UNITED
STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(RULE
14a-101)
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant To Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934
Filed
by the Registrant ☒
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check
the appropriate box:
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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Confidential,
for use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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Soliciting
Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12
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BAT
GROUP, INC.
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No
fee required.
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount
on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)
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Total
fee paid:
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials:
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Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the
offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule
and the date of its filing.
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(1)
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Amount
Previously Paid:
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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BAT
GROUP, INC.
Room 104, No. 33, Section D, No. 6 Middle Xierqi Road,
Haidian
District, Beijing
People’s
Republic of China
NOTICE
OF 2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To
Be Held at 9:30 a.m. on [ ], 2019 Eastern Standard Time
To
the Stockholders of Bat Group, Inc.:
This
proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board” )
of Bat Group, Inc. (the “Company” ) for use at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders of
the Company (the “Meeting” ) and at all adjournments and postponements thereof. The Meeting
will be held at No. 6 Middle Xierqi Road, Haidian District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, on [ ], 2019, at 9:30 a.m.
EST, to consider and vote upon the following proposals:
1.
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To
elect Jiaxi Gao, Jialin Cui, Kecen Liu, Yang An, and Siyuan Zhu (the “Director Nominees” )
to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) until the next annual shareholders
meeting and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;
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2.
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To
ratify the selection of Friedman LLP (“Friedman”) as the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for fiscal year ending December 31, 2019;
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3.
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To
authorize and approve the Company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, (the “Plan” or
the “2019 Equity Incentive Plan”);
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4.
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To
approve the issuance of more than 20% of issued and outstanding common stock, at a future date, in connection with one or
more potential non-public transactions;
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5.
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To
approve and adopt amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter Amendment”) to
affect a reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common stock by a ratio of not less than one-for-two and not more
than one-for-twenty and then a forward stock split of our then issued and outstanding common stock by a ratio of not less than
one-for-two and not more than one-for-twenty immediately following the reverse split (the “Reverse Split”)
at any time prior to December 30, 2019, with the exact ratios to be set at a whole number within this range, as determined
by our Board in its sole discretion; and
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6.
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To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
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THE
BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ALL OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE AND “FOR” EACH OF THE OTHER
PROPOSALS.
Holders
of record of the Company’s Common Stock at the close of business on [ ], 2019 (the “Record Date”)
will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, this Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. Each share of Common
Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote.
Your
vote is important, regardless of the number of shares you own. Even if you plan to attend this Meeting in person, it is strongly
recommended that you complete the enclosed proxy card before the meeting date, to ensure that your shares will be represented
at this Meeting if you are unable to attend.
A
complete list of stockholders of record entitled to vote at this Meeting will be available for ten days before this Meeting at
the principal executive office of the Company for inspection by stockholders during ordinary business hours for any purpose germane
to this Meeting.
This
notice and the enclosed proxy statement are first being mailed to stockholders on or about [ ], 2019.
You
are urged to review carefully the information contained in the enclosed proxy statement prior to deciding how to vote your shares.
By
Order of the Board,
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/s/
Yang An
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Yang
An
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Director
and Chief Financial Officer
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October
[ ], 2019
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IF
YOU RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD WITHOUT AN INDICATION OF HOW YOU WISH TO VOTE, YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED “FOR” ALL OF THE
NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE AND “FOR” EACH OF THE OTHER PROPOSALS.
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for
the Annual Stockholder Meeting to Be Held at 9:30 a.m. on [ ], 2019 Eastern Standard Time
The
Notice of Annual Meeting, proxy statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2018 are available at www.proxyvote.com.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
BAT
GROUP, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
2019
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
to
be held on [ ], 2019, at 9:30 a.m., Eastern Standard Time
Room 104, No. 33 Section D,
No.
6 Middle Xierqi Road,
Haidian
District, Beijing Province People’s Republic of China
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS
Why
am I receiving this proxy statement?
This
proxy statement describes the proposals on which our Board would like you, as a stockholder, to vote at the Meeting, which will
take place on [ ], 2019, at 9:30 a.m., EST, at Room 104, No. 33 Section D, No. 6 Middle Xierqi Road, Haidian District,
Beijing, People’s Republic of China.
Stockholders
are being asked to consider and vote upon proposals to (i) elect the Director Nominees to the Board to serve one-year terms, (ii)
ratify the selection of Friedman as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019, (iii) approve the Company’s
2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, (vi) approve the issuance of more than 20% of issued and outstanding shares of common
stock, at a future date, in connection with one or more potential non-public transactions, (v) To approve and adopt amendment
to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter Amendment”) to affect a reverse stock split of our
issued and outstanding common stock by a ratio of not less than one-for-two and not more than one-for-twenty and then a forward stock
split of our then issued and outstanding common stock by a ratio of not less than one-for-two and not more than one-for-twenty immediately
following the reverse split (the “Reverse Split”) at any time prior to December 30, 2019, with the exact ratios to
be set at a whole number within this range, as determined by our Board in its sole discretion; and (vi) transact such other business
as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
This
proxy statement also gives you information on the proposals so that you can make an informed decision. You should read it carefully. Your
vote is important. You are encouraged to submit your proxy card as soon as possible after carefully reviewing this
proxy statement.
In
this proxy statement, we refer to Bat Group, Inc. as the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our.”
Who
can vote at this Meeting?
Stockholders
who owned shares of our Common Stock on [ ], 2019 (the “Record Date”) may attend
and vote at this Meeting. There were [ ] shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date. All shares
of Common Stock shall have one vote per share. Information about the stockholdings of our directors, executive officers and
significant stockholders is contained in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management” beginning on page 14 of this proxy statement.
What
is the proxy card?
The
card enables you to appoint Jiaxi Gao and Yang An as your representatives at this Meeting. By completing and returning the proxy
card, you are authorizing these persons to vote your shares at this Meeting in accordance with your instructions on the proxy
card. This way, your shares will be voted whether or not you attend this Meeting. Even if you plan to attend this Meeting, it
is strongly recommended to complete and return your proxy card before this Meeting date just in case your plans change. If a proposal
comes up for vote at this Meeting that is not on the proxy card, the proxies will vote your shares, under your proxy, according
to their best judgment.
How
does the Board recommend that I vote?
Our
Board unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” each of the Director Nominees listed in proposal No. 1 and
“FOR” each of proposals No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6.
What
is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?
Certain
of our stockholders hold their shares in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee holder, rather than holding share
certificates in their own name. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares held of record and those owned
beneficially.
Stockholder
of Record/Registered Stockholders
If,
on the Record Date, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, VStock Transfer, LLC, you are a
“stockholder of record” who may vote at the Meeting, and we are sending these proxy materials directly to you. As
the stockholder of record, you have the right to direct the voting of your shares by returning the enclosed proxy card to us or
to vote in person at the Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, please complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy
card to ensure that your vote is counted.
Beneficial
Owner
If,
on the Record Date, your shares were held in an account at a brokerage firm or at a bank or other nominee holder, you are considered
the beneficial owner of shares held “in street name,” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your
broker or nominee who is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Meeting. As the beneficial owner,
you have the right to direct your broker on how to vote your shares and to attend the Meeting. However, since you are not the
stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the Meeting unless you receive a valid proxy from your brokerage
firm, bank or other nominee holder. To obtain a valid proxy, you must make a special request of your brokerage firm, bank or other
nominee holder. If you do not make this request, you can still vote by using the voting instruction card enclosed with this proxy
statement; however, you will not be able to vote in person at the Meeting.
How
do I vote?
If
you were a stockholder of record of the Company’s Common Stock on the Record Date, you may vote in person at the Meeting
or by submitting a proxy. Each share of Common Stock that you own in your name entitles you to one vote, in each case, on the
applicable proposals.
(1) You
may submit your proxy by mail. You may submit your proxy by mail by completing, signing and dating your proxy card and
returning it in the enclosed, postage-paid and addressed envelope. If we receive your proxy card prior to this Meeting and if
you mark your voting instructions on the proxy card, your shares will be voted:
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as
you instruct, and
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according
to the best judgment of the proxies if a proposal comes up for a vote at this Meeting that is not on the proxy card.
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We
encourage you to examine your proxy card closely to make sure you are voting all of your shares in the Company.
If
you return a signed card, but do not provide voting instructions, your shares will be voted:
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FOR
each nominee for director;
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FOR
the selection of Friedman as our independent registered public accounting firm for year ending December 31, 2019;
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FOR
the approval of the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended;
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FOR
the approval of the issuance of more than 20% of issued and outstanding common stock;
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FOR
the approval and the adoption of the Charter Amendment to effect the Reverse Split; and
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According
to the best judgment of Mr. Gao and Ms. An if a proposal comes up for a vote at the Meeting that is not on the proxy
card.
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(2) You
may vote in person at the Meeting. We will pass out written ballots to any stockholder of record who wants to vote
at the Meeting.
If
I plan on attending the Meeting, should I return my proxy card?
Yes.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, after carefully reading and considering the information contained in this proxy
statement, please complete and sign your proxy card. Then return the proxy card in the pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope provided
herewith as soon as possible so your shares may be represented at the Meeting.
May
I change my mind after I return my proxy?
Yes.
You may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the polls close at this Meeting. You may do this by:
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sending
a written notice to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s executive offices stating that you would like to revoke
your proxy of a particular date;
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signing
another proxy card with a later date and returning it to the Secretary before the polls close at this Meeting; or
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attending
this Meeting and voting in person.
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What
does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?
You
may have multiple accounts at the transfer agent and/or with brokerage firms. Please sign and return all proxy cards to ensure
that all of your shares are voted.
What
happens if I do not indicate how to vote my proxy?
Signed
and dated proxies received by the Company without an indication of how the stockholder desires to vote on a proposal will be voted
in favor of each director and proposal presented to the stockholders.
Will
my shares be voted if I do not sign and return my proxy card?
If
you do not sign and return your proxy card, your shares will not be voted unless you vote in person at this Meeting.
What
vote is required to elect the Director Nominees as directors of the Company?
The
election of each nominee for director requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock represented in
person or by proxy and entitled to vote in the election of directors at the Meeting.
How
many votes are required to ratify Friedman as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for year ending
December 31, 2019?
The
proposal to ratify the appointment of Friedman to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019 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.
How
many votes are required to ratify and approve the Company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan as Amneded?
The
proposal to ratify and approve the Company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as Amendedrequires the affirmative vote of a majority
of the votes cast at the Meeting by the holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to vote.
How
many votes are required to approve the issuance of more than 20% of issued and outstanding shares of commons stocks?
The
proposal to approve the issuance of more than 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stocks 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.
How
many votes are required to approve and adopt the Charter Amendment to effect the Reverse Split?
The
proposal to approve and adopt the Charter Amendment to effect the Reverse Split 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.
Is
my vote kept confidential?
Proxies,
ballots and voting tabulations identifying stockholders are kept confidential and will not be disclosed, except as may be necessary
to meet legal requirements.
Where
do I find the voting results of this Meeting?
We
will announce voting results at this Meeting and also file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) reporting the voting results.
Who
can help answer my questions?
You
can contact Yang An at 86-010-5944 1080 or by sending a letter to the offices of the Company at 415-2351 Zhen Building, Yong An
Street, Taishitun Town, Miyun District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China with any questions about proposals described
in this proxy statement or how to execute your vote.
THE
ANNUAL MEETING
General
We
are furnishing this proxy statement to you, as a stockholder of Bat Group, Inc., as part of the solicitation of proxies by our
Board for use at the Meeting to be held on [ ], 2019, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy statement is first
being furnished to stockholders on or about [ ], 2019. This proxy statement provides you with information you need to know to
be able to vote or instruct your proxy how to vote at the Meeting.
Date,
Time and Place of the Meeting
The
Meeting will be held on [ ], 2019, at 9:30 a.m., EST, at 415-2351 Zhen Building, Yong An Street, Taishitun Town, Miyun District,
Beijing, People’s Republic of China, or such other date, time and place to which the Meeting may be adjourned or postponed.
Purpose
of the Meeting
At
the Meeting, the Company will ask stockholders to consider and vote upon the following proposals:
1.
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To
elect the Director Nominees to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors until the next annual shareholders meeting
and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;
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2.
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To
ratify the selection of Friedman as our independent registered public accounting firm for year ending December 31, 2019;
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3.
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To
ratify and approve the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended;
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4.
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To
approve the issuance of more than 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stocks; and
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5.
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To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
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Record
Date and Voting Power
Our
Board fixed the close of business on [ ], 2019, as the record date for the determination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
entitled to notice of, and to vote on, the matters presented at this Meeting. As of the Record Date, there were [ ] shares of
Common Stock outstanding. Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote. Accordingly, a total of [ ] votes
may be cast at this Meeting.
Quorum
and Required Vote
A
quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present at the meeting if a majority of the Common
Stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Meeting is represented in person or by proxy. Abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e. shares
held by brokers on behalf of their customers, which may not be voted on certain matters because the brokers have not received
specific voting instructions from their customers with respect to such matters) will be counted solely for the purpose of determining
whether a quorum is present at the Meeting.
Proposal
No. 1 (election of each of the Director Nominees) requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock represented
in person or by proxy and entitled to vote in the election of directors at the Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will
have no effect on the election of directors;
Proposal
No. 2 (ratification and approval of the appointment of Friedman to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm
for year ending December 31, 2019) requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares present in person or represented
by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no direct effect on the outcome
of this proposal;
Proposal
No. 3 (approval of the Company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended) requires the affirmative vote of the majority of
the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Abstentions and broker non-votes
will have no direct effect on the outcome of this proposal; and
Proposal
No. 4 (approval of the issuance of more than 20% of issued and outstanding shares of common stocks) requires the affirmative vote
of the majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Abstentions
and broker non-votes will have no direct effect on the outcome of this proposal.
Proposal
No.5 (approval and adoption of the Charter Amendment to effect Reverse Split) requires the affirmative vote of the majority of
the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Abstentions and broker non-votes
will have no direct effect on the outcome of this proposal
Revocability
of Proxies
Any
proxy may be revoked by the shareholder of record giving it at any time before it is voted. A proxy may be revoked by (A) sending
to our Secretary, at Bat Group, Inc., 415-2351 Zhen Building, Yong An Street, Taishitun Town, Miyun District, Beijing People’s
Republic of China, either (i) a written notice of revocation bearing a date later than the date of such proxy or (ii) a subsequent
proxy relating to the same shares, or (B) by attending this Meeting and voting in person.
If
the shares are held by the broker or bank as a nominee or agent, the beneficial owners should follow the instructions provided
by their broker or bank.
Proxy
Solicitation Costs
The
cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy, and the cost of soliciting
proxies relating to this Meeting, will be borne by the Company. If any additional solicitation of the holders of our outstanding
shares of Common Stock is deemed necessary, we (through our directors and officers) anticipate making such solicitation directly.
The solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone, telegram and personal solicitation by officers, directors
and other employees of the Company, but no additional compensation will be paid to such individuals.
No
Right of Appraisal
None
of Delaware law, our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws provides for appraisal or other similar rights for dissenting
stockholders in connection with any of the proposals to be voted upon at this Meeting. Accordingly, our stockholders will have
no right to dissent and obtain payment for their shares.
Who
Can Answer Your Questions about Voting Your Shares
You
can contact Yang An at 86-010-5944 1080 or by sending a letter to the offices of the Company at 415-2351 Zhen Building, Yong An
Street, Taishitun Town, Miyun District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, with any questions about proposals described
in this proxy statement or how to execute your vote.
Principal
Offices
The
principal executive offices of our Company are located at 415-2351 Zhen Building, Yong An Street, Taishitun Town, Miyun District,
Beijing, People’s Republic of China. The Company’s telephone number at such address is 86-010-59441080.
PROPOSAL
NO. 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The
nominees listed below have been nominated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and approved by our Board to stand
for election as directors of the Company. Unless such authority is withheld, proxies will be voted for the election of the persons
named below, each of whom has been designated as a nominee. If, for any reason, any nominee/director becomes unavailable for election,
the proxies will be voted for such substitute nominee(s) as the Board may propose.
Board
Qualifications and Director Nominees
We
believe that the collective skills, experiences and qualifications of our directors provide our Board with the expertise and experience
necessary to advance the interests of our stockholders. While the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our Board does
not have any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met by each of our directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee uses a variety of criteria to evaluate the qualifications and skills necessary for each member of the Board. In addition
to the individual attributes of each of our current directors described below, we believe that our directors should have the highest
professional and personal ethics and values, consistent with our longstanding values and standards. They should have broad experience
at the policy-making level in business, exhibit commitment to enhancing stockholder value and have sufficient time to carry out
their duties and to provide insight and practical wisdom based on their past experience.
The
Director Nominees recommended by the Board are as follows:
Name
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Age
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Current Position
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Jiaxi Gao
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31
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Director and Chief Executive Officer
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Yang An
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30
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Director and Chief Financial Officer
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Siyuan Zhu
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35
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Director
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Kecen Liu
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26
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Director
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Jialin Cui
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37
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Director
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Renmei Ouyang
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51
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Chairwoman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer
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Weicheng
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43
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Director
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Information
Regarding the Company’s Directors and the Nominees
Mr.
Jiaxi Gao, age 31, was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer on November 15, 2018. Mr. Gao has served as the founder and
CEO of Beijing Lexiang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd, a financial service company for auto from March 2016 to May 2018. Prior
to that, Mr. Gao has served as the product architect in Baidu from January 2015 to February 2016. From August 2012 to August 2014,
Mr. Gao has been the founder and CEO of Beijing Kuwangke Technology Co., Ltd., which operated the video media APP called LEBO.
From March 2011 to June 2012, he served as the city manager in Meituan.com, a Hong Kong listed company. Mr. Gao received a bachelor’s
degree in composition in Shenyang Conservatory of Music in 2009.
Ms.
Yang An, age 30, was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer and the director of the Board of the Company on June 14, 2019.
Prior to joining the Company, she had worked as the finance controller of Beijing Yihe Network, a high-tech company since February
2018. From May 2015 to January 2018, Ms. An served as the finance manager of Hortonworks, a high-tech company in the United States.
From June 2011 to April 2015, Ms. An served as the senior auditor of Mazars CPA Limited. Mrs. An held a Bachelor degree in Vocal
Music from Xinghai Conservatory of Music.
Ms.
Siyuan Zhu, CICPA, age 35, was appointed as a member of the Board of the Company on May 6, 2019. Prior to joining the Company,
Ms. Zhu has served as the senior finance manager of IAC (Shanghai) Management Co., Ltd, a US manufacturing company since January
2016. Prior to that, Ms. Zhu served as the finance manager at IAC (Shanghai) Automotive Component Technology Co., Ltd. from May
2013 to December 2015. From July 2006 to March 2013, Ms. Zhu served as the program manager of KPMG Shanghai Branch. Ms. Zhu received
a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Language and Literature from Shanghai International Studies University in 2006.
Ms.
Kecen Liu, age 26, has served as a director of the Company since February 2019. Ms. Liu has served as a Program Coordinator
at United Nations ICTY from June, 2016 to February 2017. Ms. Liu has served as Marketing Manager at Jiuding Capital from June,
2015 to October, 2015. She has also served as Brand Manager at Jumei.com from November, 2013 to October, 2014. Form October 2012
to June 2014, she served as a Campus Ambassador at Hong Kong XINHUA Education International Group. Ms. Liu obtained a Master’s
degree in International Business from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in 2017.
Mr.
Jialin Cui, age 37, is being nominated as a director of the Board. Mr. Cui has been the Northwest sales director of Beijing
Oak Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd. since December 2015. From May 2013 to November 2015, Mr. Cui served as a sale
manager of Lagopus Group. From June 2010 to April 2013, Mr. Cui served as the sales head of Iconic Scientific Limited. Mr. Cui
obtained a bachelor degree of Shenyang Conservatory of Music.
Ms. Renmei Ouyang,
age 51, has been the chairwoman of Tongdaw Group since 2011 to September 2019. She was the founder of Tongdaw E-Commerce in 2011.
Ms. Ouyang was the founder of Zhonghui Daoming Group in 2006. She has served as the foreign exchange trading manager of CITIC Group,
the deputy general manager in investment banking department of Beijing Securities, and the managing director of international department
of First Venture Securities. She holds the Bachelor’s Degree of Statistics from Renmin University of China and the Master’s
Degree of International Finance from Peking University.
Mr. Weicheng Pan,
age 43, is the founder of Cheng Ji Group of Companies and Jewish Mindset Business School in China, and Zhanji Business Channel
Sdn Bhd in Malaysia. He holds an Associate’s Degree from Wuhan Science and Technology University.
Vote
Required
Proposal No.
1 will be approved if a plurality of the total votes properly cast in person or by proxy at the Meeting by the holders of Common
Stock vote “FOR” the proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the result of the vote.
Recommendation
of the Board
The
Board unanimously recommends that you vote all of your shares “FOR” the election to the Board of all of the nominees
described in this Proposal No. 1.
Corporate
Governance
Director
Independence
Our
Board reviewed the materiality of any relationship that each of our directors has with us, either directly or indirectly. Based
on this review, it is determined that Kecen Liu, Siyuan Zhu, Renmei Ouyang, and Weicheng Pan and Jialin Cui are “independent
directors” as defined by NASDAQ.
Committees
of the Board of Directors
We
have established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and governance committee. Each of the committees
of the Board has the composition and responsibilities described below.
Audit
Committee
Upon
election, Mr. Cui, Ms. Zhu and Ms. Liu will be members of our Audit Committee, where Ms. Zhu shall serve as the chairman.
All members of our Audit Committee satisfy the independence standards promulgated by the SEC and by NASDAQ as such standards apply
specifically to members of audit committees.
We
have adopted and approved a charter for the Audit Committee. In accordance with our Audit Committee Charter, our Audit Committee
shall perform several functions, including:
|
●
|
evaluates
the independence and performance of, and assesses the qualifications of, our independent auditor, and engages such independent
auditor;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
approves
the plan and fees for the annual audit, quarterly reviews, tax and other audit-related services, and approves in advance any
non-audit service to be provided by the independent auditor;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
monitors
the independence of the independent auditor and the rotation of partners of the independent auditor on our engagement team
as required by law;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviews
the financial statements to be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and reviews with
management and the independent auditors the results of the annual audit and reviews of our quarterly financial statements;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
oversees
all aspects of our systems of internal accounting control and corporate governance functions on behalf of the Board;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviews
and approves in advance any proposed related-party transactions and reports to the full Board on any approved transactions;
and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
provides
oversight assistance in connection with legal, ethical and risk management compliance programs established by management and
the Board, including Sarbanes-Oxley Act implementation, and makes recommendations to the Board regarding corporate governance
issues and policy decisions.
|
It
is determined that Ms. Zhu possesses accounting or related financial management experience that qualifies him as an “audit
committee financial expert” as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Compensation
Committee
Upon
election, Mr. Cui, Ms. Zhu and Ms. Liu will be members of our Compensation Committee and Ms. Kecen Liu shall serve as the
chairman. All members of our Compensation Committee are qualified as independent under the current definition promulgated by NASDAQ.
We have adopted a charter for the Compensation Committee. In accordance with the Compensation Committee’s Charter, the Compensation
Committee is responsible for overseeing and making recommendations to the Board regarding the salaries and other compensation
of our executive officers and general employees and providing assistance and recommendations with respect to our compensation
policies and practices.
Nominating
and Governance Committee
Upon
election, Mr. Cui, Ms. Zhu and Ms. Liu will be the members of our Nominating and Governance Committee where Mr. Cui shall serve
as the chairman. All members of our Nominating and Governance Committee are qualified as independent under the current definition
promulgated by NASDAQ. Our Board adopted and approved a charter for the Nominating and Governance Committee. In
accordance with the Nominating and Governance Committee’s Charter, the Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible
to identify and propose new potential director nominees to the board of directors for consideration and review our corporate governance
policies.
Risk
Committee
Upon
election, Mr. Cui, Mr. Zhu and Ms. Liu will be members of our Risk Committee where Ms. Zhu shall serve as the chairwoman. All
members of our Risk Committee are qualified as independent under the current definition promulgated by NASDAQ. On September 11,
2019, the Board adopted a resolution formally designating its Audit Committee to act concomitantly as a Risk Committee. The Risk
Committee’s duties shall specifically include: Monitoring the Company and employee compliance with all risk assessment and
reporting procedures; Identifying material risks relating to the Company’s internal controls, as well as relevant considerations
relating to the Company’s disclosures of these risks; and Monitoring annual training sessions for the Board covering the
topics including corporate governance, risk assessment; and public company reporting.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None
of our executive officers currently serves, and in the past year has not served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation
committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board.
Code
of Conduct and Ethics
We
have adopted a code of conduct and ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees in accordance with applicable federal
securities laws and NASDAQ rules.
Family
Relationships
There
are no family relationships between or among the Director Nominees or other executive officers of the Company.
Legal
Proceedings Involving Officers and Directors
To
the knowledge of the Company after reasonable inquiry, no Director Nominee during the past ten years, or any promoter who was
a promoter at any time during the past five fiscal years, has (1) been subject to a petition under the Federal bankruptcy laws
or any state insolvency law was filed by or against, or a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer was appointed by a court for
the business or property of such person, or any partnership in which he was a general partner at or within two years before the
time of such filing, or any corporation or business association of which he was an executive officer at or within two years before
the time of such filing; (2) been convicted in a criminal proceeding or is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding
traffic violations and other minor offenses); (3) been the subject of any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed,
suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining him from, or otherwise limiting,
the following activities: (i) acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity
pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission,
or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or
as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company,
or engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with such activity; (ii) engaging in any type of business practice;
or (iii) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any
violation of Federal or State securities laws or Federal commodities laws; (4) been the subject of any order, judgment or decree,
not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any Federal or State authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for
more than 60 days the right of such person to engage in any activity described in paragraph (3)(i) of this section, or to be associated
with persons engaged in any such activity; (5) been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC
to have violated any Federal or State securities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the SEC has not been
subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated; (6) been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated any Federal commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding
by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated; (7) been the subject of,
or a party to, any Federal or State judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed,
suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of: (i) any Federal or State securities or commodities law or regulation;
or (ii) any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary
or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist
order, or removal or prohibition order; or (iii) any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with
any business entity; or (8) been the subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or
vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(“ Exchange Act ”) (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26)), any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29)
of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1(a)(29)), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary
authority over its members or persons associated with a member.
There
are no material pending legal proceedings to which any of the individuals listed above is party adverse to the Company or any
of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Stockholder
Communications with the Board
We
have not implemented a formal policy or procedure by which our stockholders can communicate directly with our Board. Nevertheless,
every effort will be made to ensure that the views of stockholders are heard by the Board, and that appropriate responses are
provided to stockholders in a timely manner. During the upcoming year, our Board will continue to monitor whether it would be
appropriate to adopt such a process.
Director
Compensation
The
following table represents compensation earned by our non-executive directors in 2018.
Name
|
|
Fees earned in cash
($)
|
|
|
Stock
awards
($)
|
|
|
Option
awards
($)
|
|
|
All other
compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Boling Liu (1)
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
32,300
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
32,300
|
|
Jialin Cui (2)
|
|
$
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
Teck Chuan Yeo (3)
|
|
$
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
32,300
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
52,300
|
|
Kecen Liu (4)
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
(1)
|
Ms.
Boling Liu was appointed as a director of the Company on December 22, 2016 and received annual compensation at $20,000. During
fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, Ms. Liu agreed to waive such compensation she was entitled to pursuant to the director
offer letter. Ms. Liu resigned on August 31, 2018.
|
(2)
|
Mr.
Cui was appointed as a director of the Company on August 31, 2018 and shall receive annual compensation at $20,000 per year.
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Yeo was appointed as a director of the Company on May 15, 2016 and received annual compensation at $20,000 since January 1,
2017. Mr. Yeo resigned on May 6, 2019.
|
(4)
|
Ms.
Kecen Liu was appointed as a director of the Company on February 12, 2018 and shall receive annual compensation at $10,000
per year.
|
Executive
Officers
Our
current executive officers are as follows:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
Jiaxi Gao
|
|
31
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
Yang An
|
|
30
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
Jin Ding
|
|
32
|
|
Chief Product Officer
|
Renmei Ouyang
|
|
51
|
|
Chief Operating Officer
|
Mr.
Jiaxi Gao was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer on November 15, 2018. Mr. Gao has served as the founder and CEO of
Beijing Lexiang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd, a financial service company for auto from March 2016 to May 2018. Prior to that,
Mr. Gao has served as the product architect in Baidu from January 2015 to February 2016. From August 2012 to August 2014, Mr.
Gao has been the founder and CEO of Beijing Kuwangke Technology Co., Ltd., which operated the video media APP called LEBO. From
March 2011 to June 2012, he served as the city manager in Meituan.com, a Hongkong listed company. Mr. Gao received a bachelor’s
degree in composition in Shenyang Conservatory of Music in 2009.
Ms.
Yang An was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (“CFO”) on June 14, 2019. Prior
to joining the Company, she had worked as the finance controller of Beijing Yihe Network, a high-tech company since February 2018.
From May 2015 to January 2018, Ms. An served as the finance manager of Hortonworks, a high-tech company in the United States.
From June 2011 to April 2015, Ms. An served as the senior auditor of Mazars CPA Limited. Mrs. An held a Bachelor degree in Vocal
Music from Xinghai Conservatory of Music.
Mr.
Jin Ding was appointed as the Chief Product Officer (“CPO”) of the Company on April 28, 2018. Mr.
Jin Ding served as a product specialist of Alibaba Group, where he was in charge of UC Browser business unit from November 2015
to March 2018. Mr. Jin Ding had abundant experience in content output and platform building in the field of information service.
Ms.
Renmei Ouyang was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) on October 17, 2019. Ms. Ouyang
has been the chairwoman of Tongdaw Group since 2011 to September 2019. She was the founder of Tongdaw E-Commerce in 2011. Ms. Ouyang
was the founder of Zhonghui Daoming Group in 2006. She has served as the foreign exchange trading manager of CITIC Group, the deputy
general manager in investment banking department of Beijing Securities, and the managing director of international department of
First Venture Securities. She holds the Bachelor’s Degree of Statistics from Renmin University of China and the Master’s
Degree of International Finance from Peking University.
Summary
Compensation Table
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Fiscal
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yang An (1)
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
(CFO)
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long
Yi (2)
|
|
2018
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
(Former CFO)
|
|
2017
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
257,161
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
307,161
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jiaxi Gao (3)
|
|
2018
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
(CEO)
|
|
2017
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chenguang Kang (4)
|
|
2018
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
(Former CEO)
|
|
2017
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zhe Ding (5)
|
|
2018
|
|
$
|
30,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
30,000
|
|
(Former COO)
|
|
2017
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jin Ding (6)
|
|
2018
|
|
|
60.000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
(CPO)
|
|
2017
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mengjie Zhao
|
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Former CPO)
|
|
2017
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
|
96,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
146.900
|
|
(1)
|
Ms.
Yang An was appointed as the CFO of the Company on June 14, 2019. Ms. Yang was entitled to an annual base salary of $50,000
pursuant to the employment agreement she had with the Company.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Mr.
Long Yi was appointed as the CFO of the Company on January 1, 2013. Mr. Yi was entitled to an annual base salary of $50,000
pursuant to the employment agreement he had with the Company. Mr. Yi resigned on June 14, 2019.
|
|
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Jiaxi Gao was appointed as the CEO of the Company on November 15, 2018. Mr. Gao was entitled to an annual base salary of $0
pursuant to the employment agreement he had with the Company.
|
|
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Chenguang Kang was appointed as the CEO of the Company on March 19, 2018. Mr. Kang was entitled to an annual base salary of
$50,000 pursuant to the employment agreement he had with the Company. Mr. Kang resigned on November 15, 2018.
|
|
|
(5)
|
Mr.
Zhe Ding was appointed as the COO on April 28, 2018. Mr. Zhe Ding was entitled to an annual base salary of $30,000 pursuant
to the employment agreement he had with the Company. Mr. Ding resigned on June 14, 2019.
|
|
|
(6)
|
Mr.
Jin Ding was appointed as the CPO on April 28, 2018. Mr. Jin Ding was entitled to an annual base salary of $60,000 pursuant
to the employment agreement he had with the Company.
|
Grants
of Plan Based Awards in the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2018
We
currently have a 2019 equity incentive plan pursuant to which 1,290,000 shares were authorized. During the fiscal year ended December
31, 2018, no shares of common stock had been granted to our officers and directors under the plan.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
None.
Employment
Contracts, Termination of Employment, Change-in-Control Arrangements
On
June 21, 2016, Mr. Jinggen Ling notified the Company of his resignation from the Board and as the CEO and President of the Company,
effective immediately.
As
of June 21, 2016, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Mingjie Zhao pursuant to which he shall be employed
as the CEO of the Company and receive an annual base salary of $50,000. Under his employment agreement, Mr. Zhao is employed as
our CEO for a term of five years, which automatically renews for additional one year terms unless previously terminated on three
months written notice by either party. We may terminate the employment for cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration,
for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony or grossly negligent or dishonest
acts to our detriment, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. In such case, the executive officer will not be entitled
to receive payment of any severance benefits or other amounts by reason of the termination, and the executive officer’s
right to all other benefits will terminate, except as required by any applicable law. We may also terminate an executive officer’s
employment without cause upon one-month advance written notice. In such case of termination by us, we are required to provide
compensation to the executive officer, including severance pay equal to 12 months of base salary. The executive officer may terminate
the employment at any time with a one-month advance written notice if there is any significant change in the executive officer’s
duties and responsibilities or a material reduction in the executive officer’s annual salary. In such case, the executive
officer will be entitled to receive compensation equivalent to 12 months of the executive officer’s base salary.
As
of February 20, 2018, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Alex Lau pursuant to which he shall be employed as
the CTO of the Company and receive an annual base salary of 50,000 shares of common stock per year. Under his employment agreement,
Mr. Lau is employed as our CTO for a term of three years, which automatically renews for additional one year terms unless previously
terminated on three months written notice by either party. We may terminate the employment for cause, at any time, without notice
or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony or grossly negligent
or dishonest acts to our detriment, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. In such case, the executive officer will
not be entitled to receive payment of any severance benefits or other amounts by reason of the termination, and the executive
officer’s right to all other benefits will terminate, except as required by any applicable law. We may also terminate an
executive officer’s employment without cause upon one-month advance written notice. In such case of termination by us, we
are required to provide compensation to the executive officer, including severance pay equal to 12 months of base salary. The
executive officer may terminate the employment at any time with a one-month advance written notice if there is any significant
change in the executive officer’s duties and responsibilities or a material reduction in the executive officer’s annual
salary. In such case, the executive officer will be entitled to receive compensation equivalent to 12 months of the executive
officer’s base salary.
On
March 19, 2018, Mr. Mingjie Zhao notified the Company of his resignation from the Board and as the Chief Executive Officer and
President of the Company, effective immediately.
As
of March 19, 2018, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Chenguang Kang pursuant to which he shall be employed
as the CEO and President of the Company and receive an annual base salary of $50,000 per year. Under his employment agreement,
Mr. Kang is employed as our CEO and President for a term of two years, which automatically renews for additional one year terms
unless previously terminated on three months written notice by either party. We may terminate the employment for cause, at any
time, without notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony
or grossly negligent or dishonest acts to our detriment, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. In such case, the
executive officer will not be entitled to receive payment of any severance benefits or other amounts by reason of the termination,
and the executive officer’s right to all other benefits will terminate, except as required by any applicable law. We may
also terminate an executive officer’s employment without cause upon one-month advance written notice. In such case of termination
by us, we are required to provide compensation to the executive officer, including severance pay equal to 12 months of base salary.
The executive officer may terminate the employment at any time with a one-month advance written notice if there is any significant
change in the executive officer’s duties and responsibilities or a material reduction in the executive officer’s annual
salary. In such case, the executive officer will be entitled to receive compensation equivalent to 12 months of the executive
officer’s base salary.
On
April 30, 2018, Mr. Alex Lau notified the Company of his resignation as the CTO, effective immediately.
As
of April 30, 2018, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Jin Ding pursuant to which he will be employed as the
CTO of the Company and receive an annual base salary of $20,000 per year. Under his employment agreement, Mr. Jin Ding is employed
as our CTO for a term of two years, which automatically renews for additional one year terms unless previously terminated on three
months written notice by either party. We may terminate the employment for cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration,
for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony or grossly negligent or dishonest
acts to our detriment, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. In such case, the executive officer will not be entitled
to receive payment of any severance benefits or other amounts by reason of the termination, and the executive officer’s
right to all other benefits will terminate, except as required by any applicable law. We may also terminate an executive officer’s
employment without cause upon one-month advance written notice. In such case of termination by us, we are required to provide
compensation to the executive officer, including severance pay equal to 12 months of base salary. The executive officer may terminate
the employment at any time with a one-month advance written notice if there is any significant change in the executive officer’s
duties and responsibilities or a material reduction in the executive officer’s annual salary. In such case, the executive
officer will be entitled to receive compensation equivalent to 12 months of the executive officer’s base salary.
As
of April 30, 2018, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Zhe Ding pursuant to which he will be employed as the
COO of the Company and receive an annual base salary of $20,000 per year. Under his employment agreement, Mr. Zhe Ding is employed
as our COO for a term of two years, which automatically renews for additional one year terms unless previously terminated on three
months written notice by either party. We may terminate the employment for cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration,
for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony or grossly negligent or dishonest
acts to our detriment, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. In such case, the executive officer will not be entitled
to receive payment of any severance benefits or other amounts by reason of the termination, and the executive officer’s
right to all other benefits will terminate, except as required by any applicable law. We may also terminate an executive officer’s
employment without cause upon one-month advance written notice. In such case of termination by us, we are required to provide
compensation to the executive officer, including severance pay equal to 12 months of base salary. The executive officer may terminate
the employment at any time with a one-month advance written notice if there is any significant change in the executive officer’s
duties and responsibilities or a material reduction in the executive officer’s annual salary. In such case, the executive
officer will be entitled to receive compensation equivalent to 12 months of the executive officer’s base salary.
On
November 15, 2018, Mr. Chengguang Kang notified the Company of his resignation from the Board and as the Chief Executive Officer
and President of the Company, effective immediately.
As
of November 15, 2018, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Jiaxi Gao pursuant to which he shall be employed
as the CEO of the Company and receive an initial base salary of 800,000 restricted shares of common stock for the fiscal year
2019. Under his employment agreement, Mr. Gao is employed as our CEO for a term of two years, which automatically renews for additional
one year terms unless previously terminated on three months written notice by either party. We may terminate the employment for
cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty
to a felony or grossly negligent or dishonest acts to our detriment, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. In such
case, the executive officer will not be entitled to receive payment of any severance benefits or other amounts by reason of the
termination, and the executive officer’s right to all other benefits will terminate, except as required by any applicable
law. We may also terminate an executive officer’s employment without cause upon one-month advance written notice. In such
case of termination by us, we are required to provide compensation to the executive officer, including severance pay equal to
12 months of base salary. The executive officer may terminate the employment at any time with a one-month advance written notice
if there is any significant change in the executive officer’s duties and responsibilities or a material reduction in the
executive officer’s annual salary. In such case, the executive officer will be entitled to receive compensation equivalent
to 12 months of the executive officer’s base salary.
On
June 14, 2019, Mr. Long Yi notified the Company of his resignation from the Board and as the CFO of the Company, effective immediately.
On the same date, Mr. Zhe Ding notified the Company of his resignation as the COO of the Company, effective immediately.
As
of June 14, 2019, the Company entered into an employment with our CFO, Ms. Yang An, pursuant to which she shall receive an annual
base salary of $50,000. Under her employment agreement, Ms. Yang is employed as our CFO for a term of two years, which automatically
renews for additional one year terms unless previously terminated on three months written notice by either party. We may terminate
the employment for cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction
or plea of guilty to a felony or grossly negligent or dishonest acts to our detriment, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed
duties. In such case, the executive officer will not be entitled to receive payment of any severance benefits or other amounts
by reason of the termination, and the executive officer’s right to all other benefits will terminate, except as required
by any applicable law. We may also terminate an executive officer’s employment without cause upon one-month advance written
notice. In such case of termination by us, we are required to provide compensation to the executive officer, including severance
pay equal to 3 months of base salary. The executive officer may terminate the employment at any time with a one-month advance
written notice if there is any significant change in the executive officer’s duties and responsibilities or a material reduction
in the execution officer’s annual salary. In such case, the executive officer will be entitled to receive compensation equivalent
to 12 months of the executive officer’s base salary.
Effective October 17, 2019, the Board appointed Ms. Renmei Ouyang as the Chief Operating Officer (the
“COO”) of the Company. Ms.Ouyang entered into an executive employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”)
with the Company, which sets her annual compensation at $60,000 and establishes other terms and conditions governing her service
to the Company. Under her employment agreement, Ms. Yang
is employed as our CFO for a term of two years, which automatically renews for additional one year terms unless previously terminated
on three months written notice by either party. We may terminate the employment for cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration,
for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony or grossly negligent or dishonest acts
to our detriment, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. In such case, the executive officer will not be entitled
to receive payment of any severance benefits or other amounts by reason of the termination, and the executive officer’s right
to all other benefits will terminate, except as required by any applicable law. We may also terminate an executive officer’s
employment without cause upon one-month advance written notice. In such case of termination by us, we are required to provide compensation
to the executive officer, including severance pay equal to 3 months of base salary. The executive officer may terminate the employment
at any time with a one-month advance written notice if there is any significant change in the executive officer’s duties
and responsibilities or a material reduction in the execution officer’s annual salary. In such case, the executive officer
will be entitled to receive compensation equivalent to 12 months of the executive officer’s base salary.
Each
executive officer has agreed to hold, both during and after the termination of his employment agreement, in strict confidence
and not to use, except as required in the performance of his or her duties in connection with the employment, any of our confidential
information or proprietary information of any third party received by us and for which we have confidential obligations.
In
addition, each executive officer has agreed to be bound by non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions during the term of
his employment and for one year following termination of the employment.
Section
16 Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act, requires our directors, officers and persons who own more than 10% of our Common Stock to file
with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and other of our equity securities.
To our knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to us, as of the date of this proxy, all Section
16(a) filings applicable to officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders were made.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The
following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the Record Date by our officers,
directors and 5% or greater beneficial owners of common stock. There is no other person or group of affiliated persons, known
by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock.
We
have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership
of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities. The person
is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any security of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within
60 days. Unless otherwise indicated, the person identified in this table has sole voting and investment power with respect to
all shares shown as beneficially owned by him, subject to applicable community property laws.
Name and address of Beneficial Owner (1)
|
|
Number of Shares of
Common Stock
Beneficially
Owned
|
|
|
Percent of
Class
Beneficially
Owned
|
|
5% stockholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shuxiang Zhang (2)
|
|
|
509,865
|
|
|
|
5.90
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors and Executive Officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jiaxi Gao
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Yang An
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Siyuan Zhu
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Jialin Cui
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Jin Ding
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Kecen Liu
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Renmei Ouyang (3)
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Weicheng Pan (4)
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All officers and directors as a group (5 persons)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
(1)
|
Unless
otherwise indicated the address of the beneficial owners are c/o Room 104, No. 33 Section D, No. 6 Middle Xierqi Road,
Haidian District, Beijing, China .
|
(2)
|
Mr. Shuxiang Zhang’s address is Floor 7 Building D, No.28 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
|
|
|
(3)
|
Ms. Renmei Ouyang’s address is Zhongzhou Building, Room 3302, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
|
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Weicheng Pan’s address is No. 157, Linhe Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
|
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
Contractual
Arrangements between WFOE and Pride Online
On
February 19, 2014, entered into certain contractual arrangements with Mr. Huichun Qin, Pride Online, a domestic entity established
on February 19, 2014 and 100% owned by Mr. Qin and. Pursuant to these contractual arrangements, WFOE shall have the power, rights
and obligations equivalent in all material respects to those it would possess if it were the sole equity holder of Pride Online,
including absolute control rights and the rights to the assets, property and revenue of Pride Online and the receipt of approximately
100% of the net income of Pride Online as a service fee to WFOE. Mr. Qin did not receive any consideration in exchange for his
agreement to give up his control over Pride Online. The contractual arrangements between WFOE, Pride Online and its sole stockholder,
Mr. Huichun Qin, had substantially the same terms as those between WFOE and Wujiang Luxiang. Effective May 11, 2015, these contractual
arrangements were terminated.
During
the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company made a loan of US$1,945,224 to Suzhou Rongshengda Investment Holding Co., Ltd.,
a company controlled by shareholders of Wujiang Luxiang. Due to the short-term borrowing, the Company did not charge any interest
or fees. By December 31, 2017, the balance was collected.
During
the year ended December 31, 2017, Wujiang Xiaocun Shengda Founding Investment Co., Ltd. paid operating expenses of $384,786 on
behalf of the Company.
On
December 4, 2017, the Company entered into two private placement agreement with Jie Yang and Long Yi to issue a total of 200,000
common shares, respectively, at a per share price of US$3.5, in the total amount of US$700,000, respectively. The total amount
was advanced as of December 31, 2017.
As
of December 31, 2017, the Company provided financial guarantee service for Chunjia Textile to guarantee loans of US$209,207. The
Company accrued allowance of US$209,207 and charged off all allowances on the outstanding balance as of December 31, 2017.
Huichun
Qin transferred $1,098,197 (equivalent of RMB 7 million) to his personal account without proper authorization on July 2, 2014.
As of December 31, 2017, Huichun Qin has not repaid the balance. The amount was recorded as a deduction of the Company’s
equity as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
The
balance due to Wujiang Xiaocun Shengda Founding Investment Co., Ltd. represented operating expenses paid by the related party
on behalf of the Company. The balance was payable on demand and free of interest.
The
balances due to Jie Yang and Leo Yi mainly represented the amount advanced from the management for purchase of shares and warrants
in the private placements closed in 2018.
Share
Purchase Agreement with Related Parties
On
December 1, 2017, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”)
with Long Yi, the former Chief Financial Officer of the Company and Yang Jie, a significant shareholder at that time and the then
VP of Finance of the Company (the “Purchaser”) whereby the Company agreed to sell 200,000 shares of
common stock (the “Shares”) at a purchase price of $3.50 per Share, for gross proceeds to the Company
of approximately $700,000. In connection with the purchase of the Shares, the Purchaser will receive a warrant (the “Warrants”)
to purchase up to the number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to 80,000 shares of common stock purchased by
the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. The Warrants have an exercise price of $4.20 per share, become exercisable on
the date of issuance and expire five years from the date of issuance. The offering closed on December 4, 2017.
Review,
Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
Our
Audit Committee consisting of independent directors, is charged with reviewing and approving all agreements and transactions with
related parties.
PROPOSAL NO. 2 — RATIFICTION
OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTRED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The
Audit Committee has selected Friedman LLP to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.
We
are asking our stockholders to ratify the selection of Friedman as our independent registered public accounting firm. In the event
our stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee may reconsider this appointment.
We
have been advised by Friedman that neither the firm nor any of its associates had any relationship during the last fiscal year
with our company other than the usual relationship that exists between independent registered public accountant firms and their
clients. Representatives of Friedman are not expected to attend the Meeting in person and therefore are not expected
to be available to respond to any questions. As a result, representatives of Friedman will not make a statement at the
Meeting.
Principal Accountant
Fees and Services
Audit
Fees. The aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed by Friedman LLP for professional services rendered for the audit
of our annual financial statements, review of the financial information included in our Forms 10-Q for the respective periods
and other required filings with the SEC for the year ending December 31, 2019 totaled $160,000. The above amounts include interim
procedures and audit fees, as well as attendance at audit committee meetings.
The
above amounts include interim procedures and audit fees, as well as attendance at audit committee meetings.
All Other Fees.
None
Policies and Procedures Relating to Approval of Services
by our Independent Registered Public Accountants
The
Audit Committee is solely responsible for the approval in advance of all audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided
by our independent registered public accounting firms (including the fees and other terms thereof), subject to the de minimus exceptions
for non-audit services provided by Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act, which services are subsequently approved by the Audit
Committee prior to the completion of the audit. None of the fees listed above are for services rendered pursuant to such de
minimus exceptions.
The
Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has established its pre-approval policies and procedures, pursuant to which the Audit
Committee approved the foregoing audit, tax and non-audit services provided by Friedman in 2019. Consistent with the Audit
Committee’s responsibility for engaging our independent auditors, all audit and permitted non-audit services require pre-approval
by the Audit Committee. The full Audit Committee approves proposed services and fee estimates for these services. One
or more independent directors serving on the Audit Committee may be delegated by the full Audit Committee to pre-approve any audit
and non-audit services. Any such delegation shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. Pursuant
to these procedures, the Audit Committee approved the foregoing audit services provided by Friedman.
Vote Required
Proposal No. 2
(the ratification of the appointment by the Audit Committee of Friedman to serve as our independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019) will be approved if a majority of the total votes properly cast in person or
by proxy at the Meeting by the holders of common stock vote “FOR” the proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will
have no effect on the result of the vote.
Unless marked to the
contrary, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy card will be voted “FOR” ratification of the appointment of
Friedman as the independent registered public accountants of the Company.
Recommendation of the Board
The Board unanimously
recommends that you vote all of your shares “FOR” the ratification of Friedman as independent registered public accountants
as described in this Proposal No. 2.
Audit Committee Report
The primary purpose
of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibility to oversee our financial reporting activities. The
Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing with both our independent registered public accounting firm and management, our accounting
and reporting principles, policies and practices, as well as our accounting, financial and operating controls and staff. The Audit
Committee has reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements with management, and has discussed with our independent registered
public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (Codification
of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB” )
in Rule 3200T. Additionally, the Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from our independent registered
public accounting firm, as required by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB, and has discussed with the independent registered
public accounting firm the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence. Based upon such review and discussion,
the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the last fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 for filing with the SEC.
Siyuan Zhu
Jialin Cui
Kecen Liu
The information
contained in this proxy statement with respect to the Audit Committee’s report above and the independence of the members
of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC, nor
shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act” ), or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference in
such filing.
PROPOSAL NO. 3 — APPROVAL OF 2019
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED
The
Board has declared advisable, adopted and is submitting for stockholder approval, the Company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan,
as amended (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to attract and retain key personnel and
to provide a means for directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors to acquire and maintain an interest in the Company,
which interest may be measured by reference to the value of our common stock.
The
Board has amended the Plan on October 16, 2019. If approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Plan will be effective as
of March 5, 2019 (the date that the Company’s Board of Directors approved the Plan). Capitalized terms used but
not defined in this Proposal No. 3 shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex
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.
Eligibility. Current
or prospective 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.
Number
of Shares Authorized. The Plan provides for an aggregate of One Million and Two Hundred and Ninety Thousand (1,290,000)
Common Shares to be available for awards. 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. Common 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 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.
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, 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 Common Shares 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, the exercise price of the Options
will be set forth in the applicable Award agreement. 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).
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. Our Compensation
Committee will determine the terms of such Restricted Stock awards. Restricted Stock are Common Shares 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. 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.
Stock
Bonus Awards. Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to grant awards of unrestricted Common Shares or other
awards denominated in Common Shares, 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 may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time; however, stockholder approval
to amend the Plan may be necessary if the law or the rules of the national exchange 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 or as determined by the Compensation Committee
in its sole discretion, 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.
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 Common Shares 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.
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 Common Shares 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 Options,
Stock Appreciation Right, 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”
Vote Required
Proposal No. 3
(the ratification and approval of the Company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended) will be approved if a majority of
the total votes properly cast in person or by proxy at the Meeting by the holders of common stock vote “FOR” the proposal.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the result of the vote.
Unless marked to the
contrary, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy card will be voted “FOR” ratification of the Plan.
Recommendation of the Board
The Board unanimously
recommends that you vote all of your shares “FOR” the ratification and approval of the Plan as described in this Proposal No.
3.
PROPOSAL NO. 4 - APPROVAL OF AN ISSUANCE
OF MORE THAN 20% OF ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK
Background
In the next several
months, the Company plans to seek to raise additional capital to implement our business strategy and enhance our overall capitalization
from one or more potential non-public offerings for gross proceeds of up to a maximum of $3,500,0000 (the “Private Placements”)
potentially at an offering price less than the Minimum Price as defined in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635 (d), The Company expects to
have a sufficient number of authorized shares for issuance in connection with the Private Placements. The Private Placements may
have such other terms as the Board of Directors of the Company shall deem to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders,
not inconsistent with the foregoing.
The Company has not
yet identified the investors or arrived at any specific terms or conditions for the Private Placement. Although there will be no
initial effect on the holdings of current stockholders from prior approval of the Private Placement, the issuance of shares of
our Common Stock, or other securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of our Common Stock, in accordance with the Private
Placement, would dilute, and thereby reduce, each existing stockholder’s proportionate ownership in our Common Stock. Under
the Company’s current certificate of incorporation and bylaws, stockholders do not have preemptive rights to subscribe to
additional shares that may be issued by the Company in order to maintain their proportionate ownership of the Common Stock.
Reason for Stockholders’ Approval
As a result of our
listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we are subject to the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) (“Rule 5635(d)”) which
requires us to obtain stockholder approval prior to the issuance of our Common Stock in connection with an offering involving the
sale, issuance or potential issuance of, by the Company, of common stock (and/or securities convertible into or exercisable for
common stock) equal to 20% or more of the Common Stock outstanding before the issuance. Shares of our Common Stock issuable upon
the exercise or conversion of warrants, options, debt instruments or other equity securities issued or granted in such Private
Placement will be considered shares issued in such a transaction in determining whether the 20% limit has been reached.
Nonetheless, we have
yet to determine the particular terms for the Private Placement. However, because we may seek additional capital that triggers
the requirements of the Rule 5635(d), we are seeking stockholder approval now, so that we will be able to move quickly to take
full advantage of opportunities that may develop in the equity markets.
We cannot determine
what the actual net proceeds of the Private Placement will be until it is completed. If all or part of the Private Placement is
completed, we anticipate that the net proceeds will be used to continue funding general corporate purposes, including research
and development activities, capital expenditures and working capital. We currently have no arrangements or understandings regarding
any specific transaction with investors, so we cannot predict whether we will be successful should we seek to raise capital through
the Private Placement. In the event that we do seek to raise additional capital through the Private Placement, we are seeking stockholder
approval now so we are able to consummate the transaction on a timely basis.
We do not intend to
solicit further authorization by vote of the stockholders for the issuance of the additional shares of Common Stock proposed to
be authorized by this proposal, except as required by applicable law, regulatory authorities or the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules or
the rules of any other exchange or quotation service on which the Common Stock may then be listed or quoted.
The purpose of this
proposal is to provide the Company with flexibility to settle its outstanding indebtedness without utilizing cash which is necessary
for the Company to continue operations. Also, it would provide the Company with short-term ability to raise needed capital for
operations without necessitating the time or expense of seeking funding in the capital markets on a public offering basis. The
Company would not enter into any transaction or transactions which would constitute a change in control with respect to transactions
approved under this proposal.
Vote Required
Proposal No. 4
(the approval of issuance of more than 20% of issued and outstanding common stock, at a future date, in connection with one or
more potential non-public transactions) will be approved if a majority of the total votes properly cast in person or by proxy at
the Meeting by the holders of Common Stock vote “FOR” the proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect
on the result of the vote.
Unless marked to the
contrary, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy card will be voted “FOR” ratification of the Plan.
Recommendation of the Board
The Board unanimously
recommends that you vote all of your shares “FOR” the ratification and approval of the Plan as described in this Proposal No.
4.
PROPOSAL NO. 5 – APPROVAL AND ADOPTION
OF THE CHARTER AMENDMENT TO EFFECT THE REVERSE SPLIT
Our
Board has adopted and deemed advisable and is recommending that our stockholders approve and adopt proposed Charter Amendment to
(i) declaring that filing an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to affect the Reverse Split of our issued
and outstanding common stock was advisable, and (ii) directing that a proposal to approve the Reverse Split be submitted to the
holders of our common stock for their approval. The Reverse Split of our issued and outstanding common stock will be effected by
a reverse split at a ratio of not less than one-for-two and not more than one-for-twenty and then a forward stock split of our
then issued and outstanding common stock by a ratio of not less than one-for-two and not more than one-for-twenty immediately following
the reverse split at any time prior to December 31, 2019, with the exact ratios to be set at a whole number within this range as
determined by our board of directors in its sole discretion.
Procedure for
Implementing the Reverse Stock Split
The
Reverse Split, if approved by our stockholders, would become effective upon the filing (the “RS Effective Time”)
of a certificate of amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The exact
timing of the filing of the certificate of amendment that will affect the Reverse Split will be determined by our board of directors
based on its evaluation as to when such action will be the most advantageous to the Company and our stockholders. In addition,
our board of directors reserves the right, notwithstanding stockholder approval and without further action by the stockholders,
to elect not to proceed with the Reverse Split if, at any time prior to filing the amendment to the Company’s Certificate
of Incorporation, our board of directors, in its sole discretion, determines that it is no longer in our best interest and the
best interests of our stockholders to proceed with the Reverse Split. If a certificate of amendment effecting the Reverse Split
has not been filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware by the close of business on December 31, 2019, our board of directors
will abandon the Reverse Split.
Effect of the
Reverse Split on holders of the Company’s common stock
Depending
on the ratio for the Reverse Split determined by our board of directors, a minimum of two and a maximum of ten shares of existing
common stock will be combined into one new share of common stock. The actual number of shares issued after giving effect to the
Reverse Split, if implemented, will depend on the reverse stock split ratio that is ultimately determined by our board of directors.
The
Reverse Split will affect all holders of our common stock uniformly and will not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership
interest in the Company, except that as described below in “Fractional Shares,” record holders of common stock otherwise
entitled to a fractional share as a result of the Reverse Split will be rounded up to the next whole number. In addition, the Reverse
Split will not affect any stockholder’s proportionate voting power (subject to the treatment of fractional shares).
The
Reverse Split may result in some stockholders owning “odd lots” of less than 100 shares of common stock. Odd lot shares
may be more difficult to sell, and brokerage commissions and other costs of transactions in odd lots are generally somewhat higher
than the costs of transactions in “round lots” of even multiples of 100 shares.
Reason for
Reverse Split
Our
common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”). In order for our common stock
to continue to be listed on the Nasdaq, we must satisfy various listing maintenance standards established by the Nasdaq. If we
are unable to meet the Nasdaq requirements, our common stock will be subject to delisting.
Under
Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, if the closing bid price of our common stock is under $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive
business days and does not thereafter reach $1.00 per share or higher for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days during the
180 calendar days following notification by Nasdaq, our common stock would be subject to delisting by Nasdaq. On October 10, 2019,
the last sale price of our common stock was $0.68 per share.
The
Board’s primary objective in proposing the Reverse Split is to raise the per share trading price of the common stock. The
Board believes that the Reverse Split will result in a higher per share trading price, which is intended to enable us to maintain
the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq and generate greater investor interest in the Company.
The Board believes
that maintaining the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. If
our common stock were delisted from the Nasdaq, the Board believes that such delisting could adversely affect the market liquidity
of our common stock, decrease the market price of our common stock, and adversely affect our ability to obtain financing for the
continuation of our operations and result in the loss of confidence in our company.
If the Reverse Split
is approved by our stockholders and implemented by the Board, we expect to satisfy the $1.00 per share minimum bid price requirement
for continued listing. However, despite the approval of the Reverse Split by our stockholders and implementation by the Board,
there can be no assurance that the Reverse Split will result in our meeting and maintaining the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement.
The effect of the Reverse Split upon the market price for our common stock cannot be predicted, and the history of similar reverse
stock splits for companies in like circumstances is varied. The market price per share of our common stock after the Reverse Split
may not rise in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares of our common stock outstanding resulting from the Reverse
Split due to, among other reasons, our performance and other factors that may be unrelated to the number of shares outstanding.
The common stock could also be delisted from the Nasdaq due to our failure to comply with one or more other Nasdaq listing rules.
Beneficial Holders of Common Stock (i.e.
stockholders who hold in street name)
Upon the implementation
of the Reverse Split, we intend to treat shares held by stockholders through a bank, broker, custodian or other nominee in the
same manner as registered stockholders whose shares are registered in their names. Banks, brokers, custodians or other nominees
will be instructed to affect the Reverse Split for their beneficial holders holding our common stock in street name. However, these
banks, brokers, custodians or other nominees may have different procedures than registered stockholders for processing the Reverse
Split. Stockholders who hold shares of our common stock with a bank, broker, custodian or other nominee and who have any questions
in this regard are encouraged to contact their banks, brokers, custodians or other nominees.
Beneficial Holders of Common Stock (i.e.
stockholders who hold in street name)
Upon the implementation
of the Reverse Split, we intend to treat shares held by stockholders through a bank, broker, custodian or other nominee in the
same manner as registered stockholders whose shares are registered in their names. Banks, brokers, custodians or other nominees
will be instructed to affect the Reverse Split for their beneficial holders holding our common stock in street name. However, these
banks, brokers, custodians or other nominees may have different procedures than registered stockholders for processing the Reverse
Split. Stockholders who hold shares of our common stock with a bank, broker, custodian or other nominee and who have any questions
in this regard are encouraged to contact their banks, brokers, custodians or other nominees.
Registered “Book-Entry”
Holders of Common Stock (i.e. stockholders that are registered on the transfer agent’s books and records but do not hold
stock certificates)
Certain of our registered
holders of common stock may hold some or all of their shares electronically in book-entry form with the transfer agent. These stockholders
do not have stock certificates evidencing their ownership of the common stock. They are, however, provided with a statement reflecting
the number of shares registered in their accounts. Stockholders who hold shares electronically in book-entry form with the transfer
agent will not need to take action (the exchange will be automatic) to receive whole shares of post-Reverse Split common stock,
subject to adjustment for treatment of fractional shares.
Holders of Certificated Shares of Common
Stock
Stockholders holding
shares of our common stock in certificated form will be sent a transmittal letter by our transfer agent after the RS Effective
Time. The letter of transmittal will contain instructions on how a stockholder should surrender his, her or its certificate(s)
representing shares of our common stock (the “Old Certificates”) to the transfer agent in exchange for certificates
representing the appropriate number of whole shares of post-Reverse Split common stock (the “New Certificates”).
No New Certificates will be issued to a stockholder until such stockholder has surrendered all Old Certificates, together with
a properly completed and executed letter of transmittal, to the transfer agent. No stockholder will be required to pay a transfer
or other fee to exchange his, her or its Old Certificates. Stockholders will then receive a New Certificate(s) representing the
number of whole shares of common stock that they are entitled as a result of the Reverse Split, subject to the treatment of fractional
shares described below. Until surrendered, we will deem outstanding Old Certificates held by stockholders to be cancelled and only
to represent the number of whole shares of post-Reverse Split common stock to which these stockholders are entitled, subject to
the treatment of fractional shares. Any Old Certificates submitted for exchange, whether because of a sale, transfer or other disposition
of stock, will automatically be exchanged for New Certificates. If an Old Certificate has a restrictive legend on the back of the
Old Certificate(s), the New Certificate will be issued with the same restrictive legends that are on the back of the Old Certificate(s).
STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT DESTROY ANY
STOCK CERTIFICATE(S) AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY STOCK CERTIFICATE(S) UNTIL REQUESTED TO DO SO.
No Fractional Shares
No fractional shares
of common stock will be issued in connection with the Reverse Split. If as a result of the Reverse Split, a stockholder of record
would otherwise hold a fractional share, the stockholder will receive a cash payment in lieu of the issuance of any such fractional
share in an amount per share equal to the closing price per share on the Nasdaq on the trading day immediately preceding the effective
date of the Reverse Split (as adjusted to give effect to the Reverse Split), without interest. The ownership of a fractional interest
will not give the holder thereof any voting, dividend or other right except to receive the cash payment therefore.
By approving the Charter
Amendment effecting the Reverse Split, stockholders will be approving the combination of any whole number of issued shares of our
common stock between and including 2 and 10 shares into one share of common stock.
Accounting Matters
The par value of the
shares of our common stock is not changing as a result of the implementation of the Reverse Split. As a result, as of the RS Effective
Time, the stated capital attributable to common stock and the additional paid-in capital account on our balance sheet will not
change due to the Reverse Split. Reported per share net income or loss will be higher because there will be fewer shares of common
stock outstanding.
Federal Income Tax Consequences of the
Reverse Split
The following summary
describes material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Split to holders of our common stock.
Unless otherwise specifically
indicated herein, this summary addresses the tax consequences only to a beneficial owner of our common stock that is a citizen
or individual resident of the United States, a corporation organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof
or the District of Columbia or otherwise subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a net income basis in respect of our common
stock (a “U.S. holder”). A trust may also be a U.S. holder if (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision
over administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust
or (2) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person. An estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income
taxation regardless of its source may also be a U.S. holder. This summary does not address all of the tax consequences that may
be relevant to any particular investor, including tax considerations that arise from rules of general application to all taxpayers
or to certain classes of taxpayers or that are generally assumed to be known by investors. This summary also does not address the
tax consequences to (i) persons that may be subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, such as banks, insurance
companies, thrift institutions, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, tax-exempt organizations, U.S. expatriates,
persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, traders in securities that elect to mark to market and dealers in securities or
currencies, (ii) persons that hold our common stock as part of a position in a “straddle” or as part of a “hedging,”
“conversion” or other integrated investment transaction for federal income tax purposes, or (iii) persons that do not
hold our common stock as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment).
If a partnership (or
other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our common stock, the
U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities
of the partnership. Partnerships that hold our common stock, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their own tax advisors
regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.
This summary is based
on the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and judicial
authority, all as in effect as of the date of this proxy statement. Subsequent developments in U.S. federal income tax law, including
changes in law or differing interpretations, which may be applied retroactively, could have a material effect on the U.S. federal
income tax consequences of the Reverse Split.
PLEASE CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR
REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE SPLIT IN YOUR PARTICULAR
CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION.
U.S. Holders
The Reverse Split should
be treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, a stockholder generally will not recognize gain
or loss on the Reverse Split, except to the extent of cash, if any, received in lieu of a fractional share interest in the post-Reverse
Split shares. The aggregate tax basis of the post-split shares received will be equal to the aggregate tax basis of the pre-split
shares exchanged therefore (excluding any portion of the holder’s basis allocated to fractional shares), and the holding
period of the post-split shares received will include the holding period of the pre-split shares exchanged. A holder of the pre-split
shares who receives cash will generally recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the portion of the tax basis of
the pre-split shares allocated to the fractional share interest and the cash received. Such gain or loss will be a capital gain
or loss and will be short term if the pre-split shares were held for one year or less and long term if held more than one year.
No gain or loss will be recognized by us as a result of the Reverse Split.
No Appraisal Rights
Under the DGCL and
our charter documents, holders of our common stock will not be entitled to dissenter’s rights or appraisal rights with respect
to the Reverse Split.
Vote Required
Proposal No. 5
will be approved if a majority of the total votes properly cast in person or by proxy at the Meeting by the holders of common stock
vote “FOR” the proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the result of the vote.
Unless marked to the
contrary, the shares represented by the enclosed proxy card will be voted “FOR” ratification of the Reverse Split.
Recommendation of the Board
The Board unanimously
recommends that you vote all of your shares “FOR” the ratification of the Reverse Split as described in this Proposal No.
5.
OTHER MATTERS
Our Board knows of
no other matter to be presented at the Meeting. If any additional matter should properly come before the Meeting, it is the intention
of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their judgment on any such matters.
OTHER INFORMATION
Deadline for Submission of Stockholder
Proposals for 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
For any proposal to
be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy for submission to the stockholders at our 2019 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders, it must be submitted in writing and comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act. Such proposals
must be received by the Company at its offices at 415-2351 Zhen Building, Yong An Street, Taishitun Town, Miyun District, Beijing,
People’s Republic of China, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, no later than June 12, 2020.
If we are not notified
of a stockholder proposal a reasonable time prior to the time we send our proxy statement for our 2020 annual meeting, then our
Board will have discretionary authority to vote on the stockholder proposal, even though the stockholder proposal is not discussed
in the proxy statement. In order to curtail any controversy as to the date on which a stockholder proposal was received by us,
it is suggested that stockholder proposals be submitted by certified mail, return receipt requested, and be addressed to Bat Group,
Inc., 415-2351 Zhen Building, Yong An Street, Taishitun Town, Miyun District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Attention:
Chief Executive Officer. Notwithstanding, the foregoing shall not affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals
in our proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act nor grant any stockholder a right to have any nominee included
in our proxy statement.
Proxy Solicitation
The solicitation of
proxies is made on behalf of the Board and we will bear the cost of soliciting proxies. The transfer agent and registrar
for our common stock, VStock Transfer, LLC, as a part of its regular services and for no additional compensation other than reimbursement
for out-of-pocket expenses, has been engaged to assist in the proxy solicitation. Proxies may be solicited through the
mail and through telephonic or telegraphic communications to, or by meetings with, stockholders or their representatives by our
directors, officers and other employees who will receive no additional compensation therefor. We may also retain a proxy solicitation
firm to assist us in obtaining proxies by mail, facsimile or email from record and beneficial holders of shares for the Meeting.
If we retain a proxy solicitation firm, we expect to pay such firm reasonable and customary compensation for its services, including
out-of-pocket expenses.
We request persons
such as brokers, nominees and fiduciaries holding stock in their names for others, or holding stock for others who have the right
to give voting instructions, to forward proxy material to their principals and to request authority for the execution of the proxy. We
will reimburse such persons for their reasonable expenses.
Annual Report
The Annual Report is
being sent with this Proxy Statement to each stockholder and is available at www.proxyvote.com as well as on the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Annual Report contains our audited financial statements for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2018. The Annual Report, however, is not to be regarded as part of the proxy soliciting material.
Delivery of
Proxy Materials to Households
Only one copy of this
proxy statement and one copy of our Annual Report are being delivered to multiple registered stockholders who share an address
unless we have received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. A separate form of proxy and a separate notice
of the Meeting are being included for each account at the shared address. Registered stockholders who share an address and would
like to receive a separate copy of our Annual Report and/or a separate copy of this proxy statement, or have questions regarding
the householding process, may contact the Company’s transfer agent: VStock Transfer, LLC, by calling (212) 828-8436, or by
forwarding a written request addressed to VStock Transfer, LLC, 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York 11598. Promptly upon
request, a separate copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K and/or a separate copy of this proxy Statement will be sent. By
contacting VStock Transfer, LLC, registered stockholders sharing an address can also (i) notify the Company that the registered
stockholders wish to receive separate annual reports to stockholders, proxy statements and/or Notices of Internet Availability
of Proxy Materials, as applicable, in the future or (ii) request delivery of a single copy of annual reports to stockholders
and proxy statements in the future if registered stockholders at the shared address are receiving multiple copies.
Many brokers, brokerage
firms, broker/dealers, banks and other holders of record have also instituted “householding” (delivery of one copy
of materials to multiple stockholders who share an address). If your family has one or more “street name” accounts
under which you beneficially own shares of our common stock, you may have received householding information from your broker, brokerage
firm, broker/dealer, bank or other nominee in the past. Please contact the holder of record directly if you have questions, require
additional copies of this proxy statement or our Annual Report or wish to revoke your decision to household and thereby receive
multiple copies. You should also contact the holder of record if you wish to institute householding.
Where You Can Find Additional Information
Accompanying this proxy
statement is a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. Such Report constitutes
the Company’s Annual Report to its Stockholders for purposes of Rule 14a-3 under the Exchange Act. Such Report includes the
Company’s audited financial statements for the 2017 fiscal year and certain other financial information, which is incorporated
by reference herein. The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and in accordance therewith files
reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such reports, proxy statements and other information are available
on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Stockholders who have questions in regard to any aspect of the matters discussed
in this proxy statement should contact Yang An, our Chief Financial Officer, at 415-2351 Zhen Building, Yong An Street, Taishitun
Town, Miyun District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, or by telephone on 86-010-5944 1080.
Annex A
BAT GROUP, INC.
2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
AS AMENDED
1. Purpose.
The purpose of the Bat Group, Inc. 2019 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,
misappropriation of the Company or its Affiliate’s assets or any felony or other crime of dishonesty in connection with the
Participant’s duties; (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, or (E) failure by a Participant to follow the lawful directions of a superior officer or the Board. Any determination
of whether Cause exists shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion.
(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 ownership of more
than two thirds (2/3) 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 forty percent (40%) of the members of the
Board; or
(iii) The
consummation of any of the following events:
(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 Shares, 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 Shares 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).
(l) “Company”
means Bat 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 when the Plan is adopted by the Board.
(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 Shares (A) are listed on a national securities exchange or (B) are 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 Shares 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 Shares on each trading day during such period; or (ii) if the Common Shares are 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 Shares.
(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.
(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 Bat 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.
(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 Effective Date. 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, conditions 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.
(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 Section 3, Section 11 and Section 12 of this Plan, the Committee is authorized to deliver under this Plan an aggregate of One
Million Two Hundred and Ninety Thousand (1,290,000) Common Shares. 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 shares.
(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.
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.
(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) 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 SAR Period;
(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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
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 certificate 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 Common Shares 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.
(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.
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 or as determined by the Committee in its
sole discretion, 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 may immediately vest and may become immediately exercisable as of a time prior to the
Change in Control;
(b) the
Restricted Period may 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 may end on such date, and the Committee (i) shall 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) may 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. In the event no action is taken by the Committee to allow for the changes set forth in immediately
preceding clauses (a) through (c), then no changes to the Award shall be effected.
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.
(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.
(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.
* * *
ANNEX
B
CERTIFICATE
OF AMENDMENT
OF
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
Bat
Group, Inc.
Adopted
in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
The
undersigned, being a duly authorized officer of Bat Group, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware, does hereby certify as follows:
1.
The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended by deleting Article FOURTH thereof in its entirety and inserting
the following in lieu thereof:
“Fourth:
The total number of shares which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is one billion one hundred million (110,000,000)
shares of two classes of capital stock to be designated respectively preferred stock ("Preferred Stock") and common
stock ("Common Stock"). The total number of shares of Common Stock the Corporation shall have authority to issue is
100,000,000 shares, par value $0.001 per share. The total number of shares of Preferred Stock the Corporation shall have authority
to issue is 10,000,000 shares, par value $0.001 per share. The Preferred Stock authorized by this Certificate of Incorporation
may be issued in series. The Board of Directors is authorized to establish series of Preferred Stock and to fix, in the manner
and to the full extent provided and permitted by law, the rights, preferences and limitations of each series of the Preferred
Stock and the relative rights, preferences and limitations between or among such series including, but not limited to:
(1)
the designation of each series and the number of shares that shall constitute the series;
(2)
the rate of dividends, if any, payable on the shares of each series, the time and manner of payment and whether or not such dividends
shall be cumulative;
(3)
whether shares of each series may be redeemed and, if so, the redemption price and the terms and conditions of redemption;
(4)
sinking fund provisions, if any, for the redemption or purchase of shares of each series which is redeemable;
(5)
the amount, if any, payable upon shares of each series in the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the corporation, and the manner and preference of such payment; and
(6)
the voting rights, if any, in the shares of each series and any conditions upon the exercising of such rights.
Effective
as of [ ] pm, New York time, on [ ], 2019 (the “Effective Time”), each share of the Corporation’s common stock,
$0.001 par value per share (the “Old Common Stock”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time,
will be automatically reclassified as and converted into [ ] of a share of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Corporation
(the “New Common Stock”). Any stock certificate that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented shares
of the Old Common Stock will, from and after the Effective Time, automatically and without the necessity of presenting the same
for exchange, represent the number of shares of the New Common Stock as equals the product obtained by multiplying the number
of shares of Old Common Stock represented by such certificate immediately prior to the Effective Time by [ ]. A holder of record
of Old Common Stock on the Effective Time who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share of New Common Stock shall have
the number of shares of New Common Stock which they are entitled rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares. No stockholders
will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares. ”
2.
The foregoing amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 and 228 (by the written consent of the
stockholders of the Corporation) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Dated:
__________, 2019
Bat
Group, Inc.
By:
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Name:
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Jiaxi
Gao
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Title:
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Chief
Executive Officer
|
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Form of Proxy Card
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