UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
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Securities
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant
to §240.14a-12 |
OMNIQ
Corp. |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other
than the Registrant) |
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November
18, 2022
Dear Stockholder:
We
would like to extend a personal invitation for you to join us at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders which will be held on Thursday,
December 15, 2022, at 12:00 Eastern Time at the offices of the Company, 1865 West 2100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84119.
Your
attention is directed to the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement enclosed with this letter which describes the
formal business to be transacted at the meeting. If you would like another copy of this Proxy Statement, please send your request to:
Niv Nissenson, Corporate Secretary, 1865 West 2100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84119, the offices of the Company.
At
this year’s Annual Meeting, the agenda includes: (1) the election of the six (6) directors named in the accompanying Proxy Statement;
(2) a proposal to ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm; and (3) to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
The
Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR each of the four proposals noted above.
It
is important that your shares be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting, regardless of the size of your holdings. To ensure that
your vote is recorded promptly, please vote as soon as possible, even if you plan to attend the meeting in person. You may vote by
completing, signing, dating and returning the Proxy Card that accompanies these printed materials. Submitting your vote by Proxy Card
will not affect your right to vote in person if you decide to attend the meeting.
We
look forward to seeing you at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholder.
/s/
Shai Lustgarten |
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Shai Lustgarten, Chief Executive Officer |
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and Chairman |
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OMNIQ
CORP.
1865
West 2100 South
Salt
Lake City, UT 84119
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO
BE
HELD ON DECEMBER 15, 2022
To: |
Shareholders of OMNIQ Corp. |
The
annual meeting of the shareholders of OMNIQ Corp. (the “Company”) will be held at the offices of the Company, 1865
West 2100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84119, on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, for the following purposes:
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1. |
To elect six (6) directors
to hold office during the year following the annual meeting or until their successors are elected; |
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2. |
To
ratify the appointment of Haynie & Company as auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022; and |
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3. |
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. |
The
close of business on October 18, 2021, has been fixed as the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice
of and to vote at the annual meeting.
BY
ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
November
18, 2022 |
/s/
Shai Lustgarten |
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Shai
Lustgarten, Chief Executive
Officer
and Chairman |
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT
It
is important that as many shares as possible be represented at the annual meeting. Please date, sign, and promptly return the proxy in
the enclosed envelope or you may submit your proxy via the Internet or by using the toll-free number provided on your proxy card. Your
proxy may be revoked by you at any time before it has been voted.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
PROXY
STATEMENT
2022
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
OMNIQ
CORP.
1865
West 2100 South
Salt
Lake City, Utah 84119
PROXY
STATEMENT
Information
Concerning the Solicitation
The
Board of Directors (the “Board”) of OMNIQ Corp. (the “Company”) is furnishing this proxy statement
for the solicitation of proxies to be used at the Annual Shareholders Meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) of the Company
to be held at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 15, 2022, at the Company’s principal executive offices located at 1865 West 2100
South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84119. The proxy materials are being mailed on or about November 18, 2022 to shareholders
of record on October 31, 2022. This proxy statement has been posted on the Internet and may be viewed at https://www.equitystock.com/shareholders/proxy-voting/omniq-corp.
The
cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the proxy material and of reimbursing brokers, nominees and fiduciaries for the out-of-pocket
and clerical expenses of transmitting copies of the proxy material to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons
will be borne by the Company. The Company does not intend to solicit proxies other than by use of the mail, but certain officers and
employees of the Company or its subsidiaries, without additional compensation, may use their personal efforts, by telephone or otherwise,
to obtain proxies.
Your
vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend our Annual Meeting, please take the time to either (i) vote by completing and
mailing the proxy card enclosed with the Proxy Materials as soon as possible, (ii) vote via the Internet in accordance with the instructions
on the proxy card or (iii) vote by telephone by using the toll-free number on the proxy card. If you elect to vote using the proxy card
please indicate on the card how you wish to vote, sign and send it in the enclosed envelope. If you do return the proxy card and do not
indicate how you wish to vote, your proxy card will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors.
Quorum
and Voting
Only
holders of our common stock and holders of our Series C preferred stock of the Company (the “Series C Preferred Stock”) on
the close of business on October 31, 2022 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting
and to vote the shares that they held on that date at the Annual Meeting. Each outstanding share of common stock entitles its holder
to cast one vote on each matter to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. Each outstanding share of Series C Preferred Stock entitles its
holder to cast one-twentieth (1/20) of one vote on each matter to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. Holders of
our common stock and our Series C preferred stock will vote together as a single class on all proposals to be voted on at the Annual
Meeting.
As
of the Record Date, there were 7,693,513 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share, (the “Common
Stock”) outstanding and 544,500 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding. As of the
Record Date, there were no shares of Series A and Series B Preferred Stock of the Company issued and outstanding. All references to “stockholders”
herein shall mean holders of Common Stock and Series C Preferred Stock collectively, unless otherwise stated.
A
simple majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our voting capital stock is required to be present in person or by proxy at the
meeting for there to be a quorum for purposes of proceeding with the Annual Meeting, but in no event shall a quorum consist of less than
a majority of the shares required to constitute a quorum. Four directors will be elected by the Company’s shareholders of record
at the Annual Meeting. Our Common Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, respectively, do not contain cumulative voting rights. The election
of directors will be by the vote of a plurality of votes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting at which a quorum is present.
The ratification of auditors will require the vote of a simple majority of the shares of our voting capital stock present at the Annual
Meeting by person or proxy. Abstentions and withheld votes have the effect of votes against these matters.
Broker non-votes (shares of record held by a broker for which a proxy is not given) will be counted for purposes of determining the presence
or absence of a quorum, but will not be counted as present for purposes of determining the vote on any matter considered at the Annual
Meeting.
If
a shareholder specifies how the proxy is to be voted with respect to any of the proposals for which a choice is provided, the proxy will
be voted in accordance with such specifications. If a shareholder fails to so specify with respect to such proposals, the proxy will
be voted “FOR” the nominees for directors contained in these proxy materials, and “FOR” the appointment of Haynie
& Company as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
A
shareholder submitting a proxy prior to the Annual Meeting may revoke the proxy at any time before the shares subject to it are voted
by (i) sending a written statement to that effect to the Secretary of the Company, (ii) submitting a valid proxy having a later date,
or (iii) voting in person at the Annual Meeting.
You
may receive more than one copy of the proxy materials, this Proxy Statement and the proxy card or voting instruction card. For example,
if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account
in which you hold shares. Similarly, if you are a stockholder of record and hold shares in a brokerage account, you will receive a copy
of the proxy materials and a proxy card for shares held in your name and a voting instruction card for shares held in “street name.”
Please follow the separate voting instructions that you received for your shares of common stock held in each of your different accounts
to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
Discretionary
Voting Power
The
Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be presented for shareholder action at the Annual Meeting. On matters which may be raised
at the Annual Meeting that are not covered by this proxy statement, the persons named in the proxy will have full discretionary authority
to vote.
BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP OF SHARES BY MANAGEMENT
AND
SIGNIFICANT SHAREHOLDERS
The
following table provides information concerning the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock by each director and nominee
for director, certain executive officers, and by all directors and officers of the Company as a group as of the Record Date. In addition,
the table provides information concerning the current beneficial owners, if any, known to the Company to hold more than five percent
(5%) of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company.
The
amounts and percentage of stock beneficially owned are reported based on regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial
owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct
the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right
to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days after October 31, 2022. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed a beneficial
owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed a beneficial owner of securities in which he has no economic interest. The percentage
of Common Stock beneficially owned is based on 7,693,513 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the October 31, 2022.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | |
Amount of
Beneficial Ownership | | |
Percentage of Shares Outstanding | |
Shai Lustgarten (Chairman and CEO) (1) | |
| 1,403,217 | | |
| 13.46 | % |
Andrew MacMillan (2) | |
| 71,496 | | |
| 0.69 | % |
Yaron Shalem (6) | |
| 71,525 | | |
| 0.69 | % |
Neev Nissenson (CFO) (5) | |
| 132,289 | | |
| 1.27 | % |
All Executive Officers and Directors as a group (4 individuals) | |
| 1,678,527 | | |
| 16.10 | % |
David Marin (3) | |
| 127,125 | | |
| 1.22 | % |
Carlos Nissenson (4) | |
| 969,667 | | |
| 9.30 | % |
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1. |
Includes 484,050 shares
issuable upon the exercise of options. Also includes (i) 746,808 shares and (ii) 33,333 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants
held by Walefar Investments Ltd., which is beneficially owned by Mr. Lustgarten. |
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2. |
Includes 52,500 shares
issuable upon the exercise of options. Also includes (i) 18,996 shares |
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3. |
Includes 127,125 shares
issuable upon the conversion of preferred stock and the exercise of warrants. The address of the shareholder is 12272 Monarch Street,
Garden Grove, CA 92841. |
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4. |
The address of the shareholder
is Vasili Michailidi 9, 3206 Limassol, Cyprus. Includes 729,308 shares held by Campbeltown Consulting Ltd., which is beneficially
owned by Mr. Carlos J. Nissensohn. Also includes (i) 57,026 shares. Also includes 183,333 shares underlying option and warrants. |
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5. |
Includes 105,000 shares
issuable upon exercise of options. Also includes (i) 27,289 shares |
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6. |
Includes 52,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of
options. Also includes (i) 19,025 shares |
To
our knowledge, all beneficial owners named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially
owned by them.
PROPOSAL
ONE – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Six
(6) directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve for one-year terms expiring on the date of the Annual Meeting in 2023. All
directors will be elected by holders of the Company’s Common Stock and Series C Preferred Stock. Each director elected will continue
in office until a successor has been elected. If a nominee is unable to serve, which the Board of Directors has no reason to expect,
the persons named in the accompanying proxy intend to vote for the balance of those named and, if they deem it advisable, for a substitute
nominee selected by the Board of Directors.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE FOUR NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR NAMED IN PROPOSAL ONE.
Information
Concerning Nominees
The
following is information concerning nominees for election as directors of the Company as of the Record Date. Shai Lustgarten, Neev Nissenson,
Andrew J. MacMillan, Yaron Shalem, and Guy Elhanani are all presently directors of the Company.
Shai
Lustgarten, 51, was appointed the Company’s CEO in April 2017 and served as the Company’s interim CFO from December 2018
through September 4, 2019. Mr. Lustgarten had been the Chief Executive Officer of Teamtronics, Inc. beginning June 2016. Teamtronics
manufactures rugged computers and electronic equipment mainly used in the Gas and oil industry. From 2014 to 2017, Mr. Lustgarten was
the Chief Executive Officer at Micronet Limited Inc., a developer and manufacturer of mobile computing platforms for integration into
fleet management and mobile workforce solutions listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. From 2013 to 2014, Mr. Lustgarten served as EVP
Business Development and Head of the Aerospace and defense Division of Micronet EnertecTechnologies, a technology company listed on the
NASDAQ Capital Market. From 2009 to 2013 Mr. Lustgarten was VP of Sales, Marketing and CMO of TAT Technologies, a world leading supplier
of electronic systems to the commercial and defense markets, from. His prior experience also includes serving as CEO of T.C.E. Aviation
Ltd. in Belgium and serving from 1993 to 1997 as the assistant to the Military Attaché at the Embassy of Israel in Washington,
DC from. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management & Computer Science from the University of Maryland.
Neev
Nissenson, 43, was appointed as a director of the Company in April 2017 and was appointed as our CFO on September 5, 2019, effective
October 10, 2019. He is an experienced entrepreneur and financial officer. In 2015, Mr. Nissenson founded Hotwine, Inc., a California
based wine startup company. Since August 2016 and until October 10, 2019, Mr. Nissenson served as the Chief Financial Officer of Hypnocore,
Ltd., an Israeli based startup company that develops mobile applications for sleep monitoring and therapy. During 2011 to 2015, Mr. Nissenson
was the Chief Financial Officer of GMW, Inc., a high-end wine retailer from Napa, California. Before that, Mr. Nissenson served as the
Vice President from 2006 to 2011 and the Chief Financial Officer from 2009 to 2011 at Phoenix International Ventures, Inc., an aerospace
defense company. Mr. Nissenson was also a member of the Municipal Committee for Business from 2004 to 2007 and a member of Municipal
Committee for Street Naming from 2005 to 2007 in the City of Herzliya, Israel. He is also an armored platoon commander in the Israeli
Defense Forces (Reserve) Armored Corps with a rank of Captain. Mr. Nissenson graduated from Tel Aviv University in 2005 with a B.A. majoring
in General History and Political Science. In 2007, he graduated from the Hebrew University with an Executive
Master’s degree in Business Administration specializing in Integrative Management.
Andrew
J. MacMillan, 74, was appointed as a director of the Company in April 2017. He is a corporate
communications professional with 20 years of corporate communications experience in the global securities industry, plus 18 years of
direct investment banking and related experience. He was a director of NTS, Inc. since December 20, 2012 and since December 27, 2012
served as the Chairman of its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee until NTS’ sale to a private equity firm in June 2014.
Since 2010, Mr. MacMillan has served as an independent management consultant providing marketing and communications advisory to clients.
Prior to that from 2007 until 2010, Mr. MacMillan served as Director, Global Communications & Marketing of AXA Rosenberg, a leading
equity asset management firm. Prior to that, Mr. MacMillan served in a variety of corporate communication roles including Senior Vice
President of Corporate Communications & Government Affairs at Ameriprise Financial, Head of Corporate Communications (Americas) at
Barclays Capital, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications of The NASDAQ Stock Market and Director of Corporate Communications
at Credit Suisse First Boston. Mr. MacMillan previously served as an investment banker, acquisition officer, and consultant directly
involved with capital raising, acquisitions, and financial feasibility studies. Mr. MacMillan holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from
the University of Iowa and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard.
Yaron
Shalem, 49, was appointed as a director of the Company in April 2017. He has extensive experience in financial and business
management. Mr. Shalem has served as the Chief Financial Officer at Saga Foundation since January 2018. Prior to that Mr. Shalem served
as the Chief Financial Officer at Singulariteam VC since January 2014 till January 2018. He also worked as the Chief Financial Officer
at Mobli Media Inc. from January 2014 to December 2016. Mr. Shalem’s experience also includes serving as the Chief Financial Officer
of TAT Technologies Ltd., a NASDAQ listing company, from April 2008 to December 2013. Mr. Shalem is a CPA in Israel. He received his
B.A. in Economy & Accounting from Tel Aviv University in 1999 and an MBA degree from Bar-Ilan University 2004.
Guy
Elhanani, 47, was appointed as a director of the Company in August 2021. He is a qualified
CFO with experience leading financial strategies to facilitate a company’s growth plans. Mr. Elhanani has been the CFO and a partner
of Singulariteam VC, a venture capital firm, since 2017. Mr. Elhananai has been the CFO of Sirin Labs since 2017. Sirin Labs is a multinational,
high-tech company specializing in secured mobile phones. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Elhanani was the CFO of SalesTech, an online internet
technology servicing company. Mr. Elhanani has also served as the CFO of other companies, including: Micronet Ltd. (2012-2015); InterLogic
Ltd. (2007-2012); and Finotec Group Inc. (2006-2007). From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Elhanani was the corporate controller of On Track Innovations
Ltd. From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Elhanani was a senior auditor at Kesselman and Kesselman (PWC Israel). Mr. Elhanani was a lecturer at IVC
College in Israel from 2014 to 2018 and at Hebrew University in Jerusalem from 2001 to 2003. Mr. Elhanani has also served as a board
member for various companies, including: General Robotics (2017-Present); Effective Space Solutions (2017-Present); Octopus Systems (2017-Present);
and Infinity AR (2017-2019). Mr. Elhanani received a B.A. in Accounting and Economics, and a Master of Business Administration, specializing
in finance, from Hebrew University.
Mina
Teicher, 72, is the former Chief Scientist of the Israel government. She is a leading mathematician specializing in Algebraic Geometry
and applications to computer vision, cryptography, cyber security, neuroscience, neuro-medical devices, and complex societal systems,
such as financial markets and health systems. She earned a PhD in Mathematics from Tel Aviv University and a postdoctoral fellowship
from the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. She published 140 scientific papers, wrote 5 books, mentored 80 students (Master,
PhD, and postdocs) in Israel and the USA, organized 20 international conferences, and won prestigious invitations to deliver lectures,
numerous awards, and highly competitive research grants (in Israel, Germany, Italy, the European Union, the USA and China).
Experience,
Qualifications, Attributes and Skills of Our Director Nominees
Each
of our directors brings a strong and unique set of experience, qualifications, attributes and skills in a variety of areas. Set forth
below are the specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of our directors that led to the conclusion that each director
should serve as a member of our Board of Directors.
We
believe that Mr. Lustgartens’s management, operations, and business knowledge and experience qualify him to serve on the Board.
In particular, Mr. Lustgarten has served with public companies in the technology sector over the years. Mr. Lustgarten has experience
with companies of a size similar to the Company’s, as well as banking, financial, and board of director experience.
We
believe that Mr. MacMillan’s management, operations, and business knowledge and experience qualify him to serve on the Board. In
particular, Mr. MacMillan has served with public and private companies over the years. Mr. MacMillan has experience with companies of
a size similar to the Company’s, as well as banking, financial, board of director, and investment banking experience.
We
believe that Mr. Nissenson’s management, operations, and business knowledge and experience qualify him to serve on the Board. In
particular, Mr. Nissenson has served with public and private companies over the years. Mr. Nissenson has experience with companies of
a size similar to the Company’s, as well as banking, financial, and accounting experience.
We
believe that Mr. Shalem’s management, operations, and business knowledge and experience qualify him to serve on the Board. In particular,
Mr. Shalem has served with public and private companies over the years. Mr. Shalem has experience with companies of a size similar to
the Company’s, as well as banking, financial, board of director, and accounting experience.
We
believe that Mr. Elhanani’s management, operations, and business knowledge and experience qualify him to serve on the Board. In
particular, Mr. Elhanani has served with public and private companies over the years. Mr. Shalem has experience with companies of a size
similar to the Company’s, as well as banking, financial, board of director, and accounting experience
We believe that Ms. Teicher’s
diverse experience qualifies her to serve on the Board. In particular, Ms. Teicher has specialized in algebraic
geometry and applications to computer vision, cryptography, cyber security, neuroscience, neuro-medical devices, and complex societal
systems, such as financial markets and health systems.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE AND
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board
Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight
Our
Board currently consists of six members, Shai Lustgarten, Neev Nisenson, Andrew J. MacMillan, Yaron Shalem, Guy Elhanani and Itzhak Almog.
Mr. Lustgarten also serves as our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, and Neev Nissenson also serves as our Chief Financial Officer.
One
of the key functions of our Board is to provide oversight of our risk management process. Our Board administers this oversight function
directly, with support from its three standing committees—the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Corporate Governance/Nominating
Committee.
Director
Independence
Pursuant
to Item 407(a)(1)(ii) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, we have adopted the definition of “independent director”
as set forth in Rules 5000(a)(19) and 5605(a)(2) of the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Board determined that Mr. Andrew J. MacMillan,
Mr. Yaron Shalem, Mr. Guy Elhanani, and Mr. Itzhak Almog qualify as “independent directors” pursuant to such rules. In
addition, the Board has determined that Mina Teicher would qualify as an “independent director” pursuant to such rules.
We
intend that a majority of our directors will be independent directors if and when we elect to seek a listing on a national securities
exchange we may add an additional independent director.
Meetings
Our
Board of Directors met four (4) times during 2021. Each member of our Board of Directors attended 100% of the total number of meetings
of our during 2021.
Board
Committees
We
have three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee. We
believe that all members of our Board of Directors have been and remain qualified to serve on the committees of our Board and have the
experience and knowledge to perform the duties required of the committees.
We
intend to comply with the corporate governance requirements imposed by a national securities exchange if and when we elect to seek a
listing on a national securities exchange.
Audit
Committee
The
Audit Committee consists of Mr. Yaron Shalem and Mr. Andy MacMillan, whereby Mr. Shalem is the Chairperson. Our Board has determined
that Mr. Shalem qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under the rules of the SEC.
The
primary responsibility of the Audit Committee is to oversee the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board and
report the results of their activities to the Board. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include providing assistance to the
Board in fulfilling the Board’s oversight responsibility relating to:
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the integrity of the Company’s financial statements
and the related public reports, |
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disclosures and regulatory filings in which they appear;
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the systems of internal control over financial reporting,
operations, and legal/regulatory compliance; |
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the performance, qualifications and independence of
the Company’s independent accountants; |
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the performance, qualifications and independence of
the Company’s internal audit function, and |
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compliance with the Company’s ethics policies
and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. |
Our
Audit Committee charter is available on the “About” subpage of our website (www.omniq.com) under the link “Corporate
Governance”.
Report
of the Audit Committee
Our
Audit Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in its charter, which include the responsibility to assist our Board in
its oversight of our accounting and financial reporting principles and policies and internal audit controls and procedures, the integrity
of our financial statements, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent auditor’s qualifications and
independence, and the performance of the independent auditor and our internal audit function. The Audit Committee is also required to
prepare this report to be included in our annual Proxy Statement pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC.
Management
is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of our financial statements and for maintaining appropriate accounting
and financial reporting principles and policies and internal controls and procedures to provide for compliance with accounting standards
and applicable laws and regulations. Our independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for planning and carrying out a
proper audit of our annual financial statements, reviews of our quarterly financial statements prior to the filing of each quarterly
report on Form 10-Q, and other procedures.
The
Audit Committee reviews our financial reporting process. In this context, the Audit Committee:
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has reviewed and discussed
with management the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021; |
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has discussed with Hayne
& Company, our independent registered public accountants, the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 16, Communications
with Audit Committees, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; and |
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has received the written
disclosures and the letter from Haynie & Company required by PCAOB Rule 3526, as modified or supplemented, and has discussed
with Hayne & Company the independent accountant’s independence. |
Based
on this review and the discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended that our Board of Directors include the audited
financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, for filing with the SEC. The Audit Committee
has also recommended the reappointment, subject to stockholder ratification, of Haynie & Company as our independent registered public
accountants for 2022.
This
report is submitted on behalf of the members of the Audit Committee and shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be
“filed” with the SEC, nor shall it be incorporated by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement
into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent
that we specifically incorporate this information by reference and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under these Acts.
Yaron
Shalem (Chairman)
Andrew
J. MacMillan
Compensation
Committee
The
Compensation Committee consists of Mr. Andrew J. MacMillan, and Mr. Yaron Shalem. Mr. MacMillan serves as Chairperson
The
Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include, among others:
|
● |
approve annually the corporate
goals and objectives applicable to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and/or President, evaluate at least annually the
Chief Executive Officer’s and/or President’s performance in light of those goals and objectives, and determine and approve
the Chief Executive Officer’s and/or President’s compensation level based on this evaluation; |
|
● |
review matters relating
to executive succession and management development; |
|
● |
formulate, evaluate, and
approve compensation for the Company’s officers; |
|
● |
formulate, evaluate, and
approve cash incentives and deferred compensation plans for executives; |
|
● |
formulate, approve, and
administer and, when appropriate, recommend to the Board for approval, incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans; and |
|
● |
approve employment contracts,
severance agreements, change in control provisions, and other compensatory arrangements with Company executives |
The
Compensation Committee has the authority, in its sole discretion, to select, retain and obtain the advice of a compensation consultant
as necessary to assist with the execution of its duties and responsibilities.
Our
Compensation Committee charter is available on the “About” subpage of our website (www.omniq.com) under the link “Corporate
Governance”.
Corporate
Governance/Nominating Committee
The
Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee consists of Andrew J. MacMillan, and Yaron Shalem. Andrew J. MacMillan is the Chairman.
The
Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee’s responsibilities include, among others:
|
● |
develop and oversee the
Company’s corporate governance practices and procedures, including identifying best practices and reviewing and recommending
to the Board for approval any changes to the documents, policies and procedures in the Company’s corporate governance framework; |
|
|
|
|
● |
establish procedures for
the director nomination and to determine the qualifications, qualities, skills, and other expertise required to be a director and
to develop, and recommend to the Board for its approval, criteria to be considered in selecting nominees for director; |
|
|
|
|
● |
identify and screen individuals
qualified to become members of the Board, consistent with the above criteria, considering any director candidates recommended by
the Company’s stockholders; |
|
|
|
|
● |
oversee a process for an
annual evaluation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and/or President; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
develop and oversee a process
for an annual evaluation of the Board and its committees, including a formal assessment of each individual director. |
Our
Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee charter is available on the “About” subpage of our website (www.omniq.com) under
the link “Corporate Governance”.
Board
Leadership Structure
The
positions of our principal executive officer and the Chairman of our Board of Directors are served by one individual, Shai Lustgarten.
We have determined that the leadership structure of our Board of Directors is appropriate, especially given the early stage of our development
and the size of our Company.
The
Board of Directors oversees our exposure to risk through its interaction with management and receipt from management of periodic reports
outlining matters related to financial, operational, regulatory, legal and strategic risks. Risk assessment and oversight are an integral
part of our governance and management processes. Our Board of Directors encourages management to promote a culture that incorporates
risk management into our corporate strategy and day-to-day business operations. Management discusses strategic and operational risks
at regular management meetings, and conducts specific strategic planning and review sessions during the year that include a focused discussion
and analysis of the risks facing us. Throughout the year, senior management reviews these risks with the Board of Directors at regular
board meetings as part of management presentations that focus on particular business functions, operations or strategies and presents
the steps taken by management to mitigate or eliminate such risks.
COMPENSATION
OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The
Company is a “smaller reporting company” under Item 10 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and has elected to comply with certain of the requirements applicable to smaller reporting companies in connection with this proxy
statement.
Executive
Compensation
The
table below shows the compensation for services in all capacities we paid during the year ended December 31, 2021 to the individuals
serving as our principal executive officers during the last completed fiscal year and our other two most highly paid executive officers
at the end of the last completed fiscal year (whom we refer to collectively as our “named executive officers”);
Name and Principal Position | |
Year | | |
Salary ($) | | |
Bonus ($) | | |
Stock Awards | | |
Option Awards | | |
All Other Compensation | | |
Total | |
In thousands | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Shai Lustgarten | |
| 2021 | | |
| 583 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 432 | | |
$ | 1,015 | |
Chief Executive Officer | |
| 2020 | | |
| 523 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 1,136 | | |
| 9 | | |
$ | 1,668 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Neev Nissenson | |
| 2021 | | |
| 170 | | |
| 167 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 18 | | |
$ | 355 | |
Chief Financial Officer | |
| 2020 | | |
| 180 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 198 | | |
| - | | |
$ | 378 | |
Bonuses
Any
bonuses granted in the future will relate to meeting certain performance criteria that are directly related to areas within the named
executive’s responsibilities with the Company. As we continue to grow, more defined bonus programs may be established to attract
and retain our employees at all levels.
Employment
Contracts
In
February 2020, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Lustgarten, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, (the “Lustgarten
Agreement”) pursuant to which Mr. Lustgarten shall continue to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Lustgarten
Agreement has a four (4) year term and automatically renews for additional one (1) year periods unless either party elects to terminate
the Lustgarten Agreement. Pursuant to the Lustgarten Agreement, the Company shall pay Mr. Lustgarten an annual base salary of $560,000.
Mr. Lustgarten shall also be eligible to receive i) equity awards pursuant to the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan and the
2020 Equity Incentive Plan and ii) certain milestone bonuses as set forth in the Lustgarten Agreement. In the event Mr. Lustgarten’s
employment is terminated by Mr. Lustgarten for good reason, or terminated by the Company without cause, Mr. Lustgarten shall be entitled
to the greater of (i) the unpaid base salary or (ii) one (1) year’s base salary.
In
September 2019, the Company and HTS Image Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary, entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Neev Nissenson
to serve as the Chief Financial Officer of each the Company and HTS Image Ltd., effective October 10, 2019, pursuant to which the Company
shall pay Mr. Neev Nissenson a monthly base salary of NIS (New Israeli Shekels) 44 thousand. Mr. Nissenson is eligible to earn certain
bonuses upon the Company’s achievement of certain performance milestones as set forth in his employment agreement. Mr. Nissenson’s
employment agreement has an initial term of two (2) years and shall automatically renew for one (1) year periods. As consideration and
pursuant to the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, the Company issued to Mr. Nissenson an option to purchase 35,000 shares of
the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share. Mr. Nissenson is eligible to receive equity awards pursuant
to the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan.
In
February 2020, OMNIQ entered into a consulting agreement with Mr. Carlos J. Nissensohn and/or an entity under his control, a consultant
to the Company and principal stockholder, (the “Nissensohn Agreement”) pursuant to Mr. Carlos J. Nissensohn and/or an entity
under his control will provide certain consulting services to the Company. The Nissensohn Agreement has a four (4) year term and automatically
renews for additional one (1) year periods unless either party elects to terminate the Nissensohn Agreement. Pursuant to the Nissensohn
Agreement, we will pay Mr. Nissensohn a monthly fee of $30,000. Mr. Nissensohn shall also be eligible to receive certain milestone bonuses
as set forth in the Nissensohn Agreement. Mr. Nissensohn is a principal stockholder of the Company. Mr. Carlos J. Nissensohn is the father
of Neev Nissenson, our CFO and board member.
At
the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, all officers are entitled to merit-based cash and equity bonuses.
Outstanding
Equity Awards
The
following chart sets forth all outstanding equity awards to Named Executive Officers of the Company as of December 31, 2021. All awards
are in the form of options to purchase Common Stock of the Company.
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS
| |
Number of | | |
Number of | | |
| | |
| |
| |
Securities | | |
Securities | | |
| | |
| |
| |
underlying | | |
underlying | | |
| | |
| |
| |
Unexercised | | |
Unexercised | | |
Option | | |
Option | |
| |
Options (#) | | |
Options (#) | | |
Exercise | | |
Expiration | |
Name | |
Exercisable | | |
Unexercisable | | |
Price ($/Sh) | | |
Date | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Shai Lustgarten | |
| 76,033 | | |
| None | | |
| 1.80 | | |
| 2/17/2022 | |
Shai Lustgarten | |
| 38,017 | | |
| None | | |
| 1.50 | | |
| 2/17/2022 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Shai Lustgarten | |
| 100,000 | | |
| None | | |
| 2.40 | | |
| 3/5/2023 | |
Shai Lustgarten | |
| 30,000 | | |
| None | | |
| 5.40 | | |
| 11/30/2023 | |
Shai Lustgarten | |
| 76,667 | | |
| 153,333 | | |
| 4.84 | | |
| 9/30/2030 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Neev Nissenson | |
| 20,000 | | |
| None | | |
| 2.40 | | |
| 3/5/2023 | |
Neev Nissenson | |
| 10,000 | | |
| None | | |
| 5.40 | | |
| 11/30/2023 | |
Neev Nissenson | |
| 8,750 | | |
| 26,250 | | |
| 5.00 | | |
| 7/31/2023 | |
Neev Nissenson | |
| 13,333 | | |
| 26,667 | | |
| 4.40 | | |
| 9/30/2030 | |
Certain
columnar information required by Item 402(p)(2) of Regulation S-K has been omitted for categories where there was no compensation awarded
to, or paid to, the named directors during the year ended December 31, 2021.
EQUITY
COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The
following table sets forth the Common Stock of the Company authorized for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plans
as of December 31, 2021.
Plan category | |
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | | |
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | | |
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column
(a) | |
| |
(a) | | |
(b) | | |
(c) | |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | |
| 2,938,229 | | |
| 5.91 | | |
| 1,483,856 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Total | |
| 2,938,229 | | |
| 5.91 | | |
| 1,483,856 | |
Director
Compensation
Name | |
Year | | |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | | |
Stock Awards | | |
Option(1) Awards | | |
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation | | |
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation | | |
All Other Compensation | | |
Total | |
In thousands | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Andrew MacMillan (1) | |
| 2021 | | |
| 24 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 24 | |
| |
| 2020 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 10 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 10 | |
Yaron Shalem (1) | |
| 2021 | | |
| 24 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 24 | |
| |
| 2020 | | |
| 24 | | |
| - | | |
| 10 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 34 | |
Guy Elhanani | |
| 2021 | | |
| 8 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 8 | |
Itzhak Almog | |
| 2021 | | |
| 8 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 8 | |
|
1. |
The fair value of the options
awarded to Mr. MacMillan and Mr. Shalem in 2020 was determined to be $100 thousand, respectively using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing
Model, which uses certain assumptions related to risk-free interest rates, expected volatility, expected life of the stock options
or warrants, and future dividends |
There
are no agreements or arrangements by which any directors or nominees are to receive compensation or other payments from third parties
in return for serving on the Board of Directors.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent
of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and with the NASDAQ Stock Market. Officers, directors and greater than ten-percent shareholders are required
by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based
solely on a review of such forms furnished to the Company, the Company believes that during calendar year 2021, all Section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to the officers, directors and ten-percent beneficial shareholders were satisfied.
Code
of Ethics
The
Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) in order to: (a) promote honest and ethical conduct,
including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest; (b) promote full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable
disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the
Company; (c) promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; (d) promote the protection of Company assets,
including corporate opportunities and confidential information; (e) promote fair dealing practices; (f) deter wrongdoing; and (g) ensure
accountability for adherence to the Code. All directors, officers and employees of the Company are required to be familiar with the Code,
comply with its provisions and report any suspected violations.
The
Code is available on the “About” subpage of our website (www.omniq.com) under the link “Corporate Governance.”
The information on our website, however, is not a part of this Proxy Statement.
Insider
Trading Policy
Our
Board adopted an insider trading policy that applies to all of its directors, officers and employees including our principal executive
officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer that applies to all trading except the exercise of stock options
for cash under our stock option plan and the purchase of shares under an employee stock purchase plan, should we adopt such a plan. The
insider trading policy addresses trading on material nonpublic information, tipping, confidentiality, 10b5-1 programs, disciplinary actions,
trading windows, pre-clearance of trades, prohibition against short swing profits and individual responsibilities under the policy.
Conflicts
of Interest
Certain
conflicts of interest exist and may continue to exist between the Company and its officers and directors due to the fact that each has
other business interests to which they devote their primary attention. Each officer and director may continue to do so notwithstanding
the fact that management time should be devoted to the business of the Company.
Certain
conflicts of interest may exist between the Company and its management, and conflicts may develop in the future. The Company has not
established policies or procedures for the resolution of current or potential conflicts of interest between the Company, its officers
and directors or affiliated entities. There can be no assurance that management will resolve all conflicts of interest in favor of the
Company, and conflicts of interest may arise that can be resolved only through the exercise by management their best judgment as may
be consistent with their fiduciary duties. Management will try to resolve conflicts to the best advantage of all concerned.
Potential
Payments Upon Termination or Change In Control
The
employment agreement for our named executive officer generally provides that in the event of termination of such executive’s employment
for any reason, or if the executive resigns, the Company is required pay certain separation benefits, including (i) unpaid annual salary
earned through the termination date; (ii) unused vacation; (iii) accrued and unpaid expenses; and (iv) other vested and accrued benefits
to which he is entitled under the Company’s employee benefit plan. In the event the executive voluntarily resigns for “good
reason” (as defined in each executive’s respective Employment Agreement) or the Company terminates their employment for any
reason other than for cause (as defined in each executive’s respective Employment Agreement), the Company will be required to pay
certain termination benefits, including (i) a lump sum payment equal to the greater of (A) unpaid annual salary through the end of the
Initial Term or Renewal Term (as those terms are defined in each executive’s respective Employment Agreement) or (B) two years
of annual salary and (ii) COBRA reimbursement.
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
Related
Party Transactions
We
describe below all transactions and series of similar transactions, other than compensation arrangements, since January 1, 2020, to which
we were a party or will be a party, in which:
|
● |
the amounts involved exceeded
or will exceed $120,000; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
any of our directors, executive
officers or holders of more than 5% of our capital stock, or |
|
|
|
|
● |
any member of the immediate
family of the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest |
2020
In
February 2020, OMNIQ entered into a consulting agreement with Mr. Carlos J. Nissensohn and/or an entity under his control, a consultant
to the Company and principal stockholder, (the “Nissensohn Agreement”) pursuant to Mr. Carlos J. Nissensohn and/or an entity
under his control will provide certain consulting services to the Company. The Nissensohn Agreement has a four (4) year term and automatically
renews for additional one (1) year periods unless either party elects to terminate the Nissensohn Agreement. Pursuant to the Nissensohn
Agreement, we will pay Mr. Nissensohn a monthly fee of $30,000. Mr. Nissensohn shall also be eligible to receive certain milestone bonuses
as set forth in the Nissensohn Agreement. Mr. Nissensohn is a principal stockholder of the Company. Mr. Carlos J. Nissensohn is the father
of Neev Nissenson, our CFO and board member.
Certain
conflicts of interest exist and may continue to exist between the Company and its officers and directors due to the fact that each has
other business interests to which they devote significant attention. Each officer and director may continue to do so notwithstanding
the fact that management time should be devoted to the business of the Company.
Anti-Hedging
Policy
We
have not established any sort of anti-hedging policy that would prohibit our executive officers and Directors from hedging the economic
interest of their stock ownership and holding shares of the Company’s common stock in a margin account or pledging shares as collateral
for a loan.
PROPOSAL
TWO – RATIFICATION OF AUDITORS
Our
Board has selected Haynie & Company as the independent auditor to perform the audit of our consolidated financial statements for
2022. Haynie & Company is a registered public accounting firm.
Our
Board of Directors is asking our stockholders to ratify the selection of Haynie & Company as our independent auditor for 2022. Although
not required by law or our Amended and Restated Bylaws, our Board of Directors is submitting the selection of Haynie & Company to
our stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. Even if the selection is ratified, our Board of Directors,
in its discretion, may select a different registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a
change would be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. A representative of Haynie & Company is not expected to
attend the Annual Meeting. If a representative does attend, the representative will have the opportunity to make a statement and will
be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Haynie
& Company
On
June 6, 2019, the Board authorized management of the Company to engage Haynie & Company as the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. On June 6, 2019, the Company entered into an engagement
agreement with Haynie & Company to provide audit services for the year ending December 31, 2019.
During
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted with Haynie & Company
regarding (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction either completed or proposed or the type of audit opinion
that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided that Haynie
& Company concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial
reporting issue, or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement between the Company and its predecessor auditor as
described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K or a reportable event as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
The
Audit Committee and Board of Directors has selected and approved Haynie & Company as the independent registered public accounting
firm to audit our financial statements for the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, subject to ratification by the shareholders
at the Annual Meeting.
During
the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, there were no disagreements with Haynie & Company on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction
of Haynie & Company, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports
on the financial statements for such periods.
As
disclosed in Item 9A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, management determined a
material weakness in in our controls related to segregation of duties and other immaterial weaknesses in several areas of data management
and documentation.
The
Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures”, as such terms are defined under Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), that
are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported
within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our
management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosures. The Company acknowledges that any controls and procedures can provide only reasonable assurances of achieving the
desired control objectives.
We
have carried out an evaluation as required by Rule 13a-15(d) under the supervision of and with the participation of our management, including
our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls
and procedure as of December 31, 2021. Based upon their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer concluded
that, as of December 31, 2021, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective. Although we have determined
that the existing controls and procedures are not effective, the deficiencies identified have not been deemed material to our reporting
disclosures.
Management’s
Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
The
Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such
term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting refers to the process designed
by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, and effected by our Board of Directors,
management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation
of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Internal
control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving their objectives. Internal control over financial reporting
is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgement and breakdowns resulting from human failures.
Due to their inherent limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by
internal control over financial reporting. It is possible to design safeguards to reduce, but not eliminate, this risk. Management is
responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company.
Management
has used the framework set forth in the report entitled Internal Control—Integrated Framework published by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), known as COSO, to evaluate the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting.
A
material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is
a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented
or detected on a timely basis. Based on such evaluation, our CEO concluded that, as of December 31, 2021, our internal controls over
financial reporting were not effective.
As
a result of our evaluation, we identified a material weakness in our controls related to segregation of duties and other immaterial weaknesses
in several areas of data management and documentation.
The
Company’s management is composed of a small number of professionals resulting in a situation where limitations on segregation of
duties exist. Accordingly, as a result of the material weakness identified above, we have concluded that the control deficiencies result
in a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements may not be prevented on a timely
basis by the Company’s internal controls. The Company continues to employ and refine a structure in which critical accounting policies,
issues and estimates are identified, and together with other complex areas, are subject to multiple reviews by executives. In addition,
the Company evaluates and assesses its internal controls and procedures regarding its financial reporting, utilizing standards incorporating
applicable portions of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s 2009 Guidance for Smaller Public Companies in Auditing Internal
Controls Over Financial Reporting as necessary on an on-going basis. The Company has hired additional finance department staff during
the year ending December 31, 2021, which allows for a higher level of segregation and improve the Company’s overall compliance
with COSO but the deficiency is still present. The hiring of additional staff is dependent upon the Company obtaining sufficient cash
flows from operations or financings.
While
the material weakness set forth above were the result of the scale of the Company’s operations and is intrinsic to its small size,
the Company believes the risk of material misstatements relative to financial reporting are minimal.
During
the Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the auditors informed the Company that there had not
been any reportable events.
Audit
and Non-Audit Fees
Our
Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of our independent auditor. It is the policy
of our Audit Committee to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accountants. On
June 6, 2019, the Company entered into an engagement agreement with Haynie & Company to provide audit services for the year ending
December 31, 2019. Our Audit Committee has considered whether the provision by Haynie & Company of services of the varieties described
below is compatible with maintaining the independence of Haynie & Company. Our Audit Committee believes that Haynie & Company
only provided audit services. We use another firm to provide tax compliance services.
| |
Fiscal Year Ended | |
| |
December 31, | |
In thousands | |
2021 | | |
2020 | |
Audit fees | |
$ | 182 | | |
$ | 181 | |
Audit related fees | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Tax fees | |
| - | | |
| - | |
All other fees | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Totals | |
$ | 182 | | |
$ | 181 | |
In
the above table, in accordance with the SEC’s definitions and rules, “audit fees” are fees for professional services
for the audit of a company’s financial statements included in the annual report on Form 10-K, for the review of a company’s
financial statements included in the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and for services that are normally provided by the accountant in
connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements; “audit-related fees” are fees for assurance and related
services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of a company’s financial statements; “tax
fees” are fees for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning; and “all other fees” are fees for any services not
included in the first three categories.
Our
policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services performed by the independent accountants. These services may include
audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Under our Audit Committee’s policy, pre-approval is generally
provided for particular services or categories of services, including planned services, project-based services and routine consultations.
In addition, the Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. Our Audit Committee approved all services
that our independent accountants provided to us in the past two fiscal years.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” SUCH RATIFICATION.
Shareholder
Proposals for 2023 Proxy Statement
Under
the procedures established by the Securities and Exchange Commission, certain requirements exist for submitting shareholder proposals
for inclusion at an annual meeting. Among other things, a shareholder must give written notice of the proposal to the Secretary of the
Company not less than 120 days nor more than 150 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the date of mailing proxies for the prior
year’s annual meeting, provided, however, that if the date of the next annual meeting is moved by more than thirty (30) days from
the date of this year’s annual meeting, shareholders must give written notice a reasonable time before the Company begins to print
and send its proxy materials for such annual meeting. Delivery to the Secretary shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail,
return receipt requested.
Additionally,
our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide the requirements for the calling of a special meeting. The request shall be in writing, specifying
the time of such meeting, the place where it is to be held and the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted, and shall
be delivered personally or sent by registered mail or by telegraphic or other facsimile transmission to the Chairman, President, any
Vice President or the Secretary of the Company.
Proposals
by shareholders for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
which is tentatively scheduled to be held on September 30, 2023, should be addressed to the Secretary, OMNIQ Corp., 1865 West 2100 South,
Salt Lake City, Utah 84119, and must be received at such address no earlier than April 30, 2023 and no later than June 2, 2023, unless
the date of the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of this year’s meeting,
in which case then the proposal must be received a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its proxy materials
Upon
receipt of any such proposal, the Company will determine whether or not to include such proposal in the proxy statement and proxy in
accordance with applicable law. It is suggested that such proposal be forwarded by certified mail return receipt requested.
Proxy
Statement and Annual Report Delivery
The
SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for annual reports and
proxy statements with respect to two or more shareholders sharing the same address by delivering a single annual report and/or proxy
statement addressed to those shareholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially provides
extra convenience for shareholders and cost savings for companies. The Company and some brokers household annual reports and proxy materials,
delivering a single annual report and/or proxy statement to multiple shareholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have
been received from the affected shareholders.
Once
you have received notice from your broker or the Company that your broker or the Company will be householding materials to your address,
householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to
participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate annual report and/or proxy statement in the future, please notify
your broker if your shares are held in a brokerage account or the Company if you hold registered shares. If, at any time, you and another
shareholder sharing the same address wish to participate in householding and prefer to receive a single copy of the Company’s annual
report and/or proxy statement, please notify your broker if your shares are held in a brokerage account or the Company if you hold registered
shares.
You
may request to receive at any time a separate copy of our annual report or proxy statement, or notify the Company that you do or do not
wish to participate in householding by sending a written request to the Corporate Secretary at 1865 West 2100 South, Salt Lake City,
Utah 84119 or by telephoning (714) 899-4800.
Stockholder
Communications
There
has not been any defined policy or procedure requirements for stockholders to submit recommendations or nomination for directors. The
Board does not believe that a defined policy with regard to the consideration of candidates recommended by stockholders is necessary
at this time because it believes that, given the limited scope of the Company’s operations, a specific nominating policy would
be premature and of little assistance until the Company’s business operations are at a more advanced level. There are no specific,
minimum qualifications that the Board believes must be met by a candidate recommended by the Board. The Board may consider the diversity
of qualities and skills of a nominee, but the Board has no formal policy in this regard. Currently, the entire Board decides on nominees,
on the recommendation of any member of the Board followed by the Board’s review of the candidates’ qualifications and interview
of candidates. Based on the information gathered, the Board then makes a decision on whether to recommend the candidates as nominees
for director. The Company does not pay any fee to any third party or parties to identify or evaluate or assist in identifying or evaluating
potential nominee.
The
Company does not have any restrictions on stockholder nominations under its Certificate of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws.
The only restrictions are those applicable generally under Delaware corporate law and the federal proxy rules, to the extent such rules
are or become applicable. The Board will consider suggestions from individual stockholders, subject to evaluation of the person’s
merits. Stockholders may communicate nominee suggestions directly to the Board, accompanied by biographical details and a statement of
support for the nominees. The suggested nominee must also provide a statement of consent to being considered for nomination. There are
no formal criteria for nominees
Dated:
November 18, 2022
|
BY ORDER OF THE |
|
BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
|
|
|
/s/ Shai
Lustgarten |
|
Shai Lustgarten, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |
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