Form DEF 14A - Other definitive proxy statements

 

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Schedule 14A

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

(Amendment No. )

 

 

Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
☐	Preliminary Proxy Statement
☐	Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
☒	Definitive Proxy Statement
☐	Definitive Additional Materials
☐	Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12
DATCHAT, 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 all boxes that apply):
☒	No fee required.
☐	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
☐	Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

 

 

 

 

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DATCHAT, INC.
204 Neilson Street

New Brunswick, NJ 08901

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 13, 2024

 

To the Shareholders of DatChat, Inc.:

 

The 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2024 Annual Meeting”) of DatChat, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), will be held on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The 2024 Annual Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting which will be conducted via live webcast. You will be able to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/DATS2024.

 

In addition to voting by submitting your proxy prior to the 2024 Annual Meeting, you also will be able to vote your shares electronically during the 2024 Annual Meeting. Further details regarding the virtual meeting are included in the accompanying proxy statement. At the 2024 Annual Meeting, the holders of our outstanding common stock will act on the following matters:

 

1.

To elect members of the Company’s board directors (the “Board”) to serve for a one-year term to expire at the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders;

 

2.

To ratify the appointment of Salberg & Company, P.A. (“Salberg”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024;

 

3.

To approve an amendment to the DatChat, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder to 600,000 shares from 300,000 shares (the “Plan Amendment”); and

 

4.

To transact such other business as may properly be brought before the 2024 Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

Our Board unanimously recommends that you vote: “FOR” the election of our Board’s director nominees (Proposal 1); “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Salberg as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 (Proposal 2); and “FOR” the approval of the Plan Amendment (Proposal 3).

 

Instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to all of our shareholders, we provide access to these materials via the Internet. This reduces the amount of paper necessary to produce these materials as well as the costs associated with mailing these materials to all shareholders. Accordingly, on or about October 29, 2024, we will begin mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to all shareholders of record on our books at the close of business on October 18, 2024, the record date for the 2024 Annual Meeting, and will post our proxy materials on the website referenced in the Notice. As more fully described in the Notice, shareholders may choose to access our proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice or may request to receive a printed set of our proxy materials. In addition, the Notice and website provide information regarding how you may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail, or electronically by email, on an ongoing basis.

 

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If you are a shareholder of record, you may vote in one of the following ways:

 

●

Vote over the Internet, by going to www.proxyvote.com (have your Notice or proxy card in hand when you access the website);

 

●

Vote by Mail, if you received (or requested and received) a printed copy of the proxy materials, by returning the enclosed proxy card (signed and dated) in the envelope provided;

 

●

Vote by phone by calling 1-800-690-6903; or

 

●

Vote online at the 2024 Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/DATS2024.

 

If your shares are held in “street name,” meaning that they are held for your account by a broker or other nominee, you will receive instructions from the holder of record that you must follow for your shares to be voted.

 

The 2024 Annual Meeting will be a virtual shareholder meeting, conducted via live audio webcast, through which you can submit questions and vote online. The 2024 Annual Meeting can be accessed by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/DATS2024 and entering your 16-digit control number (included on the Notice mailed to you).

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting virtually, we urge you to take the time to vote your shares.

 

If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares, please call our proxy solicitor, Campaign Management:

 

 

Strategic Stockholder Advisor and Proxy Solicitation Agent
15 West 38^th Street, Suite #747, New York, New York 10018

 

North American Toll-Free Phone:
1-855-264-1527
Email: [e-mail]
Call Collect Outside North America: [phone]

 

 

	By Order of the Board of Directors,
	/s/ Darin Myman
	Darin Myman
	Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
	New York, NY
	October 25, 2024

 

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DATCHAT, INC.
204 Neilson Street

New Brunswick, NJ 08901

 

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 13, 2024

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE 2024 Annual MEETING TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024

 

Copies of this proxy statement, the form of proxy card and the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “2023 Annual Report”) are available without charge at www.ProxyVote.com, by telephone at 1-800-579-1639, by email to [e-mail], or by notifying our Corporate Secretary, in writing, at DatChat. Inc., 204 Neilson Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.

 

The board of directors (“Board” or “Board of Directors”) of DatChat, Inc. (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is soliciting the enclosed proxy for use at its 2024 annual meeting of shareholders (the “2024 Annual Meeting” or “Annual Meeting”). The 2024 Annual Meeting will be held on December 13, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and will be a completely virtual meeting which will be conducted via live webcast. You will be able to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/DATS2024.

 

On or about October 29, 2024, we will begin mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to our shareholders (other than those who previously requested electronic or paper delivery of proxy materials), directing shareholders to a website where they can access our proxy materials, including this proxy statement and the 2023 Annual Report, and view instructions on how to vote. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials, please follow the instructions included in the Notice. If you have previously elected to receive our proxy materials electronically, you will continue to receive access to those materials via e-mail unless you elect otherwise.

 

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		Page
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY MATERIAL AND VOTING		1
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS		7
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE		10
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT		15
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS		16
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION		17
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS		19
PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM		21
PROPOSAL 3: AMENDMENT TO THE DATCHAT, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 2021 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER		22
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT		30
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS		31
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO SHAREHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS		32
ANNUAL REPORT		33
OTHER MATTERS		33

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY MATERIAL AND VOTING

 

Why did I Receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials in the Mail instead of a Full Set of Proxy Materials?

 

We are pleased to take advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rule that allows companies to furnish their proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, we have sent to our shareholders of record a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet free of charge or to request a paper copy may be found in the Notice. Our shareholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically on an ongoing basis. A shareholder’s election to receive proxy materials by mail or electronically will remain in effect until the shareholder changes its election.

 

What Does it Mean if I Receive More than One Notice?

 

If you receive more than one Notice, your shares may be registered in more than one name or in different accounts. Please follow the voting instructions on each Notice to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

 

How do I attend the Annual Meeting?

 

The Annual Meeting will be held virtually on December 13, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/DATS2024. Information on how to vote at the Annual Meeting is discussed below.

 

Who May Attend the Annual Meeting?

 

Only record holders and beneficial owners of our common stock, or their duly authorized proxies, may attend the Annual Meeting. If your shares of common stock are held in street name, you will need to bring a copy of a brokerage statement or other documentation reflecting your stock ownership as of the Record Date (as defined herein).

 

Who is Entitled to Vote?

 

The Board has fixed the close of business on October 18, 2024 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. On the Record Date, there were 3,076,274 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Each share of common stock represents one vote that may be voted on each proposal that may come before the Annual Meeting.

 

What is the Difference Between Holding Shares as a Record Holder and as a Beneficial Owner (Holding Shares in Street Name)?

 

If your shares are registered in your name with our transfer agent, West Coast Stock Transfer, Inc., you are the “record holder” of those shares. If you are a record holder, these proxy materials have been provided directly to you by the Company.

 

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account, a bank or other holder of record, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of those shares held in “street name.” If your shares are held in street name, these proxy materials have been forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered to be the shareholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to instruct this organization on how to vote your shares.

 

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What am I Voting on?

 

There are three matters scheduled for a vote:

 

1.

To elect five members to our Board of Directors to serve for a one-year term to expire at the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders;

 

2.

To ratify the appointment of Salberg & Company, P.A. (“Salberg”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2024; and

 

3.

To approve an amendment to the DatChat, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder to 600,000 shares from 300,000 shares (the “Plan Amendment”).

 

What if another matter is properly brought before the Annual Meeting?

 

The Board knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the person named in the accompanying proxy to vote on those matters in accordance with his best judgment.

 

How Do I Vote?

 

Shareholders of Record

 

For your convenience, record holders of our common stock have four methods of voting:

 

1.

Vote over the Internet, by going to www.proxyvote.com (have your Notice or proxy card in hand when you access the website);

 

2.

Vote by Mail, if you received (or requested and received) a printed copy of the proxy materials, by returning the enclosed proxy card (signed and dated) in the envelope provided;

 

3.

Vote by phone by calling 1-800-690-6903; or

 

4.

Vote online at the 2024 Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/DATS2024.

 

Beneficial Owners of Shares Held in Street Name

 

If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name through a bank, broker or other nominee, you may not vote your shares virtually at the 2024 Annual Meeting unless you obtain a “legal proxy” from the bank, broker or nominee that holds your shares, giving you the right to vote the shares virtually at the 2024 Annual Meeting. A voting instruction card has been provided to you by your broker, bank or other nominee describing how to vote your shares. If you receive a voting instruction card, you can vote by completing and returning the voting instruction card. Please be sure to mark your voting choices on your voting instruction card before you return it. You may also be able to vote via the Internet or by telephone. Please refer to the instructions provided with your voting instruction card for information about voting.

 

As a beneficial owner, you may direct your broker, bank, fiduciary, custodian, or other nominee how to vote shares they hold on your behalf. If that organization is not given specific directions on how to vote, your shares held in the name of that organization may not be voted, which is sometimes referred to as a “broker non-vote.” New York Stock Exchange Rule 452.11 prohibits brokers and other organizations holding shares on your behalf from voting uninstructed shares on certain matters deemed to be “non-routine”. Brokers and other organizations may, however, vote your uninstructed shares for proposals that are considered “routine.”

 

Brokers may reach conclusions regarding the ability to vote your shares on a given proposal that differ from our expectations expressed in this proxy statement. As a result, we urge you to direct your broker, bank, fiduciary, custodian, or other nominee how to vote your shares on all proposals to ensure that your vote is counted.

 

All shares entitled to vote on a matter and represented by a properly completed and executed proxy received before the Annual Meeting and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting as instructed in a proxy delivered before the Annual Meeting. If you do not indicate how your shares should be voted on a matter, we expect that the shares represented by your properly completed and executed proxy will be voted as the Board recommends on routine proposals, with regard to any other matters that may be properly presented at the Annual Meeting and on all matters incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting for which your broker, bank, fiduciary, custodian, or other nominee concludes it is entitled to vote your uninstructed shares. If you are a registered shareholder and attend the Annual Meeting, you may deliver your completed proxy card in person. If you are a street name shareholder and wish to vote at the Annual Meeting, you will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares. All votes will be tabulated by the inspector of election appointed for the Annual Meeting, who will separately tabulate affirmative and negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes.

 

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We provide Internet proxy voting to allow you to vote your shares online, with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and correctness of your proxy vote instructions. However, please be aware that you must bear any costs associated with your Internet access, such as usage charges from Internet access providers and telephone companies.

 

How Many Votes do I Have?

 

On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of common stock you own as of the close of business on the Record Date.

 

Is My Vote Confidential?

 

Yes, your vote is confidential. Only the inspector of election, individuals who help with processing and counting your votes and persons who need access for legal reasons will have access to your vote. This information will not be disclosed, except as required by law.

 

What Constitutes a Quorum?

 

To carry on business at the Annual Meeting, we must have a quorum. A quorum is present when holders of one-third of the shares entitled to vote as of the Record Date, are represented in person or by proxy. Thus, 1,025,425 shares must be represented in person or by proxy to have a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote in person at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement. Shares owned by us are not considered outstanding or considered to be present at the Annual Meeting. If a quorum is not present by attendance at the 2024 Annual Meeting or represented by proxy, the shareholders present by attendance at the meeting or by proxy may adjourn the 2024 Annual Meeting until a quorum is present.

 

How Will my Shares be Voted if I Give No Specific Instruction?

 

With regard to shares that are not held in street name, shares must be voted as a shareholder has instructed. If there is a matter on which a shareholder of record has given no specific instruction but has authorized us generally to vote its shares on its behalf, they will be voted as follows:

 

1.

“FOR” the election of each of the five director nominees to our Board of Directors to serve for a one-year term to expire at the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders;

 

2.

“FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Salberg as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2024; and

 

3.

“FOR” the approval of the Plan Amendment.

 

This authorization would exist, for example, if a shareholder of record merely signs, dates and returns the proxy card but does not indicate how its shares are to be voted on one or more proposals. If other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting and you do not provide specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted at the discretion of the proxy.

 

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If your shares are held in street name, we expect that banks, brokers and other such holders of record will vote shares as you have instructed. Please see “What is a Broker Non-Vote?” below regarding the ability of banks, brokers and other such holders of record to vote the uninstructed shares of their customers or other beneficial owners.

 

How are Votes Counted?

 

Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the Annual Meeting, who will separately count, for the election of directors, “FOR,” “AGAINST” abstentions and broker non-votes; and, with respect to the other proposals, votes “FOR” and “AGAINST,” abstentions and broker non-votes.

 

What is a Broker Non-Vote?

 

If your shares are held in street name, we urge you to instruct the organization who holds your shares how to vote your shares. If you sign your proxy card but do not provide instructions on how your broker should vote on “routine” proposals, your broker may vote your shares as recommended by the Board. If you do not provide voting instructions, we expect that your shares will not be voted on any “non-routine” proposals. This vote is called a “broker non-vote.” Accordingly, we expect that broker non-votes will not be included in the tabulation of the voting results of any of the “non-routine” proposals and, therefore, will have no effect on the voting results of such proposals.

 

We expect that brokers, banks, fiduciaries, custodians, or other nominees holding shares in street name for beneficial owners will not use discretionary authority to vote shares on the election of directors or the Plan Amendment if they have not received instructions from the beneficial owners. Please submit your vote instruction form so your vote is counted.

 

What is an Abstention?

 

An abstention is a shareholder’s affirmative choice to decline to vote on a proposal. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (“Bylaws”), provide that an action of our shareholders (other than the election of directors) is only approved if a majority of the number of shares of stock present and entitled to vote thereon vote in favor of such action.

 

How Many Votes are Needed for Each Proposal to Pass?

 

Proposal		Vote Required
Election of each of the five director nominees to our Board of Directors		Plurality of the votes cast (the five directors nominees receiving the most “FOR” votes).
Ratification of the appointment of Salberg as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2024		A majority of the votes entitled to vote thereon and present at the Annual Meeting.
Approval of the Plan Amendment		A majority of the votes entitled to vote thereon and present at the Annual Meeting.

 

What Are the Voting Procedures?

 

In voting by proxy with regard to the election of directors, you may vote “for,” “against” or “abstain” as to each nominee. With regard to other proposals, you may vote “for,” “against” or “abstain” for each proposal. You should specify your respective choices on the accompanying proxy card or your vote instruction form.

 

Is My Proxy Revocable?

 

You may revoke your proxy and reclaim your right to vote at any time before your proxy is voted by giving written notice to the Corporate Secretary of DatChat, Inc., by delivering a properly completed, later-dated proxy card or vote instruction form or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting. All written notices of revocation and other communications with respect to revocations of proxies should be addressed to: DatChat, Inc., 204 Neilson Street New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Your most current proxy card or Internet proxy is the one that will be counted.

 

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Who is Paying for the Expenses Involved in Preparing and Mailing this Proxy Statement? 

 

All of the expenses involved in preparing, assembling and mailing these proxy materials and all costs of soliciting proxies will be paid by us. In addition to the solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited by our officers and other employees by telephone or in person. Such persons will receive no compensation for their services other than their regular salaries. Furthermore, we have retained Campaign Management as our proxy solicitation agent in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting at an approximate cost of $10,000, plus reimbursement of expenses. If you have any questions or require any assistance with completing your proxy, please contact Campaign Management by telephone (toll-free) at 1-855-264-1527 or collect outside North America at+1 [phone], or by email at [e-mail]. Arrangements will also be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the shares held of record by such persons, and we may reimburse such persons for reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by them in forwarding solicitation materials. 

 

Do I Have Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal?

 

Our shareholders do not have appraisal rights with respect to the matters to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting.

 

How can I Find out the Results of the Voting at the Annual Meeting?

 

Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. In addition, final voting results will be disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K that we expect to file with the SEC within four business days after the Annual Meeting. If final voting results are not available to us in time to file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC within four business days after the Annual Meeting, we intend to file a Current Report on Form 8-K to publish preliminary results and, within four business days after the final results are known to us, file an additional Current Report on Form 8-K to publish the final results.

 

When are Shareholder Proposals Due for the 2025 Annual Meeting?

 

Shareholders who intend to have a proposal considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for presentation at our 2025 annual meeting of shareholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”) must submit the proposal to us at our corporate headquarters no later than June 26, 2025, which proposal must be made in accordance with the provisions of Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In the event the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the 2024 Annual Meeting, shareholders who intend to have a proposal considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for presentation at our 2025 Annual Meeting must submit the proposal to us at our corporate headquarters no later than a reasonable time before we begin to print and send our proxy materials for our 2025 Annual Meeting.

 

Shareholders who intend to present a proposal at our 2025 Annual Meeting without inclusion of the proposal in our proxy materials are required to provide notice of such proposal to our Corporate Secretary so that such notice is received by our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive office on or after August 15, 2025 but no later than September 14, 2025; provided, however, in the event that the 2025 Annual Meeting occurs on a date that is not within 25 days before or after the anniversary date of the 2024 Annual Meeting, notice of such proposal must be received by our Corporate Secretary no later than the close of business on the 10^th day following the day on which such notice of the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting is mailed or public disclosure of the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting is made, whichever first occurs.

 

In order for shareholders to give timely notice under the universal proxy rules of an intent to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than our nominees for the 2025 Annual Meeting, notice must be submitted by October 14, 2025; provided, however, in the event that the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting has changed by more than 30 calendar days from the anniversary date of the 2024 Annual Meeting, then notice of such proxy solicitation must be provided by the later of 60 days prior to the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting or the 10th calendar day following the day on which a public announcement of the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting is first made by us and such notice must include all the information required by Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act and such shareholders must comply with all of the requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act.

 

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Shareholders are also advised to review our Bylaws, which contain additional requirements relating to shareholder proposals and director nominations, including who may submit them and what information must be included.

 

We reserve the right to reject, rule out of order or take other appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not comply with these and other applicable requirements.

 

Do the Company’s Officers and Directors have an Interest in Any of the Matters to Be Acted Upon at the Annual Meeting?

 

Members of the Board have an interest in Proposal 1, the election to the Board of the five director nominees set forth herein. In addition, our officers and directors may be the recipient of future awards under the 2021 Plan as described later in this proxy statement under the heading “Proposal 3: Amendment to the DatChat, Inc. Amended and Restated 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder.” Members of the Board and executive officers of the Company do not have any interest in Proposal 2, the ratification of the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

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PROPOSAL 1:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

Our Board currently consists of five directors, and their terms will expire at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Directors are elected at the annual meeting of shareholders each year and hold office until their resignation or removal or their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

Darin Myman, Peter Shelus, Wayne Linsley, Carly Luogameno and Joseph Nelson have each been nominated to serve as directors and have agreed to stand for election. If the nominees are elected at the 2024 Annual Meeting, then each nominee will serve for a one-year term expiring at the 2025 Annual Meeting and until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

 

Under our Bylaws, a plurality of the votes cast at the 2024 Annual Meeting is required to elect a nominee as a director. With respect to Proposal 1, you may vote FOR or WITHHOLD with respect to each director nominee. Any nominee receiving more votes FOR than WITHHOLD will be elected. If you WITHHOLD, your shares will be counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of establishing a quorum but will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of votes cast. Proposal 1 is a non-discretionary matter. Therefore, if your shares are held by your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee in “street name” and you do not timely provide voting instructions with respect to your shares, we expect that your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee will not vote your shares on Proposal 1. Shares held in “street name” by banks, brokerage firms, or nominees who indicate on their proxies that they do not have authority to vote the shares on Proposal 1 will not be counted as votes FOR or WITHHOLD any nominee. As a result, such “broker non-votes” or voting to WITHHOLD will have no effect on the voting results of Proposal 1.

 

If no contrary indication is made, with the potential exception of proxies submitted for shares held in street name, proxies will be voted “FOR” Darin Myman, Peter Shelus, Wayne Linsley, Carly Luogameno and Joseph Nelson or, in the event that any such individual is unable to serve as a director at the time of the election (which is not currently expected), for any nominee who is designated by our Board to fill the vacancy.

 

Recommendation of our Board

 

Our Board unanimously recommends that the shareholders vote “FOR” the election of all of our director nominees at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

 

Nominees for Election to the Board

 

Nominee		Age		Position(s)
Darin Myman		59		President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Peter Shelus		40		Chief Technology Officer and Director
Carly Luogomeno		36		Director
Joseph Nelson		41		Director
Wayne Linsley		67		Director

 

Nominees for Election to the Board for a Term Expiring at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

 

Darin Myman - Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Darin Myman has served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors since January 2015. Previously, Mr. Myman served as co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wally World Media, Inc., (OTC:WLYW). He also has served as the Chief Executive Officer and a member of PeopleString’s board of directors since PeopleString’s inception. Mr. Myman developed extensive Internet skills through a variety of positions. He has executive management and founder experience having served as a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of BigString Corporation, a publicly traded company, since October 2005. He also has corporate governance and board experience having served as a member of BigString’s board of directors since BigString’s inception. Prior to BigString, Mr. Myman was a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveInsurance.com, the first online insurance broker that pioneered the electronic storefront for large national insurance agencies. Prior to co-founding LiveInsurance.com, he served as a Vice President of the online brokerage services unit of Westminster Securities Corporation. We believe that Mr. Myman is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his background in business and experience in senior leadership and as a board member of public companies.

 

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Peter Shelus - Chief Technology Officer and Director

 

Peter Shelus is a co-founder of DatChat and has served as our Chief Technology Officer since January 2016 and a member of our board of directors since December 2022. Mr. Shelus has over 10 years of ephemeral messaging and mobile video development experience. Mr. Shelus has been at the forefront of the secure messaging industry, having served as a lead engineer for one of the first ephemeral messaging platforms, “BigString,” where he helped develop the patented technology that became a cornerstone of self-destructing messaging. Mr. Shelus holds Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Rutgers University. We believe that Mr. Shelus is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his experience in the secure messaging industry and background in technology engineering and development.

 

Wayne Linsley – Director

 

Wayne Linsley has served as a member of the board of directors since August 2021. Mr. Linsley has over 40 years of experience in business management. Since April 2020, Mr. Linsley has served as a member of the board of directors of Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTH), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and since January 2020, he has served as a member of the board of directors of Silo Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: SILO) a biopharmaceutical company focused on merging traditional therapeutics with psychedelic research. From 2014 to September 2021, Mr. Linsley served as the Vice President of Operations at CFO Oncall, Inc., a company that provides financial reporting and controller services on an outsourced basis and previously, from 2012 to 2014, Mr. Linsley worked at CFO Oncall, Inc. as an independent contractor. Mr. Linsley holds Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Siena College.

 

Joseph Nelson – Director

 

Joseph Nelson has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2021. Since April 2022, Mr. Nelson has served as Chief Financial Officer of Delta Corp Holdings Limited, a global, asset-light, fully integrated company engaged in transportation/logistic services, asset management and servicing the maritime industry supply chain. From December 2017 to March 2022, Mr. Nelson served as the Head of Investor Relations for GasLog Ltd., and GasLog Partners LP, a leading international owner, operator and manager of liquefied natural gas carriers providing support to many of the world’s largest energy companies. From November 2014 to November 2017, Mr. Nelson served as an Equity Research Analyst at Credit Suisse. Mr. Nelson holds a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business; a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and a Bachelor of Art degree in philosophy from the Stevens Institute of Technology. We believe that Mr. Nelson is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his experience in investor relations and background in business and finance.

 

Carly Luogameno – Director

 

Carly Luogameno has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2021. Since May 2011, Mrs. Luogameno has worked as a digital consultant at ShmeeLive. From May 2018 to June 2020, Mrs. Luogameno served as a digital director for Lust For Life, LLC, a subsidiary of Renewable Energy & Power, Inc. (OTCQB: RBNW). From August 2013 to September 2015, Mrs. Luogameno served as the Marketing Director for Jerrick Media,(OTC: JMDA, now Creatd, OTC:VOCL). Mrs. Luogameno has in-depth experience in ecommerce and digital industries with specializations in digital marketing campaign development, content marketing strategy, SEO and paid media management. Her digital marketing background is rooted in inbound marketing strategies and her approach focuses on listening to user needs and communicating to them via high quality content in order to attract return visitors and engagements. Mrs. Luogameno specializes in working with start-up companies, across the technology, healthcare and fashion industries. Mrs. Luogameno holds Bachelor of Art degree in arts, entertainment & media management from Columbia College Chicago.

 

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Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers or directors.

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

We are not aware of any of our directors or officers being involved in any legal proceedings in the past ten years relating to any matters in bankruptcy, insolvency, criminal proceedings (other than traffic and other minor offenses), or being subject to any of the items set forth under Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

General

 

We believe that good corporate governance is important to ensure that our Company is managed for the long-term benefit of our shareholders. This section describes key corporate governance practices that we have adopted. We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which applies to all of our officers, directors and employees and charters for our audit committee, our compensation committee and our nominating and corporate governance committee. We have posted copies of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, as well as each of our committee charters, on the Corporate Governance page of the Investors section of our website, www.datchat.com, which you can access free of charge. Information contained on the website is not incorporated by reference in, or considered part of, this proxy statement.

 

We will also provide copies of these documents as well as our other corporate governance documents, free of charge, to any shareholder upon written request to DatChat, Inc., 204 Neilson Street, New Brunswick NJ 08901, Attn: Corporate Secretary.

 

Director Independence

 

Our Board of Directors has determined that a majority of the Board consists of members who are currently “independent” as that term is defined under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2). The Board considers Wayne Linsley, Carly Luogameno and Joseph Nelson to be “independent.”

 

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

 

The Company does not have a formal policy regarding the separation of its Chair and Chief Executive Officer positions. Darin Myman serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Due to the size of our Company, we believe that this structure is appropriate. We believe that the fact that four of the five members of the Board are independent reinforces the independence of the Board in its oversight of our business and affairs, and provides for objective evaluation and oversight of management’s performance, as well as management accountability. Furthermore, the Board believes that Mr. Myman is best situated to serve as Chairman because he is the director most familiar with the Company’s business and industry and is also the person most capable of effectively identifying strategic priorities and leading the discussion and execution of corporate strategy. In addition, the Board believes that the combined role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer strengthens the communication between the Board and management. Further, as the individual with primary responsibility for managing day-to-day operations, Mr. Myman is best positioned to chair regular Board meetings and ensure that key business issues and risks are brought to the attention of our Board. We therefore believe that the creation of a lead independent director position is not necessary at this time.

 

Board and Committee Meetings and Attendance

 

The Board of Directors and its committees meet regularly throughout the year and also hold special meetings and act by written consent from time to time. During the 2023 fiscal year, the Board of Directors held 3 meetings and took action by unanimous written consent 7 times. In addition, our audit committee, our compensation committee and our nominating and corporate governance committee held 5, 1 and 1 meetings, respectively. During the 2023 fiscal year, none of our directors attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings held by the Board of Directors and the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors on which he served. The independent members of the Board of Directors also meet separately without management directors on a regular basis to discuss such matters as the independent directors consider appropriate.

 

Committees of Our Board of Directors

 

Our board of directors directs the management of our business and affairs, as provided by Nevada law, and conducts its business through meetings of the board of directors and its standing committees. We will have a standing audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee. In addition, from time to time, special committees may be established under the direction of the board of directors when necessary to address specific issues.

 

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Audit Committee. The audit committee is appointed by the board to assist the board in its duty to oversee the Company’s accounting, financial reporting and internal control functions and the audit of the Company’s financial statements. The role of the audit committee is to oversee management in the performance of its responsibility for the integrity of the Company’s accounting and financial reporting and its systems of internal controls, the performance and qualifications of the Company’s independent auditor, including the independent auditor’s independence, the performance of the Company’s internal audit function; and the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

 

Our audit committee consists of Wayne Linsley, Carly Luogameno and Joseph Nelson, with Mr. Linsley serving as chair. Our board of directors has affirmatively determined that each meet the definition of “independent director” under the rules of The Nasdaq Capital Market, and that they meet the independence standards under Rule 10A-3. Each member of our audit committee meets the financial literacy requirements of Nasdaq rules. In addition, our board of directors has determined that Wayne Linsley qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Our board of directors adopted a written charter for the audit committee, which is available on our principal corporate website at www.datchat.com.

 

Compensation Committee. The compensation committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending, among other things:

 

●

the adequacy and form of compensation of the board;

 

●

the compensation of Chief Executive Officer, including base salary, incentive bonus, stock option and other grant, award and benefits upon hiring and on an annual basis;

 

●

the compensation of other senior management upon hiring and on an annual basis; and

 

●

the Company’s incentive compensation and other equity-based plans and recommending changes to such plans to our board of directors, when necessary.

 

Our compensation committee will consists of Wayne Linsley, Carly Luogameno and Joseph Nelson, with Mr. Linsley serving as chair. Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the compensation committee, which is available on our principal corporate website at www.datchat.com.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. We do not have a designated nominating and corporate governance committee. Our independent directors, acting as a group, are responsible for:

 

Our nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

●

developing criteria for membership on the board of directors and committees;

 

●

identifying individuals qualified to become members of the board of directors;

 

●

recommending persons to be nominated for election as directors and to each committee of the board of directors;

 

●

annually reviewing our corporate governance guidelines; and

 

●

monitoring and evaluating the performance of the board of directors and leading the board in an annual self-assessment of its practices and effectiveness.

 

Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of Wayne Linsley, Carly Luogameno and Joseph Nelson, with Mr. Linsley serving as chair. Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the nominating and corporate governance committee, which is available on our principal corporate website at www.datchat.com.

 

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Changes in Nominating Procedures

 

None.

 

Director Nominations Process

 

Our nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for recommending candidates to serve on the Board and its committees. In considering whether to recommend any particular candidate to serve on the Board or its committees or for inclusion in the Board’s slate of recommended director nominees for election at the annual meeting of shareholders, the nominating and corporate governance committee considers the criteria set forth in the nominating and corporate governance committee charter. Specifically, the nominating and corporate governance committee may take into account many factors, including personal and professional integrity, experience relevant to the Company’s industry, diversity of background and perspective including, but not limited to, with respect to gender and ethnicity and any other relevant qualifications, attributes or skills.

 

We consider diversity a meaningful factor in identifying director nominees, but do not have a formal diversity policy. The Board evaluates each individual in the context of the Board as a whole, with the objective of assembling a group that has the necessary tools to perform its oversight function effectively in light of the Company’s business and structure. In determining whether to recommend a director for re-election, the nominating and corporate governance committee may also consider potential conflicts of interest with the candidates, other personal and professional pursuits, the director’s past attendance at meetings and participation in and contributions to the activities of the Board.

 

In identifying prospective director candidates, the nominating and corporate governance committee may seek referrals from other members of the Board or shareholders. The nominating and corporate governance committee also may, but need not, retain a third-party search firm in order to assist it in identifying candidates to serve as directors of the Company. The nominating and corporate governance committee uses the same criteria for evaluating candidates regardless of the source of the referral or recommendation. When considering director candidates, the nominating and corporate governance committee seeks individuals with backgrounds and qualities that, when combined with those of our incumbent directors, provide a blend of skills and experience to further enhance the Board’s effectiveness.

 

The nominating and corporate governance committee will also consider potential nominees submitted by shareholders in accordance with the procedures set forth in our Bylaws and other processes adopted from time to time for submission of director nominees by shareholders, and such candidates will be considered and evaluated under the same criteria described above. Shareholders wishing to propose a candidate for consideration may do so by submitting the above information to DatChat, Inc., 204 Neilson Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, Attn: Corporate Secretary.

 

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Board Diversity Matrix

 

Our nominating and corporate governance committee is committed to promoting diversity on our Board of Directors. We have surveyed our current directors and asked each director to self-identify their race, ethnicity, and gender using one or more of the below categories. The results of this survey are included in the matrix below.

 

Board Diversity Matrix (As of October 18, 2024)
Total Number of Directors	5

 

Part I: Gender Identity		Female				Male				Non-Binary				Did Not Disclose Gender
Directors			1				4				-				-
Part II: Demographic Background
African American or Black			-				-				-				-
Alaskan Native or Native American			-				-				-				-
Asian			-				-				-				-
Hispanic or Latinx			-				-				-				-
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander			-				-				-				-
White			1				3				-				-
Two or More Races or Ethnicities			-				-				-				-
LGBTQ+			-				1				-				-
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background			-				-				-				-

 

Board Diversity Matrix (As of October 30, 2023)
Total Number of Directors	5

 

Part I: Gender Identity		Female				Male				Non-Binary				Did Not Disclose Gender
Directors			1				4				-				-
Part II: Demographic Background
African American or Black			-				-				-				-
Alaskan Native or Native American			-				-				-				-
Asian			-				-				-				-
Hispanic or Latinx			-				-				-				-
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander			-				-				-				-
White			1				3				-				-
Two or More Races or Ethnicities			-				-				-				-
LGBTQ+			-				1				-				-
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background			-				-				-				-

 

Code of Business Code and Ethics Conduct

 

We have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of the code posted on our website, www.datchat.com. In addition, we intend to post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or rules concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the code.

 

Anti-hedging

 

We do not currently have a policy prohibiting employees, officers, or directors from engaging in transactions that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or offset, any decrease in the market value of the Company’s equity securities.

 

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Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock and other equity securities.

 

To our knowledge, based solely upon a review of Forms 3, 4, and 5 filed with the SEC during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, except as set forth below, we believe that our directors, executive officers, and greater than 10% beneficial owners have complied with all applicable filing requirements during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

 

·

Darin Myman failed to report a transaction on Form 4;

·

Carly Luogomeno failed to report a transaction on Form 4;

·

Jospeh Nelson failed to report a transaction on a Form 4; and

·

Wayne Linsley failed to report a transaction on a Form 4.

 

Director Attendance at Annual Meetings

 

Our policy is that directors should attend our annual meetings of shareholders.

 

Shareholder Communications with our Board

 

Shareholders and other interested persons seeking to communicate with our Board must submit their written communications to our Corporate Secretary at DatChat, Inc., 204 Neilson Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Such communications must include the number of Company securities owned, beneficially or otherwise, by the person issuing the communication. Depending on the subject matter of the communication, our Corporate Secretary will do one of the following:

 

●

forward the communication to the Board or any individual member of our Board to whom any communication is specifically addressed;

 

●

attempt to handle the inquiry directly, for example where it is a request for information about our Company or it is a stock related matter; or

 

●

not forward the communication if it is primarily commercial in nature, if it relates to an improper or irrelevant topic, or if it is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or otherwise inappropriate.

 

Our Board (and any individual director to whom the communication was specifically addressed) will determine what further steps are appropriate depending on the facts and circumstances outlined in the communication.

 

Non-Employee Director Compensation

 

The following table presents the total compensation for each person who served as a non-employee member of our Board of Directors and received compensation for such service during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Other than as set forth in the table and described more fully below, we did not pay any compensation, make any equity awards or non-equity awards to, or pay any other compensation to any of the non-employee members of our Board of Directors in 2023.

 

Name		Fees earned or paid in cash ($)				Stock Awards ($)				Option Awards ($)				Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)				Nonqualified deferred compensation earnings ($)				All Other Compensation ($)				Total ($)
Joseph Nelson			36,000				0				13,322				0				0				0				49,322
Carly Luogameno			36,000				0				13,322				0				0				0				49,322
Wayne Linsley			60,000				0				13,322				0				0				0				73,322

 

(1)

As required by SEC rules, the amounts in this column reflect the grant date or modification date fair value as required by FASB ASC Topic 718. A discussion of the assumptions and methodologies used to calculate these amounts is contained in the notes to our financial statements under “Shareholders’ Deficit”. In February 2023, each director received 2,500 stock options to purchase 2,500 shares of restricted stock at $12.50 per share.

 

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

 

The primary purpose of the audit committee is to oversee our financial reporting processes on behalf of our Board. The audit committee’s functions are more fully described in its charter, which is available on our website at www.datchat.com.

 

In the performance of its oversight function, the audit committee has reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 with management and with our independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the audit committee has discussed the matters required to be discussed by the statement on Auditing Standards No. 1301, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) in Rule 3200T, with Salberg & Company, P.A., our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The audit committee has also received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Salberg & Company, P.A. required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and has discussed with Salberg & Company, P.A. their independence from us.

 

Based on the review and discussions referenced above, the audit committee recommended to our Board that our audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

 

Audit Committee:

 

Wayne Linsley (Chair)

Joseph Nelson

Carly Luogameno

 

The foregoing report of the audit committee does not constitute soliciting material and will not be deemed filed, incorporated by reference into or a part of any other filing by the Company (including any future filings) under the Exchange Act, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates such report by reference therein.

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

The following are biographical summaries of our executive officers and their ages, except for Mr. Myman and Mr. Shelus, whose biographies are included under the heading “Proposal 1: Election of Directors” set forth above:

 

Name		Age		Position(s)
Darin Myman		59		Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
Peter Shelus		40		Chief Technology Officer and Director
Brett Blumberg		46		Chief Financial Officer

 

Brett Blumberg – Chief Financial Officer

 

Brett Blumberg has served as our Chief Financial Officer since February 2022. Mr. Blumberg has extensive experience in finance and accounting. He is a certified public accountant and has been a partner of the public accounting firm Jubran, Shorr & Company since 2015. Mr. Blumberg was a senior accountant at CohnReznick, LLP from 2013 to 2014. Prior to obtaining his CPA license Mr. Blumberg was a private banker at Wells Fargo and owned and operated a Mortgage Brokerage/Banking Company, Canyon Financial Group, LLC from 2006 to 2012. He previously worked in recruitment and talent acquisition for accounting and finance firms from 2000 to 2006. Mr. Blumberg holds a Bachelor of Art degree in economics and psychology from SUNY Binghamton University.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Table 

 

 The following table sets forth for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the compensation awarded to, paid to, or earned by, our Chief Executive Officer and two other most highly compensated executive officers, whose total compensation during such years exceeded $100,000. We refer to these officers as our “named executive officers.”

 

Name and Principal Position		Year		Salary ($)			Bonus ($)			Stock Awards ($)			Option Awards ($)1			Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)			Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)			All Other Compensation ($)			Total ($)
Darin Myman		2023		$	450,000		$	300,000		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	750,000
Chief Executive Officer		2022		$	450,000		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	450,000
Brett Blumberg		2023		$	60,000			-			-		$	15,543			-			-			-		$	75,543
Chief Financial Officer		2022		$	52,500			-			-			-			-			-			-		$	52,500
Peter Shelus		2023		$	275,000		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	275,000
Chief Technology Officer		2022		$	268,750		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	268,750

 

 

(1)

As required by SEC rules, the amounts in this column reflect the grant date or modification date fair value as required by FASB ASC Topic 718. A discussion of the assumptions and methodologies used to calculate these amounts is contained in the notes to our financial statements under “Shareholders’ Deficit”. In September 2023, Mr. Blumberg received 5,000 stock options to purchase 5,000 shares of restricted stock at $15.00 per share.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2023

 

The following table provides information regarding option awards held by each of our named executive officers that were outstanding as of December 31, 2023.

 

		STOCK AWARDS
Name		Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised options (#) Exercisable			Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) Unexercisable			Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#)				Option Exercise Price ($)			Option Expiration Date		Number of Shares or Units of Stock that have not Vested (#)			Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that Have not Vested ($)			Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that have not Vested (#)			Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or other Rights that have not Vested ($)
Darin Myman			25,000			—			—				350.00		9/28/2026			—			—			—			—
Brett Blumberg			5,000			—			—				15.00		9/06/2028			—			—			—			—

 

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Employment Agreements

 

Darin Myman Employment Agreement

 

On August 27, 2021, we entered into an agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) with Darin Myman effective as of August 15, 2021 pursuant to which Mr. Myman’s (i) base salary will increase to $450,000 per year, and (ii) Mr. Myman shall be entitled to receive an annual bonus in an amount up to $350,000, which annual bonus may be increased by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Compensation Committee”), in its sole discretion, upon the achievement of additional criteria established by the Compensation Committee from time to time (the “Annual Bonus”). The term of the Employment Agreement will continue for a period of one year from the effective date and automatically renews for successive one year periods at the end of each term until either party delivers written notice of their intent not to review at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of the applicable term. In addition, pursuant to the Employment Agreement, upon termination of Mr. Myman’s employment for death or Total Disability (as defined in the Employment Agreement), in addition to any accrued but unpaid compensation and vacation pay through the date of his termination and any other benefits accrued to him under any Benefit Plans (as defined in the Employment Agreement) outstanding at such time and the reimbursement of documented, unreimbursed expenses incurred prior to such termination date (collectively, the “Payments”), Mr. Myman shall be entitled to the following severance benefits: (i) 24 months of his then base salary; (ii) if Mr. Myman elects continuation coverage for group health coverage pursuant to COBRA Rights (as defined in the Employment Agreement), then for a period of 24 months following Mr. Myman’s termination he will be obligated to pay only the portion of the full COBRA Rights cost of the coverage equal to an active employee’s share of premiums (if any) for coverage for the respective plan year; and (iii) payment on a pro-rated basis of any Annual Bonus or other payments earned in connection with any bonus plan to which Mr. Myman was a participant as of the date of his termination (together with the Payments, the “Severance”). Furthermore, pursuant to the Employment Agreement, upon Mr. Myman’s termination (i) at his option (A) upon 90 days prior written notice to the Company or (B) for Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement), (ii) termination by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or (iii) termination of Mr. Myman’s employment within 40 days of the consummation of a Change in Control Transaction (as defined in the Employment Agreement), Mr. Myman shall receive the Severance; provided, however, Mr. Myman shall be entitled to a pro-rated Annual Bonus of at least $200,000. In addition, any equity grants issued to Mr. Myman shall immediately vest upon termination of Mr. Myman’s employment by him for Good Reason or by the Company at its option upon 90 days prior written notice to Mr. Myman, without Cause.

 

Brett Blumberg Employment Agreement

 

On February 15, 2022, we entered into an employment agreement with Brett Blumberg effective as of February 15, 2022 pursuant to which Mr. Blumberg will serve as Chief Financial Officer of the Company (the “Blumberg Employment Agreement”). The term of the Blumberg Employment Agreement will continue for a period of one year from the Effective Date and automatically renews for successive one year periods at the end of each term until either party delivers written notice of their intent not to review at least 30 days prior to the applicable renewal date. Pursuant to the terms of the Blumberg Employment Agreement, Mr. Blumberg (i) shall receive an annual base salary of $60,000 (effective as of February 15, 2022), (ii) shall be entitled to earn a bonus, subject to the sole discretion of the Company’s Board and (iii) shall be eligible to receive awards pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans, subject to the sole discretion of the Company’s compensation committee. Mr. Blumberg is also entitled to participate in any and all Employee Benefit Plans (as defined in the Blumberg Employment Agreement), from time to time, that are then in effect along with vacation, sick and holiday pay in accordance with the Company’s policies established and in effect from time to time. The Blumberg Employment Agreement may be terminated by either the Company or Mr. Blumberg at any time and for any reason upon 10 days prior written notice. Upon termination of the Blumberg Employment Agreement, Mr. Blumberg shall be entitled to (i) any equity award that has vested prior to the termination date, (ii) reimbursement of expenses incurred on or prior to such termination date and (iii) such employee benefits to which Mr. Blumberg may be entitled as of the termination date (collectively, the “Accrued Amounts”). The Blumberg Employment Agreement shall also terminate upon Mr. Blumberg’s death or the Company may terminate Mr. Blumberg’s employment upon his Disability (as defined in the Blumberg Employment Agreement). Upon the termination of Mr. Blumberg’s employment for death or Disability, Mr. Blumberg shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Amounts. The Blumberg Employment Agreement also contains covenants prohibiting Mr. Blumberg from disclosing confidential information with respect to the Company.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The following includes a summary of transactions during our fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 to which we have been a party, including transactions in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years, and in which any of our directors, executive officers or, to our knowledge, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our capital stock or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than equity and other compensation, termination, change in control and other arrangements, which are described elsewhere in this proxy statement. We are not otherwise a party to a current related party transaction, and no transaction is currently proposed, in which the amount of the transaction exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years and in which a related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

 

Transactions with Related Persons

 

Except as described below and except for employment arrangements which are described under “executive compensation,” since January 1, 2019, there has not been, nor is there currently proposed, any transaction in which we are or were a participant, the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of the total assets at December 31, 2023 and 2022, and any of our directors, executive officers, holders of more than 5% of our common stock or any immediate family member of any of the foregoing had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. 

 

Our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Darin Myman, from time to time, provides advances to the Company for working capital purposes. On December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had a payable to Mr. Myman of $0 and $1,315, respectively, which is presented as due to related party on the balance sheets. These advances are short-term in nature and non-interest bearing. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company repaid $1,315.

 

Related Persons Transaction Policy

 

We have adopted a formal policy regarding approval of transactions with related parties. For purposes of our policy only, a related person transaction is a transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, in which we and any related person are, were or will be participants in which the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of our total assets at year-end for our last two completed fiscal years. Transactions involving compensation for services provided to us as an employee or director are not covered by this policy. A related person is any executive officer, director or beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, including any of their immediate family members and any entity owned or controlled by such persons.

 

Under the policy, if a transaction has been identified as a related person transaction, including any transaction that was not a related person transaction when originally consummated or any transaction that was not initially identified as a related person transaction prior to consummation, our management must present information regarding the related person transaction to our audit committee, or, if audit committee approval would be inappropriate, to another independent body of our board of directors, for review, consideration and approval or ratification. The presentation must include a description of, among other things, the material facts, the interests, direct and indirect, of the related persons, the benefits to us of the transaction and whether the transaction is on terms that are comparable to the terms available to or from, as the case may be, an unrelated third party or to or from employees generally. Under the policy, we will collect information that we deem reasonably necessary from each director, executive officer and, to the extent feasible, significant shareholder to enable us to identify any existing or potential related-person transactions and to effectuate the terms of the policy. In addition, under our code of business conduct and ethics, our employees and directors will have an affirmative responsibility to disclose any transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest. In considering related person transactions, our audit committee, or other independent body of our board of directors, will take into account the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to:

 

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●

the risks, costs and benefits to us;

 

●

the impact on a director’s independence in the event that the related person is a director, immediate family member of a director or an entity with which a director is affiliated;

 

●

the availability of other sources for comparable services or products; and

 

●

the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties or to or from employees generally.

 

The policy requires that, in determining whether to approve, ratify or reject a related person transaction, our audit committee, or other independent body of our board of directors, must consider, in light of known circumstances, whether the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, our best interests and those of our shareholders, as our audit committee, or other independent body of our board of directors, determines in the good faith exercise of its discretion.

 

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PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Our audit committee has appointed Salberg as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 and our Board has directed that management submit the appointment of Salberg as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for ratification by the shareholders at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Representatives of Salberg are expected to be virtually present at the 2024 Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and be available to respond to appropriate questions. Salberg was appointed to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm in April 2023.

 

Shareholder ratification of the appointment of Salberg as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is not required law. However, our Board is submitting the audit committee’s appointment of Salberg to the shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholders fail to ratify the appointment, the audit committee will reconsider whether to retain that firm. Even if the appointment is ratified, the audit committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the audit committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

 

Independent Registered Public Accountant’s Fee

 

 The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed by Salberg & Company, P.A. for the year ended December 31, 2023, and D. Brooks and Associates CPAs, P.A. for the year ended December 31, 2022 as described below:  

 

		2023				2022
Audit Fees		$	78,600			$	68,238
Audit Related Fees		$	–			$	–
Tax Fees		$	–			$	–
All Other Fees		$	–			$	–
Total		$	78,600			$	68,238

 

Audit Fees: Audit fees consist of fees billed for the professional services rendered to us for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, reviews of the quarterly financial statements during the periods, the issuance of consent and comfort letters in connection with registration statement filings, and all other services that are normally provided by the accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and engagements.

 

2023 audit fees include approximately $78,600 in Salberg & Company, P.A. fees in connection with the audits and quarterly reviews for the year ended December 31, 2023 and approximately $68,238 in D. Brooks and Associates fees in connection with the quarterly reviews, audit consents and registration statement consents for the year ended December 31, 2022. 

 

Audit-Related Fees: Fees not included in audit fees that are billed by the auditor for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the financial statements.

 

Tax Fees: Fees for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning.

 

All Other Fees: All other fees billed by the auditor for products and services not included in the foregoing categories.

 

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

 

In accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, our audit committee charter requires the audit committee to pre-approve all audit and permitted non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, including the review and approval in advance of our independent registered public accounting firm’s annual engagement letter and the proposed fees contained therein. The audit committee has the ability to delegate the authority to pre-approve non-audit services to one or more designated members of the audit committee. If such authority is delegated, such delegated members of the audit committee must report to the full audit committee at the next audit committee meeting all items pre-approved by such delegated members. In the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, all of the services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm were pre-approved by the audit committee. 

 

Recommendation of our Board

 

Our Board recommends a vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Salberg as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.

 

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PROPOSAL 3: AMENDMENT TO THE DATCHAT, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 2021 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER

 

Introduction

 

On July 26, 2021, we adopted the 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, and authorized the reservation of 200,000 shares of common stock for future issuances under the plan. The Plan provides that the Company may grant options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, other stock-based awards or any combination of the foregoing. On December 19, 2022, Company held its 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, and the shareholders approved to amend the Company’s 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder to 300,000 shares from 200,000. On November 10, 2023, the board of directors of the Company approved the adoption of the Amended and Restated 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, the sole purpose of which was to remove any inadvertent references to the Company being a Delaware corporation or the 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan being governed under Delaware law and to properly state that the Company is a Nevada corporation and that the 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan is governed by Nevada law.

 

On October 16, 2024, our Compensation Committee recommended and our Board approved an amendment to our 2021 Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder from 300,000 shares to 600,000 shares, an increase of 300,000 shares.

 

We are seeking shareholder approval to amend our 2021 Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock available for issuance to 600,000 shares so that the Company can continue to provide equity-based compensation as approved by our Compensation Committee.

 

The proposed form of amendment to our 2021 Plan is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.

 

The following table sets forth, as of the Record Date, the approximate number of each class of participants eligible to participate in the 2021 Plan and the basis of such participation.

 

Class and Basis of Participation		Approximate Number of Class
Employees			10
Directors(1)			5
Independent Contractors			1

 

(1)

Two of the five directors are employees of the Company.

 

Reasons for the Amendment to our 2021 Plan

 

As of the Record Date, 300,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan of which 159,430 shares of common stock remain available for issuance. We are seeking shareholder approval to amend our 2021 Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock issuable thereunder to 600,000 shares. As noted above, if our shareholders do not approve the amendment, we anticipate that there will not be sufficient shares available under our 2021 Plan for continued equity awards to our employees and non-employee directors over the next year. This would result in the loss of an important compensation tool aligned with shareholder interests to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified talent.

 

We recognize the dilutive impact of our equity compensation program on our shareholders and continuously strive to balance this concern with the competition for talent in the competitive business environment and talent market, as well as the current market conditions, in which we operate. In determining the appropriate number of shares to request and add to the pool of shares available for issuance pursuant to the amendment, our Board and Compensation Committee worked with management to evaluate a number of factors, and carefully considered (i) the potential dilutive impact on shareholders, (ii) our historical run rate and overhang, (iii) the number of shares remaining available for issuance, (iv) forecasted grants, (v) the realities of equity awards being a key component of designing competitive compensation packages necessary for attracting and retaining key talent in a competitive medical devices marketplace, (vi) our strategic growth plans, and (vii) the interests of our shareholders.

 

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We anticipate the additional shares requested under the amendment, plus the remaining shares that are available for issuance under the 2021 Plan, to be sufficient for a period of one year.

 

Our 2021 Plan is designed to attract and retain non-employee directors and employees and reward them for making contributions to the success of the Company and its subsidiaries. These objectives are to be accomplished by making awards under 2021 Plan and thereby providing participants with a proprietary interest in the growth and performance of the Company and align a portion of their compensation with the shareholders. Shareholder approval of this proposal will enable us to continue to grant equity awards to our employees and non-employee directors at levels determined by our Compensation Committee and Board to be necessary to attract, retain and motivate the individuals who will be critical to our success in achieving our business objectives and thereby creating greater value for our shareholders. In addition to the crucial role, we believe such grants play in attracting and retaining talented individuals, we believe that the equity compensation granted under our 2021 Plan also serves the important function of aligning the interests of participants with those of our shareholders and focusing such participants on the long-term growth of the Company.

 

Dilution, Stock Available and Historical Stock Usage

 

Dilution. Subject to shareholder approval of the Plan Amendment, the number of shares of common stock that will be reserved for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the 2021 Plan shall be 600,000 shares, which represents approximately 19.5% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock on a fully diluted basis as of the Record Date. The Board believes that this number of shares of common stock constitutes reasonable potential equity dilution and provides a significant incentive for employees and service providers to increase the value of the Company for all shareholders. The closing trading price of each share of Company common stock as of the Record Date was $1.29.

 

As of the Record Date, we had: (i) 3,076,274 shares of common stock; (ii) 101,695 vested stock options outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $138.68 per share; (iii) 12,875 unvested stock options outstanding, with a weighted average exercise price of $34.02 per share; and (iv) 67,385 warrants to purchase common stock outstanding, with a weighted average exercise price of $49.80 per share. The additional shares of Company’s common stock available under the 2021 Plan would represent an additional potential equity dilution of approximately 9.75%.

 

Shares Available; Certain Limitations. The maximum number of shares of common stock reserved and available for issuance under the 2021 Plan will be 600,000 shares; provided that shares of common stock issued under the 2021 Plan with respect to an Exempt Award will not count against the share limit. We use the term “Exempt Award” to mean (i) an award granted in the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by another business entity acquired by us or any of our subsidiaries or with which we or any of our subsidiaries merges, (ii) an “employment inducement” award as described under applicable law, or (iii) an award that a participant purchases at fair market value.

 

No more than 600,000 shares of the Company’s common stock shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of incentive stock options.

 

New shares reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of the Company’s common stock or shares of the Company’s common stock that will have been or may be reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or otherwise. If any shares of the Company’s common stock subject to an award are forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an award terminates or expires without a distribution of shares to the participant, the shares of the Company’s common stock with respect to such award will, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, termination or expiration, again be available for awards under the 2021 Plan except that (i) any shares of the Company’s common stock reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of options, and (ii) any shares of the Company’s common stock surrendered or withheld as payment of either the exercise price of an award and/or withholding taxes in respect of an award will not again be available for awards under the 2021 Plan. If an award is denominated in shares of the Company’s common stock, but settled in cash, the number of shares of common stock previously subject to the award will again be available for grants under the 2021 Plan. If an award can only be settled in cash, it will not be counted against the total number of shares of common stock available for grant under the 2021 Plan. However, upon the exercise of any award granted in tandem with any other awards, such related awards will be cancelled as to the number of shares as to which the award is exercised and such number of shares of the Company’s common stock will no longer be available for grant under the 2021 Plan.

 

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As exhibited by our responsible use of equity over the past several years and good corporate governance practices associated with equity and executive compensation practices in general, we believe the stock reserved under the 2021 Plan will provide us with the platform needed for our continued growth, while managing program costs and share utilization levels within acceptable industry standards.

 

Share Usage. In determining the requested number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan, we evaluated the dilution and historic share usage, burn rate and the existing terms of outstanding awards under the Prior Plan. The annual share usage under our equity plans for the last three fiscal years was as follows:

 

				Fiscal Year 2023				Fiscal Year 2022			Fiscal Year 2021			Average
A		Total Shares Granted During Fiscal Year (1)		119,420				56,000			39,000			71,473
B		Basic Weighted Average Common Stock Outstanding		2,028,584				2,010,427			1,533,434			1,857,482
C		Burn Rate (A/B)		5.89		%		2.79	%		2.54	%		3.74	%

 

⁽¹⁾ Includes the number of options and full value awards (restricted shares of common stock) granted for such year.

 

Description of the Amendment to our 2021 Plan

 

The following is a summary of the material features of the 2021 Plan. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2021 Plan, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A.

 

Authorized Shares.

 

A total of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock were originally reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2021 Plan. Our board of directors and stockholders adopted and approved the 2021 Plan on July 26, 2021 (the “Effective Date”).

 

Types of Awards.

 

The 2021 Plan provides for the issuance of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and other stock-based awards. Items described above in the Section called “Shares Available” are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Administration.

 

The 2021 Plan will be administered by our board of directors, or if our board of directors does not administer the 2021 Plan, a committee or subcommittee of our board of directors that complies with the applicable requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and any other applicable legal or stock exchange listing requirements (each of our board of directors or such committee or subcommittee, the “plan administrator”). The plan administrator may interpret the 2021 Plan and may prescribe, amend and rescind rules and make all other determinations necessary or desirable for the administration of the 2021 Plan, provided that, subject to the equitable adjustment provisions described below, the plan administrator will not have the authority to reprice or cancel and re-grant any award at a lower exercise, base or purchase price or cancel any award with an exercise, base or purchase price in exchange for cash, property or other awards without first obtaining the approval of our stockholders.

 

The 2021 Plan permits the plan administrator to select the eligible recipients who will receive awards, to determine the terms and conditions of those awards, including but not limited to the exercise price or other purchase price of an award, the number of shares of common stock or cash or other property subject to an award, the term of an award and the vesting schedule applicable to an award, and to amend the terms and conditions of outstanding awards.

 

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Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.

 

Restricted stock and RSUs may be granted under the 2021 Plan. The plan administrator will determine the purchase price, vesting schedule and performance goals, if any, and any other conditions that apply to a grant of restricted stock and RSUs. If the restrictions, performance goals or other conditions determined by the plan administrator are not satisfied, the restricted stock and RSUs will be forfeited. Subject to the provisions of the 2021 Plan and the applicable award agreement, the plan administrator has the sole discretion to provide for the lapse of restrictions in instalments.

 

Unless the applicable award agreement provides otherwise, participants with restricted stock will generally have all of the rights of a stockholder; provided that dividends will only be paid if and when the underlying restricted stock vests. RSUs will not be entitled to dividends prior to vesting but may be entitled to receive dividend equivalents if the award agreement provides for them. The rights of participants granted restricted stock or RSUs upon the termination of employment or service to us will be set forth in the award agreement.

 

Options.

 

Incentive stock options and non-statutory stock options may be granted under the 2021 Plan. An “incentive stock option” means an option intended to qualify for tax treatment applicable to incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. A “non-statutory stock option” is an option that is not subject to statutory requirements and limitations required for certain tax advantages that are allowed under specific provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. A non-statutory stock option under the 2021 Plan is referred to for federal income tax purposes as a “non-qualified” stock option. Each option granted under the Plan will be designated as a non-qualified stock option or an incentive stock option. At the discretion of the administrator, incentive stock options may be granted only to our employees, employees of our “parent corporation” (as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or employees of our subsidiaries.

 

The exercise period of an option may not exceed ten years from the date of grant and the exercise price may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date the option is granted (110% of fair market value in the case of incentive stock options granted to ten percent stockholders). The exercise price for shares of common stock subject to an option may be paid in cash, or as determined by the administrator in its sole discretion, (i) through any cashless exercise procedure approved by the administrator (including the withholding of shares of common stock otherwise issuable upon exercise), (ii) by tendering unrestricted shares of common stock owned by the participant, (iii) with any other form of consideration approved by the administrator and permitted by applicable law or (iv) by any combination of these methods. The option holder will have no rights to dividends or distributions or other rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to an option until the option holder has given written notice of exercise and paid the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes.

 

In the event of a participant’s termination of employment or service, the participant may exercise his or her option (to the extent vested as of such date of termination) for such period of time as specified in his or her option agreement.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

SARs may be granted either alone (a “free-standing SAR”) or in conjunction with all or part of any option granted under the 2021 Plan (a “tandem SAR”). A free-standing SAR will entitle its holder to receive, at the time of exercise, an amount per share up to the excess of the fair market value (at the date of exercise) of a share of common stock over the base price of the free-standing SAR (which shall be no less than 100% of the fair market value of the related shares of common stock on the date of grant) multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which the SAR is being exercised. A tandem SAR will entitle its holder to receive, at the time of exercise of the SAR and surrender of the applicable portion of the related option, an amount per share up to the excess of the fair market value (at the date of exercise) of a share of common stock over the exercise price of the related option multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which the SAR is being exercised. The exercise period of a free-standing SAR may not exceed ten years from the date of grant. The exercise period of a tandem SAR will also expire upon the expiration of its related option.

 

The holder of a SAR will have no rights to dividends or any other rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to the SAR until the holder has given written notice of exercise and paid the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes.

 

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In the event of an participant’s termination of employment or service, the holder of a SAR may exercise his or her SAR (to the extent vested as of such date of termination) for such period of time as specified in his or her SAR agreement.

 

Other Stock-Based Awards.

 

The administrator may grant other stock-based awards under the 2021 Plan, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, shares of common stock. The administrator will determine the terms and conditions of these awards, including the number of shares of common stock to be granted pursuant to each award, the manner in which the award will be settled, and the conditions to the vesting and payment of the award (including the achievement of performance goals). The rights of participants granted other stock-based awards upon the termination of employment or service to us will be set forth in the applicable award agreement. In the event that a bonus is granted in the form of shares of common stock, the shares of common stock constituting such bonus shall, as determined by the administrator, be evidenced in uncertificated form or by a book entry record or a certificate issued in the name of the participant to whom such grant was made and delivered to such participant as soon as practicable after the date on which such bonus is payable. Any dividend or dividend equivalent award issued hereunder shall be subject to the same restrictions, conditions and risks of forfeiture as apply to the underlying award.

 

Equitable Adjustment and Treatment of Outstanding Awards Upon a Change in Control

 

Equitable Adjustments.

 

In the event of a merger, consolidation, reclassification, recapitalization, spin-off, spin-out, repurchase, reorganization, special or extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution (whether in the form of common shares, cash or other property), combination, exchange of shares, or other change in corporate structure affecting our common stock, an equitable substitution or proportionate adjustment shall be made in (i) the aggregate number and kind of securities reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan, (ii) the kind and number of securities subject to, and the exercise price of, any outstanding options and SARs granted under the 2021 Plan, (iii) the kind, number and purchase price of shares of common stock, or the amount of cash or amount or type of property, subject to outstanding restricted stock, RSUs and other stock-based awards granted under the 2021 Plan and (iv) the terms and conditions of any outstanding awards (including any applicable performance targets). Equitable substitutions or adjustments other than those listed above may also be made as determined by the plan administrator. In addition, the plan administrator may terminate all outstanding awards for the payment of cash or in-kind consideration having an aggregate fair market value equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares of common stock, cash or other property covered by such awards over the aggregate exercise price, if any, of such awards, but if the exercise price of any outstanding award is equal to or greater than the fair market value of the shares of common stock, cash or other property covered by such award, the plan administrator may cancel the award without the payment of any consideration to the participant. With respect to awards subject to foreign laws, adjustments will be made in compliance with applicable requirements. Except to the extent determined by the plan administrator, adjustments to incentive stock options will be made only to the extent not constituting a “modification” within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code.

 

Change in Control.

 

The 2021 Plan provides that, unless otherwise determined by the plan administrator and evidenced in an award agreement, if a “change in control” (as defined below) occurs and a participant is employed by us or any of our affiliates immediately prior to the consummation of the change in control, then the plan administrator, in its sole and absolute discretion, may (i) provide that any unvested or unexercisable portion of an award carrying a right to exercise will become fully vested and exercisable; and (ii) cause the restrictions, deferral limitations, payment conditions and forfeiture conditions applicable to any award granted under the 2021 Plan to lapse, and the awards will be deemed fully vested and any performance conditions imposed with respect to such awards will be deemed to be fully achieved at target performance levels. The administrator shall have discretion in connection with such change in control to provide that all outstanding and unexercised options and SARs shall expire upon the consummation of such change in control.

 

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For purposes of the 2021 Plan, a “change in control” means, in summary, the first to occur of the following events: (i) a person or entity becomes the beneficial owner of more than 50% of our voting power; (ii) an unapproved change in the majority membership of our board of directors; (iii) a merger or consolidation of us or any of our subsidiaries, other than (A) a merger or consolidation that results in our voting securities continuing to represent 50% or more of the combined voting power of the surviving entity or its parent and our board of directors immediately prior to the merger or consolidation continuing to represent at least a majority of the board of directors of the surviving entity or its parent or (B) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization in which no person is or becomes the beneficial owner of our voting securities representing more than 50% of our combined voting power; or (iv) stockholder approval of a plan of our complete liquidation or dissolution or the consummation of an agreement for the sale or disposition of substantially all of our assets, other than (A) a sale or disposition to an entity, more than 50% of the combined voting power of which is owned by our stockholders in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of us immediately prior to such sale or (B) a sale or disposition to an entity controlled by our board of directors. However, a change in control will not be deemed to have occurred as a result of any transaction or series of integrated transactions following which our stockholders, immediately prior thereto, hold immediately afterward the same proportionate equity interests in the entity that owns all or substantially all of our assets.

 

Tax Withholding

 

Each participant will be required to make arrangements satisfactory to the plan administrator regarding payment of up to the maximum statutory tax rates in the participant’s applicable jurisdiction with respect to any award granted under the 2021 Plan, as determined by us. We have the right, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the participant. With the approval of the plan administrator, the participant may satisfy the foregoing requirement by either electing to have us withhold from delivery of shares of common stock, cash or other property, as applicable, or by delivering already owned unrestricted shares of common stock, in each case, having a value not exceeding the applicable taxes to be withheld and applied to the tax obligations. We may also use any other method of obtaining the necessary payment or proceeds, as permitted by applicable law, to satisfy our withholding obligation with respect to any award.

 

Amendment and Termination of the 2021 Plan

 

The 2021 Plan provides our board of directors with authority to amend, alter or terminate the 2021 Plan, but no such action impair the rights of any participant with respect to outstanding awards without the participant’s consent. The plan administrator may amend an award, prospectively or retroactively, but no such amendment may materially impair the rights of any participant without the participant’s consent. Stockholder approval of any such action will be obtained if required to comply with applicable law. The 2021 Plan will terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date (although awards granted before that time will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms).

 

Clawback.

 

If we are required to prepare a financial restatement due to the material non-compliance with any financial reporting requirement, then the plan administrator may require any Section 16 officer to repay or forfeit to us that part of the cash or equity incentive compensation received by that Section 16 officer during the preceding three years that the plan administrator determines was in excess of the amount that such Section 16 officer would have received had such cash or equity incentive compensation been calculated based on the financial results reported in the restated financial statement. The plan administrator may take into account any factors it deems reasonable in determining whether to seek recoupment of previously paid cash or equity incentive compensation and how much of such compensation to recoup from each Section 16 officer (which need not be the same amount or proportion for each Section 16 officer). The amount and form of the incentive compensation to be recouped shall be determined by the administrator in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

Clawback

 

If the Company is required to prepare a financial restatement due to the Company’s material non-compliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities law, then the plan administrator may require any Section 10D-1(d) of the Exchange Act “executive officer” to repay or forfeit to us that part of the cash or equity incentive compensation received by that Section 10D-1(d) executive officer during the preceding three completed fiscal years that the plan administrator determines was in excess of the amount that such Section 10D-1(d) executive officer would have received had such cash or equity incentive compensation been calculated based on the restated amounts reported in the restated financial statement. The plan administrator may take into account any factors it deems reasonable in determining whether to seek recoupment of previously paid cash or equity incentive compensation and how much of such compensation to recoup from each Section 10D-1(d) executive officer (which shall be made irrespective of any fault, misconduct or responsibility of each Section 10D-1(d) executive officer). The amount and form of the incentive compensation to be recouped shall be determined by the plan administrator in its sole and absolute discretion, and calculated on a pre-tax basis.

 

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U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

 

The following is a summary of certain United States federal income tax consequences of awards under the 2021 Plan. It does not purport to be a complete description of all applicable rules, and those rules (including those summarized here) are subject to change.

 

Non-Qualified Stock Options

 

A participant who has been granted a non-qualified stock option will not recognize taxable income upon the grant of a non-qualified stock option. Rather, at the time of exercise of such non-qualified stock option, the participant will recognize ordinary income for income tax purposes in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares of common stock purchased over the exercise price. We generally will be entitled to a tax deduction at such time and in the same amount that the participant recognizes ordinary income. If shares of common stock acquired upon exercise of a non-qualified stock option are later sold or exchanged, then the difference between the amount received upon such sale or exchange and the fair market value of such shares on the date of such exercise will generally be taxable as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss (if the shares are a capital asset of the participant) depending upon the length of time such shares were held by the participant.

 

Incentive Stock Options

 

In general, no taxable income is realized by a participant upon the grant of an incentive stock option (“ISO”). If shares of common stock are purchased by a participant, or option shares, pursuant to the exercise of an ISO granted under the 2021 Plan and the participant does not dispose of the option shares within the two-year period after the date of grant or within one year after the receipt of such option shares by the participant, such disposition a disqualifying disposition, then, generally (1) the participant will not realize ordinary income upon exercise and (2) upon sale of such option shares, any amount realized in excess of the exercise price paid for the option shares will be taxed to such participant as capital gain (or loss). The amount by which the fair market value of the common stock on the exercise date of an ISO exceeds the purchase price generally will constitute an item which increases the participant’s “alternative minimum taxable income.” If option shares acquired upon the exercise of an ISO are disposed of in a disqualifying disposition, the participant generally would include in ordinary income in the year of disposition an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the option shares at the time of exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on the disposition of the option shares), over the exercise price paid for the option shares. Subject to certain exceptions, an option generally will not be treated as an ISO if it is exercised more than three months following termination of employment. If an ISO is exercised at a time when it no longer qualifies as an ISO, such option will be treated as a nonqualified stock option as discussed above. In general, we will receive an income tax deduction at the same time and in the same amount as the participant recognizes ordinary income.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights

 

A participant who is granted a SAR generally will not recognize ordinary income upon receipt of the SAR. Rather, at the time of exercise of such SAR, the participant will recognize ordinary income for income tax purposes in an amount equal to the value of any cash received and the fair market value on the date of exercise of any shares of common stock received. We generally will be entitled to a tax deduction at such time and in the same amount, if any, that the participant recognizes as ordinary income. The participant’s tax basis in any shares of common stock received upon exercise of a SAR will be the fair market value of the shares of common stock on the date of exercise, and if the shares are later sold or exchanged, then the difference between the amount received upon such sale or exchange and the fair market value of such shares on the date of exercise will generally be taxable as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss (if the shares are a capital asset of the participant) depending upon the length of time such shares were held by the participant.

 

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Restricted Stock

 

A participant generally will not be taxed upon the grant of restricted stock, but rather will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares of common stock at the earlier of the time the shares become transferable or are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (within the meaning of the Code). We generally will be entitled to a deduction at the time when, and in the amount that, the participant recognizes ordinary income on account of the lapse of the restrictions. A participant’s tax basis in the shares of common stock will equal their fair market value at the time the restrictions lapse, and the participant’s holding period for capital gains purposes will begin at that time. Any cash dividends paid on the shares of common stock before the restrictions lapse will be taxable to the participant as additional compensation and not as dividend income, unless the individual has made an election under Section 83(b) of the Code. Under Section 83(b) of the Code, a participant may elect to recognize ordinary income at the time the restricted shares are awarded in an amount equal to their fair market value at that time, notwithstanding the fact that such stock is subject to restrictions or transfer and a substantial risk of forfeiture. If such an election is made, no additional taxable income will be recognized by such participant at the time the restrictions lapse, the participant will have a tax basis in the shares of common stock equal to their fair market value on the date of their award, and the participant’s holding period for capital gains purposes will begin at that time. We generally will be entitled to a tax deduction at the time when, and to the extent that, ordinary income is recognized by such participant.

 

Restricted Stock Units

 

In general, the grant of RSUs will not result in income for the participant or in a tax deduction for us. Upon the settlement of such an award in cash or shares of common stock, the participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the aggregate value of the payment received, and we generally will be entitled to a tax deduction at the same time and in the same amount.

 

Other Awards

 

With respect to other stock-based awards, generally when the participant receives payment in respect of the award, the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any shares of common stock or other property received will be ordinary income to the participant, and we generally will be entitled to a tax deduction at the same time and in the same amount.

 

New Plan Benefits

 

Future grants under the 2021 Plan will be made at the discretion of the plan administrator and, accordingly, are not yet determinable. In addition, benefits under the 2021 Plan will depend on a number of factors, including the fair market value of our common stock on future dates and the exercise decisions made by participants. Consequently, at this time, it is not possible to determine the future benefits that might be received by participants receiving discretionary grants under the 2021 Plan.

 

Vote Required

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares (by voting power) present in person at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on this matter or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on this matter is required to approve the Plan Amendment.

 

Recommendation of our Board

 

Our Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the Plan Amendment.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF
CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the Record Date by:

 

●

each of our named executive officers;

 

●

each of our directors and director nominees;

 

●

all of our current directors and executive officers as a group; and

 

●

each shareholder known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our common stock.

 

The percentage ownership information is based on 3,076,274 shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date. Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by each director or director nominee, officer or beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock. We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities. In addition, the rules attribute beneficial ownership of securities as of a particular date to persons who hold options or warrants to purchase shares of common stock and that are exercisable within 60 days of such date. These shares are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding those options or warrants for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but they are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws.

 

Except as otherwise noted below, the address for each person or entity listed in the table is c/o DatChat, Inc. 204 Neilson Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner		Shares		Percentage
Directors and Executive Officer:
Darin Myman		200,000	(1)	6.45	%
Peter Shelus		100,000		3.25	%
Brett Blumberg		5,000	(2)	*
Wayne D. Linsley		7,500	(3)	*
Joseph Nelson(		7,500	(3)	*
Carly Luogameno		7,500	(3)	*
Directors and Executive Officers as a group (6 persons)		327,500		10.59	%

 

 

*

Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.

(1)

Includes 25,000 fully vested stock options.

(2)

Includes 5,000 vested stock options

(3)

Includes 7,500 of vested stock options

 

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SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The following table summarizes information about our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2023.

 

Plan Category		Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a)				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))
Equity compensation plans approved by security holder			140,570			$	126.92				159,430
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holder			—				—				—
Total			140,570			$	126.92				159,430

 

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DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO SHAREHOLDERS SHARING AN ADDRESS

 

The SEC has adopted rules known as “householding” that permit companies and intermediaries (such as brokers) to deliver one set of proxy materials to multiple shareholders residing at the same address. This process enables us to reduce our printing and distribution costs and reduce our environmental impact. Householding is available to both registered shareholders and beneficial owners of shares held in street name.

 

Registered Shareholders

 

If you are a registered shareholder and have consented to householding, then we will deliver or mail one Notice or set of our proxy materials, as applicable, for all registered shareholders residing at the same address. Your consent will continue unless you revoke it, which you may do at any time by providing notice to the Company’s Corporate Secretary by telephone at [phone] or by mail at 204 Neilson Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. In addition, the Company will promptly deliver, upon written or oral request to the address or telephone number above, a separate copy of the 2023 Annual Report, proxy statement, or Notice to a shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered.

 

If you are a registered shareholder who has not consented to householding, then we will continue to deliver or mail Notices or copies of our proxy materials, as applicable, to each registered shareholder residing at the same address. You may elect to participate in householding and receive only one Notice or set of proxy materials, as applicable, for all registered shareholders residing at the same address by providing notice to the Company as described above.

 

Street Name Holders

 

Shareholders who hold their shares through a brokerage may elect to participate in householding, or revoke their consent to participate in householding, by contacting their respective brokers.

 

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ANNUAL REPORT

 

This proxy statement is accompanied by our 2023 Annual Report which includes our audited financial statements. We have filed the 2023 Annual Report with the SEC, and it is available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.datchat.com. In addition, upon written request to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at 204 Neilson Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, we will mail a paper copy of our 2023 Annual Report, including the financial statements and the financial statement schedules, to you free of charge.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

 We do not know of any business that will be presented for consideration or action by the shareholders at the 2024 Annual Meeting other than that described in this proxy statement. If, however, any other business is properly brought before the meeting, shares represented by proxies will be voted in accordance with the best judgment of the person named in the proxies or their substitutes. All shareholders are urged to complete, sign and return the proxy card.

 

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Appendix A

DATCHAT, INC.
2021 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Section 1. Purpose of Plan.

 

The name of the Plan is the DatChat, Inc. (the “Company” or “DatChat”) 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).The purposes of the Plan are to (i) provide an additional incentive to selected employees, directors, and independent contractors of the Company or its Affiliates whose contributions are essential to the growth and success of the Company, (ii) strengthen the commitment of such individuals to the Company and its Affiliates, (iii) motivate those individuals to faithfully and diligently perform their responsibilities and (iv) attract and retain competent and dedicated individuals whose efforts will result in the long-term growth and profitability of the Company. To accomplish these purposes, the Plan provides that the Company may grant Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards or any combination of the foregoing.

 

Section 2. Definitions.

 

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

(a) “Administrator” means the Board, or, if and to the extent the Board does not administer the Plan, the Committee in accordance with Section 3 hereof.

 

(b) “Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified as of any date of determination.

 

(c) “Applicable Laws” means the applicable requirements under U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, including the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan, as are in effect from time to time.

 

(d) “Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.

 

(e) “Award Agreement” means any written notice, agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator shall determine, consistent with the Plan.

 

(f) “Beneficial Owner” (or any variant thereof) has the meaning defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

(g) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(h) “Bylaws” mean the bylaws of the Company, as may be amended and/or restated from time to time.

 

(i) “Cause” has the meaning assigned to such term in any individual service, employment or severance agreement or Award Agreement with the Participant or, if no such agreement exists or if such agreement does not define “Cause,” then “Cause” means (i) the conviction, guilty plea or plea of “no contest” by the Participant to any felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or the Participant’s commission of any other act or omission involving dishonesty or fraud, (ii) the substantial and repeated failure of the Participant to perform duties of the office held by the Participant, (iii) the Participant’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (iv) any breach by the Participant of any restrictive covenants to which the Participant is subject, and/or (v) the Participant’s engagement in any conduct which is or can reasonably be expected to be materially detrimental or injurious to the business or reputation of the Company or its Affiliates. Any voluntary termination of employment or service by the Participant in anticipation of an involuntary termination of the Participant’s employment or service, as applicable, for Cause shall be deemed to be a termination for Cause.

 

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(j) “Change in Capitalization” means any (i) merger, consolidation, reclassification, recapitalization, spin-off, spin-out, repurchase or other reorganization or corporate transaction or event, (ii) special or extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock or other property), stock split, reverse stock split, share subdivision or consolidation, (iii) combination or exchange of shares or (iv) other change in corporate structure, which, in any such case, the Administrator determines, in its sole discretion, affects the Shares such that an adjustment pursuant to Section 5 hereof is appropriate.

 

(k) “Change in Control” means the first occurrence of an event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs following the Effective Date:

 

(1) any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including the securities Beneficially Owned by such Person which were acquired directly from the Company or any Affiliate thereof) representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (i) of paragraph (3) below; or

 

(2) the date on which individuals who constitute the Board as of the Effective Date and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including, but not limited to, a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the Effective Date or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors serving on the Board; or

 

(3) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary with any other corporation or other entity, other than (i) a merger or consolidation (A) which results in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary, fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and (B) following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the Company, the entity surviving such merger or consolidation or, if the Company or the entity surviving such merger or consolidation is then a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof, or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities Beneficially Owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or

  

(4) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than (A) a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company following the completion of such transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or (B) a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the entity to which such assets are sold or disposed or, if such entity is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the holders of Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions and (ii) to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred under the Plan with respect to any Award that constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code only if a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company shall also be deemed to have occurred under Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of this definition of Change in Control, the term “Person” shall not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company.

 

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(l) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor thereto.

 

(m) “Committee” means any committee or subcommittee the Board may appoint to administer the Plan. Subject to the discretion of the Board, the Committee shall be composed entirely of individuals who meet the qualifications of a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and any other qualifications required by the applicable stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded.

 

(n) “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001.

 

(o) “Company” means DatChat, Inc., a Nevada corporation (or any successor company, except as the term “Company” is used in the definition of “Change in Control” above).

 

(p) “Disability” has the meaning assigned to such term in any individual service, employment or severance agreement or Award Agreement with the Participant or, if no such agreement exists or if such agreement does not define “Disability,” then “Disability” means that a Participant, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company or an Affiliate thereof.

 

(q) “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 17 hereof.

 

(r) “Eligible Recipient” means an employee, director or independent contractor of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company who has been selected as an eligible participant by the Administrator; provided, however, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, an Eligible Recipient of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right means an employee, non-employee director or independent contractor of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with respect to whom the Company is an “eligible issuer of service recipient stock” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(s) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(t) “Exempt Award” shall mean the following:

 

(1) An Award granted in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a corporation or other entity acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or with which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries combines by merger or otherwise. The terms and conditions of any such Awards may vary from the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan to the extent the Administrator at the time of grant may deem appropriate, subject to Applicable Laws.

 

(2) An award that an Eligible Recipient purchases at Fair Market Value (including awards that an Eligible Recipient elects to receive in lieu of fully vested compensation that is otherwise due) whether or not the Shares are delivered immediately or on a deferred basis.

 

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(u) “Exercise Price” means, (i) with respect to any Option, the per share price at which a holder of such Option may purchase Shares issuable upon exercise of such Award, and (ii) with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right, the base price per share of such Stock Appreciation Right.

 

(v) “Fair Market Value” of a share of Common Stock or another security as of a particular date shall mean the fair market value as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, that, (i) if the Common Stock or other security is admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the fair market value on any date shall be the closing sale price reported on such date, or if no shares were traded on such date, on the last preceding date for which there was a sale of a share of Common Stock on such exchange, or (ii) if the Common Stock or other security is then traded in an over-the-counter market, the fair market value on any date shall be the average of the closing bid and asked prices for such share in such over-the-counter market for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such share in such market.

 

(w) “Free Standing Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.

 

(x) “Good Reason” has the meaning assigned to such term in any individual service, employment or severance agreement or Award Agreement with the Participant or, if no such agreement exists or if such agreement does not define “Good Reason,” “Good Reason” and any provision of this Plan that refers to “Good Reason” shall not be applicable to such Participant.

 

(y) “Incentive Compensation” means annual cash bonus and any Award.

 

(z) “ISO” means an Option intended to be and designated as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(aa) “Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is not designated as an ISO.

 

(bb) “Option” means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to Section 7 hereof. The term “Option” as used in the Plan includes the terms “Nonqualified Stock Option” and “ISO.”

 

(cc) “Other Stock-Based Award” means a right or other interest granted pursuant to Section 10 hereof that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Common Stock, including, but not limited to, unrestricted Shares, dividend equivalents or performance units, each of which may be subject to the attainment of performance goals or a period of continued provision of service or employment or other terms or conditions as permitted under the Plan.

 

(dd) “Participant” means any Eligible Recipient selected by the Administrator, pursuant to the Administrator’s authority provided for in Section 3 below, to receive grants of Awards, and, upon his or her death, his or her successors, heirs, executors and administrators, as the case may be.

 

(ee) “Person” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof.

 

(ff) “Plan” means this 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.

 

(gg) “Related Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.

 

(hh) “Restricted Stock” means a Share granted pursuant to Section 9 below subject to certain restrictions that lapse at the end of a specified period (or periods) of time and/or upon attainment of specified performance objectives.

 

(ii) “Restricted Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.

 

(jj) “Restricted Stock Unit” means the right granted pursuant to Section 9 hereof to receive a Share at the end of a specified restricted period (or periods) of time and/or upon attainment of specified performance objectives.

 

(kk) “Rule 16b-3” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.

 

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(ll) “Section 16 Officer” means any officer of the Company whom the Board has determined is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, whether or not such individual is a Section 16 Officer at the time the determination to recoup compensation is made.

 

(mm) “Shares” means Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan, as adjusted pursuant to the Plan, and any successor (pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other reorganization) security.

 

(nn) “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted pursuant to Section 8 hereof to receive an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value, as of the date such Award or portion thereof is surrendered, of the Shares covered by such Award or such portion thereof, over (ii) the aggregate Exercise Price of such Award or such portion thereof.

 

(oo) “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such first Person owns or otherwise controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting shares or other similar interests or a sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such other Person.

 

(pp) “Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.

 

Section 3. Administration.

 

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator and shall be administered, to the extent applicable, in accordance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act “Rule 16b-3”).

 

(b) Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator, subject, in the case of any Committee, to any restrictions on the authority delegated to it by the Board, shall have the power and authority, without limitation:

 

(1) to select those Eligible Recipients who shall be Participants; 

 

(2) to determine whether and to what extent Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards or a combination of any of the foregoing, are to be granted hereunder to Participants;

 

(3) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(4) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of each Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, (i) the restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units and the conditions under which restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall lapse, (ii) the performance goals and periods applicable to Awards, (iii) the Exercise Price of each Option and each Stock Appreciation Right or the purchase price of any other Award, (iv) the vesting schedule and terms applicable to each Award, (v) the number of Shares or amount of cash or other property subject to each Award and (vi) subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (to the extent applicable) any amendments to the terms and conditions of outstanding Awards, including, but not limited to, extending the exercise period of such Awards and accelerating the payment schedules of such Awards and/or, to the extent specifically permitted under the Plan, accelerating the vesting schedules of such Awards);

 

(5) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, which shall govern all written instruments evidencing Awards;

 

(6) to determine the Fair Market Value in accordance with the terms of the Plan;

 

(7) to determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absence which may be granted to a Participant without constituting termination of the Participant’s service or employment for purposes of Awards granted under the Plan;

 

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(8) to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, regulations, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable;

 

(9) to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of, and supply or correct omissions in, the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any Award Agreement relating thereto), and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan and to exercise all powers and authorities either specifically granted under the Plan or necessary and advisable in the administration of the Plan; and

 

(10) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable non-United States laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable non-United States laws, which rules and regulations may be set forth in an appendix or appendixes to the Plan.

 

(c) Subject to Section 5, neither the Board nor the Committee shall have the authority to (i) reprice or cancel and regrant any Award at a lower exercise, base or purchase price or cancel any Award with an exercise, base or purchase price in exchange for cash, property or other Awards without first obtaining the approval of the Company’s stockholders; or (ii) accelerate the vesting of any Awards (except pursuant to Section 11).

 

(d) All decisions made by the Administrator pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons, including the Company and the Participants.

 

(e) The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.

 

(f) If at any time or to any extent the Board shall not administer the Plan, then the functions of the Administrator specified in the Plan shall be exercised by the Committee. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, any action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken by a majority vote at a meeting at which a quorum is duly constituted or unanimous written consent of the Committee’s members.

 

Section 4. Shares Reserved for Issuance Under the Plan.

 

(a) Subject to Section 5 hereof, the number of shares of Common Stock that are reserved and available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be equal to 600,000 shares; provided, that, shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan with respect to an Exempt Award shall not count against such share limit.

 

(b) Shares issued under the Plan may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or otherwise. If an Award entitles the Participant to receive or purchase Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates shall be counted on the date of grant of such Award against the aggregate number of Shares available for granting Awards under the Plan. If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award otherwise terminates or expires without a distribution of Shares to the Participant, the Shares with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, termination or expiration, again be available for granting Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Shares surrendered or withheld as payment of either the Exercise Price of an Award (including Shares otherwise underlying a Stock Appreciation Right that are retained by the Company to account for the Exercise Price of such Stock Appreciation Right) and/or withholding taxes in respect of an Award shall no longer be available for grant under the Plan. In addition, (i) to the extent an Award is denominated in shares of Common Stock, but paid or settled in cash, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which such payment or settlement is made shall again be available for grants of Awards pursuant to the Plan and (ii) shares of Common Stock underlying Awards that can only be settled in cash shall not be counted against the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan. Upon the exercise of any Award granted in tandem with any other Awards, such related Awards shall be cancelled to the extent of the number of Shares as to which the Award is exercised and, notwithstanding the foregoing, such number of Shares shall no longer be available for grant under the Plan.

 

(c) No more than 600,00 million Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs.

 

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Section 5. Equitable Adjustments.

 

In the event of any Change in Capitalization, an equitable substitution or proportionate adjustment shall be made in (i) the aggregate number and kind of securities reserved for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4, (ii) the kind, number of securities subject to, and the Exercise Price subject to outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, (iii) the kind, number and purchase price of Shares or other securities or the amount of cash or amount or type of other property subject to outstanding Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock-Based Awards granted under the Plan; and/or (iv) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from the adjustment shall be eliminated. Such other equitable substitutions or adjustments shall be made as may be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in connection with a Change in Capitalization, the Administrator may provide, in its sole discretion, but subject in all events to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, for the cancellation of any outstanding Award granted hereunder in exchange for payment in cash or other property having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares, cash or other property covered by such Award, reduced by the aggregate Exercise Price or purchase price thereof, if any; provided, however, that if the Exercise Price or purchase price of any outstanding Award is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock, cash or other property covered by such Award, the Administrator may cancel such Award without the payment of any consideration to the Participant. Further, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, with respect to Awards subject to foreign laws, adjustments made hereunder shall be made in compliance with applicable requirements. Except to the extent determined by the Administrator, any adjustments to ISOs under this Section 5 shall be made only to the extent not constituting a “modification” within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code. The Administrator’s determinations pursuant to this Section 5 shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

Section 6. Eligibility.

 

The Participants in the Plan shall be selected from time to time by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, from those individuals that qualify as Eligible Recipients.

 

Section 7. Options.

 

(a) General. Options granted under the Plan shall be designated as Nonqualified Stock Options or ISOs. Each Participant who is granted an Option shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, including, among other things, the Exercise Price of the Option, the term of the Option and provisions regarding exercisability of the Option, and whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or a Nonqualified Stock Option (and in the event the Award Agreement has no such designation, the Option shall be a Nonqualified Stock Option). The provisions of each Option need not be the same with respect to each Participant. More than one Option may be granted to the same Participant and be outstanding concurrently hereunder. Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(b) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of Shares purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion at the time of grant, but in no event shall the exercise price of an Option be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

(c) Option Term. The maximum term of each Option shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Option shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such Option is granted. Each Option’s term is subject to earlier expiration pursuant to the applicable provisions in the Plan and the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 4(d) of the Plan, the Administrator shall have the authority to accelerate the exercisability of any outstanding Option at such time and under such circumstances as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

(d) Exercisability. Each Option shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions, including the attainment of performance goals, as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement. The Administrator may also provide that any Option shall be exercisable only in installments, and the Administrator may waive such installment exercise provisions at any time, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion.

 

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(e) Method of Exercise. Options may be exercised in whole or in part by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of whole Shares to be purchased, accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares so purchased in cash or its equivalent, as determined by the Administrator. As determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, with respect to any Option or category of Options, payment in whole or in part may also be made (i) by means of consideration received under any cashless exercise procedure approved by the Administrator (including the withholding of Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise), (ii) in the form of unrestricted Shares already owned by the Participant which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such Option shall be exercised, (iii) any other form of consideration approved by the Administrator and permitted by Applicable Laws or (iv) any combination of the foregoing.

 

(f) ISOs. The terms and conditions of ISOs granted hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the terms, conditions, limitations and administrative procedures established by the Administrator from time to time in accordance with the Plan. At the discretion of the Administrator, ISOs may be granted only to an employee of the Company, its “parent corporation” (as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(1) ISO Grants to 10% Stockholders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, if an ISO is granted to a Participant who owns shares representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company, its “parent corporation” (as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or a Subsidiary of the Company, the term of the ISO shall not exceed five (5) years from the time of grant of such ISO and the Exercise Price shall be at least one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant.

 

(2) $100,000 Per Year Limitation For ISOs. To the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the date of grant) of the Shares for which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such excess ISOs shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.

 

(3) Disqualifying Dispositions. Each Participant awarded an ISO under the Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date the Participant makes a “disqualifying disposition” of any Share acquired pursuant to the exercise of such ISO. A “disqualifying disposition” is any disposition (including any sale) of such Shares before the later of (i) two years after the date of grant of the ISO and (ii) one year after the date the Participant acquired the Shares by exercising the ISO. The Company may, if determined by the Administrator and in accordance with procedures established by it, retain possession of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO as agent for the applicable Participant until the end of the period described in the preceding sentence, subject to complying with any instructions from such Participant as to the sale of such Shares.

 

(g) Rights as Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights to dividends, dividend equivalents or distributions or any other rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares subject to an Option until the Participant has given written notice of the exercise thereof, and has paid in full for such Shares and has satisfied the requirements of Section 15 hereof.

 

(h) Termination of Employment or Service. Treatment of an Option upon termination of employment of a Participant shall be provided for by the Administrator in the Award Agreement.

 

(i) Other Change in Employment or Service Status. An Option shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, including unpaid and un-protected leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time employment, partial Disability or other changes in the employment status or service status of a Participant, in the discretion of the Administrator.

 

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Section 8. Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(a) General. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted either alone (“Free Standing Rights”) or in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the Plan (“Related Rights”). Related Rights may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Option. The Administrator shall determine the Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be made. Each Participant who is granted a Stock Appreciation Right shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, including, among other things, the number of Shares to be awarded, the Exercise Price per Share, and all other conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Related Right may be granted for more Shares than are subject to the Option to which it relates. The provisions of Stock Appreciation Rights need not be the same with respect to each Participant. Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions set forth in this Section 8 and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator shall deem desirable, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(b) Awards; Rights as Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights to dividends or any other rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock, if any, subject to a Stock Appreciation Right until the Participant has given written notice of the exercise thereof and has satisfied the requirements of Section 15 hereof.

 

(c) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of Shares purchasable under a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion at the time of grant, but in no event shall the exercise price of a Stock Appreciation Right be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

(d) Exercisability.

 

(1) Stock Appreciation Rights that are Free Standing Rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(2) Stock Appreciation Rights that are Related Rights shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the Options to which they relate shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 hereof and this Section 8 of the Plan.

 

(e) Payment Upon Exercise.

 

(1) Upon the exercise of a Free Standing Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of Shares equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise over the Exercise Price per share specified in the Free Standing Right multiplied by the number of Shares in respect of which the Free Standing Right is being exercised.

 

(2) A Related Right may be exercised by a Participant by surrendering the applicable portion of the related Option. Upon such exercise and surrender, the Participant shall be entitled to receive up to, but not more than, that number of Shares equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise over the Exercise Price specified in the related Option multiplied by the number of Shares in respect of which the Related Right is being exercised. Options which have been so surrendered, in whole or in part, shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the Related Rights have been so exercised.

 

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may determine to settle the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right in cash (or in any combination of Shares and cash).

 

(f) Termination of Employment or Service. Treatment of a Stock Appreciation Right upon termination of employment of a Participant shall be provided for by the Administrator in the Award Agreement.

 

(g) Term.

 

(1) The term of each Free Standing Right shall be fixed by the Administrator, but no Free Standing Right shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such right is granted.

 

(2) The term of each Related Right shall be the term of the Option to which it relates, but no Related Right shall be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date such right is granted.

 

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(h) Other Change in Employment or Service Status. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be affected, both with regard to vesting schedule and termination, by leaves of absence, including unpaid and un-protected leaves of absence, changes from full-time to part-time employment, partial Disability or other changes in the employment or service status of a Participant, in the discretion of the Administrator.

  

Section 9. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.

 

(a) General. Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be issued under the Plan. The Administrator shall determine the Eligible Recipients to whom, and the time or times at which, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be made. Each Participant who is granted Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, including, among other things, the number of Shares to be awarded; the price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for the acquisition of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units; the period of time restrictions, performance goals or other conditions that apply to Transferability, delivery or vesting of such Awards (the “Restricted Period”); and all other conditions applicable to the Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. If the restrictions, performance goals or conditions established by the Administrator are not attained, a Participant shall forfeit his or her Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, in accordance with the terms of the grant. The provisions of the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

(b) Awards and Certificates. Except as otherwise provided below in Section 9(c), (i) each Participant who is granted an Award of Restricted Stock may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be issued a share certificate in respect of such Restricted Stock; and (ii) any such certificate so issued shall be registered in the name of the Participant, and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any such Award. The Company may require that the share certificates, if any, evidencing Restricted Stock granted hereunder be held in the custody of the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any Award of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a share transfer form, endorsed in blank, relating to the Shares covered by such Award. Certificates for shares of unrestricted Common Stock may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be delivered to the Participant only after the Restricted Period has expired without forfeiture in such Restricted Stock Award. With respect to Restricted Stock Units to be settled in Shares, at the expiration of the Restricted Period, share certificates in respect of the shares of Common Stock underlying such Restricted Stock Units may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be delivered to the Participant, or his legal representative, in a number equal to the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units Award. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to be settled in Shares (at the expiration of the Restricted Period, and whether before or after any vesting conditions have been satisfied) may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be issued in uncertificated form. Further, notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, with respect to Restricted Stock Units, at the expiration of the Restricted Period, Shares, or cash, as applicable, shall promptly be issued (either in certificated or uncertificated form) to the Participant, unless otherwise deferred in accordance with procedures established by the Company in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, and such issuance or payment shall in any event be made within such period as is required to avoid the imposition of a tax under Section 409A of the Code.

 

(c) Restrictions and Conditions. The Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Section 9 shall be subject to the following restrictions and conditions and any additional restrictions or conditions as determined by the Administrator at the time of grant or, subject to Section 409A of the Code where applicable, thereafter:

 

(1) The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide for the lapse of restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive such restrictions in whole or in part based on such factors and such circumstances as the Administrator may determine, in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, the attainment of certain performance goals, the Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, or the Participant’s death or Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon a Change in Control, the outstanding Awards shall be subject to Section 11 hereof.

 

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(2) Except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall generally have the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to Restricted Stock during the Restricted Period; provided, however, that dividends declared during the Restricted Period with respect to an Award, shall only become payable if (and to the extent) the underlying Restricted Stock vests. Except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall generally not have the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to Restricted Stock Units during the Restricted Period; provided, however, that, subject to Section 409A of the Code, an amount equal to dividends declared during the Restricted Period with respect to the number of Shares covered by Restricted Stock Units shall, unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement, be paid to the Participant at the time (and to the extent) Shares in respect of the related Restricted Stock Units are delivered to the Participant. Certificates for Shares of unrestricted Common Stock may, in the Company’s sole discretion, be delivered to the Participant only after the Restricted Period has expired without forfeiture in respect of such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, except as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall otherwise determine.

 

(3) The rights of Participants granted Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units upon termination of employment or service as a director or independent contractor to the Company or to any Affiliate thereof terminates for any reason during the Restricted Period shall be set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

(d) Form of Settlement. The Administrator reserves the right in its sole discretion to provide (either at or after the grant thereof) that any Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive the amount of cash per unit that is determined by the Administrator in connection with the Award.

 

Section 10. Other Stock-Based Awards.

 

Other Stock-Based Awards may be issued under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall have sole and complete authority to determine the individuals to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be granted. Each Participant who is granted an Other Stock-Based Award shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company, containing such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, including, among other things, the number of shares of Common Stock to be granted pursuant to such Other Stock-Based Awards, or the manner in which such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be settled (e.g., in shares of Common Stock, cash or other property), or the conditions to the vesting and/or payment or settlement of such Other Stock-Based Awards (which may include, but not be limited to, achievement of performance criteria) and all other terms and conditions of such Other Stock-Based Awards. In the event that the Administrator grants a bonus in the form of Shares, the Shares constituting such bonus shall, as determined by the Administrator, be evidenced in uncertificated form or by a book entry record or a certificate issued in the name of the Participant to whom such grant was made and delivered to such Participant as soon as practicable after the date on which such bonus is payable. Notwithstanding anything set forth in the Plan to the contrary, any dividend or dividend equivalent Award issued hereunder shall be subject to the same restrictions, conditions and risks of forfeiture as apply to the underlying Award.

 

Section 11. Change in Control.

 

Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator and evidenced in an Award Agreement, in the event that (a) a Change in Control occurs, and (b) the Participant is employed by the Company or any of its Affiliates immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control then upon the consummation of such Change in Control, the Administrator, in its sole and absolute discretion, may:

 

(a) provide that any unvested or unexercisable portion of any Award carrying a right to exercise become fully vested and exercisable; and

 

(b) cause the restrictions, deferral limitations, payment conditions and forfeiture conditions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan to lapse and such Awards shall be deemed fully vested and any performance conditions imposed with respect to such Awards shall be deemed to be fully achieved at target performance levels.

 

If the Administrator determines in its discretion pursuant to Section 3(b)(4) hereof to accelerate the vesting of Options and/or Share Appreciation Rights in connection with a Change in Control, the Administrator shall also have discretion in connection with such action to provide that all Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding immediately prior to such Change in Control shall expire on the effective date of such Change in Control.

 

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Section 12. Amendment and Termination.

 

The Board may amend, alter or terminate the Plan at any time, but no amendment, alteration or termination shall be made that would impair the rights of a Participant under any Award theretofore granted without such Participant’s consent. The Board shall obtain approval of the Company’s stockholders for any amendment that would require such approval in order to satisfy the requirements of any rules of the stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded or other Applicable Law. Subject to Section 3(c), the Administrator may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Section 5 of the Plan and the immediately preceding sentence, no such amendment shall materially impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent.

 

Section 13. Unfunded Status of Plan.

 

The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company.

 

Section 14. Withholding Taxes.

 

Each Participant shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award first becomes includible in the gross income of such Participant for purposes of applicable taxes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator regarding payment of an amount up to the maximum statutory tax rates in the Participant’s applicable jurisdiction with respect to the Award, as determined by the Company. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on the making of such payments or arrangements, and the Company shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Participant. Whenever cash is to be paid pursuant to an Award, the Company shall have the right to deduct therefrom an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable withholding tax requirements related thereto. Whenever Shares or property other than cash are to be delivered pursuant to an Award, the Company shall have the right to require the Participant to remit to the Company in cash an amount sufficient to satisfy any related taxes to be withheld and applied to the tax obligations; provided, that, with the approval of the Administrator, a Participant may satisfy the foregoing requirement by either (i) electing to have the Company withhold from delivery of Shares or other property, as applicable, or (ii) delivering already owned unrestricted shares of Common Stock, in each case, having a value not exceeding the applicable taxes to be withheld and applied to the tax obligations. Such already owned and unrestricted shares of Common Stock shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date on which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined and any fractional share amounts resulting therefrom shall be settled in cash. Such an election may be made with respect to all or any portion of the Shares to be delivered pursuant to an award. The Company may also use any other method of obtaining the necessary payment or proceeds, as permitted by Applicable Laws, to satisfy its withholding obligation with respect to any Award.

 

Section 15. Transfer of Awards.

 

Until such time as the Awards are fully vested and/or exercisable in accordance with the Plan or an Award Agreement, no purported sale, assignment, mortgage, hypothecation, transfer, charge, pledge, encumbrance, gift, transfer in trust (voting or other) or other disposition of, or creation of a security interest in or lien on, any Award or any agreement or commitment to do any of the foregoing (each, a “Transfer”) by any holder thereof in violation of the provisions of the Plan or an Award Agreement will be valid, except with the prior written consent of the Administrator, which consent may be granted or withheld in the sole discretion of the Administrator. Any purported Transfer of an Award or any economic benefit or interest therein in violation of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall be null and void ab initio and shall not create any obligation or liability of the Company, and any Person purportedly acquiring any Award or any economic benefit or interest therein transferred in violation of the Plan or an Award Agreement shall not be entitled to be recognized as a holder of such Shares or other property underlying such Award. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant or, during any period during which the Participant is under a legal Disability, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

 

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Section 16. Continued Employment or Service.

 

Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the grant of an Award shall confer upon any Eligible Recipient any right to continued employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, as the case may be, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate thereof to terminate the employment or service of any of its Eligible Recipients at any time.

 

Section 17. Effective Date.

 

The Plan was approved by the Board on July 26, 2021 and shall be adopted and become effective on the date that it is approved by the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”).

 

Section 18. Electronic Signature.

 

Participant’s electronic signature of an Award Agreement shall have the same validity and effect as a signature affixed by hand.

 

Section 19. Term of Plan.

 

No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.

 

Section 20. Securities Matters and Regulations.

 

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Shares with respect to any Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to all Applicable Laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. The Administrator may require, as a condition of the issuance and delivery of certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms hereof, that the recipient of such shares make such agreements and representations, and that such certificates bear such legends, as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable.

 

(b) Each Award is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Administrator determines that the listing, registration or qualification of Shares is required by any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Award or the issuance of Shares, no such Award shall be granted or payment made or Shares issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Administrator.

 

(c) In the event that the disposition of Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such Shares shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act or regulations thereunder, and the Administrator may require a Participant receiving Common Stock pursuant to the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Common Stock, to represent to the Company in writing that the Common Stock acquired by such Participant is acquired for investment only and not with a view to distribution.

 

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Section 21. Section 409A of the Code.

 

The Plan as well as payments and benefits under the Plan are intended to be exempt from, or to the extent subject thereto, to comply with Section 409A of the Code, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted in accordance therewith. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service with the Company for purposes of the Plan and no payment shall be due to the Participant under the Plan or any Award until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Company and its Affiliates within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent that any Awards (or any other amounts payable under any plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any of its Affiliates) are payable upon a separation from service and such payment would result in the imposition of any individual tax and penalty interest charges imposed under Section 409A of the Code, the settlement and payment of such awards (or other amounts) shall instead be made on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following such separation from service (or death, if earlier). Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided under this Plan shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments or benefits described in this Plan will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to any such payment. The Participant shall be solely responsible for the payment of any taxes and penalties incurred under Section 409A.

 

Section 22. Notification of Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code.

 

If any Participant shall, in connection with the acquisition of shares of Common Stock under the Plan, make the election permitted under Section 83(b) of the Code, such Participant shall notify the Company of such election within ten (10) days after filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Section 23. No Fractional Shares.

 

No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Administrator shall determine whether cash, other Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

Section 24. Beneficiary.

 

A Participant may file with the Administrator a written designation of a beneficiary on such form as may be prescribed by the Administrator and may, from time to time, amend or revoke such designation. If no designated beneficiary survives the Participant, the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate shall be deemed to be the Participant’s beneficiary.

 

Section 25. Paperless Administration.

 

In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

 

Section 26. Severability.

 

If any provision of the Plan is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the other provisions of the Plan shall not be affected but shall be applied as if the invalid or unenforceable provision had not been included in the Plan.

 

Section 27. Clawback.

 

(a) If the Company is required to prepare a financial restatement due to the material non-compliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement, then the Committee may require any Section 16 Officer to repay or forfeit to the Company, and each Section 16 Officer agrees to so repay or forfeit, that part of the Incentive Compensation received by that Section 16 Officer during the three-year period preceding the publication of the restated financial statement that the Committee determines was in excess of the amount that such Section 16 Officer would have received had such Incentive Compensation been calculated based on the financial results reported in the restated financial statement. The Committee may take into account any factors it deems reasonable in determining whether to seek recoupment of previously paid Incentive Compensation and how much Incentive Compensation to recoup from each Section 16 Officer (which need not be the same amount or proportion for each Section 16 Officer), including any determination by the Committee that a Section 16 Officer engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or committed grossly negligent acts or omissions which materially contributed to the events that led to the financial restatement. The amount and form of the Incentive Compensation to be recouped shall be determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, and recoupment of Incentive Compensation may be made, in the Committee’s sole and absolute discretion, through the cancellation of vested or unvested Awards, cash repayment or both.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, any Award which is subject to recovery under any Applicable Laws, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such Applicable Law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement).

 

Section 28. Governing Law.

 

The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Nevada, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law of such state.

 

Section 29. Indemnification.

 

To the extent allowable pursuant to applicable law, each member of the Board and the Administrator and any officer or other employee to whom authority to administer any component of the Plan is designated shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided, however, that he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such individuals may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

Section 30. Titles and Headings, References to Sections of the Code or Exchange Act.

 

The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control. References to sections of the Code or the Exchange Act shall include any amendment or successor thereto.

 

Section 31. Successors.

 

The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of the Company.

 

Section 32. Relationship to other Benefits.

 

No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare, or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

 

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