of net (loss) income and other comprehensive income. The Company does not have any reconciling other comprehensive income items for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

Excise Taxes

 

The Company is responsible for compliance with the TTB regulations, which includes making timely and accurate excise tax payments. The Company is subject to periodic compliance audits by the TTB. Individual states also impose excise taxes on alcohol beverages in varying amounts. The Company calculates its excise tax expense based upon units produced and on its understanding of the applicable excise tax laws.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company recognizes as compensation expense all stock-based awards issued to employees. The compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the related stock-based awards and is recognized over the service period of stock-based awards, which is generally the same as the vesting period. The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model, which estimates the fair value of each award on the date of grant based on a variety of assumptions including expected stock price volatility, expected terms of the awards, risk-free interest rate, and dividend rates, if applicable. Stock-based awards issued to nonemployees are recorded at fair value on the measurement date and are subject to periodic market adjustments at the end of each reporting period and as the underlying stock-based awards vest.

 

Accounts Receivable Factoring Program

 

During 2016, we utilized a receivable factoring program to help improve our liquidity. Under the program, we have the option to sell customer receivables in advance of payment for 75% of the amount due. When the customer remits payment, we then receive the remaining 25%. We are charged interest on the advanced 75% payment at a rate of 2.15% per month. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we factored invoices totaling $560,172 and received total proceeds of $420,129. At September 30, 2016, we had $184,875 in open factored invoices. We incurred interest expense associated with the factoring program of $21,500 during the nine month period ended September 30, 2016. Comparatively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we factored invoices totaling $94,293 and received total proceeds of $70,720. At September 30, 2015, we had $27,560 in open factored invoices. We incurred interest expense associated with the factoring program of $1,085 during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standard Boards (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” ("ASU 2016-09"), which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not plan to early adopt. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2015-11 will have on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued AUS No. 2016-02 —Leases (Topic 842). Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date:

 

- A lease liability, which is a lessee‘s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and

 

10

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

- A right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term.

 

Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. Certain targeted improvements were made to align, where necessary, lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The new lease guidance simplified the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions primarily because lessees must recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. Lessees will no longer be provided with a source of off-balance sheet financing. Public business entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2016-02 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years (i.e., January 1, 2019, for a calendar year entity). Early application is permitted for all public business entities upon issuance. Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing, and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Lessees and lessors may not apply a full retrospective transition approach. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2016-02 will have on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”) amending revenue recognition guidance and requiring more detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company does not plan to early adopt. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2014-09 will have on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern ("ASU 2014-15"). The new guidance explicitly requires that management assess an entity's ability to continue as a going concern and may require additional detailed disclosures. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods. Though permitted, the Company does not plan to early adopt. The Company does not believe that this standard will have a significant impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, simplifying the Measurement of Inventory ("ASU 2015-11"), which requires entities to measure most inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Though permitted, the Company does not plan to early adopt. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2015-11 will have on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, simplifying the presentation of debt issuance costs, which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. ASU 2015-03 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and early application is permitted. We have early adopted as of December 31, 2015.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the September 30, 2016 presentation with no changes to net loss or total stockholders' deficit) previously reported.

 

11

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

4. Inventories

 

Inventories consisted of the following at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

    2016     2015  
Raw materials   $ 589,921     $ 415,953  
Finished goods     291,358       248,713  
Other     373       19,158  
Total   $ 881,652     $ 683,824  

 

5. Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment consisted of the following at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

    2016     2015  
Furniture and fixtures   $ 67,890     $ 64,288  
Leasehold improvements     8,607       8,607  
Vehicles     38,831       38,831  
Construction In-progress     34,603       31,253  
Total cost     149,931       142,979  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization     (47,553 )     (30,974 )
Property and equipment - net   $ 102,378     $ 112,005  

 

Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $16,579 and $13,927 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

6. Notes Payable

 

Notes payable consisted of the following at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

    2016     2015  
Note payable bearing interest at 7.99%. The note is payable in monthly principal plus interest payments of $472 through December, 2020. The note is secured by a vehicle.   $ 18,007     $ 21,940  
                 
Notes payable bearing interest at 8%. The notes have a 2-year maturity and are due at various dates between June 30, 2018 – September 19, 2018, and pay interest only on a monthly basis     1,250,000       -  
Total notes payable     1,268,007       21,940  
Less current portion     (4,424 )     (4,098 )
Less debt discount for detachable warrant     (334,046 )     -  
Long-term portion of notes payable   $ 929,537     $ 17,842  

  

Maturities on notes payable as of September 30, 2016, are as follows:

 

Year ending December 31:

 

2016   $ 1,364  
2017     5,737  
2018     1,256,217  
2019     4,689  
2020     -  
Thereafter     -  
    $ 1,268,007  

 

12

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

7. Convertible Notes Payable

 

There were no convertible notes payable outstanding at September 30, 2016. At December 31, 2015, convertible notes payable consisted of three separate notes:

 

   

September 30,

2016
   

December 31,

2015
 

Convertible note bearing interest at 5% per annum in the principal amount of $150,000. The original maturity date of June 13, 2015 was extended to April 1, 2016 during the period ended December 31, 2015 and was further extended to July 1, 2016. The note was convertible into shares of the Company's common stock at a fixed conversion price of $8.00 per share. On July 1, 2016, the Company paid the outstanding amount under this Note, including interest in full.

  $ -     $ 150,000  
                 
Secured Convertible promissory note, bearing interest at 14% per annum in the principal amount of $275,000 (the “Note”), payable in six installments (“Amortization Payments”) as set forth in an Amortization Schedule beginning the 30 th day after issuance and each 30-days thereafter. The Note is convertible at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the Fixed Conversion Price (currently $3.00) or (ii) 65% of the lowest trading price of the Company’s common stock during the 5 trading days prior to conversion. The note was issued with an original issue discount, which is amortized over the life of the loan. The Note is secured by all of the Company’s assets pursuant to the terms and conditions of an Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement.(1)     -       272,708  
                 
Convertible note bearing interest at 0% per annum. The note was converted into Company's preferred equity financing on April 4, 2016.     -       50,000  
Totals     -       472,708  
                 
Less: discount on convertible debt     -       16,750  
                 
Current convertible notes payable – net of debt discounts   $ -     $ 455,958  
                 

 

 
(1) On April 14, 2016, this note (the “Initial Note”) was transferred to MR Group I, LLC (“Investor”). In addition, on April 14, 2016, the Company issued and sold to Investor a convertible promissory note dated April 18, 2016, bearing interest at 14% per annum in the principal amount of $300,000 (the “Additional Note”, together with the Initial Note, the “Notes”). The Additional Note had a maturity date of January 18, 2017 and an original issue discount of $100,000. On May 13, 2016, the Company entered into Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with the Investor pursuant to which the Company (i) issued Investor a 14% secured convertible promissory note dated May 13, 2016 in the aggregate principal amount of $219,200 with an August 31, 2016 maturity date (the “Note”) in exchange for a previously issued 14% secured convertible promissory note dated September 10, 2015 in the original principal amount of $275,000 (with current outstanding principal and interest of $197,208 and $21,992, respectively) with a May 10, 2016 maturity date held by Investor and (ii) issued Investor a 14% secured convertible promissory note dated May 13, 2016 in the aggregate principal amount of $302,647 with an April 30, 2017 maturity date (the “Second Note”, together with the Note, the “Exchange Notes”) in exchange for a previously issued 14% secured convertible promissory note dated April 18, 2016 in the original principal amount of $300,000 (with current outstanding principal and interest of $300,000 and $2,647, respectively) with a May 10, 2016 maturity date held by Investor. During the June period, $196,330 of the note was converted into common shares. On June 6, 2016, the Company paid the remaining outstanding amount under this Note ($100,000) in full, and on June 28, 2016, the Company paid the outstanding amount under the Second Note ($306,378) in full.

 

Amortization of the debt discount and beneficial conversion feature of the convertible notes totaled $14,388 and $359,688 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 respectively and $0 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 respectively and was recorded as other expense in the consolidated statement of operations.

 

13

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

8 Income Taxes

 

The provision for income taxes results in effective tax rates which are different than the federal income tax statutory rate. The nature of the differences for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

 

    2016     2015  
Expected federal income tax benefit   $ (1,278,614 )   $ (996,775 )
Expected State income tax benefits     (248,201 )     (193,492 )
Change in valuation allowance     1,526,815       1,190,266  
Total provision for income taxes   $ -     $ -  

 

The components of the net deferred tax assets and liabilities at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 consisted of the following:

 

    2016     2015  
Deferred tax assets:                
Net operating loss carryforwards   $ 3,040,866       1,582,317  
Stock-based compensation     145,895       61,050  
Total deferred tax assets     3,186,761       1,643,367  
                 
Deferred tax liabilities:                
Depreciation and amortization     (78,467 )     (61,888 )
Total deferred tax liabilities     (78,467 )     (61,888 )
Valuation allowance     (3,108,294 )     (1,581,479 )
Net deferred tax assets   $ -       -  

 

At September 30, 2016, the Company had a cumulative net operating loss carryforward (NOL) of approximately $7.5 million, to offset against future income for federal and state tax purposes. These federal and state NOLs can be carried forward for 20 and 15 years, respectively. The federal NOLs begin to expire in 2034, and the state NOLs begin to expire in 2029.

 

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Due to the uncertainty of the realizability of the deferred tax assets, management has determined a full valuation allowance is appropriate.

 

14

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

9. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Operating Leases

 

The Company leases its warehouse, kiosks, and tasting room space under operating lease agreements, which expire through October 2020. Monthly lease payments range from $1,300 to $24,000 over the terms of the leases. For operating leases which contain fixed escalations in rental payments, the Company records the total rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The difference between the expense computed on a straight-line basis and actual payments for rent represents deferred rent which is included within accrued liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Retail spaces under lease are subject to monthly percentage rent adjustments when gross sales exceed certain minimums.

  

At September 30, 2016, future minimum lease payments required under the operating leases were approximately as follows:

 

Remainder of 2016   $ 80,000  
2017     297,000  
2018     272,000  
2019     278,000  
2020        240,000  
Total   $ 1,167,000  

 

Total rent expense was approximately $304,000 and $290,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

Legal Matters

 

The Company is involved in certain legal matters arising from the ordinary course of business. Management does not believe that the outcome of these matters will have a significant effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

10. Net Loss per Common Share

 

Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, without considering any dilutive items. Diluted net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the potential number of any dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive securities consist of the incremental common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options and convertible notes. Potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the computation if their effective is anti-dilutive. There were no dilutive common shares outstanding at September 30, 2016 and 2015. The numerators and denominators used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share in 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

 

    Three months ended
September 30,
 
    2016     2015  
Net loss (numerator)   $ (1,436,449 )   $ (1,412,612 )
Weighted average shares (denominator)     4,761,854       2,291,489  
Basic and diluted net loss per common share   $ (0.31 )   $ (0.62 )

 

    Nine months ended
September 30,
 
    2016     2015  
Net loss (numerator)   $ (3,760,629 )   $ (2,931,690 )
Weighted average shares (denominator)     3,320,494       2,281,548  
Basic and diluted net loss per common share   $ (1.14 )   $ (1.28 )

 

15

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

11. Stockholder’s Deficit

 

    Convertible Series A                             Total  
    Preferred Stock     Common Stock     Paid-in     Accumulated     Stockholders’  
    Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount     Capital     Deficit     Deficit  
                                           
Balance, December 31, 2015     -     $ -       2,309,750     $ 4,620     $ 6,493,518     $ (7,561,751 )   $ (1,063,613 )
Issuance of common stock with detachable warrants     -       -       2,000,000     $ 4,000       1,996,000       -     $ 2,000,000  
Issuance of common stock for services rendered     -       -       81,434     $ 163       218,807       -     218,970  
Issuance of Series A convertible Preferred stock, net of issuance cost of $35,920 with detachable warrants     972       756,835       -     $ -       179,145       -     $ 935,980  
Stock-based compensation     -       -       10,050     $ 20       208,957       -     208,977  
Issuance of common stock for note payable     -       -       343,873     $ 688       195,642       -     196,330  
Issuance of detachable warrants on notes payable     -       -       -     $ -       348,434       -     348,434  
Issuance of common stock for Series A preferred dividend     -       -       12,802     $ 26       17,733       (17,759 )   $ 0  
Issuance of cash for Series A preferred dividend     -       -       -     $ -       -       (19,600 )   (19,600 )
Beneficial conversion feature of convertible debt     -       -       -     $ -       228,550       -     228,550  
Shares Issued for payoff of trade debt     -       -       8,750     $ 18       19,194       -     19,212  
Net loss     -       -       -       -       -       (3,760,629 )   (3,760,629 )
                                                         
Balance, September 30, 2016     972     $ 756,835       4,766,659     $ 9,535     $ 9,905,980     $ (11,359,739 )   $ (687,389 )

 

Issuance of Common Stock 

 

In January 2016, the Company issued 10,050 shares of common stock to employees for stock-based compensation of $54,270. Additionally, the Company had $154,707 of stock-based compensation expense related to stock options granted to employees and vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

 

From April 20, 2016 to June 3, 2016, the Company issued 343,873 shares of its common stock upon conversion of a 14% convertible promissory note. The aggregate principal amount of this note that was converted was $196,330.

 

From June 4, 2016 to June 22, 2016, the Company issued 2,000,000 shares of its common stock for $2,000,000, including 2,000,000 warrants for common stock.

 

In the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company issued 81,434 shares of common stock to six third-party consultants in exchange for services rendered totaling $218,970.

 

On July 7, 2016, the Company issued 12,802 shares of its common stock in consideration of $17,759 in accrued and unpaid dividends due at June 30, 2016 for its outstanding Series A Preferred.

 

All shares were fully vested upon issuance.

 

16

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

Issuance of Convertible Preferred Stock

 

From April 4, 2016 to June 17, 2016, the Company sold 972 shares of its series A convertible preferred stock (“Series A Preferred”) for an aggregate purchase price of $972,000, of which (i) 499 Units were purchased for $499,000 in cash (ii) 423 Units were purchased by certain of our officers in consideration of $423,000 accrued and unpaid salary and (iii) 50 Units were purchased in consideration of cancellation of $50,000 of outstanding indebtedness net of issuance costs of $35,920.

 

Each share of Series A Convertible Preferred has a stated value of $1,000, which is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”) at a fixed conversion price equal to $1.50 per share. The Series A Convertible Preferred accrue dividends at a rate of 8% per annum, cumulative. Dividends are payable quarterly in arrears at the Company’s option either in cash or “in kind” in shares of Common Stock; provided, however that dividends may only be paid in cash following the fiscal year in which the Company has net income (as shown in its audited financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for such year) of at least $500,000, to the extent permitted under applicable law out of funds legally available therefore. For ‘in-kind” dividends, holders will receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to (i) the amount of the dividend payment due such stockholder divided by (ii) 90% of the average of the per share market values during the twenty (20) trading days immediately preceding a dividend date.

 

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or sale of the Company, each holder of Series A Preferred shall be entitled to receive its pro rata portion of an aggregate payment equal to: (i) $1,000 multiplied by (ii) the total number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued under the Series A Certificate of Designation multiplied by (iii) 2.5.

 

For all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders, the holders of the Series A Preferred as a class shall have an aggregate number of votes equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock (rounded to the nearest whole number) into which the total shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued under the Series A Certificate of Designation on such date of determination are convertible multiplied by (y) 2.5 (the “Total Series A Votes”), with each holder of Series A Preferred entitled to vote its pro rata portion of the Total Series A Votes. Holders of Common Stock do not have cumulative voting rights. In addition, the holders of Series A Preferred shall vote separately a class to change any of the rights, preferences and privileges of the Series A Preferred.

 

          Shares                 Number of shares              
    Shares     Issued and     Net     Conversion     of common stock     Liquidation     Liquidation  
    Authorized     Outstanding     Proceeds     Price/Share     Equivalents     Preference     Value/Share  
                                           
Series A     3,000       972     $ 935,980     $ 1.50       648,000     $ 2,430,000     $ 2,500  

 

Beneficial conversion feature

 

The Company evaluated the convertible note and determined that a portion of the note should be allocated to additional paid-in capital as a beneficial conversion feature, since the conversion price on the note as of March 10, 2016 was set at a discount to the fair market value of the underlying stock. As a result, a discount of $228,550 was attributed to the beneficial conversion feature of the note, which amount was then amortized fully during the six months ended June 30, 2016.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

On January 29, 2015, the Company adopted the 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2015 Plan). The total number of shares available for the grant of either stock options or compensation stock under the 2015 Plan is 150,000 shares, subject to adjustment. The exercise price per share of each stock option shall not be less than 20 percent of the fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. At September 30, 2016, there were 53,750 options issued under the Plan outstanding, which options vest at the rate of at least 25 percent in the first year, starting 6-months after the grant date, and 75% in year two.

 

17

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

On September 8, 2016, the Company adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2016 Plan). The total number of shares available for the grant of either stock options or compensation stock under the Plan is 500,000 shares, subject to adjustment. The exercise price per share of each stock option shall not be less than 100 percent of the fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. At September 30, 2016, there were 105,000 options issued under the Plan outstanding, which options vest in a series of twelve (12) successive equal quarterly installments measured from the grant date.

 

The Company also issues, from time to time, options which are not registered under a formal option plan. At September 30, 2016, there were 50,000 options outstanding that were not issued under the 2015 Plan.

 

A summary of all stock option activity at and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is presented below:

 

    # of Options     Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2015     110,000 (1)   $ 12.80  
Options granted     105,000       1.60  
Options exercised     -       -  
Options canceled     (6,250 )     35.00  
Outstanding at September 30, 2016     208,750     $ 6.60  
                 
Exercisable at September 30, 2016     68,281     $ 11.40  

 

(1) 60,000 options granted under 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (of which 6,250 options were cancelled in the nine months ended September 30, 2016); 50,000 non-plan options were granted.

 

The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding at September 30, 2016 was $42,000.

 

At September 30, 2016, there were 140,469 unvested options with an aggregate grant date fair value of $328,275. The unvested options will vest in accordance with the vesting schedule in each respective option agreement, which is generally over a period of 6 to 36 months. The aggregate intrinsic value of unvested options at September 30, 2016 was $42,000. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, 15,677 options became vested.

 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes valuation model to measure the grant-date fair value of stock options. The grant-date fair value of stock options issued to employees is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Stock-based awards issued to nonemployees are recorded at fair value on the measurement date and are subject to periodic market adjustments as the underlying stock-based awards vest. To determine the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes valuation model, the calculation takes into consideration the effect of the following:

 

· Exercise price of the option
· Fair value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant
· Expected term of the option
· Expected volatility over the expected term of the option
· Risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option

 

18

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

The calculation includes several assumptions that require management's judgment. The expected term of the options is calculated using the simplified method described in GAAP. The simplified method defines the expected term as the average of the contractual term and the vesting period. Estimated volatility is derived from volatility calculated using historical closing prices of common shares of similar entities whose share prices are publicly available for the expected term of the options. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturities in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the options.

 

The following weighted-average assumptions were used in the Black-Scholes valuation model for options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2016:

 

Risk-free interest rate     0.92 %
Expected term (in years)     6.25  
Dividend yield     -  
Expected volatility     75 %

 

The following weighted-average assumptions were used in the Black-Scholes valuation model for options granted during the year ended December 31, 2015:

 

Risk-free interest rate     0.84 %
Expected term (in years)     2.46  
Dividend yield     -  
Expected volatility     74 %

 

The weighted-average grant-date fair value per share of stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $1.06. The weighted-average grant-date fair value per share of stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $14.20.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, total stock option expense related to stock options was $154,707 and $124,250 respectively. At September 30, 2016, the total compensation cost related to stock options not yet recognized was approximately $194,263, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.46 years.

 

Warrants

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Company issued detachable warrants in connection to notes payable to purchase 525,000 shares of common stock. The Company has determined the Warrants are classified as equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016. No warrants were exercised during the quarter ended September 30, 2016. The estimated fair value of the warrants after relative fair value allocation at issuance was $282,662, based on the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the weighted-average assumptions below:

 

Volatility     75 %
Risk-free interest rate     0.89 %
Expected term (in years)     3.0  
Expected dividend yield     -  
Fair value of common stock   $ 1,050,000  

 

19

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

A summary of activity in warrants is as follows:

 

    Warrants     Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
    Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
                         
Outstanding at December 31, 2015               $     $  
                                 
Nine months ended September 30, 2016:                                
Granted     3,281,915       2.74 years     $ 2.00     $ 0  
Exercised     -                          
Forfeited and cancelled     -       -       -       -  
                                 
Outstanding at September 30, 2016     3,281,915       2.74 years     $ 2.00     $ 0  

 

12. Related Party Transactions

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company's chief executive officer paid expenses on behalf of the Company on his personal credit card. These related party advances do not bear interest and are payable on demand. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the balance due to the chief executive officer was approximately $7,720 and $27,075, respectively, and is included in accrued liabilities on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company also has a note payable due its chief executive officer in the amount of $12,500 at September 30, 2016.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the following officers purchased an aggregate of 423 Units, with each Units consisting of 1 share of our Series A Preferred and a 3-year warrant to purchase 667 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share: (i) the Company’s president and chief executive officer, purchased 185 Units in consideration of $185,000 in accrued and unpaid salary; (ii) the Company’s chief financial officer purchased 97 Units in consideration of $97,000 in accrued and unpaid salary; (iii) the Company’s chief marketing officer and secretary purchased 58 Units in consideration of $58,000 in accrued and unpaid salary and (iv) the Company’s chief branding officer and wife of the Company’s chief executive officer purchased 83 Units in consideration of $83,000 in accrued and unpaid salary.

 

20

 

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc. and Subsidiary

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2016

(unaudited)

 

13. Subsequent Events

 

From October 1, 2016 to November 14, 2016, the Company issued $300,000 of principal amount of 8% promissory notes and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock to accredited investors. The aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the notes and warrants were $300,000. The notes have 2-year maturity dates and bear interest at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum. The notes were issued with warrants to purchase up to 150,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share.

 

On October 13, 2016, the board approved a non-qualified option grant totaling 35,000 shares with an exercise price of $1.80 to each of the independent directors, messrs Wickersham, Davis, Flemming, and Hirson.

 

On October 10, 2016, the Board of Directors approved a 20 to 1 reverse split of the Company's outstanding common stock from 95,333,180 shares to 4,766,659 shares, and a proportional decrease in the Company's authorized common stock from 900 million shares to 45 million shares.  The record date for the reverse split was October 17, 2016 and the effective date for the reverse split was October 18, 2016. All of the share and per share amounts in these consolidated financial statements and footnotes have been adjusted to reflect the 20 to 1 reverse stock split.

 

Effective November 4, 2016, the Company entered into an Agreement with Steven Earles, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which Mr. Earles agreed to convert 185 shares of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into 123,333 shares of the Company’s Common Stock and to cancel his warrant to purchase 123,321 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.

 

Effective November 4, 2016, the Company entered into an Agreement with Steven Shum, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to which Mr. Shum agreed to convert 97 shares of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into 64,667 shares of the Company’s Common Stock and to cancel his warrant to purchase 64,660.2 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.

 

Effective November 4, 2016, the Company entered into a Second Amendment to Employment Agreement (the “Earles Amendment”) with Steven Earles, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Under the Earles Amendment, Mr. Earles’s base salary was decreased to $120,000 per annum. In addition, Mr. Earles agreed to waive prior accrued and unpaid salary totaling $182,027. He was also granted a restricted stock unit of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing $30,000 by the closing price of the Common Stock on the effective date of the Earles Amendment, which the Company deemed to be the fair market value of such shares as of the date of the Earles Amendment. The shares of Common Stock subject to the restricted stock unit shall vest in four equal amounts on each of November 4, 2016, January 1, 2017, April 1, 2017 and July 1, 2017. The Company also agreed to indemnify Mr. Earles to the fullest extent allowed by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles”), the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), and applicable law, and notwithstanding Section 7.14 of the Company’s Bylaws, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rights granted pursuant to the Earles Amendment shall apply to acts and actions occurring since October 31, 2014.

 

Effective November 4, 2016, the Company entered into a First Amendment to Employment Agreement (the “Shum Amendment”) with Steven Shum, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Under the Shum Amendment, Mr. Shum’s base salary was decreased to $135,000 per annum. In addition, Mr. Shum is entitled to quarterly bonuses based on individual and Company performance at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors as well as quarterly bonuses based on the achievement by the Company of certain quarterly EBITDA targets. The Company agreed to pay Mr. Shum $4,250 for accrued and unpaid salary, which shall be paid on the earlier of a qualified equity financing by the Company or six months from the effective date of the Shum Amendment. The Company also agreed to indemnify Mr. Shum to the fullest extent allowed by the Articles, the Bylaws, and applicable law, and notwithstanding Section 7.14 of the Company’s Bylaws, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rights granted pursuant to the Shum Amendment shall apply to acts and actions occurring since October 31, 2014.

 

On November 8, 2016, S. Jay Harkins resigned as a director of the Company and as Executive Vice President of Sales of the Company. There are no disagreements as contemplated by Item 5.02(a) of Form 8-K, and thus the Company is disclosing this information pursuant to Item 5.02(b) of Form 8-K.

 

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ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes. This section of the Quarterly Report includes a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements are often identified by words like believe, expect, estimate, anticipate, intend, project and similar expressions, or words which, by their nature, refer to future events. You should not place undue certainty on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date made, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause differences include, but are not limited to, customer acceptance risks for current and new brands, reliance on external sources on financing, development risks for new products and brands, dependence on wholesale distributors, inventory carrying issues, fluctuations in market demand and customer preferences, as well as general conditions of the alcohol and beverage industry, and other factors discussed in Item 1A of Part I of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 entitled “Risk Factors,” similar discussions in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including this Form 10-Q, as applicable, and those contained from time to time in our other filings with the Securities Exchange Commission .

 

Overview

 

We were incorporated on February 11, 2004 in Nevada as Eurocan Holdings, Ltd. Until closing of the Acquisition (described below), Eurocan operated solely as an online marketing and media solutions firm specializing in digital interactive media, which business was conducted through Eurocan’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Michael Williams Web Design Inc. of New York, NY (“MWWD”).

   

On December 1, 2014, we changed our corporate name to “Eastside Distilling, Inc.” from Eurocan Holdings Ltd, to reflect our then recent acquisition of Eastside Distilling, LLC, which resulted in us primarily conducting Eastside’s business thereafter (See “The Acquisition of Eastside Distilling, LLC” below).   Until February 3, 2015, we continued to operate our online marketing and media solutions’ business through MWW (See “Spin-Off of MWW” below).

 

The Acquisition of Eastside Distilling, LLC

 

On October 31, 2014, Eurocan Holdings Ltd. (“we,” “us,” or the “Company”) consummated the acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of Eastside Distilling, LLC (“Eastside”) pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Agreement”) by and among the Company, Eastside, and Eastside Distilling, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary. Pursuant to the Agreement, Eastside merged with and into Eastside Distilling, Inc. The merger consideration for the acquisition consisted of 1,600,000 shares (the “Shares”) of our common stock.   In addition, certain of our stockholders cancelled an aggregate of 1,245,500 shares of our common stock held by them. As a result, upon consummation of the Agreement on October 31, 2014, we had 2,000,000 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, of which 1,600,000 shares were held by the former members of Eastside.  The issuance of these Shares was exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to exemptions afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder, and/or Regulation S promulgated thereunder.

 

At the effective time of the Acquisition, our officers and directors resigned, and Steven Earles and Lenny Gotter were appointed as directors to our board of directors. In addition, concurrent with closing of the Acquisition, the Company appointed Mr. Earles as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chairman and Mr. Gotter as Chief Operating Officer and Secretary. Mr. Gotter resigned as an officer in February 2015. In October 2015, Steven Shum was appointed as Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. Earles simultaneously resigned as Chief Financial Officer.

  

Following the Acquisition, we conduct the business of Eastside as our primary business.

 

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Eastside is a manufacturer, developer, producer and marketer of master-crafted spirits in the following beverage alcohol categories: bourbon, whiskey, rum and vodka. Eastside currently distributes its products in 22 states ( California, New York, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington) and is authorized to distribute our products in Ontario, Canada, as well.  Eastside also generates revenue from tastings, tasting room tours, private parties and merchandise sales from its distillery and showroom located on the Distillery Row in Portland, Oregon.

 

Spin-Off of MWWD

 

Following consummation of the Acquisition, our new management conducted an evaluation of the MWWD business and an analysis of the business going forward. Management determined that due to MWWD’s operating and net losses in each of the last two fiscal years preceding the Acquisition, its working capital deficit as of the end of the latest fiscal year and as of the latest fiscal quarter preceding the Acquisition, and its accumulated deficit, it was not in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to continue the operation of MWWD going forward. Accordingly, on February 3, 2015, we transferred all shares of MWWD held by us along with all assets and liabilities related to MWWD to Michael Williams in consideration of MWWD’s and Mr. Williams’ full release of all claims and liabilities related to MWWD and the MWWD business. Mr. Williams is the sole officer, director and employee of MWWD. The spinoff of MWWD resulted in the impairment of goodwill related to the Acquisition of approximately $3.2 million in December 2014. Additionally, as a result of the Spin-Off, we recorded a net gain of approximately $52,890 on February 3, 2015. This gain is primarily the result of the transfer of net liabilities to Michael Williams, which is reflected in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Corporate Information

 

Our executive offices are located at 1805 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97214. Our telephone number is (971) 888-4264 and our internet address is www.eastsidedistilling.com . The information on, or that may be, accessed from our website is not part of this quarterly report.

 

Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

Overview

 

Net sales in the three months ended September 30, 2016 increased 73% over the comparable 2015 period. The increase was primarily due to expanded distribution into new states along with continued growth in the company's home Oregon market. Case sales in Oregon increased 19% during the third quarter. However, wholesale case sales in Oregon grew 61% while the Oregon retail sales declined 34% primarily due to fewer retail locations operating during the quarter. Case sales outside of Oregon grew 182% compared to the year ago period. While the Oregon market continues to experience year-over-year growth, Oregon, as a percentage of total sales, was lower in the three months ended September 30, 2016 as the new markets continue to become a larger component to overall sales. Approximately 42% of sales during the third quarter came from outside the state of Oregon compared to 23% in the year ago period. As our national expansion continues, we remain focused on working with the major distributors within the key states. We have also focused our internal sales team on key regions that offer the greatest return opportunities.

 

During the quarter, we reached an important milestone with our products now approved and selling across a total of 22 states, including all 5 of the top consumption states (California, New York, Florida, Texas and Illinois). During the period, we also received our single largest purchase order in the Company’s history.

 

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We have also invested heavily in our infrastructure (facilities, people, and marketing programs) over the past two years to support this national expansion effort. As the business continues to grow, we believe we can leverage those investments and drive toward improved performance throughout the balance of 2016 and into 2017.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2015

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales consist of revenues from the sale of products we supply or distribute less excise taxes. The following table sets forth and compares our net sales (in thousands of dollars) for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

Three Months Ended September 30,  
Amounts     % Change  
2016     2015     2016 vs. 2015  
$ 608     $ 352       73 %

 

Our net sales increased by approximately $256,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2016, or approximately 73%, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015. This increase was primarily the result of increased sales in Oregon as well as sales growth in new states.

 

Gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of products sold from net sales. Cost of sales consists of the costs of ingredients utilized in the production of spirits, contract production fees, overhead, packaging and in-bound freight charges. Ingredients account for the largest portion of the cost of sales, followed by contract production fees and packaging. Gross margin is gross profits stated as a percentage of net sales.

 

The following table compares our gross profit (in thousands of dollars) and gross margin in the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

    Three Months Ended September 30,  
    2016     2015  
Gross profit   $ 237     $ 185  
Gross margin     39 %     52 %

 

Our gross margin of 39% of net sales in the three months ended September 30, 2016 was lower than the gross margin of 52% for the three months ended September 30, 2015. Gross margin was largely impacted by higher raw material costs experienced during the period and to a lesser extent product mix. We have recently been able to improve the input costs, which we expect will benefit future periods.

 

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses include marketing and advertising costs and expenses, compensation paid (including non-cash stock-based compensation) to general and administrative personnel, depreciation expense and professional fees. The following table sets forth our SG&A expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015 (in thousands of dollars):

 

    Three Months Ended September 30,  
    2016     2015  
Selling, general and administrative expenses   $ 1,584     $ 1,587  
As a percentage of net sales     261 %     451 %

 

Our SG&A expenses decreased by approximately $3,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015. During the three months ended September 30, 2016, approximately $534,000 of these expenses were attributable to professional fees, and $52,000 to non-cash expenses associated with stock-based compensation.

 

Other Expense, Net

 

The following table compares our other expense (in thousands of dollars) for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

   

    Three Months Ended  September 30,  
    2016     2015  
Other expense, net   $ (90 )   $ (10 )
As a percentage of net sales     15 %     3 %

 

Other expense in the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 is primarily related to interest expense.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales consist of revenues from the sale of products we supply or distribute less excise taxes. The following table sets forth and compares our net sales in (in thousands of dollars) for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,  
Amounts     % Change  
2016     2015     2016 vs. 2015  
$ 1,576     $ 982       60 %

 

Our net sales increased by approximately $594,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2016, or approximately 60%, from the comparable 2015 period. The increase in net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, was primarily the result of increased sales in Oregon as well as sales growth in new states.

 

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Gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of products sold from net sales. Cost of sales consists of the costs of ingredients utilized in the production of spirits, contract production fees, overhead, packaging and in-bound freight charges. Ingredients account for the largest portion of the cost of sales, followed by contract production fees and packaging. Gross margin is gross profits stated as a percentage of net sales.

 

The following table compares our gross profit (in thousands of dollars) and gross margin in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 

    Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2016     2015  
Gross profit   $ 680     $ 463  
Gross margin     43 %     47 %

 

Our gross margin of 43% of net sales in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 declined from our gross margin of 47% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily due to higher raw material costs experienced during the period and to a lesser extent product mix.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses include marketing and advertising costs and expenses, compensation paid (including non-cash stock-based compensation) to general and administrative personnel, depreciation expense and professional fees. The following table sets forth our SG&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015 (in thousands of dollars):

  

    Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2016     2015  
Selling, general and administrative expenses   $ 3,948     $ 3,431  
As a percentage of net sales     251 %     350 %

 

Our SG&A expenses increased by approximately $517,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 from the comparable 2015 period. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in legal fees of $220,000, stock-based compensation expense of $84,000 and higher payroll costs.

 

Other (Expense) Income, Net

 

The following table compares our other (expense) income, net (in thousands of dollars) for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

    Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2016     2015  
Other (expense) income, net   $ (493 )   $ 36  
As a percentage of net sales     (31 )%     4 %

 

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Other expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is primarily related to the expense associated with the amortization of a beneficial conversion feature on the convertible notes payable, amortization of debt issuance costs, and interest expense. In the prior year, we recorded lower interest expense which was offset by a one-time gain related to the spin-off of MWW.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary capital requirements are for the financing of inventories and sales and marketing efforts. Funds for such purposes have historically been generated from our operations, extended payment terms from suppliers for inventory purchases, notes payable and equity raisings.

 

We have a history of losses over the past two years, including the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and for which we have generated negative operating cash flows. During the nine months ended September  30, 2016 and 2015, we had net losses of $3.8 million and $2.9 million, respectively and net cash used in operating activities for the corresponding nine months was approximately $3.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively. As a result, since fiscal 2014, it has been necessary to rely on raising new equity or extended payment terms from vendors for our capital and working capital needs.

 

At September 30, 2016, we had no outstanding convertible notes payable, compared to approximately $0.46 million as of December 31, 2015. In addition, we had long-term notes outstanding of $0.93 million (net of the debt discount) at September 30, 2016, compared to $0.02 million at September 30, 2015. As a consequence of our indebtedness as of September 30, 2016, a portion of our cash flow from operations must be dedicated to interest payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund capital expenditures or other growth initiatives and other general corporate requirements.

 

Our short-term and long-term liquidity needs arise primarily from our working capital and debt service requirements. We anticipate that capital expenditures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016 will be approximately $20,000, primarily for increased manufacturing capacity. As of September 30, 2016, we had cash of approximately $400,000.

 

Net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately $3.1 million resulting primarily from our net loss of $3,760,629 and changes in trade receivables, inventories, and accounts payable of $240,798, $197,828, and $476,158, respectively, which amounts were offset by depreciation and amortization of $16,579, amortization of debt issuance costs of $116,750, amortization of beneficial conversion feature of $228,549, issuance of common stock in exchange for services of $218,970, stock-based compensation of $208,977, prepaid expenses and other assets of $94,127, accrued liabilities of $657,650, and deferred revenue of $2,467. This is compared to net cash used in operating activities of $1,241,924 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 resulting primarily from our net loss of $2,931,690 plus inventories of $436,565 and gain on spin-off of subsidiary of $52,890, which amounts were offset by depreciation and amortization of $13,927, issuance of common stock in exchange for services of $715,871, stock-based compensation of $124,250, trade receivables of $74,103, accounts payable of $821,457, prepaid expenses and other assets of $89,704, and accrued liabilities of $338,770. During the period ended September 30, 2016, operating cash flow was significantly impacted by certain expenses, which management does not anticipate to continue to recur, such as additional interest and legal costs totaling approximately $275,000, associated with the repayment of the prior notes outstanding.

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $6,952 compared to $42,856 during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

 

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Net cash flows provided by financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $3,397,157 consisting of $463,080 from net cash proceeds from our series A preferred stock and warrant offering, $2,000,000 in proceeds from our common stock and warrant offering, $1,250,000 from our long-term note and warrant financing, and $185,000 from convertible note financing, which amount was offset by $500,923 in payments of principal on prior convertible notes payable. Our net cash flows provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $287,868, principally consisting of net proceeds received from the issuance of convertible notes of $291,500, which was offset by $3,632 in payments on convertible notes payable.

 

In order to meet its cash and liquidity needs, we intend to raise additional debt and equity financing. There is no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining additional financing and/or be able to renegotiate the terms of its existing debt obligations on terms which are satisfactory to us, or at all. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if we are unable to continue as a going concern. These financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts, or amounts and classification of liabilities that might result from this uncertainty.

 

Our ability to improve our liquidity in future periods and continue as a going concern will depend on generating positive operating cash flow, primarily through increased distribution into other states, improved gross profit and controlling our expenses, which in turn, may be impacted by prevailing economic conditions and other financial and business factors, some of which are beyond our control.

 

We have incurred a net loss of $3,760,629 in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and have incurred cumulative losses of $11,359,739 through September 30, 2016, and expect to incur further losses in the development of our business and have been dependent on funding operations through the issuance of debt, convertible debt and private sale of equity securities. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Note and Warrant Financing

 

On June 30, 2016, we issued $200,000 of principal amount of 8% promissory notes and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock to three accredited investors. The aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the notes and warrants were $200,000. The notes have a 2-year maturity dates and bear interest at eight percent (8%) per annum. The notes were issued with warrants to purchase up to 100,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share. The number of warrant shares underlying each warrant are equal to the principal amount of the promissory note subscribed for by a Subscriber multiplied by one-half (0.5). The warrants will be exercisable for three (3) years after the closing date. The proceeds are being used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

From July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016, we issued $1,050,000 of principal amount of 8% promissory notes and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock to six accredited investors. The aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the notes and warrants were $1,050,000. The notes have a 2-year maturity dates and bear interest at eight percent (8%) per annum. The notes were issued with warrants to purchase up to 525,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share. The number of warrant shares underlying each warrant are equal to the principal amount of the promissory note subscribed for by a Subscriber multiplied by one-half (0.5). The warrants will be exercisable for three (3) years after the closing date. The proceeds are being used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

Common Stock and Warrant Unit Financing

 

From June 4, 2016 to June 22, 2016, we conducted closings for the sale of 40,000,000 units (“Common Units”) to 18 accredited investors at a price of $0.05 per Common Unit for an aggregate cash purchase price of $2,000,000. Each Common Unit consists of one-twentieth (0.05) share of our Common Stock. The total Common Units also included warrants (the “Warrants”), exercisable for 3-years, to purchase 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per whole share (the “Warrant Shares”).

 

We used approximately $100,000 of the proceeds received to prepay in full that certain 14% Secured Convertible Promissory Note dated May 13, 2016 in the original principal amount of $219,200. The prepayment amount for this note referred to in our Current Report in Form 8-K dated June 1, 2016 was reduced due to the note holder’s conversion of principal under this note into shares of our common stock following receipt of the prepayment notice, as permitted under the terms of such note. We used approximately $308,975 to prepay in full that certain 14% Secured Convertible Promissory Note dated May 13, 2016 in the original principal amount of $302,646 and approximately $130,594 to repay in full the remaining amounts due under that certain 5% Convertible Promissory Note in the original principal amount of $150,000, which was paid in June 2016. The remaining proceeds are being used for inventory purchases and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

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Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrant Financing

 

From April 4, 2016 to June 17, 2016, we conducted closings for 972 units (“Units”) to 15 accredited investors and 1 unaccredited investor at a price of $1,000 per Unit for an aggregate purchase price of $972,000, of which (i) 499 Units were purchased for $499,000 in cash (ii) 423 Units were purchased by certain of our officers in consideration of $423,000 accrued and unpaid salary and (iii) 50 Units were purchased in consideration of cancellation of $50,000 of outstanding indebtedness.  Each Unit consists of (i) 1 share of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock convertible into shares of our common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”) at a rate of $1.50 per share and (ii) one Warrant, exercisable for 3-years, to purchase six hundred sixty-seven (667) shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per whole share.  We received gross proceeds of $499,000 from the sale of the 499 Units for cash. We used $35,920 of these proceeds as payment for non-exclusive placement agent fees to FINRA registered broker-dealers.   In addition, approximately $25,000 was used to repay outstanding indebtedness under 5% promissory notes.  The remaining proceeds are being used for working capital and general corporate purposes and to fund growth opportunities.

 

Convertible Notes

 

On September 10, 2015, we issued and sold a convertible promissory note bearing interest at 14% per annum in the principal amount of $275,000 to WWOD Holdings, LLC, an accredited investor (“WWOD”). This note had a maturity date of May 10, 2016 and an original issue discount of $33,500. Accordingly, we received gross proceeds of $241,500. After paying the investors expenses, we received net proceeds of $241,500, which proceeds were used for working capital and general corporate purposes. The conversion price for this note is equal to the lesser of (i) the Fixed Conversion Price ($3.00) or (ii) 65% of the lowest trading price of our common stock during the 5-trading days prior to conversion. This note contains certain covenants and restrictions including, among others, that for so long as this note is outstanding we will not incur indebtedness, permit liens, pay dividends or dispose of certain assets. Events of default under the note include, among others, failure to pay principal or interest on the note or comply with certain covenants under the note. The note is secured by all of our assets.

 

On April 14, 2016, we entered into an Amendment Agreement with WWOD and MR Group I, LLC (“Investor”). The Amendment Agreement amends that certain securities purchase agreement on September 10, 2015 (the “Existing SPA”), with WWOD pursuant to which we issued and sold to WWOD a convertible promissory note, bearing interest at 14% per annum in the principal amount of $275,000 (the “Initial Note”). The Amendment Agreement amended the Existing SPA to reflect an additional closing under the Existing SPA (as amended by the Amendment Agreement the “Amended SPA”) pursuant to which we issued and sold to Investor a convertible promissory note dated April 18, 2016, bearing interest at 14% per annum in the principal amount of $300,000 (the “Additional Note”, together with the Initial Note, the “Notes”). The Additional Note was issued on April 18, 2016 and has a maturity date of January 18, 2017 and an original issue discount of $100,000; provided, however, that in the event that we consummate the additional proposed $2 million financing with Investor for which we have executed a non-binding term sheet (the “Subsequent Placement”), $200,000 of aggregate principal of the Additional Note, together with any accrued, and unpaid, interest then outstanding under the Additional Note, shall be applied, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, to reduce the purchase price of the Investor in such Subsequent Placement and upon the closing of such Subsequent Placement and such application, the remainder of the Additional Note then outstanding shall be deemed cancelled for no additional consideration. Accordingly, we received gross proceeds from the Investor of $200,000. After paying $15,000 of the Investor’s expenses in connection with the Amended SPA (with payment of the remaining expenses deferred), we received net proceeds of $185,000, which is to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. Concurrent with the SPA, WWOD contributed the Initial Note to Investor. Following issuance of the Additional Note, the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Amended SPA is $575,000, both of which are now held by the Investor. In connection with the issuance of the Additional Note, we entered into an Amended and Restated Security and Pledge Agreement dated April 18, 2016 pursuant to which the Notes are secured by all of our assets. We have agreed to repay the Additional Note in nine installments (“Amortization Payments”) at set forth in the Amortization Schedule attached to the Note beginning 30th day after issuance and each 30-days thereafter. However, failure to make any Amortization Payment will not be deemed an event of default under the Additional Note. In addition, the Additional Note can be prepaid at any time until the date immediately preceding the Maturity Date. The Additional Note is convertible into common stock at a conversion price is equal to the lesser of (i) the Fixed Conversion Price ($8.00) or (ii) 65% of the lowest trading price of our common stock during the 5-trading days prior to conversion. The Additional Note contains certain covenants and restrictions including, restrictions on our ability to incur indebtedness, permit liens, pay dividends or dispose of certain assets. Events of default under the note include, among others, failure to pay principal or interest on the note or comply with certain covenants under the note.

 

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On May 13, 2016, we entered into Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with the Investor pursuant to which we (i) issued Investor a 14% secured convertible promissory note dated May 13, 2016 in the aggregate principal amount of $219,201 with an August 31, 2016 maturity date (the “Note”) in exchange for a previously issued 14% secured convertible promissory note dated September 10, 2015 in the original principal amount of $275,000 (with current outstanding principal and interest of $197,208 and $21,993, respectively) with a May 10, 2016 maturity date held by Investor and (ii) issued Investor a 14% secured convertible promissory note dated May 13, 2016 in the aggregate principal amount of $302,646 with an April 30, 2017 maturity date (the “Second Note”, together with the Note, the “Exchange Notes”) in exchange for a previously issued 14% secured convertible promissory note dated April 18, 2016 in the original principal amount of $300,000 (with current outstanding principal and interest of $300,000 and $2,647, respectively) with a May 10, 2016 maturity date held by Investor. In the event that we consummate the additional proposed $2 million financing with Investor for which we have executed a non-binding term sheet (the “Subsequent Placement”), $200,000 of aggregate principal of the Second Note, together with any accrued, and unpaid, interest then outstanding or any additional amounts due and payable as a result of an event of default under the Second Note, shall be applied, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, to reduce the purchase price of the Investor in such Subsequent Placement and upon the closing of such Subsequent Placement and such application, the remainder of the Second Note then outstanding shall be deemed cancelled for no additional consideration.

 

In connection with the issuance of the Exchange Notes, we entered into a Security and Pledge Agreement dated May 13, 2016 pursuant to which the Exchange Notes are secured by all of our assets. The Exchange Notes can be prepaid at any time until the date immediately preceding their respective Maturity Dates. The Exchange Notes are convertible into common stock at a conversion price equal to the lesser of (i) the Fixed Conversion Price ($3.00 for the Note and $8.00 for the Second Note) or (ii) 65% of the lowest trading price of our common stock during the (i) 5-trading days prior to conversion (for conversions on or before May 22, 2016 or (ii) 10-trading days prior to conversion (for conversions after May 22, 2016). The Exchange Note contains certain covenants and restrictions including, restrictions on our ability to incur indebtedness, permit liens, pay dividends or dispose of certain assets. Events of default under the Exchange Notes include, among others, failure to pay principal or interest on the note or comply with certain covenants under the note. We will be required to repay the Exchange Notes at 133% upon an event of default. We prepaid each of the Exchange Notes in June 2016.

 

On June 13, 2014, we issued Crystal Falls Investments, LLC a demand promissory note in the amount of approximately $150,000, which note was amended on September 19, 2014 to be a 5% convertible promissory note. The amended note bears interest at 5% per annum and had a maturity date of June 13, 2015. The amended note may be converted into shares of our common stock at a fixed conversion price of $8.00 per share. This amended note may be prepaid upon payment of 150% of the outstanding principal amount to the holder. The amended note was further amended on July 24, 2015 to extend the maturity date to December 13, 2015. Effective December 13, 2015, this note was further amended to: (i) provide for partial repayment of the Note ($110,000) following a Qualified Financing; (ii) extend the Maturity Date under the Note until the earlier of (A) 45-days after the initial closing of a Qualified Financing or (B) April 1, 2016; and (iii) remove the prepayment provision requiring 150% of the Note upon prepayment. “Qualified Financing” means either (i) a sale of our equity securities pursuant to which we received aggregate gross cash proceeds of at least two-hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) or (ii) a credit facility of up to three-million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) pursuant to which we received aggregate gross cash proceeds of at least four-hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) upon the initial closing of such facility. Effective April 1, 2016, the note was further amended to extend the Maturity Date until May 31, 2016 and provide for installment payments of the principal amount beginning March 31, 2016 to the May 31, 2016 maturity date. On May 31, 2016, we received a waiver from the holder of that certain 5% Convertible Note in the original principal amount of $150,000 with a then stated maturity date of May 31, 2016. The holder of such note agreed to waive any default resulting from non-payment so long as full payment is received by holder on or before June 30, 2016 (the “Waiver Termination Date”). On June 17, 2016, we entered into an Amendment No. 1 to Waiver pursuant to which the Waiver Termination Date was extended to July 1, 2016. This note was repaid in full on July 1, 2016.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

 

Acquisition

 

The acquisition of Eastside Distilling LLC by Eurocan Holdings, Ltd. (now known as Eastside Distilling Inc.) on October 31, 2014, was accounted for as a reverse acquisition with Eastside Distilling LLC as the acquirer of Eurocan. The financial statements presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are presented as a continuation of the operations of Eastside Distilling LLC with one adjustment to retroactively adjust the legal common stock shares of Eastside Distilling Inc. to reflect the legal capital of Eurocan prior to the October 31, 2014 acquisition.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

We record revenue when all four of the following criteria are met: (i) there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery of the products and/or services has occurred; (iii) the selling price is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

 

We recognize sales when merchandise is shipped from a warehouse directly to wholesale customers (except in the case of a consignment sale). For consignment sales, which include sales to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC), we recognize sales upon the consignee’s shipment to the customer. Postage and handling charges billed to customers are also recognized as sales upon shipment of the related merchandise. Shipping terms are generally FOB shipping point, and title passes to the customer at the time and place of shipment or purchase by customers at a retail location. For consignment sales, title passes to the consignee concurrent with the consignee’s shipment to the customer. The customer has no cancellation privileges after shipment or upon purchase at retail locations, other than customary rights of return. We exclude sales tax collected and remitted to various states from sales and cost of sales. Sales from items sold through our retail location are recognized at the time of sale.

 

Revenue received from online merchants who sell discounted gift certificates for our merchandise and tastings is deferred until the customer has redeemed the discounted gift certificate or the gift certificate has expired, whichever occurs earlier.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales consists of the costs of ingredients utilized in the production of spirits, manufacturing labor and overhead, warehousing rent, packaging, and in-bound freight charges. Ingredients account for the largest portion of the cost of sales, followed by contract production fees and packaging.

 

Shipping and Fulfillment Costs

 

Freight costs incurred related to shipment of merchandise from Eastside’s distribution facilities to customers are recorded in cost of sales.

 

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Concentrations

 

We sell to third-party resellers and performs ongoing credit evaluations of trade receivables due from third-party resellers. Generally, we do not require collateral. An allowance for doubtful accounts is determined with respect to those amounts that we have determined to be doubtful of collection using specific identification of doubtful accounts and an aging of receivables analysis based on invoice due dates. Generally, trade receivables are past due after 30 days after an invoice date, unless special payment terms are provided. Based on this analysis, we did not record an allowance for doubtful accounts at September 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable. At September 30, 2016, two customers represented an aggregate of 77% trade receivables. At December 31, 2015, one customer represented 57% of trade receivables.

  

Inventories

 

Inventories primarily consist of bulk and bottled liquor and merchandise and are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using an average costing methodology, which approximates cost under the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. A portion of inventory is held by the OLCC on consignment until it is sold to a third party. Eastside regularly monitors inventory quantities on hand and records write-downs for excess and obsolete inventories based primarily on our estimated forecast of product demand and production requirements. Such write-downs establish a new cost basis of accounting for the related inventory. We have recorded no write-downs of inventory for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

 

Advertising

 

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was approximately $170,000 and $244,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of income.

 

Excise Taxes

 

We are responsible for compliance with the TTB regulations which includes making timely and accurate excise tax payments. Eastside is subject to periodic compliance audits by the TTB. Individual states also impose excise taxes on alcohol beverages in varying amounts. We calculate our excise tax expense based upon units produced and on its understanding of the applicable excise tax laws.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have no significant off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material.

 

ITEM 3 – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide information required by this item.

 

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ITEM 4 – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

In connection with the preparation of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, an evaluation was carried out by our management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) as of September 30, 2016. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. In performing the assessment for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, our management concluded that our financial reporting controls and procedures were not effective to accomplish the foregoing, due to the following material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting:

 

Procedures for Control Evaluation.   Management has not established with appropriate rigor the procedures for evaluating internal controls over financial reporting. Due to limited resources and lack of segregation of duties, documentation of the limited control structure has not been accomplished.

 

Newly Formed Audit Committee.  On September 8, 2016, our board of directors established an audit committee to oversee the engagement of our independent public accounts, review our audited financial statements, meet with our independent public accounts to review internal controls and review our financial plans. Our audit committee currently consists of Michael Fleming, who is the chair of the committee, and Trent Davis, each of whom has been determined by our board of directors to be independent in accordance with OTCQX and SEC standards. Mr. Fleming is an “audit committee financial expert” as the term is defined under SEC regulations. The audit committee operates under a written charter. Both our independent registered accounting firm and internal financial personnel will regularly meet with our audit committee and have unrestricted access to the audit committee.

 

Insufficient Documentation of Review Procedures . We employ policies and procedures for reconciliation of the financial statements and note disclosures, however, these processes are not appropriately documented.

 

Insufficient Information Technology Procedures.  Management has not established methodical and consistent data back-up procedures to ensure loss of data will not occur.

 

Changes in Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, there have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended September 30, 2016, that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures

 

In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

None.

 

ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS

 

As a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide information required by this item.

 

ITEM 2 – UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

1. See our Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 30, 2016 and filed on July 7, 2016.

 

2. See our Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 19, 2016 and filed on September 22, 2016.

 

3. Since July 1, 2016, we have issued 1,093,690 shares of our common stock, net, to consultants in consideration of services rendered. We did not receive any proceeds from these issuances. The issuances were exempt pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

4. On July 7, 2016, we issued 256,038 shares of our common stock in consideration of $17,759.56 in accrued and unpaid dividends due at June 30, 2016 for our outstanding Series A Preferred Stock. We did not receive any proceeds from these issuances. The issuances were exempt pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

5. On July 19, 2016, we issued 5-year warrants to purchase 179,600 shares of our common stock to certain placement agents in consideration of services rendered in connection with our prior private placement offering of series A preferred stock and warrants. We did not receive any proceeds from these issuances. The issuances were exempt pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         

ITEM 3 – DEFAULT UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None

 

ITEM 4 – MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5 – OTHER INFORMATION

 

On September 8, 2016, the Company's board of directors (the "Board") adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2016 Plan"). The total number of shares available for the grant of awards under the Plan is 500,000 shares (on a post-reverse split basis),  provided that , the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2016 Plan will automatically increase on January 1 of each year for a period of up to 10 years, commencing on January 1, 2017, in an amount equal to 8% of the number of outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock, calculated on an as-converted basis, on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or a lesser number of shares determined by our board. See our Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 4, 2016 and filed on November 10, 2016 for a more detailed description of the 2016 Plan.

 

On September 20, 2016, the Board approved an incentive stock option grant under the 2016 Plan totaling 60,000 shares with an exercise price of $1.60, on a post-reverse split basis, to Steven Shum, our Chief Financial Officer.

 

On October 13, 2016, the Board approved a non-qualified option grant under the 2016 Plan totaling 35,000 shares with an exercise price of $1.80, on a post-reverse split basis, to each of the Company's independent directors, Grover Wickersham, Trent Davis, Michael Fleming, and Lawrence Hirson. 

 

On October 13, 2016, the Board approved a restricted stock unit (RSU) grant under the 2016 Plan totaling 55,556 shares to S. Jay Harkins, director and SVP of Sales.  Of the total number of shares subject to the RSU, 27,778 shares vested immediately, and 13,889 were scheduled to vest on January 1, 2017, with the remaining 13,889 shares vesting on April 1, 2017.  Mr. Harkins resigned from the Company effective November 8, 2016, and the 27,778 unvested shares subject to the RSU were automatically forfeited subject to the terms of the agreement governing the RSU.

   

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ITEM 6 – EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
3.1   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as presently in effect, incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on November 14, 2011 (File No. 333-177918).
3.2   Certificate of Designation – Series A Preferred Stock, filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 9, 2016 and filed on March 11, 2016 and incorporated by reference herein.
3.3   Certificate of Change to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as presently in effect, filed as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 6, 2016 and filed on October 11, 2016 and incorporated by reference herein.
3.4   Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, as presently in effect, incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on November 14, 2011 (File No. 333-177918).
10.1+   Eastside Distilling, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of agreement thereunder.
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Schema Linkbase Document
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document

   

 

+      Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Steven Earles
  Steven Earles
  President, Chief Executive Officer
  Date: November 14, 2016
   
  By: /s/ Steve Shum
  Steve Shum
  Chief Financial Officer
  Date: November 14 , 2016

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC.
2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.      Purpose; Eligibility .

 

1.1      General Purpose . The name of this plan is the Eastside Distilling, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”). The purposes of the Plan are to (a) enable Eastside Distilling, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), and any Affiliate to attract and retain the types of Employees, Consultants and Directors who will contribute to the Company’s long range success; (b) provide incentives that align the interests of Employees, Consultants and Directors with those of the shareholders of the Company; and (c) promote the success of the Company’s business.

 

1.2      Eligible Award Recipients . The persons eligible to receive Awards are the Employees, Consultants and Directors of the Company and its Affiliates, and such other individuals designated by the Committee who are reasonably expected to become Employees, Consultants and Directors after the receipt of Awards.

 

1.3      Available Awards . Awards that may be granted under the Plan include: (a) Incentive Stock Options, (b) Non-qualified Stock Options, (c) Stock Appreciation Rights, (d) Restricted Awards, (e) Performance Share Awards, and (f) Performance Compensation Awards.

 

2.      Definitions .

 

Affiliate ” means a corporation or other entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company.

 

Applicable Laws ” means the requirements related to or implicated by the administration of the Plan under applicable state corporate law, United States federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or quoted, and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan.

 

Award ” means any right granted under the Plan, including an Incentive Stock Option, a Non-qualified Stock Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Restricted Award, a Performance Share Award or a Performance Compensation Award.

 

Award Agreement ” means a written agreement, contract, certificate or other instrument or document evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award granted under the Plan which may, in the discretion of the Company, be transmitted electronically to any Participant. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.

 

     

 

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted at any time.

 

Cause ” means:

 

With respect to any Employee or Consultant: (a) If the Employee or Consultant is a party to an employment or service agreement with the Company or its Affiliates and such agreement provides for a definition of Cause, the definition contained therein; or (b) If no such agreement exists, or if such agreement does not define Cause: (i) the commission of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any other act involving willful malfeasance or material fiduciary breach with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; (ii) conduct that results in or is reasonably likely to result in harm to the reputation or business of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iii) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; (iv) intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between such Employee or Consultant and the Company or of any statutory duty owed to the Company; or (v) material violation of state or federal securities laws.

 

With respect to any Director, a determination by a majority of the disinterested Board members that the Director has engaged in any of the following: (a) malfeasance in office; (b) gross misconduct or neglect; (c) false or fraudulent misrepresentation inducing the director’s appointment; (d) willful conversion of corporate funds; (e) intentional, material violation of any statutory duty owed to the Company or its shareholders; or (f) repeated failure to participate in Board meetings on a regular basis despite having received proper notice of the meetings in advance.

 

The Committee, in its absolute discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to whether a Participant has been discharged for Cause.

 

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Change in Control ”  (a) The direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person that is not a subsidiary of the Company; (b) The Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; (c) The date which is 10 business days prior to the consummation of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (d) The acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of 50% or more (on a fully diluted basis) of either (i) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, taking into account as outstanding for this purpose such Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants, the conversion of convertible stock or debt, and the exercise of any similar right to acquire such Common Stock (the “ Outstanding Company Common Stock ”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “ Outstanding Company Voting Securities ”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Plan, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliate, (B) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary, (C) any acquisition which complies with clauses, (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (e) of this definition or (D) in respect of an Award held by a particular Participant, any acquisition by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant (or any entity controlled by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant); or (e) the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company that requires the approval of the Company’s shareholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “ Business Combination ”), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (i) more than 50% of the total voting power of (A) the entity resulting from such Business Combination (the “ Surviving Company ”), or (B) if applicable, the ultimate parent entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of sufficient voting securities eligible to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Surviving Company (the “ Parent Company ”), is represented by the Outstanding Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which the Outstanding Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Business Combination; (ii) no Person (other than any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Company or the Parent Company) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect members of the board of directors of the Parent Company (or the analogous governing body) (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company); and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Parent Company (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time. Any reference to a section of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Committee ” means a committee of one or more members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 3.3 and Section 3.4 , or the Board if no such committee has been appointed.

 

Common Stock ” means the common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company, or such other securities of the Company as may be designated by the Committee from time to time in substitution thereof.

 

Company ” means Eastside Distilling, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and any successor thereto.

 

Consultant ” means any individual who is engaged by the Company or any Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services.

 

  3  

 

 

Continuous Service ” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Consultant or Director, is not interrupted or terminated. The Participant’s Continuous Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service; provided further that if any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, this sentence shall only be given effect to the extent consistent with Section 409A of the Code. For example, a change in status from an Employee of the Company to a Director of an Affiliate will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The Committee or its delegate, in its sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal or family leave of absence.

 

Covered Employee ” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, as interpreted by Internal Revenue Service Notice 2007-49.

 

Deferred Stock Units (DSUs) ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2 hereof.

 

Director ” means a member of the Board.

 

Disability ” means that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment; provided, however, for purposes of determining the term of an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to Section 6.10 hereof, the term Disability shall have the meaning ascribed to it under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. The determination of whether an individual has a Disability shall be determined under procedures established by the Committee. Except in situations where the Committee is determining Disability for purposes of the term of an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to Section 6.10 hereof within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, the Committee may rely on any determination that a Participant is disabled for purposes of benefits under any long-term disability plan maintained by the Company or any Affiliate in which a Participant participates.

 

Disqualifying Disposition ” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.12 .

 

Effective Date ” shall mean the date as of which this Plan is adopted by the Board.

 

Employee ” means any person, including an Officer or Director, employed by the Company or an Affiliate; provided, that,  for purposes of determining eligibility to receive Incentive Stock Options, an Employee shall mean an employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code. Mere service as a Director or payment of a director’s fee by the Company or an Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company or an Affiliate.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock as determined below. 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 Stock Market, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (or if no sales were reported the closing price on the date immediately preceding such date) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable. In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee and such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

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Free Standing Rights ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a) .

 

Good Reason ” means: (a) If an Employee or Consultant is a party to an employment or service agreement with the Company or its Affiliates and such agreement provides for a definition of Good Reason, the definition contained therein; or (b) If no such agreement exists or if such agreement does not define Good Reason, the occurrence of one or more of the following without the Participant’s express written consent, which circumstances are not remedied by the Company within thirty (30) days of its receipt of a written notice from the Participant describing the applicable circumstances (which notice must be provided by the Participant within ninety (90) days of the Participant’s knowledge of the applicable circumstances): (i) any material, adverse change in the Participant’s duties, responsibilities, authority, title, status or reporting structure; (ii) a material reduction in the Participant’s base salary or bonus opportunity; or (iii) a geographical relocation of the Participant’s principal office location by more than fifty (50) miles.

 

Grant Date ” means the date on which the Committee adopts a resolution, or takes other appropriate action, expressly granting an Award to a Participant that specifies the key terms and conditions of the Award or, if a later date is set forth in such resolution, then such date as is set forth in such resolution.

 

Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

Incumbent Directors ” means individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board, provided that any individual becoming a Director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director. No individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director.

 

Negative Discretion ” means the discretion authorized by the Plan to be applied by the Committee to eliminate or reduce the size of a Performance Compensation Award in accordance with Section 7.4(d)(iv) of the Plan; provided, that, the exercise of such discretion would not cause the Performance Compensation Award to fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

Non-Employee Director ” means a Director who is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.

 

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Non-qualified Stock Option ” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

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.

 

Option ” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-qualified Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

Optionholder ” means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.

 

Option Exercise Price ” means the price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased upon the exercise of an Option.

 

Outside Director ” means a Director who is an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.162-27(e)(3) or any successor to such statute and regulation.

 

Participant ” means an eligible person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Award.

 

Performance Compensation Award ” means any Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Plan.

 

Performance Criteria ” means the criterion or criteria that the Committee shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Performance Period with respect to any Performance Compensation Award under the Plan. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s) shall be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company (or Affiliate, division, business unit or operational unit of the Company) and shall be limited to the following: (a) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); (b) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (c) net revenue or net revenue growth; (d) gross revenue; (e) gross profit or gross profit growth; (f) net operating profit (before or after taxes); (g) return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, or sales; (h) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow return on capital); (i) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; (j) gross or operating margins; (k) improvements in capital structure; (l) budget and expense management; (m) productivity ratios; (n) economic value added or other value added measurements; (o) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return); (p) expense targets; (q) margins; (r) operating efficiency; (s) working capital targets; (t) enterprise value; (u) safety record; (v) completion of acquisitions or business expansion; and (w) regulatory milestones and targets. Any one or more of the Performance Criteria may be used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of the Company and/or an Affiliate as a whole or any division, business unit or operational unit of the Company and/or an Affiliate or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or as compared to the performance of a group of comparable companies, or published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or the Committee may select Performance Criterion (o) above as compared to various stock market indices. The Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of Performance Goals pursuant to the Performance Criteria specified in this paragraph. To the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall, within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period. In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit the Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Criteria without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining shareholder approval.

 

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Performance Formula ” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more objective formulas applied against the relevant Performance Goal to determine, with regard to the Performance Compensation Award of a particular Participant, whether all, some portion but less than all, or none of the Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.

 

Performance Goals ” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. The Committee is authorized at any time during the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), or at any time thereafter (but only to the extent the exercise of such authority after such period would not cause the Performance Compensation Awards granted to any Participant for the Performance Period to fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code), in its sole and absolute discretion, to adjust or modify the calculation of a Performance Goal for such Performance Period to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants based on the following events: (a) asset write-downs; (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results; (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (e) extraordinary, unusual or infrequently occurring items as described in management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company's annual report to shareholders for the applicable year; (f) acquisitions or divestitures; (g) any other specific unusual or nonrecurring events, or objectively determinable category thereof; (h) foreign exchange gains and losses; and (i) a change in the Company's fiscal year.

 

Performance Period ” means the one or more periods of time not less than one fiscal quarter in duration, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant's right to and the payment of a Performance Compensation Award.

 

Performance Share Award ” means any Award granted pursuant to Section 7.3 hereof.

 

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Performance Share ” means the grant of a right to receive a number of actual shares of Common Stock or share units based upon the performance of the Company during a Performance Period, as determined by the Committee.

 

Permitted Transferee ” means: (a) a member of the Optionholder’s immediate family (child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships), any person sharing the Optionholder’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Optionholder) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Optionholder) own more than 50% of the voting interests; (b) third parties designated by the Committee in connection with a program established and approved by the Committee pursuant to which Participants may receive a cash payment or other consideration in consideration for the transfer of a Non-qualified Stock Option; and (c) such other transferees as may be permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

Plan ” means this Eastside Distilling, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and/or amended and restated from time to time.

 

Related Rights ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a) .

 

Restricted Award ” means any Award granted pursuant to Section 7.2(a) .

 

Restricted Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a) .

 

Rule 16b-3 ” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Stock Appreciation Right ” means the right pursuant to an Award granted under Section 7.1 to receive, upon exercise, an amount payable in cash or shares equal to the number of shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Award is exercised, over (b) the exercise price specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement.

 

Stock for Stock Exchange ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.4 .

 

Ten Percent Shareholder ” means a person who owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Affiliates.

 

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3.      Administration .

 

3.1      Authority of Committee . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee or, in the Board’s sole discretion, by the Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee’s charter and Applicable Laws, and in addition to other express powers and authorization conferred by the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority:

 

(a)       to construe and interpret the Plan and apply its provisions;

 

(b)       to promulgate, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of the Plan;

 

(c)       to authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan;

 

(d)       to delegate its authority to one or more Officers of the Company with respect to Awards that do not involve Covered Employees or “insiders” within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act;

 

(e)       to determine when Awards are to be granted under the Plan and the applicable Grant Date;

 

(f)       from time to time to select, subject to the limitations set forth in this Plan, those Participants to whom Awards shall be granted;

 

(g)       to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be made subject to each Award;

 

(h)       to determine whether each Option is to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-qualified Stock Option;

 

(i)        to prescribe the terms and conditions of each Award, including, without limitation, the exercise price and medium of payment and vesting provisions, and to specify the provisions of the Award Agreement relating to such grant;

 

(j)        to determine the target number of Performance Shares to be granted pursuant to a Performance Share Award, the performance measures that will be used to establish the performance goals, the performance period(s) and the number of Performance Shares earned by a Participant;

 

(k)       to designate an Award (including a cash bonus) as a Performance Compensation Award and to select the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goals;

 

(l)        to amend any outstanding Awards, including for the purpose of modifying the time or manner of vesting, or the term of any outstanding Award; provided, however , that if any such amendment impairs a Participant’s rights or increases a Participant’s obligations under his or her Award or creates or increases a Participant’s federal income tax liability with respect to an Award, such amendment shall also be subject to the Participant’s consent;

 

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(m)      to determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absences which may be granted to a Participant without constituting termination of their employment for purposes of the Plan, which periods shall be no shorter than the periods generally applicable to Employees under the Company’s employment policies;

 

(n)       to make decisions with respect to outstanding Awards that may become necessary upon a change in corporate control or an event that triggers anti-dilution adjustments;

 

(o)       to interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan; and

 

(p)       to exercise discretion to make any and all other determinations which it determines to be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

 

The Committee also may modify the purchase price or the exercise price of any outstanding Award, provided that if the modification effects a repricing, shareholder approval shall be required before the repricing is effective.

 

3.2     Committee Decisions Final . All decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participants, unless such decisions are determined by a court having jurisdiction to be arbitrary and capricious.

 

3.3     Delegation . The Committee, or if no Committee has been appointed, the Board, may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee or committees of one or more members of the Board, and the term “ Committee ” shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated. The Committee shall have the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board or the Committee shall thereafter be to the committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board. From time to time, the Board may increase or decrease the size of the Committee, add additional members to, remove members (with or without cause) from, appoint new members in substitution therefor, and fill vacancies, however caused, in the Committee. The Committee shall act pursuant to a vote of the majority of its members or, in the case of a Committee comprised of only two members, the unanimous consent of its members, whether present or not, or by the written consent of the majority of its members and minutes shall be kept of all of its meetings and copies thereof shall be provided to the Board. Subject to the limitations prescribed by the Plan and the Board, the Committee may establish and follow such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it may determine to be advisable.

 

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3.4      Committee Composition . Except as otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors who are also Outside Directors. The Board shall have discretion to determine whether or not it intends to comply with the exemption requirements of Rule 16b-3 and/or Section 162(m) of the Code. However, if the Board intends to satisfy such exemption requirements, with respect to Awards to any Covered Employee and with respect to any insider subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Committee shall be a compensation committee of the Board that at all times consists solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors who are also Outside Directors. Within the scope of such authority, the Board or the Committee may (a) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Outside Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are either (i) not then Covered Employees and are not expected to be Covered Employees at the time of recognition of income resulting from such Award or (ii) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code or (b) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Non-Employee Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Nothing herein shall create an inference that an Award is not validly granted under the Plan in the event Awards are granted under the Plan by a compensation committee of the Board that does not at all times consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors who are also Outside Directors.

 

3.5      Indemnification . In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as Directors or members of the Committee, and to the extent allowed by Applicable Laws, the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company against the reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding or in connection with any appeal therein, to which the Committee may be party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan, and against all amounts paid by the Committee in settlement thereof ( provided, however , that the settlement has been approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) or paid by the Committee in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such Committee did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company, or in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reason to believe that the conduct complained of was unlawful; provided, however , that within 60 days after institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, such Committee shall, in writing, offer the Company the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend such action, suit or proceeding.

 

4.      Shares Subject to the Plan .

 

4.1     Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 4.2 and Section 11 , a total of 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock shall be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. During the terms of the Awards, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required to satisfy such Awards.

 

4.2     The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved for Awards under the Plan will automatically increase on January 1 st of each year, for a period of not more than ten (10) years, commencing on January 1 st of the year following the year in which the Effective Date occurs and ending on (and including) January 1, 2026, in an amount equal to eight percent (8%) of the total number of shares of Outstanding Company Common Stock on December 31 st of the preceding calendar year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the Committee may act prior to January 1 st of a given year to provide that there will be no January 1 st increase for such year or that the increase for such year will be a lesser number of shares of Common Stock than provided herein.

 

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4.3     Shares of Common Stock available for distribution under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares, treasury shares or shares reacquired by the Company in any manner.

 

4.4     Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11 , no Participant shall be granted, during any one (1) year period, Options to purchase Common Stock and Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate or any other Awards with respect to more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate. If an Award is to be settled in cash, the number of shares of Common Stock on which the Award is based shall count toward the individual share limit set forth in this Section 4.

 

4.5     Any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award that is canceled, forfeited or expires prior to exercise or realization, either in full or in part, shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: shares subject to an Award under the Plan shall not again be made available for issuance or delivery under the Plan if such shares are (a) shares tendered in payment of an Option, (b) shares delivered or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation, or (c) shares covered by a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right or other Awards that were not issued upon the settlement of the Award.

 

5.      Eligibility .

 

5.1      Eligibility for Specific Awards . Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Consultants and Directors, and to such other persons as the Committee shall select and those individuals whom the Committee determines are reasonably expected to become Employees, Consultants and Directors following the Grant Date.

 

5.2      Ten Percent Shareholders . A Ten Percent Shareholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the Option Exercise Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the Grant Date and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the Grant Date.

 

6.      Option Provisions . Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Option so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 6, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Non-qualified Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no liability to any Participant or any other person if an Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option fails to qualify as such at any time or if an Option is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the terms of such Option do not satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

 

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6.1      Term . Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2 regarding Ten Percent Shareholders, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the Grant Date. The term of a Non-qualified Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however , no Non-qualified Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the Grant Date.

 

6.2      Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option . Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2 regarding Ten Percent Shareholders, the Option Exercise Price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may be granted with an Option Exercise Price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) and Section 409A of the Code.

 

6.3      Exercise Price of a Non-qualified Stock Option . The Option Exercise Price of each Non-qualified Stock Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Non-qualified Stock Option may be granted with an Option Exercise Price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

 

6.4      Consideration . The Option Exercise Price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations, either (a) in cash or by certified or bank check at the time the Option is exercised or (b) in the discretion of the Committee, upon such terms as the Committee shall approve, the Option Exercise Price may be paid: (i) by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company, with a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the Option Exercise Price (or portion thereof) due for the number of shares being acquired, or by means of attestation whereby the Participant identifies for delivery specific shares of Common Stock that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of attestation equal to the Option Exercise Price (or portion thereof) and receives a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the difference between the number of shares thereby purchased and the number of identified attestation shares of Common Stock (a “ Stock for Stock Exchange ”); (ii) a “cashless” exercise program established with a broker; (iii) by reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of such Option with a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Option Exercise Price at the time of exercise; (iv) any combination of the foregoing methods; or (v) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee. Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Option, the exercise price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option that is paid by delivery (or attestation) to the Company of other Common Stock acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company, shall be paid only by shares of the Common Stock of the Company that have been held for more than six months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes). Notwithstanding the foregoing, during any period for which the Common Stock is publicly traded (i.e., the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system) an exercise by a Director or Officer that involves or may involve a direct or indirect extension of credit or arrangement of an extension of credit by the Company, directly or indirectly, in violation of Section 402(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 shall be prohibited with respect to any Award under this Plan.

 

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6.5     Transferability of an Incentive Stock Option . An Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.

 

6.6     Transferability of a Non-qualified Stock Option . A Non-qualified Stock Option may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be transferable to a Permitted Transferee, upon written approval by the Committee to the extent provided in the Award Agreement. If the Non-qualified Stock Option does not provide for transferability, then the Non-qualified Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.

 

6.7     Vesting of Options . Each Option may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Committee may deem appropriate, provided, however, that if no vesting schedule is specified at the time of grant, the Option shall be vested according to the following schedule: one-fourth (1/4 th ) of the shares subject to the Option shall vest one year following the date that the Option commences vesting as specified at the time of grant, or, if no date is specified at the time of grant, the Grant Date (such date for such Option, the “ Vesting Commencement Date ”), and the balance of the shares subject to the Option shall vest in a series of thirty-six (36) successive equal monthly installments measured from the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, subject to Optionholder’s Continuous Service as of each such date.

 

The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. No Option may be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the terms of any Award Agreement upon the occurrence of a specified event.

 

6.8     Termination of Continuous Service . Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or in an employment agreement the terms of which have been approved by the Committee, in the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date three months following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that , if the termination of Continuous Service is by the Company for Cause, all outstanding Options (whether or not vested) shall immediately terminate and cease to be exercisable. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate.

 

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6.9      Extension of Termination Date . An Optionholder’s Award Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service for any reason would be prohibited at any time because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act or any other state or federal securities law or the rules of any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (a) the expiration of the term of the Option in accordance with Section 6.1 or (b) the expiration of a period after termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service that is three months after the end of the period during which the exercise of the Option would be in violation of such registration or other securities law requirements.

 

6.10    Disability of Optionholder . Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event that an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s Disability, the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date 12 months following such termination or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein or in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate.

 

6.11    Death of Optionholder . Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of death) by the Optionholder’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the Option upon the Optionholder’s death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of (a) the date 12 months following the date of death or (b) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after the Optionholder’s death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein or in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate.

 

6.12    Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation . To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds $100,000, the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Non-qualified Stock Options.

 

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7.      Provisions of Awards Other Than Options .

 

7.1       Stock Appreciation Rights .  

 

(a)        General

 

Each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7.1, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted alone (“ Free Standing Rights ”) or in tandem with an Option granted under the Plan (“ Related Rights ”).

 

(b)        Grant Requirements

 

Any Related Right that relates to a Non-qualified Stock Option may be granted at the same time the Option is granted or at any time thereafter but before the exercise or expiration of the Option. Any Related Right that relates to an Incentive Stock Option must be granted at the same time the Incentive Stock Option is granted.

 

(c)        Term of Stock Appreciation Rights

 

The term of a Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however , no Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.

 

(d)        Vesting of Stock Appreciation Rights

 

Each Stock Appreciation Right may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Stock Appreciation Right may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised as the Committee may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Stock Appreciation Rights may vary. No Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the terms of any Stock Appreciation Right upon the occurrence of a specified event.

 

(e)        Exercise and Payment

 

Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the holder shall be entitled to receive from the Company an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Award is exercised, over (ii) the exercise price specified in the Stock Appreciation Right or related Option. Payment with respect to the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be made on the date of exercise. Payment shall be made in the form of shares of Common Stock (with or without restrictions as to substantial risk of forfeiture and transferability, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion), cash or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.

 

(f)         Exercise Price

 

The exercise price of a Free Standing Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date of such Stock Appreciation Right. A Related Right granted simultaneously with or subsequent to the grant of an Option and in conjunction therewith or in the alternative thereto shall have the same exercise price as the related Option, shall be transferable only upon the same terms and conditions as the related Option, and shall be exercisable only to the same extent as the related Option; provided, however , that a Stock Appreciation Right, by its terms, shall be exercisable only when the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right and related Option exceeds the exercise price per share thereof and no Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with an Option unless the Committee determines that the requirements of Section 7.1(b) are satisfied.

 

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(g)        Reduction in the Underlying Option Shares

 

Upon any exercise of a Related Right, the number of shares of Common Stock for which any related Option shall be exercisable shall be reduced by the number of shares for which the Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised. The number of shares of Common Stock for which a Related Right shall be exercisable shall be reduced upon any exercise of any related Option by the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Option has been exercised.

 

7.2       Restricted Awards .  

 

(a)        General

 

A Restricted Award is an Award of actual shares of Common Stock (“ Restricted Stock ”) or hypothetical Common Stock units (“ Restricted Stock Units ”) having a value equal to the Fair Market Value of an identical number of shares of Common Stock, which may, but need not, provide that such Restricted Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of, pledged or hypothecated as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of any obligation or for any other purpose for such period (the “ Restricted Period ”) as the Committee shall determine. Each Restricted Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Restricted Award so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7.2, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(b)        Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

 

(i) Each Participant granted Restricted Stock shall execute and deliver to the Company an Award Agreement with respect to the Restricted Stock setting forth the restrictions and other terms and conditions applicable to such Restricted Stock. If the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (A) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable and (B) the appropriate blank stock power with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. If a Participant fails to execute an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and stock power, the Award shall be null and void. Subject to the restrictions set forth in the Award, the Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a shareholder as to such Restricted Stock, including the right to vote such Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends; provided that , any cash dividends and stock dividends with respect to the Restricted Stock shall be withheld by the Company for the Participant’s account, and interest may be credited on the amount of the cash dividends withheld at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. The cash dividends or stock dividends so withheld by the Committee and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be distributed to the Participant in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, if applicable, upon the release of restrictions on such share and, if such share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends.

 

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(ii) The terms and conditions of a grant of Restricted Stock Units shall be reflected in an Award Agreement. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued at the time a Restricted Stock Unit is granted, and the Company will not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of any such Award. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder. The Committee may also grant Restricted Stock Units with a deferral feature, whereby settlement is deferred beyond the vesting date until the occurrence of a future payment date or event set forth in an Award Agreement (“ Deferred Stock Units ”). At the discretion of the Committee, each Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (representing one share of Common Stock) may be credited with cash and stock dividends paid by the Company in respect of one share of Common Stock (“ Dividend Equivalents ”). Dividend Equivalents shall be withheld by the Company and credited to the Participant’s account, and interest may be credited on the amount of cash Dividend Equivalents withheld at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. Dividend Equivalents credited to a Participant’s account and attributable to any particular Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be distributed in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such Dividend Equivalents and earnings, if applicable, to the Participant upon settlement of such Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit and, if such Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such Dividend Equivalents.

 

(c)        Restrictions

 

(i) Restricted Stock awarded to a Participant shall be subject to the following restrictions until the expiration of the Restricted Period, and to such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement: (A) if an escrow arrangement is used, the Participant shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate; (B) the shares shall be subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in the Award Agreement; (C) the shares shall be subject to forfeiture to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement; and (D) to the extent such shares are forfeited, the stock certificates shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a shareholder with respect to such shares shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company.

 

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(ii) Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units awarded to any Participant shall be subject to (A) forfeiture until the expiration of the Restricted Period, and satisfaction of any applicable Performance Goals during such period, to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement, and to the extent such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are forfeited, all rights of the Participant to such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company and (B) such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(iii) The Committee shall have the authority to remove any or all of the restrictions on the Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units whenever it may determine that, by reason of changes in Applicable Laws or other changes in circumstances arising after the date the Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are granted, such action is appropriate.

 

(d)        Restricted Period

 

With respect to Restricted Awards, the Restricted Period shall commence on the Grant Date and end at the time or times set forth on a schedule established by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement. No Restricted Award may be granted or settled for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting in the terms of any Award Agreement upon the occurrence of a specified event.

 

(e)        Delivery of Restricted Stock and Settlement of Restricted Stock Units

 

Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth in Section 7.2(c) and the applicable Award Agreement shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such shares, except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. If an escrow arrangement is used, upon such expiration, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, the stock certificate evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock which have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired (to the nearest full share) and any cash dividends or stock dividends credited to the Participant’s account with respect to such Restricted Stock and the interest thereon, if any. Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, or at the expiration of the deferral period with respect to any outstanding Deferred Stock Units, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, one share of Common Stock for each such outstanding vested Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (“ Vested Unit ”) and cash equal to any Dividend Equivalents credited with respect to each such Vested Unit in accordance with Section 7.2(b)(ii) hereof and the interest thereon or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to such Dividend Equivalents and the interest thereon, if any; provided, however , that, if explicitly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to pay cash or part cash and part Common Stock in lieu of delivering only shares of Common Stock for Vested Units. If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering shares of Common Stock, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the date on which the Restricted Period lapsed in the case of Restricted Stock Units, or the delivery date in the case of Deferred Stock Units, with respect to each Vested Unit.

 

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(f)        Stock Restrictions

 

Each certificate representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall bear a legend in such form as the Company deems appropriate.

 

7.3       Performance Share Awards .

 

(a)        Grant of Performance Share Awards

 

Each Performance Share Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Performance Share Award so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7.3, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. The Committee shall have the discretion to determine: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock or stock-denominated units subject to a Performance Share Award granted to any Participant; (ii) the performance period applicable to any Award; (iii) the conditions that must be satisfied for a Participant to earn an Award; and (iv) the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award.

 

(b)        Earning Performance Share Awards

 

The number of Performance Shares earned by a Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period, as determined by the Committee. No payout shall be made with respect to any Performance Share Award except upon written certification by the Committee that the minimum threshold performance goal(s) have been achieved.

 

7.4      Performance Compensation Awards .

 

(a)        General

 

The Committee shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any Award described in this Plan (other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted with an exercise price equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Grant Date), to designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award in order to qualify such Award as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. In addition, the Committee shall have the authority to make an Award of a cash bonus to any Participant and designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award in order to qualify such Award as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

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(b)        Eligibility

 

The Committee will, in its sole discretion, designate within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) which Participants will be eligible to receive Performance Compensation Awards in respect of such Performance Period. However, designation of a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder for a Performance Period shall not in any manner entitle the Participant to receive payment in respect of any Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period. The determination as to whether or not such Participant becomes entitled to payment in respect of any Performance Compensation Award shall be decided solely in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.4. Moreover, designation of a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder for a particular Performance Period shall not require designation of such Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder in any subsequent Performance Period and designation of one person as a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder shall not require designation of any other person as a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder in such period or in any other period.

 

(c)        Discretion of Committee with Respect to Performance Compensation Awards

 

With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have full discretion to select the length of such Performance Period (provided any such Performance Period shall be not less than one fiscal quarter in duration), the type(s) of Performance Compensation Awards to be issued, the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s), the kind(s) and/or level(s) of the Performance Goal(s) that is (are) to apply to the Company and the Performance Formula. Within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, with regard to the Performance Compensation Awards to be issued for such Performance Period, exercise its discretion with respect to each of the matters enumerated in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 7.4(c) and record the same in writing.

 

(d)        Payment of Performance Compensation Awards

 

(i) Condition to Receipt of Payment

 

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company on the last day of a Performance Period to be eligible for payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period.

 

(ii) Limitation

 

A Participant shall be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award only to the extent that: (A) the Performance Goals for such period are achieved; and (B) the Performance Formula as applied against such Performance Goals determines that all or some portion of such Participant's Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.

 

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(iii) Certification

 

Following the completion of a Performance Period, the Committee shall review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, calculate and certify in writing the amount of the Performance Compensation Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Formula. The Committee shall then determine the actual size of each Participant's Performance Compensation Award for the Performance Period and, in so doing, may apply Negative Discretion in accordance with Section 7.4(d)(iv) hereof, if and when it deems appropriate.

 

(iv) Use of Discretion

 

In determining the actual size of an individual Performance Compensation Award for a Performance Period, the Committee may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Performance Compensation Award earned under the Performance Formula in the Performance Period through the use of Negative Discretion if, in its sole judgment, such reduction or elimination is appropriate. The Committee shall not have the discretion to (A) grant or provide payment in respect of Performance Compensation Awards for a Performance Period if the Performance Goals for such Performance Period have not been attained or (B) increase a Performance Compensation Award above the maximum amount payable under Section 7.4(d)(vi) of the Plan.

 

(v) Timing of Award Payments

 

Performance Compensation Awards granted for a Performance Period shall be paid to Participants as soon as administratively practicable following completion of the certifications required by this Section 7.4 but in no event later than 2 1/2 months following the end of the fiscal year during which the Performance Period is completed.

 

(vi) Maximum Award Payable

 

Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Plan to the contrary, the maximum Performance Compensation Award payable to any one Participant under the Plan for a Performance Period (excluding any Options and Stock Appreciation Rights) is 500,000 shares of Common Stock or, in the event such Performance Compensation Award is paid in cash, the equivalent cash value thereof on the first or last day of the Performance Period to which such Award relates, as determined by the Committee. The maximum amount that can be paid in any calendar year to any Participant pursuant to a cash bonus Award described in the last sentence of Section 7.4(a) shall be $1,000,000. Furthermore, any Performance Compensation Award that has been deferred shall not (between the date as of which the Award is deferred and the payment date) increase (A) with respect to a Performance Compensation Award that is payable in cash, by a measuring factor for each fiscal year greater than a reasonable rate of interest set by the Committee or (B) with respect to a Performance Compensation Award that is payable in shares of Common Stock, by an amount greater than the appreciation of a share of Common Stock from the date such Award is deferred to the payment date.

 

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8.      Securities Law Compliance . Each Award Agreement shall provide that no shares of Common Stock shall be purchased or sold thereunder unless and until (a) any then applicable requirements of state or federal laws and regulatory agencies have been fully complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and its counsel and (b) if required to do so by the Company, the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company a letter of investment intent in such form and containing such provisions as the Committee may require. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Awards; provided, however , that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.

 

9.      Use of Proceeds from Stock . Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Awards, or upon exercise thereof, shall constitute general funds of the Company.

 

10.    Miscellaneous .

 

10.1        Acceleration of Exercisability and Vesting . The Committee shall have the power to accelerate the time at which an Award may first be exercised or the time during which an Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest.

 

10.2        Shareholder Rights . Except as provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, no Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Award pursuant to its terms and no adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions of other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Common Stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 11 hereof.

 

10.3        No Employment or Other Service Rights . Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (a) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without Cause or (b) the service of a Director pursuant to the By-laws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be.

 

10.4        Transfer; Approved Leave of Absence . For purposes of the Plan, no termination of employment by an Employee shall be deemed to result from either (a) a transfer of employment to the Company from an Affiliate or from the Company to an Affiliate, or from one Affiliate to another, or (b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the Employee’s right to reemployment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Committee otherwise so provides in writing, in either case, except to the extent inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code if the applicable Award is subject thereto.

 

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10.5        Withholding Obligations . To the extent provided by the terms of an Award Agreement and subject to the discretion of the Committee, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under an Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Company’s right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (a) tendering a cash payment; (b) authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Award, provided, however , that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law; or (c) delivering to the Company previously owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock of the Company.

 

11.     Adjustments Upon Changes in Stock . In the event of changes in the outstanding Common Stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of any stock or extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, an extraordinary corporate transaction such as any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange, or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the Grant Date of any Award, Awards granted under the Plan and any Award Agreements, the exercise price of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to all Awards stated in Section 4 and the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which any one person may be granted Awards during any period stated in Section 4 and Section 7.4(d)(vi) will be equitably adjusted or substituted, as to the number, price or kind of a share of Common Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards to the extent necessary to preserve the economic intent of such Award. In the case of adjustments made pursuant to this Section 11, unless the Committee specifically determines that such adjustment is in the best interests of the Company or its Affiliates, the Committee shall, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this Section 11 will not constitute a modification, extension or renewal of the Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code and in the case of Non-qualified Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this Section 11 will not constitute a modification of such Non-qualified Stock Options within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any adjustments made under this Section 11 shall be made in a manner which does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Further, with respect to Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, any adjustments or substitutions will not cause the Company to be denied a tax deduction on account of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Company shall give each Participant notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

 

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12.    Effect of Change in Control .

 

12.1       Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary:

 

(a)       In the event of a Change of Control, all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall become immediately exercisable with respect to 100% of the shares subject to such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, and/or the Restricted Period shall expire immediately with respect to 100% of the shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

 

(b)       With respect to Performance Compensation Awards, in the event of a Change in Control, all incomplete Performance Periods in respect of such Award in effect on the date the Change in Control occurs shall end on the date of such change and the Committee shall (i) determine the extent to which Performance Goals with respect to each such Performance Period have been met based upon such audited or unaudited financial information then available as it deems relevant and (ii) cause to be paid to the applicable Participant partial or full Awards with respect to Performance Goals for each such Performance Period based upon the Committee's determination of the degree of attainment of Performance Goals or, if not determinable, assuming that the applicable “target” levels of performance have been attained, or on such other basis determined by the Committee.

 

To the extent practicable, any actions taken by the Committee under the immediately preceding clauses (a) and (b) shall occur in a manner and at a time which allows affected Participants the ability to participate in the Change in Control with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to their Awards.

 

12.2  In addition, in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may in its discretion and upon at least 10 days’ advance notice to the affected persons, cancel any outstanding Awards and pay to the holders thereof, in cash or stock, or any combination thereof, the value of such Awards based upon the price per share of Common Stock received or to be received by other shareholders of the Company in the event. In the case of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price that equals or exceeds the price paid for a share of Common Stock in connection with the Change in Control, the Committee may cancel the Option or Stock Appreciation Right without the payment of consideration therefor.

 

12.3  The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company and its Affiliates, taken as a whole.

 

13.    Amendment of the Plan and Awards .

 

13.1   Amendment of Plan . The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend or terminate the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 11 relating to adjustments upon changes in Common Stock and Section 13.3 , no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company to the extent shareholder approval is necessary to satisfy any Applicable Laws. At the time of such amendment, the Board shall determine, upon advice from counsel, whether such amendment will be contingent on shareholder approval.

 

13.2   Shareholder Approval . The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit any other amendment to the Plan for shareholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive officers.

 

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13.3    Contemplated Amendments . It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees, Consultants and Directors with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options or to the nonqualified deferred compensation provisions of Section 409A of the Code and/or to bring the Plan and/or Awards granted under it into compliance therewith.

 

13.4    No Impairment of Rights . Rights under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (a) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (b) the Participant consents in writing.

 

13.5    Amendment of Awards . The Committee at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Awards; provided, however , that the Committee may not affect any amendment which would otherwise constitute an impairment of the rights under any Award unless (a) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (b) the Participant consents in writing.

 

14.    General Provisions .

 

14.1    Forfeiture Events . The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain events, in addition to applicable vesting conditions of an Award. Such events may include, without limitation, breach of non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that are contained in the Award Agreement or otherwise applicable to the Participant, a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service for Cause, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company and/or its Affiliates.

 

14.2    Clawback . Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, any Award which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement).

 

14.3    Other Compensation Arrangements . Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

14.4    Sub-plans . The Committee may from time to time establish sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying blue sky, securities, tax or other laws of various jurisdictions in which the Company intends to grant Awards. Any sub-plans shall contain such limitations and other terms and conditions as the Committee determines are necessary or desirable. All sub-plans shall be deemed a part of the Plan, but each sub-plan shall apply only to the Participants in the jurisdiction for which the sub-plan was designed.

 

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14.5     Deferral of Awards . The Committee may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Participants the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Participant to payment or receipt of shares of Common Stock or other consideration under an Award. The Committee may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, shares or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the Committee deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.

 

14.6     Unfunded Plan . The Plan shall be unfunded. Neither the Company, the Board nor the Committee shall be required to establish any special or separate fund or to segregate any assets to assure the performance of its obligations under the Plan.

 

14.7     Recapitalizations . Each Award Agreement shall contain provisions required to reflect the provisions of Section 11 .

 

14.8     Delivery . Upon exercise of a right granted under this Plan, the Company shall issue Common Stock or pay any amounts due within a reasonable period of time thereafter. Subject to any statutory or regulatory obligations the Company may otherwise have, for purposes of this Plan, 30 days shall be considered a reasonable period of time.

 

14.9     No Fractional Shares . No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Committee shall determine whether cash, additional Awards or other securities or property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or whether any fractional shares should be rounded, forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

14.10   Other Provisions . The Award Agreements authorized under the Plan may contain such other provisions not inconsistent with this Plan, including, without limitation, restrictions upon the exercise of the Awards, as the Committee may deem advisable.

 

14.11   Section 409A . The Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Laws require otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six (6) month period immediately following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service shall instead be paid on the first payroll date after the six-month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service (or the Participant’s death, if earlier). Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor the Committee shall have any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any excise tax or penalty on any Participant under Section 409A of the Code and neither the Company nor the Committee will have any liability to any Participant for such tax or penalty.

 

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14.12    Disqualifying Dispositions . Any Participant who shall make a “disposition” (as defined in Section 424 of the Code) of all or any portion of shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within two years from the Grant Date of such Incentive Stock Option or within one year after the issuance of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of such Incentive Stock Option (a “ Disqualifying Disposition ”) shall be required to immediately advise the Company in writing as to the occurrence of the sale and the price realized upon the sale of such shares of Common Stock.

 

14.13    Section 16 . It is the intent of the Company that the Plan satisfy, and be interpreted in a manner that satisfies, the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 as promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act so that Participants will be entitled to the benefit of Rule 16b-3, or any other rule promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and will not be subject to short-swing liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, if the operation of any provision of the Plan would conflict with the intent expressed in this Section 14.13 , such provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted and/or deemed amended so as to avoid such conflict.

 

14.14    Section 162(m) . To the extent the Committee issues any Award that is intended to be exempt from the deduction limitation of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may, without shareholder or grantee approval, amend the Plan or the relevant Award Agreement retroactively or prospectively to the extent it determines necessary in order to comply with any subsequent clarification of Section 162(m) of the Code required to preserve the Company’s federal income tax deduction for compensation paid pursuant to any such Award.

 

14.15    Beneficiary Designation . Each Participant under the Plan may from time to time name any beneficiary or beneficiaries by whom any right under the Plan is to be exercised in case of such Participant’s death. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form reasonably prescribed by the Committee and shall be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime.

 

14.16    Expenses . The costs of administering the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

 

14.17    Severability . If any of the provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, whether in whole or in part, such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby.

 

14.18    Plan Headings . The headings in the Plan are for purposes of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the construction of the provisions hereof.

 

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14.19    Non-Uniform Treatment . The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who are eligible to receive, or actually receive, Awards. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled to make non-uniform and selective determinations, amendments and adjustments, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements.

 

15.   Effective Date of Plan . The Plan shall become effective as of the Effective Date, but no Award shall be exercised (or, in the case of a stock Award, shall be granted) unless and until the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company, which approval shall be within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

 

16.    Termination or Suspension of the Plan . The Plan shall terminate automatically on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan after such date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any earlier date pursuant to Section 13.1 hereof. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated. Unless the Company determines to submit Section 7.4 of the Plan and the definition of “Performance Goal” and “Performance Criteria” to the Company's shareholders at the first shareholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which the Plan was last approved by shareholders (or any earlier meeting designated by the Board), in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, and such shareholder approval is obtained, then no further Performance Compensation Awards shall be made to Covered Employees under Section 7.4 after the date of such annual meeting, but the Plan may continue in effect for Awards to Participants not in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code

 

17.    Choice of Law . The law of the State of Nevada shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of law rules.

 

As adopted by the Board of Directors of Eastside Distilling, Inc. on ______________, 2016.

 

As approved by the shareholders of Eastside Distilling, Inc. on ______________, 2016.

 

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Stock Option Agreement

  

This Stock Option Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of [DATE] by and between Eastside Distilling, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”) and [EMPLOYEE NAME] (the “ Participant ”).

 

Grant Date:  

 

Exercise Price per Share:  

 

Number of Option Shares:  

 

Expiration Date:  

 

Type of Option (ISO/NSO):  

 

1.      Grant of Option .

 

1.1      Grant; Type of Option . The Company hereby grants to the Participant an option (the “ Option ”) to purchase the total number of shares of Common Stock of the Company equal to the number of Option Shares set forth above, at the Exercise Price set forth above. The Option is being granted pursuant to the terms of the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”). If the Type of Option set forth above is an ISO, the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, although the Company makes no representation or guarantee that the Option will qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the Grant Date) of the shares of Common Stock 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 its Affiliates) exceeds $100,000, the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Non-qualified Stock Options. If the Type of Option set forth above is an NSO, the Option is intended to be a Non-qualified Stock Option and not an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

1.2      Consideration; Subject to Plan . The grant of the Option is made in consideration of the services to be rendered by the Participant to the Company and is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein will have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan.

 

2.      Exercise Period; Vesting .

 

2.1      Vesting Schedule . The Option will become vested and exercisable according to the following schedule: [one-fourth (1/4 th ) of the shares subject to the Option shall vest one year following the date that the Option commences vesting as specified at the time of grant, or, if no date is specified at the time of grant, the Grant Date (such date for such Option, the “ Vesting Commencement Date ”), and the balance of the shares subject to the Option shall vest in a series of thirty-six (36) successive equal monthly installments measured from the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, subject to Optionholder’s Continuous Service as of each such date, until the Option is 100% vested]. The unvested portion of the Option will not be exercisable on or after the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service.

 

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2.2      Expiration . The Option will expire on the Expiration Date set forth above, or earlier as provided in this Agreement or the Plan.

 

3.      Termination of Continuous Service .

 

3.1      Termination for Reasons Other Than Cause, Death, Disability . If the Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated for any reason other than Cause, death or Disability, the Participant may exercise the vested portion of the Option, but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of: (a) the date three months following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service or (b) the Expiration Date.

 

3.2      Termination for Cause . If the Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated for Cause, the Option (whether vested or unvested) shall immediately terminate and cease to be exercisable.

 

3.3      Termination Due to Disability . If the Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise the vested portion of the Option, but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of: (a) the date 12 months following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service or (b) the Expiration Date.

 

3.4      Termination Due to Death . If the Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s death, the vested portion of the Option may be exercised by the Participant’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by the person designated to exercise the Option upon the Participant’s death, but only within the time period ending on the earlier of: (a) the date 12 months following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service or (b) the Expiration Date.

 

3.5      Extension of Termination Date . Unless the Option is an Incentive Stock Option, if following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service for any reason the exercise of the Option is prohibited because the exercise of the Option would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act or any other state or federal securities law or the rules of any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, then the expiration of the Option shall be tolled until the date that is thirty (30) days after the end of the period during which the exercise of the Option would be in violation of such registration or other securities requirements.

 

4.      Manner of Exercise .

 

4.1      Election to Exercise . To exercise the Option, the Participant (or in the case of exercise after the Participant’s death or incapacity, the Participant’s executor, administrator, heir or legatee, as the case may be) must deliver to the Company a notice of intent to exercise in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Exercise Notice ”).

 

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If someone other than the Participant exercises the Option, then such person must submit documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company verifying that such person has the legal right to exercise the Option.

  

4.2      Payment of Exercise Price . The entire Exercise Price of the Option shall be payable in full at the time of exercise to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations, either:

 

(a)       in cash or by certified or bank check at the time the Option is exercised;

 

(b)       by delivery to the Company of other shares of Common Stock, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company, with a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the Exercise Price (or portion thereof) due for the number of shares being acquired, or by means of attestation whereby the Participant identifies for delivery specific shares that have a Fair Market Value on the date of attestation equal to the Exercise Price (or portion thereof) and receives a number of shares equal to the difference between the number of shares thereby purchased and the number of identified attestation shares (a “ Stock for Stock Exchange ”);

 

(c)       through a “cashless exercise program” established with a broker;

 

(d)       by reduction in the number of shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise of such Option with a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Exercise Price at the time of exercise;

 

(e)       by any combination of the foregoing methods; or

 

(f)        in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee.

 

4.3      Withholding . If (i) the Option is an Incentive Stock Option and the Company, in its discretion, determines that it is obligated to withhold any tax in connection with the exercise of the Option; or (ii) the Option is a Non-qualified Stock Option; prior to the issuance of shares upon the exercise of the Option, the Participant must make arrangements satisfactory to the Company to pay or provide for any applicable federal, state and local withholding obligations of the Company. The Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise of the Option by any of the following means:

 

(a)       tendering a cash payment;

 

(b)       authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise of the Option; provided, however , that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law; or

 

(c)       delivering to the Company previously owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock.

 

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The Company has the right to withhold from any compensation paid to a Participant.

 

4.4     Issuance of Shares . Provided that the Exercise Notice and payment are in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, the Company shall issue the shares of Common Stock registered in the name of the Participant, the Participant’s authorized assignee, or the Participant’s legal representative which shall be evidenced by stock certificates representing the shares with the appropriate legends affixed thereto, appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent, or other appropriate means as determined by the Company.

 

5.      No Right to Continued Employment; No Rights as Shareholder . Neither the Plan nor this Agreement shall confer upon the Participant any right to be retained in any position, as an Employee, Consultant or Director of the Company. Further, nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Company to terminate the Participant’s Continuous Service at any time, with or without Cause. The Participant shall not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to the Option unless and until certificates representing the shares have been issued by the Company to the holder of such shares, or the shares have otherwise been recorded on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent as owned by such holder.

 

6.      Transferability . The Option is not transferable by the Participant other than to a designated beneficiary upon the Participant’s death or by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by him or her. No assignment or transfer of the Option, or the rights represented thereby, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise (except to a designated beneficiary, upon death, by will or the laws of descent or distribution) will vest in the assignee or transferee any interest or right herein whatsoever, but immediately upon such assignment or transfer the Option will terminate and become of no further effect.

 

7.      Change in Control .

 

7.1      Acceleration of Vesting . If a Change in Control occurs and the Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than for death or Disability) or by the Participant for Good Reason within 12 months following the Change in Control, 100% of the shares subject to the Option shall become immediately vested and exercisable.

 

7.2      Cash-out . In the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may, in its discretion and upon at least ten (10) days’ advance notice to the Participant, cancel the Option and pay to the Participant the value of the Option based upon the price per share of Common Stock received or to be received by other shareholders of the Company in the event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at the time of a Change in Control the Exercise Price of the Option equals or exceeds the price paid for a share of Common Stock in connection with the Change in Control, the Committee may cancel the Option without the payment of consideration therefor.

 

8.      Adjustments . The shares of Common Stock subject to the Option may be adjusted or terminated in any manner as contemplated by Section 11 of the Plan.

 

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9.      Tax Liability and Withholding . Notwithstanding any action the Company takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, or other tax-related withholding (“ Tax-Related Items ”), the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains the Participant’s responsibility and the Company (a) makes no representation or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with the grant, vesting, or exercise of the Option or the subsequent sale of any shares acquired on exercise; and (b) does not commit to structure the Option to reduce or eliminate the Participant’s liability for Tax-Related Items.

 

10.    Qualification as an Incentive Stock Option . If this Option is an Incentive Stock Option, it is understood that this Option is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of the Code to the extent permitted under Applicable Law. Accordingly, the Participant understands that in order to obtain the benefits of an incentive stock option, no sale or other disposition may be made of shares for which incentive stock option treatment is desired within one (1) year following the date of exercise of the Option or within two (2) years from the Grant Date. The Participant understands and agrees that the Company shall not be liable or responsible for any additional tax liability the Participant incurs in the event that the Internal Revenue Service for any reason determines that this Option does not qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of the Code.

 

11.    Disqualifying Disposition . If this Option is an Incentive Stock Option and the Participant disposes of the shares of Common Stock prior to the expiration of either two (2) years from the Grant Date or one (1) year from the date the shares are transferred to the Participant pursuant to the exercise of the Option (a “ Disqualifying Disposition ”), the Participant shall notify the Company in writing within thirty (30) days after such disposition of the date and terms of such disposition. The Participant also agrees to provide the Company with any information concerning any such dispositions as the Company requires for tax purposes.

 

12.    [Reserved] .

 

13.    Compliance with Law . The exercise of the Option and the issuance and transfer of shares of Common Stock shall be subject to compliance by the Company and the Participant with all applicable requirements of federal and state securities laws and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company’s shares of Common Stock may be listed. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to this Option unless and until any then applicable requirements of state or federal laws and regulatory agencies have been fully complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and its counsel. The Participant understands that the Company is under no obligation to register the shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any stock exchange to effect such compliance.

 

14.    Notices . Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the Company’s principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be delivered to the Participant under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Participant at the Participant’s address as shown in the records of the Company. Either party may designate another address in writing (or by such other method approved by the Company) from time to time.

 

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15.    Governing Law . This Agreement will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada without regard to conflict of law principles.

 

16.    Interpretation . Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Agreement shall be submitted by the Participant or the Company to the Committee for review. The resolution of such dispute by the Committee shall be final and binding on the Participant and the Company.

 

17.    Options Subject to Plan . This Agreement is subject to the Plan as approved by the Company’s shareholders. The terms and provisions of the Plan as it may be amended from time to time are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained herein and a term or provision of the Plan, the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan will govern and prevail.

 

18.    Successors and Assigns . The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon the Participant and the Participant’s beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom this Agreement or this Option may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

 

19.    Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of the Plan or this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, and each provision of the Plan and this Agreement shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

 

20.    Discretionary Nature of Plan . The Plan is discretionary and may be amended, cancelled or terminated by the Company at any time, in its discretion. The grant of the Option in this Agreement does not create any contractual right or other right to receive any Options or other Awards in the future. Future Awards, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company. Any amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of the Participant’s employment with the Company.

 

21.    Amendment . The Committee has the right to amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or cancel the Option, prospectively or retroactively; provided, that , no such amendment shall adversely affect the Participant’s material rights under this Agreement without the Participant’s consent.

 

22.    No Impact on Other Benefits . The value of the Participant’s Option is not part of his or her normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, retirement, welfare, insurance or similar employee benefit.

 

23.    Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Counterpart signature pages to this Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in portable document format (.pdf), or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing an original signature.

 

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24.    Acceptance . The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. The Participant has read and understands the terms and provisions thereof, and accepts the Option subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. The Participant acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences upon exercise of the Option or disposition of the underlying shares and that the Participant should consult a tax advisor prior to such exercise or disposition.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC.
     
  By  
   
  Name:
  Title:
   
  [EMPLOYEE NAME]
     
  By  
   
  Name:

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Stock Option Exercise Notice

 

/__/  Incentive Stock Option Participant:  
/__/  Nonqualified Stock Option    
  Date:  

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc.  
Attention:  Chief Financial Officer  
   
   

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

1.            Option . I was granted an option (the Option ) to purchase shares of the common stock (the Shares ) of Eastside Distilling, Inc. (the Company ) pursuant to the Company s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan ) and my Stock Option Agreement for such Option (the Option Agreement ) as follows:

 

Grant Number:      

 

Grant Date:      

 

Number of Option Shares:      

 

Exercise Price per Share:    

 

2.            Exercise of Option . I hereby elect to exercise the Option to purchase the following number of Shares, all of which are Vested Shares in accordance with the Option Agreement:

  

Total Shares Purchased:      

 

Total Exercise Price (Total Shares  X  Price per Share)    

   

3.             Payments . I enclose payment in full of the total exercise price for the Shares in the following form(s), as authorized by my Option Agreement:

  

/__/  Cash:    

  

/__/  Check:    

  

/__/ Tender of previously acquired Company stock (Contact Company CFO)

 

/__/ Through a Stock for Stock Exchange (Contact Company CFO)

 

/__/ By a broker-assisted cashless exercise (Contact Company CFO)

 

/__/ By reduction in the number of Shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise with a Fair Market Value equal to the total Exercise Price (Contact Company CFO)

 

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4.            Tax Withholding . I authorize payroll withholding and otherwise will make adequate provision for the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company, if any, in connection with the Option. If I am exercising a Nonqualified Stock Option, I enclose payment in full of my withholding taxes, if any, as follows:

 

(Contact Plan Administrator for amount of tax due.)

   

/__/  Cash:    

  

/__/  Check:    

    

5.             Participant Information .

 

My address is:  
   
   

 

My Social Security Number is:  

 

6.            Notice of Disqualifying Disposition . If the Option is an Incentive Stock Option, I agree that I will promptly notify the Chief Financial Officer of the Company if I transfer any of the Shares within one (1) year from the date I exercise all or part of the Option or within two (2) years of the Grant Date.

 

7.            Binding Effect . I agree that the Shares are being acquired in accordance with and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Plan and the Option Agreement, to all of which I hereby expressly assent. This Exercise Notice shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon my heirs, executors, legal representatives, administrators, successors and assigns. This Exercise Notice shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company

 

8.            Tax Consequences . I understand that there may be adverse federal or state tax consequences as a result of my purchase or disposition of the Shares. I also acknowledge that I have been advised to consult with a tax advisor in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares. I am not relying on the Company for tax advice.

 

9.            Compliance with Law . The issuance and transfer of the Shares will be subject to, and conditioned upon compliance by the Company and Participant with, all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and all applicable requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may be listed or quoted at the time of such issuance or transfer.

 

10.           Governing Law . This Exercise Notice will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada without regard to conflict of law principles.

 

11.           Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Exercise Notice shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision, and each provision of this Exercise Notice shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

 

12.           Counterparts . This Exercise Notice may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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13.            Notice . Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this Exercise Notice shall be in writing and addressed to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the Company’s principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be delivered to the Participant under this Exercise Notice shall be in writing and addressed to the Participant at the Participant’s address as set forth above. Either party may designate another address in writing (or by such other method approved by the Company) from time to time.

 

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I understand that I am purchasing the Shares pursuant to the terms of the Plan and my Option Agreement, copies of which I have received and carefully read and understand.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
   
  (Signature)

 

Receipt of the above is hereby acknowledged.

 

By:     

 

Title:     

 

Dated:     

 

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Restricted Stock Unit Agreement

 

This Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of [DATE] (the “ Grant Date ”) by and between Eastside Distilling, a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”) and [NAME] (the “ Grantee ”).

 

WHEREAS , the Company has adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) pursuant to which awards of Restricted Stock Units may be granted; and

 

WHEREAS , the Committee has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to grant the award of Restricted Stock Units provided for herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

1.          Grant of Restricted Stock Units .

 

1.1         Pursuant to Section 7.2 of the Plan, the Company hereby issues to the Grantee on the Grant Date an Award consisting of, in the aggregate, [NUMBER] Restricted Stock Units (the “ Restricted Stock Units ”). Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan. Capitalized terms that are used but not defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan.

 

1.2         The Restricted Stock Units shall be credited to a separate account maintained for the Grantee on the books and records of the Company (the “ Account ”). All amounts credited to the Account shall continue for all purposes to be part of the general assets of the Company.

 

2.          Consideration . The grant of the Restricted Stock Units is made in consideration of the services to be rendered by the Grantee to the Company.

 

3.          Vesting .

 

3.1         Except as otherwise provided herein, provided that the Grantee remains in Continuous Service through the applicable vesting date, the Restricted Stock Units will vest in accordance with the following schedule (the period during which restrictions apply, the “ Restricted Period ”):

 

Vesting Date Number of Restricted Stock Units That Vest
[DATE] [NUMBER]
[DATE] [NUMBER]
[DATE] [NUMBER]

 

Once vested, the Restricted Stock Units become “ Vested Units.

 

3.2         The foregoing vesting schedule notwithstanding, if the Grantee’s Continuous Service terminates for any reason other than as a result of Grantee’s death or Disability at any time before all of his or her Restricted Stock Units have vested, the Grantee’s unvested Restricted Stock Units shall be automatically forfeited upon such termination of Continuous Service and neither the Company nor any Affiliate shall have any further obligations to the Grantee under this Agreement.

 

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4.          Restrictions . Subject to any exceptions set forth in this Agreement or the Plan, during the Restricted Period and until such time as the Restricted Stock Units are settled in accordance with Section 6, the Restricted Stock Units or the rights relating thereto may not be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by the Grantee. Any attempt to assign, alienate, pledge, attach, sell or otherwise transfer or encumber the Restricted Stock Units or the rights relating thereto shall be wholly ineffective and, if any such attempt is made, the Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited by the Grantee and all of the Grantee’s rights to such units shall immediately terminate without any payment or consideration by the Company.

 

5.          Rights as Shareholder; Dividend Equivalents .

 

5.1          The Grantee shall not have any rights of a shareholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units unless and until the Restricted Stock Units vest and are settled by the issuance of such shares of Common Stock.

 

5.2          Upon and following the settlement of the Restricted Stock Units, the Grantee shall be the record owner of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units unless and until such shares are sold or otherwise disposed of, and as record owner shall be entitled to all rights of a shareholder of the Company (including voting rights).

 

5.3          The Grantee shall not be entitled to any Dividend Equivalents with respect to the Restricted Stock Units to reflect any dividends payable on shares of Common Stock.

 

6.          Settlement of Restricted Stock Units .

 

6.1          Subject to Section 9 hereof, promptly following the vesting date, and in any event no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such vesting occurs, the Company shall (a) issue and deliver to the Grantee the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Vested Units; and (b) enter the Grantee’s name on the books of the Company as the shareholder of record with respect to the shares of Common Stock delivered to the Grantee.

 

6.2          If the Grantee is deemed a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, as determined by the Committee, at a time when the Grantee becomes eligible for settlement of the RSUs upon his “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then to the extent necessary to prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such settlement will be delayed until the earlier of: (a) the date that is six months following the Grantee’s separation from service and (b) the Grantee’s death.

 

7.          No Right to Continued Service . Neither the Plan nor this Agreement shall confer upon the Grantee any right to be retained in any position, as an Employee, Consultant or Director of the Company. Further, nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Company to terminate the Grantee’s Continuous Service at any time, with or without Cause.

 

8.          Adjustments . If any change is made to the outstanding Common Stock or the capital structure of the Company, if required, the Restricted Stock Units shall be adjusted or terminated in any manner as contemplated by Section 11 of the Plan.

 

  43  

 

 

9.          Tax Liability and Withholding .

 

9.1          The Grantee shall be required to pay to the Company, and the Company shall have the right to deduct from any compensation paid to the Grantee pursuant to the Plan, the amount of any required withholding taxes in respect of the Restricted Stock Units and to take all such other action as the Committee deems necessary to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding taxes. The Company may permit the Grantee to satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation by any of the following means, or by a combination of such means:

 

(a)     tendering a cash payment.

 

(b)     authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable or deliverable to the Grantee as a result of the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units; provided, however , that no shares of Common Stock shall be withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law.

 

(c)     delivering to the Company previously owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock.

 

9.2          Notwithstanding any action the Company takes with respect to any or all income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, or other tax-related withholding (“ Tax-Related Items ”), the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains the Grantee’s responsibility and the Company (a) makes no representation or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with the grant, vesting or settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or the subsequent sale of any shares; and (b) does not commit to structure the Restricted Stock Units to reduce or eliminate the Grantee’s liability for Tax-Related Items.

 

10.        Compliance with Law . The issuance and transfer of shares of Common Stock shall be subject to compliance by the Company and the Grantee with all applicable requirements of federal and state securities laws and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company’s shares of Common Stock may be listed. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued or transferred unless and until any then applicable requirements of state and federal laws and regulatory agencies have been fully complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and its counsel.

 

11.        Notices . Any notice required to be delivered to the Company under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the Company’s principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be delivered to the Grantee under this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Grantee at the Grantee’s address as shown in the records of the Company. Either party may designate another address in writing (or by such other method approved by the Company) from time to time.

 

12.          Governing Law . This Agreement will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada without regard to conflict of law principles.

 

13.        Interpretation . Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Agreement shall be submitted by the Grantee or the Company to the Committee for review. The resolution of such dispute by the Committee shall be final and binding on the Grantee and the Company.

 

14.        Restricted Stock Units Subject to Plan . This Agreement is subject to the Plan as approved by the Company’s shareholders. The terms and provisions of the Plan as it may be amended from time to time are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained herein and a term or provision of the Plan, the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan will govern and prevail.

 

  44  

 

 

15.        Successors and Assigns . The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this Agreement will be binding upon the Grantee and the Grantee’s beneficiaries, executors, administrators and the person(s) to whom the Restricted Stock Units may be transferred by will or the laws of descent or distribution.

 

16.        Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of the Plan or this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, and each provision of the Plan and this Agreement shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.

 

17.        Discretionary Nature of Plan . The Plan is discretionary and may be amended, cancelled or terminated by the Company at any time, in its discretion. The grant of the Restricted Stock Units in this Agreement does not create any contractual right or other right to receive any Restricted Stock Units or other Awards in the future. Future Awards, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company. Any amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan shall not constitute a change or impairment of the terms and conditions of the Grantee’s employment with the Company.

 

18.        Amendment . The Committee has the right to amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or cancel the Restricted Stock Units, prospectively or retroactively; provided, that , no such amendment shall adversely affect the Grantee’s material rights under this Agreement without the Grantee’s consent.

 

19.        Section 409A . This Agreement is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code or an exemption thereunder and shall be construed and interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the requirements for avoiding additional taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement comply with Section 409A of the Code and in no event shall the Company be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by the Grantee on account of non-compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

20.        No Impact on Other Benefits . The value of the Grantee’s Restricted Stock Units is not part of his or her normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, retirement, welfare, insurance or similar employee benefit.

 

21.        Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Counterpart signature pages to this Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in portable document format (.pdf), or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing an original signature.

 

22.        Acceptance . The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee has read and understands the terms and provisions thereof, and accepts the Restricted Stock Units subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. The Grantee acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences upon the vesting or settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or disposition of the underlying shares and that the Grantee has been advised to consult a tax advisor prior to such vesting, settlement or disposition.

 

[signature page follows]

 

  45  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  Eastside Distilling, Inc.
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:
   
  [NAME]
  By:  
  Name:

 

  46  

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a),

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Steven Earles, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Eastside Distilling, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 14 , 2016

 

/s/ Steven Earles  
Steven Earles  
President and Chief Executive Officer  

 

 

   

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a),

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Steven Shum, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Eastside Distilling, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 14 , 2016

 

/s/ Steven Shum  
Steven Shum  
Chief Financial Officer  

 

 

   

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Steven Earles., certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Quarterly Report of Eastside Distilling, Inc. on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2016 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Eastside Distilling, Inc.

 

Date: November 14, 2016

 

  By: /s/ Steven Earles
  Name: Steven Earles
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

    

 

  

 

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Steven Shum, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Quarterly Report of Eastside Distilling, Inc. on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30,2016 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Eastside Distilling, Inc.

 

Date: November 14 , 2016

  

  By: /s/ Steven Shum
  Name: Steven Shum
  Title: Chief Financial Officer