Form S-8 - Securities to be offered to employees in employee benefit plans

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2024

 

Registration No. 333-

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

TAOPING INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

British Virgin Islands		N/A
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

21st Floor, Everbright Bank Building

Zhuzilin, Futian District

Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518040

People’s Republic of China

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including zip code)

 

 

 

TAOPING INC. 2024 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN (Full title of the plan)
		Copies of Correspondence to:
Cogency Global Inc. 122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor New York, NY 10168 800-221-0102 (Name, address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)		Kevin (Qixiang) Sun, Esq. BEVILACQUA PLLC 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20036 202-869-0888

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

Accelerated filer ☐

Non-accelerated filer ☒

Smaller reporting company ☐

Emerging Growth Company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be delivered to employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In accordance with the instructions of Part I of Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act. Such documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

 

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PART II

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

 

The following documents, which have been filed or furnished by Taoping Inc. (the “Company”) with the Commission, are incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference:

 

	●	The Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Commission on April 25, 2024;
	●	The Company’s Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K furnished with the Commission on September 5, 2024; and
	●	The description of the Company’s Ordinary Shares contained in the Form 8-K12B, filed with the Commission on October 31, 2012, and any further amendment or report filed hereafter for the purpose of updating such description.

 

All documents filed subsequent to the Form 20-F by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all of the securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all of the securities covered hereby then remaining unsold, shall also be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.

 

Any statement incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

 

British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the BVI courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.

 

Under the Company’s articles of association, subject to the BVI Business Companies Act (as amended) (the “Act”), the Company shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer (excluding the auditors), or who is or was serving at the Company’s request as a director or officer of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. Each such indemnified person shall be indemnified out of the Company’s assets against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, judgments, fines, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may reasonably incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud or willful default. In addition, to be entitled to indemnification, an indemnified person must not have acted in such a manner as to have incurred the liability by virtue of having committed actual fraud or willful default but no person shall be found to have committed actual fraud or willful default unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect.

 

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No indemnified person will be personally liable to the Company for damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer; provided, however, that the foregoing provision will not eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer for:

 

(a) acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law,

 

(b) for the violation of any provision of the Act, as amended from time to time, that expressly provides for liability of directors or officers notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary.

 

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

 

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

 

See Index to Exhibits, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high and of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

 

(iii) To include any additional or changed material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement;

 

provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in City of Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China, on this 9^th day of December, 2024.

 

	taoping inc.
	By	/s/ Jianghuai Lin
		Jianghuai Lin
		Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Jianghuai Lin and Zhiqiang Zhao, and each or any of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this Registration Statement on Form S-8 that is to be effective on filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or his substitute or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

*****

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 9, 2024.

 

SIGNATURE		TITLE
/s/ Jianghuai Lin		Chief Executive Officer and Chairman (Principal
Jiang Huai Lin		Executive Officer)
/s/ Zhiqiang Zhao		President and Director
Zhiqiang Zhao
/s/ Iris Yan		Chief Financial Officer
Iris Yan		(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Yong Jiang		Director
Yong Jiang
/s/ Remington Hu		Director
Remington Hu
/s/ Ping Cai		Director
Ping Cai

 

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SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES

 

Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Taoping Inc. has signed this registration statement or amendment thereto in New York, New York on December 9, 2024.

 

	US Authorized Representative Cogency Global Inc.
	By:	/s/ Colleen A. De Vries
	Name:	Colleen A. De Vries
	Title:	Senior Vice President on behalf of Cogency Global Inc.

 

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Index to Exhibits

 

Exhibit		Description
5.1		Opinion of Maples and Calder
23.1		Consent of PKF Littlejohn LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2		Consent of Maples and Calder (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on the Signature Page to this Registration Statement)
99.1		Taoping Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan
107		Filing Fee Table

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

 

Our ref: EWR/673333-000025/38962313v3

 

Taoping Inc.

Kingston Chambers

PO Box 173

Road Town

Tortola, VG1110

British Virgin Islands

 

9 December 2024

 

Dear Sirs

 

Taoping Inc. (the “Company”)

 

We have acted as counsel as to British Virgin Islands law to the Company and have been asked to provide this legal opinion in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8, including all amendments or supplements thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “SEC Act”) related to the reservation for issuance of up to 10,000,000 ordinary shares of no par value each of the Company (the “Shares”), authorised for issuance pursuant to the Taoping Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

1	Documents Reviewed

 

We have reviewed originals, copies, drafts or conformed copies of the following documents:

 

1.1	The public records of the Company on file and available for public inspection at the Registry of Corporate Affairs in the British Virgin Islands (the “Registry of Corporate Affairs”) on 6 December 2024, including the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and the memorandum and articles of association registered on 20 June 2022 (the “Memorandum and Articles”).
1.2	A list of the Company’s directors provided by the Registry of Corporate Affairs dated 6 December 2024 (a copy of which is attached as Annexure A) (the “Registry List of Directors”).
1.3	The records of proceedings available from a search of the electronic records maintained on the Judicial Enforcement Management System and the E-Litigation Portal from 1 January 2000 and available for inspection on 6 December 2024 at the British Virgin Islands High Court Registry (the “High Court Registry”).

 

 

 

1.4	The written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 9 December 2024 and the written resolutions of the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company dated 9 December 2024 (together, the “Resolutions”).
1.5	A Certificate of Incumbency dated 6 December 2024, issued by Maples Corporate Services (BVI) Limited, the Company’s registered agent (the “Registered Agent’s Certificate”).
1.6	A certificate of good standing with respect to the Company issued by the Registrar of Corporate Affairs dated 6 December 2024 (the “Certificate of Good Standing”).
1.7	A certificate from a director of the Company (the “Director’s Certificate”) (a copy of which is appended to this opinion at Appendix A).
1.8	The Registration Statement.
1.9	The Plan.

 

2	Assumptions

 

The following opinions are given only as to, and based on, circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion letter. These opinions only relate to the laws of the British Virgin Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion letter. In giving the following opinions we have relied (without further verification) upon the completeness and accuracy, as at the date of this opinion letter, of the Registry List of Directors, the Registered Agent’s Certificate, the Director’s Certificate and the Certificate of Good Standing. We have also relied upon the following assumptions, which we have not independently verified:

 

2.1	The Plan has been or will be authorised and duly executed and unconditionally delivered by or on behalf of all relevant parties in accordance with all relevant laws (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws of the British Virgin Islands).
2.2	The Plan is, or will be, legal, valid, binding and enforceable against all relevant parties in accordance with its terms under the laws of the State of New York (as appropriate) (the “Relevant Law”) and all other relevant laws (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws of the British Virgin Islands).
2.3	The choice of the Relevant Law as the governing law of the Plan has been made in good faith and would be regarded as a valid and binding selection which will be upheld by the courts of the State of New York and any other relevant jurisdiction (other than the British Virgin Islands) as a matter of the Relevant Law and all other relevant laws (other than the laws of the British Virgin Islands).
2.4	Each Form of Share Option Agreement and Form of Restricted Share Award Agreement evidencing any award granted under the Plan (the “Plan Documents”) incorporates or will incorporate the terms of the Plan and has been or will be authorised and, where applicable, duly executed and unconditionally delivered by or on behalf of all relevant parties (other than the Company) and such Plan Documents are or will be valid, binding and enforceable against all relevant parties in accordance with all relevant laws.

 

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2.5	Where the Plan Documents have been provided to us in draft or undated form, they will be duly executed, dated and unconditionally delivered by all parties thereto in materially the same form as the last version provided to us.
2.6	Copies of documents, conformed copies or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals, and translations of documents provided to us are complete and accurate.
2.7	All signatures, initials and seals are genuine.
2.8	The capacity, power, authority and legal right of all parties under all relevant laws and regulations (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws and regulations of the British Virgin Islands) to enter into, execute, unconditionally deliver and perform their respective obligations under the Plan.
2.9	That all public records of the Company which we have examined are accurate and that the information disclosed by the searches which we conducted against the Company at the Registry of Corporate Affairs and the High Court Registry is true and complete and that such information has not since then been altered and that such searches did not fail to disclose any information which had been delivered for registration but did not appear on the public records at the date of our searches.
2.10	No monies paid to or for the account of any party under the Transaction Documents represent or will represent proceeds of criminal conduct (as defined in the Proceeds of Criminal Conduct Act (As Revised)).
2.11	There is no contractual or other prohibition or restriction (other than as arising under British Virgin Islands law) binding on the Company prohibiting or restricting it from entering into and performing its obligations under the Plan.
2.12	There is nothing under any law (other than the laws of the British Virgin Islands) which would or might affect the opinions set out below. Specifically, we have made no independent investigation of the Relevant Law.
2.13	That prior to the issue of any of the Shares the issue of such Shares shall be authorised pursuant to a resolution of the board of directors of the Company or, where the board of directors has established a committee of the board of directors of the Company and duly delegated to such committee the power to authorise the issue of Shares pursuant to the Plan, by a resolution of such committee of the board of directors of the Company and where the Shares are to be issued for a consideration, which is in whole or in part, other than money, the directors of the Company shall prior to the issue of such Shares pass a resolution stating: (a) the amount to be credited for the issue of such Shares; and (b) that, in the opinion of the directors of the Company, the present cash value of the non-money consideration and money consideration, if any, is not less than the amount to be credited for the issue of such Shares.
2.14	Prior to the issue of any of the Shares, the Company shall receive all necessary consideration as required under the Plan for the issue of the Shares and none of the Shares will be issued for less than their par value.

 

Save as aforesaid we have not been instructed to undertake and have not undertaken any further enquiry or due diligence in relation to the transaction the subject of this opinion.

 

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Opinions

 

Based upon, and subject to, the foregoing assumptions and the qualifications set out below, and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

 

3.1	The Company is a company limited by shares incorporated with limited liability under the BVI Business Companies Act (As Revised) (the “Act”), is in good standing at the Registry of Corporate Affairs, is validly existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and possesses the capacity to sue and be sued in its own name.
3.2	The Company is currently authorised to issue 100,000,000 ordinary shares of one class each such share having no par value.
3.3	The Shares to be offered and issued by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement and the provisions of the Plan, have been duly authorised for issue, and when issued by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan for the consideration fixed thereto and duly registered in the Company’s register of members, will be validly issued and (assuming that all of the consideration is received by the Company) will be fully paid and non-assessable. As a matter of British Virgin Islands law, a share is only issued when it has been entered in the register of members.

 

4	Qualifications

 

The opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:

 

4.1	The obligations assumed by the Company under the Plan will not necessarily be enforceable in all circumstances in accordance with their terms. In particular:

 

	(a)	enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, readjustment of debts or moratorium or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the rights of creditors;
	(b)	enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity. For example, equitable remedies such as specific performance may not be available, inter alia, where damages are considered to be an adequate remedy;
	(c)	some claims may become barred under relevant statutes of limitation or may be or become subject to defences of set-off, counterclaim, estoppel and similar defences;
	(d)	where obligations are to be performed in a jurisdiction outside the British Virgin Islands, they may not be enforceable in the British Virgin Islands to the extent that performance would be illegal under the laws of that jurisdiction;
	(e)	the courts of the British Virgin Islands have jurisdiction to give judgment in the currency of the relevant obligation;
	(f)	arrangements that constitute penalties will not be enforceable;
	(g)	enforcement may be prevented by reason of fraud, coercion, duress, undue influence, misrepresentation, public policy or mistake or limited by the doctrine of frustration of contracts;

 

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	(h)	an agreement made by a person in the course of carrying on unauthorised financial services business is unenforceable against the other party under section 50F of the Financial Services Commission Act (As Revised);
	(i)	provisions imposing confidentiality obligations may be overridden by compulsion of applicable law or the requirements of legal and/or regulatory process;
	(j)	the courts of the British Virgin Islands may decline to exercise jurisdiction in relation to substantive proceedings brought under or in relation to the Documents in matters where they determine that such proceedings may be tried in a more appropriate forum;
	(k)	any provision in a Document that is governed by British Virgin Islands law which expresses any matter to be determined by future agreement may be void or unenforceable;
	(l)	we reserve our opinion as to the enforceability of the relevant provisions of the Documents to the extent that they purport to grant exclusive jurisdiction as there may be circumstances in which the courts of the British Virgin Islands would accept jurisdiction notwithstanding such provisions; and
	(m)	a company cannot, by agreement or in its articles of association, restrict the exercise of a statutory power and there is doubt as to the enforceability of any provision in the Documents whereby the Company covenants to restrict the exercise of powers specifically given to it under the Act including, without limitation, the power to increase its maximum number of shares, amend its memorandum and articles of association or present a petition to a British Virgin Islands court for an order to wind up the Company.

 

4.2	To maintain the Company in good standing with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, annual filing fees must be paid and returns made to the Registrar of Corporate Affairs within the time frame prescribed by law.
4.3	We express no opinion as to the meaning, validity or effect of any references to foreign (i.e. non-British Virgin Islands) statutes, rules, regulations, codes, judicial authority or any other promulgations and any references to them in the Plan or the Registration Statement.
4.4	We express no view as to the commercial terms of the Plan or the Registration Statement or whether such terms represent the intentions of the parties and make no comment with regard to warranties or representations that may be made by the Company.
4.5	The obligations of the Company may be subject to restrictions pursuant to United Nations and United Kingdom sanctions extended to the British Virgin Islands by Orders in Council and/or sanctions imposed by governmental or regulatory authorities or agencies in the British Virgin Islands under British Virgin Islands legislation.
4.6	Under British Virgin Islands law, the register of members is prima facie evidence of title to shares and this register would not record a third party interest in such shares. However, there are certain limited circumstances where an application may be made to a British Virgin Islands court for a determination on whether the register of members reflects the correct legal position. Further, the British Virgin Islands court has the power to order that the register of members maintained by a company should be rectified where it considers that the register of members does not reflect the correct legal position. For the purposes of the opinion given in paragraph 3.2, there are no circumstances or matters of fact known to us on the date of this opinion letter which would properly form the basis for an application for an order for rectification of the register of members of the Company, but if such an application were made in respect of the Shares, then the validity of such shares may be subject to re-examination by a British Virgin Islands court.

 

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4.7	Except as specifically stated herein, we make no comment with respect to any representations or warranties which may be made by or with respect to the Company in any of the documents or instruments cited in this opinion letter or otherwise with respect to the commercial terms of the transactions the subject of this opinion letter.
4.8	In this opinion letter, the phrase “non-assessable” means, with respect to the issuance of shares, that a shareholder shall not, in respect of the relevant shares and in the absence of a contractual arrangement, or an obligation pursuant to the memorandum and articles of association, to the contrary, have any obligation to make further contributions to the Company’s assets (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).
4.9	The search of records of proceedings available at the High Court Registry would not reveal any proceeding which has been placed under seal or anonymised (whether by order of the Court or pursuant to the practice of the High Court Registry).

 

The opinions in this opinion are strictly limited to the matters contained in the opinions section above and do not extend to any other matters. We have not been asked to review and we therefore have not reviewed any of the ancillary documents relating to the Plan and express no opinion or observation upon the terms of any such document.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In providing our consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the SEC Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

This opinion is addressed to you and may be relied upon by you, your counsel and recipients of Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement. This opinion is limited to the matters detailed herein and is not to be read as an opinion with respect to any other matter.

 

Yours faithfully
/s/ Maples and Calder

 

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Appendix A

 

Director’s Certificate (S8)

 

To:	Maples and Calder
	5th Floor, Ritter House
	PO Box 173
	Road Town
	Tortola
	British Virgin Islands

 

December 9, 2024

 

Dear Sirs

 

Taoping Inc. (the “Company”)

 

I, the undersigned, being a director of the Company, am aware that you are being asked to provide a legal opinion in relation to certain aspects of British Virgin Islands law (the “Opinion”). Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalised terms used in this certificate have the meaning given to them in the Opinion. I hereby certify that:

 

1	The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company registered on December 23, 2020 remain in full force and effect and are unamended.
2	The written resolutions of the board of directors dated December 9, 2024 (the “Resolutions”) were signed by all the directors or committee members (as appropriate) in the manner prescribed in the Memorandum and Articles of the Company, including as to the disclosure of any director’s or committee members’ interests in the Transaction Documents, and have not been amended, varied or revoked in any respect.
3	Immediately prior to the issue of the Shares, the Company will have sufficient authorised but unissued shares in order for Shares to be issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement.
4	The shareholders of the Company (the “Shareholders”) have not restricted or limited the powers of the directors of the Company in any way.
5	The directors of the Company at the date of the Resolutions and at the date of this certificate were and are as follows: Jianghuai Lin, Zhiqiang Zha, Ping Cai, Remington Hu and Yong Jiang.
6	The directors of the company who are appointed to the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company at the date of the Resolutions and at the date of this certificate were and are as follows: Remington Hu, Ping Cai and Yong Jiang.
7	The minute book and corporate records of the Company as maintained at its registered office in the British Virgin Islands and on which the Registered Agent’s Certificate were prepared are complete and accurate in all material respects, and all minutes and resolutions filed therein represent a complete and accurate record of all meetings of the members and directors (or any committee thereof) (duly convened in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles) and all resolutions passed at the meetings, or passed by written resolution or consent, as the case may be.

 

 

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8	The Company has not created any charges over any of its property or assets.
9	Prior to, at the time of, and immediately following the implementation of the Plan the Company was, or will be, able to pay its debts as they fell, or fall, due and has entered, or will enter, into the Plan for proper value and not with an intention to defraud or hinder its creditors or by way of fraudulent preference or wilfully defeat an obligation owed to any creditor and the transactions contemplated thereby do not and will not give any creditor an unfair preference.
10	Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (if any) has an interest in any land in the British Virgin Islands.
11	Each director of the Company considers the transactions contemplated by the Plan and the Plan Documents to be of commercial benefit to the Company and has acted in good faith in the best interests of the Company, and for a proper purpose of the Company, in relation to the transactions which are the subject of the Opinion.
12	No invitation has been or will be made by or on behalf of the Company to the public in the British Virgin Islands to subscribe for any of the Shares.
13	The Company is not a sovereign entity of any state and is not a subsidiary, direct or indirect of any sovereign entity or state.
14	To the best of my knowledge and belief, having made due inquiry, the Company is not the subject of legal, arbitral, administrative or other proceedings in any jurisdiction. Nor have the Directors and/or the Member taken any steps to have the Company struck off or placed in liquidation, nor have any steps been taken to wind up the Company. Nor has any receiver been appointed over any of the Company’s property or assets.
15	The Company has at no time had employees.
16	To the best of my knowledge and belief, having made due inquiry, there are no circumstances or matters of fact existing which may properly form the basis for an application for an order for rectification of the register of members of the Company.
17	The Registration Statement has been, or will be, authorised and duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of all relevant parties in accordance with all relevant laws.
18	The Shares to be issued pursuant to the Registration Statement have been, or will be, duly registered, and will continue to be registered, in the Company’s register of members.
19	The Company is not a central bank, monetary authority or other sovereign entity of any state and is not a subsidiary, direct or indirect, of any sovereign entity or state.

 

8

 

 

I confirm that you may continue to rely on this certificate as being true and correct on the day that you issue the Opinion, unless I shall have previously notified you in writing personally to the contrary.

 

Signature:	/s/ Jianghuai Lin
Name:	Jianghuai Lin
Title:	Director

 

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Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement of Taoping Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) on Form S-8 of our report dated April 25, 2024, with respect to our audits of the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and for the three years ended December 31, 2023, which includes an explanatory paragraph as to substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and appears in the Annual Report on Form 20-F of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

/s/ PKF Littlejohn LLP
London, United Kingdom
December 9, 2024

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

TAOPING INC.

 

2024 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.

Purposes of the Plan. Taoping Inc., a British Virgin Islands company (the “Company”) hereby establishes the Taoping Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purposes of this Plan are to promote the long-term growth and profitability of the Company and its Affiliates by stimulating the efforts of Employees, Directors and Consultants of the Company and its Affiliates who are selected to be participants, aligning the long-term interests of participants with those of shareholders, heightening the desire of participants to continue in working toward and contributing to the success of the Company, attracting and retaining the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, and generally providing additional incentive for them to promote the success of the Company’s business through the grant of Awards of or pertaining to shares of the Company’s ordinary shares. The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Share Options, Nonstatutory Share Options, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Share Appreciation Rights, Performance Units and Performance Shares as the Administrator may determine.

 

2.	Definitions. The following definitions will apply to the terms in the Plan:

 

“Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4.

 

“Affiliate” means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, business trust, or other entity or person controlling, controlled by or under common control of the Company, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. For purposes of this defined term, “control” means having the power to direct or appoint the management of a company and “controlled” or “controlling” shall have correlative meanings. The term “Affiliate” shall include any business venture in which the Company has a direct or indirect significant interest, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

 

“Applicable Laws” means (i) laws of British Virgin Islands as they relate to the Company and its Shares, (ii) the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under applicable provisions of the corporate, securities, tax and other laws, rules, regulations and government orders; and (iii) the rules of any applicable stock exchange, of any jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein.

 

“Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, SARs, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Units or Performance Shares.

 

“Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

 

 

“Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

	(i)	Any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; provided however, that for purposes of this subsection, the following shall not constitute a Change in Control: (1) any acquisition of securities directly from the Company other than an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege unless the security being so converted was itself acquired directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; or (3) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company or
	(ii)	A change in the composition of the Board occurring within a two-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” means directors who either (A) are Directors as of the effective date of the Plan, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Directors at the time of such election or nomination (except where such election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company);
	(iii)	The consummation of the sale, transfer or other disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, except with respect to a sale, transfer or other disposition of assets to a Parent, Subsidiary, or Affiliate;
	(iv)	The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other person, unless securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the survivor’s or acquiror’s outstanding securities (or the securities of any parent thereof) are held by a person or persons who directly or indirectly held securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities immediately prior to that transaction.

 

For avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference in the Plan to a section of the Code will be a reference to any successor or amended section of the Code.

 

“Committee” means a committee or subcommittee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

 

“Company” means TAOPING INC., a British Virgin Islands company, or any successor thereto. For purposes of the Plan, the term “Company” shall include any present or future Parent and Subsidiary.

 

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“Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company to render services to such entity if: (i) such person renders bona fide services to the Company or any Affiliate; (ii) the services rendered by such person are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and (iii) such person is a natural person who has contracted directly with the Company or any Affiliate to render such services.

 

“Covered Employee” means an employee who is a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

“Designated Beneficiary” means the beneficiary designated by a Participant, in a manner determined by the Administrator, to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death or, in the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, the Participant’s estate.

 

“Director” means a member of the Board or any board of directors (or similar governing authority) of any Affiliate, including a non-employee Director.

 

“Disability” generally means total and permanent disability as determined by the Administrator in its discretion in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time, but “Disability,” for purposes of an ISO, means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

 

“Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of ordinary shares determined as follows:

 

	(i)	If the ordinary shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation, any division or subdivision of the Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such ordinary shares (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination or, if no closing price is reported on that date, the closing price on the next preceding date for which a closing price is reported, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
	(ii)	If the ordinary shares are regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, including without limitation quotation through the over the counter bulletin board (“OTCBB”) quotation service administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the ordinary shares on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

 

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(iii)

In the absence of an established market for the ordinary shares of the type described in (i) and (ii), above, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Administrator, and to the extent Section 15 applies (a) with respect to ISOs, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in a manner consistent with Code Section 422 or (b) with respect to NSOs or SARs, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A.

 

“Grant Date” means, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator determines to grant an Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator, provided that the Administrator cannot grant an Award prior to the date the material terms of the Award are established. Notice of the Administrator’s determination to grant an Award will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the Grant Date.

 

“Incentive Share Option” or “ISO” means an Option that by its terms qualifies and is otherwise intended to qualify as an Incentive Share Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Nonstatutory Share Option” or “NSO” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an ISO.

 

“Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Option” means a share option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

“Optionee” means the holder of an outstanding Option.

 

“Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

“Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.

 

“Performance Period” means, in respect of a Performance Share or Performance Unit or Qualified Performance-Based Awards, the time period during which the performance objectives or other vesting provisions must be met.

 

“Performance Share” means an Award denominated in Shares which may vest in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine pursuant to Section 10.

 

“Performance Unit” means an Award which may vest in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of the foregoing pursuant to Section 10.

 

4

 

 

“Period of Restriction” means the period during which Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units are subject to forfeiture (such forfeiture may be effected by way of redemption by the Company in respect of the Restricted Shares).

 

“Plan” means this Taoping Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

“Qualified Performance-Based Award” means an Award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

“Restricted Shares” means Shares awarded to a Participant subject to forfeiture (such forfeiture may be effected by way of redemption by the Company) in accordance with Section 7.

 

“Restricted Share Unit” means the right to receive one Share at or after the end of the Period of Restriction, which right is subject to forfeiture in accordance with Section 8 of the Plan.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

“Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.

 

“Share” means an ordinary share in the Company, as adjusted in accordance with Section 13.

 

“Share Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means the right to receive payment from the Company in an amount no greater than the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share at the date the SAR is exercised over a specified price fixed by the Administrator in the Award Agreement, which shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date. In the case of a SAR which is granted in connection with an Option, the specified price shall be the Option exercise price.

 

“Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

“Ten Percent Owner” means any Service Provider who is, on the grant date of an ISO, the owner of Shares (determined with application of ownership attribution rules of Section 424(d)) of the Code possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company, or any Parent or Subsidiaries.

 

3.	Shares Subject to the Plan.

 

a.

Shares Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 13, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is ten million (10,000,000) Shares.

 

5

 

 

b.

Lapsed Awards. If an Award expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full or, with respect to Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units, is forfeited (such forfeiture may be effected by way of redemption by the Company in respect of Restricted Shares) in whole or in part to the Company, the unpurchased, forfeited, redeemed or unissued Shares (as the case may be) which were subject to the Award will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). With respect to SARs, only Shares actually issued pursuant to an SAR will cease to be available under the Plan; all remaining Shares subject to the SARs will remain available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). Shares that are exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company to pay the full or partial exercise price of an Award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations with respect to an Award will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan under any Award will not be returned to the Plan and will not become available for future distribution under the Plan; provided, however, that if Shares issued pursuant to Awards of Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units are forfeited (such forfeiture may be effected by way of redemption by the Company in respect of Restricted Shares) to the Company, such Shares will become available for future grant under the Plan. To the extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code in order for Awards to be exempt from the tax deduction limits thereof, Shares subject to Awards that are cancelled shall not be available for future grant or sale under the Plan.

 

c.

Share Reserve. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

 

4.	Administration of the Plan.

 

	a.	Procedure. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a Committee (or Committees) appointed by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted to comply with Applicable Laws. If and so long as the ordinary shares are registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, the Board shall consider in selecting the Administrator and the membership of any committee acting as Administrator the requirements regarding: (i) “nonemployee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act; (ii) “independent directors” as described in the listing requirements for any share exchange on which Shares are listed; and (iii) Section 15(b)(i) of the Plan, if the Company grants any Qualified Performance-Based Award. The Board may delegate the responsibility for administering the Plan with respect to designated classes of eligible Participants to different committees consisting of two or more members of the Board, subject to such limitations as the Board or the Administrator deems appropriate. Committee members shall serve for such term as the Board may determine, subject to removal by the Board at any time.
	b.	Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the approval of any relevant authorities, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:

 

	i.	to determine the Fair Market Value;
	ii.	to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;

 

6

 

 

	iii.	to determine the type of Award and number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
	iv.	to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;
	v.	to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on continued employment, continued service or performance criteria), any vesting acceleration (whether by reason of a Change of Control or otherwise) or waiver of forfeiture, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine;
	vi.	to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, including the right to construe disputed or doubtful Plan and Award provisions;
	vii.	to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan;
	viii.	to modify or amend each Award to the extent any modification or amendment is consistent with the terms of the Plan, and does not materially impair the rights of any Participant unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company;
	ix.	to allow Participants to satisfy withholding tax obligations in such manner as prescribed in Section 14;
	x.	to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;
	xi.	to delay issuance of Shares or suspend Participant’s right to exercise an Award as deemed necessary to comply with Applicable Laws;
	xii	to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, to delegate, as it may deem appropriate, to one or more executive officers of the Company the authority to grant Awards to Service Providers who are not Officers and Directors, and exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Administrator may determine, in accordance with such guidelines as the Administrator shall set forth at any time or from time to time; and
	xiii.	to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.

 

c.

Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards. Any decision or action taken or to be taken by the Administrator, arising out of or in connection with the construction, administration, interpretation and effect of the Plan and of its rules and regulations, shall, to the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Laws, be within its absolute discretion (except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan) and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company, all Participants and any person claiming under or through any Participant.

 

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5.

Authorization of Grants

 

	a.	Eligibility. NSOs, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, SARs, Performance Units and Performance Shares may be granted to Service Providers either alone or in combination with any other Awards. ISOs may be granted as specified in Section 15(a) to employees of the Company, and of any Parent or Subsidiary.
	b.	General Terms of Awards. Each grant of an Award shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan (including but not limited to any specific terms and conditions applicable to that type of Award set out in the following Sections), and such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator may prescribe. Any additional terms of an Award shall be set forth in an agreement evidencing the Award by and between the Company and the Participant.
	c.	Vesting Conditions. The Administrator may impose vesting schedules, limitations on transferability and forfeiture conditions on any Award granted under this Plan as the Administrator in its sole discretion may deem advisable or appropriate, on the basis of such conditions, including but not limited to, achievement of Company-wide, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued status as a Service Provider), or any other basis the Administrator may determine in its discretion and provide for in the applicable Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any such restrictions will lapse or be removed. The Administrator may, in its discretion, also provide for such complete or partial exceptions to an employment or service restriction as it deems equitable.
	d.	Effect of Termination of Employment, Etc. Except as otherwise provided in Section 13, unless the Administrator in its sole discretion shall at any time determine otherwise with respect to any Award, if the Participant’s employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates ends for any reason, including because of the Participant’s employer ceasing to be an Affiliate, (a) any outstanding Option or SAR of the Participant shall cease to be exercisable in any respect not later than three (3) months following that event and, for the period it remains exercisable following that event, shall be exercisable only to the extent exercisable at the date of that event, and (b) any other outstanding Award of the Participant shall be forfeited or otherwise subject to return to or repurchase by the Company on the terms specified in the applicable Award Agreement. Military or sick leave or other bona fide leave shall not be deemed a termination of employment or other association, provided that it does not exceed the longer of three (3) months days or the period during which the absent Participant’s reemployment rights, if any, are guaranteed by statute or by contract.

 

6.	Share Options.

 

a.

Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Options to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator will determine in its sole discretion. The Administrator may grant NSOs, ISOs, or any combination of the two. ISOs shall be granted in accordance with Section 15(a) of the Plan.

 

8

 

 

	b.	Option Award Agreement. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the type of Option granted, the Option’s exercise price, the exercise date, the term of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, vesting criteria and such other terms and conditions (which need not be identical among Participants) as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. If the Award Agreement does not specify that the Option is to be treated as an ISO, the Option shall be deemed a NSO.
	c.	Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option will be no less than the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the above or any other term in this Plan or any Award Agreement, Shares shall be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option at a price at least equal to their par value.
	d.	Term of Options. The term of each Option will be stated in the Award Agreement. Unless terminated sooner in accordance with the Plan or Award Agreement, no Option shall be exercisable on or after the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date.
	e.	Time and Form of Payment.

 

	i.	Exercise Date. Each Award Agreement shall specify how and when Shares covered by an Option may be purchased. The Award Agreement may specify waiting periods, the dates on which Options become exercisable or “vested” and, subject to the termination provisions of the Option, exercise periods. The Administrator may accelerate the exercisability of any Option or portion thereof.
	ii.	Exercise of Option. Any Option granted hereunder will be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (1) notice of exercise (in such form as the Administrator shall specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (2) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with all applicable withholding taxes). Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Award Agreement and the Plan (together with all applicable withholding taxes). Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Optionee or, if requested by the Optionee, in the name of the Optionee and his or her spouse or a Designated Beneficiary. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry in the register of members of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to the Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 13.

 

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iii.

Payment. The Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment. Such consideration may consist entirely of:

 

	(1)	cash;
	(2)	check;
	(3)	to the extent not prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, a promissory note;
	(4)	other Shares, provided Shares have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option will be exercised (such Shares will be repurchased by the Company at a repurchase price equal to their Fair Market Value);
	(5)	to the extent not prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in accordance with any broker-assisted cashless exercise procedures approved by the Company and as in effect from time to time;
	(6)	by asking the Company to withhold Shares from the total Shares to be delivered upon exercise equal to the number of Shares having a value equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares being acquired;
	(7)	any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; or
	(8)	such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.

 

f.

Forfeiture of Options. All unexercised Options shall be forfeited to the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Award Agreement and again will become available for grant under the Plan.

 

7.

Restricted Shares.

 

	a.	Grant of Restricted Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Shares to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator will determine in its sole discretion.
	b.	Restricted Shares Award Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Shares will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares granted, the purchase price of the Shares, if any, and the means of payment for the Shares, vesting criteria, transferability restrictions, and such other terms and conditions (which need not be identical among Participants) as the Administrator will determine in its sole discretion. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Company’s designee as escrow agent will hold Restricted Shares until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed. Any share certificates issued in respect of an Award of Restricted Shares shall be registered in the name of the Participant and, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, deposited by the Participant, together with a signed share transfer instrument endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee).

 

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c.

Terms and Conditions.

 

	i.	Vesting Conditions. During the Period of Restriction, Restricted Shares shall be subject to forfeiture (such forfeiture may be effected by way of redemption by the Company pursuant to the Company’s memorandum and articles of association as well as the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 (as amended) and the Participants whose Restricted Shares are redeemed grants their consent to such redemption in advance)) (including a right in the Company to repurchase Restricted Shares at less than the then Fair Market Value per Share) arising on the basis of such conditions as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion. Any such risk of forfeiture may be waived or terminated, or the Period of Restriction shortened, at any time by the Administrator on such basis as it deems appropriate.
	ii.	Sale Price. Subject to the requirements of the Applicable Laws, the Administrator shall determine the price, if any, at which Restricted Shares shall be sold or awarded to a Participant, which may vary from time to time and among Participants and which may be below the market value of such Shares at the date of grant or issuance.
	iii.	Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Restricted Shares granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares.
	iv.	Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Restricted Shares will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Shares with respect to which they were paid.
	v.	Transferability. Except as provided in the Plan, Restricted Shares may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.

 

d.

Removal of Restrictions. All restrictions imposed on Restricted Shares shall lapse and the Period of Restriction shall end upon the satisfaction of the vesting conditions imposed by the Administrator. Restricted Shares not previously forfeited will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction or at such other time as the Administrator may determine, but in no event later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the year in which vesting occurred.

 

8.

Restricted Share Units.

 

a.

Grant of Restricted Share Units. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Share Units to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator will determine in its sole discretion.

 

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	b.	Restricted Share Units Award Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Share Units will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the number of Restricted Share Units granted, vesting criteria, form of payout, vesting criteria and such other terms and conditions (which need not be identical among Participants) as the Administrator will determine in its sole discretion.
	c.	Vesting Conditions. During the Period of Restriction, Restricted Shares Units shall be subject to forfeiture arising on the basis of such conditions as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion. Any such risk of forfeiture may be waived or terminated, or the Period of Restriction shortened, at any time by the Administrator on such basis as it deems appropriate.
	d.	Time and Form of Payment. Upon satisfaction of the applicable vesting conditions, payment of vested Restricted Share Units shall occur in the manner and at the time provided in the Award Agreement, but in no event later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the year in which vesting occurred. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, Restricted Share Units may be paid in cash (equal to the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the vested Restricted Share Units), Shares, or a combination thereof at the sole discretion of the Administrator. Restricted Share Units that are fully paid in cash will not reduce the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan.

 

9.

Share Appreciation Rights.

 

	a.	Grant of SARs. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant SARs to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator will determine in its sole discretion.
	b.	Award Agreement. Each SAR grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the number of Shares underlying the SAR grant, the term of the SAR, the conditions of exercise, vesting criteria and such other terms and conditions (which need not be identical among Participants) as the Administrator will determine in its sole discretion.
	c.	Exercise Price and Other Terms. The per Share exercise price for the exercise of an SAR will be no less than the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date. No SAR shall be exercisable on or after the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the above or any other term in this Plan or any Award Agreement, Shares shall be issued pursuant to exercise of an SAR at a price at least equal to their par value.
	d.	Time and Form of Payment of SAR Amount. Upon exercise of a SAR, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount no greater than: (i) the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; times (ii) the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. An Award Agreement may provide for a SAR to be paid in cash, Shares of equivalent value, or a combination thereof.

 

12

 

 

10.

Performance Units and Performance Shares.

 

	a.	Grant of Performance Units and Performance Shares. Performance Units or Performance Shares may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time, as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. The Administrator will have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units and Performance Shares granted to each Participant.
	b.	Award Agreement. Each Award of Performance Units and Performance Shares will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the initial value, the Performance Period, the number of Performance Units or Performance Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions (which need not be identical among Participants) as the Administrator will determine in its sole discretion.
	c.	Value of Performance Units and Performance Shares. Each Performance Unit will have an initial value that is established by the Administrator on or before the Grant Date. Each Performance Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date.
	d.	Vesting Conditions and Performance Period. The Administrator will set performance objectives or other vesting provisions (including, without limitation, continued status as a Service Provider) in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of Performance Units or Performance Shares that will be paid out to the Participant. The time period during which the performance objectives or other vesting provisions must be met will be called the “Performance Period.” After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units shall be entitled to receive payout on the number and value of Performance Units or Performance Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance objectives have been achieved.
	e.	Time and Form of Payment. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units or Performance Shares will be entitled to receive a payout of the number of vested Performance Units or Performance Shares by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance objectives or other vesting provisions have been achieved. Vested Performance Units or Performance Shares will be paid as soon as practicable after the expiration of the applicable Performance Period, but in no event later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the year the applicable Performance Period expired. An Award Agreement may provide for the satisfaction of Performance Unit or Performance Share Awards in cash or Shares (which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the vested Performance Units or Performance Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period) or in a combination thereof.
	f.	Forfeiture of Performance Units and Performance Shares. All unvested Performance Units or Performance Shares will be forfeited to the Company on the date set forth in the Award Agreement, and again will become available for grant under the Plan.

 

11.

Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between Locations. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise or as required by Applicable Laws, vesting of Awards will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence. An Employee will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company and any Affiliate.

 

13

 

 

12.

Transferability of Awards. Unless otherwise provided in this Plan or otherwise determined by the Administrator, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. However, the Administrator may, at or after the grant of an Award other than an ISO, provide that such Award may be transferred by the recipient to a family member; provided, however, that any such transfer is without payment of any consideration whatsoever and that no transfer shall be valid unless first approved by the Administrator, acting in its sole discretion and as required by the articles of association of the Company. For this purpose, “family member” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the employee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which the foregoing persons have more than fifty (50) percent of the beneficial interests, a foundation in which the foregoing persons (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Participant) own more than fifty (50) percent of the voting interests. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate.

 

13.	Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change in Control.

 

	a.	Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, share split, reverse share split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, shall appropriately adjust the number and kind of Shares that may be delivered under the Plan, the Share-based limitations under Section 15(b), and/or the number, kind, and price of Shares covered by each outstanding Award.
	b.	Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.
	c.	Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, any or all outstanding Awards may be assumed by the successor corporation on an equitable basis, which assumption shall be binding on all Participants. In the alternative, the successor corporation may substitute equivalent Awards (after taking into account the existing provisions of the Awards) on an equitable basis. The successor corporation may also issue, in place of outstanding Shares of the Company held by the Participant, substantially similar shares or other property subject to vesting requirements and repurchase restrictions no less favorable to the Participant than those in effect prior to the Change in Control.

 

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In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award, unless the Administrator provides otherwise, the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding Options and SARs, including Shares as to which such Awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units will lapse, and, with respect to Performance Shares and Performance Units, all Performance Goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at target levels and all other terms and conditions met. In addition, if an Option or SAR is not assumed or substituted in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or SAR will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Option or SAR will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

 

For the purposes of this Section 13(c), an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether shares, cash, or other securities or property) or, in the case of a SAR upon the exercise of which the Administrator determines to pay cash or a Performance Share or Performance Unit which the Administrator can determine to pay in cash, the fair market value of the consideration, received in the Change in Control by holders of ordinary shares for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control is not solely ordinary shares of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or SAR or upon the payout of a Restricted Share Unit, Performance Share or Performance Unit, for each Share subject to such Award (or in the case of Restricted Share Units and Performance Units, the number of implied shares determined by dividing the value of the Restricted Share Units and Performance Units, as applicable, by the per share consideration received by holders of ordinary shares in the Change in Control), to be solely ordinary shares of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of ordinary shares in the Change in Control.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 13(c) to the contrary, (A) an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed upon a Change in Control if the Company or its successor modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption and (B) in the event of an involuntary termination of services of a Service Provider for any reason other than death, Disability or cause within six (6) months following the consummation of a Change in Control, any of his or her Awards assumed or substituted in the Change in Control which are subject to vesting conditions and/or a right of repurchase in favor of the Company or a successor entity, shall accelerate in full. All such Accelerated Awards shall be exercisable for a period of one (1) year following termination, but in no event after expiration date of such Award.

 

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14.	Tax Withholding.

 

	a.	Withholding Requirements. Prior to the issue or delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof), the Company will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold or cause to be deducted or withheld, or require a Participant to remit to the Company or its Affiliates, an amount sufficient to satisfy national, federal, state, provincial, local, foreign or other taxes required by Applicable Laws to be withheld with respect to such Award (or exercise thereof).
	b.	Withholding Arrangements. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by (without limitation) (i) paying cash, (ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld, or (iii) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares for repurchase having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The amount of the withholding requirement will be deemed to include any amount which the Administrator agrees may be withheld at the time the election is made. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.

 

15.

Provisions Applicable In the Event the Company or the Service Provider is Subject to U.S. Taxation.

 

a.

Grant of Incentive Share Options. If the Administrator grants Options to Employees subject to U.S. taxation, the Administrator may grant such Employee an ISO and the following terms shall also apply:

 

	i.	Maximum Amount. Subject to the provisions of Section 13, to the extent consistent with Section 422 of the Code, not more than an aggregate of five million (5,000,000) Shares may be issued as ISOs under the Plan.
	ii.	General Rule. Only employees of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs. The ability of the Company to grant ISOs is subject to the shareholder approval requirement under the Code.
	iii.	Continuous Employment. Unless otherwise provided under the Code, the ISO will cease to be treated as an ISO unless the Optionee remains in the continuous employ of the Company or its Parent or Subsidiaries from the date the ISO is granted until not more than three months before the date on which it is exercised (or such longer periods as may be permitted by provisions in each Service Provider’s contract with the Company, such as the employment agreement, that predates this Plan, or in the event termination is due to death or Disability). A leave of absence approved by the Company may exceed three (3) months if reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then on the first day following the first three (3) months of such leave, the Optionee’s employment will be deemed terminated for this purpose and any ISO held by the Optionee will cease to be treated as an ISO if not exercised within three (3) months after the deemed termination date.

 

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iv.

Award Agreement.

 

	(1)	The Administrator shall designate Options granted as ISOs in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars (U.S.$100,000), Options will not qualify as an ISO. For purposes of this section, ISOs will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares are granted.
	(2)	The Award Agreement shall specify the term of the ISO. The term shall not exceed five (5) years from the Grant Date.
	(3)	The Award Agreement shall specify an exercise price of not less than the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date or one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date for Ten Percent Owners.
	(4)	The Award Agreement shall specify that an ISO is not transferable except by will, beneficiary designation or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

	v.	Form of Payment. The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an ISO, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator in accordance with Section 6(e)(iii).
	vi.	Notice. In the event of any disposition of the Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO within two years from the Grant Date or one year from the exercise date, the Optionee will notify the Company thereof in writing within thirty (30) days after such disposition. In addition, the Optionee shall provide the Company with such information as the Company shall reasonably request in connection with determining the amount and character of Optionee’s income, the Company’s deduction, and the Company’s obligation to withhold taxes or other amounts incurred by reason of a disqualifying disposition, including the amount thereof.

 

b.

Performance-based Compensation. If the Company grants an Award as “performance-based compensation” for which it claims deductions that are subject to the Code Section 162(m) limitation on its U.S. tax returns, then the following terms shall control over any contrary provision contained in the Plan and be applied in a manner consistent with the requirements of, and only to the extent required for compliance with, the exclusion from the limitation on deductibility of compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code:

 

i.

Outside Directors. All grants of Awards intended to qualify as Qualified Performance-Based Awards and determination of terms applicable thereto shall be made by the Administrator or, if not all of the members thereof qualify as “outside directors” within the meaning of applicable regulations under Section 162 of the Code, a subcommittee of the Administrator consisting of such of the members of the Administrator as do so qualify. Any action by such a subcommittee shall be considered the action of the Administrator for purposes of the Plan.

 

17

 

 

	ii.	Applicability. This Section 15(b) will apply only to those Covered Employees, or to those persons who the Administrator determines are reasonably likely to become Covered Employees in the period covered by an Award, selected by the Administrator to receive Qualified Performance-Based Awards. The Administrator may, in its discretion, grant Awards not intended to qualify as Qualified Performance-Based Awards to Covered Employees that do not satisfy the requirements of this Section 15(b).
	iii.	Maximum Amount. Subject to the provisions of Section 13, the maximum number of Shares that can be subject to Awards granted to any individual Participant in the aggregate in any one fiscal year of the Company is five hundred thousand (500,000) Shares. For purposes of this limitation:

 

	(1)	For Awards denominated in Shares and satisfied in cash, the maximum Award to any individual Participant in the aggregate in any one fiscal year of the Company is the Fair Market Value of five hundred thousand (500,000) Shares on the Grant Date; and
	(2)	The maximum amount payable pursuant to any cash Awards to any individual Participant in the aggregate in any one fiscal year of the Company is the Fair Market Value of five hundred thousand (500,000) Shares on the Grant Date.

 

iv.

Performance Criteria. All performance criteria must be objective and be established in writing prior to the beginning of the Performance Period or at later time as permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, including the requirement that the outcome of the performance goals be substantially uncertain (as defined in the regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code) at the time established. Performance criteria may include alternative and multiple performance goals and may be based on one or more business and/or financial criteria. In establishing the performance goals, the Committee in its discretion may include one or any combination of the following criteria in either absolute or relative terms, for the Company or any Subsidiary:

 

	(1)	Increased revenue;
	(2)	Net income measures (including but not limited to income after capital costs and income before or after taxes);
	(3)	Share price measures (including but not limited to growth measures and total shareholder return);
	(4)	Market share;
	(5)	Earnings per Share (actual or targeted growth);
	(6)	Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”);
	(7)	Cash flow measures (including but not limited to net cash flow and net cash flow before financing activities);
	(8)	Return measures (including but not limited to return on equity, return on average assets, return on capital, risk-adjusted return on capital, return on investors’ capital and return on average equity);

 

18

 

 

	(9)	Operating measures (including operating income, funds from operations, cash from operations, after-tax operating income, sales volumes, production volumes, and production efficiency);
	(10)	Expense measures (including but not limited to overhead cost and general and administrative expense);
	(11)	Margins;
	(12)	Shareholder value;
	(13)	Total shareholder return;
	(14)	Proceeds from dispositions;
	(15)	Total market value; and
	(16)	Corporate values measures (including but not limited to ethics compliance, environmental, and safety).

 

c.

Share Options and SARs Exempt from Section 409A of the Code. If the Administrator grants Options or SARs to Service Providers subject to U.S. taxation, the Company must qualify as an eligible issuer of service recipient shares within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code with respect to such Service Provider (unless the Option or SAR otherwise complies with Section 409A of the Code), and the Administrator may not modify or amend the Options or SARs to the extent that the modification or amendment adds a feature allowing for additional deferral within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

16.	Grants to Foreign Nationals. Awards may be granted to Service Providers who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to grants to Services Providers in the United States as in the judgment of the Administrator may be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy, and such Awards shall be considered granted pursuant to a non-U.S. sub-plan. The Administrator also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the company’s obligation with respect to tax equalization for employees on assignments outside their home country.
17.	No Effect on Employment or Service. Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, nor will they interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the Company’s or its Affiliates’ right to terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
18.	Effective Date. The Plan’s effective date is the date on which it is adopted by the Board. The Company will obtain shareholder approval of the Plan to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.
19.	Term of Plan. The Plan will terminate ten (10) years following the effective date pursuant to Section 18, unless sooner terminated by the Board pursuant to Section 20.

 

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20.	Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

 

	a.	Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.
	b.	Shareholder Approval. The Company will obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.
	c.	Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan will impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.

 

21.	Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

 

	a.	Legal Compliance. The Administrator may delay or suspend the issuance and delivery of Shares, suspend the exercise of Options or SARs, or suspend the Plan as necessary to comply with Applicable Laws. Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
	b.	Corporate Restrictions on Rights in Shares. Any Shares to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to all restrictions upon the transfer thereof which may be now or hereafter imposed by the memorandum and articles of association of the Company. In addition, either at the time an Award is granted or by subsequent action, the Administrator may, but need not, impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales or other subsequent transfers by a Participant, or a holder of Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan, of any Share issued under an Award, including without limitation (a) restrictions under an insider trading policy, (b) restrictions designed to delay and/or coordinate the timing and manner of sales by the Participant(s), and (c) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers.
	c.	Registration. If the Company shall deem it necessary or desirable to register under the Securities Act or other Applicable Law any Shares issued or to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan, or to qualify any such Shares for exemption from the Securities Act or other Applicable Law, then the Company may, but shall not be required to, take such action at its own expense. The Company may require from each Participant, or each holder of Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan, such information in writing for use in any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or offering circular as is reasonably necessary for that purpose and may require reasonable indemnity to the Company and its officers and directors from that holder against all losses, claims, damage and liabilities arising from use of the information so furnished and caused by any untrue statement of any material fact therein or caused by the omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made. In addition, the Company may require any such person to agree to lock-up terms as the Company may deem advisable or appropriate.

 

20

 

 

	d.	Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Shares to be issued pursuant to such Award shall have been effectively registered under the Securities Act, or the Participant exercising such Award shall have made such written representations and warranties to the Company (upon which the Company believes it may reasonably rely) as the Administrator may deem necessary or appropriate for the purposes of confirming that the issuance of the Shares pursuant to such Award will be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws and otherwise in compliance with all Applicable Laws, including but not limited to that the Participant is acquiring the Shares only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares.
	e.	Placement of Legends; Stop Orders; etc. Each Share to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan may bear a reference to the investment representations made in accordance with Section 21(d) in addition to any other applicable restriction under the Plan, the terms of the Award and to the fact that no registration statement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect to such Shares. All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such share transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of any share exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any Applicable Law, and the Administrator may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

22.	Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained.
23.	Repricing; Exchange And Buyout of Awards. The repricing or termination and subsequent repricing of Options or SARs at a lower purchase price per Share than the original grant is permitted without prior shareholder approval. The Administrator may authorize the Company to issue new Option or SAR Awards in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of any or all outstanding Awards, subject to the consent of any Participant whose rights would be impaired. The Administrator may at any time repurchase Options with payment in cash, Shares or other consideration, based on such terms and conditions as the Administrator and the Participant shall agree.
24.	Substitution and Assumption of Awards. The Administrator may make Awards under the Plan by assumption, substitution or replacement of performance shares, phantom shares, share awards, share options, Share Appreciation Rights or similar awards granted by another entity (including an Affiliate), if such assumption, substitution or replacement is in connection with an asset acquisition, share acquisition, merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company (and/or its Affiliate) and such other entity (and/or its affiliate). The Administrator may also make Awards under the Plan by assumption, substitution or replacement of a similar type of award granted by the Company prior to the adoption and approval of the Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan (other than the maximum number of shares of ordinary shares that may be issued under the Plan), the terms of such assumed, substituted or replaced Awards shall be as the Administrator, in its discretion, determines is appropriate.
25.	Governing Law. The Plan and all Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

 

Adopted by the Board of Directors on December 9, 2024

 

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Exhibit 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

 

Form S-8

(Form Type)

 

Taoping Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

Security Type		Security Class Title		Fee Calculation Rule		Amount Registered(1)				Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share(2)				Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(2)				Fee Rate				Amount of Registration Fee(2)
Newly Registered Securities
Equity		Ordinary Shares, no par value		Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h)			10,000,000			$	0.325			$	3,250,000				0.0001531			$	497.58
														Total Offering Amount:								$	497.58
														Total Fee Offsets:								$	0
														Net Fee Due:								$	497.58

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional ordinary shares of the Registrant that become issuable under the Registrant’s 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2024 Plan”) in respect of the securities identified in the above table by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, or other similar transaction effected without the Registrant’s receipt of consideration that increases the number of the outstanding ordinary shares of the Registrant. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan(s) described herein.

 

(2) Pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act, the proposed maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price are estimated for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee and are based on the average of the high and low sales price of the Registrant’s ordinary shares as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market on December 5, 2024.

 

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