Form 8-K - Current report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 28, 2023 (August 22, 2023)

Kaival Brands Innovations Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	000-56016	83-3492907
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

4460 Old Dixie Highway

Grant-Valkaria, Florida 32949

(Address of principal executive office, including zip code)

Telephone: (833) 452-4825

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share	KAVL	The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Appointment of Stephen Sheriff as Chief Operating Officer

Effective as of August 22, 2023, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Kaival Brands Innovations Group, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Stephen Sheriff as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer and Investor Relations Officer. As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Sheriff succeeds Eric Mosser, who had served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer prior to his recent promotion to Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Prior to his promotion, Mr. Sheriff served as the Company’s Director of Administration and Investor Relations.

Mr. Sheriff, 34, brings over a decade of finance and entrepreneurial leadership to his role as Chief Operating Officer at the Company. Since August 2022, he has served as the Company’s Director of Administration & Communications. In this role, he managed the Company’s investor, public relations and human resource programs in addition to overall responsibility for the development and implementation of key programs and initiatives, including customer and vendor relations. Since January 2022, he has also served as co-founder and Managing Partner of Riverhill Group, a management consulting firm focused on assisting early-stage companies the areas of funding, scaling and expanding operations. Since 2012, he has also been a Managing Partner at Riverhill Ventures, a socially conscious, strategic investment and consulting firm primarily focused on quick service restaurants, natural foods and consumer brands. Through his Riverhill-related experiences, Mr. Sheriff has been and investor in and advisor to several early-stage companies. From September 2018 to September 2020, he also was an Associate at Solebury Trout (now Solebury Strategic Communications), a leading life sciences-focused investor relations firm based in New York City. Mr. Sheriff received his Bachelor of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Delaware Valley University.

The Company believes Mr. Sheriff is qualified to be Chief Operating Officer based on his prior work history with the Company and his business experience in management consulting and public and private capital markets advisory work.

There is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Sheriff and any other person pursuant to which he was selected as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Sheriff has no family relationships with any of our directors or executive officers, and has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

In connection with Mr. Sheriff’s promotion, Mr. Sheriff entered into an employment agreement with the Company effective as of August 22, 2023 (the “Sheriff Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the Sheriff Employment Agreement, the Company shall pay to Mr. Sheriff a base salary of $225,000. The Company may, in its sole discretion, grant to Mr. Sheriff a bonus for the calendar year 2023. Beginning in the 2024 calendar year, the Company may, in its sole discretion, grant to Mr. Sheriff an annual incentive bonus based upon targets set by the Board and its Compensation Committee. Beginning in 2024 and thereafter, Mr. Sheriff’s bonus target shall be up to 30% of his base salary.

Pursuant to the Sheriff Employment Agreement, the Company has also granted to Mr. Sheriff, effective August 22, 2023, an option to purchase 158,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $0.44 per share (the “Sheriff Option”). The Sheriff Option shall vest over four years. One-quarter of the Sheriff Option shall vest on the first anniversary of the grant date and shall vest afterward monthly at the rate of 1/36 per month until fully vested. The Sheriff Option and its vesting shall be subject to, and governed by, the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2020 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) as amended from time to time, and the award agreement issued by the Incentive Plan.

The Sheriff Employment Agreement contains customary clawback language, which states that any incentive-based compensation granted to Mr. Sheriff, including any annual incentive bonus and the Sheriff Option, that is subject to recovery under any law, government rule or regulation, or stock exchange listing requirement (“Clawback Rules”), will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such Clawback Rules or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such Clawback Rules.

Mr. Sheriff’s employment is at will, meaning that either he or the Company may terminate the employment at any time for any reason or no reason. The Sheriff Employment Agreement also allows for termination by the Company for “Cause” or by Mr. Sheriff without “Good Reason,” as defined in the Sheriff Employment Agreement. If the Company terminates Mr. Sheriff’s employment for Cause, or if he terminates without Good Reason, Mr. Sheriff will be entitled to receive the following: (i) any unpaid base salary accrued up to the termination date, (ii) reimbursement for business expenses, and (iii) employee benefits and equity compensation under the Company’s benefit plans as of the termination date, without any additional severance or termination payments. If the Company terminates Mr. Sheriff without Cause, or if he terminates for Good Reason, Mr. Sheriff will be entitled to receive: (i) the previously mentioned accrued amounts, (ii) severance pay equal to two (2) months of his base salary, increasing to six (6) months after one (1) year of employment, and (iii) any rights to option or equity grants as defined in the Incentive Plan.

The Sheriff Employment Agreement also contains customary provisions for confidentiality and matters related to intellectual property and Company property.

The foregoing description of the Sheriff Employment Agreement contained herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto, which is attached to this Report as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

On August 25, 2023, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Sheriff as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer. The full text of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
10.1	Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Stephen Sheriff, dated August 22, 2023
99.1	Press release of the Company, dated August 25, 2023, announcing the appointment of the Company’s new Chief Operating Officer
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

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

	Kaival Brands Innovations Group, Inc.

Dated: August 28, 2023	By:	/s/ Eric Mosser
		Eric Mosser
		Chief Executive Officer and President

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Kaival Brands Innovations Group, Inc. (the “Company”) located at 4460 Old Dixie Highway, Grant-Valkaria, Florida 32949, and Mr. Stephen Sheriff (“Executive”) (each a “Party” and collectively the “Parties”) on this 22nd day of August 2023 (“Effective Date”).

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to employ Executive on the terms set forth in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Executive wishes to become employed on the terms set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

1. Employment Term/Prior Agreements.

a) Employment Term. Executive’s employment is at will, meaning that either party may terminate the employment at any time for any reason or no reason. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create a promise or representation of continued employment or employment for a fixed period of time. The period of time between the Effective Date and the termination of the Executive’s employment shall be referred as the “Term.”

b) Prior Agreements. Any and all prior agreements under which Executive performed work for, or provided services to, the Company, its parent company, or any affiliate, shall terminate, and be of no further force or effect as of the Effective Date. Nothing herein shall, however, be considered a waiver of any vested compensation Executive earned under any prior agreement.

2. Position and Duties.

a) Title. The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive to serve as Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The Executive shall also serve as the Company’s Investor Relations Officer.

b) Duties. Executive shall report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”). Executive shall perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office he holds. Subject to the oversight of the CEO, Executive shall have overall responsibility for the Company’s day-to-day operations and supervision of its mid-level executives and supervisors. During the Term, the Executive shall be employed by the Company on a full-time basis and shall perform such duties and responsibilities on behalf of the Company and all persons and entities directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the Company. Executive shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be assigned by the CEO from time to time that are consistent with his title and status.

c) Board Service. The Company may nominate Executive to serve as a member of the boards of directors of Company affiliates or subsidiaries. If requested, Executive agrees, for no additional compensation, to serve on such boards. Upon the end of the Term for any reason, Executive shall resign from any such boards and from any other offices he holds with the Company, or its parent company, affiliates or subsidiaries.

d) Full-Time Commitment/Policies. Throughout the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall devote substantially all of his professional time to the performance of his duties of employment with the Company (except as otherwise provided herein) and shall faithfully and industriously perform such duties. The Executive will be required to comply with all Company policies as may exist and be in effect from time to time.

e) Executive Representations. The Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he is under no obligation or commitments, whether contractual or otherwise, that are inconsistent with his obligations under this Agreement. The Executive represents and warrants that he will not use or disclose, in connection with his employment by the Company, any trade secrets or proprietary information or intellectual property in which any other person or entity has any right, title or interest and that his employment by the Company as contemplated by this Agreement will not infringe or violate the rights of any other person.

3. Compensation and Benefits.

a) Base Salary. In consideration for his work under the terms of this Agreement, the Executive shall earn a base salary in the gross amount of $225,000 (Two Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars) per year (“Base Salary”). Executive’s Base Salary shall be paid in equal semi-monthly installments, in accordance with the regular payroll practices of the Company.

b) Annual Bonus. For the calendar year 2023, the Company may, in its sole discretion, grant Executive an annual incentive bonus. Beginning in calendar year 2024, Executive shall be eligible for an annual incentive bonus based upon targets set by the Board and its Compensation Committee in their sole and absolute discretion in an executive bonus plan, by January 30, 2024 and January 30 of each succeeding year. Beginning in 2024, and thereafter, Executive’s bonus target shall be up to 30% (thirty percent) of Executive’s Base Salary.

c) Option Grants. On the Effective Date, the Company shall grant Executive an option (to be characterized as an incentive stock option) to purchase 158,000 (one hundred fifty-eight thousand) common shares of the Company at a strike price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant (the “Option”). The Option shall vest over four years. One-quarter of the Option shall vest on the first anniversary of the grant date and afterward shall vest monthly at the rate of 1/36 per month until fully vested. The Option and its vesting shall be subject to, and governed by, the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2020 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan as amended from time to time (the “Incentive Plan”), and the Company’s customary award agreement for the issuance of incentive stock options under the Incentive Plan.

d) Clawback Rules. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, any incentive-based compensation, including any annual incentive bonus and the Option, paid to the Executive under this Agreement, the Incentive Plan, or any other agreement or arrangement with the Company, which is subject to recovery under any law, government rule or regulation, or stock exchange listing requirement (“Clawback Rules”), will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such Clawback Rules or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such Clawback Rules. The Company shall decide, in its sole and absolute discretion, what policies it must adopt in order to comply with such Clawback Rules.

e) Benefits and Perquisites. Executive shall be eligible for any fringe benefits offered by the Company on the same terms and conditions as other executives. Such benefits may include group health benefits and a 401k retirement plan. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate any employee benefit plan in accordance with applicable law.

f) Paid Time Off. Executive will be entitled to 20 (twenty) paid vacation days per calendar year, pro-rated for partial years. Vacation days shall accrue at the rate of 1/24 per pay period. Executive shall be entitled to an additional vacation day each succeeding year up to a maximum accrual rate of 30 vacation days per year. The maximum vacation accrual shall be 1.75 times Executive’s annual vacation allotment, at which point Executive shall not accrue any additional vacation days until Executive’s accrual balance is reduced below that amount. Executive shall also be entitled to five paid sick days and those paid holidays recognized by the Company. All paid time off shall be governed by the Company’s policies which the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, change from time to time.

g) Taxes-Withholdings. All compensation paid or provided under this Agreement shall be subject to such deductions and withholdings for taxes and such other amounts as are required by law or elected by the Executive.

4. Business Expenses. The Company will reimburse or advance all reasonable business expenses that Executive incurs in connection with the performance of his duties under this Agreement, including travel expenses, in accordance with the Company’s policies as established from time to time.

5. Termination of Employment. The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by either the Company or the Executive at any time and for any reason. On termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits described in this Section 5 and shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits from the Company or any of its affiliates.

a) For Cause, or Without Good Reason. The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive without Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive without Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to receive:

i) any accrued but unpaid Base Salary which shall be paid on the pay date immediately following the Termination Date (as defined below) in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll procedures;

ii) reimbursement for unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by the Executive, which shall be subject to and paid in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policy; and

iii) such employee benefits (including equity compensation), if any, to which the Executive may be entitled under the Company’s employee benefit plans as of the Termination Date; provided that, in no event shall the Executive be entitled to any payments in the nature of severance or termination payments except as specifically provided herein.

Items 5.1(a)(i) through 5.1(a)(iii) are referred to herein collectively as the “Accrued Amounts”.

b) Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, but not for purposes of the Incentive Plan, “Cause” shall mean the Executive:

i) intentionally or negligently fails to perform his duties under this Agreement;

ii) refuses to comply with a lawful order of the CEO;

iii) materially breaches a material term of this Agreement;

iv) willfully and materially violates a written Company policy;

v) is indicted for, convicted of, or pleads guilty or no contest to, a felony or crime involving moral turpitude;

vi) engages in conduct that constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct in carrying out his duties;

vii) materially violates a federal or state law that the Company reasonably determines has had, or is reasonably likely to have, a material detrimental effect on the Company’s reputation or business; or

viii) commits an act of fraud or dishonesty in the performance of his job duties;

provided, however, that in the case of (i) - (iv), if curable, the Executive shall have fifteen (15) days from the delivery of written notice by the Company within which to cure any acts or omissions constituting Cause.

c) Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following, in each case during the Term without the Executive’s written consent:

i) a reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary, other than a general reduction in Base Salary of no more than ten percent (10%) that affects all similarly situated executives in substantially the same proportions;

ii) a relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment by more than 50 (fifty) miles;

iii) any material breach by the Company of any material provision of this Agreement, including failure to provide any material payment or benefit required to be provided to Executive under this Agreement; or

iv) a material, adverse change in the Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities (other than temporarily while the Executive is physically or mentally incapacitated or as required by applicable law, and other than a change in the Executive’s status as the Company’s Investor Relations Officer);

Executive cannot terminate employment for Good Reason unless Executive has provided written notice to the Company of the existence of the circumstances providing grounds for termination for Good Reason within thirty (30) days after the initial existence of such grounds and the Company has had thirty (30) days from the date on which such notice is provided to cure such circumstances. If Executive does not terminate his employment for Good Reason within sixty-five (65) days after Executive learns of the first occurrence of the applicable grounds, then Executive will be deemed to have waived the right to terminate for Good Reason with respect to such grounds.

d) Termination Without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason. If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to receive:

i) The Accrued Amounts;

ii) Severance pay in an amount equal to two months of Executive’s then-applicable Base Salary (the “Severance Pay”). On the first anniversary of the Effective Date, Executive’s Severance Pay amount will increase to six months of Executive’s then-applicable Base Salary. The Severance Pay will be paid to Executive in a lump sum within fourteen (14) days after the Release (defined below) becomes effective; and

iii) Whatever rights with respect to any option or equity grants that are afforded to Executive under the Incentive Plan, including the Incentive Plan’s definition of “Cause” for termination of employment.

e) Release. The Company’s obligation to pay Severance Pay, is expressly conditioned upon Executive’s execution of and delivery to the Company (and non-revocation) of a release (as drafted by the Company at the time of Executive’s termination of employment) which will include an unconditional release of all rights to any claims, charges, complaints, grievances, arising from or relating to Executive’s employment or its termination plus any other potential claims, known or unknown to Executive, against the Company, its affiliates or assigns, or any of their officers, directors, employees and agents, through to the date of Executive’s termination from employment (the “Release”). The Release shall not be mutual but may contain mutual confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions and requirements that certain features of this Agreement remain in effect. The Release shall not require Executive to waive or release any rights to vested or earned compensation of any kind or to waive any rights as a shareholder, option holder, unitholder, or as a participant in the Company’s Incentive Plan.

f) Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder by the Company or by Executive during the Term (other than termination on account of Executive’s death) shall be communicated by written notice of termination (“Notice of Termination”) to the other party hereto. The Notice of Termination shall specify:

i) The termination provision of this Agreement relied upon;

ii) To the extent applicable, the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated; and

iii) The applicable Termination Date.

g) Termination Date. The Executive’s “Termination Date” shall be:

i) If Executive’s employment hereunder terminates on account of Executive’s death, the date of the Executive’s death;

ii) If the Company terminates Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason, the date the Notice of Termination is delivered to the Executive;

iii) If Executive terminates his employment hereunder with or without Good Reason, the date specified in the Executive’s Notice of Termination.

6. Confidentiality.

a) Confidential Information. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive will occupy a position of trust and confidence. The Company, from time to time, may disclose to the Executive, and the Executive will require access to and may generate confidential and proprietary information (no matter how created or stored) concerning the business practices, products, services, and operations of the Company which is not known to its competitors or within its industry generally and which is of great competitive value to it, including, but not limited to: (i) Trade Secrets (as defined herein), inventions, mask works, ideas, concepts, drawings, materials, documentation, procedures, diagrams, specifications, models, processes, formulae, source and object codes, data, software, programs, other works of authorship, know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs and techniques; (ii) information regarding research, development, products, marketing plans, market research and forecasts, bids, proposals, quotes, business plans, budgets, financial information and projections, overhead costs, profit margins, pricing policies and practices, accounts, processes, planned collaborations or alliances, licenses, suppliers and customers; (iii) operational information including deployment plans, means and methods of performing services, operational needs information, and operational policies and practices; and (iv) any information obtained by the Company from any third party that the Company treats or agrees to treat as confidential or proprietary information of the third party (collectively, “Confidential Information”). The Executive acknowledges and agrees that Confidential Information includes Confidential Information disclosed to the Executive prior to entering into this Agreement.

b) Trade Secrets. “Trade Secrets” means any information, including any data, plan, drawing, specification, pattern, procedure, method, computer data, system, program or design, device, list, tool, or compilation, that relates to the present or planned business of the Company and which: (i) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not readily ascertainable by proper means to, other persons who can obtain economic value from their disclosure or use; and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain their secrecy. To the extent that the foregoing definition is inconsistent with a definition of “trade secret” under applicable law, the latter definition shall control.

c) Restrictions On Use and Disclosure of Confidential Information. The Executive agrees during his employment and after his employment ends, the Executive will hold the Confidential Information in strict confidence and will neither use the information nor disclose it to anyone, except to the extent necessary to carry out the Executive’s responsibilities as an employee of the Company or as specifically authorized in writing by a duly authorized officer of the Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit the Executive from disclosing any concerns about suspected unlawful conduct to any proper government authority subject to proper jurisdiction. This provision shall survive the termination of the Executive’s employment for so long as the Company maintains the secrecy of the Confidential Information and the Confidential Information has competitive value; and to the extent such information is otherwise protected by statute for a longer period, for example and not by way of limitation, the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (“DTSA”), then until such information ceases to have statutory protection.

d) Defend Trade Secrets Act. Misappropriation of a Trade Secret of the Company in breach of this Agreement may subject the Executive to liability under the DTSA, entitle the Company to injunctive relief, and require the Executive to pay compensatory damages, double damages, and attorneys’ fees to the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Executive hereby is notified in accordance with the DTSA that Executive will not be held criminally or civilly liable under a federal or state law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. If the Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, the Executive may disclose the trade secret to the Executive’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, provided that the Executive must file any document containing the trade secret under seal, and must not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

7. Inventions and Proprietary Information.

a) Definitions.

i) Intellectual Property Rights. “Intellectual Property Rights” means all rights in and to United States and foreign (A) patents, patent disclosures, and inventions (whether patentable or not), (B) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, logos, corporate names, and domain names, and other similar designations of source or origin, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing, (C) copyrights and works of authorship (whether copyrightable or not), including computer programs, mask works, and rights in data and databases, (D) trade secrets, know-how, and other confidential information, (E) all other intellectual property rights, in each case whether registered or unregistered, and including all rights of priority in and all rights to apply to register for such rights, all registrations and applications for, and renewals or extensions of, such rights, and all similar or equivalent rights or forms of protection in any part of the world, (F) any and all royalties, fees, income, payments, and other proceeds with respect to any and all of the foregoing, and (G) any and all claims and causes of action with respect to any of the foregoing, including all rights to recover for infringement, misappropriation, or dilution of the foregoing, and all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world.

ii) Work Product. “Work Product” means, without limitation, any and all ideas, concepts, information, materials, processes, methods, data, programs, know-how, technology, improvements, discoveries, developments, works of authorship, designs, artwork, formulae, other copyrightable works, and techniques and all Intellectual Property Rights that presently exist or may come to exist in the future in any of the items listed above.

b) Work Product.

i) All right, title, and interest in and to all Work Product as well as any and all Intellectual Property Rights therein and all improvements thereto shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company.

ii) The Company shall have the unrestricted right (but not any obligation), in its sole and absolute discretion, to (A) use, commercialize, or otherwise exploit any Work Product or (B) file an application for patent, copyright registration, or registration of any other Intellectual Property Rights, and prosecute or abandon such application prior to issuance or registration. No royalty or other consideration shall be due or owing to the Executive now or in the future as a result of such activities.

iii) The Work Product is and shall at all times remain the Confidential Information of the Company.

c) Work Made for Hire; Assignment; Limitations.

i) The Executive acknowledges that, by reason of being employed by the Company at the relevant times, to the extent permitted by law, all Work Product consisting of copyrightable subject matter is “work made for hire” as defined in the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 101), and such copyrights are therefore owned by the Company. To the extent that the foregoing does not apply, the Executive hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company, and its successors and assigns, for no additional consideration, the Executive’s entire right, title, and interest, in and to all Work Product and Intellectual Property Rights therein, including without limitation the right to sue, counterclaim, and recover for all past, present, and future infringement, misappropriation, or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit the Company’s right, title, or interest in any Work Product or Intellectual Property Rights so as to be less in any respect than the Company would have had in the absence of this Agreement.

ii) To the extent that the Executive has not separately assigned any Prior Inventions, the Executive hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company, and its successors and assigns, for no additional consideration, the Executive’s entire right, title, and interest in and to all Prior Inventions, including without limitation the right to sue, counterclaim, and recover for all past, present, and future infringement, misappropriation, or dilution thereof, and all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to reduce or limit the Company’s right, title, or interest in any Prior Inventions so as to be less in any respect than the Company would have had in the absence of this Agreement.

8. Return of Property/Post-Employment Representations. On the date of the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company for any reason (or at any time prior thereto at the Company’s request), the Executive shall return all property belonging to the Company and not retain any copies, including, but not limited to, any keys, access cards, badges, laptops, computers, cell phones, wireless electronic mail devices, USB drives, other equipment, documents, reports, files, and other property provided by or belonging to the Company. Executive shall provide all usernames and passwords to all electronic devices, documents, and accounts, including any social media accounts Executive used in connection with his duties. Upon request made within thirty days after the Executive’s employment terminates, Executive shall make any cellular phone or personal computer he has used for business purposes available upon request to allow for Company-related documents and data to be retrieved and saved at Company’s expense. The Company shall not be responsible for any personal data, information or photographs that may be lost or rendered inaccessible by the Company or its vendors. On and after the Termination Date, Executive shall no longer represent to anyone that he remains employed by the Company and shall take affirmative action to amend any statements to the contrary on any social media sites, including but not limited to Linked-in and Facebook.

9. Restrictive Covenants.

a) Acknowledgement. The Executive understands that the nature of the Executive’s position gives the Executive access to and knowledge of Confidential Information and places the Executive in a position of trust and confidence with the Company. The Executive further understands and acknowledges that the Company’s ability to reserve these for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Company is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Company.

b) Non-Competition. Because of the Company’s legitimate business interest as described herein and the good and valuable consideration offered to the Executive, during the Term and for six (6) months thereafter, to run consecutively, beginning on the last day of the Executive’s employment with the Company, regardless of the reason for the termination and whether employment is terminated at the option of the Executive or the Company, the Executive agrees and covenants not to engage in Prohibited Activity within the United States of America.

c) Prohibited Activity. “Prohibited Activity” is activity in which the Executive contributes the Executive’s knowledge, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, as an employee, employer, owner, operator, manager, advisor, consultant, agent, employee, partner, director, stockholder, officer, volunteer, intern, or any other similar capacity to an entity engaged in the same or similar business as the Company, including those engaged in the business of developing, manufacturing, marketing, distributing, or selling, vaping products. Prohibited Activity also includes activity that may require or inevitably requires disclosure of the Company’s trade secrets, proprietary information, or Confidential Information.

d) Ownership of Competing Business. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from purchasing or owning less than five percent (5%) of the publicly traded securities of any corporation, provided that such ownership represents a passive investment, and that the Executive is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group that controls, such corporation.

10. Non-Solicitation of Employees. The Executive agrees and covenants not to directly or indirectly solicit, hire, recruit, attempt to hire or recruit, or induce the termination of employment of any employee of the Company, or attempt to do so, during the Term and for twelve (12) months thereafter, to run consecutively, beginning on the last day of the Executive’s employment with the Company.

11. Non-Solicitation of Customers. The Executive understands and acknowledges that because of the Executive’s experience with, and relationship to, the Company the Executive will have access to and learn about the Company’s customer information. “Customer Information” includes, but is not limited to, names, phone numbers, addresses, email addresses, order history, order preferences, chain of command, decisionmakers, pricing information, and other information identifying facts and circumstances specific to the customer and to the relevant services. The Executive understands and acknowledges that loss of this customer relationship and/or goodwill will cause significant and irreparable harm. The Executive agrees and covenants, during the Term and for (12) months thereafter, to run consecutively, beginning on the last day of the Executive’s employment with the Company, not to directly or indirectly solicit, contact (including but not limited to email, regular mail, express mail, telephone, fax, instant message, or social media), attempt to contact, or meet with the Company’s current, former. or prospective customers for purposes of offering or accepting goods or services similar to or competitive with those offered by the Company.

12. Use of Name and Likeness. Executive grants the Company permission to use his name, voice, image or likeness, for the purposes of advertising and promoting the Company, or for other purposes deemed appropriate by the Company in its reasonable discretion, except to the extent expressly prohibited by law for the duration of the Term and for a period of one year after the Term ends.

13. Survival of Provisions. The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall survive any termination of this Agreement hereunder for any reason to the extent necessary to the intended provision of such rights and the intended performance of such obligations.

14. Notices. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered by email with return receipt requested, upon the obtaining of a valid return receipt from the recipient, by hand, or mailed by nationally recognized overnight delivery service, addressed to the Parties’ addresses specified below or to such other address as any Party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt:

To the Company:	To the Executive:

Kaival Brands Innovations Group, Inc.	Mr. Stephen Sheriff
Attn: Mr. Eric Mosser	107 Lakeview Drive
Chief Executive Officer	New Hope, PA 18938
4460 Old Dixie Highway	Email: ssheriff89@gmail.com
Grant-Valkaria, Florida 32949
Email: eric@kaivalbrands.com

With a copy that will not constitute notice to:

Lawrence A. Rosenbloom, Esq.
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10105
Email: lrosenbloom@egsllp.com

15. Tax Matters. The Company may withhold from any and all amounts payable under this Agreement or otherwise such federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

16. Assignment. The Executive may not assign any part of the Executive’s rights or obligations under this Agreement. The Executive agrees and hereby consents that the Company may assign this Agreement to a third party that acquires or succeeds to the Company’s business, that the provisions hereof are enforceable against the Executive by such assignee or successor in interest, and that this Agreement shall become an obligation of, inure to the benefit of, and be assigned to, any legal successor or successors to the Company.

17. Governing Law/Venue/Jury Trial Waiver. This Agreement, the rights and obligations of the Parties hereto, and any claims or disputes relating thereto, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida (without regard to its conflicts of laws provisions). The exclusive venue for any and all disputes arising from or concerning this Agreement, Executive’s employment with the Company, or the termination thereof, shall be the courts of the State of Florida located in the County of Brevard and/or the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. To ensure expeditious resolution of all such disputes the parties hereby WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY in all such disputes.

18. Headings. Titles or captions of sections or paragraphs contained in this Agreement are intended solely for the convenience of reference, and shall not serve to define, limit, extend, modify, or describe the scope of this Agreement or the meaning of any provision hereof. The language used in this Agreement is deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any person.

19. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable. The unenforceability or invalidity of any provision or portion of this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality, or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement, it being intended that all rights and obligations of the Parties hereunder shall be enforceable to the full extent permitted by applicable law.

20. Waiver; Modification. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived, or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company. No waiver by either Party hereto at any time of any breach by the other Party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other Party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

21. Recitals; Entire Agreement. The Recitals are hereby incorporated into this Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein and supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings between the Executive and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof. No agreements, inducements, or representations, oral or otherwise, express, or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either Party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

22. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and each executed counterpart shall have the efficacy of a signed original and may be transmitted by facsimile or email. Each copy, facsimile copy, or emailed copy of any such signed counterpart may be used in lieu of the original for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Executive Employment Agreement effective as of the date first written above.

KAIVAL BRANDS INNOVATIONS GROUP, INC.

By:	/s/ Eric Mosser
	Eric Mosser
	Chief Executive Officer and President

EXECUTIVE

/s/ Stephen Sheriff
Mr. Stephen Sheriff

Exhibit 99.1

Kaival Brands Promotes Stephen Sheriff to Chief Operating Officer

Current Director of Administration & Communications brings over a decade of operational and institutional communications & investor relations experience

GRANT-VALKARIA, Fla., August 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaival Brands Innovations Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: KAVL) (“Kaival Brands,” the “Company,” or “we”), the exclusive U.S. distributor of all vaping products manufactured by Bidi Vapor, LLC (“Bidi Vapor”), which are intended for adults 21 and over, today announced the promotion of Stephen Sheriff to the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective as of August 22, 2023.

Mr. Sheriff succeeds Eric Mosser, who was recently promoted to Chief Executive Officer of the Company and joins Mr. Mosser and recently appointed Chief Financial Officer Thomas Metzler as a part of Kaival Brands’ expanded senior management team.

Eric Mosser, Chief Executive Officer and President of Kaival Brands, stated, “Promoting Stephen to the role of Chief Operating Officer was a natural and logical next step given his contributions to the success of Kaival Brands to date and his experience helping businesses navigate through rapid periods of growth and change. He has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and will be instrumental in helping us take our business to the next level. With a deep understanding of our operations, the capital markets and what it takes to develop and execute a strategy with proven results, he is a great addition to our C-suite leadership team.”

Mr. Sheriff brings over a decade of finance and entrepreneurial leadership to the role of Chief Operating Officer. Most recently, he served as the Director of Administration & Communications at Kaival Brands. In this role, he managed the Company’s investor and public relations and human resource programs in addition to overall responsibility for the development and implementation of key programs and initiatives, including customer and vendor relations. Mr. Sheriff’s expanded mandate will be to design and implement corporate policies and procedures that seek to optimize the day-to-day functioning of Kaival’s operational units as well as the Company’s compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. He will continue to lead the Company’s investor relations and communications efforts as part of his expanded role.

Prior to Kaival Brands, Mr. Sheriff co-founded Riverhill Group, LLC, a capital markets advisory and consulting firm that leverages the power of relationships and collective thinking to bring qualitative capital and operations solutions to founders and companies in the most effective and efficient manner. Riverhill assists clients in developing key strategies, business development plans, branding strategies and operations management systems.

Prior to Riverhill Group, in 2012, Mr. Sheriff founded Riverhill Ventures, LLC, where he developed a broad portfolio, including quick and full-service restaurants, natural foods and consumer brands, health and wellness, and health tech investments. In addition to Riverhill Group and Riverhill Ventures, Mr. Sheriff previously an Associate at Solebury Trout (now Solebury Strategic Communications) where he gained valuable experience in capital markets, investor relations and public company finance and compliance matters.

He received his Bachelor of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Delaware Valley University.

ABOUT KAIVAL BRANDS

Based in Grant-Valkaria, Florida, Kaival Brands is a company focused on incubating innovative and profitable adult-focused products into mature and dominant brands, with a current focus on the distribution of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) also known as “e-cigarettes”. Our business plan is to seek to diversify into distributing other nicotine and non-nicotine delivery system products (including those related to hemp-derived cannabidiol (known as CBD) products). Kaival Brands and Philip Morris Products S.A. (via sublicense from Kaival Brands) are the exclusive global distributors of all products manufactured by Bidi Vapor.

Learn more about Kaival Brands at https://ir.kaivalbrands.com/overview/default.aspx.

ABOUT KAIVAL LABS

Based in Grant-Valkaria, Florida, Kaival Labs is a 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of Kaival Brands focused on developing new branded and white-label products and services in the vaporizer and inhalation technology sectors. Kaival Labs’ current patent portfolio consists of 12 existing and 46 pending with novel technologies across extrusion dose control, product preservation, tracking and tracing usage, multiple modalities and child safety. The patents and patent applications cover territories including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, the European Patent Organisation, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and South Korea. The portfolio also includes a fully-functional proprietary mobile device software application that is used in conjunction with certain patents in the portfolio.

Learn more about Kaival Labs at https://kaivallabs.com.

ABOUT BIDI VAPOR

Based in Melbourne, Florida, Bidi Vapor maintains a commitment to responsible, adult-focused marketing, supporting age-verification standards and sustainability through its BIDI^® Cares recycling program. Bidi Vapor’s premier device, the BIDI^® Stick, is a premium product made with high-quality components, a UL-certified battery and technology designed to deliver a consistent vaping experience for adult smokers 21 and over. Bidi Vapor is also adamant about strict compliance with all federal, state and local guidelines and regulations. At Bidi Vapor, innovation is key to its mission, with the BIDI^® Stick promoting environmental sustainability, while providing a unique vaping experience to adult smokers.

Nirajkumar Patel, the Company’s Chief Science and Regulatory Officer and director, owns and controls Bidi Vapor. As a result, Bidi Vapor is considered a related party of the Company.

For more information, visit www.bidivapor.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and the statements of the Company’s management and partners included herein and related to the subject matter herein includes statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), which are statements other than historical facts. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “position,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” and similar words. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Although we believe that the plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that these plans, intentions, or expectations will be achieved. Therefore, actual outcomes and results (including, without limitation, the anticipated benefits of the Company’s new Chief Operating Officer as described herein) could materially and adversely differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in such statements. Our business (and our new Chief Operating Officer’s ability to achieve the Company’s goals) may be influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect results, and are often beyond our control. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) future actions by the FDA in response to the 11th Circuit Court’s August 2022 decision that could impact our business and prospects, (ii) the outcome of FDA’s scientific review of Bidi Vapor’s pending FDA Premarket Tobacco Product Applications, (iii) the results of international marketing and sales efforts by Philip Morris International, the Company’s international distribution partner, (iv) how quickly domestic and international markets adopt our products, (v) the scope of future FDA enforcement of regulations in the ENDS industry, (vi) the FDA’s approach to the regulation of synthetic nicotine and its impact on our business, (vii) potential federal and state flavor bans and other restrictions on ENDS products, (viii) the duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic and impact on the demand for the products we distribute, (ix) general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth, (x) the effects of steps that we may take to raise new capital and reduce operating costs, (xi) our inability to generate and sustain profitable sales growth, including sales growth in U.S. and international markets, (xii) circumstances or developments that may make us unable to implement or realize anticipated benefits, or that may increase the costs, of our current and planned business initiatives (including, without limitation, the development of vaporization intellectual property we acquired in late April 2023), (xiii) significant changes in our relationships with our distributors or sub-distributors and (xiv) other factors detailed by us in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the disclosures under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 27, 2023, as well as all of our subsequent SEC filings, all of which are accessible at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements. Except as required under the federal securities laws and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and regulations, we do not have any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements publicly, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Kaival Brands Investor Relations:

Brett Maas, Managing Partner

Hayden IR

(646) 536-7331

brett@haydenir.com

Kaival Brands Media & Press Relations:

Stephen Sheriff, COO and Investor Relations Officer

Kaival Brands

(646) 572-7086

investors@kaivalbrands.com

Cover	Aug. 28, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Aug. 28, 2023
Entity File Number	000-56016
Entity Registrant Name	Kaival Brands Innovations Group, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001762239
Entity Tax Identification Number	83-3492907
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	4460 Old Dixie Highway
Entity Address, City or Town	Grant-Valkaria
Entity Address, State or Province	FL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	32949
City Area Code	(833)
Local Phone Number	452-4825
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol	KAVL
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Elected Not To Use the Extended Transition Period	false