UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
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SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
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INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
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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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Solicitation Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or rule 14a-12
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Cuentas
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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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:
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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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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Amount Previously Paid:
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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Table of
Contents
CUENTAS INC.
235
Lincoln Road, Suite 210
Miami Beach, FL 33139
November 17, 2021
To the Stockholders of Cuentas Inc.:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2021 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of
Cuentas Inc. (the “Company”) to be held
at the Company’s offices at 235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210, Miami
Beach, FL 33139 on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at
10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect Arik Maimon, Michael
De Prado, Adiv Baruch, Richard J. Berman, Yochanon Bruk, Jeff
Lewis, Edward Maldonado, Carol Pepper and David
B. Schottenstein as directors (the “Director Nominees”) to
serve on the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) for a
one-year term that expires at the 2022
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or until their successors are
elected and qualified;
2. To approve on a
non-binding, advisory basis the
compensation of our named executive officers;
3. To select on a
non-binding, advisory basis the
frequency of conducting future stockholder advisory votes on named
executive officer compensation;
4. To ratify the appointment by
the Board of Halperin Ilanit, Certified Public Accountants as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2021;
5. To approve and adopt the 2021
Share Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), a copy of
which is attached to the accompanying proxy statement as
Annex A (the “Plan
Proposal”); and
6. To transact such other
business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any
adjournment thereof.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF
THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES, A VOTE FOR THE
APPROVAL ON A NON-BINDING, ADVISORY
BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, a vote
FOR Three years for the frequency of conducting future
stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation,
A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE COMPANY’S
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING December 31, 2021, AND A VOTE FOR THE 2021
PLAN.
The Board has fixed the close of business on November 3, 2021
as the record date (the “Record Date”) for the
determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote
at, the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.
Accordingly, only stockholders of record at the close of business
on the Record Date are entitled to notice of, and shall be entitled
to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment
thereof.
Your vote is important. You are requested to carefully read the
Proxy Statement and accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting for a
more complete statement of matters to be considered at the Annual
Meeting.
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Sincerely yours,
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/s/ Arik Maimon
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Arik Maimon
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Executive Chairman of the Board
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Cuentas Inc.
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Table of
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IMPORTANT
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO
ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE
READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND PROMPTLY VOTE YOUR PROXY VIA THE
INTERNET, BY TELEPHONE OR, IF YOU RECEIVED A PRINTED FORM OF PROXY
IN THE MAIL, BY COMPLETING, DATING, SIGNING AND RETURNING THE
ENCLOSED PROXY IN ORDER TO ASSURE
REPRESENTATION OF YOUR SHARES AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. YOUR
PROXY, GIVEN THROUGH THE RETURN OF THE PROXY CARD, MAY BE REVOKED
PRIOR TO ITS EXERCISE BY FILING WITH OUR CORPORATE SECRETARY PRIOR
TO THE ANNUAL MEETING A WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION OR A DULY
EXECUTED PROXY BEARING A LATER DATE, OR BY ATTENDING THE ANNUAL
MEETING AND VOTING.
IF
YOU HAVE ALREADY VOTED OR DELIVERED YOUR PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL
MEETING, YOUR VOTE WILL BE COUNTED, AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO VOTE
YOUR SHARES AGAIN. IF YOU WISH TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE, YOU SHOULD
REVOTE YOUR SHARES.
THE
PROXY STATEMENT, OUR FORM OF PROXY CARD, AND OUR ANNUAL REPORT
ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 ARE BEING MAILED TO
STOCKHOLDERS ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 22, 2021.
Table of
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CUENTAS INC.
235 Lincoln Road, Suite
210
Miami Beach, FL 33139
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
To
be held on December 15, 2021
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the
“Board”) of Cuentas
Inc. (the “Company”) for use at
the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company and at all
adjournments and postponements thereof (the “Annual
Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will be held at
10:00 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, December 15, 2021
at 235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210, Miami Beach, FL 33139 for the
following purposes:
1. To elect Arik Maimon, Michael
De Prado, Adiv Baruch, Richard J. Berman, Yochanon Bruk, Jeff
Lewis, Edward Maldonado, Carol Pepper and David
B. Schottenstein as directors (the “Director Nominees”) to
serve on the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) for a
one-year term that expires at the 2022
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or until their successors are
elected and qualified;
2. To approve on a
non-binding, advisory basis the
compensation of our named executive officers;
3. To select on a
non-binding, advisory basis the
frequency of conducting future stockholder advisory votes on named
executive officer compensation;
4. To ratify the appointment by
the Board of Halperin Ilanit, Certified Public Accountants as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2021;
5. To approve and adopt the 2021
Share Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), a copy of which is attached
to the accompanying proxy statement as Annex A (the “Plan
Proposal”);
6. To transact such other
business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any
adjournment thereof.
The
Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of each of
the Director Nominees, a vote “FOR” the approval of a
non-binding, advisory basis, of
the compensation of our named executive officers, a vote “FOR”
three years for the frequency of conducting future stockholder
advisory votes on named executive officer compensation, a vote
“FOR” the ratification of the appointment of the Auditor as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 and a vote “FOR” the 2021
Plan.
Stockholders of record of our common stock at the close of business
on November 3, 2021 (the “Record Date”) will be
entitled to notice of, and are cordially invited to, attend the
Annual Meeting and to attend any adjournment or postponement
thereof. However, to assure your
representation at the Annual Meeting, please vote your proxy via
the internet, by telephone, or by completing, dating, signing and
returning the enclosed proxy. Whether or not you expect
to attend the Annual Meeting, please read the Proxy Statement and
then promptly vote your proxy in order to ensure your
representation at the Annual Meeting.
You may cast your vote by visiting http://www.proxyvote.com. You
may also have access to the materials for the Annual Meeting by
visiting the website:www.cuentas.com/annualmeeting.
You
will need to use the control number appearing on your proxy card to
vote prior to or at the Annual Meeting.
Each share of common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote.
A complete list of shareholders of record entitled to vote at this
Annual Meeting will be available for ten days before this
Annual Meeting at the principal executive office of the Company for
inspection by stockholders during ordinary business hours for
any purpose germane to this Annual Meeting.
You are urged to review carefully the information contained in the
enclosed proxy statement prior to deciding how to vote your
shares.
Table of
Contents
This notice and the attached proxy statement are first being
disseminated to stockholders on or about November 22,
2021.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
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/s/ Arik Maimon
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Arik Maimon
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Executive Chairman of the Board
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Cuentas Inc.
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IF
YOU RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD WITHOUT AN INDICATION OF HOW YOU WISH TO
VOTE, YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF EACH OF THE DIRECTOR
NOMINEES, THE APPROVAL ON A NON-BINDING, ADVISORY BASIS OF THE
COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, THE SELECTION OF
THREE years
for the frequency of conducting future stockholder advisory votes
on named executive officer compensation, THE
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE
AUDITOR AS
THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 2021,
and THE approval of the 2021 plan.
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PROXY STATEMENT
CUENTAS INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
to be held at the offices of
the Company at235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210, Miami Beach,
FL 33139 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday,
December 15, 2021
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT
THESE PROXY MATERIALS
Why
am I receiving this Proxy Statement?
The Company has delivered printed versions of these materials to
you by mail, in connection with the Company’s solicitation of
proxies for use at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the
Company (the “Annual Meeting”) to be
held at 235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210, Miami Beach, FL 33139 on
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time,
and at any postponement(s) or adjournment(s) thereof.
These materials were first sent or given to stockholders on or
about November 22, 2021. This proxy statement gives you
information on these proposals so that you can make an informed
decision.
In this proxy statement, we refer to Cuentas, Inc. as the
“Company”, “we”, “us” or “our” or similar terminology.
What
is included in these materials?
These materials include:
• This
Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting;
• The
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020; and
• The
proxy card or voting instruction form for the Annual Meeting.
Who
can vote at the annual meeting of stockholders?
Stockholders who owned shares of our common stock, par value $0.001
per share (“Common Stock”), on
November 3, 2021 (the “Record Date”) may vote
at the Annual Meeting. There were 14,965,690 shares of Common Stock
outstanding on the Record Date. All shares of Common Stock have one
vote per share and vote together as a single class. Information
about the stockholdings of our directors and executive officers is
contained in the section of this Proxy Statement entitled
“Beneficial Ownership of Principal Stockholders, Officers and
Directors” on page 26 of this Proxy Statement.
What
is the proxy card?
The proxy card enables you to appoint Arik Maimon, our Executive
Chairman, and Michael De Prado, our Executive Vice Chairman, as
your representatives at the Annual Meeting. By completing and
returning the proxy card or voting online as described herein, you
are authorizing Mr. Maimon and Mr. De Prado to vote your
shares at the Annual Meeting in accordance with your instructions
on the proxy card. This way, your shares will be voted whether or
not you attend the Annual Meeting. Even if you plan to attend the
Annual Meeting, we think that it is a good idea to complete and
return your proxy card before the Annual Meeting date just in case
your plans change. If a proposal comes up for vote at the Annual
Meeting that is not on the proxy card, the proxies will vote your
shares, under your proxy, according to their best judgment. The
proxy card (or voter information form) will also contain your
control number. You will need to use the control number appearing
on your proxy card to vote prior to or at the Annual Meeting.
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What
am I voting on?
You are being asked to vote:
1. To elect Arik Maimon, Michael
De Prado, Adiv Baruch, Richard J. Berman, Yochanon Bruk, Jeff
Lewis, Edward Maldonado, Carol Pepper and David
B. Schottenstein as directors (the “Director Nominees”) to
serve on the Company’s Board for a one-year term that expires at the 2022 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders, or until their successors are elected and
qualified;
2. To approve on a
non-binding, advisory basis the
compensation of our named executive officers;
3. To select on a
non-binding, advisory basis the
frequency of conducting future stockholder advisory votes on named
executive officer compensation;
4. To ratify the appointment by
the Board of Halperin Ilanit, Certified Public Accountants (the
“Auditor”) as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2021;
5. To approve and adopt the 2021
Share Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), a copy of
which is attached to the accompanying proxy statement as
Annex A (the “Plan Proposal”);
and
6. To transact such other
business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any
adjournment thereof.
How
does the Board recommend that I vote?
Our Board unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote
“FOR” all of the
Director Nominees, “FOR” the approval of
a non-binding, advisory basis, of the
compensation of our named executive officers, “FOR”
three years for the frequency of conducting future stockholder
advisory votes on named executive officer compensation,
“FOR” the ratification
of the appointment of the Auditor as the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2021 and “FOR” the 2021
Plan.
What
is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record
and as a beneficial owner?
Most 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
If, on the Record Date, your shares were registered directly in
your name with our transfer agent, Olde Monmouth Stock Transfer
Co., Inc., you are a “stockholder of record” who may vote at the
Annual 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 as described below. Whether or not you
plan to attend the Annual 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 or at the
direction of your broker or nominee who is considered the
stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting.
As the beneficial owner, you have the right to vote your shares and
to attend the Annual Meeting as described below. Whether or not you
plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote prior to the Annual
Meeting as described below to ensure that your vote is counted.
How
do I vote my shares?
There are four ways to vote:
(1) Via the
Internet. Use the internet to vote by
going to the internet address listed on your proxy card. If you
vote in this manner, your “proxy,” whose name is listed on the
proxy card, will vote your shares as you instruct on the proxy
card. If you sign and return the proxy card or submit an electronic
vote but do not give instructions on how to vote your shares, your
shares will be voted as recommended by the Board.
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(2) Via
telephone. Using a touch-tone telephone, you may transmit your voting
instructions to the number provided on your proxy card. Have your
proxy card in hand as you will be prompted to enter your control
number to create and submit a telephonic vote.
(3) In
person. You may vote by attending the
Annual Meeting in person.
(4) By
Mail. You may vote by mail. If you
are a record holder, you may vote by proxy by filling out the proxy
card and sending it back in the envelope provided. If you are a
beneficial holder you may vote by proxy by filling out the vote
instruction form and sending it back in the envelope provided by
your brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization that holds
your shares.
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
if I change my mind after I return my proxy?
You may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before
the polls close at the Annual Meeting. You may do this by:
• sending
a written notice to Matthew Schulman, our Compliance Officer,
stating that you would like to revoke your proxy of a particular
date;
• signing
another proxy card with a later date and returning it before the
polls close at the Annual Meeting; or
• Voting
at the Annual Meeting.
Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a
brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, you may need to instruct
your broker, bank or other nominee that you wish to change your
vote by following the procedures on the voting form provided to you
by the broker, bank or other nominee.
Will
my shares be voted if I do not sign and return my proxy
card?
If your shares are held in your name and you do not sign and return
your proxy card, your shares will not be voted unless you vote at
the Annual Meeting. If you hold your shares in the name of a
broker, bank or other nominee, your nominee may determine to vote
your shares at its own discretion on certain routine matters, such
as the ratification of the Auditor, absent instructions from you.
However, due to voting rules that may prevent your bank or broker
from voting your uninstructed shares on a discretionary basis in
the election of directors and other non-routine matters, it is important that you cast
your vote.
How
may I vote with respect to each proposal and how are votes
counted?
Your voting options will be dependent on the particular proposal
for which you wish to cast a vote. With respect to proposal 1 (the
election of directors), you may vote “for” all of the Director
Nominees or “withhold” authority to vote for one or all of the
Director Nominees. With respect to proposals 2, 4 and 5 you may
vote “for” or “against” the proposal or you may “abstain” from
casting a vote on such proposal. With respect to proposal 3, you
may vote to hold non-binding advisory
vote on executive compensation every “three years,”
“two years,” or “one year” or you may “abstain” from casting a
vote on such proposal. Abstentions, votes marked “withheld” and
broker non-votes will be counted for
the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at the
Annual Meeting.
Broker non-votes occur on a matter
when a broker is not permitted to vote on that matter without
instructions from the beneficial owner and instructions are not
given. These matters are referred to as “non-routine” matters. The election of the directors,
the non-binding advisory vote on
executive compensation, and the approval of the 2021 Plan are
“non-routine.” Thus, in tabulating the
voting result for these proposals, shares that constitute broker
non-votes are not considered votes
cast on that proposal. The ratification of the appointment of the
Auditor is a “routine” matter and therefore a broker may vote on
these matters without instructions from the beneficial owner as
long as instructions are not given.
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How
many votes are required to elect the Director Nominees as directors
of the Company?
In the election of directors, the nine persons receiving the
highest number of affirmative votes at the Annual Meeting will be
elected.
How
many votes are required to approve the non-binding
advisory vote on executive
compensation?
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual
Meeting by the holders of Common Stock entitled to vote is required
to approve on a non-binding advisory
basis the compensation of our named executive officers. With
respect to an abstention, the shares will be considered present and
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, but they will have no
effect on the vote of this proposal.
How
many votes are required to approve the frequency vote on how often
to a hold non-binding
advisory vote on executive
compensation?
The frequency of conducting future stockholder advisory votes on
named executive officer compensation (which will be either every
year, every two years or every three years) will be
determined by the frequency that receives the largest number of
votes. With respect to an abstention, the shares will be considered
present and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, but they will
have no effect on the vote of this proposal.
How
many votes are required to ratify the Company’s independent public
accountants?
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual
Meeting by the holders of Common Stock entitled to vote is required
to ratify the Auditor as our independent registered public
accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021.
How
many votes are required to approve the 2021 Plan?
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual
Meeting by the holders of Common Stock entitled to vote on this
matter at the Annual Meeting is required for approval of the 2021
Plan. With respect to an abstention, the shares will be considered
present and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, but they will
have no effect on the vote of this proposal.
What
happens if I don’t indicate how to vote my proxy?
If you just sign your proxy card without providing further
instructions, your shares will be counted as a “for” vote for all
of the Director Nominees, “for” the approval on a non-binding, advisory basis of the compensation of
our named executive officers, “for” three years for the
frequency of conducting future stockholder advisory votes on named
executive officer compensation, “for” the ratification of the
appointment of the Auditor as the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2021 and “for” the 2021 Plan.
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 the Annual Meeting?
We will announce voting results at the Annual Meeting and file a
Current Report on Form 8-K
announcing the voting results of the Annual Meeting.
Who
can help answer my questions?
You can contact our corporate Compliance Officer, Matthew Schulman,
at 1 (800)-611-3622 or by sending a
letter to Mr. Schulman at the offices of the Company at 235
Lincoln Road, Suite 210, Miami Beach, FL 33139 with any
questions about proposals described in this Proxy Statement or how
to execute your vote.
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THE ANNUAL MEETING
General
This Proxy Statement is being furnished to you, as a stockholder of
Cuentas Inc., as part of the solicitation of proxies by our Board
for use at the Annual Meeting to be held on December 15, 2021,
and any adjournment or postponement thereof. This Proxy Statement
is first being furnished to stockholders on or about November 22,
2021. 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 Annual Meeting.
Date, Time, Place of Annual
Meeting
The Annual Meeting will be held the Company’s offices at 235
Lincoln Rd., Suite 210, Miami Beach, FL 33139 on Wednesday,
December 15, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, or such other
date, time and place to which the Meeting may be adjourned or
postponed.
Purpose of the Annual
Meeting
At the Annual Meeting, the Company will ask stockholders to
consider and vote upon the following proposals:
1. To elect the Director
Nominees to serve on the Board for a one-year term that expires at the 2022 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders, or until their successors are elected and
qualified;
2. To approve on a
non-binding, advisory basis the
compensation of our named executive officers;
3. To select on a
non-binding, advisory basis the
frequency of conducting future stockholder advisory votes on named
executive officer compensation;
4. To ratify the appointment by
the Board of Halperin Ilanit, Certified Public Accountants as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2021;
5. To approve and adopt the 2021
Plan; and
6. To transact such other
business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any
adjournment thereof.
Recommendations of the
Board
After careful consideration of each nominee for director, the Board
has unanimously determined to recommend that stockholders vote
“FOR” each of the Director Nominees, “FOR” the approval on a
non-binding, advisory basis of the
compensation of our named executive officers, “FOR”
three years for the frequency of conducting future stockholder
advisory votes on named executive officer compensation, “FOR” the
ratification of the appointment of the Auditor as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2021 and “FOR” the 2021 Plan.
Record Date and Voting
Power
Our Board fixed the close of business on November 3, 2021, 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 the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, there were
14,965,690 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Each share of Common
Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote. Accordingly, a total
of 14,965,690 votes may be cast at the Annual 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 Annual Meeting is
represented at the Annual Meeting or by proxy. Abstentions, votes
marked “withheld” and broker non-votes
will count as present for purposes of establishing a quorum.
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In the election of directors, the nine persons receiving the
highest number of affirmative votes cast at the Annual Meeting will
be elected. Votes marked “withheld” and broker non-votes will have no effect on the election of
directors.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual
Meeting by the holders of Common Stock entitled to vote is required
to approve on a non-binding advisory
basis the compensation of our named executive officers. With
respect to an abstention, the shares will be considered present and
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, but they will have no
effect on the vote of this proposal.
The frequency of conducting future stockholder advisory votes on
named executive officer compensation (which will be either every
year, every two years or every three years) will be
determined by the frequency that receives the largest number of
votes. With respect to an abstention, the shares will be considered
present and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, but they will
have no effect on the vote of this proposal.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual
Meeting is required to ratify the Auditor as our independent
registered public accounting firm for the year ending
December 31, 2021. Abstentions will have no effect on the
ratification of the appointment of the Auditor. Brokers may use
their discretion to vote shares held by them of record for this
proposal if they have not been provided with voting instructions
from the beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual
Meeting by the holders of Common Stock entitled to vote is required
for approval of the 2021 Plan. With respect to an abstention, the
shares will be considered present and entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting and they will have no effect on the vote of this
proposal.
Voting
There are four ways to vote:
1. Via the
Internet. Use the internet to vote by
going to the internet address listed on your proxy card; have your
proxy card in hand as you will be prompted to enter your control
number to create and submit an electronic vote. If you vote in this
manner, your “proxy,” whose name is listed on the proxy card, will
vote your shares as you instruct on the proxy card. If you sign and
return the proxy card or submit an electronic vote but do not give
instructions on how to vote your shares, your shares will be voted
as recommended by the Board.
2. Via
Telephone. Using a touch-tone telephone, you may transmit your voting
instructions to the number provided on your proxy card. Have your
proxy card in hand as you will be prompted to enter your control
number to create and submit a telephonic vote.
3. In
person. You may vote at the Annual
Meeting by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.
4. By
mail. You may vote by mail. If you
are a record holder, you may vote by proxy by filling out the proxy
card and sending it back in the envelope provided. If you are a
beneficial holder you may vote by proxy by filling out the vote
instruction form and sending it back in the envelope provided by
your brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or other similar organization that holds
your shares.
While we know of no other matters to be acted upon at this year’s
Annual Meeting, it is possible that other matters may be presented
at the Annual Meeting. If that happens and you have signed and not
revoked a proxy card, your proxy will vote on such other matters in
accordance with their best judgment.
Expenses
The expense of preparing, printing and mailing this Proxy
Statement, exhibits and the proxies solicited hereby will be borne
by the Company. In addition to the use of the mails, proxies may be
solicited by officers, directors and regular employees of the
Company, without additional remuneration, by personal interviews,
telephone, email or facsimile transmission. The Company will also
request brokerage firms, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries to
forward proxy materials to the beneficial owners of shares of
Common Stock held of record and will provide reimbursements for the
cost of forwarding the material in accordance with customary
charges.
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Revocability of
Proxies
Proxies given by stockholders of record for use at the Annual
Meeting may be revoked at any time prior to the exercise of the
powers conferred. In addition to revocation in any other manner
permitted by law, stockholders of record giving a proxy may revoke
the proxy by an instrument in writing, executed by the stockholder
or his attorney authorized in writing or, if the stockholder is a
corporation, under its corporate seal, by an officer or attorney
thereof duly authorized, and deposited either at the corporate
headquarters of the Company at any time up to and including the
last business day preceding the day of the Annual
Meeting, or any adjournments thereof, at which the proxy is to be
used, or with the chairman of such Annual Meeting on the day
of the Annual Meeting or adjournments thereof, and upon either of
such deposits the proxy is revoked.
No Right of
Appraisal
None of Florida law, our Articles of Incorporation, or our Bylaws,
as amended, provides for appraisal or other similar rights for
dissenting stockholders in connection with any of the proposals to
be voted upon at this Annual 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 our Compliance Officer, Matthew Schulman, at 1
(800)-611-3622 or by sending a letter
to Mr. Schulman at offices of the Company at 235 Lincoln Road,
Suite 210, Miami Beach, FL 33139 with any questions about
proposals described in this Proxy Statement or how to execute your
vote.
Principal
Offices
The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 235
Lincoln Road, Suite 210, Miami Beach, FL 33139. The Company’s
telephone number at such address is 1 (800) 611-3622.
ALL
PROXIES RECEIVED WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHOICES
SPECIFIED ON SUCH PROXIES. PROXIES WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF A
PROPOSAL IF NO CONTRARY SPECIFICATION IS MADE. ALL VALID
PROXIES OBTAINED WILL BE VOTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PERSONS
NAMED IN THE PROXY WITH RESPECT TO ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY COME
BEFORE THE MEETING. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS
A VOTE “FOR” the approval of each director nominee, “for” the
approval on a
non-binding,
advisory basis of the compensation of our named executive officers,
“FOR” THREE years for the frequency of conducting future
stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation,
“FOR” the ratification of the appointment of the Auditor as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 AND “FOR” the 2021
Plan.
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PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Introduction
The Board has nominated the Director Nominees to stand for election
at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders will be asked to elect each of
the Director Nominees, each to hold office until the 2022 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders or until his or her successor is elected
and qualified. The enclosed proxy, if returned, and unless
indicated to the contrary, will be voted for the election of each
of the Director Nominees.
We have been advised by each of the Director Nominees that he or
she is willing to be named as a nominee and each is willing to
serve, or continue to serve as a director if elected. If some
unexpected occurrence should make necessary, in the discretion of
the Board, the substitution of some other person for the nominees,
it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote for
the election of such other persons as may be designated by the
Board.
Board
Qualifications
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. In selecting directors, the Board considers
candidates that possess qualifications and expertise that will
enhance the composition of the Board, including the considerations
set forth below. The considerations set forth below are not meant
as minimum qualifications, but rather as guidelines in weighing all
of a candidate’s qualifications and expertise. 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.
Director
Nominees
Our Board currently consists of nine directors, Arik Maimon,
Michael De Prado, Adiv Baruch, Richard J. Berman, Yochanon
Bruk, Jeff Lewis, Edward Maldonado, Carol Pepper, and David
B. Schottenstein. Accordingly, at the Annual Meeting, nine
directors are to be elected, each to serve until the next Annual
Meeting of Stockholders and until his or her successor shall be
elected and shall qualify. Each of the current directors that has
determined to stand for reelection at the Annual Meeting has been
nominated for reelection to the Board. All of the Director Nominees
are available for election as members of the Board. If for any
reason a Director Nominee becomes unavailable for election, the
proxies solicited by the Board will be voted for a substitute
nominee selected by the Board.
The following sets forth the biographical background information
for all of our Director Nominees:
Arik Maimon, our Chairman, is a founder and Executive Chairman of
the Company and served as its CEO from its inception until
February 2021 and Interim CEO from February 2021 to
August 2021. In addition to co-founding the Company, Mr. Maimon founded the
Company’s subsidiary Meimoun & Mammon, LLC (M&M).
Prior to founding the Company and its subsidiary, Mr. Maimon
founded and ran successful telecommunications companies operating
primarily in the United States and Mexico. In 1998,
Mr. Maimon founded and ran a privately-held wholesaler of long-distance telecommunications services which,
later, under Mr. Maimon’s management, grew from a start up to
a profitable enterprise with more than $100 million in annual
revenues. Mr. Maimon serves as a member of the Company’s Board
of Directors due to the perspective and experience he brings as our
co-founder and Chairman, former
CEO.
Michael A. De Prado is a founder and Executive Vice Chairman
of the Company and served as its President from its inception until
February 2021. Prior to founding the Company, Mr. De
Prado spent 20 years in executive positions at various levels
of responsibility in the banking, technology, and
telecommunications industries. As President of Sales at
telecommunications company Radiant/Ntera, Mr. De Prado grew
Radiant/Ntera’s sales to more than $200 million in annual
revenues. At theglobe.com, Mr. De Prado served as President,
reporting directing to Michael S. Egan. Mr. De Prado
serves as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors due to the
perspective and experience he brings as our co-founder and former president.
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Adiv Baruch, has been a director of the Company since
May 2016. Mr. Baruch is a global leader anchors in the
Israeli high-tech industry as well as
the Chairman of Israeli Export and International cooperation
Institute and several private and public companies. Mr. Baruch
has over 28 years of experience in equity investment and
operation management under distress. Mr. Baruch also serves as
chairman of Jerusalem Technology Investments Ltd. He also currently
serves as Chairman of Maayan Ventures, a platform for investments
in innovative technology companies. Mr. Baruch has served as a
director of the Bank of Jerusalem, and he served as CEO of BOS
Better Online Solutions, which, under this leadership, grew into a
highly-successful company traded on
Nasdaq under the symbol BOSC. Throughout his career, he has
championed development and support of new talent in the high tech
and entrepreneurial arenas. He is a Technion graduate and the
Chairman of the Institute of Innovation and Technology of Israel.
Mr. Baruch serves as a member of the Company’s Board of
Directors due to the perspective and experience he brings to Our
Board.
Richard J. Berman, has served as a director of the Company
since November 2018. Mr. Berman’s career spans over
35 years of venture capital, senior management and merger and
acquisitions experience. He possesses a strong track record of
providing senior leadership as an executive and board member of
public and private companies, with extensive experience in many
business sectors including finance, technology, retail,
bio-science and real estate.
Mr. Berman currently serves as a Director of four public
companies: Advaxis, Inc., Catasys, Inc., Cryoport Inc. and Immuron.
He also served as a Director or Officer of more than a dozen public
and private companies, including Chairman of National Investment
Managers, a company with $12 billion in pension administration
assets, from 2006 to 2011. Mr. Berman has a strong track
record of providing corporate leadership in the financial services
sector, serving as Director of two leading private companies,
Strategic Funding Source, an alternative lender to small
businesses; and Honor Capitol, an organization that provides auto
and home insurance loans to consumers. Mr. Baruch serves as a
member of the Company’s Board of Directors due to the perspective
and experience he brings to our Board.
Yochanon Bruk, is the managing partner of Dinar Zuz LLC and has
served as a director of the Company since December 2019.
Mr. Bruk joined Felman Trading in August 2009 as
Logistics Manager and was appointed Corporate Logistics &
Transportation Manager in 2011. In this role, he oversees the
logistical operations and international distribution networks to
ensure the seamless transportation of materials for Felman
Production, CCMA, and a number of European-based companies that operate alongside Felman
Trading. Mr. Bruk serves as a member of the Company’s Board of
Directors due to the perspective and experience he brings to our
Board.
Jeff Lewis has served as a director of the Company since
February 2021. Mr. Lewis currently serves as Senior Vice
President — Payments and Prepaid of Sutton Bank and has
been at Sutton Bank since April 2017. Prior to joining Sutton
Bank, Mr. Lewis was a Vice President, General Manger Financial
Services at InComm since December 2012. Mr. Lewis has
25 years of payment industry experience with knowledge and
experience in networks, card processing, payment processing and
program management disciplines. Previously, Mr. Lewis also
held key executive positions at Discovery Inc., FIS Global and
Metavante Technologies Inc. where he developed a strong background
in technology, regulatory and payment processing. Mr. Lewis
serves as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors due to the
perspective and experience he brings to our Board.
Edward Maldonado has served as a director of the Company since
November 3, 2021. Mr. Maldonado is a Florida-based federal and state attorney who has been
practicing law since 1997, and is the founder and principal of the
Law Offices of Edward A. Maldonado, P.A., which was
established in 2001. Mr. Maldonado’s practice includes federal
and state litigation of civil claims, complex technology litigation
and arbitration, as well as business, technology, intellectual
property and regulatory matters. Over the course of his career,
Mr. Maldonado has assisted hundreds of companies with
licensure before the Federal Communications Commission and State
Utility Commission. In 2004, Mr. Maldonado was consulted for
and participated in the drafting and passing of the Illinois Phone
Card Fraud Act, a law aimed at curbing consumer fraud by unstable
and uncertified providers. Mr. Maldonado serves as a member of
the Company’s board of directors due to his experience in advising
clients with respect to telecom licensing . Mr. Maldonado is
the designee of CIMA Telecom Inc. (“CIMA”).
Carol Pepper has served as a director of the Company since
November 3, 2021. Ms. Pepper is the founder and Chief
Executive Officer of Pepper International, a well-regarded family office and consulting firm she
founded in 2001. Prior to founding Pepper International, Ms. Pepper
accumulated over thirty years of experience in the wealth
management industry. From 2000 to 2001, she was the Principal at
the Private Wealth Management Division of Morgan Stanley. Prior to
that, Ms. Pepper was the Director of Product Development at
Instinet Incorporation from 1999 until 2000. She served as the
Senior Financial Counselor and Portfolio Manager at
Rockefeller & Co., Inc.
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from 1998 until 1999, where she managed over $1 billion of
private client assets. Prior to that, she served as the Vice
President and Private Banker at Citibank between 1997 and 1998. Ms.
Pepper is a published author who is a member of the Advisory
Council of the United Nations Capital Development Fund, and an
External Chief Investment Officer to wealthy families and single
family offices. Ms. Pepper serves as a member of the Company’s
board of directors due to the perspective and experience she brings
from banking and wealth management. Ms. Pepper is the designee of
Arik Maimon.
David B. Schottenstein, has served as a director of the
Company since February 2021. Mr. Schottenstein is
currently the Chief Executive Officer of Privé Revaux, an eyewear
company, since June 2017, and has previously served as the
Chief Executive Officer of DSCN Capital, an investment fund. He
received his Rabbinic degree from Oholei Torah in 2002.
Mr. Schottenstein serves as a member on the Company’s Board of
Directors due to the perspective and experience he brings to our
Board.
In addition to the foregoing, we believe that each of the Director
Nominees that is nominated for reelection is well-qualified to serve as a member of our Board due
to their prior experience and work with and on our Board.
Required Vote
In the election of directors, the nine persons receiving the
highest number of affirmative votes cast at the Annual Meeting will
be elected.
Recommendation of the
Board
THE
BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” ELECTION OF EACH OF THE
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.
Current Directors and
Executive Officers as of the Date of this Proxy
Statement
Listed below are the names of the current directors and executive
officers of the Company, their ages and positions held as of the
Record Date and biographies if not disclosed above:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position with the Company
|
Arik Maimon
|
|
46
|
|
Executive Chairman of the Board
|
Jeffery D. Johnson
|
|
54
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
Ran Daniel
|
|
54
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
Michael De Prado
|
|
52
|
|
Executive Vice Chairman of the Board
|
Adiv Baruch
|
|
58
|
|
Director
|
Richard J. Berman
|
|
78
|
|
Director
|
Yochanon Bruk
|
|
44
|
|
Director
|
Jeff Lewis
|
|
62
|
|
Director
|
Edward Maldonado
|
|
53
|
|
Director
|
Carol Pepper
|
|
59
|
|
Director
|
David B. Schottenstein
|
|
38
|
|
Director
|
Jeffery D. Johnson has served as the chief executive officer
of the Company since August 2021. Prior to joining the
Company, from April 2020 through August 2021,
Mr. Johnson was a private consultant. From February 2017
through June 2020, Mr. Johnson was Senior Vice President
for Commercial Prepaid at the Netspend Corporation, a Global
Payments company. While at Netspend, Mr. Johnson was
responsible for corporate strategy, market planning, sales
execution, and operations for a $100M+ division of Netspend, among
other things. From 2012 to January 2017, Mr. Johnson was
the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, and the Chief Revenue
Officer at Card Compliant, LLC, which is a SaaS-based regulatory compliance solutions company
serving the prepaid and stored value card industry. At Card
Compliant, Mr. Johnson was the senior executive accountable
for all aspects of direct and indirect sales, marketing strategy,
and partner development. From 2006 through 2012, Mr. Johnson
worked at the First Data Corporation (now FISERV), where he assumed
the role of Senior Vice President and Division Manager of Prepaid
Services from 2009 through 2012. Prior to that, Mr. Johnson
was the Vice President of Sales from 2004 through 2006 for the
Stored
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Value Solutions, a Fleetcor Company. Mr. Johnson was a Board
Member of the Innovative Payments Association from 2012 through
2020, and is currently a Board Member of DataSeers.
Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree
from the Thomas More College.
Ran Daniel has served as Chief Financial Officer since
December 23, 2018. He has over 25 years of financial and
business management experience, accounting, auditing, business
forecasting, M&A, due diligence, SEC regulations and internal
control experiences. He was responsible for the financial and
accounting functions in several companies and has extensive
experience working as a CFO in both rapidly growing companies and
publicly traded companies. He has worked with real estate, fashion,
high-tech companies as well as remote
institutional and high net worth individuals. Mr. Daniel is
licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the
United States and Israel, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
and is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.
Mr. Daniel holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Bachelor of
Accounting and an MBA in Finance from the Hebrew University, as
well as a Graduate Degree in Law from the University of
Bar-Ilan.
The Company, Arik Maimon, Michael De Prado, Dinar Zuz, LLC (which
is controlled by Yochanon Bruk) and CIMA are party to a Voting
Agreement and Proxy, dated December 31, 2019, pursuant to
which (i) Mr. Maimon has the right to appoint two
directors, which are Mr. Maimon and Carol Pepper,
(ii) Mr. De Prado has the right to appoint one director,
which is Mr. De Prado, (iii) Dinar Zuz LLC has the right
to appoint one director, which is Mr. Bruk and (iv) CIMA
has the right to appoint one director, which is Mr. Maldonado.
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, other than the foregoing,
there are no arrangements or understandings between any director,
Director Nominee or executive officer and any other person pursuant
to which any person was selected as a director, Director Nominee or
executive officer. There are no family relationships between any of
the Company’s directors, Director Nominees or executive officers.
To the Company’s knowledge there have been no material legal
proceedings as described in instruction 4 to Item 103 of
Regulation S-K or
Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K during the last ten years that are
material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of any of the
Company’s directors or executive officers.
Board of Directors and
Corporate Governance
General
Our Board oversees the activities of our management in the handling
of the business and affairs of our company. Our common stock trades
on the NASDAQ Capital Market and we are subject to listing
requirements which include the requirement that our Board be
comprised of a majority of “independent” directors.
Mr. Berman, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Baruch,
Mr. Schottenstein and Ms. Pepper currently meet the definition
of “independent” as defined by the SEC. The Board of Directors
has separately designated audit, nominating and compensation
committees. Our Chairman, Arik Maimon, is an employee of the
Company and as such does not qualify as an “independent”
director.
Committees of the
Board
On December 30, 2020, the Board established an audit committee
(the “Audit Committee”), compensation committee (the “Compensation
Committee”) and Nominating and Corporate Governance committee (the
“Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee”). Each committee
has a charter which will be reviewed on an annual basis by the
members of such committee. A current copy of each committee charter
is available to stockholders on the Company’s website at
https://cuentas.com/cuen/ir.php?lang=en .
Audit Committee
Our Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, composed of Messrs.
Berman, Lewis and Baruch, each of whom are independent directors as
defined in accordance with section Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the rules of
Nasdaq. Mr. Berman serves as chairman of the committee. The
Board has determined that Mr. Berman is an “audit committee
financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of
Regulation S-K.
Our Audit Committee oversees our corporate accounting, financial
reporting practices and the audits of financial statements. For
this purpose, the Audit Committee has a charter (which will be
reviewed annually) and performs several functions. The Audit
Committee:
• evaluates
the independence and performance of, and assesses the
qualifications of, our independent auditor and engages such
independent auditor;
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• 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 and fees therefor 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 and financial
reporting control and corporate governance functions on behalf of
the board; and
• provides
oversight assistance in connection with legal, ethical and risk
management compliance programs established by management and the
board, including compliance with requirements of
Sarbanes-Oxley and makes
recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding corporate
governance issues and policy decisions.
The Audit Committee has a charter, which will be reviewed
annually.
Compensation
Committee
Our Board of Directors has a Compensation Committee composed of
Messrs. Berman, Baruch and Schottenstein, each of whom is
independent in accordance with rules of Nasdaq. Mr. Baruch is
the chairman of the Compensation Committee. Our Compensation
Committee reviews or recommends the compensation arrangements for
our management and employees and also assists the Board of
Directors in reviewing and approving matters such as company
benefit and insurance plans, including monitoring the performance
thereof. The Compensation Committee has a charter, which will be
reviewed annually.
Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee
Our Board of Directors has a Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee composed of Messrs. Berman, Lewis and Schottenstein, each
of whom is independent in accordance with rules of Nasdaq.
Mr. Schottenstein is the chairman of the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee. Our Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee reviews our corporate governance policies and
with proposing potential director nominees to the Board of
Directors for consideration. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee will consider director nominees recommended by
security holders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
has a charter, which will be reviewed annually.
Attendance
There were 14 meetings, exclusive of action by unanimous written
consent, of the Board held during fiscal year 2020. Each of our
directors attended all of the aggregate number of meetings of the
Board that they were eligible to attend.
There were 4 meetings, exclusive of action by unanimous written
consent, of the Audit Committee held during fiscal year 2020. Each
of the committee members attended all of the meetings of the Audit
Committee that they were eligible to attend.
There were 3 meetings, exclusive of action by unanimous written
consent, of the Compensation Committee held during fiscal year
2020. Each of the committee members attended all of the meetings of
the Compensation Committee that they were eligible to attend.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a formal code of ethics that applies to our
principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal
accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar
functions. We will provide a copy of
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our code of ethics to any person without charge, upon request. For
a copy of our code of ethics write to Compliance Officer, Cuentas
Inc., 235 Lincoln Road, Suite 210, Miami Beach, Florida, 33139. A
current copy of our code of ethics is also available on our website
at https://cuentas.com/cuen/ir.php?lang=en.
Section 16(a) Beneficial
Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors and
executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of our
outstanding shares of Common Stock (collectively, “Reporting
Persons”) to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and
reports of changes in ownership in our Common Stock and other
equity securities. To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on its
review of the copies of such reports received or written
representations from certain Reporting Persons that no other
reports were required, the Company believes that during its fiscal
year ended December 31, 2020, all filing requirements
applicable to the Reporting Persons were timely met.
Transactions with Related
Persons
Aside from compensation arrangements with executive officers and
directors described below, there are no other transactions entered
into by the Company with related persons.
Related Person Transaction
Approval Policy
While we have no written policy regarding approval of transactions
between us and a related person, our Board, as matter of
appropriate corporate governance, reviews and approves all such
transactions, to the extent required by applicable rules and
regulations. Generally, management would present to the Board for
approval at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting any related
person transactions proposed to be entered into by us. The Board
may approve the transaction if it is deemed to be in the best
interests of our stockholders and the Company.
Executive
Compensation
The following table sets forth certain information for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, with
respect to compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, President, and
Chief Financial Officer (the “Named Executive Officers”). No other
executive officer received total compensation in excess of
$1,033,533 during fiscal year 2020.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
|
|
Bonus
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
Non-equity
incentive plan
compensation
|
|
Nonqualified
deferred
compensation
earnings
|
|
All Other
Compensation
|
|
Total
Compensation
|
Arik
Maimon
|
|
2020
|
|
$
|
295,000
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
$
|
253,333
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
5,000
|
|
$
|
1,053,333
|
Executive
Chairman(1)
|
|
2019
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
$
|
93,740
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
$
|
283,740
|
Michael De
Prado
|
|
2020
|
|
$
|
265,000
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
$
|
202,667
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
4,000
|
|
$
|
971,667
|
Executive Vice
Chairman(2)
|
|
2019
|
|
|
130,000
|
|
$
|
93,740
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
6,000
|
|
$
|
229,740
|
Ran
Daniel
|
|
2020
|
|
$
|
162,000
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
179,452
|
|
$
|
441,952
|
CFO
|
|
2019
|
|
$
|
175,500
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
102,991
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
$
|
278,941
|
Founder/Executive
Chairman Compensation Agreement with Arik Maimon, and
Founder/Executive Vice-Chairman
Compensation Agreement with
Michael De Prado
On August 26, 2021, the Company and Arik Maimon entered into a
Founder/Executive Chairman Compensation Agreement (the “Chairman
Compensation Agreement”). Additionally, on August 26, 2021,
the Company and Michael De Prado entered into a Founder/Executive
Vice-Chairman Compensation Agreement
(the “Vice-Chairman Compensation
Agreement” and collectively with the Chairman Compensation
Agreement, the “Chairman Compensation Agreements”). The term of
each of these Chairman Compensation Agreements became effective as
of August 26, 2021 and replaces any prior arrangements or
employment agreements between the Company and each of
Mr. Maimon and Mr. De Prado (each such individual, an
“Executive” and together, the “Executives”).
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Under the terms of the Chairman Compensation Agreements, the
Executives agreed to be employed by the Company for an initial
continuous twelve-month term beginning
on the effective date of August 26, 2021, and ending on
August 25, 2022. The initial term would be automatically
extended for additional one (1) year periods on the same terms
and conditions as set out in the Chairman Compensation Agreements;
however, the Chairman Compensation Agreements, respectively, will
not renew automatically if either the Company or the respective
Executive provide a written notice to the other of a decision not
to renew, which notice must be given at least ninety (90) days
prior to the end of the initial term or any subsequently renewed
one (1) year term.
Pursuant to the terms of the Chairman Compensation Agreement,
Mr. Maimon will receive an annual base salary of two hundred
ninety-five thousand dollars
($295,000) per year, and pursuant to the terms of the
Vice-Chairman Compensation Agreement,
Mr. De Prado will receive an annual base salary of two hundred
seventy-five thousand dollars
($275,000) per year, and each will be eligible for an annual
incentive payment of up to one hundred percent (100%) of their
respective base salary, which annual incentive payment shall be
based on the Company’s performance as compared to the goals
established by the Company’s Board of Directors in consultation
with each Executive, respectively. This annual incentive shall have
a twelve (12) month performance period and will be based on a
January 1 through December 31 calendar year, with the
Executives’ entitlement to the annual incentive and the amount of
such award, if any, remaining subject to the good faith discretion
of the Board of Directors. Any such annual incentive shall be paid
by the end of the second quarter following the calendar year to
which each respective Executive’s performance relates. Pursuant to
the terms of the Chairman Compensation Agreements, each Executive
has the option to have any such earned annual incentive be paid in
fully vested shares of the Company’s Common Stock, but must elect
such option by the end of the first quarter following the relevant
performance calendar year period.
In the event of a change in control of the Company, as defined
under the terms of the Chairman Compensation Agreements, that takes
place (i) during the term of the Chairman Compensation
Agreement or (ii) prior to the date which is
twenty-four (24) months from the
effective date of the Chairman Compensation Agreements, if the
Executive’s employment otherwise terminates prior to such date
(other than if the Executive’s employment was terminated for cause
or the Executive resigned his employment without good reason, as
such terms are defined under the Chairman Compensation Agreements),
each respective Executive shall be entitled to a bonus payment
equal to two and one-half percent
(2.5%) of the cash consideration received by the shareholders of
the Company in the change in control transaction.
Under the Chairman Compensation Agreements, each Executive is
subject to certain obligations and restrictive covenants,
including, but not limited to: confidentiality, non-competition, non-solicitation, and non-disparagement, among others. The Chairman
Compensation Agreements are each governed by the laws of the State
of Florida. The Chairman Compensation Agreements may be terminated
by the Company for cause or without cause, and by each respective
Executive for good reason or without good reason, as such terms are
defined under the Chairman Compensation Agreements.
Prior Employment Agreements
with Mr. Maimon and Mr. De Prado
On July 24, 2020, our Compensation Committee approved the
amendments to the employment agreements with each of
Mr. Maimon and Mr. De Prado. The Employment Agreements
superseded the terms of the pre-existing Employment Agreements.
Pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreements, among other
things:
(1) Mr. Maimon received the following
compensation: (a) a base salary of $295,000 per annum during
the term of employment (the earlier of four months (or any
extension thereof) or the appointment of a replacement president),
and after the employment term ends payment of such amount
continuing in the form of board compensation for an initial period
of 18 months, which may be extended from year to year for an
additional 12 months (for up to 36 months in total) upon
receipt of required approvals (b) participation in the
Company’s employee benefits plan; (c) participation in the
Company’s Funding and Change in Control Bonus Plans, if and when in
effect, as described below in section 5.
(2) Mr. De Prado received the following
compensation: (a) a base salary of $265,000 per annum during
the term of employment (the earlier of four months (or any
extension thereof) or the appointment of a replacement president),
and after the employment term ends payment of such amount
continuing in the form of board compensation for an initial period
of 18 months, which may be extended from year
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to year for an additional 12 months (for up to 36 months
in total) upon receipt of required approvals;
(b) participation in the Company’s employee benefits plan;
(c) participation in the Company’s Funding and Change in
Control Bonus Plans, if and when in effect, as described below in
section 5.
(3) Each of Mr. De Prado and
Mr. Maimon were employed for an initial term of
four months which could be extended up to an 18 month period
as a Special Board Compensation unless either party terminates the
New Employment Agreements. The terms ended as of February 24,
2021 at which time Mr. De Prado and Mr. Maimon ceased to
serve as President and CEO, respectively and Mr. Maimon began
serving as Interim CEO pending engagement of a new CEO.
(4) The Executives were entitled to a bonus
payment in connection with the Change in Control of the Company
(the “Change in Control Bonus”). The Change in Control Bonus for
the Executive will be based upon a Bonus Percentage (as set forth
in the chart below) based upon the cash consideration received by
the stockholders of the Company in the Change in Control
transaction (minus any expenses, holdback provisions or other
deductions from the purchase price), as determined in the sole
discretion of the Board.
(a) The Bonus Percentage in relation
to the cash consideration received by the stockholders is as
follows:
|
|
Bonus Percentage
|
|
Cash Consideration Received by Stockholders
|
0%
|
|
Less than $150 million
|
1% (one percent)
|
|
$150 million or more
|
2.5% (two and one-half percent)
|
|
$250 million or more
|
3.75% (three and three-fourths percent)
|
|
$500 million or more
|
5% (five percent)
|
|
$1 Billion or more
|
(5) The Executives were entitled to
participate in the Company’s employee benefit, pension and/or
profit-sharing plans, and the Company
will pay certain health and dental premiums on their behalf.
(6) Each of the Executives were entitled to
certain travel and expense reimbursement.
(7) The Executives agreed to a
one-year non-competition agreement following the termination
of their employment.
As the employment terms of the Executives terminated on
February 24, 2021, Mr. Maimon became the chairman (and
interim CEO) of the Company and Mr. De Prado became the vice
chairman. Under the Employment Agreements, each of them continued
to receive the Special Board Compensation described in clause 2
above.
On December 28, 2018, the Company entered into an Employment
Agreement with Mr. Daniel. Pursuant to the terms of the
Employment Agreement, among other things:
(1) Mr. Daniel receives a base salary
of $162,500 per annum for initial five years term. The
Agreement will be automatically renewed for successive
one-year periods unless either party
provides ninety days’ prior notice of termination.
Furthermore, during the term of his Employment Mr. Daniel’s
compensation shall no less than any other officer or employee of
the Company or its subsidiary.
(2) Mr. Daniel has the right, on the
same basis as other senior executives of the Company, to
participate in and to receive benefits under any of the Company’s
employee benefit plans, as such plans may be modified from time to
time, and provided that in no event shall Mr. Daniel receive
less than four weeks paid vacation per annum and six paid sick
and five paid personal days per annum.
(3) Upon the successful up-listing of the Company’s shares of Common Stock
to Nasdaq, Mr. Daniel receives a $100,000 bonus.
(4) Mr. Daniel has agreed to a
one-year non-competition agreement following the termination
of his employment.
(5) If Mr. Daniel’s employment with the
Company terminates as a result of an involuntary termination (as
defined in the Employment Agreement), then, in addition to any
other benefits described in this Agreement, Mr. Daniel shall
receive all compensation bonuses and benefits earned the date of
his termination of
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employment. In addition, Mr. Daniel will be entitled to a lump
sum payment equivalent to the remaining salary due Mr. Daniel
to the end of the term of his Employment or six months’
salary, whichever is the greater;
Stock Options
Outstanding Stock Option
Awards
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to
unexercised stock options held by the Named Executive Officers
outstanding on December 31, 2020:
Name
(a)
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
(b)
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
(c)
|
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)
(d)
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price ($)
(e)
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
(f)
|
|
Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That Have
Not Vested
(#) (g)
(9)
|
|
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That
Have Not
Vested ($)
(h)
|
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That Have
Not Vested (#)
(i)
|
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That Have
Not Vested (#)
(j)
|
Arik
Maimon
|
|
68,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
11.93
|
|
44,000 options
at March 29, 2025 and the reminder at November 12, 2023
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
Michael
De
Prado
|
|
35,200
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
14.35
|
|
March 29,
2025
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
Ran
Daniel
|
|
20,000
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
5.29
|
|
April 6,
2024
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
Director
Compensation
No director compensation was paid in 2020.
For 2021, non-employee directors
receive $50,000 per year, paid quarterly. In addition, the chairman
of the audit committee receives an additional $10,000 annually, the
chairman of the compensation committee receives an additional
$7,000 annually and the chairman of the nominating and corporate
governance committee receives an additional $5,000 annually.
16
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PROPOSAL 2
APPROVAL ON AN ADVISORY BASIS OF THE COMPENSATION OF NAMED
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Introduction
In accordance with Section 951 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection
Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank
Act”) and Section 14A of the Exchange Act, the following
proposal, commonly known as a “Say on Pay” proposal, enables our
stockholders to vote to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of our
named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in
accordance with applicable SEC rules.
Our goal for our executive compensation program is to attract,
motivate and retain a talented team of executives who will provide
leadership for our success, and thereby increase stockholder value.
We believe that our executive compensation program satisfies this
goal and is strongly aligned with the long-term interests of our stockholders. We urge
stockholders to read the section titled “Executive Compensation”
elsewhere in this proxy statement for additional details about our
executive compensation programs, including information about the
compensation of our named executive officers in 2020.
We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our
named executive officer compensation as described in this proxy
statement. This “say-on-pay” proposal gives our stockholders the
opportunity to express their views on our named executive officers’
compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific
item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our
named executive officers described in this proxy statement.
Accordingly, we will ask our stockholders to vote FOR the following
resolution at the Annual Meeting:
“RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Cuentas Inc. approve, on an
advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers,
as disclosed in the Cuentas Inc. proxy statement for the 2021
Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation
disclosure rules of the SEC.”
This say-on-pay vote is advisory, and therefore, is not
binding on us, our Compensation Committee or our Board. Our Board
and our Compensation Committee value the opinions of our
stockholders, and to the extent that this resolution is not
approved by a majority of the votes properly cast, we may review
and consider the results of this advisory vote in future
compensation deliberations.
Required Vote
The approval, on an advisory basis, of the stockholders by a
majority of the votes properly cast at the Annual Meeting is being
sought to approve the compensation of our named executive officers
as disclosed in this proxy statement.
Recommendation
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL ON AN
ADVISORY BASIS OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
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Proposal 3
CONDUCTING FUTURE
NON-BINDING
STOCKHOLDER ADVISORY VOTES ON THE COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
Introduction
Under the Dodd-Frank Act, public
companies are generally required to include in their proxy
solicitations at least once every six years an advisory vote
on whether an advisory vote on named executive officer compensation
(such as the say-on-pay proposal that is included in this proxy
statement) should occur every one, two or three years.
We believe we have effective executive compensation practices. That
said, our Board believes that providing our stockholders with an
advisory vote on named executive officer compensation every
three years will bolster our executive compensation practices
by allowing the Board and Compensation Committee to consider
stockholder analysis when making compensation determinations.
For the above reasons, our Board recommends that stockholders
approve holding an advisory vote on named executive officer
compensation every three years.
You may cast your vote on your preferred voting frequency by
choosing the option of one year, two years or
three years, or you may abstain from voting when you vote in
response to the resolution set forth below.
“RESOLVED, that the option of once every year, two years, or
three years, that receives the highest number of votes cast
for this resolution will be determined to be the stockholders’
preferred frequency with which Cuentas Inc. is to hold a
stockholder advisory vote regarding the executive compensation of
its named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s
compensation disclosure rules.”
The option of one year, two years or three years that
receives the highest number of votes cast by stockholders will be
the frequency for the advisory vote on the compensation of our
named executive officers that has been selected by stockholders.
However, because the vote on this proposal is only advisory in
nature and is not binding on us or our Board, our Board will review
and consider the results of the vote, but may decide that it is in
our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders to
hold an advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive
officers more or less frequently than the option approved by our
stockholders. The results of this advisory vote and the
determination of the Board following such advisory vote will be
included in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Required Vote
The frequency of conducting future stockholder advisory votes on
named executive officer compensation (which will be either every
year, every two years or every three years) will be
determined by the frequency that receives the largest number of
votes.
Recommendation
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THIS
NON-BINDING
ADVISORY VOTE TO OCCUR EVERY three years.
18
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PROPOSAL 4
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE
COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR FISCAL 2021
Introduction
The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors has
appointed the firm of Halperin Ilanit, Certified Public Accountants
to serve as the Company’s independent auditors for our fiscal year
ending December 31, 2021. Stockholders will be asked to ratify
the Audit Committee’s appointment of the Auditor to serve as our
independent auditors. The Board, through its Audit Committee, is
directly responsible for appointing the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm. The Board is not bound by the
outcome of this vote but will consider these voting results when
selecting the Company’s independent auditor for fiscal year 2022. A
representative of the Auditor is not expected to be present at the
Annual Meeting.
Fees
Audit Fees
The Company incurred annual audit fees during the years ended
December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 with Halperin
Ilanit CPA totaling approximately $55,000.
Audit-Related
Fees
The Company incurred annual audit related fees during the year
ended December 31, 2020 totalling approximately $35,000. Our
principal accountant did not provide audit related services that
are reasonably related to the performance of our audit or review of
our financial statements for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2019.
All Other Fees
There were no other fees billed for products or services provided
by our principal accountant for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
Our audit committee reviewed or ratified the engagement of the
Company’s principal accountant or the fees disclosed above.
Required Vote
Ratification of the appointment by the Audit Committee of the
Auditor as the Company’s independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at this Annual
Meeting.
Recommendation of the
Board
THE
BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
THE RATIFICATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT BY THE BOARD OF HALPERIN ILANIT, CERTIFIED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING December 31,
2021.
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PROPOSAL 5
THE 2021 PLAN
General
On May 27, 2021, the Company’s Compensation Committee approved
and on June 17, 2021, the Board approved, the 2021 Plan,
subject to shareholder approval. If the 2021 Plan is approved by
the shareholders, the Company will be authorized to grant equity
awards to eligible service providers. The form of the 2021 Plan is
attached to this proxy statement as Annex A.
Purpose of the Incentive Plan
Proposal
The purpose of the 2021 Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of
stockholder value by encouraging service providers to focus on
critical long-range corporate
objectives and linking service providers directly to stockholder
interests through increased stock ownership. The Company believes
that the 2021 Plan will be important in helping to attract and
retain service providers of the Company with exceptional
qualifications. The Company intends to make under the 2021 Plan as
described below.
Reasons for the Approval of
the Incentive Plan Proposal
Shareholder approval of the 2021 Plan is necessary in order for the
Company to (a) meet the shareholder approval requirements of
the Nasdaq Stock Exchange and (b) grant incentive stock
options (“ISOs”).
Material Terms of the 2021
Plan
The material terms of the 2021 Plan, are summarized below. This
summary, however, is not intended to be a complete description of
the 2021 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
complete text of the 2021 Plan, the form of which is attached to
proxy statement as Annex A. To
the extent there is a conflict between the terms of this summary
and the 2021 Plan, the terms of the 2021 Plan will control.
Administration. The
2021 Plan will be administered by a committee which shall be
comprised, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors,
solely of not less than two members who shall be “Non-Employee Directors” within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3(b)(3) (or any
successor rule) promulgated under the Exchange Act to which
the board of directors delegates such administration (as
applicable, the “Plan Administrator”). Subject to the terms of the
2021 Plan, the Plan Administrator will have the authority to
(a) determine the eligible individuals who are to receive
awards under the 2021 Plan, (b) determine the terms and
conditions of awards granted under the 2021 Plan,
(c) determine performance criteria and the achievement of such
criteria, (d) accelerate the vesting or exercisability of,
payment for or lapse of restrictions on, awards and (e) make
all other decisions related to the 2021 Plan and awards granted
thereunder. The Plan Administrator may also delegate to one or more
senior officers of the Combined Company the authority to grant
awards, subject to terms and conditions determined by the Plan
Administrator and within the limitations of Section 16 of the
Exchange Act.
Types of
Awards. The 2021 Plan provides for
the grant of stock options, which may be ISOs or nonstatutory stock
options (“NSOs”), stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted
shares, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and other cash-based, equity-based
or equity-related awards that the Plan
Administrator determines are consistent with the purpose of the
2021 Plan and the interests of the Company, or collectively,
awards.
Share
Reserve. The number of shares of the
Company’s Common Stock that may be issued under the 2021 Plan is
3,150,000, inclusive of options to purchase an aggregate of
1,550,000 that have been issued under the 2021 Plan (see “New Plan
Benefits” below).
If options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units or
any other awards are forfeited, cancelled or expire before being
exercised or settled in full, the shares subject to such awards
will again be available for issuance under the 2021 Plan. If stock
appreciation rights are exercised or restricted stock units are
settled, only the number of shares actually issued upon exercise or
settlement of such awards will reduce the number of shares
available under the 2021 Plan. If restricted shares or shares
issued upon exercise of an option are reacquired by the Company
pursuant to a forfeiture provision, repurchase right or for any
other reason, then such shares will again be available for
issuance
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under the 2021 Plan. Shares applied to pay the exercise price of an
option or satisfy withholding taxes related to any award will again
become available for issuance under the 2021 Plan. To the extent an
award is settled in cash, the cash settlement will not reduce the
number of shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan.
Shares issued under the 2021 Plan may be authorized but unissued
shares or treasury shares.
Eligibility. Employees
(including officers), non-employee
directors and consultants who render services to the Company or a
parent, subsidiary or affiliate thereof (whether now existing or
subsequently established) are eligible to receive awards under the
2021 Plan. ISOs may only be granted to employees of the Company or
subsidiary thereof (whether now existing or subsequently
established). As of the date hereof, approximately 18 persons
(including executive officers and non-employee directors) would be eligible to
participate in the 2021 Plan.
International
Participation. The Plan Administrator
has the authority to implement sub-plans (or otherwise modify applicable grant
terms) for purposes of satisfying applicable foreign laws,
conforming to applicable market practices or for qualifying for
favorable tax treatment under applicable foreign laws, and the
terms and conditions applicable to awards granted under any such
sub-plan or modified award may differ
from the terms of the 2021 Plan. Any shares issued in satisfaction
of awards granted under a sub-plan
will come from the 2021 Plan share reserve.
Repricing. The
Plan Administrator has full authority to reprice (reduce the
exercise price of) options and stock appreciation rights or to
approve programs in which options and stock appreciation rights are
exchanged for cash or other equity awards on terms the Plan
Administrator determines.
Stock
Options. A stock option is the right
to purchase a certain number of shares of stock at a fixed exercise
price which, pursuant to the 2021 Plan, may not be less than 100%
of the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date
of grant. Subject to limited exceptions, an option may have a term
of up to 10 years and will generally expire sooner if the
optionee’s service terminates. Options will vest at the rate
determined by the Plan Administrator. An optionee may pay the
exercise price of an option in cash, or, with the administrator’s
consent, with shares of stock the optionee already owns, with
proceeds from an immediate sale of the option shares through a
broker approved by us, through a net exercise procedure or by any
other method permitted by applicable law.
Stock Appreciation
Rights. A stock appreciation right
provides the recipient with the right to the appreciation in a
specified number of shares of stock. The Plan Administrator
determines the exercise price of stock appreciation rights granted
under the 2021 Plan, which may not be less than 100% of the fair
market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant.
Subject to limited exceptions, a stock appreciation right may have
a term of up to 10 years and will generally expire sooner if
the recipient’s service terminates. SARs will vest at the rate
determined by the Plan Administrator. Upon exercise of a SAR, the
recipient will receive an amount in cash, stock, or a combination
of stock and cash determined by the Plan Administrator, equal to
the excess of the fair market value of the shares being exercised
over their exercise price.
Tax Limitations on
Incentive Stock Options. The
aggregate fair market value, determined at the time of grant, of
the Company’s Common Stock with respect to ISOs that are
exercisable for the first time by an option holder during any
calendar year under all of the Company’s stock plans may not exceed
$100,000. Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit will
generally be treated as NSOs. .No ISO may be granted to any person
who, at the time of the grant, owns or is deemed to own stock
possessing more than 10% of the Company’s total combined voting
power or that of any of the Company’s affiliates unless
(a) the option exercise price is at least 110% of the fair
market value of the stock subject to the option on the date of
grant and (b) the term of the ISO does not exceed
five years from the date of grant.
Restricted Stock
Awards. Shares of restricted stock
may be issued under the 2021 Plan for such consideration as the
Plan Administrator may determine, including cash, services rendered
or to be rendered to the Company, promissory notes or such other
forms of consideration permitted under applicable law. Restricted
shares may be subject to vesting, as determined by the Plan
Administrator. Recipients of restricted shares generally have all
of the rights of a shareholder with respect to those shares,
including voting rights, however any dividends and other
distributions on restricted shares will generally be subject to the
same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the
underlying shares.
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Restricted Stock
Units. A restricted stock unit is a
right to receive a share, at no cost to the recipient, upon
satisfaction of certain conditions, including vesting conditions,
established by the Plan Administrator. RSUs vest at the rate
determined by the Plan Administrator and any unvested RSUs will
generally be forfeited upon termination of the recipient’s service.
Settlement of restricted stock units may be made in the form of
cash, stock or a combination of cash and stock, as determined by
the Plan Administrator. Recipients of restricted stock units
generally will have no voting or dividend rights prior to the time
the vesting conditions are satisfied and the award is settled. At
the Plan Administrator’s discretion and as set forth in the
applicable restricted stock unit agreement, restricted stock units
may provide for the right to dividend equivalents which will
generally be subject to the same conditions and restrictions as the
restricted stock units to which they pertain.
Other
Awards. The Plan Administrator may
grant other awards based in whole or in part by reference to the
Company’s Common Stock and may grant awards under other plans and
programs that will be settled with shares issued under the 2021
Plan. The Plan Administrator will determine the terms and
conditions of any such awards.
Changes to Capital
Structure. In the event of certain
changes in capitalization, including a stock split, reverse stock
split or stock dividend, proportionate adjustments will be made in
the number and kind of shares available for issuance under the 2021
Plan, the limit on the number of shares that may be issued under
the 2021 Plan as ISOs, the number and kind of shares subject to
each outstanding award and/or the exercise price of each
outstanding award.
Corporate
Transactions. If the Company is party
to a merger, consolidation or certain change in control
transactions, each outstanding award will be treated as described
in the definitive transaction agreement or as the Plan
Administrator determines, which may include the continuation,
assumption or substitution of an outstanding award, the
cancellation of an outstanding award after an opportunity to
exercise or the cancellation of an outstanding award in exchange
for a payment equal to the value of the shares subject to such
award less any applicable exercise price. In general, if an award
held by a participant who remains in service at the effective time
of a change in control transaction is not continued, assumed or
substituted, then the award will vest in full, and for awards
subject to one or more performance-based vesting conditions that have not yet been
satisfied, such performance-based
vesting conditions shall be deemed achieved at 100% of target
levels.
Change of
Control. The Plan Administrator may
provide, in an individual award agreement or in any other written
agreement with a participant, that the award will be subject to
acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the event of a change
of control or in connection with a termination of employment in
connection with or following a change in control.
Transferability of
Awards. Unless the Plan Administrator
determines otherwise, an award generally will not be transferable
other than by beneficiary designation, a will or the laws of
descent and distribution. The Plan Administrator may permit
transfer of an award in a manner consistent with applicable
law.
Amendment and
Termination. The Plan Administrator
may amend or terminate the 2021 Plan at any time. Any such
amendment or termination will not affect outstanding awards. If not
sooner terminated, the 2021 Plan will terminate automatically
10 years after its adoption by the Board. Shareholder approval
is not required for any amendment of the 2021 Plan, unless required
by applicable law, government regulation or exchange listing
standards.
Certain Federal Income Tax
Aspects of Awards Under the 2021 Plan
This is a brief summary of the U.S. federal income tax aspects
of awards that may be made under the 2021 Plan based on existing
U.S. federal income tax laws as of the date of this this proxy
statement. This summary covers only the basic tax rules. It does
not describe a number of special tax rules, including the
alternative minimum tax and various elections that may be
applicable under certain circumstances. It also does not reflect
provisions of the income tax laws of any municipality, state or
foreign country in which a holder may reside, nor does it reflect
the tax consequences of a holder’s death. Therefore, no one should
rely on this summary for individual tax compliance, planning or
decisions. Participants in the 2021 Plan should consult their own
professional tax advisors concerning tax aspects of awards under
the 2021 Plan. The discussion below concerning tax deductions that
may become available to the Combined Company under
U.S. federal tax law is not intended to imply that the Company
will necessarily obtain a tax benefit or asset from those
deductions. The tax consequences of awards under the 2021 Plan
depend upon the type of award. Changes to tax laws following the
date of this proxy statement could alter the tax consequences
described below.
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Incentive Stock
Options. No taxable income is
recognized by an optionee upon the grant or vesting of an ISO, and
no taxable income is recognized at the time an ISO is exercised
unless the optionee is subject to the alternative minimum tax. The
excess of the fair market value of the purchased shares on the
exercise date over the exercise price paid for the shares is
includable in alternative minimum taxable income.
If the optionee holds the purchased shares for more than one year
after the date the ISO was exercised and more than two years
after the ISO was granted (the “required ISO holding periods”),
then the optionee will generally recognize long-term capital gain or loss upon disposition of
such shares. The gain or loss will equal the difference between the
amount realized upon the disposition of the shares and the exercise
price paid for such shares. If the optionee disposes of the
purchased shares before satisfying either of the required ISO
holding periods, then the optionee will recognize ordinary income
equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date the ISO
was exercised over the exercise price paid for the shares (or, if
less, the amount realized on a sale of such shares). Any additional
gain will be a capital gain and will be treated as
short-term or long-term capital gain depending on how long the
shares were held by the optionee.
Nonstatutory Stock
Options. No taxable income is
recognized by an optionee upon the grant or vesting of an NSO,
provided the NSO does not have a readily ascertainable fair market
value. If the NSO does not have a readily ascertainable fair market
value, the optionee will generally recognize ordinary income in the
year in which the option is exercised equal to the excess of the
fair market value of the purchased shares on the exercise date over
the exercise price paid for the shares. If the optionee is an
employee or former employee, the optionee will be required to
satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income.
Upon resale of the purchased shares, any subsequent appreciation or
depreciation in the value of the shares will be treated as
short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on how long
the shares were held by the optionee.
Restricted
Stock. A participant who receives an
award of restricted stock generally does not recognize taxable
income at the time of the award. Instead, the participant
recognizes ordinary income when the shares vest, subject to
withholding if the participant is an employee or former employee.
The amount of taxable income is equal to the fair market value of
the shares on the vesting date(s) less the amount, if any,
paid for the shares. Alternatively, a participant may make a
one-time election to recognize income
at the time the participant receives restricted stock in an amount
equal to the fair market value of the restricted stock (less any
amount paid for the shares) on the date of the award by making an
election under Section 83(b) of the Code.
Restricted Stock Unit
Awards. In general, no taxable income
results upon the grant of an RSU. The recipient will generally
recognize ordinary income, subject to withholding if the recipient
is an employee or former employee, equal to the fair market value
of the shares that are delivered to the recipient upon settlement
of the RSU. Upon resale of the shares acquired pursuant to an
RSU, any subsequent appreciation or depreciation in the value of
the shares will be treated as short-term or long-term
capital gain or loss depending on how long the shares were held by
the recipient.
Stock Appreciation
Rights. In general, no taxable income
results upon the grant of a SAR.A participant will generally
recognize ordinary income in the year of exercise equal to the
value of the shares or other consideration received. In the case of
a current or former employee, this amount is subject to
withholding. Section 409A. The foregoing description
assumes that Section 409A of the Code does not apply to an
award. In general, options and stock appreciation rights are exempt
from Section 409A if the exercise price per share is at least
equal to the fair market value per share of the underlying stock at
the time the option or stock appreciation right was granted. RSUs
are subject to Section 409A unless they are settled within two
and one half months after the end of the later of (a) the
end of the Company’s fiscal year in which vesting occurs or
(b) the end of the calendar year in which vesting occurs.
Restricted stock awards are not generally subject to
Section 409A. If an award is subject to Section 409A
and the provisions for the exercise or settlement of that award do
not comply with Section 409A, then the participant would be
required to recognize ordinary income whenever a portion of the
award vested (regardless of whether it had been exercised or
settled). This amount would also be subject to a 20%
U.S. federal tax in addition to the U.S. federal income
tax at the participant’s usual marginal rate for ordinary
income.
Tax Treatment of the
Company. The Company will generally
be entitled to an income tax deduction at the time and to the
extent a participant recognizes ordinary income as a result of an
award granted under the 2021 Plan. However,
Section 162(m) of the Code may limit the deductibility of
certain awards granted under the 2021 Plan. Although the Plan
Administrator considers the deductibility of compensation as one
factor in determining executive compensation, the Plan
Administrator retains the discretion to award and pay compensation
that is not deductible as it believes that it is in the
shareholders’ best interests to maintain flexibility in the
approach to executive compensation and to structure a program that
the Company considers to be the most effective in attracting,
motivating and retaining key employees.
23
Table of
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New
Plan Benefits
On November 3, 2021, we granted stock options to executive
offices and non-employee directors
The options vest on the terms set forth on the table below. Such
options cannot be exercised until, and are subject to, shareholder
approval of the 2021 Plan. If shareholder approval is not obtained,
such options shall be cancelled.
The following table shows the total number of options that have
been granted to the identified individuals and groups, which awards
are subject to the approval of Proposal No. 5 by our
shareholders::
Name
|
|
Number of
Options
|
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
Vesting Schedule
|
Jeffery D Johnson
|
|
500,000
|
|
$
|
2.80
|
|
125,000 on grant date. 187,500 on each Employment Anniversary.
|
Shalom Arik Maimon
|
|
200,000
|
|
$
|
2.80
|
|
50% on grant date; 50% on 12 month anniversary of grant date
|
Michael DePrado
|
|
150,000
|
|
$
|
2.80
|
|
50% on grant date; 50% on 12 month anniversary of grant date
|
Ran Daniel
|
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
2.80
|
|
50% on grant date; 50% on 12 month anniversary of grant date
|
Richard Berman
|
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
2.80
|
|
50% on grant date; 50% on 12 month anniversary of grant date
|
Yochanon Bruk
|
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
2.80
|
|
50% on grant date; 50% on 12 month anniversary of grant date
|
Jeff Lewis
|
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
2.80
|
|
50% on grant date; 50% on 12 month anniversary of grant date
|
David Schottenstein
|
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
2.80
|
|
50% on grant date; 50% on 12 month anniversary of grant date
|
Adiv Baruch
|
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
2.80
|
|
50% on grant date; 50% on 12 month anniversary of grant date
|
Carol Pepper
|
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
2.80
|
|
50% on grant date; 50% on 12 month anniversary of grant date
|
All executive officers as a group
|
|
950,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
All non-executive directors as a
group
|
|
600,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
All non-executive officer employees as
a group
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registration with the
SEC
If the 2021 Plan is approved by the Company’s shareholders and
becomes effective, the Company intends to file a registration
statement on Form S-8 registering
the shares of the Company’s Common Stock reserved for issuance
under the 2021 Plan as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter
form.
Required Vote
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual
Meeting by the holders of Common Stock entitled to vote is required
for approval of the Incentive Plan Proposal. Since the directors
will only receive their option grants if the 2021 Plan is approved
by the shareholders at this meeting, the directors have a pecuniary
interest in the outcome of this vote.
Recommendation.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE 2021
PLAN.
24
Table of
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OTHER INFORMATION
Proxy
Solicitation
All costs of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company.
In addition to solicitation by mail, the Company’s officers and
regular employees may solicit proxies personally or by telephone.
The Company does not intend to utilize a paid solicitation
agent.
Proxies
A stockholder may revoke his, her or its proxy at any time prior to
its use by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Company,
by executing a revised proxy at a later date. Proxies in the form
enclosed, unless previously revoked, will be voted at the Annual
Meeting in accordance with the specifications made thereon or, in
the absence of such specifications in accordance with the
recommendations of the Board.
Securities Outstanding;
Votes Required
As of the close of business on the Record Date there were
14,965,690 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Stockholders are
entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock owned. In the
election of directors, the nine persons receiving the highest
number of affirmative votes cast at the Annual Meeting will be
elected. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Common
Stock cast at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy is required
for approval of proposals 2, 4 and 5. With regard to
Proposal 3, the frequency of conducting future stockholder
advisory votes will be determined by the frequency that receives
the largest number of votes. Shares of the Common Stock represented
by executed proxies received by the Company will be counted for
purposes of establishing a quorum at the Annual Meeting, regardless
of how or whether such shares are voted on any specific
proposal.
Other Business
Our Board knows of no other matter to be presented at the Annual
Meeting. If any additional matter should properly come before the
Annual 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.
25
Table of
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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND
DIRECTORS
The following table sets forth, as of November 3, 2021,
certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of
shares of our common stock by: (i) each person known to us to
be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of our
outstanding shares of common stock, (ii) each director or
nominee for director of our Company, (iii) each of the
executives, and (iv) our directors and executive officers as a
group. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each shareholder
is c/o our company at our principal office address:
Beneficial Owner
|
|
Address
|
|
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
|
|
Percent of
Class (1)
|
Arik Maimon(2) Executive
Chairman
|
|
235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210
Miami Beach, FL 33139
|
|
1,689,449
|
|
11.2
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael De Prado(3) Executive Vice
Chairman
|
|
235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210
Miami Beach, FL 33139
|
|
798,232
|
|
5.3
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adiv Baruch(4) Director
|
|
235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210
Miami Beach, FL 33139
|
|
63,334
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CIMA Telecom Inc.(5)
|
|
1728 Coral Way, 6th Floor
Miami, Florida 33145
|
|
2,702,992
|
|
18.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ran Daniel(6)
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210
Miami Beach, FL 33139
|
|
40,000
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff Lewis(7)
Director
|
|
235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210
Miami Beach, FL 33139
|
|
6,667
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David B. Schottenstein Director
|
|
235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210
Miami Beach, FL 33139
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Aliza Irrevocable
Trust
|
|
255 Aragon Avenue, 2nd Floor
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
|
|
1,087,442
|
|
7.27
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard J. Berman(8)
Director
|
|
235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210
Miami Beach, FL 33139
|
|
22,000
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yochanon Bruk(9)
Director
|
|
1898 NW 74th Ave.
Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
|
|
2,703,391
|
|
18.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carol Pepper(10)
Director
|
|
235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210
Miami Beach, FL 33139
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edward Maldonado(11)
Director
|
|
2850 Douglas Road, Suite 303
Coral Gables, FL 33134
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff Johnson
CEO
|
|
235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210
Miami Beach, FL 33139
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Directors and Officers as a Group (10 persons)
|
|
|
|
5,393,584
|
|
35.6
|
%
|
26
Table of
Contents
Deadline for Submission of
Stockholder Proposals for 2022 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 2022 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 235 Lincoln Road, Suite 210, Miami Beach, Florida
33139 no later than July 18, 2022.
Stockholders may present proposals intended for inclusion in our
proxy statement for our 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
provided that such proposals are received by the Secretary of the
Company in accordance with the time schedules set forth in, and
otherwise in compliance with, applicable SEC regulations, and the
Company’s Bylaws, as amended, as applicable. Proposals submitted
not in accordance with such regulations will be deemed untimely or
otherwise deficient; however, the Company will have discretionary
authority to include such proposals in the 2022 Proxy
Statement.
Stockholder
Communications
Stockholders wishing to communicate with the Board may direct such
communications to the Board c/o the Company, Attn: Arik Maimon.
Mr. Maimon will present a summary of all stockholder
communications to the Board at subsequent Board meetings. The
directors will have the opportunity to review the actual
communications at their discretion.
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, 2020. Such Report includes the Company’s
audited financial statements for the 2020 fiscal year and certain
other financial information, which is incorporated by reference
herein.
In addition, we are subject to certain informational requirements
of the Exchange Act and in accordance therewith file 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 Matthew
Schulman, Compliance Officer of the Company, at 235 Lincoln Road,
Suite 210, Miami Beach, FL 33139.
27
Table of
Contents
Annex A
CUENTAS INC.
2021 SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose. The Cuentas
Inc. 2021 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is intended to provide
incentives which will attract, retain and motivate highly competent
persons as officers, employees and non-employee directors (“Director Participants”), of,
and consultants to, Cuestas Inc. (the “Company”), and its
subsidiaries and affiliates, by providing them opportunities to
acquire shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per
share (the “Common Stock”), or to receive monetary payments based
on the value of such shares pursuant to the Benefits (as defined
below) described herein. Additionally, the Plan is intended to
assist in further aligning the interests of the Company’s officers,
employees and consultants to those of its other stockholders.
2. Administration.
a. The Plan will be administered
by a committee (the “Committee”) appointed by the Board of
Directors of the Company from among its members (which may be the
Compensation Committee) and shall be comprised, unless otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors, solely of not less than two
members who shall be “Non-Employee
Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) (or any successor rule) promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Committee is authorized,
subject to the provisions of the Plan, to establish such rules and
regulations as it deems necessary for the proper administration of
the Plan and to make such determinations and interpretations and to
take such action in connection with the Plan and any Benefits
granted hereunder as it deems necessary or advisable. All
determinations and interpretations made by the Committee shall be
binding and conclusive on all participants and their legal
representatives. No member of the Committee and no employee of the
Company shall be liable for any act or failure to act hereunder,
except in circumstances involving bad faith, gross negligence or
willful misconduct, or for any act or failure to act hereunder by
any other member or employee or by any agent to whom duties in
connection with the administration of this Plan have been
delegated. The Company shall indemnify members of the Committee and
any agent of the Committee who is an employee of the Company, a
subsidiary or an affiliate against any and all liabilities or
expenses to which they may be subjected by reason of any act or
failure to act with respect to their duties on behalf of the Plan,
except in circumstances involving such person’s bad faith, gross
negligence or willful misconduct.
b. The Committee may delegate to
one or more of its members, or to one or more agents, such
administrative duties as it may deem advisable, and the Committee,
or any person to whom it has delegated duties as aforesaid, may
employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any
responsibility the Committee or such person may have under the
Plan. The Committee may employ such legal or other counsel,
consultants and agents as it may deem desirable for the
administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion or
computation received from any such counsel, consultant or agent.
Expenses incurred by the Committee in the engagement of such
counsel, consultant or agent shall be paid by the Company, or the
subsidiary or affiliate whose employees have benefited from the
Plan, as determined by the Committee.
3. Participants.
Participants will consist of such officers, employees and Director
Participants of, and such consultants to, the Company and its
subsidiaries and affiliates as the Committee in its sole discretion
determines to be significantly responsible for the success and
future growth and profitability of the Company and whom the
Committee may designate from time to time to receive Benefits under
the Plan. Designation of a participant in any year shall not
require the Committee to designate such person to receive a Benefit
in any other year or, once designated, to receive the same type or
amount of Benefit as granted to the participant in any other year.
The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems pertinent in
selecting participants and in determining the type and amount of
their respective Benefits.
4. Type of Benefits.
Benefits under the Plan may be granted in any one or a combination
of (a) Stock Options, (b) Stock Appreciation Rights,
(c) Stock Awards, (d) Performance Awards and
(e) Stock Units (each as described below, and
collectively, the “Benefits”). Benefits shall be evidenced by
agreements (which need not be identical) in such forms as the
Committee may from time to time approve; provided, however, that in
the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan and
any such agreements, the provisions of the Plan shall prevail.
5. Common Stock Available Under
the Plan. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock that may be subject to Benefits, including Incentive Stock
Options, granted under this Plan shall be 3,150,000 shares, which
may be authorized and unissued or treasury shares, subject to any
adjustments in accordance with Section 13
Annex A-1
Table of
Contents
hereof. Any shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Option or
Stock Appreciation Right which for any reason is cancelled or
terminated without having been exercised, any shares subject to
Stock Awards, Performance Awards or Stock Units which are
forfeited, any shares subject to Performance Awards settled in
cash, any shares delivered to the Company as part or full payment
for the exercise of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right or
any shares delivered to the Company in satisfaction of any tax
withholding arising in connection with any Benefit consisting of
shares of Common Stock, as the case may be, shall again be
available for Benefits under the Plan.
6. Stock Options. Stock
Options will consist of awards from the Company that will enable
the holder to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock, at set
terms. Stock Options may be “incentive stock options”, within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the “Code”, which awards shall be “Incentive Stock
Options”), or Stock Options which do not constitute Incentive Stock
Options (“Nonqualified Stock Options”); provided, however, that
grants of Incentive Stock Options may only be made to employees of
the Company, a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation and
that Incentive Stock Option grants made prior to approval of the
grant of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan by stockholders of
the Company shall be subject to such approval and provided,
further, that if stockholder approval of the grant of Incentive
Stock Options under the Plan is not obtained within
twelve months of adoption of the Plan by the Board of
Directors, any Stock Option granted during the twelve month period
after adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors that is
designated as an Incentive Stock Option shall be treated thereafter
as Nonqualified Stock Option. The Committee will have the authority
to grant to any participant, including officers, employees,
Director Participants, and consultants, Nonqualified Stock Options,
or, for those participants who are employees of the Company, a
subsidiary corporation or parent corporation both types of Stock
Options (in each case with or without Stock Appreciation Rights).
Each Stock Option shall be subject to such terms and conditions
consistent with the Plan as the Committee may impose from time to
time, subject to the following limitations:
a. Exercise Price. Each
Stock Option granted hereunder shall have such per-share exercise price as the Committee may
determine at the date of grant provided that such per share
exercise price shall be at least equal to the Fair Market Value;
subject to subsection (d), below.
b. Payment of Exercise
Price. The option exercise price may be paid by
i. cash;
ii. check;
iii. surrender of other shares of Common Stock which
(A) shall be valued at its fair market value on the date of
exercise, and (B) must be owned free and clear of any liens,
claims, encumbrances or security interests, if accepting such
shares, in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall not result
in any adverse accounting consequences to the Company;
iv. if approved by the Committee, as determined in
its sole discretion, by a broker-assisted cashless exercise in accordance with
procedures approved by the Committee, whereby payment of the
exercise price or tax withholding obligations may be satisfied, in
whole or in part, with shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock
Option by delivery of an irrevocable direction to a securities
broker (on a form prescribed by the Committee) to sell shares and
to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company in
payment of the aggregate exercise price and, if applicable, the
amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s withholding obligations;
or
v. by any other means approved by the
Committee, as determined in its sole discretion, including, without
limitation, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the
Company, pursuant to which the participant shall receive the number
of shares underlying the Stock Option so exercised reduced by the
number of shares equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Stock
Option divided by the Fair Market Value on the date of
exercise.
c. Exercise Period. Stock
Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or
times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be
determined by the Committee; provided, however, that no Stock
Option shall be exercisable later than ten years after the
date it is granted. All Stock Options shall terminate at such
earlier times and upon such conditions or circumstances as the
Committee shall in its discretion set forth in such Stock Option
agreement at the date of grant; provided, however, the Committee
may, in its sole discretion, later waive any such condition.
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d. Limitations on Incentive
Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only
to participants who are employees of the Company or one of its
subsidiaries (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the
Code) at the date of grant. The aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined as of the time the Stock Option is granted) of the
Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by a participant during any calendar
year (under all option plans of the Company and of any parent
corporation or subsidiary corporation (as defined in Sections
424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively)) shall not
exceed $100,000. For purposes of the preceding sentence, Incentive
Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they
are granted. The per-share exercise
price of an Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of
the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, and
no Incentive Stock Option may be exercised later than
ten years after the date it is granted; provided, however,
Incentive Stock Options may not be granted to any participant who,
at the time of grant, owns stock possessing (after the application
of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code)
more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the
Company, unless the exercise price is fixed at not less than 110%
of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant
and the exercise of such option is prohibited by its terms after
the expiration of five years from the date of grant of such
option. If shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an
Incentive Stock Option are disposed of within two (2) years
following the grant date or one (1) year following the
transfer of such shares to the participant upon exercise, the
participant shall, promptly following such disposition, notify the
Committee in writing of the date and terms of such disposition and
provide such other information regarding the disposition as the
Committee may reasonably require.
e. Post-Severance
Exercises. Upon
termination of employment of any employee, termination of service
on the Board of Directors of a Director Participant or of the
continuing services of any consultant with the Company and all
subsidiary corporations and parent corporations of the Company, any
Stock Option previously granted to the employee, Director
Participant or consultant, unless otherwise specified by the
Committee in the Stock Option agreement, shall, to the extent not
theretofore exercised, terminate and become null and void;
provided, however, that:
i. if the employee, Director
Participant or consultant shall die while in the employ or service
of such corporation at a time when such employee, Director
Participant or consultant was entitled to exercise a Stock Option
as herein provided, the legal representative of such employee,
Director Participant or consultant, or such person who acquired
such Stock Option by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the
death of the employee, Director Participant or consultant, may, not
later than one (1) year from the date of death, exercise such
Stock Option, to the extent not theretofore exercised, in respect
of any or all of such number of shares of Common Stock as specified
by the Committee in such Stock Option agreement; and
ii. if the employment of any employee or the
continuing services of any Director Participant or consultant to
whom such Stock Option shall have been granted shall terminate by
reason of the employee’s, Director Participant’s or consultant’s
retirement (at such age or upon such conditions as shall be
specified by the Committee), disability (as described in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) or dismissal by the
employer other than for cause (as defined below), and while such
employee, Director Participant or consultant is entitled to
exercise such Stock Option as herein provided, such employee,
Director Participant or consultant shall have the right to exercise
such Stock Option so granted in respect of any or all of such
number of shares as specified by the Committee in such Stock Option
agreement, at any time up to and including ninety (90) days
after the date of such termination.
In no event, however, shall any person be entitled to exercise any
Stock Option after the expiration of the period of exercisability
of such Stock Option or right, as specified in such Stock Option
agreement at the date of grant.
If an employee, Director Participant or consultant is discharged
“for cause,” any Stock Option granted hereunder shall, unless
otherwise specified by the Committee in the Stock Option agreement,
forthwith terminate with respect to any unexercised portion
thereof.
If a Stock Option granted hereunder shall be exercised by the legal
representative of a deceased participant or by a person who
acquired a Stock Option granted hereunder by bequest or inheritance
or by reason of the death of any employee, Director Participant or
consultant or former employee, former Director Participant or
former consultant, written notice of such exercise shall be
accompanied by a certified copy of letters testamentary or
equivalent proof of the right of such legal representative or other
person to exercise such Stock Option.
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For the purposes of the Plan, the term “for cause” shall mean
(a) with respect to an employee, Director Participant or
consultant who is a party to a written service agreement with, or,
alternatively, participates in a compensation or benefit plan of
the Company or a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of
the Company, which agreement or plan contains a definition of “for
cause” or “cause” (or words of like import) for purposes of
termination of employment or services thereunder by the Company or
such subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company,
“for cause” or “cause” as defined therein; or (b) in all other
cases, as determined by the Committee or the Board of Directors, in
its sole discretion, (i) the willful commission by an
employee, Director Participant or consultant of an act that causes
or may cause substantial damage to the Company or a subsidiary
corporation or parent corporation of the Company; (ii) the
commission by an employee, Director Participant or consultant of an
act of fraud in the performance of such employee’s or consultant’s
duties on behalf of the Company or a subsidiary corporation or
parent corporation of the Company; (iii) conviction of the
employee, Director Participant or consultant for commission of a
felony in connection with the performance of duties on behalf of
the Company or a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of
the Company; or (iv) the continuing failure of an employee,
Director Participant or consultant to perform the duties of such
employee, Director Participant or consultant to the Company or a
subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company after
written notice thereof and a reasonable opportunity to be heard and
cure such failure are given to the employee, Director Participant
or consultant by the Committee.
For the purposes of the Plan, an employment relationship shall be
deemed to exist between an individual and a corporation if, at the
time of the determination, the individual was an “employee” of such
corporation for purposes of Section 422(a) of the Code.
If an individual is on leave of absence taken with the consent of
the corporation by which such individual was employed, or is on
active military service, and is determined to be an “employee” for
purposes of the exercise of a Stock Option, such individual shall
not be entitled to exercise such Stock Option during such period
unless such individual shall have obtained the prior written
consent of such corporation, which consent shall be signed by the
chairman of the board of directors, the president, a senior
vice-president or other duly
authorized officer of such corporation.
A termination of employment or services shall not be deemed to
occur by reason of (i) the transfer of an employee or
consultant from employment or retention by the Company to
employment or retention by a subsidiary corporation or a parent
corporation of the Company or (ii) the transfer of an employee
or consultant from employment or retention by a subsidiary
corporation or a parent corporation of the Company to employment or
retention by the Company or by another subsidiary corporation or
parent corporation of the Company. Termination of a consultant’s
services shall be considered to occur when the consultant ceases to
perform services on a regular basis; provided, however, termination
of a consultant’s services shall not be deemed to occur where the
termination of services is due to such consultant becoming an
employee of the Company or a subsidiary corporation or a parent
corporation.
In the event an employee changes status to a consultant, all Stock
Option grants shall continue for the remainder of the exercise
period, provided, however, any Incentive Stock Options shall, three
(3) months after termination of employment, be treated as a
Nonqualified Stock Option for the remainder of the exercise
period.
In the event of the complete liquidation or dissolution of a
subsidiary corporation, or if such corporation ceases to be a
subsidiary corporation, any unexercised Stock Options theretofore
granted to any person employed by or rendering consulting services
to such subsidiary corporation will be deemed cancelled unless such
person is employed by or renders continuing services to the Company
or by any parent corporation or another subsidiary corporation
after the occurrence of such event. If a Stock Option is to be
cancelled pursuant to the provisions of the previous sentence,
notice of such cancellation will be given to each employee or
consultant holding unexercised Stock Options, and such holder will
have the right to exercise such Stock Options in full during the
thirty (30) day period following notice of such
cancellation.
f. Each Stock Option
issued under this Section 6 shall be fully vested and
exercisable, unless otherwise specified in the Stock Option
agreement.
7. Stock Appreciation
Rights.
a. The Committee may, in its
discretion, grant Stock Appreciation Rights to the holders of any
Stock Options granted hereunder. In addition, Stock Appreciation
Rights may be granted independently of, and without relation to,
Stock Options. A Stock Appreciation Right means a right to receive
a payment in cash, Common Stock or a combination thereof, in an
amount equal to the excess of (x) the Fair Market Value, or
other specified valuation, of a specified number of shares of
Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over (y) the
Fair Market Value, or other
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specified valuation (which shall be no less than the Fair Market
Value) of such shares of Common Stock on the date the right is
granted, all as determined by the Committee; provided, however,
that if a Stock Appreciation Right is granted in substitution for a
Stock Option, the designated Fair Market Value in the award
agreement may be the Fair Market Value on the date such Stock
Option was granted. Each Stock Appreciation Right shall be fully
vested unless otherwise specified in the award agreement. Each
Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and
conditions as the Committee shall impose from time to time.
b. Stock Appreciation Rights
granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times
and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by
the Committee; provided, however, that no Stock Appreciation Rights
shall be exercisable later than ten years after the date it is
granted. All Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate at such
earlier times and upon such conditions or circumstances as the
Committee shall in its discretion set forth in such award agreement
at the date of grant.
c. The exercise of any Stock
Appreciation Right after termination of employment of any employee,
termination of service on the Board of Directors of a Director
Participant or of the continuing services of any consultant with
the Company and all subsidiary corporations and parent corporations
of the Company, shall be subject to the same terms and conditions
as set forth in Section 6(e) above.
8. Stock Awards. The
Committee may, in its discretion, grant Stock Awards (which may
include mandatory payment of bonus incentive compensation in stock)
consisting of Common Stock issued or transferred to participants
with or without other payments therefor. Stock Awards may be
subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee determines
appropriate, including, without limitation, restrictions on the
sale or other disposition of such shares and the right of the
Company to reacquire such shares for no consideration upon
termination of the participant’s employment. Each Stock Award shall
be fully vested unless otherwise specified in the award agreement.
The Committee may require the participant to deliver a duly signed
stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock
covered by such Stock Award. The Committee may also require that
the stock certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody or
bear restrictive legends until the restrictions thereon shall have
lapsed. The Stock Award shall specify whether the participant shall
have, with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock
Award, all of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock of
the Company, including the right to receive dividends and to vote
the shares. If the Stock Award includes the right to receive
dividends or distributions: (a) any dividends or distributions
paid in shares shall be subject to the same restrictions (and shall
therefore be forfeitable to the same extent) as the Stock Award
with respect to which they were paid, and (b) any dividends or
distributions paid in cash shall be subject to the same
restrictions as the related Stock Award, in which case they shall
be accumulated (without interest) until vested and paid or
forfeited when the related shares of Common Stock become no
forfeitable or are forfeited, as the case may be. In no event shall
any cash dividend or distribution be paid later than 2½ months
after the tax year in which the dividend or distribution becomes no
forfeitable.
9. Performance
Awards.
a. Performance Awards may be granted to
participants at any time and from time to time, as shall be
determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have complete
discretion in determining the number, amount and timing of awards
granted to each participant. Such Performance Awards may be in the
form of shares of Common Stock or Stock Units. Performance Awards
may be awarded as short-term or
long-term incentives. Performance
targets may be based upon, without limitation, Company-wide, divisional and/or individual
performance.
b. The Committee shall have the authority at
any time to make adjustments to performance targets for any
outstanding Performance Awards which the Committee deems necessary
or desirable unless at the time of establishment of such targets
the Committee shall have precluded its authority to make such
adjustments.
c. Payment of earned Performance Awards
shall be made in accordance with terms and conditions prescribed or
authorized by the Committee. The participant may elect to defer, or
the Committee may require or permit the deferral of, the receipt of
Performance Awards upon such terms as the Committee deems
appropriate.
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10. Stock Units.
a.The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Stock Units to
participants hereunder. The Committee shall determine the criteria
for the vesting of Stock Units. A Stock Unit granted by the
Committee shall provide payment at such time as the award agreement
shall specify. Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this
Section 10 may be issued with or without other payments
therefor as may be required by applicable law or such other
consideration as may be determined by the Committee. The Committee
shall determine whether a participant granted a Stock Unit shall be
entitled to a Dividend Equivalent Right (as defined below),
although any Dividend Equivalent Right shall be subject to the same
restrictions as the related Stock Units, in which case they shall
be accumulated (without interest) during the period of restriction
and paid or forfeited when the related Stock Units are paid or
forfeited, as the case may be.
b. Upon vesting of a Stock Unit,
unless the participant has elected to defer payment under
subsection (c) below, shares of Common Stock representing the
Stock Units shall be distributed to the participant unless the
Committee provides for the payment of the Stock Units in cash
or partly in cash and partly in shares of Common Stock equal to the
value of the shares of Common Stock which would otherwise be
distributed to the participant.
c. A participant may elect not
to receive a distribution upon the vesting of such Stock Unit and
for the Company to continue to maintain the Stock Unit on its books
of account. Any such election shall be in conformity with
Section 409A of the Code and in such event, the value of a
Stock Unit shall be payable in shares of Common Stock pursuant to
the agreement of deferral.
d. A “Stock Unit” means a
notional account representing one share of Common Stock. A
“Dividend Equivalent Right” means the right to receive the amount
of any dividend paid on the share of Common Stock underlying a
Stock Unit, which shall be payable in cash or in the form of
additional Stock Units.
11. Securities Laws. The
Committee shall have the power to make each grant under the Plan
subject to such conditions as it deems necessary or appropriate to
comply with the then-existing
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or the Exchange Act, including Rule 16b-3 (or any similar rule) of the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan or a
Stock Option agreement to the contrary, if the Committee
determines, in its sole discretion, that issuance of shares
pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option should be delayed
pending registration or qualification under federal or state
securities laws or the receipt of a legal opinion that an
appropriate exemption from the application of federal or state
securities laws is available, the Committee may defer exercise of
any Stock Option until such shares are appropriately registered or
qualified or an appropriate legal opinion has been received, as
applicable.
12. Foreign Laws. The
Committee may grant Benefits to individual participants who are
subject to the tax laws of nations other than the
United States, which Benefits may have terms and conditions as
determined by the Committee as necessary to comply with applicable
foreign laws. The Committee may take any action which it deems
advisable to obtain approval of such Benefits by the appropriate
foreign governmental entity; provided, however, that no such
Benefits may be granted pursuant to this Section 12 and no
action may be taken which would result in a violation of the
Exchange Act, the Code or any other applicable law.
13. Adjustment Provisions; Change
in Control.
a. If there shall be any change
in the Common Stock of the Company or the capitalization of the
Company through merger, consolidation, reorganization,
recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split,
split up, spin-off, combination of
shares, exchange of shares, dividend in kind or other like change
in capital structure or distribution to stockholders of the Company
(other than normal cash dividends), in order to prevent dilution or
enlargement of participants’ rights under the Plan, the Committee,
in its sole discretion, shall adjust, in an equitable manner, as
applicable, the number and kind of shares that may be issued under
the Plan, the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding
Benefits, the exercise price applicable to outstanding Benefits,
and the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock and other value
determinations applicable to outstanding Benefits. Appropriate
adjustments may also be made by the Committee in the terms of any
Benefits under the Plan to reflect such changes or distributions
and to modify any other terms of outstanding Benefits on an
equitable basis, including modifications of performance targets and
changes in the length of performance periods. In addition, the
Committee is authorized to make adjustments to the terms and
conditions of, and the criteria included in, Benefits in
recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company
or the financial statements of the Company, or in response to
changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) each such adjustment
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with respect to an Incentive Stock Option shall comply with the
rules of Section 424(a) of the Code, and (ii) in no
event shall any adjustment be made which would render any Incentive
Stock Option granted hereunder other than an incentive stock option
for purposes of Section 422 of the Code. The determination of
the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be
conclusive and binding on participants under the Plan.
b. In the event of a Change in
Control, each Benefit (vested or unvested) will be treated as the
Committee determines, which determination may be made without the
consent of any participant and need not treat all outstanding
Benefits (or portion thereof) in an identical manner. Such
determination, without the consent of any participant, may provide
(without limitation) for one or more of the following in the event
of a Change in Control:
i. continuation or assumption of such
outstanding Benefits under the Plan by the Company (if it is the
surviving company or corporation) or by the surviving company or
corporation or its parent;
ii. substitution by the surviving company or
corporation or its parent of equity, equity-based and/or cash awards with substantially the
same terms for outstanding Benefits (excluding the consideration
payable upon settlement of the Benefits);
iii. accelerated exercisability, vesting and/or lapse of
restrictions under outstanding Benefits immediately prior to the
occurrence of such event;
iv. upon written notice, provide that any
outstanding Benefits must be exercised, to the extent then
exercisable, during a reasonable period of time immediately prior
to the scheduled consummation of the event or such other period as
determined by the Committee (contingent upon the consummation of
the event), and at the end of such period, such Benefits shall
terminate to the extent not so exercised within the relevant
period;
v. cancellation of all or any portion of
outstanding Benefits for fair value (in the form of cash, shares,
other property or any combination thereof) as determined in the
sole discretion of the Committee and which value may be zero;
provided, that in the case of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation
Rights or similar awards, the fair value may equal the excess, if
any, of the value of the consideration to be paid in the Change in
Control transaction to holders of the same number of shares subject
to such Benefits (or, if no such consideration is paid, Fair Market
Value of the shares subject to such outstanding Benefits or portion
thereof being cancelled) over the aggregate exercise price or grant
price, as applicable, with respect to such Benefits or portion
thereof being cancelled, or if no such excess, zero; provided,
further, that if any payments or other consideration are deferred
and/or contingent as a result of escrows, earn outs, holdbacks or
any other contingencies, payments under this provision may be made
on substantially the same terms and conditions applicable to, and
only to the extent actually paid to, the holders of shares in
connection with the Change in Control; and
vi. cancellation of all or any portion of
outstanding unvested and/or unexercisable Benefits for no
consideration.
c. For purposes of
Section 13(b), a “Change in Control” of the Company shall be
deemed to have occurred upon the earliest of the following
events:
i. Change in Ownership: A change in
ownership of the Company occurs on the date that any one person, or
more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock
of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or
group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or
total voting power of the stock of the Company, excluding the
acquisition of additional stock by a person or more than one person
acting as a group who is considered to own more than 50% of the
total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the
Company.
ii. Change in Effective Control: A change in
effective control of the Company occurs on the date that
either:
A. Any one person, or more than one person
acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the
12-month period ending on the date of
the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of
stock of the Company possessing 30% or more of the total voting
power of the stock of the Company; or
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B. A majority of the members of the Board of
Directors of the Company is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or
election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the board
of directors before the date of the appointment or election;
provided, that this paragraph (B) will apply only to the
Company if no other corporation is a majority stockholder.
iii. Change in Ownership of Substantial Assets: A change
in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets
occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person
acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the
12-month period ending on the date of
the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from
the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or
more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of the assets of
the Company immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions.
For this purpose, “gross fair market value” means the value of the
assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed
of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with
such assets.
It is the intent that this definition be construed consistent with
the definition of “Change in Control” as defined in
Section 409A of the Code and the applicable treasury
regulations, as amended from time to time.
16. Nontransferability.
Each Benefit granted under the Plan to a participant shall not be
transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, and shall be exercisable, during the participant’s
lifetime, only by the participant. In the event of the death of a
participant, each Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right
theretofore granted to the participant shall be exercisable during
such period after the participant’s death as the Committee shall in
its discretion set forth in the award agreement at the date of
grant and then only by the executor or administrator of the estate
of the deceased participant or the person or persons to whom the
deceased participant’s rights under the Stock Option or Stock
Appreciation Right shall pass by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the discretion of
the Committee, an award of a Benefit, other than an Incentive Stock
Option, to any director, officer or employee of the Company with at
least 15 years of service may permit the transferability of a
Benefit by such participant solely to the participant’s spouse,
siblings, parents, children and grandchildren or trusts for the
benefit of such persons or partnerships, corporations, limited
liability companies or other entities owned solely by such persons,
including trusts for such persons, subject to any restriction
included in the award of the Benefit.
17. Other Provisions. The
award of any Benefit under the Plan may also be subject to such
other provisions (whether or not applicable to the Benefit awarded
to any other participant) as the Committee determines appropriate,
including, without limitation, for the installment purchase of
Common Stock under Stock Options, for the installment exercise of
Stock Appreciation Rights, to assist the participant in financing
the acquisition of Common Stock, for the forfeiture of, or
restrictions on resale or other disposition of, Common Stock
acquired under any form of Benefit, for the acceleration of
exercisability or vesting of Benefits in the event of a change in
control of the Company, for the payment of the value of Benefits to
participants in the event of a change in control of the Company, or
understandings or conditions as to the participant’s employment in
addition to those specifically provided for under the Plan. In
addition, the Committee shall have the right to accelerate, in
whole or in part, from time to time, conditionally or
unconditionally, rights to exercise any Stock Option granted
hereunder.
18. Fair Market Value. For
purposes of this Plan and any Benefits awarded hereunder, Fair
Market Value shall be (a) the closing price of the Company’s
Common Stock on the date of calculation (or on the last preceding
trading date if Common Stock was not traded on such date) if the
Company’s Common Stock is readily tradeable on a national
securities exchange or other market system, (b) if the
Company’s Common Stock is not readily tradeable, Fair Market Value
shall mean the amount determined in good faith by the Committee as
the fair market value of the Common Stock of the Company and
(c) in connection with a Change in Control or an event
specified in Section 13(a), the value of the consideration
paid to stockholders in connection with such Change in Control or
event or if no consideration is paid in respect thereof, the amount
determined pursuant to clause (a) or (b), above.
19. Withholding. All
payments or distributions of Benefits made pursuant to the Plan
shall be net of any amounts required to be withheld pursuant to
applicable federal, state and local tax withholding requirements.
If the Company proposes or is required to distribute Common Stock
pursuant to the Plan, it may require the recipient to remit to it
or to the corporation that employs such recipient an amount
sufficient to satisfy such tax withholding requirements prior to
the delivery of any certificates for such Common Stock. In lieu
thereof, the Company or the employing corporation shall have the
right to withhold the amount of such taxes from any other sums due
or to become due from such corporation to the recipient as the
Committee shall prescribe. The Committee may, in its discretion and
subject to such rules as it may adopt (including any as may be
required to satisfy applicable tax and/or non-tax regulatory
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requirements), permit a participant to pay all or a portion of the
federal, state and local withholding taxes arising in connection
with any Benefit consisting of shares of Common Stock by electing
to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock having a Fair
Market Value equal to the amount of tax to be withheld, such tax
calculated at rates required by statute or regulation.
20. Tenure. A
participant’s right, if any, to continue to serve the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or affiliates as an officer, employee, or
otherwise, shall not be enlarged or otherwise affected by
designation as a participant under the Plan.
21. Code
Section 280G. Except as otherwise expressly
provided in any agreement between a participant and the Company or
an affiliate, if the receipt of any payment by a participant under
the circumstances described above would result in the payment by
the participant of any excise tax provided for in Section 280G
and Section 4999 of the Code, then the amount of such payment
shall be reduced to the extent required to prevent the imposition
of such excise tax.
22. Code
Section 409A.
a. General.
The Company intends that the Plan and all Benefits be construed to
avoid the imposition of additional taxes, interest and penalties
pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, although in no event
shall the Company or any of its affiliates be liable for any
additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on a
participant under Section 409A of the Code or for any damages
for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
b. Payments to Specified
Employees. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the
Plan or award agreement, any payments of nonqualified deferred
compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) that are
otherwise required to be made under the Plan to a “specified
employee” (as defined under Section 409A) as a result of a
separation from service (other than a payment that is not subject
to Section 409A) shall be delayed for the first
six months following such separation from service (or, if
earlier, until the date of death of the specified employee) and
shall instead be paid (in a manner set forth in the award
agreement) on the day that immediately follows the end of such
six-month period or as soon as
administratively practicable thereafter. Any remaining payments of
nonqualified deferred compensation shall be paid without delay and
at the time or times such payments are otherwise scheduled to be
made.
c. Separation
from Service. A termination of service shall not be deemed
to have occurred for purposes of any provision of the Plan or any
award agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or
benefits that are considered nonqualified deferred compensation
under Section 409A upon or following a termination of service
unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within
the meaning of Section 409A and the payment thereof prior to a
“separation from service” would violate Section 409A.
23. Unfunded Plan.
Participants shall have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in
or to any investments which the Company may make to aid it in
meeting its obligations under the Plan. Nothing contained in the
Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create
or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary
relationship between the Company and any participant, beneficiary,
legal representative or any other person. To the extent that any
person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under
the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an
unsecured general creditor of the Company. All payments to be made
hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company and
no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation
of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts except as
expressly set forth in the Plan. The Plan is not intended to be
subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended.
24. No Fractional Shares.
No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered
pursuant to the Plan or any Benefit. The Committee shall determine
whether cash, or Benefits, or other property shall be issued or
paid in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares
or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise
eliminated.
25. Duration, Amendment and
Termination. No Benefit shall be granted more than
ten years after the Effective Date. The Committee may amend
the Plan from time to time or suspend or terminate the Plan at any
time. Nevertheless, if the Plan has been previously approved by the
Company’s stockholders, the Committee may not, without obtaining
approval within twelve months before or after such action by
such vote of the Company’s stockholders as may be required, amend
the Plan if such amendment would: (a) disqualify any Incentive
Stock Options granted under the Plan; (b) increase the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered
through Stock Options
Annex A-9
Table of
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under the Plan; (c) increase either of the maximum amounts
which can be paid to an individual participant under the Plan as
set forth in Section 5 hereof; or (d) modify the
requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan. The
Committee may amend the terms of any Benefit theretofore granted,
prospectively or retroactively, but no such amendment shall impair
the rights of any participant without the participant’s
consent.
26. Governing Law. This
Plan, Benefits granted hereunder and actions taken in connection
herewith shall be governed and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York (regardless of the law that
might otherwise govern under applicable New York principles of
conflict of laws).
27. Effective Date.
a. The Plan shall be effective
as of ______, 2021, the date on which the Plan was adopted by the
Board of Directors and the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective
Date”).
b. This Plan shall terminate on
______, 2031 (unless sooner terminated by the Committee).
Annex A-10
Table of
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CUENTAS, INC. 235 LINCOLN RD., SUITE
210 MIAMI BEACH, FL 33139 VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use
the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for
electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy
card in hand when you access the web site and follow the
instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic
voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER
COMMUNICATIONS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by
Cuentas, Inc. in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to
receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual
reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for
electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote
using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to
receive or access shareholder communications electronically in
future years. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use any touch-tone
telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting CUENTAS,
INC. 235 LINCOLN RD., SUITE 210 MIAMI BEACH, FL 33139VOTE BY
INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com Use the Internet to transmit your
voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up
until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or
meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web
site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to
create an electronic voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY
OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS If you would like to reduce
the costs incurred by Cuentas, Inc. in mailing proxy materials, you
can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards
and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To
sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions
above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that
you agree to receive or access shareholder communications
electronically in future years. VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903 Use
any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up
until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or
meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then
follow the instructions. VOTE BY MAIL Mark, sign and date your
proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have
provided or return it to Cuentas, Inc., c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes
Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR
BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: D62874-P63983 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR
RECORDS THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH
AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY CUENTAS, INC. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMEND A VOTE “FOR” ITEMS 1, 2, 4 AND 5 AND FOR “THREE YEARS“ IN
ITEM 3. 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Nominees: 01) Arik Maimon 02)
Michael De Prado 03) Adiv Baruch 04) Richard J. Berman 05) Yochanon
Bruk 06) Jeff Lewis 07) Edward Maldonado 08) Carol Pepper 09) David
B. Schottenstein 2. To approve on a non-binding, advisory basis the
compensation of the company’s named executive officers. 3. To
select on a non-binding, advisory basis the frequency of conducting
future stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer
compensation. 4. To ratify the appointment by the Board of
Directors of Halperin Ilanit, Certified Public Accountants as the
company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. 5. To approve and adopt the
2021 Share Incentive Plan. Note: In their discretion, the proxies
are authorized to vote upon such other business that may properly
come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements
thereof. The shares represented by this proxy when properly
executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the
undersigned Stockholder(s). If no direction is made, this proxy
will be voted FOR items 1, 2, 4 and 5 and FOR three years in
proposal 3 and in the discretion of the proxies if any other
matters properly come before the meeting. Please indicate if you
plan to attend this meeting. Yes No Please sign your name exactly
as it appears hereon. When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee or guardian, please add your title as such.
When signing as joint tenants, all parties in the joint tenancy
must sign. If a signer is a corporation, please sign in full
corporate name by duly authorized officer. For All Withhold All For
All Except To withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the
nominee(s) on the line below. For Against Abstain1 Year 2 Years 3
Years AbstainFor Against AbstainSignature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]
Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date
Table of
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Important Notice Regarding the
Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice
and Proxy Statement and Form 10-K are available at
www.proxyvote.com. D62875-P63983 CUENTAS, INC. ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The
stockholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Arik Maimon, our Executive
Chairman, and Michael De Prado, our Executive Vice Chairman, or
either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his
substitute, and hereby authorize(s) them to represent and to vote,
as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares
of Common Stock of Cuentas, Inc. that the stockholder(s) is/are
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held
at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time on December 15, 2021, at the offices of
the Company at 235 Lincoln Rd., Suite 210, Miami Beach, FL 33139,
and any adjournment or postponement thereof. THIS PROXY, WHEN
PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED BY THE STOCKHOLDER(S).
IF NO SUCH DIRECTIONS ARE MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE
ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE FOR THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS, FOR THREE YEARS FOR THE FREQUENCY OF CONDUCTING
FUTURE STOCKHOLDER ADVISORY VOTES ON NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER
COMPENSATION, AND FOR EACH OTHER PROPOSAL. IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE
PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY
PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS OR
POSTPONEMENTS THEREOF. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS
PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE CONTINUED AND
TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE