UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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530 University Avenue, Suite 17
Palo Alto, CA 94301
 
Dear Stockholder:
 
 
You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. (the “Company”) on November 7, 2014, which will be held at our office at 530 University Avenue, Suite 17, Palo Alto, California 94301 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time.  Enclosed with this letter are your Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement and Proxy voting card.  The Proxy Statement included with this notice discusses each of our proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting. Please review our annual report for the year ended December 31, 2013 on our website at http://www.cellbiomedgroup.com (under “Investors”).
 
At this year’s meeting, you will be asked to: (1) elect three (3) “Class II” directors, each of whom will be elected for a term of three years; (2) ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014; (3) approve the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan of Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc.; (4) conduct a non-binding advisory vote on our executive compensation; (5) conduct a non-binding advisory vote recommending the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation; and (6) transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on September 22, 2014 as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment and postponements thereof (the “Record Date”).
 
The Board of Directors believes that a favorable vote for each candidate for a position on the Board of Directors, for all matters described in Proposal 2 and Proposal 3, and for advisory votes on executive compensation to occur every three years is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders and recommends a vote "FOR" all candidates and all other matters. Accordingly, we urge you to review the accompanying material carefully and to return the enclosed Proxy promptly. On the following pages, we provide answers to frequently asked questions about the Annual Meeting, as well as a copy of our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

You are welcome to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, you are requested to read the enclosed proxy statement and to sign, date and return the accompanying proxy as soon as possible. This will assure your representation and a quorum for the transaction of business at the meeting.
 
Sincerely,
 
 /s/ Steve Liu                                                        
Steve (Wen Tao) Liu
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors


Palo Alto, California
September 22, 2014  

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Meeting Date: November 7, 2014
 

To the Stockholders of Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc.:
 
The 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held at our office at 530 University Avenue, Suite 17, Palo Alto, California 94301 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time.  During the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to:
 
(1)  
Elect three (3) “Class II” directors, each of whom will be elected for a three year term, or until the election and qualification of their successors;
 
(2)  
Ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014;
 
(3)  
Approve the Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan;
 
(4)
Conduct a non-binding advisory vote on our executive compensation;
 
(5)
Conduct a non-binding advisory vote recommending the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation; and
 
(6)
Transact any other business properly brought before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on September 22, 2014, as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof. If you are a stockholder as of September 22, 2014, you may vote at the meeting.  The date of mailing this Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement is on or about September 26, 2014.
 
For a period of 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting, a stockholders list will be kept at our office and shall be available for inspection by stockholders during usual business hours. A stockholders list will also be available for inspection at the Annual Meeting.
 
You are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, you are requested to read the enclosed proxy statement and to sign, date and return the accompanying proxy as soon as possible. This will assure your representation and a quorum for the transaction of business at the meeting. If you attend the meeting in person, the proxy will not be used if you so request by revoking it as described in the proxy statement.

By order of our Board of Directors
 
 /s/ Bizuo (Tony) Liu                                        
Bizuo (Tony) Liu
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
 
 
 

 
 
 
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 7, 2014:
 
This communication presents only an overview of the more complete proxy materials that are available to you on the Internet. We encourage you to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting.
 
The Notice, Proxy Statement, and 2013 Annual Report (including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013) are available at https://www.iproxydirect.com/CBMG If you want to receive a paper or e-mail copy of these documents, you must request one. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. Please make your request for a copy as instructed below on or before October 24, 2014 to facilitate timely delivery.
 
To request by phone: 1-866-752-VOTE(8683)
 
To request by e-mail: proxy@iproxydirect.com
 
To request on the Internet: https://www.iproxydirect.com/CBMG

If you have any questions about accessing materials or voting, please call Issuer Direct at 919-481-4000 ext 120 or 117

 
 
 

 


 TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page No.
   
The Proxy Procedure
i
Questions and Answers About the Meeting 
1
Governance of the Company
5
Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
10
Proposal 2 - Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accountant
13
Proposal 3 - Approval of the Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan
14
Proposal 4 – Non-Binding Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
18
Proposal 5 – Non-Binding Advisory Vote the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation
18
Executive Compensation and Related Information
20
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
25
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
26
Requirements for Advance Notification of Nominations and Stockholder Proposals
27
Other Matters
27
 

 
 
 

 

THE PROXY PROCEDURE
 
In lieu of a paper copy of the proxy materials, on or about September 26, 2014, we have first mailed to our shareholders of record and beneficial owners of shares of common stock of Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. (which may be referred to in this Proxy Statement as “we,” “us,” “CBMG,” or the “Company”) a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our board of directors (“Board”) for our annual meeting of stockholders to be held on November 7, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. PDT at our office at 530 University Avenue, Suite 17, Palo Alto, California 94301 (referred to as the “Annual Meeting”). Shareholders who received the notice will have the ability to access this Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card over the Internet and to request a paper copy of the proxy materials by internet, email, or telephone. Our Board encourages you to read this document thoroughly and to take this opportunity to vote on the matters to be decided at the Annual Meeting.  Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or to request a paper copy may be found in the Notice. In addition, shareholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically on an ongoing basis. A shareholder’s election to receive proxy materials by mail or electronically by email will remain in effect until the shareholder terminates such election. 
 
 
 

i
 
 

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MEETING
 
What am I voting on?
 
At this year’s meeting, you will be asked to:
 
(1)
Elect three (3) “Class II” directors, each of whom will be elected for a term of three years, or until the election and qualification of their successors;
 
(2)
Ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013;
 
(3)
Approve the Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”);
 
(4)
Approve the compensation to our executive officers;
 
 
(5)
Approve the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation; and
 
 
(6)
Transact any other business properly brought before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, and how many votes do they have?
 
Stockholders of record at the close of business on September 22, 2014 (the “Record Date”) may vote at the Annual Meeting.  Pursuant to the rights of our stockholders contained in our charter documents each share of our common stock has one vote.  There were 9,094,833 shares of common stock outstanding on September 22, 2014.  From October 28, 2014 through November 7, 2014, you may inspect a list of stockholders eligible to vote.  If you would like to inspect the list, please call Tony Liu, our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, at (650) 566-5064 to arrange a visit to our offices.  In addition, the list of stockholders will be available for viewing by stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
 
How do I vote?
 
You may vote over the Internet, by telephone, by mail or in person at the Annual Meeting.  Please be aware that if you vote by telephone or over the Internet, you may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges for which you will be responsible.
 
Vote by Internet.    You can vote via the Internet at www.iproxydirect.com/CBMG. You will need to use the control number appearing on your proxy card to vote via the Internet. You can use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 6, 2014.  Internet voting is available 24 hours a day.  If you vote via the Internet, you do not need to vote by telephone or return a proxy card.
 
Vote by Telephone.    You can vote by telephone by calling the toll-free telephone number 1-866-752-VOTE(8683). You will need to use the control number appearing on your proxy card to vote by telephone. You may transmit your voting instructions from any touch-tone telephone up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 6, 2014. Telephone voting is available 24 hours a day. If you vote by telephone, you do not need to vote over the Internet or return a proxy card.
 
Vote by Mail.    If you received a printed proxy card, you can vote by marking, dating and signing it, and returning it in the postage-paid envelope provided to Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc., c/o Issuer Direct, 500 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite D, Morrisville, NC 27560. Please promptly mail your proxy card to ensure that it is received prior to the closing of the polls at the Annual Meeting.
 

                                                                     
 
1

 
 
Vote in Person at the Meeting.    If you attend the Annual Meeting and plan to vote in person, we will provide you with a ballot at the Annual Meeting.  If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are considered the stockholder of record and you have the right to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held in the name of your broker or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name.  As a beneficial owner, if you wish to vote at the Annual Meeting, you will need to bring to the Annual Meeting a legal proxy from your broker or other nominee authorizing you to vote those shares.
 
If you vote by any of the methods discussed above, you will be designating Steve Liu, our Executive Chairman of the Board and/or Tony Liu, our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, as your proxy(-ies), and they will vote your shares on your behalf as you indicate.
 
Submitting a proxy will not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person.
 
If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee, you will receive separate voting instructions from your bank, broker or other nominee describing how to vote your shares.  The availability of Internet voting will depend on the voting process of your bank, broker or other nominee.  Please check with your bank, broker or other nominee and follow the voting instructions it provides.
 
Can I receive future materials via the internet?
 
If you vote by internet, simply follow the prompts for enrolling in electronic proxy delivery service.  This will reduce the Company’s printing and postage costs in the future, as well as the number of paper documents you will receive.
 
What is a proxy?
 
A proxy is a person you appoint to vote on your behalf.  By using the methods discussed above, you will be appointing Steve Liu, our Executive Chairman of the Board and Tony Liu, our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, as your proxies. They may act together or individually to vote on your behalf, and will have the authority to appoint a substitute to act as proxy.  If you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote by proxy so that your shares of common stock may be voted.
 
How will my proxy vote my shares?
 
If you are a stockholder of record, your proxy will vote according to your instructions.  If you choose to vote by mail and complete and return the enclosed proxy card but do not indicate your vote, your proxy will vote “FOR” the election of the nominated slate of Class II directors (see Proposal 1); “FOR” the ratification of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013 (see Proposal 2); “FOR” the approval of the Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (see Proposal 3); “FOR” the approval of the compensation to our executive officers (see Proposal 4); and “FOR” the approval of the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation to be held every three years.  We do not intend to bring any other matter for a vote at the Annual Meeting, and we do not know of anyone else who intends to do so.  Your proxies are authorized to vote on your behalf, however, using their best judgment, on any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting.
 
If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee, you will receive separate voting instructions from your bank, broker or other nominee describing how to vote your shares.  The availability of Internet voting will depend on the voting process of your bank, broker or other nominee. Please check with your bank, broker or other nominee and follow the voting instructions your bank, broker or other nominee provides.

                                                                        
 
2

 
 
You should instruct your bank, broker or other nominee how to vote your shares.  If you do not give voting instructions to the bank, broker or other nominee, the bank, broker or other nominee will determine if it has the discretionary authority to vote on the particular matter.  Under applicable rules, brokers have the discretion to vote on routine matters, such as the ratification of the selection of accounting firms, but do not have discretion to vote on non-routine matters.  Under the regulations applicable to New York Stock Exchange member brokerage firms (many of whom are the record holders of shares of our common stock), the uncontested election of directors is no longer considered a routine matter.  Matters related to executive compensation are also not considered routine.  As a result, if you are a beneficial owner and hold your shares in street name, but do not give your broker or other nominee instructions on how to vote your shares with respect to these matters, votes may not be cast on your behalf.  If your bank, broker or other nominee indicates on its proxy card that it does not have discretionary authority to vote on a particular proposal, your shares will be considered to be “broker non-votes” with regard to that matter. Broker non-votes will be counted as present for purposes of determining whether enough votes are present to hold our Annual Meeting, but a broker non-vote will not otherwise affect the outcome of a vote on a proposal that requires a majority of the votes cast.  With respect to a proposal that requires a favorable vote of a majority of the outstanding shares, a broker non-vote has the same effect as a vote against the proposal.
 
How do I change my vote?
 
If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy at any time before your shares are voted at the Annual Meeting by:
 
●  
Notifying our corporate Secretary, Tony Liu, in writing at 530 University Avenue, Suite 17, Palo Alto, California 94301, that you are revoking your proxy;
 
●  
Submitting a proxy at a later date via the Internet, or by signing and delivering a proxy card relating to the same shares and bearing a later date than the date of the previous proxy prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting, in which case your later-submitted proxy will be recorded and your earlier proxy revoked; or
 
●  
Attending and voting by ballot at the Annual Meeting.
 
If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee, you should check with your bank, broker or other nominee and follow the voting instructions provided.
 
What constitutes a quorum?
 
The holders of a majority of the Company’s eligible votes as of the record date, either present or represented by proxy, constitute a quorum.  A quorum is necessary in order to conduct the Annual Meeting.  If you choose to have your shares represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, you will be considered part of the quorum.  Both abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.  If a quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting, the stockholders present in person or by proxy may adjourn the meeting to a later date.  If an adjournment is for more than 30 days or a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, we will provide notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
 
What vote is required to approve each proposal?
 
Election of Directors.  For Proposal 1, the election of directors, the nominees will be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. You may choose to vote, or withhold your vote, separately for each nominee.  A properly executed proxy or voting instructions marked “WITHHOLD” with respect to the election of one or more directors will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated, although it will be counted for the purposes of determining whether there is a quorum.
 

                                                                   
 
3

 
 
Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.  For Proposal 2, the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of common stock entitled to vote must exceed the votes cast against the proposal, in order for the proposal to be approved.
 
Approval of the Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan. For Proposal 3, the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of common stock entitled to vote must exceed the votes cast against the proposal, in order for the proposal to be approved.

Non-Binding Advisory Vote to approve Executive Compensation.  For Proposal 4, the compensation awarded to our named executive officers requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting by the holders of shares of common stock entitled to vote.

Non-Binding Advisory Vote to approve frequency of advisory votes on Executive Compensation.  For Proposal 5, a stockholder may vote for 1, 2 or 3 years, or may abstain, and the advisory vote on frequency will be determined by the number of years that receives the most votes cast.
 
Other Proposals.  Any other proposal that might properly come before the meeting will require the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of common stock entitled to vote to exceed the votes cast against the proposal for the proposal to be approved, except when a different vote is required by law, our certificate of incorporation or our Bylaws. On any such proposal, abstentions will be counted as present and entitled to vote on that matter for purposes of establishing a quorum, but will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of votes cast.
 
Abstentions and broker non-votes with respect to any matter will be counted as present and entitled to vote on that matter for purposes of establishing a quorum, but will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of votes cast.  Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of voting with respect to any of the Proposals.
 
What percentage of our common stock do our directors and officers own?
 
As of September 22, 2014, our current directors and executive officers beneficially owned approximately 15.24% of our common stock outstanding. See the discussion under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” on page 21 for more details.
 
Who is soliciting proxies, how are they being solicited, and who pays the cost?
 
We, on behalf of our Board, through our directors, officers, and employees, are soliciting proxies primarily by mail.  Further, proxies may also be solicited in person, by telephone, or facsimile.  We will pay the cost of soliciting proxies. We will also reimburse stockbrokers and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation materials to the owners of our common stock.
 
Who is our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, and will they be represented at the Annual Meeting?
 
BDO USA, LLP (“BDO”) served as the independent registered public accounting firm auditing and reporting on our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and has been appointed by our Board to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2014.  We expect that representatives of BDO USA, LLP will not be present at the Annual Meeting.
 
 
4

 
 
What are the recommendations of our Board?
 
The recommendations of our Board are set forth together with the description of each proposal in this Proxy Statement.  In summary, the Board recommends a vote:
 
FOR the election of the three nominated Class II directors (see Proposal 1);
 
FOR the ratification of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014 (see Proposal 2).
 
FOR the approval of the Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (see Proposal 3).
 
With respect to any other matter that properly comes before the meeting, the proxy holders will vote as recommended by the Board or, if no recommendation is given, in their own discretion.
 
If you sign and return your proxy card but do not specify how you want to vote your shares, the persons named as proxy holders on the proxy card will vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board.
 
GOVERNANCE OF THE COMPANY
 
Our business, property and affairs are managed by, or under the direction of, our Board, in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Laws and our Bylaws.  Members of the Board are kept informed of our business through discussions with the Chief Executive Officer and other key members of management, by reviewing materials provided to them by management, and by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees comprised of certain directors (“Committees”).
 
Stockholders may communicate with the members of the Board, either individually or collectively, or with any independent directors as a group by writing to the Board at 530 University Avenue, Suite 17, Palo Alto, California 94301.  These communications will be reviewed by the office of the corporate Secretary who, depending on the subject matter, will (a) forward the communication to the director or directors to whom it is addressed or who is responsible for the topic matter, (b) attempt to address the inquiry directly (for example, where it is a request for publicly available information or a stock related matter that does not require the attention of a director), or (c) not forward the communication if it is primarily commercial in nature or if it relates to an improper or irrelevant topic.  At each meeting of the Board, the corporate Secretary presents a summary of communications received and will make those communications available to any director upon request.
 
Independence of Directors
 
In determining the independence of our directors, the Board applied the definition of “independent director” provided under the listing rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”). Pursuant to these rules, the Board concluded its annual review of director independence in September 2014.  After considering all relevant facts and circumstances, the Board affirmatively determined that Dr. Jianping Dai and Messrs. Jeffrey Auerbach,  Terry Belmont, David Bolocan, and Nadir Patel, each of whom are now serving on the Board and are, with the exception of Dr. Dai and Mr. Auerbach, continuing to serve their terms, are each independent within the definition of independence under the NASDAQ rules.  Wen Tao (Steve) Liu, Wei (William) Cao and Gerardus A. Hoogland are not independent directors.  Additionally, all three of the directors nominated for election as Class II directors except Mr. Tony Liu have been determined to meet the definition of independence under the NASDAQ rules.  If the three director candidates nominated for Class II director positions are elected at the Annual Meeting, assuming our other directors remain in office, our Board will consist of a majority of five independent directors out of a total of eight directors on our Board.
  

                                                         
 
5

 

Board Meetings; Annual Meeting Attendance

Our Board of Directors held 4 formal meetings and 8 actions for unanimous written consent during the most recently completed fiscal year. Each of the members of our Board of Directors was present at at least 75% of the board meetings and consent discussions held. Each of the members of our Board of Directors was present at all of the Board of Directors meetings held. Other proceedings of the Board of Directors were conducted by resolutions consented to in writing by all the directors and filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the directors. Such resolutions consented to in writing by the directors entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of the directors are, according to the corporate laws of the State of Delaware and our bylaws, as valid and effective as if they had been passed at a meeting of the directors duly called and held.
 
We currently do not have a policy regarding the attendance of board members at the annual meeting of stockholders.
 
Board Committees

On February 20, 2013, the Board authorized formation of an audit committee, compensation committee and nominating committee and on March 12, 2013 adopted charters.  Our independent directors have been appointed to these committees as follows: 

Name
 
Audit Committee
 
Compensation Committee
 
Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee
Jeff Auerbach
     
X
 
X
Terry A. Belmont
 
X
     
Chair
David Bolocan
 
X
 
Chair
   
JianPing Dai
     
X
 
X
Nadir Patel
 
Chair
     
X
 
Audit Committee
 
The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. David Bolocan, Terry A. Belmont and Nadir Patel (serving as Chairman), each of whom are “independent” as defined under section 5605 (a)(2) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules.  In addition, the Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a charter, which can be viewed on our website at www.cellbiomedgroup.com (under “Investors”).  The Audit Committee held 3 formal meetings during the most recently completed fiscal year.  The role of the Audit Committee is to:
 
 
oversee management’s preparation of our financial statements and management’s conduct of the accounting and financial reporting processes;
     
 
oversee management’s maintenance of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting;
     
 
oversee our compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including without limitation, those requirements relating to financial controls and reporting;
     
 
oversee the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence;
     
 
oversee the performance of the independent auditors, including the annual independent audit of our financial statements;
     
 
discharge such duties and responsibilities as may be required of the Audit Committee by the provisions of applicable law, rule or regulation.
 
A copy of the charter of the Audit Committee is available on our website at www.cellbiomedgroup.com (under “Investors”).

                                                                       
 
6

 

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The following Report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate it by reference therein.
 
The Audit Committee of the Board has:
 
reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 with management;
 
discussed with the Company’s independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1 AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T; and
 
received the written disclosures and letter from the independent auditors required by the applicable requirements of the Public Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent auditors communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with BDO USA, LLP matters relating to its independence.
 
In reliance on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the financial statements audited by BDO USA, LLP for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for such fiscal year.
 
Audit Committee:

Terry A. Belmont
David Bolocan
Nadir Patel
 
Compensation Committee
 
The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Jeffrey Auerbach, Dr. Dr. JianPing Dai and David Bolocan acting as Chairman, each of whom are “independent” as defined in section 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules.  If elected at the Annual Meeting, it is expected that Guo-Tong Xu, M.D., Ph.D. and Alan Au, each of whom are “independent” as defined in section 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules, will be appointed to the Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee held zero formal meetings during the most recently completed fiscal year. The role of the Compensation Committee is to:
 
 
develop and recommend to the Board the annual compensation (base salary, bonus, stock options and other benefits) for our President/Chief Executive Officer;
     
 
review, approve and recommend to the Board the annual compensation (base salary, bonus and other benefits) for all of our executives;
     
 
review, approve and recommend to the Board the aggregate number of equity awards to be granted to employees below the executive level;
     
 
ensure that a significant portion of executive compensation is reasonably related to the long-term interest of our stockholders; and
     
 
prepare certain portions of our annual Proxy Statement, including an annual report on executive compensation.
 
A copy of the charter of the Compensation Committee is available on our website at www.cellbiomedgroup.com (under “Investors”).
 
The Compensation Committee may form and delegate a subcommittee consisting of one or more members to perform the functions of the Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee may engage outside advisers, including outside auditors, attorneys and consultants, as it deems necessary to discharge its responsibilities.  The Compensation Committee has sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation expert or consultant to be used to provide advice on compensation levels or assist in the evaluation of director, President/Chief Executive Officer or senior executive compensation, including sole authority to approve the fees of any expert or consultant and other retention terms.  In addition, the Compensation Committee considers, but is not bound by, the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer or President with respect to the compensation packages of our other executive officers. 
 
 
 
7

 
 
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
 
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, or the “Governance Committee”, consists of Messrs. Jeffrey Auerbach, Nadir Patel and Terry Belmont serving as Chairman, each of whom are “independent” as defined in section 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules. If elected at the Annual Meeting, it is expected that Guo-Tong Xu, M.D., Ph.D., and Alan Au, each of whom are “independent” as defined in section 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ Listing Rules, will be appointed to the Governance Committee.  The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held 3 formal meetings during the most recently completed fiscal year.  The role of the Governance Committee is to:
 
 
evaluate from time to time the appropriate size (number of members) of the Board and recommend any increase or decrease;
     
 
determine the desired skills and attributes of members of the Board and its committees, taking into account the needs of the business and listing standards;
     
 
establish criteria for prospective members, conduct candidate searches, interview prospective candidates, and oversee programs to introduce the candidate to us, our management, and operations;
     
 
review planning for succession to the position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and other senior management positions;
     
 
annually recommend to the Board persons to be nominated for election as directors and appointment as members of committees;
     
 
adopt or develop for Board consideration corporate governance principles and policies; and
     
 
periodically review and report to the Board on the effectiveness of corporate governance procedures and the Board as a governing body, including conducting an annual self-assessment of the Board and its standing committees.
 
A copy of the charter of the Governance Committee is available on our website at www.cellbiomedgroup.com (under “Investors”).

 Policy with Regard to Stockholder Recommendations
 
The Governance Committee does not presently have a policy with regard to consideration of any director candidates recommended by our stockholders.  No stockholder (other than members of the Governance Committee) has recommended a candidate to date.
  
Director Qualifications and Diversity
 
The Board seeks independent directors who represent a diversity of backgrounds and experiences that will enhance the quality of the Board’s deliberations and decisions.  Candidates should have substantial experience with one or more publicly traded companies or should have achieved a high level of distinction in their chosen fields.  The Board is particularly interested in maintaining a mix that includes individuals who are active or retired executive officers and senior executives, particularly those with experience in biomedicine, medical and drug regulation in China, intellectual property, early-stage companies, research and development, strategic planning, business development, compensation, finance, accounting and banking.
 
In evaluating nominations to the Board of Directors, the Governance Committee also looks for certain personal attributes, such as integrity, ability and willingness to apply sound and independent business judgment, comprehensive understanding of a director’s role in corporate governance, availability for meetings and consultation on Company matters, and the willingness to assume and carry out fiduciary responsibilities.  The Governance Committee took these specifications into account in formulating and re-nominating its present Board members.
 
The current director candidates, who are nominated to serve as non-executive directors, were recommended by management and nominated by the full board of directors.
 
 
8

 
 
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
 
We have adopted a code of ethics which applies to all our directors, officers and employees and comprises written standards that are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote the behavior described in Item 406 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.  A copy of our “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Officers, Directors and Employees” is available on our website at www.cellbiomedgroup.com (under “About Us: Company Overview”).  In the event that we make any amendments to, or grant any waivers of, a provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Officers, Directors and Employees that applies to the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer that requires disclosure under applicable SEC rules, we intend to disclose such amendment or waiver and the reasons therefor in a Form 8-K or in our next periodic report. 

Conflicts of Interest
 
Members of our management are associated with other firms involved in a range of business activities. Consequently, there are potential inherent conflicts of interest in their acting as officers and directors of our company. Although the officers and directors are engaged in other business activities, we anticipate they will devote an important amount of time to our affairs.
 
Our officers and directors are now and may in the future become shareholders, officers or directors of other companies, which may be formed for the purpose of engaging in business activities similar to ours. Accordingly, additional direct conflicts of interest may arise in the future with respect to such individuals acting on behalf of us or other entities.  Moreover, additional conflicts of interest may arise with respect to opportunities which come to the attention of such individuals in the performance of their duties or otherwise.  Currently, we do not have a right of first refusal pertaining to opportunities that come to their attention and may relate to our business operations.
 
Our officers and directors are, so long as they are our officers or directors, subject to the restriction that all opportunities contemplated by our plan of operation which come to their attention, either in the performance of their duties or in any other manner, will be considered opportunities of, and be made available to us and the companies that they are affiliated with on an equal basis.  A breach of this requirement will be a breach of the fiduciary duties of the officer or director.  If we or the companies with which the officers and directors are affiliated both desire to take advantage of an opportunity, then said officers and directors would abstain from negotiating and voting upon the opportunity.  However, all directors may still individually take advantage of opportunities if we should decline to do so.  Except as set forth above, we have not adopted any other conflict of interest policy with respect to such transactions.

Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight
 
The Chairman of the Board, who is a different individual from the Chief Executive Officer, presides at all meetings of the Board.  The Chairman is appointed on an annual basis by majority vote of the directors, excluding the vote of the appointee.

Enterprise risks are identified and prioritized by management and each prioritized risk is assigned to a Board committee or the full Board for oversight as follows:
 
Full Board - Risks and exposures associated with strategic, financial and execution risks and other current matters that may present material risk to our operations, plans, prospects or reputation.
 
Audit Committee - Risks and exposures associated with financial matters, particularly financial reporting, tax, accounting, disclosure, internal control over financial reporting, financial policies, investment guidelines and credit and liquidity matters.
 
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee - Risks and exposures relating to corporate governance and management and director succession planning.
 
Compensation Committee - Risks and exposures associated with leadership assessment, and compensation programs and arrangements, including incentive plans.
 
 
9

 
 
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
 
The Board of Directors reviews issues involving potential conflicts of interest, and reviews and approves all related party transactions, including those required to be disclosed as a “related party” transaction under applicable federal securities laws.  The Board has not adopted any specific procedures for conducting reviews of potential conflicts of interest and considers each transaction in light of the specific facts and circumstances presented.  However, to the extent a potential related party transaction is presented to the Board, the Company expects that the Board would become fully informed regarding the potential transaction and the interests of the related party, and would have the opportunity to deliberate outside of the presence of the related party.  The Company expects that the Board would only approve a related party transaction that was in the best interests of, and fair to, the Company, and further would seek to ensure that any completed related party transaction was on terms no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained in a transaction with an unaffiliated third party.
 
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
 
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of beneficial ownership and reports of changes in beneficial ownership of our common stock. The rules promulgated by the SEC under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act require those persons to furnish us with copies of all reports filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 16(a). The information in this section is based solely upon a review of Forms 3, Forms 4, and Forms 5 received by us.

We believe that all of the Company's executive officers, directors and 10% stockholders have timely complied with their filing requirements during the year ended December 31, 2013, except that  each of David Bolocan, Terry Belmont and Gerardus Hoogland inadvertently did not timely file one SEC Form 3; Tony Liu inadvertently reported late one acquisition of stock options on SEC Form 5; Andrew Chan inadvertently reported late one acquisition of common stock on SEC Form 5; Keith Wong inadvertently reported late 19 dispositions and one acquisition of common stock that transpired in 2012 and 2013; and Norm Klein inadvertently reported late 20 dispositions of common stock that transpired in 2011.
 
 
PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Nominees for Election
 
On September 22, 2014 the Board met via telephone conference and determined it was in the best interest of the Company to authorize the nomination of the Tony Liu, Guo-Tong Xu, M.D., Ph.D. and Alan Au for a new Class II term.  Additionally, the Board determined that it was in the best interest of the Company to authorize the nominations of Tony Liu, Guo-Tong Xu, M.D., Ph.D. and Alan Au as Class II directors to the Board to fill the vacancies left by Keith Wong, who resigned in August 2014, and Jianping Dai and Jeffrey Auerbach, who declined to stand for re-election. Subsequent to the approval of the resolution, the Board has a total of nine members, divided into three classes as follows:
 
Class
 
Term
 
Directors
Class I
 
Initial term ends on the date of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2016.   Class I directors serve for a term of three years, and are elected by the stockholders at the beginning of each term.  The next full 3-year term for Class I directors extends from the date of the 2016 annual meeting to the date of the 2019 annual meeting.  
 
1. Terry A. Belmont
2. David Bolocan
3. Gerardus A. Hoogland
         
Class II
 
Initial term ends on the date of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2014.   Class II directors serve for a term of three years, and are elected by the stockholders at the beginning of each term.  The next full 3-year term for Class II directors extends from the date of this year’s Annual Meeting of stockholders in 2014 to the date of the 2017 annual meeting.
 
4. Alan Au
5. Guo-Tong Xu, M.D., Ph.D.
6.  Tony (Bizuo) Liu
         
Class III
 
Initial term ends on the date of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2015.   Class III directors serve for a term of three years, and are elected by the stockholders at the beginning of each term.  The next full 3-year term for Class I directors extends from the date of the 2015 annual meeting to the date of the 2018 annual meeting. 
 
 
7. Wen Tao (Steve) Liu
8. Wei (William) Cao
9. Nadir Patel
 
 
10

 
 
Class II has three director positions up for election at the Annual Meeting.  Our Board has nominated three Class II director candidates for election at the Annual Meeting, who are the same individuals listed above in position numbers 4, 5 and 6.  Each nominee has agreed, if elected, to serve a three-year term or until the election and qualification of his successor.  If any nominee is unable to stand for election, which circumstance we do not anticipate, the Board may provide for a lesser number of directors or designate a substitute.  In the latter event, shares represented by proxies may be voted for a substitute nominee.
 
If a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, then nominees will be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors.
 
The following biographical information is furnished as to each nominee for election as a Class II director:
 
Alan Au, Director
 
Mr. Au is a seasoned banker for healthcare companies. He has over 15 years of experience in cross boarder merger and acquisition and financing transactions for pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.  Mr. Au is a currently senior adviser to the Board of Directors of Simcere Pharmaceutical Group(NYSE:SCR), a China-based pharmaceutical company that used to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and a venture partner of Ally Bridge Group, a biotech-focused investment fund headquartered in Hong Kong. He also serves on the assessment panel of the Small Entrepreneur Research Assistance Program (SERAP) for the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong SAR Government.
 
Mr. Au served as a director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Simcere Pharmaceutical Group during March 2013 to December 2013. Mr. Au was the head of Asia healthcare investment banking group for Deutsche Bank AG from April 2011 to December 2012, in charge of healthcare IPO and M&A transactions in the region. Prior to that, he was a director at JAFCO Asia Investment Group, responsible for healthcare investments in China from 2008 to 2011, and a director at Morningside Group responsible for healthcare investments in Asia from 2000 to 2005. From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Au worked at KPMG and KPMG Corporate Finance Ltd., responsible for regional M&A transactions and financial advisory services.
 
Mr. Au is a Certified Public Accountant in the U.S. and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He is an associate member of the Hong Kong Institute of Financial Analysts and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Au received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1995, and a Master’s degree in Management from Columbia Business School in New York in 2007.

Guotong Xu, M.D., Ph.D., -Director
 
Dr. Xu is currently a Professor of Ophthalmology and Regenerative Medicine, Dean of Tongji University School of Medicine and a Director of Stem Cell Bank of TUSM, an important base or a center for stem cell research and clinical application in China.
 
Mr. Xu was the Deputy Dean of Tongji University School of Medicine since 2008 to 2010.  After he trained as post-doctor in Alcon Lab and NEI/NIH, he was appointed as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at University of North Texas Health Science Center.  Dr. Xu organized the first large scale International Stem Cell Symposium in collaboration with ISSCR in 2007. Following that, he and his colleagues initiated the establishment of Chinese Society for Stem Cell Biology, and severed as the first president. He is also an active member in the establishment of the State Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Strategic Alliance, and severs as a council member. Dr. Xu is also an Associate Editor for Chinese Journal of Cell and Stem Cell. More important, he is one of the few scientists in China who serves as the PI for two China National Major Projects (973 programs).
 
Dr. Xu had a PhD in pharmacology from University of North Texas Health Science Center, MD degree from Peking Union Medical College, a MD degree from Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and a bachelor degree from Harbin Medical University in 1982.
 
Compensation of Directors
 
Prior to the Merger, the Company compensated directors with equity grants as consideration for joining the Board and/or providing continued services as a director.  Directors were not provided with cash compensation, although the Company would reimburse their expenses.
 
After the Merger, the Company determined that the annual cash compensation (prorated daily) to be paid to each director shall consist of $30,000 for each independent director and $20,000 for each non-independent director. In addition, each independent director of the Board is eligible to receive a non-qualified option grant under the Company’s stock incentive plan, under which such director’s initial option grant shall be for a number of shares of common stock as set forth in the Independent Director Agreement for each such director and shall include such other terms to be determined by the Board and or its Compensation Committee.
 
 
11

 
 
Non-Executive Director Agreement

The Company has and will continue to enter into agreements with independent non-executive directors, under which these directors will be paid $30,000 per year (prorated daily based on a 360 day year for any portion of the year if he serves for less than a full term) for services as a director. Independent directors shall also be eligible to receive a non-qualified option grant under the Plan to purchase either (i) 2,000 shares, if such director serves as a member of a committee, or (ii) 5,000 shares, if such director serves as a chairperson of a committee.  Such options shall vest on the anniversary date of the director’s appointment to the committee or to his position as committee chair, as the case may be.
 
2013 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE
 
                                     
Nonqualified
             
                               
Non-Equity
   
Deferred
             
                   
Stock
   
Option
   
Incentive Plan
   
Compensation
   
All Other
       
       
Salary
   
Bonus
   
Awards
   
Awards
   
Compensation
   
Earnings
   
Compensation
   
Total
 
Name
 
Year
 
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
 
Jeffery Auerbach
 
2013
   
7,500
     
-
     
-
     
19,353
(1)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
26,853
 
Terry A. Belmont
 
2013
   
2,500
     
-
     
-
     
19,742
(2)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
22,242
 
David Bolocan
 
2013
   
7,500
     
-
     
-
     
33,869
(3)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
41,369
 
Wei (William) Cao*
 
2013
   
18,333
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
18,333
 
Jianping Dai
 
2013
   
25,000
     
-
     
-
     
37,633
(4)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
62,633
 
Leo Dembinski
 
2013
   
30,000
     
-
     
-
     
7,693
(5)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
37,693
 
Gerardus A. Hoogland*
 
2013
   
1,667
     
-
     
-
     
26,158
(6)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
27,825
 
Norm Klein*
 
2013
   
16,667
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
16,667
 
Tony Liu
 
2013
   
25,000
     
-
     
-
     
33,569
(7)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
58,569
 
Wen Tao (Steve) Liu*
 
2013
   
18,333
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
18,333
 
Nadir Patel
 
2013
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Keith Wong*
 
2013
   
18,334
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
18,334
 
 
*Non-independent directors are paid $20,000 per year
 
(1)
Represents an option to purchase up to 4,000 shares that were issued on 10/07/2013, with full vesting at the one year anniversary of the grant date, an exercise price of $5.41 and an expiration date of 10/07/2023.
(2)
Represents an option to purchase up to 4,000 shares that were issued on 12/09/2013, with full vesting at the one year anniversary of the grant date, an exercise price of $5.50 and an expiration date of 12/09/2023.
(3)
Represents an option to purchase up to 7,000 shares that were issued on 10/04/2013, with full vesting at the one year anniversary of the grant date, an exercise price of $5.41 and an expiration date of 10/04/2023.
(4)
Represents an option to purchase up to 5,300 shares that were issued on 3/29/2013, with a monthly vesting schedule over a 36 month period, an exercise price of $4.95 and an expiration date of 3/29/2023.  The award was amended on 9/26/2013 to 7,000 shares and 883 already vested shares on that date, with the amended shares fully vested at the one year anniversary of the grant date, an exercise price of $5.40 and an expiration date of 9/26/2023.
(5)
Represents an option to purchase up to 1,590 shares that were issued on 10/04/2013, fully vested immediately, an exercise price of $5.41 and an expiration date of 10/04/2023.
(6)
Represents an option to purchase up to 5,300 shares that were issued on 12/09/2013, with full vesting of 30%, 30% and 40% at each year anniversary of the grant date for 3 years, an exercise price of $5.50 and an expiration date of 12/09/2023.
(7)
Represents an option to purchase up to 5,300 shares that were issued on 3/05/2013, with a monthly vesting schedule over a 36 month period, an exercise price of $7.23and an expiration date of 3/05/2023.

Risk Management in Compensation Policies and Procedures
 
Due to the Company's lack of cash flows, it has historically compensated its officers in stock rather than paying a cash salary. By compensating these officers in stock, we believe they have a greater incentive to take steps to increase the value of the Company's stock than they would if compensated in cash. As the Company's value is largely based on the value of the equity it receives from its clients, paying the officers using Company stock may incentivize them to take additional risks in an attempt to increase the value of the Company's stock.

Vote and Recommendation
 
The affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the nominees will be required to approve each nominee.  This means that the three nominees with the greatest number votes for election will be elected.
 
Our Board recommends a vote “FOR” each of the nominees.

                                                                      
 
12

 
 
PROPOSAL 2 – RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT
 
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
The Audit Committee of the Board has appointed BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.  
 
Stockholder ratification of the selection of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm is not required by our Bylaws or the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Board seeks such ratification as a matter of good corporate practice.  Should the stockholders fail to ratify the selection of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to retain that firm for fiscal year 2014.  In making its recommendation to the Board that stockholders ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, Audit Committee considered whether BDO USA, LLP’s provision of non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm.   

Audit Fees

The Company paid or accrued the following fees in each of the prior two fiscal years to its principal accountants, current auditor of record BDO USA, LLP and predecessor auditors of record Dahua Certified Public Accountants (Special General Partnership) and Taravan, Askelson & Company, LLP.
 
   
Year ended
December 31,
2013
   
Year ended
December 31,
2012
 
             
Audit fees
           
Current auditor of record
  $ 243,578       -  
Predecessor auditors of record
    131,019     $ 62,397  
 Total of audit fees 
  $ 374,597     $ 62,397  
 
Audit fees include fees for the audit of our annual financial statements, reviews of our quarterly financial statements, and related consents for documents filed with the SEC. All other fees include fees for auditing of listing agreement clients as required by the SEC for listing.

The Audit Committee is required to review and approve in advance the retention of the independent auditors for the performance of all audit and lawfully permitted non-audit services (if any) and the fees for such services. The Audit Committee may delegate to one or more of its members the authority to grant pre-approvals for the performance of non-audit services, and any such Audit Committee member who pre-approves a non-audit service must report the pre-approval to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.  [All] of the services provided by our independent registered public accountants described above were approved by our Audit Committee.

Our principal accountants did not engage any other persons or firms other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees.
 
The Board has received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), and has discussed with its auditors its independence from the Company. The Board has considered whether the provision of services other than audit services is compatible with maintaining auditor independence.

Changes in Certifying Accountant

Effective August 26, 2013, we dismissed our independent registered public accounting firm, Tarvaran Askelon & Company (“TAC”).  The dismissal was approved by the Board following the merger of Cellular Biomedicine Group, Ltd. with EastBridge Investment Group Corporation.

TAC’s report on the financial statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor was it qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.
 
 
13

 

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012 and through August 26, 2013, there were (i) no disagreements with TAC on any matter of accounting  principles or practices,  financial statement  disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements if not  resolved  to the  satisfaction  of TAC would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement(s) in connection with their report; (2) no "reportable events" as such term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K except certain material weaknesses in the internal controls over financial reporting as disclosed in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, as amended.

Effective August 26, 2013, the Company engaged BDO USA, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountant. The engagement was approved by the Board.  Prior to August 26, 2013, the Company did not consult with BDO USA, LLP regarding (1) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, (2) the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, (3) written or oral advice provided that would be an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to an accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue, or (4) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement between the Company and its predecessor auditor as described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) or a reportable event as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

We have provided TAC and BDO USA, LLP a copy of the above disclosures prior to its filing with the SEC to give them an opportunity to present their views with respect to the above statements.  Both TAC and BDO USA, LLP have declined to furnish any such statement.
 
Auditor Representatives at Annual Meeting
 
We expect that representatives of BDO USA, LLP will not be present at the Annual Meeting.
 
Vote Required and Recommendation
 
The affirmative vote of the holders of shares of common stock entitled to vote must exceed the votes cast against this proposal for the proposal to be approved.
 
The Board recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014 as described in this Proposal 2.
 
 
PROPOSAL 3 – APPROVAL OF THE CELLULAR BIOMEDICINE GROUP, INC.
2014 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
 
We are asking our stockholders to approve the Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), pursuant to which 1,200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock will be reserved for issuance under stock and stock option awards (“Awards”).  On September 22, 2014, our Board adopted the Plan to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants and to promote the success of the Company’s business.
 
The following summary describes the material features of the Plan.  The summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of all the provisions of the Plan. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this proposal shall have the same meaning ascribed to them in the Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A. The following description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan.
 
Description of the Plan
 
Administration. Our Compensation Committee will administer the Plan. The Committee will have the authority to determine the terms and conditions of any agreements evidencing any Awards granted under the Plan and to adopt, alter and repeal rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan. Our Compensation Committee will have full discretion to administer and interpret the Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations and procedures as it deems necessary or advisable and to determine, among other things, the time or times at which the awards may be exercised and whether and under what circumstances an award may be exercised.
 
Eligibility. Employees, directors, officers, advisors or consultants of the company or its affiliates are eligible to participate in the Plan. Our Compensation Committee has the sole and complete authority to determine who will be granted an award under the Plan, however, it may delegate such authority to one or more officers of the company under the circumstances set forth in the Plan.
 
 
14

 
 
Number of Shares Authorized. The Plan provides for an aggregate of 1,200,000 shares of common stock to be available for awards. Additionally, commencing on the first business day in 2015 and on the first business day of each calendar year thereafter while the Plan is in effect, the maximum aggregate number of Common Shares available for issuance under this Plan shall be increased such that, as of such first business day, the maximum aggregate number of Common Shares available for issuance under this Plan shall be equal to One Hundred One Percent (101%) of the maximum aggregate number of Common Shares available for issuance in the prior year. If an award is forfeited or if any option terminates, expires or lapses without being exercised, the common shares subject to such award will again be made available for future grant. Shares that are used to pay the exercise price of an option or that are withheld to satisfy the Participant’s tax withholding obligation will not be available for re-grant under the Plan.
 
Each Common Share subject to an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right will reduce the number of shares of common stock available for issuance by one share, and each Common Share underlying an Award of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Bonus Awards and Performance Compensation Awards will reduce the number of shares of common stock available for issuance by one share.
 
If there is any change in our corporate capitalization, the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion may make substitutions or adjustments to the number of shares reserved for issuance under our Plan, the number of shares covered by awards then outstanding under our Plan, the limitations on awards under our Plan, the exercise price of outstanding options and such other equitable substitution or adjustments as it may determine appropriate.
 
The Plan will have a term of ten years and no further awards may be granted under the Plan after that date.
 
Awards Available for Grant. Our Compensation Committee may grant awards of Non-Qualified Stock Options, Incentive (qualified) Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Bonus Awards, Performance Compensation Awards (including cash bonus awards) or any combination of the foregoing.

Options. Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to grant Options to purchase shares of common stock that are either “qualified,” meaning they are intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422 for incentive stock options, or “non-qualified,” meaning they are not intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. Options granted under the Plan will be subject to the terms and conditions established by our Compensation Committee. Under the terms of the Plan, unless our Compensation Committee determines otherwise in the case of an Option substituted for another Option in connection with a corporate transaction, the exercise price of the Options will not be less than the fair market value (as determined under the Plan) of our common shares at the time of grant. Options granted under the Plan will be subject to such terms, including the exercise price and the conditions and timing of exercise, as may be determined by our Compensation Committee and specified in the applicable award agreement. The maximum term of an option granted under the Plan will be ten years from the date of grant (or five years in the case of a qualified option granted to a 10% stockholder). Payment in respect of the exercise of an option may be made in cash or by check, by surrender of unrestricted shares (at their fair market value on the date of exercise) that have been held by the participant for any period deemed necessary by our accountants to avoid an additional compensation charge or have been purchased on the open market, or our Compensation Committee may, in its discretion and to the extent permitted by law, allow such payment to be made through a broker-assisted cashless exercise mechanism, a net exercise method, or by such other method as our Compensation Committee may determine to be appropriate.
 
Stock Appreciation Rights. Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to award Stock Appreciation Rights (or SARs) under the Plan. SARs will be subject to the terms and conditions established by our Compensation Committee. An SAR is a contractual right that allows a participant to receive, either in the form of cash, shares or any combination of cash and shares, the appreciation, if any, in the value of a share over a certain period of time. An Option granted under the Plan may include SARs and SARs may also be awarded to a participant independent of the grant of an Option. SARs granted in connection with an Option shall be subject to terms similar to the Option corresponding to such SARs. SARs shall be subject to terms established by our Compensation Committee and reflected in the award agreement.
 
Restricted Stock. Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to award Restricted Stock under the Plan. Unless otherwise provided by our Compensation Committee and specified in an award agreement, restrictions on Restricted Stock will lapse after three years of service with the company. Our Compensation Committee will determine the terms of such Restricted Stock awards. Restricted Stock are shares of common stock that generally are non-transferable and subject to other restrictions determined by our Compensation Committee for a specified period. Unless our Compensation Committee determines otherwise or specifies otherwise in an award agreement, if the participant terminates employment or services during the restricted period, then any unvested restricted stock is forfeited.
 
Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to award Restricted Stock Unit awards. Unless otherwise provided by our Compensation Committee and specified in an award agreement, Restricted Stock Units will vest after three years of service with the company. Our Compensation Committee will determine the terms of such Restricted Stock Units. Unless our Compensation Committee determines otherwise or specifies otherwise in an award agreement, if the participant terminates employment or services during the period of time over which all or a portion of the units are to be earned, then any unvested units will be forfeited. At the election of our Compensation Committee, the participant will receive a number of shares of common stock equal to the number of units earned or an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of that number of shares at the expiration of the period over which the units are to be earned or at a later date selected by our Compensation Committee.
 
 
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Stock Bonus Awards. Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to grant awards of unrestricted shares of common stock or other awards denominated in shares of common stock, either alone or in tandem with other awards, under such terms and conditions as our Compensation Committee may determine.

Performance Compensation Awards. Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to grant any award under the Plan in the form of a Performance Compensation Award by conditioning the vesting of the award on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company and/or one or more Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.

Transferability. Each award may be exercised during the participant’s lifetime only by the participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by the participant’s guardian or legal representative and may not be otherwise transferred or encumbered by a participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Our Compensation Committee, however, may permit awards (other than incentive stock options) to be transferred to family members, a trust for the benefit of such family members, a partnership or limited liability company whose partners or stockholders are the participant and his or her family members or anyone else approved by it.

Amendment. The Plan will have a term of ten years. Our board of directors may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time; however, shareholder approval to amend the Plan may be necessary if the law so requires. No amendment, suspension or termination will impair the rights of any participant or recipient of any award without the consent of the participant or recipient.

Change in Control. Except to the extent otherwise provided in an Award agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, all outstanding options and equity awards (other than performance compensation awards) issued under the Plan will become fully vested and performance compensation awards will vest, as determined by our Compensation Committee, based on the level of attainment of the specified performance goals. In general, our Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, cancel outstanding awards and pay the value of such awards to the participants in connection with a Change in Control. Our Compensation Committee can also provide otherwise in an award agreement under the Plan.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the grant and exercise and vesting of awards under the Plan and the disposition of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such awards and is intended to reflect the current provisions of the Code and the regulations thereunder. This summary is not intended to be a complete statement of applicable law, nor does it address foreign, state, local and payroll tax considerations. Moreover, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to any particular participant may differ from those described herein by reason of, among other things, the particular circumstances of such participant.

Options. There are a number of requirements that must be met for a particular option to be treated as a qualified option. One such requirement is that shares of common stock acquired through the exercise of a qualified option cannot be disposed of before the later of (i) two years from the date of grant of the option, or (ii) one year from the date of exercise. Holders of qualified options will generally incur no federal income tax liability at the time of grant or upon exercise of those options. However, the spread at exercise will be an “item of tax preference,” which may give rise to “alternative minimum tax” liability for the taxable year in which the exercise occurs. If the holder does not dispose of the shares before the later of two years following the date of grant and one year following the date of exercise, the difference between the exercise price and the amount realized upon disposition of the shares will constitute long-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be. Assuming both holding periods are satisfied, no deduction will be allowed to the company for federal income tax purposes in connection with the grant or exercise of the qualified option. If, within two years following the date of grant or within one year following the date of exercise, the holder of shares acquired through the exercise of a qualified option disposes of those shares, the participant will generally realize taxable compensation at the time of such disposition equal to the difference between the exercise price and the lesser of the fair market value of the share on the date of exercise or the amount realized on the subsequent disposition of the shares, and that amount will generally be deductible by the company for federal income tax purposes, subject to the possible limitations on deductibility under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to executives designated in those Sections. Finally, if an otherwise qualified option becomes first exercisable in any one year for shares having an aggregate value in excess of $100,000 (based on the grant date value), the portion of the qualified option in respect of those excess shares will be treated as a non-qualified stock option for federal income tax purposes.
 
 
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No income will be realized by a participant upon grant of a non-qualified stock option. Upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the underlying exercised shares over the option exercise price paid at the time of exercise. The company will be able to deduct this same amount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.
 
Restricted Stock. A participant will not be subject to tax upon the grant of an award of restricted stock unless the participant otherwise elects to be taxed at the time of grant pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code. On the date an award of restricted stock becomes transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant will recognize taxable compensation equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on that date over the amount the participant paid for such shares, if any, unless the participant made an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed at the time of grant. If the participant made an election under Section 83(b), the participant will recognize taxable compensation at the time of grant equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant over the amount the participant paid for such shares, if any. (Special rules apply to the receipt and disposition of restricted shares received by officers and directors who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). The company will be able to deduct, at the same time as it is recognized by the participant, the amount of taxable compensation to the participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.
 
Restricted Stock Units. A participant will not be subject to tax upon the grant of a restricted stock unit award. Rather, upon the delivery of shares or cash pursuant to a restricted stock unit award, the participant will have taxable compensation equal to the fair market value of the number of shares (or the amount of cash) the participant actually receives with respect to the award. The company will be able to deduct the amount of taxable compensation to the participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but the deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.
 
SARs. No income will be realized by a participant upon grant of an SAR. Upon the exercise of an SAR, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the payment received in respect of the SAR. The company will be able to deduct this same amount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.
 
Stock Bonus Awards. A participant will have taxable compensation equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date the shares of common stock subject to the award are transferred to the participant over the amount the participant paid for such shares, if any. The company will be able to deduct, at the same time as it is recognized by the participant, the amount of taxable compensation to the participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Sections 280G and 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated in those Sections.
 
Section 162(m). In general, Section 162(m) of the Code denies a publicly held corporation a deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes for compensation in excess of $1,000,000 per year per person to its principal executive officer and the three other officers (other than the principal executive officer and principal financial officer) whose compensation is disclosed in its proxy statement as a result of their total compensation, subject to certain exceptions. The Plan is intended to satisfy an exception with respect to grants of options to covered employees. In addition, the Plan is designed to permit certain awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, cash bonus awards and other awards to be awarded as performance compensation awards intended to qualify under the “performance-based compensation” exception to Section 162(m) of the Code.

New Plan Benefits
 
Future grants under the Plan will be made at the discretion of the Compensation Committee and, accordingly, are not yet determinable. In addition, the value of the awards granted under the Plan will depend on a number of factors, including the fair market value of our shares of common stock on future dates, the exercise decisions made by the participants and/or the extent to which any applicable performance goals necessary for vesting or payment are achieved. Consequently, it is not possible to determine the benefits that might be received by participants receiving discretionary grants under, or having their annual bonus paid pursuant to, the Plan.
 
Required Vote
 
Approval of the Plan will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting. Assuming the presence of a quorum of more than 50% of the shares of our common stock, the failure to vote will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.
 
Interests of Directors of Officers
 
Our directors may grant awards under the Incentive Plan to themselves as well as our officers, in addition to granting awards to our other employees
 
THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION INTENDED FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY'S STOCKHOLDERS AND NOT AS TAX GUIDANCE TO RECIPIENTS OF AWARDS. THE FOREGOING DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE A COMPLETE STATEMENT OF THE LAW IN THIS AREA. DIFFERENT TAX RULES MAY APPLY TO SPECIFIC RECIPIENTS AND TRANSACTIONS UNDER THE PLAN AND UNDER THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH ANY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL MAY RESIDE.
 
The Board recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan as described in this Proposal 3.

 
 
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PROPOSAL 4 - ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
The SEC has adopted final rules requiring public companies to provide stockholders with periodic advisory (non-binding votes) on executive compensation, also referred to as "say-on-pay" proposals. We are presenting the following proposal, which gives you as a stockholder the opportunity to endorse or not endorse the compensation paid to our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer (collectively, the "Named Executive Officers"), as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K (including the compensation tables and accompanying narrative discussion).
 
"RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company's Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, compensation tables and narrative discussion is hereby APPROVED."
 
Pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, this vote will not be binding on the Board or the Compensation Committee and may not be construed as overruling a decision by the Board or the Compensation Committee, creating or implying any change to the fiduciary duties of the Board or the Compensation Committee or any additional fiduciary duty by the Board or the Compensation Committee or restricting or limiting the ability of stockholders to make proposals for inclusion in proxy materials related to executive compensation.  The Board and the Compensation Committee, however, may in their discretion take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.
 
Required Vote
 
In voting to approve the above resolution, stockholders may vote for the resolution, against the resolution or abstain from voting.  This matter will be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting.  Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no direct effect on the outcome of this proposal.
 
The Board recommends that stockholders vote "FOR" the approval of the compensation of
the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement.
 
PROPOSAL 5 - TO CONDUCT AN ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF
FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
The SEC has also adopted final rules requiring public companies to hold an advisory (non-binding) vote on the frequency of holding say-on-pay votes. Accordingly, as required by the SEC's rules, we are including this proposal to give our stockholders the opportunity to inform us as to how often they wish the Company to include a say-on-pay proposal, similar to Proposal Three, in our proxy statements.
 
We are presenting the following proposal, which gives you, as a stockholder, the opportunity to inform us as to whether you wish us to hold an advisory (non-binding) vote on executive compensation once every (1) one year, (2) two years, or (3) three years, or you may abstain from voting on the proposal set forth in the following resolution.
 
"RESOLVED, that the stockholders determine, on an advisory basis, whether the preferred frequency of an advisory vote on the executive compensation of the Company's named executive officers as set forth in the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders should be every year, every two years, or every three years."
 
The Board recommends that you vote for every three (3) years as the desired frequency for the Company to hold a non-binding, advisory vote of the stockholders on executive compensation. We believe this frequency is appropriate for the reasons set forth below:
 
1.          Our equity compensation program for the named executive officers is designed to support long-term value creation, and a vote every three years will allow the stockholders to better judge the equity compensation program in relation to our long-term performance. We strive to ensure management's interests are aligned with stockholders' interests to support long-term value creation through our equity compensation program. To that end, we grant equity awards to vest over multi-year periods of service to encourage our named executive officers to focus on long-term performance, and recommend a vote every three years, which would allow the equity compensation to be evaluated over a similar time-frame and in relation to long-term performance.
 
 
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2.          A vote every three (3) years will provide the Board and the Compensation Committee with the time to thoughtfully consider and thoroughly respond to stockholders' sentiments and to implement any necessary changes in light of the timing required therefor. The Board and the compensation committee will carefully review changes to the executive compensation to maintain the effectiveness and credibility of the program, which is important for aligning interests and for motivating and retaining our named executive officers.
 
 
3.          We are open to input from stockholders regarding board and governance matters, as well as the equity compensation program. We believe that the stockholders' ability to contact us and the Board at any time to express specific views on executive compensation holds us accountable to stockholders and reduces the need for and value of more frequent advisory votes on executive compensation.
 
 
Pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, this vote on the frequency of future advisory votes on named executive officer compensation is non-binding on the Board and its committees. This vote may not be construed as overruling a decision by the Board or its committees, creating or implying any change to the fiduciary duties of the Board or its committees or any additional fiduciary duty by the Board or its committees or restricting or limiting the ability of stockholders to make proposals for inclusion in proxy materials related to executive compensation. Notwithstanding the Board's recommendation and the outcome of the vote on this matter, the Board may, in the future, decide to conduct advisory votes on a more or less frequent basis and may vary its practice based on factors such as discussions with stockholders and the adoption of material changes to compensation programs.
 
 
The Board recommends that stockholders vote to have the non-binding
vote on executive compensation occur every three years.
 

                                                                       
 
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND RELATED INFORMATION
 
Executive Officers and Directors

Set forth below is information regarding the Company's current directors and executive officers as of the date of this Proxy Statement. The executive officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
 
 
Name
 
Age
 
Position
 
Term
Wen Tao (Steve) Liu
 
58
 
Chairman of the Board and President – North America
 
Class III
Wei (William) Cao
 
56
 
Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
Class III
Tony (Bizuo) Liu
 
50
 
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
   
Andrew Chan
 
57
 
Senior Vice President, Corporate Business Development
   
Jianping Dai (2)(3)
 
69
 
Independent Director
 
Class II
Gerardus A. Hoogland
 
59
 
Non-independent Director
 
Class I
Jeffrey Auerbach (2)(3)
 
45
 
Independent Director
 
Class II
David Bolocan (1)(2)
 
50
 
Independent Director
 
Class I
Terry A. Belmont (1)(3)
 
69
 
Independent Director
 
Class I
Nadir Patel (1)
 
45
 
Independent Director
 
Class  III

(1)  
Member of Audit Committee
(2)  
Member of Compensation Committee
(3)  
Member of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

There are no family relationships between any of our directors or executive officers. There is no arrangement or understanding between any of the directors or officers of the Company and any other person pursuant to which any director or officer was or is to be selected as a director or officer, and there is no arrangement, plan or understanding as to whether non-management stockholders will exercise their voting rights to continue to elect the current directors to the Company’s Board. There are also no arrangements, agreements or understandings between non-management stockholders that may directly or indirectly participate in or influence the management of the Company’s affairs. There are no agreements or understandings for any officer or director to resign at the request of another person, and none of the officers or directors are acting on behalf of, or will act at the direction of, any other person.

The following is a brief description of the business experience during the past five years of our executive officers and directors who are not up for election at this Annual Meeting:

Wei (William) Cao, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Mr. Cao has served as our President and Chief Operating Officer from February 2013 until September 29, 2013, when he was appointed as our Chief Executive Officer.  Mr. Cao has served as a director on our Board since February 2013.  Prior to this, from August 2010 to February 2013, Dr. Cao served as President, COO and director of Cellular Biomedicine Group Ltd. (our predecessor corporation).  From August 2006 until July 2010, Dr. Cao served as general manager and chairman of Affymetrix China, a Company in the genetic analysis industry. Dr. Cao has over 30 years of professional experience in scientific research, product development and startups. He served as Technical Manager for Bayer Diagnostics Asia Pacific region (now Siemens), General Manager of GenoMultix Ltd. and President of Wuxi New District Hospital. Dr. Cao has extensive research experience in the immune-pharmacology field at Harvard Medical School and Stanford University Medical Center. Dr. Cao holds a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine from Fudan University Medical College, Shanghai China, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Medical College of Virginia, Richmond Virginia. He is the inventor named in 26 patents in the field of genetic analysis and stem cell technology, especially adipose derived stem cell preparation and its disease treatment applications. In considering Dr. Cao’s eligibility to serve on the Board, the Board considered Dr. Cao’s scientific background and experience in the biotech industry.

Wen Tao (Steve) Liu,  President – North America and Executive Chairman of The Board

Dr. Liu acted as our Chief Executive Officer from February 2013 to September 29, 2013, when he then took the role of President – North America, focusing on the Company’s business strategy in Canada and the United States.  He has served, and continues to serve, as Chairman of our Board, from February 2013 to the present.  Prior to this Dr. Liu served as CEO of Cellular Biomedicine Group Ltd. (our predecessor corporation) since March 2012.  Dr. Liu has 29 years of professional career experience in bringing new products from inception to mass market, encompassing the biomedical, clean energy and semiconductors industries. Dr. Liu has led large organizations as well as entrepreneurial companies with a proven track record of delivering shareholder value. He is experienced in multi-cultural business environments and has gained respect and trust from customers, colleagues and industry leaders. Dr. Liu served as President and CEO of Seeo Inc. from July 2010 to February 2012, where he led a team of scientists and entrepreneurs for the commercialization of solid state lithium ion battery for electric vehicles and smart grid applications.  From 2003 to 2009, he was President and CEO of Shanghai Huahong NEC Electronics Company.  From 1989 to 2002, he was Vice President and GM of Peregrine Semiconductor, Vice President and GM of Integrated Device Technology, and Managing Director of Quality Semiconductor Australia.  Mr. Liu served at Cypress Semiconductor in various engineering roles from 1984 to 1989. Mr. Liu earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Nanjing University, Nanjing China.  He holds a Master and Doctorate in Chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy New York.  In considering Dr. Liu’s eligibility to serve on the Board, the Board considered Dr. Liu’s prior experience as a leader and executive officer and his educational background.
 
 
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Tony Liu, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

Tony Liu has served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since January 2014 and as Director of the Company from February 2013 to January 2014. Since January 2013, Mr. Liu has served as the Corporate Vice President at Alibaba Group, handling Alibaba’s overseas investments.  Since joining Alibaba in 2009, Mr. Liu has severed in various positions including Corporate Vice President at B2B corporate investment, corporate finance, and General Manager for a global ecommerce platform.  From July 2011 to December 2012, he served as CFO for HiChina, a subsidiary of Alibaba, an internet infrastructure service provider.  Prior to joining Alibaba, Mr. Liu spent 19 years at Microsoft Corporation where he served a variety of finance leadership roles. He was the General Manager at Corporate Strategy looking after Microsoft China investment strategy and Microsoft corporate strategic planning process.  Mr. Liu was a leader in Microsoft corporate finance organization during the 1990s as Corporate Accounting Director.  Mr. Liu earned a B.S. degree in Physics from Suzhou University, Suzhou, PRC and has completed MBA/MIS course work at Seattle Pacific University. Mr. Liu obtained his Washington State CPA certificate in 1992.  

Andrew Chan, Senior Vice President of Corporate Business Development

Mr. Chan served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Business Development since January 2014. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Cellular Biomedicine Group Ltd. from February 2011 to January 2014. From 2003 until 2011, Mr. Chan was with Jazz Semiconductor and held various management roles focusing on business operations, business and corporate development.  Prior to 2003, Mr. Chan was Vice President of Business Operations and Supply Chain Management for Mindspeed Technologies. In 2000, Mr. Chan served as Vice President of Supply Chain Management at Conexant Systems.  Previously, Mr. Chan’s focus was in aviation and aerospace services.  He served in diverse technical and operations management roles at Eastern Airlines, Continental Express and at Allied Signal (now called Honeywell) as Sr. Director of Strategic Business Development.  Mr. Chan earned a B.S. degree in Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and an MBA with specialization in Computer System Management and Operations Research from Nova University.  He also holds a Jurisprudence Doctorate (J.D.) degree from South Texas College of Law.

Dr. Jianping Dai,  Director

Since January 2008, Dr. Jianping Dai has served as a professor of radiology in the Beijing Neurosurgical Institute and Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University. He also serves as the President of Capital Medical University School of Medical Imaging and Informatics. He served as the President of Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated of Capital Medical University from 1993 to 2008. He is a foreign associate of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies. Previously, Dr. Dai served as President of the Chinese Society of Radiology, Vice President of the Chinese Hospital Association and Chairman of the Neuroimaging Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital. Dr. Dai is the recipient of several awards from the Chinese government due to his outstanding contribution to his country and has focused his research on interventional therapy for cerebrovascular disease and functional neuroimaging. In considering Dr. Dai’s eligibility to serve on the Board, the Board considered Dr. Dai’s medical background and administrative and business experience in the medical field in China.
 
 David Bolocan, Director

Mr. Bolocan has over 20 years of experience in retail banking and payments, with extensive expertise in deposit product development, pricing, marketing, advertising, distribution, customer segmentation, lifecycle management, and portfolio management.  Since June 2013, Mr. Bolocan has been a managing director for Argus Information and Advisory Services, LLC and leads the Retail Banking Solutions group which includes the Deposit Accounts Payment Study and retail banking client delivery groups.  Prior to joining Argus, Mr. Bolocan served as general manager of Consumer Deposits at SunTrust from December 2008 to April 2012 and as a director at AlixPartners, a management consulting firm, from April 2012 to June 2013. Mr. Bolocan has also held senior executive roles at JPM Chase (Head of Small Business Credit Products, Pricing and Analytics) and MBNA/Bank of America (CMO of Small Business Lending) and consulting positions at Mercer Management Consulting and Mitchell Madison Group.  Mr. Bolocan received an MS/MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a BA from Harvard University in Computer Science and Economics.  In considering Mr. Bolocan’s eligibility to serve on the Board, the Board considered Mr. Bolocan’s extensive experience in the management of large complex businesses, as well as his financial expertise.  

Terry A. Belmont, Director

Mr. Belmont has over 20 years of experience in leading major academic and non-academic medical centers and healthcare entities with multi-campus responsibility. Since 2009, Mr. Belmont has overseen UC Irvine Medical Center, the main campus of UC Irvine Health, in Orange, Calif., and its licensed ambulatory facilities in Orange, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Anaheim and Santa Ana. Since his arrival in 2009, Belmont has led several expansion and renovation projects. He helped open the state-of the-art UC Irvine Douglas Hospital and led the development of a patient-centered healing garden and a 7-story clinical laboratory building. Mr. Belmont recently launched a 10-year facility master planning project for facility development at UC Irvine Medical Center and clinics throughout Orange County. Prior to joining UC Irvine Medical Center, Mr. Belmont served as CEO of Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children’s Hospital from 2006-2009. He has also served as president and chief executive officer in several entities, including St. Joseph Hospital of Orange, Pacific Health Resources, California Hospital Medical Center and HealthForward.

Mr. Belmont’s substantial community involvement includes board positions with the Orange County World Affairs Council, Southern California College of Optometry, American Heart Association and Children’s Fund. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Redlands. Mr. Belmont received his master’s in public health with a major in hospital administration from UC Berkeley, and a bachelor’s in business from the University of Redlands. In considering Mr. Belmont’s eligibility to serve on the Board, the Board considered Mr. Belmont’s business acumen in the healthcare industry.
 
 
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Gerardus A. Hoogland, Director

Mr. Hoogland has over 20 years of experience in managing international pharmaceutical companies and providing consulting services to companies in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Since October 2013, Mr. Hoogland has served as a director of Cytespace Pvt, Ltd, a clinical research site solution organization located in India. Since July 2013, he has served as Chief Executive Officer of HealthCrest AG, an investment and consulting company based in Zug, Switzerland. Prior to joining HealthCrest, Mr. Hoogland was the Executive Director and board member of Litha Healthcare Ltd., a healthcare company listed on Johannesburg Stock Exchange from July 2012 to July 2013. In 1997, Mr. Hoogland founded Pharmaplan Pty Ltd., a premier specialty pharmaceutical company located in South Africa, and was the company’s Chief Executive Officer from 1997 to July 2012.

Mr. Hoogland received his Medical Doctor degree from University of Amsterdam, his Propeduse Law degree from Eramus Universiteit, and his Mater of Business Administration degree from Institute d’Administration des Affaries (INSEAD).  In considering Mr. Hoogland’s eligibility to serve on the Board, the Board considered Mr. Hoogland’s medical expertise as well as business acumen in the pharmaceutical and healthcare segments.
 
Nadir Patel, Director

Since July 2011 Mr. Patel has been serving as Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Planning, Finance and Information Technology, and Chief Financial Officer for Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, which includes the responsibilities of strategic planning, finance, information management and technology, risk management and performance.  Previously, from April 2009 to July 2011, Mr. Patel served as Canada’s Consul General in Shanghai, promoting trade and investment between Canada and China. From summer 2007 to April 2009, he served as Chief Air Negotiator for Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, negotiating trade agreements and treaties on behalf of the Canadian government. Mr. Patel also serves on the Board of Governors of the International Development Research Centre (and on its Audit and Finance Committee), as well as the Ottawa Advisory Board of Wilfrid Laurier University’s School of Business and Economics. He has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from New York University’s Stern School of Business, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the HEC Paris School of Management.  In considering Mr. Patel’s eligibility to serve on the Board, the Board considered Mr. Patel’s financial expertise and international experience.

Summary Compensation Table
  
The following table sets forth for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 compensation awarded to, paid to, or earned by, Keith Wong (our director and former CEO) and Norm Klein (our former CFO), and Steve Liu (our former CEO), William Cao (our current CEO) and Andy Chan (our former CFO). We had no other executive officers as of December 31, 2013.
 
                                     
Nonqualified
             
                               
Non-Equity
   
Deferred
             
                   
Stock
   
Option
   
Incentive Plan
   
Compensation
   
All Other
       
       
Salary
   
Bonus
   
Awards
   
Awards
   
Compensation
   
Earnings
   
Compensation
   
Total
 
Name and Principal Position
 
Year
 
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
 
Wen Tao (Steve) Liu, President
 
2013
   
168,750
     
33,750
     
-
     
472,770
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
675,270
 
and Chairman of the Board
 
2012
   
12,500
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
12,500
 
                                                                     
Wei (William) Cao, Chief
 
2013
   
172,917
     
34,583
     
-
     
664,335
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
871,835
 
Executive Officer and Director
 
2012
   
150,000
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
150,000
 
                                                                     
Andrew Chan, Senior Vice President,
 
2013
   
166,667
     
33,333
     
-
     
210,120
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
410,120
 
Corporate Business Development
 
2012
   
12,500
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
12,500
 
                                                                     
Keith Wong
 
2013
   
220,000
     
204,723
     
180,000
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
604,723
 
   
2012
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
                                                                     
Norm Klein
 
2013
   
165,000
     
152,577
     
180,000
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
497,577
 
   
2012
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
 
 
22

 
 
The following table sets forth information concerning outstanding stock options for each named executive officer as of December 31, 2013.
 
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
 
   
Option awards
 
Stock awards
 
 
Name
 
Number of securities underlying unexercised options(#) exercisable
   
Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable
   
Equityincentive plan awards: Number of securities underlying unexercised unearned options (#)
   
Option exercise price ($)
 
Option expiration date
 
Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested(#)
   
Market value of shares of units of stock that have not vested($)
   
Equityincentive plan awards: Number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested (#)
   
Equityincentive plan awards: Market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested ($)
 
(a)
 
(b)
   
(c)
   
(d)
   
(e)
 
(f)
 
(g)
   
(h)
   
(i)
   
(j)
 
                                                                   
Wen Tao (Steve) Liu, President and Chairman of the Board (1)
   
40,741
     
139,259
     
-
   
$
3.00
 
2/15/2023
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
                                                                   
Wei (William) Cao, Chief Executive Officer and Director (2)
   
15,741
     
74,259
     
-
   
$
3.00
 
2/15/2023
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
                                                                   
Wei (William) Cao, Chief Executive Officer and Director (3)
   
7,500
     
82,500
     
-
   
$
5.40
 
9/29/2023
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
                                                                   
Andrew Chan, Senior Vice President, Corporate Business Development (4)
   
12,963
     
67,037
     
-
   
$
3.00
 
2/15/2023
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
                                                                   
Keith Wong
   
-
     
-
     
-
   
$
-
       
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
                                                                   
Norm Klein
   
-
     
-
     
-
   
$
-
       
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
 
(1)
Represents an option to purchase up to 146,667 shares that were issued on 2/20/2013 with a monthly vesting schedule over a 36 month period, an exercise price of $3.00 and an expiration date of 2/20/2023 and an additional option to purchase up to 33,333 shares issued on 2/20/2013 with full vesting on the second year anniversary of the award, an exercise price of $3.00 and an expiration date of 2/20/2023.
(2)
Represents an option to purchase up to 56,667 shares that were issued on 2/20/2013 with a monthly vesting schedule over a 36 month period, an exercise price of $3.00 and an expiration date of 2/20/2023 and an additional option to purchase up to 33,333 shares issued on 2/20/2013 with full vesting on the second year anniversary of the award, an exercise price of $3.00 and an expiration date of 2/20/2023.
(3)
Represents an option to purchase up to 90,000 shares that were issued on 9/29/2013 with a monthly vesting schedule over a 36 month period, an exercise price of $5.40 and an expiration date of 3/05/2023.
(4)
Represents an option to purchase up to 46,667 shares that were issued on 2/20/2013 with a monthly vesting schedule over a 36 month period, an exercise price of $3.00 and an expiration date of 2/20/2023 and an additional option to purchase up to 33,333 shares issued on 2/20/2013 with full vesting on the second year anniversary of the award, an exercise price of $3.00 and an expiration date of 2/20/2023.
 
Executive Employment Agreements
 
At the closing of the merger with CBMG BVI, the Company entered into executive employment agreements with each of Wen Tao (Steve) Liu, Wei (William) Cao and Andrew Chan (the “New Officers”) dated February 6, 2013 (each an “Employment Agreement,” collectively, the “Employment Agreements”). As of August 30, 2013, the Employment Agreements were amended to revise the salaries of the New Officers to: Wen Tao (Steve) Liu: $225,000; Wei (William) Cao: $200,000; and Andrew Chan: $200,000.  On September 29, 2013, in connection with their change in positions, the Board further adjusted the salaries of Mr. Liu and Mr. Cao to $200,000 and $225,000, respectively. The New Officers are also eligible to participate in the Company’s Amended and Restated 2011 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) and receive an option grant thereunder for the purchase of common stock of the Company at the discretion of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”). The term of the New Officers’ employment agreements are effective as of February 6, 2013 and continue for three years thereafter. After the three year term, if the New Officers continue to be employed, they will be employed on an at-will basis and their agreements shall automatically renew for successive one year terms, until and unless their employment is terminated.
 
If during the initial three year period following February 6, 2013, the New Officers are terminated for any reason other than death, disability, Cause (as defined in their Employment Agreements) or for no good reason, the Company shall be obligated to: (i) pay a severance amount equal to one times the New Officer’s base salary; (ii) accelerate and vest in full the New Officer’s stock options; (iii) subject to the New Officer’s election to receive COBRA, pay for the executive’s COBRA premiums during the twelve month period commencing with continuation coverage for the month in which the date of termination occurs.
 
 
23

 

If any New Officer’s employment is terminated by the Company, upon or within two years following the date of a Change in Control (as defined in the Employment Agreement), the Company will (i) pay the New Officer a severance amount equal to two times the New Officer’s base salary; (ii) accelerate and vest the New Officer’s stock options effective immediately upon the date of termination within the two year period following the occurrence of a Change in Control; and (iii) subject to the New Officer’s election to receive COBRA, pay for the New Officer’s COBRA premiums during the twelve month period commencing with continuation coverage for the month in which the date of termination occurs.
 
In connection with Tony Liu’s appointment as Chief Financial Officer in January 2014, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Liu on substantially the same terms as the New Officer Employment Agreements, except that, Mr. Liu will receive an annual base salary of $210,000.
 
EastBridge Sub Employment Agreements with Norman Klein and Keith Wong

Effective as of February 6, 2013, Norman Klein and Keith Wong’s employment agreements with the Company were terminated.  On the same date, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Eastbridge Investment Corporation (“Eastbridge Sub”) entered into employment agreements with Messrs. Klein and Wong as the officers of Eastbridge Sub (each a “Subsidiary Employment Agreement,” collectively, the “Subsidiary Employment Agreements”).

Pursuant to Mr. Wong’s Subsidiary Employment Agreement with EastBridge Sub, Mr. Wong is entitled to an annual base salary of $240,000. Mr. Wong is also eligible to participate in and receive awards under the Plan.
 
Pursuant to Mr. Klein’s Subsidiary Employment Agreement with EastBridge Sub, Mr. Klein is entitled to an annual base salary of $180,000. Mr. Klein is also eligible to participate in and receive awards under the Plan.
  
The Subsidiary Employment Agreements are effective as of February 6, 2013 and shall continue for three years thereafter unless earlier terminated. After the three year term, Mr. Wong and Mr. Klein were to continue to be employed on an at-will basis and their employment agreements automatically renew for successive one year terms until terminated.

Each of the above Subsidiary Employment Agreements contained termination provisions dependent on the reason the employment is terminated, severance payments and possible payment of COBRA premiums.

Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Former Officers  

On February 5, 2013, Messrs. Klein and Wong entered into a Deferred Compensation Agreement with the Company, pursuant to which the Company agreed to: (i) pay Messrs. Klein and Wong certain accrued unpaid cash compensation of $459,300 and $676,839, respectively; and (ii) pay on August 31, 2013, pay to Messrs. Klein and Wong cash bonus payments of $152,577 and $204,723, respectively.  As of September 30, 2013, all such amounts were paid.

Severance Agreements

In connection with the discontinuation of the Company’s consulting business, effective July 31, 2014, the Company terminated its employment agreements with Messrs. Klein and Wong and terminated their services as officers of Eastbridge Sub.  On the same date, the Company entered into severance agreements with Messrs. Klein and Wong. Pursuant to the terms of the agreements, the Company agreed to pay severance of $360,000 and $480,000 to Messrs. Klein and Wong, respectively, as well as an additional lump sum of $4,200 and $12,480, respectively, to cover the equivalent costs of retaining two years of medical coverage under the Company’s current medical plan for Messrs. Klein and Wong.

 
24

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
The following table lists ownership of common stock as of September 22, 2014. The information includes beneficial ownership by (i) holders of more than 5% of common stock, (ii) each of our directors and executive officers and (iii) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.  Except as noted below, to our knowledge, each person named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by them.  As of September 22, 2014, the Company had 9,094,833 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. Except as otherwise indicated below, the address for each listed beneficial owner is c/o Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc., 530 University Avenue, #17, Palo Alto, California 94301.
 
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
 
Shares of Common Stock
Beneficially Owned (8)
   
Percent
of Class
 
             
Named Executive Officers and Directors
           
                 
Wen Tao (Steve) Liu
President and Chairman of the Board
   
290,562
(1)
   
3.19
%
                 
Wei (William) Cao
Chief Executive Officer and Director
   
330,783
(2)
   
3.64
%
                 
Bizuo (Tony) Liu
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
   
102,944
(3)
   
1.13
                 
Andrew Chan
Senior Vice President, Corporate Business Development
   
205,362
(4)
   
2.26
%
                 
Jianping Dai
Director
   
10,286
(5)
   
*
 
                 
Gerardus Hoogland
Director
   
422,936
     
4.65
%
                 
Jeffrey Auerbach
Director
   
4,000
(6) 
   
*
 
                 
David Bolocan
Director
   
17,000
(7)    
*
 
                 
Terry A. Belmont
Director
   
6,224
(9)    
*
 
                 
Nadir Patel
Director
   
0
     
*
 
                 
All Officers and Directors as a Group (10 persons)
   
1,390,097
     
15.28
%
                 
5% or more Stockholders
               
                 
Mission Right Limited
   
746,268
     
7.98
%
Full Moon Resources Limited
   
544,777
     
5.82
%
* Represents less than 1% of shares outstanding
 
(1)
Includes options to purchase an aggregate of 102,222 shares that are exercisable within 60 days. The options were issued on 2/20/2013 with a monthly vesting schedule over a 36 month period and have an expiration date of 2/20/2023.
(2)
Includes options to purchase an aggregate of 84,722 shares that are exercisable within 60 days. The options were issued on 2/20/2013 with a monthly vesting schedule over a 36 month period and have an expiration date of 2/20/2023. Also includes an option to purchase 90,000 shares that were issued on 9/29/2013 with a monthly vesting schedule over a 36 month period, and an expiration date of 9/29/2023.
(3)
Includes options to purchase an aggregate of 2,944 shares that are exercisable within 60 days. The options were issued on 3/05/2013 with a monthly vesting schedule over a 36 month period and have an expiration date of 3/05/2023.
(4)
Includes options to purchase an aggregate of 52,986 shares that are exercisable within 60 days. The options were issued on 2/20/2013 with a monthly vesting schedule over a 36 month period and have an expiration date of 2/20/2023. Also includes an option to purchase 47,000 shares that were issued on 5/16/2014 with a monthly vesting schedule over a 31 months period and have an expiration date of 5/16/2024.
(5)
Includes options to purchase an aggregate of 7,883 shares that are exercisable within 60 days. The options were issued on 3/29/2013 with a monthly vesting schedule over 6 month period and have an expiration date of 3/29/2023. Also includes an option to purchase 7,000 shares that were issued on 9/26/2013 with one year vesting period and have an expiration date of 9/26/2023.
(6)
Includes an option to purchase 4,000 shares that are exercisable within 60 days.  The options were issued on 10/7/2013 with one year vesting period and have an expiration date of 10/7/2023.
(7)
Includes an option to purchase 7,000 shares that are exercisable within 60 days.  The options were issued on 10/4/2013 with one year vesting period and have an expiration date of 10/4/2023.
(8)
Reflects a reincorporation of the Company from Arizona to Delaware, in which each 100 shares of common stock of the Arizona corporation outstanding was exchanged for one share of Common Stock, with the same effect as a 1:100 reverse stock split, which became effective on January 31, 2013. 
(9) Includes an option to purchase 4,000 shares that are exercisable within 60 days. The options were issued on December 8, 2013 with one year vesting period and have an expiration date of 12/8/2023.
 
 
25

 
 
Change of Control

As a result of the merger with CBMG BVI, a change in control of the Company occurred.  More specifically, upon consummation of the merger on February 6, 2013 the former CBMG BVI shareholders were issued shares of Company common stock constituting a majority of the outstanding stock of the Company.

In connection with the change in control, Wen Tao (Steve) Liu, Wei (William) Cao and Tony Liu were appointed as directors of the Company upon the closing of the merger. Mr. Wong and Mr. Klein, along with these three individuals, comprise the entire Board of Directors (a total of five members) as of the closing date of the merger.

Other than the transactions and agreements disclosed in the Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 20, 2012 and February 12, 2013, the Company knows of no arrangements resulting in a change in control of the Company.  Except as set forth in this Annual Report, no officer, director, promoter, or affiliate of the Company has, or proposes to have, any direct or indirect material interest in any asset proposed to be acquired by the Company through security holdings, contracts, options, or otherwise.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

At the closing of the merger, the Company entered into executive employment agreements with each of Wen Tao (Steve) Liu, Wei (William) Cao and Andrew Chan dated February 6, 2013, as amended (each an “Employment Agreement,” collectively, the “Employment Agreements”).  For further information about such Employment Agreements, see the discussion under the heading “Executive Employment Agreements” on page 26, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
 
On August 23, 2013, the Company entered into an Advisory Agreement with HealthCrest AG, a Switzerland company (“HealthCrest”), pursuant to which the Company engaged HealthCrest as a non-exclusive corporate and business development advisor. Mr. Gerardus A. Hoogland, a director of the Company, is the Chief Executive Officer of HealthCrest. In consideration of the services provided by HealthCrest, the Company will issue to HealthCrest 119,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, which will vest over 28 months. The Company may repurchase the unvested shares at a price of $6.70 per share upon material breach of the terms of the Advisory Agreement on the part of HealthCrest.  HealthCrest will also be entitled to certain transaction-based compensation under the Advisory Agreement. The term of the Agreement is between September 1, 2013 and December 31, 2015, provided either party may terminate the agreement upon 30 days written notice after November 29, 2013.
 
On February 6, 2013, Norman Klein entered into an employment agreement with EastBridge Sub, pursuant to which EastBridge Sub shall pay Mr. Klein an annual base salary of $180,000 and Mr. Klein is eligible to participate in the 2013 Plan.
 
On February 6, 2013, Keith Wong entered into an employment agreement with EastBridge Sub, pursuant to which EastBridge Sub shall pay Mr. Wong an annual base salary of $240,000 and Mr. Wong is eligible to participate in the 2013 Plan.
 
As of December 31, 2013 the accrued compensation liability to the officers was $105,000.  
 
The Company received advances from Mr. Cao, Mr. Wong and Mr. Klein, its current CEO and former CEO and CFO, respectively, during the course of business at a rate of 4.5% interest which is the federal long term interest rate.  As of December 31, 2013, advances payable to Mr. Cao were $7,194.  As of December 31, 2013, advances payable to Mr. Wong were $8,500.  As of December 31, 2013 advances payable to Mr. Klein were $22,090.

In 2013, the Company received income from the subsidiaries of Global Health and Services for cell kits with cell processing and storage of $204,914. This accounts for the entire fiscal year revenue of the Biomedicine segment.
 
Except as disclosed herein, there have been no transactions or proposed transactions in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 for the last two completed fiscal years in which any of our directors, executive officers or beneficial holders of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock, or any of their respective relatives, spouses, associates or affiliates, has had or will have any direct or material indirect interest.

Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
 
The Company’s Board of Directors reviews issues involving potential conflicts of interest, and reviews and approves all related party transactions, including those required to be disclosed as a “related party” transaction under applicable federal securities laws.  The Board has not adopted any specific procedures for conducting reviews of potential conflicts of interest and considers each transaction in light of the specific facts and circumstances presented.  However, to the extent a potential related party transaction is presented to the Board, the Company expects that the Board would become fully informed regarding the potential transaction and the interests of the related party, and would have the opportunity to deliberate outside of the presence of the related party.  The Company expects that the Board would only approve a related party transaction that was in the best interests of, and fair to, the Company, and further would seek to ensure that any completed related party transaction was on terms no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained in a transaction with an unaffiliated third party.
 
Director Independence
 
 In determining the independence of our directors, the Board applied the definition of “independent director” provided under the listing rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”). Pursuant to these rules, and after considering all relevant facts and circumstances, the Board affirmatively determined that Dr. Jianping Dai and Messrs. Jeffrey Auerbach, David Bolocan, Terry A. Belmont and Nadir Patel, each of whom are now serving on the Board, are each independent within the definition of independence under the NASDAQ rules.  The Board also affirmatively determined that Guo-Tong Xu, M.D., Ph.D. and Alan Au, two of the Class II Director nominees are each independent within the definition of independence under the NASDAQ rules. Wen Tao (Steve) Liu, Wei (William) Cao and Gerardus A. Hoogland, are not independent directors.  
 
 
26

 
 
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF NOMINATIONS
AND STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
Stockholder proposals submitted to us pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act for inclusion in our Proxy Statement and form of proxy for our 2015 Annual Meeting of stockholders must be received by us no later than May 29, 2015 (or earlier if our next annual meeting is held earlier than December 2014), which is 120 calendar days before the one-year anniversary of the date on which the Company first mailed this Proxy Statement, and must comply with the requirements of the proxy rules promulgated by the SEC.  We presently intend to schedule our next annual meeting in November 2015, subject to change without further announcement except as required by proxy rules.  Stockholder proposals should be addressed to our corporate Secretary at 530 University Avenue, Suite 17, Palo Alto, California 94301.
 
Recommendations from stockholders which are received after the applicable deadline likely will not be considered timely for consideration by our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee for next year’s annual meeting.
 
OTHER MATTERS
 
The Board does not intend to bring any other matters before the Annual Meeting and has no reason to believe any other matters will be presented.  If other matters properly do come before the Annual Meeting, however, it is the intention of the persons named as proxy agents in the enclosed proxy card to vote on such matters as recommended by the Board, of if no recommendation is given, in their own discretion.
 
The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 is being mailed with this Proxy Statement to stockholders entitled to notice of the Annual Meeting.  The Annual Report includes the financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations.  The costs of preparing, assembling, mailing and soliciting the proxies will be borne by us.  Proxies may be solicited, without extra compensation, by our officers and employees by mail, telephone, facsimile, personal interviews and other methods of communication.
 
If you and other residents at your mailing address own shares in street name, your broker or bank may have sent you a notice that your household will receive only one copy of proxy materials for each company in which you hold shares through that broker or bank.  This practice of sending only one copy of proxy materials is known as householding.  If you did not respond that you did not want to participate in householding, you were deemed to have consented to the process.  If the foregoing procedures apply to you, your broker has sent one copy of our Proxy Statement to your address.  If you want to receive separate copies of the proxy materials in the future, or you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy per household, you should contact your stockbroker, bank or other nominee record holder, or you may contact us at the address or telephone number below. In any event, if you did not receive an individual copy of this Proxy Statement, we will send a copy to you if you address your written request to, or call, Andrew Chan, Chief Financial Officer and corporate Secretary of Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc., 530 University Avenue, Suite 17, Palo Alto, California 94301, telephone number (650) 566-5064.
 
Copies of the documents referred to above that appear on our website are also available upon request by any stockholder addressed to our corporate Secretary, Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc., 530 University Avenue, Suite 17, Palo Alto, California 94301.

                                                               
 
27

 
 

CELLULAR BIOMEDICINE GROUP, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF 9 AM PT
       
CONTROL ID:
             
REQUEST ID:
             
               
             
The undersigned hereby appoint(s) Steve Liu and Tony Liu with the power of substitution and resubstitution to vote any and all shares of capital stock of Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. (the "Company") which the undersigned would be entitled to vote as fully as the undersigned could do if personally present at the Annual Meeting of the Company, to be held on November 7, 2014, at 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, and at any adjournments thereof, hereby revoking any prior proxies to vote said stock, upon the following items more fully described in the notice of any proxy statement for the Annual Meeting (receipt of which is hereby acknowledged):
 
   
(CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE.)
             
             
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
           
If you vote by phone, fax or internet, please DO NOT mail your proxy card.
           
             
             
MAIL:
Please mark, sign, date, and return this Proxy Card promptly using the enclosed envelope.
         
FAX:
Complete the reverse portion of this Proxy Card and Fax to 202-521-3464.
         
INTERNET:
https://www.iproxydirect.com/CBMG
         
PHONE:
1-866-752-VOTE(8683)
         
               
       
         
         
         
         

 
 

 


ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCKHOLDERS OF
CELLULAR BIOMEDICINE GROUP, INC.
 
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE: ý
   
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
       
Proposal 1
 
à
FOR
ALL
 
WITHHOLD
ALL
 
FOR ALL
EXCEPT
     
 
Election of Directors:
 
¨
 
¨
         
 
Tony (Bizou) Liu
         
¨
     
 
Alan Au
         
¨
 
CONTROL ID:
 
 
Guo-Tong Xu, M.D., Ph.D
         
¨
 
REQUEST ID:
 
                     
Proposal 2
 
à
FOR
 
AGAINST
 
ABSTAIN
     
 
To ratify the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.
 
¨
 
¨
 
¨
     
                     
Proposal 3
 
à
FOR
 
AGAINST
 
ABSTAIN
     
 
To approve the Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan.
 
¨
 
¨
 
¨
     
                     
Proposal 4
 
à
FOR
 
AGAINST
 
ABSTAIN
     
 
To approve, by a non-binding vote, the Company's executive compensation.
 
¨
 
¨
 
¨
     
                     
Proposal 5
 
à
3 YEARS
 
2 YEARS
 
1 YEAR
 
ABSTAIN
 
 
To approve, by a non-binding vote, the frequency of future stockholder advisory votes relating to the Company's executive compensation.
 
¨
 
¨
 
¨
 
¨
 
           
         
MARK “X” HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING: ¨
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED ABOVE; UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE NOMINEES ON PROPOSAL NUMBER 1, FOR APPROVAL ON PROPOSAL NUMBER 2 AND PROPOSAL NUMBER 3, AND "FOR" ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND THE FREQUENCY OF ADVISORY VOTES TO OCCUR EVERY THREE YEARS.
In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
 
     
MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE   ¨ New Address (if applicable):
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
 
IMPORTANT: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
 
Dated: ________________________, 2014
 
 
(Print Name of Stockholder and/or Joint Tenant)
 
(Signature of Stockholder)
 
(Second Signature if held jointly)


 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

[attached hereto]
 

 
 
A-1

 

CELLULAR BIOMEDICINE GROUP, INC.
2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1. Purpose.  The purpose of the Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan is to provide a means through which the Company and its Affiliates may attract and retain key personnel and to provide a means whereby directors, officers, managers, employees, consultants and advisors (and prospective directors, officers, managers, employees, consultants and advisors) of the Company and its Affiliates can acquire and maintain an equity interest in the Company, or be paid incentive compensation, which may (but need not) be measured by reference to the value of Common Shares, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company and its Affiliates and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.
 
2. Definitions.  The following definitions shall be applicable throughout this Plan:
 
(a) Affiliate” means (i) any person or entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company and/or (ii) to the extent provided by the Committee, any person or entity in which the Company has a significant interest as determined by the Committee in its discretion.  The term “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any person or entity, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person or entity, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract or otherwise.
 
(b) Award” means, individually or collectively, any Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Bonus Award and Performance Compensation Award granted under this Plan.
 
(c) Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
(d) Business Combination” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”
 
(e) Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or obligated by federal law or executive order to be closed.
 
(f) Cause means, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award agreement states otherwise, (i) the Company or an Affiliate having “cause” to terminate a Participant’s employment or service, as defined in any employment or consulting agreement or similar document or policy between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate in effect at the time of such termination or (ii) in the absence of any such employment or consulting agreement, document or policy (or the absence of any definition of “Cause” contained therein), (A) a continuing material breach or material default (including, without limitation, any material dereliction of duty) by Participant of any agreement between the Participant and the Company, except for any such breach or default which is caused by the physical disability of the Participant (as determined by a neutral physician), or a continuing failure by the Participant to follow the direction of a duly authorized representative of the Company; (B) gross negligence, willful misfeasance or breach of fiduciary duty by the Participant; (C) the commission by the Participant of an act of fraud, embezzlement or any felony or other crime of dishonesty in connection with the Participant’s duties; or (D) conviction of the Participant of a felony or any other crime that would materially and adversely affect: (i) the business reputation of the Company or (ii) the performance of the Participant’s duties to the Company.  Any determination of whether Cause exists shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion.
 
 
A-2

 
 
(g) Change in Control” shall, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award agreement states otherwise or contains a different definition of “Change in Control,” be deemed to occur upon:
 
(i)           An acquisition (whether directly from the Company or otherwise) of any voting securities of the Company (the “Voting Securities”) by any “Person” (as the term person is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), immediately after which such Person has “Beneficial Ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities.

(ii)           The individuals who constitute the members of the Board cease, by reason of a financing, merger, combination, acquisition, takeover or other non-ordinary course transaction affecting the Company, to constitute at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the members of the Board; or

(iii)           Approval by the Board and, if required, stockholders of the Company of, or execution by the Company of any definitive agreement with respect to, or the consummation of (it being understood that the mere execution of a term sheet, memorandum of understanding or other non-binding document shall not constitute a Change of Control):

(A)           A merger, consolidation or reorganization involving the Company, where either or both of the events described in clauses (i) or (ii) above would be the result;

(B)           A liquidation or dissolution of or appointment of a receiver, rehabilitator, conservator or similar person for, or the filing by a third party of an involuntary bankruptcy against, the Company; provided, however, that to the extent necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code, the occurrence of an event described in this subsection (B) shall not permit the settlement of Restricted Stock Units granted under this Plan; or

(C)           An agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person (other than a transfer to a subsidiary of the Company).

(h) Closing Price” means (A) during such time as the Common Shares are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the closing price of the Common Shares as reported by an established stock exchange or automated quotation system on the day for which such value is to be determined, or, if no sale of the Common Shares shall have been made on any such stock exchange or automated quotation system that day, on the next preceding day on which there was a sale of such Common Stock, or (B) during any such time as the Common Shares are not listed upon an established stock exchange or automated quotation system, the mean between dealer “bid” and “ask” prices of the Common Shares in the over-the-counter market on the day for which such value is to be determined, as reported by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or (C) during any such time as the Common Stock cannot be valued pursuant to (A) or (B) above, the fair market value shall be as determined by the Committee considering all relevant information including, by example and not by limitation, the services of an independent appraiser.
 
(i) Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto.  References in this Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations or guidance.
 
(j) Committee” means a committee of at least two people as the Board may appoint to administer this Plan or, if no such committee has been appointed by the Board, the Board.  Unless altered by an action of the Board, the Committee shall be the Compensation Committee of the Board.
 
(k) Common Shares” means the common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company (and any stock or other securities into which such common shares may be converted or into which they may be exchanged).
 
 
A-3

 
 
(l) Company” means Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its successors and assigns.
 
(m) Date of Grant” means the date on which the granting of an Award is authorized, or such other date as may be specified in such authorization.
 
(n) Disability” means a “permanent and total” disability incurred by a Participant while in the employ of the Company or an Affiliate.  For this purpose, a permanent and total disability shall mean that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.
 
(o) Effective Date” means the date as of which this Plan is adopted by the Board, subject to Section 3 of this Plan.
 
(p) Eligible Director” means a person who is (i) a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and (ii) an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
(q) Eligible Person” means any (i) individual employed by the Company or an Affiliate; provided, however, that no such employee covered by a collective bargaining agreement shall be an Eligible Person unless and to the extent that such eligibility is set forth in such collective bargaining agreement or in an agreement or instrument relating thereto; (ii) director of the Company or an Affiliate; (iii) consultant or advisor to the Company or an Affiliate, provided that if the Securities Act applies such persons must be eligible to be offered securities registrable on Form S-8 under the Securities Act; or (iv) prospective employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors who have accepted offers of employment or consultancy from the Company or its Affiliates (and would satisfy the provisions of clauses (i) through (iii) above once he or she begins employment with or begins providing services to the Company or its Affiliates).
 
(r) Exchange Act” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control,” and any reference in this Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.
 
(s) Exercise Price” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(b) of this Plan.
 
(t) Fair Market Value”, unless otherwise provided by the Committee in accordance with all applicable laws, rules regulations and standards, means, on a given date, (i) if the Common Stock (A) is listed on a national securities exchange or (B) is not listed on a national securities exchange, but is quoted by the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (www.otcmarkets.com) or any successor or alternative recognized over-the-counter market or another inter-dealer quotation system, on a last sale basis, the average selling price of the Common Stock reported on such national securities exchange or other inter-dealer quotation system, determined as the arithmetic mean of such selling prices over the thirty (30)-Business Day period preceding the Date of Grant, weighted based on the volume of trading of such Common Stock on each Business Day during such period; or (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the amount determined by the Committee in good faith to be the fair market value of the Common Stock.
 
(u) Immediate Family Members” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15(b) of this Plan.
 
(v) Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is designated by the Committee as an incentive stock option as described in Section 422 of the Code and otherwise meets the requirements set forth in this Plan.
 
(w) Indemnifiable Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(e) of this Plan.
 
(x) Intellectual Property Products” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15(c) of this Plan.
 
(y) Mature Shares” means Common Shares owned by a Participant that are not subject to any pledge or security interest and that have been either previously acquired by the Participant on the open market or meet such other requirements, if any, as the Committee may determine are necessary in order to avoid an accounting earnings charge on account of the use of such shares to pay the Exercise Price or satisfy a withholding obligation of the Participant.
 
(z) Negative Discretion” shall mean the discretion authorized by this Plan to be applied by the Committee to eliminate or reduce the size of a Performance Compensation Award consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
 
A-4

 
 
(aa) Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option.
 
(bb) Option” means an Award granted under Section 7 of this Plan.
 
(cc) Option Period” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(c) of this Plan.
 
(dd) Outstanding Company Common Shares” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”
 
(ee) Outstanding Company Voting Securities” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”
 
(ff) Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been selected by the Committee to participate in this Plan and to receive an Award pursuant to Section 6 of this Plan.
 
(gg) Performance Compensation Award” shall mean any Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan.
 
(hh) Performance Criteria” shall mean 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 this Plan.
 
(ii) Performance Formula” shall mean, for a Performance Period, the one or more objective formulae 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.
 
(jj) Performance Goals” shall mean, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria.
 
(kk) Performance Period” shall mean the one or more periods of time, 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.
 
(ll) Permitted Transferee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15(b) of this Plan.
 
(mm) Person” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”
 
(nn) Plan” means this Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
 
(oo) Retirement” means the fulfillment of each of the following conditions: (i) the Participant is good standing with the Company as determined by the Committee; (ii) the voluntary termination by a Participant of such Participant’s employment or service to the Company and (B) that at the time of such voluntary termination, the sum of: (1) the Participant’s age (calculated to the nearest month, with any resulting fraction of a year being calculated as the number of months in the year divided by 12) and (2) the Participant’s years of employment or service with the Company (calculated to the nearest month, with any resulting fraction of a year being calculated as the number of months in the year divided by 12) equals at least 62 (provided that, in any case, the foregoing shall only be applicable if, at the time of Retirement, the Participant shall be at least 55 years of age and shall have been employed by or served with the Company for no less than 5 years).
 
(pp) Restricted Period” means the period of time determined by the Committee during which an Award is subject to restrictions or, as applicable, the period of time within which performance is measured for purposes of determining whether an Award has been earned.
 
(qq) Restricted Stock Unit” means an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Common Shares, cash, other securities or other property, subject to certain restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of this Plan.
 
(rr) Restricted Stock” means Common Shares, subject to certain specified restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of this Plan.
 
(ss) SAR Period” has the meaning given such term in Section 8(c) of this Plan.
 
(tt) Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto.  Reference in this Plan to any section of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other official interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.
 
 
A-5

 
 
(uu) Stock Appreciation Right” or SAR means an Award granted under Section 8 of this Plan which meets all of the requirements of Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(B) of the Treasury Regulations.
 
(vv) Stock Bonus Award” means an Award granted under Section 10 of this Plan.
 
(ww) Strike Price” means, except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the case of Substitute Awards, (i) in the case of a SAR granted in tandem with an Option, the Exercise Price of the related Option, or (ii) in the case of a SAR granted independent of an Option, the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant.
 
(xx) Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:
 
(i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Outstanding Company Voting Securities (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and
 
(ii) any partnership or limited liability company (or any comparable foreign entity) (a) the sole general partner or managing member (or functional equivalent thereof) or the managing general partner of which is such Person or Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners or managing members (or functional equivalents thereof) of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).
 
(yy) Substitute Award” has the meaning given such term in Section 5(e).
 
(zz) Treasury Regulations” means any regulations, whether proposed, temporary or final, promulgated by the U.S. Department of Treasury under the Code, and any successor provisions.
 
3. Effective Date; Duration.  The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date, but no Award shall be exercised or paid (or, in the case of a stock Award, shall be granted unless contingent on stockholder approval) unless and until this Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, which approval shall be within twelve (12) months after the date this Plan is adopted by the Board.  The expiration date of this Plan, on and after which date no Awards may be granted hereunder, shall be the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that such expiration shall not affect Awards then outstanding, and the terms and conditions of this Plan shall continue to apply to such Awards.
 
4. Administration.
 
(a) The Committee shall administer this Plan.  To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (if the Board is not acting as the Committee under this Plan) or necessary to obtain the exception for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, as applicable, it is intended that each member of the Committee shall, at the time he takes any action with respect to an Award under this Plan, be an Eligible Director.  However, the fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as an Eligible Director shall not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under this Plan.  The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present or acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee shall be deemed the acts of the Committee.  Whether a quorum is present shall be determined based on the Committee’s charter as approved by the Board.
 
(b) Subject to the provisions of this Plan and applicable law, the Committee shall have the sole and plenary authority, in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by this Plan and its charter, to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Common Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Common Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the delivery of cash, Common Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award; (vii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, settle any controversy regarding, correct any defect in and/or complete any omission in this Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, this Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of this Plan; (ix) accelerate the vesting or exercisability of, payment for or lapse of restrictions on, Awards; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of this Plan.
 
(c) The Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company or any Affiliate the authority to act on behalf of the Committee with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election that is the responsibility of or that is allocated to the Committee herein, and that may be so delegated as a matter of law, except for grants of Awards to persons (i) subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (ii) who are, or who are reasonably expected to be, “covered employees” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
 
A-6

 
 
(d) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to this Plan or any Award or any documents evidencing Awards granted pursuant to this Plan shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all persons or entities, including, without limitation, the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, and any stockholder of the Company.
 
(e) No member of the Board, the Committee, delegate of the Committee or any employee, advisor or agent of the Company or the Board or the Committee (each such person, an “Indemnifiable Person”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to this Plan or any Award hereunder.  Each Indemnifiable Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (and the Company shall pay or reimburse on demand for) any loss, cost, liability, or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Indemnifiable Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Indemnifiable Person may be a party or in which such Indemnifiable Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under this Plan or any Award agreement and against and from any and all amounts paid by such Indemnifiable Person with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Indemnifiable Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Indemnifiable Person, provided, that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to an Indemnifiable Person to the extent that a final judgment or other final adjudication (in either case not subject to further appeal) binding upon such Indemnifiable Person determines that the acts or omissions of such Indemnifiable Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Indemnifiable Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law or by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such Indemnifiable Persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such Indemnifiable Persons or hold them harmless.
 
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards and administer this Plan with respect to such Awards.  In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority granted to the Committee under this Plan.
 
5. Grant of Awards; Shares Subject to this Plan; Limitations.
 
(a) The Committee may, from time to time, grant Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Bonus Awards and/or Performance Compensation Awards to one or more Eligible Persons.
 
(b) Subject to Sections 3, 11 and 12 of this Plan, the Committee is authorized to deliver under this Plan an aggregate of One Million Two Hundred Thousand (1,200,000) Common Shares  Additionally, commencing on the first business day in 2015 and on the first business day of each calendar year thereafter while the Plan is in effect, the maximum aggregate number of Common Shares available for issuance under this Plan shall be increased such that, as of such first business day, the maximum aggregate number of Common Shares available for issuance under this Plan shall be equal to One Hundred One Percent (101%) of the maximum aggregate number of Common Shares available for issuance in the prior year.  Each Common Share subject to an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right will reduce the number of Common Shares available for issuance by one share, and each Common Share underlying an Award of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Bonus Awards and Performance Compensation Awards will reduce the number of Common Shares available for issuance by one share.
 
(c) Common Shares underlying Awards under this Plan that are forfeited, cancelled, expire unexercised, or are settled in cash shall be available again for Awards under this Plan at the same ratio at which they were previously granted.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Common Shares shall not be available again for Awards under the Plan: (i) shares tendered or held back upon the exercise of an Option or settlement of an Award to cover the Exercise Price of an Award; (ii) shares that are used or withheld to satisfy tax obligations of the Participant; and (iii) shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the SAR upon exercise thereof.
 
(d) Common Shares delivered by the Company in settlement of Awards may be authorized and unissued shares, shares held in the treasury of the Company, shares purchased on the open market or by private purchase, or a combination of the foregoing.
 
(e) Subject to compliance with Section 1.409A-3(f) of the Treasury Regulations, Awards may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be granted under this Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (“Substitute Awards”).  The number of Common Shares underlying any Substitute Awards shall be counted against the aggregate number of Common Shares available for Awards under this Plan.
 
6. Eligibility.  Participation shall be limited to Eligible Persons who have entered into an Award agreement or who have received written notification from the Committee, or from a person designated by the Committee, that they have been selected to participate in this Plan.
 
 
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7. Options.
 
(a) Generally.  Each Option granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)).  Each Option so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with this Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement.  All Options granted under this Plan shall be Nonqualified Stock Options unless the applicable Award agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.   Notwithstanding any designation of an Option, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Common Shares with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.  Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to Eligible Persons who are employees of the Company and its Affiliates, and no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any Eligible Person who is ineligible to receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Code.  No Option shall be treated as an Incentive Stock Option unless this Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company in a manner intended to comply with the stockholder approval requirements of Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, provided that any Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not fail to be effective solely on account of a failure to obtain such approval, but rather such Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option unless and until such approval is obtained.  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the terms and conditions of such grant shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code.  If for any reason an Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option or portion thereof shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock Option appropriately granted under this Plan.
 
(b) Exercise Price.  The exercise price (“Exercise Price”) per Common Share for each Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such share determined as of the Date of Grant; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who, at the time of the grant of such Option, owns shares representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or any Affiliate, the Exercise Price per share shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant; and, provided further, that notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Exercise Price shall not be less than the par value per Common Share.
 
(c) Vesting and Expiration.  Options shall vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates determined by the Committee and as set forth in the applicable Award agreement, and shall expire after such period, not to exceed ten (10) years from the Date of Grant, as may be determined by the Committee (the “Option Period”); provided, however, that the Option Period shall not exceed five (5) years from the Date of Grant in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who on the Date of Grant owns shares representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or any Affiliate; and, provided, further, that notwithstanding any vesting dates set by the Committee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the exercisability of any Option, which acceleration shall not affect the terms and conditions of such Option other than with respect to exercisability.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement:
 
(i) an Option shall vest and become exercisable with respect to 100% of the Common Shares subject to such Option on the third (3rd) anniversary of the Date of Grant;
 
(ii) the unvested portion of an Option shall expire upon termination of employment or service of the Participant granted the Option, and the vested portion of such Option shall remain exercisable for:
 
(A) one year following termination of employment or service by reason of such Participant’s death or Disability (with the determination of Disability to be made by the Committee on a case by case basis), but not later than the expiration of the Option Period;
 
(B) for directors, officers and employees of the Company only, for the remainder of the Option Period following termination of employment or service by reason of such Participant’s Retirement (it being understood that any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option if exercise is not undertaken within 90 days of the date of Retirement);
 
(C) 90 calendar days following termination of employment or service for any reason other than such Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement, and other than such Participant’s termination of employment or service for Cause, but not later than the expiration of the Option Period; and
 
(iii) both the unvested and the vested portion of an Option shall immediately expire upon the termination of the Participant’s employment or service by the Company for Cause.
 
(d) Method of Exercise and Form of Payment.  No Common Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company and the Participant has paid to the Company an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld.  Options that have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award agreement accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price.  The Exercise Price shall be payable (i) in cash, check (subject to collection), cash equivalent and/or vested Common Shares valued at the Closing Price at the time the Option is exercised (including, pursuant to procedures approved by the Committee, by means of attestation of ownership of a sufficient number of Common Shares in lieu of actual delivery of such shares to the Company); provided, however, that such Common Shares are not subject to any pledge or other security interest and are Mature Shares and; (ii) by such other method as the Committee may permit in accordance with applicable law, in its sole discretion, including without limitation: (A) in other property having a fair market value (as determined by the Committee in its discretion) on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price or (B) if there is a public market for the Common Shares at such time, by means of a broker-assisted “cashless exercise” pursuant to which the Company is delivered a copy of irrevocable instructions to a stockbroker to sell the Common Shares otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the Exercise Price or (C) by a “net exercise” method whereby the Company withholds from the delivery of the Common Shares for which the Option was exercised that number of Common Shares having a Closing Price equal to the aggregate Exercise Price for the Common Shares for which the Option was exercised.  Any fractional Common Shares shall be settled in cash.
 
 
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(e) Notification upon Disqualifying Disposition of an Incentive Stock Option.  Each Participant awarded an Incentive Stock Option under this Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date he makes a disqualifying disposition of any Common Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option.  A disqualifying disposition is any disposition (including, without limitation, any sale) of such Common Shares before the later of (A) two years after the Date of Grant of the Incentive Stock Option or (B) one year after the date of exercise of the Incentive Stock Option.  The Company may, if determined by the Committee and in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, retain possession of any Common Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option as agent for the applicable Participant until the end of the period described in the preceding sentence.
 
(f) Compliance With Laws, etc.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a Participant be permitted to exercise an Option in a manner that the Committee determines would violate the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, if applicable, or any other applicable law or the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or traded.
 
8. Stock Appreciation Rights.
 
(a) Generally.  Each SAR granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)).  Each SAR so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 8, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with this Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement.  Any Option granted under this Plan may include tandem SARs. The Committee also may award SARs to Eligible Persons independent of any Option.
 
(b) Exercise Price.  The Exercise Price per Common Share for each Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such share determined as of the Date of Grant.
 
(c) Vesting and Expiration.  A SAR granted in connection with an Option shall become exercisable and shall expire according to the same vesting schedule and expiration provisions as the corresponding Option.  A SAR granted independent of an Option shall vest and become exercisable and shall expire in such manner and on such date or dates determined by the Committee and shall expire after such period, not to exceed ten years, as may be determined by the Committee (the “SAR Period”); provided, however, that notwithstanding any vesting dates set by the Committee, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the exercisability of any SAR, which acceleration shall not affect the terms and conditions of such SAR other than with respect to exercisability.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement:
 
(i) a SAR shall vest and become exercisable with respect to 100% of the Common Shares subject to such SAR on the third anniversary of the Date of Grant;
 
(ii) the unvested portion of a SAR shall expire upon termination of employment or service of the Participant granted the SAR, and the vested portion of such SAR shall remain exercisable for:
 
(A) one year following termination of employment or service by reason of such Participant’s death or Disability (with the determination of Disability to be made by the Committee on a case by case basis), but not later than the expiration of the SARPeriod;
 
(B) for directors, officers and employees of the Company only, for the remainder of the SAR Period following termination of employment or service by reason of such Participant’s Retirement;
 
(C) 90 calendar days following termination of employment or service for any reason other than such Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement, and other than such Participant’s termination of employment or service for Cause, but not later than the expiration of the SAR Period; and
 
(iii) both the unvested and the vested portion of a SAR shall expire immediately upon the termination of the Participant’s employment or service by the Company for Cause.
 
(d) Method of Exercise.  SARs that have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award, specifying the number of SARs to be exercised and the date on which such SARs were awarded.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if on the last day of the Option Period (or in the case of a SAR independent of an option, the SAR Period), the Closing Price exceeds the Strike Price, the Participant has not exercised the SAR or the corresponding Option (if applicable), and neither the SAR nor the corresponding Option (if applicable) has expired, such SAR shall be deemed to have been exercised by the Participant on such last day and the Company shall make the appropriate payment therefor.
 
(e) Payment.  Upon the exercise of a SAR, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the number of shares subject to the SAR that are being exercised multiplied by the excess, if any, of the Closing Price of one Common Share on the exercise date over the Strike Price, less an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld.  The Company shall pay such amount in cash, in Common Shares valued at fair market value, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.  Any fractional Common Share shall be settled in cash.
 
 
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9. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.
 
(a) Generally.  Each grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)).  Each such grant shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 9, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with this Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement.
 
(b) Restricted Accounts; Escrow or Similar Arrangement.  Upon the grant of Restricted Stock, a book entry in a restricted account shall be established in the Participant’s name at the Company’s transfer agent and, if the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than held in such restricted account pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (i) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable, and (ii) the appropriate share power (endorsed in blank) with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement.  If a Participant shall fail to execute an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and blank share power within the amount of time specified by the Committee, the Award shall be null and void ab initio.  Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 9 and the applicable Award agreement, the Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to such Restricted Stock, including without limitation the right to vote such Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends, if applicable.  To the extent shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited, any share certificates issued to the Participant evidencing such shares shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a stockholder with respect thereto shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company.
 
(c) Vesting; Acceleration of Lapse of Restrictions.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement: (i) the Restricted Period shall lapse with respect to 100% of the Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units on the third (3rd) anniversary of the Date of Grant; and (ii) the unvested portion of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall terminate and be forfeited upon termination of employment or service of the Participant granted the applicable Award.
 
(d) Delivery of Restricted Stock and Settlement of Restricted Stock Units.  (i) Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth in the applicable 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 beneficiary, without charge, the share certificate evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock that have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired (rounded down to the nearest full share). Dividends, if any, that may have been withheld by the Committee and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock shall be distributed to the Participant in cash or, at the sole discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Closing Price equal to the amount of such dividends, upon the release of restrictions on such share and, if such share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends (except as otherwise set forth by the Committee in the applicable Award agreement).
 
(ii) Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement, upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his beneficiary, without charge, one Common Share for each such outstanding Restricted Stock Unit; provided, however, that the Committee may, in its sole discretion and subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, elect to (i) pay cash or part cash and part Common Share in lieu of delivering only Common Shares in respect of such Restricted Stock Units or (ii) defer the delivery of Common Shares (or cash or part Common Shares and part cash, as the case may be) beyond the expiration of the Restricted Period if such delivery would result in a violation of applicable law until such time as is no longer the case.  If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering Common Shares, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Closing Price of the Common Shares as of the date on which the Restricted Period lapsed with respect to such Restricted Stock Units, less an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld.
 
10. Stock Bonus Awards.  The Committee may issue unrestricted Common Shares, or other Awards denominated in Common Shares, under this Plan to Eligible Persons, either alone or in tandem with other awards, in such amounts as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine.  Each Stock Bonus Award granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)).  Each Stock Bonus Award so granted shall be subject to such conditions not inconsistent with this Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement.
 
11. Performance Compensation Awards.
 
(a) Generally.  The Committee shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any Award described in Sections 7 through 10 of this Plan, to designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.  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 intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
(b) Discretion of Committee with Respect to Performance Compensation Awards.  With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have sole discretion to select the length of such Performance Period, 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 Goals(s) that is (are) to apply and the Performance Formula.  Within the first 90 calendar days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code, if applicable), 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 and record the same in writing.
 
 
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(c) Performance Criteria.  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 and/or one or more Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee.  Any one or more of the Performance Criteria adopted by the Committee may be used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of the Company and/or one or more Affiliates as a whole or any business unit(s) of the Company and/or one or more Affiliates or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above Performance Criteria may be compared to the performance of a selected group of comparison companies, or a published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or 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 calendar 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 and thereafter promptly communicate such Performance Criteria to the Participant.
 
(d) Modification of Performance Goal(s).  In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Criteria without obtaining stockholder approval of such alterations, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such alterations without obtaining stockholder approval.  The Committee is authorized at any time during the first 90 calendar days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code, if applicable), or at any time thereafter to the extent the exercise of such authority at such time would not cause the Performance Compensation Awards granted to any Participant for such Performance Period to fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, in its sole discretion, to adjust or modify the calculation of a Performance Goal for such Performance Period, based on and in order to appropriately reflect the following events:  (i) asset write-downs; (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (iii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results; (iv) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (v) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 (or any successor pronouncement thereto) and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year; (vi) acquisitions or divestitures; (vii) any other specific unusual or nonrecurring events, or objectively determinable category thereof; (viii) foreign exchange gains and losses; and (ix) a change in the Company’s fiscal year.
 
(e) 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) all or some of the portion of such Participant’s Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period based on the application of the Performance Formula to such achieved Performance Goals.
 
(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 that amount of the Performance Compensation Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Formula.  The Committee shall then determine the amount of each Participant’s Performance Compensation Award actually payable for the Performance Period and, in so doing, may apply Negative Discretion.
 
(iv) Use of Negative Discretion.  In determining the actual amount of an individual Participant’s 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, except as is otherwise provided in this Plan, 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 applicable limitations set forth in Section 5 of this Plan.
 
(f) 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 11, but in no event later than two-and-one-half months following the end of the fiscal year during which the Performance Period is completed in order to comply with the short-term deferral rules under Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment of a Performance Compensation Award may be delayed, as permitted by Section 1.409A-2(b)(7)(i) of the Treasury Regulations, to the extent that the Company reasonably anticipates that if such payment were made as scheduled, the Company’s tax deduction with respect to such payment would not be permitted due to the application of Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
 
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12. Changes in Capital Structure and Similar Events.  In the event of (a) any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, split-up, split-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Common Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to acquire Common Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) that affects the Common Shares, or (b) unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) affecting the Company, any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system, accounting principles or law, such that in either case an adjustment is determined by the Committee in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate, then the Committee shall make any such adjustments that are equitable, including without limitation any or all of the following:
 
(i) adjusting any or all of (A) the number of Common Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) that may be delivered in respect of Awards or with respect to which Awards may be granted under this Plan (including, without limitation, adjusting any or all of the limitations under Section 5 of this Plan) and (B) the terms of any outstanding Award, including, without limitation, (1) the number of Common Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate, (2) the Exercise Price or Strike Price with respect to any Award or (3) any applicable performance measures (including, without limitation, Performance Criteria and Performance Goals);
 
(ii) providing for a substitution or assumption of Awards, accelerating the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, Awards or providing for a period of time for exercise prior to the occurrence of such event; and
 
(iii) subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, canceling any one or more outstanding Awards and causing to be paid to the holders thereof, in cash, Common Shares, other securities or other property, or any combination thereof, the value of such Awards, if any, as determined by the Committee (which if applicable may be based upon the price per Common Share received or to be received by other stockholders of the Company in such event), including without limitation, in the case of an outstanding Option or SAR, a cash payment in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the Common Shares subject to such Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price of such Option or SAR, respectively (it being understood that, in such event, any Option or SAR having a per share Exercise Price or Strike Price equal to, or in excess of, the fair market value of a Common Share subject thereto may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor);
 
provided, however, that in the case of any “equity restructuring” (within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) or ASC Topic 718, or any successor thereto), the Committee shall make an equitable or proportionate adjustment to outstanding Awards to reflect such equity restructuring.  Any adjustment in Incentive Stock Options under this Section 12 (other than any cancellation of Incentive Stock Options) shall be made only to the extent not constituting a “modification” within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code, and any adjustments under this Section 12 shall be made in a manner that does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.  The Company shall give each Participant notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.
 
13. Effect of Change in Control.  Except to the extent otherwise provided in an Award agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, with respect to all or any portion of a particular outstanding Award or Awards:
 
(a) all of the then outstanding Options and SARs shall immediately vest and become immediately exercisable as of a time prior to the Change in Control;
 
(b) the Restricted Period shall expire as of a time prior to the Change in Control (including without limitation a waiver of any applicable Performance Goals);
 
(c) Performance Periods in effect on the date the Change in Control occurs shall end on such date, 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 or other information then available as it deems relevant and (ii) cause the Participant to receive partial or full payment of Awards for each such Performance Period based upon the Committee’s determination of the degree of attainment of the Performance Goals, or 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) through (c) shall occur in a manner and at a time which allows affected Participants the ability to participate in the Change in Control transactions with respect to the Common Shares subject to their Awards.
 
 
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14. Amendments and Termination.
 
(a)           Amendment and Termination of this Plan.  The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate this Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, that (i) no amendment to the definition of Eligible Employee in Section 2, Section 5(i), Section 11(c) or Section 14(b) (to the extent required by the proviso in such Section 14(b)) shall be made without stockholder approval and (ii) no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to this Plan (including, without limitation, as necessary to comply with any rules or requirements of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Common Shares may be listed or quoted or to prevent the Company from being denied a tax deduction under Section 162(m) of the Code); and, provided, further, that any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the prior written consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary.
 
(b) Amendment of Award Agreements.  The Committee may, to the extent consistent with the terms of any applicable Award agreement, waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted or the associated Award agreement, prospectively or retroactively; provided, however that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant with respect to any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant; and, provided, further, that without stockholder approval, except as otherwise permitted under Section 12 of this Plan, (i) no amendment or modification may reduce the Exercise Price of any Option or the Strike Price of any SAR, (ii) the Committee may not cancel any outstanding Option or SAR and replace it with a new Option or SAR, another Award or cash or take any action that would have the effect of treating such Award as a new Award for tax or accounting purposes and (iii) the Committee may not take any other action that is considered a “repricing” for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of the applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Common Shares are listed or quoted.
 
15. General.
 
(a)           Award Agreements.  Each Award under this Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)) and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto, including without limitation, the effect on such Award of the death, Disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant, or of such other events as may be determined by the Committee.  The Company’s failure to specify any term of any Award in any particular Award agreement shall not invalidate such term, provided such terms was duly adopted by the Board or the Committee.
 
(b) Nontransferability; Trading Restrictions.
 
(i) Each Award shall be exercisable only by a Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s legal guardian or representative.  No Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or an Affiliate; provided that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance.
 
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit Awards (other than Incentive Stock Options) to be transferred by a Participant, with or without consideration, subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt consistent with any applicable Award agreement to preserve the purposes of this Plan, to:  (A) any person who is a “family member” of the Participant, as such term is used in the instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act (collectively, the “Immediate Family Members”); (B) a trust solely for the benefit of the Participant and his or her Immediate Family Members; or (C) a partnership or limited liability company whose only partners or stockholders are the Participant and his or her Immediate Family Members; or (D) any other transferee as may be approved either (I) by the Board or the Committee in its sole discretion, or (II) as provided in the applicable Award agreement (each transferee described in clauses (A), (B) (C) and (D) above is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Transferee”); provided, that the Participant gives the Committee advance written notice describing the terms and conditions of the proposed transfer and the Committee notifies the Participant in writing that such a transfer would comply with the requirements of this Plan.
 
(iii) The terms of any Award transferred in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to the Permitted Transferee and any reference in this Plan, or in any applicable Award agreement, to a Participant shall be deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee, except that (A) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to transfer any Award, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; (B) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to exercise any transferred Option unless there shall be in effect a registration statement on an appropriate form covering the Common Shares to be acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Option if the Committee determines, consistent with any applicable Award agreement, that such a registration statement is necessary or appropriate; (C) the Committee or the Company shall not be required to provide any notice to a Permitted Transferee, whether or not such notice is or would otherwise have been required to be given to the Participant under this Plan or otherwise; and (D) the consequences of the termination of the Participant’s employment by, or services to, the Company or an Affiliate under the terms of this Plan and the applicable Award agreement shall continue to be applied with respect to the Participant, including, without limitation, that an Option shall be exercisable by the Permitted Transferee only to the extent, and for the periods, specified in this Plan and the applicable Award agreement.
 
(iv) The Committee shall have the right, either on an Award-by-Award basis or as a matter of policy for all Awards or one or more classes of Awards, to condition the delivery of vested Common Shares received in connection with such Award on the Participant’s agreement to such restrictions as the Committee may determine.
 
(c) Tax Withholding.
 
(i) A Participant shall be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate, or the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold, from any cash, Common Shares, other securities or other property deliverable under any Award or from any compensation or other amounts owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Common Shares, other securities or other property) of any required withholding taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under this Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee or the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding and taxes.
 
 
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(ii) Without limiting the generality of clause (i) above, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by (A) the delivery of Common Shares (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest and are Mature Shares) owned by the Participant having a fair market value equal to such withholding liability or (B) having the Company withhold from the number of Common Shares otherwise issuable or deliverable pursuant to the exercise or settlement of the Award a number of shares with a fair market value equal to such withholding liability (but no more than the minimum required statutory withholding liability).
 
(d) No Claim to Awards; No Rights to Continued Employment; Waiver.  No employee of the Company or an Affiliate, or other person, shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under this Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for a grant of any other Award.  There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards.  The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.  Neither this Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or an Affiliate, nor shall it be construed as giving any Participant any rights to continued service on the Board.  The Company or any of its Affiliates may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or discontinue any consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim under this Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in this Plan or any Award agreement.  By accepting an Award under this Plan, a Participant shall thereby be deemed to have waived any claim to continued exercise or vesting of an Award or to damages or severance entitlement related to non-continuation of the Award beyond the period provided under this Plan or any Award agreement, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any written employment contract or other agreement between the Company and its Affiliates and the Participant, whether any such agreement is executed before, on or after the Date of Grant.
 
(e) International Participants.  With respect to Participants who reside or work outside of the United States of America and who are not (and who are not expected to be) “covered employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may in its sole discretion amend the terms of this Plan or outstanding Awards (or establish a sub-plan) with respect to such Participants in order to conform such terms with the requirements of local law or to obtain more favorable tax or other treatment for a Participant, the Company or its Affiliates.
 
(f) Designation and Change of Beneficiary.  Each Participant may file with the Committee a written designation of one or more persons as the beneficiary(ies) who shall be entitled to receive the amounts payable with respect to an Award, if any, due under this Plan upon his or her death.  A Participant may, from time to time, revoke or change his or her beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Committee.  The last such designation filed with the Committee shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Committee prior to the Participant’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt.  If no beneficiary designation is filed by a Participant, the beneficiary shall be deemed to be his or her spouse or, if the Participant is unmarried at the time of death, his or her estate.  Upon the occurrence of a Participant’s divorce (as evidenced by a final order or decree of divorce), any spousal designation previously given by such Participant shall automatically terminate.
 
(g) Termination of Employment/Service.  Unless determined otherwise by the Committee at any point following such event: (i) neither a temporary absence from employment or service due to illness, vacation or leave of absence nor a transfer from employment or service with the Company to employment or service with an Affiliate (or vice-versa) shall be considered a termination of employment or service with the Company or an Affiliate; and (ii) if a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates terminates, but such Participant continues to provide services to the Company and its Affiliates in a non-employee capacity (or vice-versa), such change in status shall not be considered a termination of employment with the Company or an Affiliate.
 
(h) No Rights as a Stockholder.  Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Plan or any Award agreement, no person shall be entitled to the privileges of ownership in respect of Common Shares that are subject to Awards hereunder until such shares have been issued or delivered to that person.
 
(i) Government and Other Regulations.
 
(i) The obligation of the Company to settle Awards in Common Shares or other consideration shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental agencies as may be required.  Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell, and shall be prohibited from offering to sell or selling, any Common Shares pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been properly registered for sale pursuant to the Securities Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with.  The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale under the Securities Act any of the Common Shares to be offered or sold under this Plan.  The Committee shall have the authority to provide that all certificates for Common Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under this Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under this Plan, the applicable Award agreement, the federal securities laws, or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system upon which such shares or other securities are then listed or quoted and any other applicable federal, state, local or non-U.S. laws, and, without limiting the generality of Section 9 of this Plan, the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.  Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, the Committee reserves the right to add any additional terms or provisions to any Award granted under this Plan that it in its sole discretion deems necessary or advisable in order that such Award complies with the legal requirements of any governmental entity to whose jurisdiction the Award is subject.
 
(ii) The Committee may cancel an Award or any portion thereof if it determines, in its sole discretion, that legal or contractual restrictions and/or blockage and/or other market considerations would make the Company’s acquisition of Common Shares from the public markets, the Company’s issuance of Common Shares to the Participant, the Participant’s acquisition of Common Shares from the Company and/or the Participant’s sale of Common Shares to the public markets, illegal, impracticable or inadvisable.  If the Committee determines to cancel all or any portion of an Award in accordance with the foregoing, unless doing so would violate Section 409A of the Code, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate fair market value of the Common Shares subject to such Award or portion thereof canceled (determined as of the applicable exercise date, or the date that the shares would have been vested or delivered, as applicable), over (B) the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price (in the case of an Option or SAR, respectively) or any amount payable as a condition of delivery of Common Shares (in the case of any other Award).  Such amount shall be delivered to the Participant as soon as practicable following the cancellation of such Award or portion thereof.  The Committee shall have the discretion to consider and take action to mitigate the tax consequence to the Participant in cancelling an Award in accordance with this clause.
 
 
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(j) Payments to Persons Other Than Participants.  If the Committee shall find that any person to whom any amount is payable under this Plan is unable to care for his affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due to such person or his estate (unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) may, if the Committee so directs the Company, be paid to his spouse, child, relative, an institution maintaining or having custody of such person, or any other person deemed by the Committee to be a proper recipient on behalf of such person otherwise entitled to payment.  Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee and the Company therefor.
 
(k) Nonexclusivity of this Plan.  Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor the submission of this Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options or other equity-based awards otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.
 
(l) No Trust or Fund Created.  Neither this Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate, on the one hand, and a Participant or other person or entity, on the other hand.  No provision of this Plan or any Award shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under this Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes.  Participants shall have no rights under this Plan other than as general unsecured creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of services, they shall have the same rights as other employees under general law.
 
(m) Reliance on Reports.  Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board shall be fully justified in acting or failing to act, as the case may be, and shall not be liable for having so acted or failed to act in good faith, in reliance upon any report made by the independent public accountant of the Company and its Affiliates and/or any other information furnished in connection with this Plan by any agent of the Company or the Committee or the Board, other than himself.
 
(n) Relationship to Other Benefits.  No payment under this Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, profit sharing, group insurance or other benefit plan of the Company except as otherwise specifically provided in such other plan.
 
(o) Governing Law.  The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions.
 
(p) Severability.  If any provision of this Plan or any Award or Award agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any person or entity or Award, or would disqualify this Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws in the manner that most closely reflects the original intent of the Award or the Plan, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of this Plan or the Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or entity or Award and the remainder of this Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
 
(q) Obligations Binding on Successors.  The obligations of the Company under this Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of the Company.
 
(r) Code Section 162(m) Approval.  If so determined by the Committee, the provisions of this Plan regarding Performance Compensation Awards shall be disclosed and reapproved by stockholders no later than the first stockholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which stockholders previously approved such provisions, in each case in order for certain Awards granted after such time to be exempt from the deduction limitations of Section 162(m) of the Code.  Nothing in this clause, however, shall affect the validity of Awards granted after such time if such stockholder approval has not been obtained.
 
(s) Expenses; Gender; Titles and Headings.  The expenses of administering this Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.  Masculine pronouns and other words of masculine gender shall refer to both men and women.  The titles and headings of the sections in this Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of this Plan, rather than such titles or headings shall control.
 
(t) Other Agreements.  Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may require, as a condition to the grant of and/or the receipt of Common Shares under an Award, that the Participant execute lock-up, stockholder or other agreements, as it may determine in its sole and absolute discretion.
 
(u) Section 409A. The Plan and all Awards granted hereunder are intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  The Plan and all Awards granted under this Plan shall be administered, interpreted, and construed in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code.  Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, in no event shall the Committee exercise its discretion to accelerate the payment or settlement of an Award where such payment or settlement constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code unless, and solely to the extent that, such accelerated payment or settlement is permissible under Section 1.409A-3(j)(4) of the Treasury Regulations.  If a Participant is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 1.409A-1(i) of the Treasury Regulations) at any time during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of his termination of employment, and any Award hereunder subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code is to be satisfied on account of the Participant’s termination of employment, satisfaction of such Award shall be suspended until the date that is six (6) months after the date of such termination of employment.
 
(v) Payments.  Participants shall be required to pay, to the extent required by applicable law, any amounts required to receive Common Shares under any Award made under this Plan.
 
*     *      *
 
As adopted by the Board of Directors of Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. on September [22], 2014.

As approved by the shareholders of Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. on __________________, 2014.

 
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