UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549


SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. ____)



Filed by the Registrant x☒  

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨


Check the appropriate box:


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Preliminary Proxy Statement


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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a–6(e)(2))


x

Definitive Proxy Statement


¨

Definitive Additional Materials


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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a–12

NOVA LIFESTYLE, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a–6(i)(1) and 0–11.

  

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(1) 

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

  
  

(2) 

(2) 

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

  
  

(3) 

(3) 

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0–11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:

  
  
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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Total fee paid:

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0–11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

  

(1) 

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Amount Previously Paid:

  
  

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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

  
  

(3) 

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Filing Party:

  
  

(4) 

(4) 

Date Filed:


 

 

NOVA LIFESTYLE, INC.

6565 E. Washington Blvd.

Commerce, CA 90040

April 5, 2016


13, 2021

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 20162021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Nova LifeStyle, Inc., a Nevada corporation, to be held at the corporate headquarters of Nova LifeStyle, Inc., located at 6565 E. Washington Blvd, Commerce, California 90040 on May 19, 2016,28, 2021, at 10:0030 a.m. local time.

The

Information regarding each of the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting is contained in the attached Proxy Statement and Notice of Annual Meeting of StockholdersStockholders. We urge you to read the proxy statement carefully.

The proxy statement and Proxy Statement describe the formal businessproxy card are being mailed to all stockholders of record on or about April 15, 2021.

Because it is important that your shares be transactedvoted at the annual meeting.  Our directorsAnnual Meeting, we urge you to complete, date and officers will be present to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

Whethersign the enclosed proxy card and return it as promptly as possible in the accompanying envelope, whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please vote as soon as possible. You can vote byin person. Even after returning theyour proxy, card, via the Internet or by telephone. This will ensure that your shares will be represented and voted at the meeting, even if you are a stockholder of record and do not attend. If you attend the meeting and wish to vote your shares in person, you still may revoke your proxy and personally cast your vote. Attendancedo so.

We intend to hold the Annual Meeting in person at the location specified above. However, we are actively monitoring the coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic and we are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns our shareholders may have and the protocols that national and local governments may impose. In the event that it is not possible or advisable to hold the Annual Meeting in person at the location specified above, we will announce on our website (www.NovalifeStyle.com) and the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov) alternative arrangements for the meeting does notas promptly as practicable, which may include holding the meeting at an alternative location or by means of itself revokeremote communication. Please monitor our website, and the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for updated information. As always, we encourage you to vote your proxy.


shares by proxy or voting instruction prior to the Annual Meeting.

Sincerely,

 Sincerely,

/s/  Thanh H. Lam

Thanh H. Lam

President, Chief Executive Officer and

Chairperson of the Board of Directors


 

 

NOVA LIFESTYLE, INC.

6565 E. Washington Blvd.

Commerce, CA 90040


NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held May 19, 2016

28, 2021

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF NOVA LIFESTYLE, INC.:

NOTICE HEREBY IS GIVEN that the 20162021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Nova LifeStyle, Inc., a Nevada corporation, will be held at the corporate headquarters of Nova LifeStyle, Inc., located at 6565 E. Washington Blvd, Commerce, California 90040 on May 19, 2016,28, 2021, at 10:0030 a.m. local time, to consider and act upon the following:

1.  

To elect sevenfive directors, each to serve until the 20172022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;Stockholders or until such person’s successor is qualified and elected;

2.  

To ratify the appointment of Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited& Co. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016;2021;

3.  

To conduct an advisory vote onapprove the compensation of ourthe named executive officers; andofficers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement in a non-binding, advisory vote;

4.  

To adopt and approve Nova LifeStyle Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Plan; and

5.

To transact such other business as properly may come before the annual meeting or any adjournments thereof.  The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business to be presented to a vote of the stockholders at the annual meeting.

Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 21, 2015April 5, 2021 are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the 20162021 Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

A complete list of these stockholders will be open for the examination of any stockholder of record at the Company’s principal executive offices located at 6565 E. Washington Blvd, Commerce, California 90040 for a period of ten days prior to the Annual Meeting. The list will also be available for the examination of any stockholder of record present at the Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting may be adjourned or postponed from time to time without notice other than by announcement at the meeting.

We intend to hold the Annual Meeting in person at the location specified above. However, we are actively monitoring the coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic and we are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns our shareholders may have and the protocols that national and local governments may impose. In the event that it is not possible or advisable to hold the Annual Meeting in person at the location specified above, we will announce on our website (www.NovalifeStyle.com) and the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov) alternative arrangements for the meeting as promptly as practicable, which may include holding the meeting at an alternative location or by means of remote communication. Please monitor our website, and the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for updated information. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares by proxy or voting instruction prior to the Annual Meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors

 By Order of the Board of Directors

/s/  Thanh H. Lam

Thanh H. Lam

President, Chief Executive Officer and

Chairperson of the Board of Directors



Commerce, California

April 5, 2016

13, 2021

 
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 19, 2016:

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 28, 2021:

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND OUR 20162021 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS, YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE PROXY MATERIALS TO VOTE YOUR PROXY VIA THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE OR REQUEST AND PROMPTLY COMPLETE, EXECUTE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY CARD. IFYOU ATTEND OUR 20162021 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS, YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU SO DESIRE.

 

 

NOVA LIFESTYLE, INC.

6565 E. Washington Blvd.

Commerce, CA 90040

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held May 19, 2016

28, 2021

We are furnishing this Proxy Statement to the stockholders of Nova LifeStyle, Inc., a Nevada corporation in connection with the solicitation, by the Board of Directors of Nova LifeStyle, Inc. (the “Board”), of proxies to be voted at our 20162021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the corporate headquarters of Nova LifeStyle, Inc. located at 6565 E. Washington Blvd, Commerce, California 90040 on May 19, 2016,28, 2021, at 10:0030 a.m. local time, and at any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.

When used in this Proxy Statement, the terms “Nova LifeStyle,” “Nova,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and similar terms refer to Nova LifeStyle, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

You will be eligible to vote your shares electronically via the Internet, by telephone or by mail by following the instructions in these Proxy Materials.

This Proxy Statement, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2015,2020 (the “Annual Report”), and other proxy materials, including the Proxy Card and the Notice of Annual Meeting, are available free of charge online at www.proxyvote.com.  Directions to our 20162021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are available by calling (323) 888-9999 or by written request to Thanh H. Lam, our President,Chief Executive Officer, at 6565 E. Washington Blvd., Commerce, CA 90040.

ABOUT THE 20162021 ANNUAL MEETING


General: Date, Time and Place

We are providing this Proxy Statement to you in connection with the solicitation, on behalf of our Board, of proxies to be voted at our 20162021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2016“2021 Annual Meeting”) or any postponement or adjournment of that meeting.  The 20162021 Annual Meeting will be held on May 19, 2016,28, 2021, at 10:0030 a.m. local time at the Company’s corporate headquarters located at 6565 E. Washington Blvd, Commerce, California 90040.

We intend to hold the Annual Meeting in person at the location specified above. However, we are actively monitoring the coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic and we are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns our shareholders may have and the protocols that national and local governments may impose. In the event that it is not possible or advisable to hold the Annual Meeting in person at the location specified above, we will announce on our website (www.NovalifeStyle.com) and the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov) alternative arrangements for the meeting as promptly as practicable, which may include holding the meeting at an alternative location or by means of remote communication. Please monitor our website, and the websites of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for updated information. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares by proxy or voting instruction prior to the Annual Meeting.

Matters to be Considered and Voted Upon

At the 20162021 Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to consider and vote (i) to elect the nominees named herein as directors; (ii) to ratify the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm; and (iii) to conduct an advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers.  vote:

(i)

to elect director nominees;

(ii)

to ratify our independent registered public accounting firm;

(iii)

to approve the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement in a non-binding, advisory vote; and

(iv)

to adopt and approve Nova LifeStyle Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Plan.

The Board doesis not knowaware of any matters to be brought before the meeting other than as set forth in the notice of meeting. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, the persons named in the form of proxy or their substitutes will vote in accordance with their best judgment on such matters.


Record Date; Stock Outstanding and Entitled to Vote

Our Board established March 21, 2016April 5, 2021 as the record date. Only holders of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, as of the record date, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the 20162021 Annual Meeting. Each share of common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote per share on each matter presented to our stockholders for approval at the 20162021 Annual Meeting. At the close of business on the record date, we had 24,095,9725,567,544 shares of our common stock outstanding.

1

Quorum; Required Vote

A quorum of stockholders is required for the transaction of business at the 20162021 Annual Meeting. The presence of at least a majorityone-third of all of our shares of common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at the meeting. Votes cast by proxy or in person at the 20162021 Annual Meeting will be tabulated by an election inspector appointed for the meeting and will be taken into account in determining whether or not a quorum is present. Abstentions and broker non-votes, which occur when a broker has not received customer instructions and indicates that it does not have the discretionary authority to vote on a particular matter on the proxy card, will be included in determining the presence of a quorum at the 20162021 Annual Meeting.

Assuming that a quorum is present, our stockholders may take action at the annual meeting with the votes described below.

Election of Directors.  Under Nevada law and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (“Bylaws”), the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of our shares of common stock is required to elect each director. Consequently, only shares that are voted in favor ofA nominee who receives a particularplurality means he or she has received more “For” votes than any other nominee will be counted toward such nominee’s achievement of a plurality.for the same director’s seat. Stockholders do not have any rights to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted toward a nominee's total.

Ratification of the selection of Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited as our independent registered public accounting firm.

Auditor Ratification.  The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares actually votedentitled to vote on the proposal at the Annual Meeting, provided a quorum is present, is required to ratify the selection of Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited& Co. as our independent registered public accounting firm.  Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes in favor of or against the proposal.

Non-binding advisory vote regarding the compensation of our named executive officers.  The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to votevotes cast on the proposal at the annual meeting is required to approve the compensation of our named executive officers. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes approving the compensation of our named executive officers.

Approval of the Nova LifeStyle, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Plan.  The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares actually voted on the proposal at the Annual Meeting, provided a quorum is present, is required to approve the Nova LifeStyle, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Plan. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes in favor of or against the proposal.

Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

Under applicable regulations, if a broker holds shares on your behalf, and you do not instruct your broker how to vote those shares on a matter considered “routine,” the broker may generally vote your shares for you.  A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker has not received voting instructions from you on a “non-routine” matter, in which case the broker does not have authority to vote your shares with respect to such matter. Rules that govern how brokers vote your shares have recently changed. Unless you provide voting instructions to a broker holding shares on your behalf, your broker may no longernot use discretionary authority to vote your shares on any of the matters to be considered at the 20162021 Annual Meeting other than the ratification of our independent registered public accounting firm. Please vote your proxy so your vote can be counted.


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Voting Procedure; Voting of Proxies; Revocation of Proxies

Stockholders of Record

If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Interwest Transfer Company, Inc.,Issuer Direct Corporation, you are considered the “stockholder of record” with respect to those shares. As the stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the 20162021 Annual Meeting or vote by proxy using the accompanying proxy card. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the 20162021 Annual Meeting and vote in person even if you have already voted by proxy.

By Internet – stockholders may vote on the internet by logging on to www.proxyvote.com and following the instructions given.

By Telephone – stockholders may vote by calling 1-800-690-6903 (toll-free) with a touch tone telephone and following the recorded instructions.

By Mail – stockholders must request a paper copy of the proxy materials to receive a proxy card and follow the instructions given for mailing. A paper copy of the proxy materials may be obtained by logging onto www.proxyvote.com and following the instructions given. To vote using the proxy card, simply print the proxy card, complete, sign and date it and return it promptly to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717. In the alternative, the proxy card can be mailed directly to the Company: Thanh H. Lam, our President,Chief Executive Officer, located at 6565 E. Washington Blvd., Commerce, CA 90040. Our Board has selected each of Ya Ming Wong and Thanh H. Lam to serve as proxies.

proxy.

If you vote by telephone or via the Internet, you do not need to return your proxy card. Telephone and Internet voting are available 24 hours a day and will close at 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 18, 2016.

27, 2021.

In Person - stockholders may vote in person at the 20162021 Annual Meeting. To vote in person, come to the 20162021 Annual Meeting and we will give you a ballot when you arrive. The Board recommends that you vote using one of the other voting methods, since it is not practical for most stockholders to attend the 20162021 Annual Meeting.

Shares of our common stock represented by proxies properly voted that are received by us and are not revoked will be voted at the 20162021 Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions contained therein. 

If instructions are not given, such proxies will be votedvoted: 

FOR election of each nominee for director named herein,

FOR ratification of the selection of Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited& Co. as our independent registered public accounting firm, and

FOR approval of the compensation of our named executive officers described in this Proxy Statement. Statement, and

FOR the approval of the Nova LifeStyle, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Plan.

In addition, we reserve the right to exercise discretionary authority to vote proxies, in the manner determined by us, in our sole discretion, on any matters brought before the 20162021 Annual Meeting for which we did not receive adequate notice under the proxy rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Street Name Stockholders

If you hold your shares in “street name” through a stockbroker, bank or other nominee rather than directly in your own name, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of such shares. Because a beneficial owner is not a stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the 20162021 Annual Meeting unless you obtain a “legal proxy” from the broker, bank or nominee that holds your shares, giving you the right to vote those shares at the meeting. The Board recommends that you vote using one of the other voting methods, since it is not practical for most stockholders to attend the 20162021 Annual Meeting.

If you hold your shares in “street name” through a stockbroker, bank or other nominee rather than directly in your own name, you can most conveniently vote by telephone, Internet or mail. Please review the voting instructions on your voting instruction form.


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If you do not give instructions to your bank or brokerage firm, it will nevertheless be entitled to vote your shares in its discretion on routine matters. However, absent your instructions, the record holder will not be permitted to vote your shares on a non-routine matter, which are referred to as "broker non-votes", properly brought before the meeting. Broker non-votes (shares held by brokers that do not have discretionary authority to vote on the matter and have not received voting instructions from their clients) are not counted or deemed to be present or represented for the purpose of determining whether stockholders have approved that proposal, but will be counted in determining whether there is a quorum present.

Your proxy is revocable at any time before it is voted at the 20162021 Annual Meeting in any of the following three ways:

1.      You may submit another properly completed proxy bearing a later date.

2.      You may send a written notice that you are revoking your proxy to Thanh H. Lam, our President,Chairperson of the Board, located at 6565 E. Washington Blvd., Commerce, CA 90040.

3.      You may attend the 20162021 Annual Meeting and vote in person.  However, simply attending the 20162021 Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy.

Dissenters’

However, in the event that it is not possible or advisable for shareholders to travel to California to attend the meeting in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, shareholders must vote their shares prior to the Annual Meeting by returning an executed form of proxy as described above.

The Company strongly recommends that you monitor the development of the COVID-19 pandemic and assess, based on social distancing practices, the necessity for attending the Annual Meeting in person. Accordingly, the Board of Directors respectfully requests that the shareholders appoint Thanh H. Lam, Chairperson of our Board as their proxy rather than a third party to attend and vote on their behalf at the Annual Meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

Dissenters Right of Appraisal

Under Nevada General Corporation Law and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, stockholders are not entitled to any appraisal or similar rights of dissenters with respect to any of the proposals to be acted upon at the 20162021 Annual Meeting.

Costs of Proxy Solicitation

We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these proxy materials, our directors and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. Directors and employees will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.

Householding

SEC rules permit us to deliver a single copy of our annual report and proxy statement, to one address shared by two or more of our stockholders. This delivery method is referred to as “householding” and can result in significant cost savings. To take advantage of this opportunity, we have delivered only one copy of the annual report and proxy statement, to multiple stockholders who share an address, unless we received contrary instructions from the impacted stockholders prior to the mailing date. If you received a householded mailing this year and you would like to have additional copies of our annual report and proxy statement mailed to you or you would like to opt out of this practice for future mailings, contact Thanh H. Lam, our President,Chief Executive Officer, located at 6565 E. Washington Blvd., Commerce, CA 90040. We agree to deliver promptly, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of this Proxy Statement and annual report to any stockholder at the shared address to which a single copy of those documents were delivered.

Stockholder List

For at least ten days prior to the meeting, a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the 20162021 Annual Meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of and number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder, will be open for examination by any stockholder, for any purpose related to the 20162021 Annual Meeting, during ordinary business hours at our principal executive office. The list will also be available for examination at the 20162021 Annual Meeting.


Other Business

The Board is not aware of any other matters to be presented at the 20162021 Annual Meeting other than those mentioned in this Proxy Statement and our accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If, however, any other matters properly come before the 20162021 Annual Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote in accordance with their best judgment.

4

Information About the Company

The principal executive offices of our Company are located at of Nova LifeStyle, Inc., located at 6565 E. Washington Blvd, Commerce, California 90040.

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which requires that we file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies, including Nova LifeStyle, Inc, that file electronically with the SEC. The SEC’s website address is www.sec.gov. In addition, our filings may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities of the SEC located at 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, DC 20549.

Proposals of Stockholders for 20172022 Annual Meeting

Stockholder proposals will be considered for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the 20172022 Annual Meeting in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), if they are received by the Company, on orat a reasonable time before December 6, 2016 .

the Company begins to print and send its proxy materials.

Stockholder notice shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting,meeting; (ii) the name and address, as they appear on our books, of the stockholder proposing such business,business; (iii) the class and number of shares of Nova LifeStyle, which are beneficially owned by the stockholder,stockholder; (iv) any material interest of the stockholder in such business and (v) any other information that is required to be provided by the stockholder pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, in his or her capacity as a proponent to a stockholder proposal.

A stockholder’s notice relating to nomination for directors shall set forth as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director: (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (iii) the class and number of shares of Nova LifeStyle, which are beneficially owned by such person, (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person(s) (naming such person(s)) pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the stockholder and (v) any other information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including without limitation such person’s written consent to being named in our Proxy Statement, if any, as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected).

Proposals and notices of intention to present proposals at the 20172022 Annual Meeting should be addressed to Thanh H. Lam, our President,Chief Executive Officer, located at 6565 E. Washington Blvd., Commerce, CA 90040.


The Board has not received any stockholder proposals in connection with the 2021 Annual Meeting.

Voting Results of 20162021 Annual Meeting


Voting results will be published in a Current Report on Form 8-K issued by us within four (4) business days following the 20162021 Annual Meeting.


5

PROPOSAL 1—NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Nominees

Our Bylaws provide that the Board shall consist of not less than one (1) nor more than ten (10) directors. Vacancies on the Board may be filled only by persons elected by a majority of the remaining directors, although vacancies occurring as a result of removal of directors by the Company’s stockholders may only be filled by the stockholders. A director elected by the Board to fill a vacancy (including a vacancy created by an increase in the Board) will serve for the remainder of the one year term in which the vacancy occurred and until the director’s successor is elected and qualified. This includes vacancies created by an increase in the number of directors.

Our Board currently consists of seven (7)five (5) members. All of our current directors will stand for re-election at the 20162021 Annual Meeting.  

If elected as a director at the 20162021 Annual Meeting, each of the nominees will serve a one-year term expiring at the 20172022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified.  Biographical information regarding each of the nominees, as of March 21, 2016,April 12, 2021, is set forth below, including their ages, positions with Nova LifeStyle,the Company, recent employment and other directorships.  No family relationships exist among any of our director nominees or executive officers.

Each of the nominees has consented to serve as a director if elected.  If any nominee should be unavailable to serve for any reason (which is not anticipated), the Board may designate a substitute nominee or nominees (in which event the persons named on the enclosed proxy card will vote the shares represented by all valid proxy cards for the election of such substitute nominee or nominees), allow the vacancies to remain open until a suitable candidate or candidates are located, or by resolution provide for a lesser number of directors.


Executive Officers and

Directors


The persons who have been nominated for election at the annual meeting to serve on our Board of Directors are named in the table below. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named.


Name

 

Age

 

Position

 

ServedFrom

Ya Ming Wong

Thanh H. Lam

 48

53

 

Chief Executive Officer, President, Chairperson and Director

 

June 2011

Yuen Ching Ho

Min Su

 56

37

 
Chief Financial Officer and

Corporate Secretary, Director

 
May 2013

November 2016 (2)

Thanh H. Lam

Ming-Cherng Sky Tsai (1)

 48

45

 
Chairperson, President and

Director

(Independent)

 
June 2011

July 2020

Bin Liu

Huy (Charlie) La (1)

 

45

 

Director (Independent)

 
May 2015

January 2017

Michael Viotto

Umesh Patel (1)

 65

63

 

Director (Independent)

 
May 2013
Chung Shing Yam
57
Director (Independent)
May 2013
Peter Kam (1)
65
Director (Independent)
May 2013

October 2016


(1) Member or nominee, as applicable, of Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee


Biographical Information
Ya Ming Wong was appointed our Chief Executive Officer on June 30, 2011 and

(2) As a Membermember of our Board on June 30, 2011. Mr. Wong was one of the two founders of Nova Dongguan, our wholly owned subsidiary, and has served as its Chief Executive Officer since its inception in 2003. Mr. Wong has over 20 years of experience in the furniture industry. Mr. Wong has been appointed the vice-chairman of the Dongguan City Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment (DGAEFI) since December 2008, the vice-chairman of the Dongguan Furniture Association (DGFA) since April 2003, and the director of The International Furniture and Decoration (Hong Kong) Association since January 2003. From 1991 to 2003, Mr. Wong served as the Chief Executive Officer of Navy Blue Inc., a Macao-based furniture company with manufacturing facilities in Dongguan, China. Prior to that time, from 1988 to 1991, Mr. Wong worked for C&E German Furniture Ltd., a Hong Kong-based furniture company with manufacturing facilities in Dongguan, China, as the design and production manager. Mr. Wong graduated from Hong Kong Tang Shiu Kin Victoria Technical School in 1988. Mr. Wong is the brother of Ah Wan Wong, our Vice President of Marketing. Mr. Wong brings extensive knowledge about business strategy and product development in the furniture industry in China and international markets and of our operations and long-term strategy to the Board. The Board believes that Mr. Wong’s vision, leadership and extensive knowledge about us and the furniture industry is essential to our future growth.  Mr. Wong has been selected as a nominee for director because he is our Chief Executive Officer and has extensive knowledge of all facets of our Company and extensive experience in all aspects of our industry.

6

Yuen Ching Ho was appointed our Chief Financial Officer on June 30, 2011 and a Member of our Board on May 28, 2013. Mr. Ho was one of the two founders of Nova Dongguan, our wholly owned subsidiary and has served as its Chief Financial Officer since its inception in 2003. Mr. Ho also was responsible for the administration, finance and marketing of Nova Macao, our wholly owned subsidiary, since its inception in 2006. Mr. Ho has over 20 years of experience in the furniture industry. From 1991 to 2003, Mr. Ho served as the Chief Operating Officer of Navy Blue Inc., a Macao-based furniture company with manufacturing facilities in Dongguan, China. Prior to that time, from 1990 to 1991, Mr. Ho worked as the export administrative staff for C&E German Furniture Ltd., a Hong Kong-based furniture company with manufacturing facilities in Dongguan, China. Mr. Ho received a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from St. Mary’s University in 1984 and obtained his MBA from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1990.  Mr. Ho has been selected as a nominee for director because he is our Chief Financial Officer, because he has extensive knowledge of financial accounting, corporate finance and all financial facets of our Company and because he has management experience prior to joining the Company.

August 22, 2017

Biographical Information

Thanh H. Lam was appointed our President and a member of our Board on June 30, 2011, and was elected as Chairperson of the Board on June 4, 2013, following Ya Ming Wong's resignation2013. Ms. Lam was appointed as Chairman of the Board.our Interim Chief Executive Officer on October 7, 2016, and as our Chief Executive Officer on April 10, 2017.  Ms. Lam was a co-founder of the Diamond Sofa brand and previously was the Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bar in Commerce, California, our wholly ownedwholly-owned subsidiary acquired by the Company in August 2011. Ms. Lam has pioneered the Diamond Sofa brand since 1992 and, prior to our acquisition of the Diamond Sofa brand, was in charge of its product development and merchandising for the U.S. market and managed its national sales force and oversaw distribution. In 2005, Ms. Lam was featured in a Furniture Today “Fresh Faces” profile, one of the highest honors bestowed to exceptional and talented young entrepreneurs in the furniture industry. Ms. Lam received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Finance from the California State University of Los Angeles. Ms. Lam brings to the Board 21many years of experience in developing a furniture brand and marketing to the U.S. furniture industry. The Board believes that Ms. Lam’s in-depth knowledge of the U.S. furniture market and knowledge of our business through her work with the Diamond Sofa brand will assist us in our future growth and expansion plans.

Min Su was appointed as a member of our Board on August 22, 2017, and has served as the Company’s Corporate Secretary since November, 2016. From 2012 to November 2016, Ms. Su served as the accounts payable coordinator of Diamond Bar Outdoors Inc., the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and concurrently as our executive secretary. Ms. Su received her Bachelor’s Degree in E-Commerce Business from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 2005.  Ms. Su has been selected as a nominee for director due to her extensive experience and knowledge, and participation in the Company’s operations since 2012.


Bin Liu

Ming-Cherng Sky Tsai was appointed a member of our Board on May 19, 2015.July 27, 2020.   Mr. LiuTsai has been the Chief Financial Officer of Kingold Jewelry Inc. – a NASDAQ listed company (“Kingold”) since April 2010. Mr. Liu’s duties at Kingold include full responsibility for all of Kingold’s public financial reporting requirements.  Mr. Liu has extensive experience and knowledge with US GAAP and SOX. Under his management, Kingold has filed all annual and periodic reports in a timely manner. Mr. Liu also played a critical role in building and strengthening Kingold’s internal control system.  Mr. Liu also has substantial responsibility and experience in dealing with investor relationships and capital markets.  From July 2004 through March 2010, Mr. Liu served as a vice president of Citigroup’s Financial Institution Cards business where he had full financial responsibility of a $2 billion business. He has also played critical rolesSkyrocket Investments LLC since 2010. Mr. Tsai received his Bachelor’s Degree in the development of Citigroup’s franchise development in the US. From 1993 through 2002, Mr. Liu worked for China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), promoting bilateral business and investment between the US and China. Mr. Liu graduatedSupply Chain Management from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University with a MasterEli Broad College of Business Administrationat Michigan State University in 20042004. The Board believes that Mr. Tsai’s extensive experience in investment and also received his undergraduate degree from the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade.  Mr. Liu has been selectedsupply chain management qualifies him to serve as a nominee for director because he has extensive experience and knowledge of financial accounting and corporate finance for publicly traded companies as well as experience with regulatory agencies in China.

Michael J. Viotto was appointed to the Board of Directors on May 28, 2013 and serves as Chairmanmember of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. He is currently functioning as an Independent Business Consultant specializing in Product Development, Business to Business Marketing and Finance.  From 2009 to 2014 Mr. Viotto was President of MJV Financial Inc. and was appointed as exclusive agent for Coface North America, an internationally recognized leader in the Trade Finance Industry.  During 2008 and 2009, Mr. Viotto served as Senior Wholesale Account Executive at Bank of America. From 2002 to 2008, he was a Senior Wholesale Account Executive for Washington Mutual, Inc. Mr. Viotto Received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from California Polytechnic University in Pomona, California.  Mr. Viotto has been selected as a nominee for director because he has extensive business experience, including with respect to business development and risk assessment, that we feel is invaluable to the Company.
7

Chung Shing YamBoard.

Umesh Patel was appointed a member of ourthe Board on May 28,October 7, 2016.  Since December 2009, Mr. Patel has served as a managing partner of DviBri LLC, a California-based consulting company providing services to private companies interested in conducting initial public offerings, along with other associated securities and investment services.  Since March 2013, Mr. Patel has also been a consultant and currently serves as the sole investorcoordinator for Eos-Petro Inc., an international and developer of Kang Hu Village, a private housing estate locateddomestic petroleum exploration and production company based in the Dongguan area of the People’s Republic of China.  Through Kang Hu Village,Southern California. Mr. YamPatel has also provides real estate agent and management services. Mr. Yam servesserved as a director and the Chief Executive Officer of Fuse Group Holding Inc., a company exploring opportunities in the mining industry, since February 2017. Mr. Patel received his Bachelor of Commerce degree specializing in audits and accounts, and an Associate degree in hotel management and catering from Maharaja Sayaji Rao University in Baroda, India in 1978.  The Board believes that Mr. Patel is well qualified to serve as a member of the Asian Knowledge Management Association,Board due to his extensive regulatory and is the Board Chairman of the Politic and Commerce Association, Dongguan City, Guangdong province, as well as the permanent Honorary President and Vice Chief Director of the Overseas Association in Dongguan.  He is also the Deputy Chairman of the Dongguan City Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment.  Mr. Yam graduated from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 1981 with a major in Business and received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 1987.  Mr. Yam has been selected as a nominee for director because he has extensive business experience and relationships with the furniture industry and trade associations in China.

Peter Kaminvestment experience.

Charlie Huy La was appointed a member of ourthe Board on January 24, 2017.  Since May 28, 2013,  and is currently involved in various business ventures.  From 1977 through the present,2015, Mr. Kam has owned and served as the President of his dental practice, Peter M. Kam, D.D.S. Inc. From 1992 to the present, he has owned and served as President of Titan Properties, Inc.  Since 2000, Mr. Kam has been the sole owner of his law practice, the Law Offices of Peter M. Kam.  Since 2006, heLa has served as a directormanaging member of Pacific Alliance Bank,Grand Pinnacle Investment LLC, an investment company specializing in real estate investment and currently servesmanagement.  Mr. La has also served since November 2008 as Chairmanthe human resource information system lead at Reliance Steel and Aluminum Co., a Fortune 500 company and the largest metals service center in North America.  Mr. La holds a bachelor degree in management information systems from La Salle University, which he received in July 1999.  The Board believes that Mr. La’s expertise and knowledge of investment, management, human resource systems and payroll operation will benefit the Company’s operations and make him a valuable member of the Loan Committee. Mr. Kam is also a charter memberBoard and shareholder of Green Tree Inn, a hotel chain in China with over 400 hotels.  Mr. Kam received his B.S. in Physics from the University of California Los Angeles (“UCLA”) in 1971 and his M.S. in physics from UCLA in 1973.  Mr. Kam attended the UOP School of Dentistry, and received his DDS Degree in 1977.  Mr. Kam was admitted to practice dentistry by the California Board of Dental Examiner in 1977.  Mr. Kam later attended the Southwestern School of Law, and earned his JD degree in 1999, and was admitted to the California Bar in 2000.  Mr. Kam has been selected as a nominee for director because of his extensive business, legal and leadership experience, including his experience as a bank director.


its committees.

All directors hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. There are no membership qualifications for directors.  There are no arrangements or understandings pursuant to which our directors are selected or nominated.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR”FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES NAMED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.


8

PROPOSAL NO. 2 RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee, in accordance with its charter and authority delegated to it by the Board, has appointed Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited& Co. to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016,2021, and the Board has directed that such appointment be submitted to our stockholders for ratification at the 20162021 Annual Meeting. Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited& Co. is considered by our Audit Committee to be well qualified.  Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limitedqualified, and has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since March 31, 2015.September 22, 2016. We are asking our stockholders to ratify the selectionappointment of Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited& Co. as our independent registered public accountants. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment of Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited,& Co., the Audit Committee willmay determine to reconsider the appointment. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.  At the time of mailing this Proxy Statement, the Company does not anticipate that any representative of Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited& Co. will be present, either by phone or in person, at the 20162021 Annual Meeting.  Should a representative of Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited& Co. be available and desire to make a statement either in person or by telephone at our 20162021 Annual Meeting, they will have the opportunity to do so.


THE BOARD, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR”FOR THE APPROVAL AND RATIFICATION OF CROWE HORWATH (HK)CENTURION ZD CPA LIMITED& CO. AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2016.

2021.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES


Audit and Non-Audit Fees


The following table represents the aggregate fees from our former principal accountant, Marcum BernsteinCenturion ZD CPA & Pinchuk LLPCo., for the years ended December 31, 20152020 and 2014, respectively, and to our current principal accountant, Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited, for 2015:


  Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP  Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited 
  2015  2014  2015 
Audit fees
 $258,143  $261,941  $59,295 
Audit-related fees
 $0   0  $0 
Tax fees
  0   0   0 
All other fees
  0   0   0 

2019:

  

Centurion ZD

CPA & Co.

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Audit fees

 $319,517  $641,163 

Audit-related fees

  -   - 

Tax fees

  80,000-   - 

All other fees

  -   - 

In the above table, “audit fees” are fees billed for services provided related to the audit of our annual financial statements, quarterly reviews of our interim financial statements and services normally provided by the independent accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal periods. “Audit-related fees” are fees not included in audit fees that are billed by the independent accountant for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements, which include audits in connection with acquisitions. “Tax fees” are fees billed by the independent accountant for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. “All other fees” are fees billed by the independent accountant for products and services not included in the foregoing categories.

Change in Independent Auditor

As disclosed on our Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on April 6, 2015, the Audit Committee dismissed Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as the Company’s independent auditors for the 2015 fiscal year on March 31, 2015, and notified Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP to that effect by letter dated April 2, 2015.  The Audit Committee  subsequently appointed Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited, an independent registered public accounting firm, as the Company’s independent auditors for the 2015 fiscal year on March 31, 2015.
9

The reports of Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP on the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.  Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP did not provide a report on the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, as they were dismissed as of March 31, 2015.  In connection with the audits of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and in the subsequent interim period through March 31, 2015, there were no “disagreements” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K) and, except for a material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as described below, no “reportable event” occurred (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
As disclosed in Item 9A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company’s management and Board identified certain matters that constituted a material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and such weakness was advised by Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP.

The Company furnished a copy of the above disclosures to Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP and requested that Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP provide a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the statements made above. A copy of such letter is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 6, 2015.

During the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and through March 31, 2015, the Company did not consult Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered with respect to the Company’s financial statements; or (ii) any matter that was the subject of a “disagreement” or “reportable event” as those terms are defined in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K; and there was neither a written report nor oral advice provided to the Company by Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited that Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue.

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services of Independent Accountant


Prior to June 4, 2013, our Board acted as and performed the functions of our audit committee, including the pre-approval of

Our Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent accountants. Beginning on June 4, 2013, our audit committee performed these functions.accountant. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. In the past, our Board generally pre-approved, and currently our audit committeeOur Audit Committee generally pre-approves services for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is subject to a specific budget. In addition, in the past, the Board and, currently, the audit committee, as applicable, may have pre-approved orAudit Committee may pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. For each proposed service, the independent accountant is required to provide detailed back-up documentation at the time of approval. This pre-approval policy for services provided by the independent accountantsaccountant is set forth in the governing charter for the audit committee.


Audit Committee. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The member to whom such authority is delegated must report any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

All services rendered by Marcum BernsteinCenturion ZD CPA & Pinchuk LLP, prior to March 31, 2015, and Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited, as of and after March 31, 2015,Co. to the Company are permissible under any applicable laws and regulations. During fiscal year 2015,2020, all services performed by Marcum BernsteinCenturion ZD CPA & Pinchuk LLP and Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA LimitedCo. were approved in advance by the Audit Committee.


10

PROPOSAL NO. 3 ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) requires that we provide our stockholders a non-binding, advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers. This vote is sometimes referred to as a “say-on-pay vote.” Although this advisory vote is nonbinding,non-binding, the Compensation Committee of our Board will review and consider the voting results when making future decisions regarding our named executive officer compensation and related executive compensation programs.

As described in more detail below and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our executive compensation program is comprised principally of salary, equity and performance-based cash compensation, designed to: (i) attract, motivate and retain key executives who are critical to our success, (ii) align the interests of our executives with stockholder value and our financial performance and (iii) achieve a balanced package that would attract and retain highly qualified senior officers and appropriately reflect each such officer’s individual performance and contributions. In addition, the Company regularly reviews its compensation program and the overall compensation package paid to each of its senior executives to assess risk and to confirm that the structure is still aligned with the Company'sCompany’s long-term strategic goals.

Before you vote on the resolution below, please read the entire “Executive Compensation” section, including the tables, together with the related narrative disclosure and footnotes, beginning on page 1921 of this Proxy Statement as well as the disclosures in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Note, as a “smaller reporting company,” we are obligated to provide compensation disclosures pursuant to Item 402 (m)402(m) through (q)(r) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Regulation S-K”). Even though, as a smaller reporting company, we are exempt from compensation discussion and analysis by the executive compensation requirements of Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K, we continue to elect to provide information regarding our objectives and practices regarding executive compensation in order to give our stockholders transparency into our compensation philosophy and practices.

For the reasons provided, the Board is asking stockholders to cast a non-binding, advisory vote FOR the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that stockholders approve the compensation paid to our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402 (m)402(m) through (q)(r) of Regulation S-K (which includes the compensation tables and related narrative discussion).”

Though this proposal calls for a non-binding advisory vote, our Board and Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR”FOR THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.

PROPOSAL 4– NOVA LIFESTYLE INC. 2021 OMNIBUS EQUITY PLAN

Background

Our shareholders are being asked to consider and vote on this proposal to approve the Nova LifeStyle Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Plan (the “Equity Plan”).

On June 30, 2014, the Company’s shareholders approved  the Nova LifeStyle, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) at the annual shareholders meeting, which permitted the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), unrestricted stock and performance awards to its employees, directors, consultants and advisors up to 4,000,000 shares (prior to the 1 for 5 reverse stock split in December 2019) of Common Stock of the Company. As of December 31, 2020, all shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the 2014 Plan have been granted to employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company. 

The Equity Plan’s purpose is to attract and retain high caliber employees, directors, consultants and independent contractors; motivate participants to achieve long-range goals; provide competitive incentive compensation opportunities; and align the participants’ interests with the interests of the shareholders by offering the participants compensation that is based on our common stock.

The description of the Equity Plan below is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Equity Plan, which is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement. Capitalized terms used in the summary but otherwise not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Equity Plan.

The Board of Directors of the Company approved and adopted the Equity Plan on April 12, 2021, subject to shareholders’ approval.


Recommendation of Board of Directors

The Board of Directors has approved and unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote FOR the proposal to approve the Equity Plan.

Description of the Equity Plan

Administration. The Equity Plan requires that a committee of non-employee directors to administer the Equity Plan. Currently, our Compensation Committee, which we refer to in this proposal as the Committee, administers the Equity Plan. Among other powers and duties, the Committee determines the employees who will be eligible to receive awards and establishes the terms and conditions of all awards. Unless prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of a stock exchange, the Committee may delegate its authority and administrative duties under the Equity Plan.

Shares Subject to the Equity Plan. The shares issuable under the Equity Plan are shares of our common stock that are authorized but unissued or reacquired common stock, including shares repurchased by the Company as treasury shares. The total aggregate shares of common stock authorized for issuance during the term of the Equity Plan is limited to 3,000,000 shares. The Committee must equitably adjust awards and the number of shares available under the Equity Plan in the event of a recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, split-up, spin-off, reclassification, combination or other exchange of shares.

Types of Awards and Eligibility. The Equity Plan provides for five types of awards. The Eligible Persons under the Equity Plan include Employees, Outside Directors, Consultants and New Hires of the Company or its subsidiaries, as selected by our Board or the designated committee thereof.  As of April 12, 2021, 38 individuals (consisting of 3 executive officers, 3 directors who are not executive officers, and 32 employees who are not executive officers) are eligible to receive awards under the Equity Plan. The closing price of Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market was $3.00 per share as of April 12, 2021.

Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options (“ISOs”) are options that are intended to qualify as, and that satisfy the requirements applicable to, an “incentive stock option” described in Code § 422(b). NSO shall mean an Option that is not intended to be, or does not qualify as, an Incentive Stock Option and is commonly referred to as a “Non-Statutory Stock Option”.

Option Grant: The grant of an Option entitles the Participant to purchase the number of Shares designated in the Award Agreement for such Option at an Exercise Price established by the Committee. Options may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Statutory Stock Options, as determined in the discretion of the Committee. Each Option shall be evidenced by and conditional on an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Committee, which Award Agreement shall specify whether the Option is an ISO or NSO. No ISO may be granted to any person more than ten (10) years after the Effective Date of the Equity Plan. Award Agreements need not be identical, but shall include the terms specified in and be subject to the provisions of the Equity Plan applicable to such Options. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant), subject to ISOs granted to any Participant under the Equity Plan and any other option plan of the Corporation or any Related Corporation that first become exercisable in any calendar year, including any ISOs which become exercisable on an accelerated basis during such year, exceeds the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), such excess Options shall be treated as NSOs.

Exercise of Options: The Exercise Price shall be fixed by the Committee, provided that the Exercise Price for any Option shall never be less than one hundred percent (100%) (or, in the case of a 10% Stockholder receiving an ISO, 110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on the Option grant date. Fair Market Value shall be determined in a manner compliant with Code Section 409A.

Payment of Exercise Price: The exercise price is payable in cash; by tendering shares of our common stock owned by the participant; by withholding shares that would be acquired on exercise; by broker-assisted cashless exercise; or by any other form of legal consideration acceptable by the Committee (so long as it does not result in deferral of compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A). Options are subject to the conditions, restrictions and contingencies specified by the Committee.

Option Term: The maximum term of any option is ten years from the date of grant and, with respect to ISOs granted to an individual who owns 10% of the voting power of our stock, the maximum term is five years from the date of grant.

Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right (“SAR”) entitles the Participant to receive, with respect to each Share subject to the SAR, the appreciation in the Fair Market Value over a base price established by the Committee, payable in cash or Stock, or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee at the time of payment. Each SAR shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Committee. Award Agreements evidencing SARs need not be identical, but shall include the terms specified below and be subject to the provisions of the Equity Plan applicable to such SARs.

SARs Grant: Each award of SARs will be evidenced by an award agreement that will specify the base price, the term of the SAR, and such other provisions as the Committee determines, and which are not inconsistent with the terms of the Equity Plan (which need not be the same for each award for each recipient).


Base Price of SAR: The base price of each SAR granted under the Equity Plan will be at least equal to the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant.

Settlement of SARs: The Participant may exercise the SAR by delivering a written notice of exercise to the Corporation, in the form and manner designated by the Committee. To the extent the Committee determines that the Participant will receive cash upon exercise of a SAR, the Corporation shall deliver the cash amount which becomes due upon exercise of a SAR as soon as administratively practicable after the Corporation’s receipt of the Participant’s properly completed notice of exercise. To the extent the Committee determines that Shares will be delivered to the Participant upon exercise of a SAR, the Shares shall be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee may establish, except that such conditions may not cause the deferral of recognition of income.

SAR Term: The maximum term of any SAR is ten years from the date of grant.

Unrestricted Stock. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, award unrestricted stock to any participant as a stock bonus or otherwise pursuant to which such participant may receive shares of stock free of restrictions or limitations.

Restricted Stock. A Restricted Stock Award is a grant of Shares subject to conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee. Each Restricted Stock Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Committee. Award Agreements evidencing Restricted Stock Awards need not be identical, but shall include the terms specified in and be subject to the provisions of the Equity Plan applicable to such Restricted Stock Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award shall be, for the applicable Period of Restriction determined by the Committee, subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall determine. Lapse of restrictions may be conditioned on the continued performance of Services or the achievement of performance conditions measured on an individual, corporate or other basis, or any combination thereof.

Restricted Stock Units. A Restricted Stock Unit Award entitles the Participant to receive Shares upon the vesting of the Award. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Equity Plan, Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee. Award Agreements evidencing Restricted Stock Unit Awards need not be identical, but shall include the terms specified in and be subject to the provisions of the Equity Plan applicable to Restricted Stock Unit Awards. As soon as practicable following the date each Restricted Stock Unit vests, the Corporation shall deliver to the Participant the Share underlying such Restricted Stock Unit, subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee may establish.

Performance-Based Compensation. At its discretion, the Committee may make Awards to Participants intended to be the performance-based compensation. In such event, the number of shares becoming exercisable or transferable or amounts payable with respect to grants of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and/or awards of Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be determined based on the attainment of written performance goals based on the performance measures set forth in Article 7 of the Equity Plan and which have been approved by the Committee for a specified performance period. The performance goals shall state, in terms of an objective formula or standard, the method of computing the amount of compensation payable to the Participant if the goal is attained. The performance goals must be established by the Committee in writing no more than ninety (90) days after the commencement of the performance period or, if less, the number of days that is equal to 25% of the relevant performance period.

Limitations on Awards. The maximum aggregate cash amount payable under the Plan for any Awards intended to constitute performance-based compensation to any Participant in any single calendar year shall not exceed $1,000,000. Subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph (b) below, the maximum aggregate number of Shares (including Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, and RSUs) that may be granted to any Participant in any calendar year shall be 1,000,000 Shares.

Vesting and Forfeiture. The Committee determines the time and conditions under which the award will vest or the period of time after which the restriction shall lapse as part of making an award. Vesting or the lapse of the period of restriction may, in the Committee’s discretion, be based solely upon continued employment or service for a specified period of time, or may be based upon the achievement of specific performance goals (individual, corporation or other basis), or both. Vesting means the time at which an option, SAR or RSU holder may exercise his or her award at the end of the period of restriction that applies to Restricted Stock. Vesting or lapse provisions need not be uniform among awards granted at the same time or to persons similarly-situated. Vesting and lapse requirements will be set forth in the applicable award agreement. The Committee, in its discretion, may accelerate vesting of any award at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, when a participant terminates employment or service with us, all unexercised or unvested awards are forfeited, and if the termination is without cause, all outstanding vested options and SARs will continue to be exercisable until the earlier of the expiration term or the date that is three months after such termination date.

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Extension Exercise Period. The Committee, in its discretion, may extend the period of time for which an option or SAR is to remain exercisable following a termination of service, but in no event beyond the expiration of the option or SAR.

Prohibition on Repricing. Except as required or permitted pursuant to a corporate transaction (including, without limitation, any recapitalization or reorganization), in no event will an option or SAR be amended to reduce the exercise or base price or be canceled in exchange for cash, other awards or options or SARs with an exercise price or base price less than the exercise price of the original option or base price of the original SAR without shareholder approval.

Limits on Transfers of Awards/Beneficiary Designation. All awards are exercisable only by the participant during the participant’s lifetime, and are transferable only by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that the Committee may permit a transfer of an award, other than an ISO, to a family member of an individual, subject to such restrictions as the Committee may provide. Participants may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive their benefits under the Equity Plan if they die before receiving any or all of such benefit. 

Recapitalization. Upon a recapitalization, the Committee must adjust the number and kind of shares issuable and maximum limits for each type of award, adjust the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding awards, adjust the exercise or base price of outstanding options or SARs, and make any other equitable adjustments.

Reorganization. Upon a reorganization, the Committee may decide that awards will apply to securities of the resulting corporation (with appropriate adjustment as determined by the Committee), that some or all options and SARs will be immediately exercisable (to the extent permitted under federal or state securities laws), that some or all options and SARs will be immediately exercisable and terminate after at least 30 days’ notice to holders (to the extent permitted under federal or state securities laws), and/or that some or all awards of restricted stock or RSUs will become immediately fully vested.

Amendment and Termination. Our Board of Directors may amend, suspend or terminate the Equity Plan, without consent of shareholders or participants, provided, however, that amendments must be submitted to the shareholders for approval if shareholder approval is required by applicable law, and any amendment or termination that may adversely affect the rights of participants with outstanding awards requires the consent of such participants. The Committee may amend any award agreement, provided the amendment is not to re-price or constructively re-price any award.

Term. The Equity Plan is effective immediately upon the adoption by our Board of Directors, subject to shareholder approval, and will terminate on the earliest to occur of (i) the 10th anniversary of the Equity Plan’s effective date, or (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Equity Plan shall have been issued as fully-vested shares. Options may be granted at any time on or after the date the Board of Directors adopt the Equity Plan, however, until the shareholders approve the Equity Plan, no options or SARs may be exercised, no restricted stock may be issued, and no award may be settled in stock. If shareholder approval is not obtained within 12 months after the adoption by our Board of Directors, all awards will be null and void.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of awards under the Equity Plan is based on current U.S. federal income tax laws and regulations and is designed to provide a general understanding of the consequences as of the date of this proxy statement. Laws and regulations may change in the future and affect the income tax consequences of your award under the Equity Plan. In addition, the impact of the laws and regulations may vary based on your individual circumstances. This summary does not constitute tax advice and does not address taxation of your award under the laws of any municipality, state or foreign country. You are urged to consult your own tax advisor as to the specific tax impact of any award to you.

Incentive Stock Options. An employee participant will generally have no tax consequences when he or she receives the grant of an ISO. In most cases, an employee participant also will not have income tax consequences when he or she exercises an ISO. An employee participant may have income tax consequences when exercising an ISO if the aggregate fair market value (determined at the time of grant) of the shares of the common stock subject to the ISO that first become exercisable in any one calendar year exceeds $100,000. If this occurs, the excess shares (the number of shares the fair market value of which exceeds $100,000 in the year first exercisable) will be treated as though they are NQSOs instead of ISOs. Additionally, subject to certain exceptions for death or disability, if an employee participant exercises an ISO more than three months after termination of employment, the exercise of the option will be taxed as the exercise of a NQSO. Any shares recharacterized as NQSOs will have the tax consequences described below with respect to the exercise of NQSOs.


An employee participant recognizes income when selling or exchanging the shares acquired from the exercise of an ISO in the amount of the difference between the fair market value at the time of the sale or exchange and the exercise price the participant paid for those shares. This income will be taxed at the applicable capital gains rate if the sale or exchange occurs after the expiration of the requisite holding periods. Generally, the required holding periods expire two years after the date of grant of the ISO and one year after the date the common stock is acquired by the exercise of the ISO. Further, the amount by which the fair market value of a share of the common stock at the time of exercise of the ISO exceeds the exercise price will likely be included in determining a participant’s alternative minimum taxable income and may cause the participant to incur an alternative minimum tax liability in the year of exercise.

If an employee participant disposes of the common stock acquired by exercising an ISO before the holding periods expire, the participant will recognize ordinary income. The amount of income will equal the difference between the option exercise price and the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise and (ii) the price at which the shares are sold. This amount will be taxed at ordinary income rates and be subject to employment taxes. If the sale price of the shares is greater than the fair market value on the date of exercise, the participant will recognize the difference as gain and will be taxed at the applicable capital gains rate. If the sale price of the shares is less than the exercise price, the participant will recognize a capital loss equal to the excess of the exercise price over the sale price.

Using shares acquired by exercising an ISO to pay the exercise price of another option (whether or not it is an ISO) will be considered a disposition of the shares for federal tax purposes. If this disposition occurs before the expiration of the required holding periods, the employee option-holder will have the same tax consequences as are described above in the preceding paragraph. If the option holder transfers any of these shares after holding them for the required holding periods or transfers shares acquired by exercising an NQSO or on the open market, he or she generally will not recognize any income upon exercise. Whether or not the transferred shares were acquired by exercising an ISO and regardless of how long the option holder has held those shares, the basis of the new shares received from the exercise will be calculated in two steps. In the first step, a number of new shares equal to the number of older shares tendered (in payment of the option’s exercise) is considered exchanged under Code Section 1036 and the related rulings; these new shares receive the same holding period and the same basis the option holder had in the old tendered shares, if any, plus the amount included in income from the deemed sale of the old shares and the amount of cash or other non-stock consideration paid for the new shares, if any. In the second step, the number of new shares received by the option holder in excess of the old tendered shares receives a basis of zero, and the option holder’s holding period with respect to such shares commences upon exercise.

There will be no tax consequences to the Company when it grants an ISO or, generally, when an employee participant exercises an ISO. However, to the extent that an option holder recognizes ordinary income when he or she exercises, as described above, the Company generally will have a tax deduction in the same amount and at the same time.

Nonqualified Stock Options. A participant generally has no income tax consequences from the grant of NQSOs. Generally, in the tax year when the participant exercises the NQSO, he or she recognizes ordinary income in the amount by which the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise exceeds the exercise price for the shares, and that amount will be subject to withholding and employment taxes.

If a participant exercises a NQSO by paying the exercise price with previously acquired common stock, he or she will have federal income tax consequences (relative to the new shares received) in two steps. In the first step, a number of new shares equivalent to the number of older shares tendered (in payment of the NQSO exercised) is considered to have been exchanged in accordance with Code Section 1036 and related rulings, and no gain or loss is recognized. In the second step, with respect to the number of new shares acquired in excess of the number of old shares tendered, the participant recognizes income on those new shares equal to their fair market value less any non-stock consideration tendered. The new shares equal to the number of the old shares tendered will have the same basis the participant had in the old shares and the holding period with respect to the tendered older shares will apply to the new shares. The excess new shares received will have a basis equal to the amount of income recognized on exercise, increased by any non-stock consideration tendered. The holding period begins on the exercise of the option.

The gain, if any, realized at the later disposition of the common stock will either be short- or long-term capital gain, depending on the holding period.

There will be no tax consequences to the Company when granting a NQSO. The Company generally will have a tax deduction in the same amount and at the same time as the ordinary income recognized by the participant.

Stock Appreciation Rights. Neither the participant nor the Company has income tax consequences from the issuance of a SAR. The participant recognizes taxable income at the time the SAR is exercised in an amount equal to the amount by which the cash and/or the fair market value of the shares of the common stock received upon that exercise exceeds the base price. The income recognized on exercise of a SAR will be taxable at ordinary income tax rates and be subject to employment taxes. The Company generally will be entitled to a tax deduction with respect to the exercise of a SAR in the same amount and at the same time as the ordinary income recognized by the participant.


Restricted Stock. A holder of restricted stock will not recognize income at the time of the award, unless he or she specifically makes an election to do so under Code Section 83(b) within thirty days of such award. Unless the holder has made such an election, he or she will realize ordinary income and be subject to employment taxes in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date the restrictions on the shares lapse, reduced by the amount, if any, he or she paid for such stock. The Company will generally be entitled to a corresponding deduction in the same amount and at the same time as the holder recognizes ordinary income. Upon the otherwise taxable disposition of the shares awarded after ordinary income has been recognized, the holder will realize a capital gain or loss (which will be long-term or short-term depending upon how long the shares are held after the restrictions lapse).

If the holder made a timely election under Code Section 83(b), he or she will recognize ordinary income for the taxable year in which an award of restricted stock is received on an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares of restricted stock awarded for which the election is being made (even if the shares are subject to forfeiture). That income will be taxable at ordinary income tax rates and be subject to employment taxes. At the time of disposition of the shares, if such an election was made, the holder will recognize gain in an amount equal to the difference between the sales price and the fair market value of the shares at the time of the award. Such gain will be taxable at the applicable capital gains rate. The Company will generally be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount and at the same time as the ordinary income recognized by the participant.

Restricted Stock Units. A holder of RSUs generally will not recognize income at the time of the award. Upon delivery of the shares due upon settlement of an RSU, a holder will realize ordinary income and be subject to employment taxes in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares distributed. The Company will generally be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction in the same amount and at the same time as the holder recognizes income. When the holder later disposes of his or her shares, the difference between the amount realized on sale and the amount recognized by the holder upon settlement of the RSU will be a capital gain or loss (which will be long-term or short-term depending upon how long the shares are held).

Unrestricted Stock. Generally, the participant will, in the year that the unrestricted stock award is granted, recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of the award. The Company normally will receive a corresponding deduction equal to the amount of compensation the recipient is required to recognize as ordinary taxable income, and must comply with applicable tax withholding requirements.

Limitation on Company Deductions. No federal income tax deduction is allowed for the Company for any compensation paid to a “covered employee” in any taxable year of the Company to the extent that his or her compensation exceeds $1,000,000. For this purpose, “covered employees” are generally the chief executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company, the three other most highly compensated officers of the Company other than the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer for the taxable year and any “covered employee” of the Company (or any predecessor) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2016, and the term “compensation” generally includes amounts includable in gross income as a result of the exercise of stock options or SARs, payments pursuant to performance shares or units, or the receipt of restricted or unrestricted stock. This deduction limitation, however, does not apply to compensation that is compensation which would not be includable in an employee’s gross income.

Effect of Code Section 280G. Code Section 280G limits the deductibility of certain payments that are contingent upon a change of control if the total amount of such payments equals or exceeds three times the individual’s “base amount” (i.e., generally, annualized five-year W-2 compensation). If payment or settlement of an award is accelerated upon a change of control, a portion of such payment attributable to the value of the acceleration is considered a payment that is contingent upon a change of control. In addition, the affected individual must pay an excise tax (in addition to any income tax) equal to 20% of such amount. 

Impact of Code Section 409A. Code Section 409A provides that all amounts deferred under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan are includible in a service provider’s gross income to the extent such amounts are not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, unless certain requirements are satisfied. If the requirements are not satisfied, in addition to current income inclusion, interest at the underpayment rate plus 1% will be imposed on the service provider’s underpayments that would have occurred had the deferred compensation been includible in gross income for the taxable year in which first deferred or, if later, the first taxable year in which such deferred compensation is not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. The amount required to be included in income is also subject to an additional 20% tax. While most awards under the Plan are anticipated to be exempt from the requirements of Code Section 409A, awards not exempt from Code Section 409A are intended to comply with Code Section 409A.


Other Information

Subject to the terms and provisions of the Equity Plan, the individuals that receive awards and the terms and conditions of such awards are determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has not yet made any determination as to which eligible employees will receive awards under the Equity Plan in the future, or the value of awards to be made to any eligible individual, and therefore, it is not possible to determine for any persons or groups the benefits or amounts that will be received in the future under the Equity Plan.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS APPROVED AND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE NOVA LIFESTYLE INC. 2021 OMNIBUS EQUITY PLAN.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE


Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight


Thanh H. Lam has served as Chairperson of the Board since June 2013 and as our President and a member of our Board since June 2011. Prior to Ms. Lam’s appointmentLam was appointed as Chairperson of the Board, Ya Ming Wong served as Chairman of the Board from June 2011 until June 2013.  Mr. Wong continues to serveour Interim Chief Executive Officer on October 7, 2016, and as our Chief Executive Officer and as a director, both of which he has served as since June 2011.on April 10, 2017. Our Board continues to believe there are important advantages to Ms. Lam serving simultaneously as both Chairperson, President and PresidentChief Executive Officer at this time. Ms. Lam is the director most familiar with our business and industry and is best situated to propose Board agendas and lead Board discussions on important matters. Ms. Lam provides a strong link between management and the Board, which promotes clear communication and enhances strategic planning and implementation of corporate strategies.  Further, fourthree of our sevenfive current Board members have been deemed to be independent by our Board; therefore, we believe our board structure provides sufficient independent oversight of our management. 

Our Board is responsible for oversight of the Company’s risk management practices while management is responsible for the day-to-day risk management processes. In the Board’s opinion, this division of responsibilities is the most effective approach for addressing the risks facing the Company. The Board receives periodic reports from management regarding the most significant risks facing the Company.  In addition, the Audit Committee assists the Board in its oversight of our risk assessment and risk management policies. Our Audit Committee is empowered to appoint and oversee our independent registered public accounting firm, monitor the integrity of our financial reporting processes and systems of internal controls and provide an avenue of communication among our independent auditors, management, our internal auditing department and our Board.


The Board has not named a lead independent director.


Diversity


The Board does not have a formal policy with respect to Board nominee diversity. However, in recommending proposed nominees to the full Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers diversity in the context of the Board as a whole and considers the diversity of background and experience, including with respect to age, gender, international background, race, and specialized experience of current and prospective directors as important factors in identifying and evaluating potential director nominees.

nominees.

Director Independence

The rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, or the Nasdaq Rules, require a majority of a listed company’s board of directors to be composed of independent directors. In addition, the Nasdaq Rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and nominating and governance committees be independent. Under the Nasdaq Rules, a director will only qualify as an independent director if, in the opinion of our Board of Directors, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The Nasdaq Rules also require that audit committee members satisfy independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors, or any other board committee, accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries. In considering the independence of compensation committee members, the Nasdaq Rules require that our board of directors must consider additional factors relevant to the duties of a compensation committee member, including the source of any compensation we pay to the director and any affiliations with our company.


Director Independence

Our Board currently is comprised of five directors. Ms. Lam and Ms. Su, who have served as directors since June 2011, and August 2017, respectively, do not qualify as an “independent” director for the purposes of the NASDAQ listed company standards currently in effect and all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. Messrs. La, Tsai and Patel, who have served as directors since January 27, 2017, July 27, 2020, and October 7, 2016, respectively, all qualify as “independent” directors for the purposes of the NASDAQ listed company standards currently in effect and all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.  We have elected, and propose to elect, the above independent directors to our Board as a requirement to the listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange, and has established an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee as separately-designated committees of the Board with written charters governing such committees. The Board has confirmed Mr. Patel as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K.

Our Board reviews each nominee’s relationship with the Company in order to determine whether a director nominee is independent pursuant to the listing rules of NASDAQ. Our Board has determined that each of Bin Liu, Michael Viotto, Peter KamMing-Cherng Sky Tsai, Charlie Huy La and Chung Shing YamUmesh Patel meets the independence requirements and standards currently established by NASDAQ.  All of the members of each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent as defined in NASDAQ Rule 5605(a)(2).


As required under applicable NASDAQ listing standards, in the 20152020 fiscal year, our independent directors met 25 times in regularly scheduled executive sessions at which only our independent directors were present.


Board Meetings and Committee Meetings; Annual Meeting Attendance


During the year ended December 31, 2015,2020, the Board held 87 meetings and acted through unanimous consent on 49 different occasions. In addition, the Audit Committee held 64 meetings; the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held 45 meetings; and the Compensation Committee held 95 meetings. During the year ended December 31, 2015,2020, each of the directors attended, in person or by telephone, more than 75%100% of the meetings of the Board and the committees on which he or she served during the portion of the year in which he or she was a director.

We encourage our Board members to attend our Annual Meetings, but we do not have a formal policy requiring attendance.  AllSome of the incumbent directors attended the 20152020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 19, 2015.

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July 15, 2020.

Audit Committee


Our Audit Committee consists of Bin Liu, Michael ViottoMing-Cherng Sky Tsai, Charlie Huy La, and Peter Kam,Umesh Patel, each of whom is independent under NASDAQ listing standards.  Mr. LiuPatel currently serves as chairman of our Audit Committee. The Audit Committee assists the Board’s oversight of (i) the integrity of our financial statements, (ii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iii) the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, and (iv) the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditor, and prepares the report that the Securities and Exchange Commission requires to be included in our annual proxy statement. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter.  The Board determined that Mr. LiuPatel possesses accounting or related financial management experience that qualifies him as financially sophisticated within the meaning of the NASDAQ listed company standards currently in effect and all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and that he is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC.

In addition, the Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, retention, compensation and oversight of the work of any registered public accounting firm employed by the Company (including resolution of disagreements between management and the accounting firm regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work or performing other audit, review or other services. Any such registered public accounting firm must report directly to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has the ultimate authority and responsibility to evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the registered public accounting firm. Prior to June 4, 2013, our Board acted as and performed the functions of our audit committee.  The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services by category, including audit-related services, tax services, and other permitted non-audit services. In accordance with the policy, the Audit Committee regularly reviews and receives updates on specific services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. All services rendered by Marcum BernsteinCenturion ZD CPA & Pinchuk LLP, prior to March 31, 2015, and Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited, as of and after March 31, 2015,Co. to the Company are permissible under any applicable laws and regulations. During fiscal year 2015,2020, all services performed by Marcum BernsteinCenturion ZD CPA & Pinchuk LLP and Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA LimitedCo. were approved in advance by the Audit Committee in accordance with the pre-approval policy. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter, a copy of which is posted on our website at www.novalifestyle.com.


Compensation Committee


The Compensation Committee consists of Bin Liu, Michael ViottoMing-Cherng Sky Tsai, Charlie Huy La and Peter Kam,Umesh Patel, each of whom is independent under NASDAQ listing standards.  Mr. KamTsai currently serves as chairman of our Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee is responsible for the administration of all salary, bonus and incentive compensation plans for our officers and key employees.  The Compensation Committee reviews and, as it deems appropriate, recommends to the Board policies, practices and procedures relating to the compensation of the officers and other managerial employees and the establishment and administration of employee benefit plans. It advises and consults with the officers of the Company as may be requested regarding managerial personnel policies. The Compensation Committee has the authority to engage independent advisors to assist it in carrying out its duties. During fiscal year 2015,2020, the Compensation Committee did not engage the services of any independent advisors, experts or other third parties. We believe that the functioning of our Compensation Committee complies with any applicable requirements of the NASDAQ GlobalCapital Market and SEC rules and regulations. The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter, a copy of which is posted on our website at www.novalifestyle.com.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in Compensation Decisions


All members of the Compensation Committee are independent directors. No member of our Compensation Committee is a current or former officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and no director ornone of our executive officerofficers has served as a member of the Company iscompensation or similar committee or as a director or executive officermember of the board of directors of any other corporation that has a director orentity having an executive officer who isthat also a directorserved on the Compensation Committee or Board of Directors of the Company.

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Nominating and Governance Committee


The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Nominating Committee”) consists of Bin Liu, Michael ViottoMing-Cherng Sky Tsai, Charlie Huy La and Peter Kam,Umesh Patel, each of whom is independent under NASDAQ listing standards.  Mr. ViottoLa currently serves as chairman of the Nominating Committee. The purpose of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is to assist the Board in identifying qualified individuals to become members of our Board, in determining the composition of the Board and in monitoring the process to assess board effectiveness.  The Nominating Committee uses its, as well as the entire Board’s, network of contacts when compiling a list of potential director candidates and has the authority to engage outside consultants. The Nominating Committee will consider director nominees recommended by a stockholder if the stockholder mails timely notice to the Secretary of the Company at its principal offices, which notice includes (i) the name, age and business address and residence of such nominee, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such nominee, (iii) a brief statement as to such nominee’s qualifications, (iv) a statement that such nominee consents to his or her nomination and will serve as a director if elected, (v) whether such nominee meets the definition of an “independent” director under the NASDAQ listing standards, and (vi) the name, address, class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company held by the nominating stockholder, and (vii) description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person(s) pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the stockholder. Any person nominated by a stockholder for election to the Board will be evaluated based on the same criteria as all other nominees. The Nominating Committee operates under a written charter, a copy of which is posted on our website at www.novalifestyle.com.


Director Nomination Procedures

The Nominating Committee is generally responsible for soliciting recommendations for candidates for the Board, developing and reviewing background information for such candidates, and making recommendations to the Board with respect to candidates for directors proposed by stockholders. The nomination process involves a careful examination of the performance and qualifications of each incumbent director and potential nominees before deciding whether such person should be recommended for nomination by the Nominating Committee and nominated by the Board. The Board believes that the business experience of its directors has been, and continues to be, critical to the Company’s success. Directors should possess integrity, independence, energy, forthrightness, analytical skills and commitment to devote the necessary time and attention to the Company’s affairs. Directors must possess a willingness to challenge and stimulate management and the ability to work as part of a team in an environment of trust.


In selecting candidates for appointment or re-election to the Board, the Nominating Committee considers the following criteria: (i) the characteristics described in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines; (ii) diversity of background and experience of Board members, including with respect to age, gender, international background, race, and specialized experience; (iii) whether the member/potential member is subject to a disqualifying factor as described in the Corporate Governance Guidelines; (iv) whether the member/potential member is an employee or director of a significant or potentially significant customer, supplier, contractor, counselor or consultant of the Company; (v) whether the member/potential member would be considered a “financial expert” or “financially literate” as described in applicable listing standards, legislation or Audit Committee guidelines; (vi) the extent of the member’s/potential member’s business experience, technical expertise, or specialized skills or experience; (vii) whether the particular experience of the member/potential member is  relevant to the Company’s current or future business and will add specific value as a Board member; and (viii) any factors related to the ability and willingness of an existing member to continue his/her service or a new member to serve.


the characteristics described in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines;

diversity of background and experience of Board members, including with respect to age, gender, international background, race, and specialized experience;

whether the member/potential member is subject to a disqualifying factor as described in the Corporate Governance Guidelines;

whether the member/potential member is an employee or director of a significant or potentially significant customer, supplier, contractor, counselor or consultant of the Company;

whether the member/potential member would be considered a “financial expert” or “financially literate” as described in applicable listing standards, legislation or Audit Committee guidelines;

the extent of the member’s/potential member’s business experience, technical expertise, or specialized skills or experience;

whether the particular experience of the member/potential member is relevant to the Company’s current or future business and will add specific value as a Board member; and

any factors related to the ability and willingness of an existing member to continue his/her service or a new member to serve.

The Board will generally consider all relevant factors, including, among others, each nominee’s applicable expertise and demonstrated excellence in his or her field, the usefulness of such expertise to the Company, the availability of the nominee to devote sufficient time and attention to the affairs of the Company, the nominee’s reputation for personal integrity and ethics, and the nominee’s ability to exercise sound business judgment. Director nominees are reviewed in the context of the existing membership of the Board (including the qualities and skills of the existing directors), the operating requirements of the Company and the long-term interests of its stockholders.


There were no arrangements or understandings between any of our directors and any other person pursuant to which any director was to be selected as a director or selected as a nominee.


Family Relationships


No family relationships exist among any of our current director nominees or executive officers, except that Ya Ming Wong, our Chief Executive Officer, is the brother of Ah Wan Wong, our Vice President of Marketing.

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officers.

Stockholder Communications


The Board welcomes communications from our stockholders, and maintains a process for stockholders to communicate with the Board. Stockholders who wish to communicate with the Board may send a letter to the Chairperson of the Board of Nova LifeStyle, Inc., at 6565 E. Washington Blvd., Commerce, CA 90040. The mailing envelope must contain a clear notation indicating that the enclosed letter is a “Stockholder-Board Communication.” All such letters should identify the author as a security holder. All such letters will be reviewed by the Chairperson of the Board and submitted to the entire Board no later than the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.


Code of Ethics


Our Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, that we believe is reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and promote honest and ethical conduct; provide full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in public reports; comply with applicable laws; ensure prompt internal reporting of Code violations; and provide accountability for adherence to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.  The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics also includes an insider trading policy. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report and is available in print, without charge, upon written request to Nova LifeStyle, Inc., 6565 E. Washington Blvd., Commerce, CA 90040, Attn: Corporate Secretary.


Executive Officers of the Registrant


The following table sets forth the names of our executive officers and certain significant employees and their ages, positions and biographical information as of the date of this report. Our executive officers are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, our Board of Directors. Each executive officer is a full time employee. Ya Ming Wong, our Chief Executive Officer, is the brother of Ah Wan Wong, our Vice President of Marketing. There are no other family relationships between any of our executive officers or other key personnel and any other of our executive officers or key personnel. There are no arrangements or understandings between any of our executive officers and any other persons pursuant to which such executive officer was selected in that capacity.


Name

 

Position

 

Age

 
Ya Ming Wong (1)

Thanh H. Lam

 

Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

 48

53

 
Yuen Ching Ho

Jeffery Chuang

 

Chief Financial Officer and Director

 56

51

 
Thanh H. Lam (2)

Min Su

 
Chairperson, President and

Corporate Secretary, Director

 48

37

 
Man Shek Ng

Mark Chapman

 
Corporate Secretary

Vice President – Marketing

 45

52

 
Ah Wan Wong

Steven Qiang Liu

 

Vice President – Marketing

 43
Mark Chapman
Vice President – Marketing
47

46

 

(1) Resigned as Chairman

For information on the business backgrounds of the Board on June 4, 2013

(2) Appointed as ChairpersonThanh H. Lam and Min Su, see “Executive Officers and Directors” under “Election of the Board on June 4, 2013

Ya Ming Wong, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mr. WongDirectors” above.

Jeffery Chuang was appointed our Chief Executive Officer on June 30, 2011 and a Member of our Board of Directors on June 30, 2011. Mr. Wong was one of the two founders of Nova Dongguan, our wholly owned subsidiary, and served as its Chief Executive Officer since its inception in 2003. Mr. Wong has over 20 years of experience in the furniture industry. Mr. Wong has been appointed the vice-chairman of the Dongguan City Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment (DGAEFI) since December 2008, the vice-chairman of the Dongguan Furniture Association (DGFA) since April 2003, and the director of The International Furniture and Decoration (Hong Kong) Association since January 2003. From 1991 to 2003, Mr. Wong served as the Chief Executive Officer of Navy Blue Inc., a Macao-based furniture company with manufacturing facilities in Dongguan, China. Prior to that time, from 1988 to 1991, Mr. Wong worked for C&E German Furniture Ltd., a Hong Kong-based furniture company with manufacturing facilities in Dongguan, China, as the design and production manager. Mr. Wong graduated from Hong Kong Tang Shiu Kin Victoria Technical School in 1988. Mr. Wong is the brother of Ah Wan Wong, our Vice President of Marketing. Mr. Wong brings extensive knowledge about business strategy and product development in the furniture industry in China and international markets and of our operations and long-term strategy to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors believes that Mr. Wong’s vision, leadership and extensive knowledge about us and the furniture industry is essential to our future growth.

15


Yuen Ching Ho, Chief Financial Officer and Director

Mr. Ho was appointed our Chief Financial Officer on June 30, 2011 and a Member of our Board of Directors on May 28, 2013.August 22, 2017.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Ho was one of the two founders of Nova Dongguan, our wholly owned subsidiary andChuang served as its Chief Financial Officer since its inceptionthe managing partner of Z & C CPAs, LLP from June 2011 to August 2017.  Mr. Chuang received his Bachelor of Science in 2003. Mr. Ho also was responsible for the administration, financeFinance from California State University, Northridge in 1997 and marketinghis Master of Nova Macao, our wholly owned subsidiary, since its inceptionScience in Taxation from Golden Gate University in 2006. Mr. HoChuang is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mark Chapman has over 20 years of experience in the furniture industry. From 1991 to 2003, Mr. Ho served as the Chief Operating Officer of Navy Blue Inc., a Macao-based furniture company with manufacturing facilities in Dongguan, China. Prior to that time, from 1990 to 1991, Mr. Ho worked as the export administrative staff for C&E German Furniture Ltd., a Hong Kong-based furniture company with manufacturing facilities in Dongguan, China. Mr. Ho received a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from St. Mary’s University in 1984 and obtained his MBA from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1990.

Thanh H. Lam, Chairperson, President and Director
Ms. Lam was appointed our President and a member of our Board of Directors on June 30, 2011, and was elected as Chairperson of the Board of Directors on June 4, 2013, following Ya Ming Wong's resignation as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Ms. Lam was a co-founder of the Diamond Sofa brand and previously was the Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bar in Commerce, California, our wholly owned subsidiary acquired in August 2011. Ms. Lam has pioneered the Diamond Sofa brand since 1992 and, prior to our acquisition of the company, was in charge of its product development and merchandising for the U.S. market and managed its national sales force and oversaw distribution. In 2005, Ms. Lam was featured in a Furniture Today “Fresh Faces” profile, one of the highest honors bestowed to exceptional and talented young entrepreneurs in the furniture industry. Ms. Lam received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Finance from the California State University of Los Angeles. Ms. Lam brings to the Board of Directors 21 years of experience in developing a furniture brand and marketing to the U.S. furniture industry. The Board of Directors believes that Ms. Lam’s in-depth knowledge of the U.S. furniture market and knowledge of our business through her work with the Diamond Sofa brand will assist us in our future growth and expansion plans.
Man Shek Ng, Corporate Secretary

Mr. Ng was appointed our Corporate Secretary on June 30, 2011. Previously, Mr. Ng served as the Chief Operating Officer of Nova Dongguan, our wholly owned subsidiary, since its inception in 2003. Prior to that time, Mr. Ng served as the Administrative Officer for Hong Yip Service Co., Ltd. in Hong Kong and, from 1998 to 2002, he served as the Business Development Coordinator at Flower 100 in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada. From 1994 to 1998, Mr. Ng worked as the Customer Service Officer and Inside Sales Representative for KMI Electronics Inc. in Markham, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Ng is fluent in English and both Cantonese and Mandarin. Mr. Ng received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from York University in 1994, and has received a Certificate in Securities Course, a Certificate in Technical Analysis Course, and a Certificate in Derivatives Course from The Canadian Securities Institute.

Ah Wan Wong, Vice President, Marketing, China Sales

Mr. Wong became a Vice President of Marketing for us as of June 30, 2011. Previously, Mr. Wong served as the Chief Marketing Officer of Nova Dongguan, our wholly owned subsidiary, since 2006. Mr. Wong is the brother of Ya Ming Wong, our Chief Executive Officer. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Wong worked as the General Manager for Aura Deco Ltd. and, from 1996 to 2003, as the export manager for Gamamobel International. Mr. Wong also worked as the Coordinator for Da Silva’s Agency from 1994 to 1995. Mr. Wong graduated from Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 1994.

Mark Chapman, Vice President, Marketing, U.S. Sales

Mr. Chapman became a Vice President of Marketing for us as of June 30, 2011. Mr. Chapman has been in the furniture business for over 2030 years. Since 2004, Mr. Chapman has been the Sales Manager for Diamond Bar, our wholly ownedwholly-owned subsidiary acquired in August 2011. Since 1990, Mr. Chapman has served as the Director of Purchasing for various major furniture companies, including: ACE TV Rentals, Central Rents and Day Page. Mr. Chapman received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Management and Marketing from Augustana College.

16


Steven Qiang Liu has served as our Vice President since January 2, 2017.  Mr. Liu is the chief executive officer and founder of St. Joyal, a company engaged in business investment and development that was founded in 2007.  Mr. Liu has extensive experience in banking and business management, including acquisitions and investment oversight.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Economics from Hunan College.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following sets forth information as of March 21, 2016,April 12, 2021, regarding the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by (i) each person that we know beneficially owns 5% or more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, (ii) each of our named executive officers, (iii) each of our directors and (iv) all of our executive officers and directors as a group.


The amounts and percentages of our common stock beneficially owned are reported on the basis of SEC rules governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the SEC rules, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or “investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days through the exercise of any stock option, warrant or other right. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which such person has no economic interest.

Unless otherwise indicated, each of the shareholders named in the table below, or his or her family members, has sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares of our common stock. Except as otherwise indicated, the address of each of the shareholders listed below is: c/o Nova LifeStyle, Inc., 6565 E. Washington Blvd., Commerce, CA 90040. The Company effected a 1 for 5 reverse stock split on December 20, 2019 and all references to shares and per share data have been retroactively restated to reflect such split.  


As of March 21, 2016,April 12, 2021, there were 24,095,9725,567,544 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding.

Name of beneficial owner Number of shares  Percent of class 
Directors and named executive officers        
Ya Ming Wong, Chief Executive Officer and Director
  
4,925,403
(1)
  
20.4
%
Yuen Ching Ho, Chief Financial Officer and Director
  
4,082,903
(2)
  
16.9
%
Thanh H. Lam, Chairperson, President and Director
  
265,529
(3)
  
1.1
%
Michael Viotto, Director
  
16,195
   
*
 
Chung Shing Yam, Director
  
16,195
   
*
 
Peter Kam, Director
  
56,195
   
*
 
Bin Liu, Director
  
12,195
     
Directors and executive officers as a group (6 persons)
  
9,374,615
   
38.4

Name of beneficial owner

 

Number of shares

   

Percent of class

 

Directors and named executive officers

         

Thanh H. Lam, Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

  

79,281

(1

)

  

1.42

%

Jeffery Chuang, Chief Financial Officer

  

21,000

(2

)

  

*

 

Min Su, Corporate Secretary and Director

  

31,000

(3

)

  

*

 

Charlie Huy La, Director

  

42,424

(4

)

  

*

 

Umesh Patel, Director

  

60,000

(5

)

  

1.08

%

Ming-Cherng Sky Tsai, Director

  

-

    

*

 

Steven Qiang Liu, Vice President

  

2,013,062

(6

)

  

36.16

%

Directors and executive officers as a group (8 persons)

  

2,246,767

    40.35

%

(1)

Shares beneficially owned includes 20,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable as of April 12, 2021.

(2)

Shares beneficially owned includes 21,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable as of April 12, 2021.

(3)

Shares beneficially owned includes 10,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable as of April 12, 2021.

(4)

Shares beneficially owned includes 40,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable as of April 12, 2021.

(5)

Shares beneficially owned includes 60,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable as of April 12, 2021.

(6)Shares beneficially owned includes 10,000 shares subject to stock options exercisable within as of April 12, 2021.

*      Represents less than 1% of shares outstanding.

(1)  Consists of (i) 4,898,903 shares of our common stock held of record by Mr. Wong, a former co-owner of Nova Holdings, the former majority shareholder of Nova Furniture, and party to the Share Exchange Agreement, over which he has sole voting and dispositive power, (ii) immediately-exercisable warrants to purchase 1,500 shares of our common stock, and (iii) 25,000 restricted stock units that have vested or will vest within 60 days of March 21, 2016.

(2)  Consists of (i) 4,082,903 shares of our common stock held of record by Mr. Ho, a former co-owner of Nova Holdings, the former majority shareholder of Nova Furniture, and party to the Share Exchange Agreement, over which he has sole voting and dispositive power, (ii) immediately-exercisable warrants to purchase 1,500 shares of our common stock, and (iii) 25,000 restricted stock units that have vested or will vest within 60 days of March 21, 2016.

(3)
Consists of (i) 196,403 shares of our common stock held of record by Ms. Lam, including 194,126 shares of our common stock issued or issuable to Ms. Lam pursuant to her Stock Award Agreement as follows: (a) 50,000 shares earned in May 2013 and issued in August 2013, (b) 50,000 shares earned in May 2014 and issued in August 2014, and (c) 50,000 shares earned in May 2015, (ii) 44,126 shares that would be issued to Ms. Lam if her employment was terminated on March 21, 2016 other than due to death or disability, as discussed in more detail below and (iii) 25,000 restricted stock units that have vested or will vest within 60 days of March 21, 2016.  In the event Ms. Lam’s employment is terminated due to death or disability, all shares that have not yet been issued pursuant to the Stock Award Agreement shall be issued.

17

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION


Director Compensation (excluding Named Executive Officers)

As of December 31, 2015,2020, none of our independent directors has received any compensation from us for serving as our directors, except for the director fees and the stock option awards described below.


Our directors who are also executive officers of the Company do not receive additional compensation for their services on the Board.

In connection with their appointmentrespective appointments to the Board of Directors, the Company entered into director agreements with Mr. Liu,Tsai, Mr. Viotto, Mr. Kam,La and Mr. Yam.Patel.  Pursuant to the agreements and certain board resolutions, the directors receive reimbursement of certain expenses incurred with respect to attendance at board meetings and the following director fees: (i) $23,520$20,500 annually with respect to Mr. Liu,Tsai, (ii) $23,500 annually with respect to Mr. Patel, and (iii) $20,500 annually with respect to each of Mr. Viotto and Mr. Kam, and (iii) $12,000 annually with respect to Mr. Yam.La.  The Board also approved payment of nominal meeting attendance fees to non-employee directors.  The director agreements impose certain customary confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations on the directors.


In March 2015,

On November 7, 2018, the Company entered into restricted stock awardoption agreements (underunder the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan)Plan with Mr. Viotto, Mr. Kam and Mr. Yam.the three independent members of the board of directors. The Company agreed to grant 12,195 shares to each of thesethe Company’s three independent directors Messrs. Liu, Patel and La, options to purchase an aggregate of 60,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $5.90 per shares, with a grant dateterm of March 24, 2015. The restricted period lapses as to twenty-five5 years. Twenty-five percent (25%) of those stock options vested on November 30, 2018, 25% vested on February 28, 2019, 25% vested on May 31, 2019, and the restricted stockremaining 25% vested on September 30, 2015, DecemberAugust 31, 2015, March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016, subject to the director remaining in the continuous service of the Company or its affiliates on each applicable vesting date.


In May 2015,2019.

On November 4, 2019, the Company entered into a restricted stock award agreement (underoption agreements under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan)Plan with newly elected director Mr. Liu.Bin Liu, Mr. La and Mr. Patel, three independent members of the board of directors of the Company at that time. The Company agreed to grant 12,195the Company’s three independent directors options to purchase an aggregate of 60,000 shares to Mr. Liuof the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.80 per share, with a grant dateterm of May 19, 2015. The restricted period lapses as to twenty-five5 years. Twenty-five percent (25%) of those stock options vested on November 30, 2019, 25% vested on February 28, 2020, 25% on May 31, 2020, and the restrictedremaining 25% vested on August 31, 2020. The fair value of the stock options granted is estimated on September 30, 2015,the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model (“BSOPM”) as described above. The fair value of the options was calculated using the following assumptions: estimated life of ten years, volatility of 87%, risk free interest rate of 1.60%, and dividend yield of 0%. The fair value of 60,000 stock options was $114,740 at the grant date. During the years ended December 31, 2015, March 31, 20162020 and June 30, 2016, subject to the director remaining in the continuous service of2019, the Company or its affiliates on each applicable vesting date.

recorded $86,055 and $28,685 as directors’ stock compensation expenses, respectively. 


The following table sets forth information concerning all cash and non-cash compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Name 
Fees earned or
paid in cash
($)
  
Stock
 Awards
 ($) (1)
  
Option
Awards
($)
  
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation Earnings
($)
  
Non- Qualified Deferred Compensation
($)
  
Nonqualified deferred compensation earnings
($)
  
All Other Compensation
($)
  
Total
($)
 
Bin Liu
  
11,500
   
38,292
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
49,792
 
Michael Viotto
  
28,000
   
40,000
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
68,000
 
Peter Kam
  
28,000
   
40,000
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
68,000
 
Ching Shing Yam
  
13,750
   
40,000
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
53,750
 
James Talevich
  
14,049
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
14,049
 
(1) Represents the grant date fair value of the stock award granted to each of the non-employee directors of the Board on March 24, 2015, for Mr. Viotto, Mr. Kam and Mr. Yam, and May 19, for Mr. Liu, under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (which is described below under the section entitled “Equity Incentive Plan”) computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.  The grant date fair value for Mr. Liu was calculated using a price per share of $3.14, the price of a share of our common stock on May 19, 2015.  The grant date fair value for Mr. Viotto, Mr. Kam and Mr. Yam was calculated using a price per share of $3.28, the price of a share of our common stock on March 24, 2015.

2020.

Name

 

Fees earned or

paid in cash

($)

  

Stock

Awards

($)

  

Option

Awards

($) (1)

  

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation Earnings

($)

  

Non- Qualified Deferred Compensation

($)

  

Nonqualified deferred compensation earnings

($)

  

All Other Compensation

($)

  

Total

($)

 

Bin Liu(2)

  

16,270

   

-

   

28,685

   

-

   

-

   

-

   

-

   44,955 

Umesh Patel

  

27,144

   

-

   

28,685

   

-

   

-

   

-

   

-

   55,829 

Charlie Huy La

  

25,849

   

-

   

28,685

   

-

   

-

   

-

   

-

   54,534 

Ming-Cherng Sky Tsai(2)

  

10,686

   -   

-

   -   -   -   -   

10,686

 

(1)

Represents the grant date fair value of the option grants to Messrs. Liu, Patel and La on November 4, 2019, under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (which is described below under the section entitled “Equity Incentive Plan”) computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

(2)

Bin Liu resigned as a director of the Board on July 20, 2020. Ming-Cherng Sky Tsai was appointed a director of the Company on July 27, 2020.

Except as set forth above, we do not currently compensate our directors for acting as such, although we may do so for independent directors in the future, including with cash and equity.  All directors are eligible to receive reimbursement of expenses incurred with respect to attendance at board meetings. We do not maintain a medical, dental or retirement benefits plan for our independent directors.


18

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


General


Certain information concerning our executive officers as of the date of this proxy statement is set forth below. Officers are elected annually by the Board and serve at the discretion of the Board.

Name

 

Position

 

Age

 
Ya Ming Wong

Thanh H. Lam

 

Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

 48

53

 
Yuen Ching Ho

Jeffery Chuang

 

Chief Financial Officer and Director

 56

51

 
Thanh H. Lam

Min Su

 
Chairperson, President and

Corporate Secretary, Director

 48

37

 


Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation for the years ended December 31, 20152020 and 2014,2019, of each of our named executive officers.

Summary Compensation Table 
Name and Principal Position Year Salary  Bonus  Stock Awards  Option Awards  Nonequity Incentive Plan Compensation  Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings  All Other Compensation  Total 
    ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($) 
Ya Ming Wong
 
2015
  
100,000
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
100,000
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
2014
  
100,000
   
0
   
200,000
 (1)
  
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
300,000
 
Yuen Ching Ho
 
2015
  
80,000
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
80,000
 
Chief Financial Officer and Director
 
2014
  
80,000
   
0
   
200,000
 (2)
  
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
280,000
 
Thanh H. Lam
 
2015
  
80,000
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
80,000
 
Chairperson, President and Director
 
2014
  
80,000
   
0
   
200,000
 (3)
  
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
280,000
 
(1) Represents the grant date fair value of the stock award granted to Mr. Wong on November 10, 2014 under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (which is described below under the section entitled “Equity Incentive Plan”) computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.  The grant date fair value was calculated using a price per share of $4.31, the price of a share of our common stock on October 27, 2014, the date the awards were determined by the Compensation Committee.
(2) Represents the grant date fair value of the stock award granted to Mr. Ho on November 10, 2014 under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (which is described below under the section entitled “Equity Incentive Plan”) computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.  The grant date fair value was calculated using a price per share of $4.31, the price of a share of our common stock on October 27, 2014, the date the awards were determined by the Compensation Committee.
(3) Represents the grant date fair value of the stock award granted to Ms. Lam on November 10, 2014 under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (which is described below under the section entitled “Equity Incentive Plan”) computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.  The grant date fair value was calculated using a price per share of $4.31, the price of a share of our common stock on October 27, 2014, the date the awards were determined by the Compensation Committee.
19

The Company effected a 1 for 5 reverse stock split on December 20, 2019 and all references to shares and per share data have been retroactively restated to reflect such split.  

Summary Compensation Table

Name and Principal Position

 

Year

 

Salary

  

Bonus

  

Stock Awards

   

Option Awards

  

Nonequity Incentive Plan Compensation

  

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings

  

All Other Compensation

  

Total

 
    

($)

  

($)

  

($)

   

($)

  

($)

  

($)

  

($)

  

($)

 

Thanh H. Lam

 

2019

  

100,000

   

0

   

0

    

0

   

0

   

0

   

0

   

100,000

 

Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

 

2020

  

100,000

   

0

   

0

    

0

   

0

   

0

   

0

   

100,000

 

Jeffery Chuang

 

2019

  

50,000

   

0

   

0

    

30,999

(1)(2) 

  

0

   

0

   

0

   

80,999

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

2020

  

50,000

   

0

   

0

    

9,159

(2) 

  

0

   

0

   

0

   

59,159

 

Min Su

 

2019

  

80,000

   

0

   

23,579

 

(3)(4)

  

   

0

   

0

   

0

   

103,579

 

Corporate Secretary and Director

 

2020

  

80,000

   

0

   

15,750

 

(4)(5)

  

0

   

0

   

0

   

0

   

95,750

 

(1) Represents the grant date fair value of the stock options granted to Mr. Chuang on August 24, 2018 under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (which is described below under the section entitled “Equity Incentive Plan”) computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

(2) Represents the grant date fair value of the stock options granted to Mr. Chuang on August 12, 2019 under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (which is described below under the section entitled “Equity Incentive Plan”) computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

(3) Represents the grant date fair value of the stock award granted to Ms. Su on December 13, 2018, under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (which is described below under the section entitled “Equity Incentive Plan”) computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. 

(4) Represents the grant date fair value of the stock award granted to Ms. Su on January 31, 2020, under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (which is described below under the section entitled “Equity Incentive Plan”) computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. 

(5) Represents the grant date fair value of the stock award granted to Ms. Su on November 10, 2020, under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (which is described below under the section entitled “Equity Incentive Plan”) computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

Employment Agreements

On May 8, 2018, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Lam for a term of five years, unless earlier terminated by the Company or Ms. Lam in accordance with its terms. The employment agreement provides for an annual salary of $100,000 to Ms. Lam as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and annual bonuses at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. Upon termination of employment, Ms. Lam is entitled to accrued but unpaid salary but no severance.  The agreement contains confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants in favor of the Company.

On August 10, 2020, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Chuang with a term of one year, commencing on August 22, 2020, unless earlier terminated by the Company or Mr. Chuang in accordance with its terms. This agreement is in substantially the same form as the previous one-year employment agreements entered into on August 12, 2019. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Chuang is entitled to a base salary of $50,000 per year and reimbursement of certain business expenses.  Mr. Chuang is eligible for an annual cash bonus at the sole discretion of the Board.  Upon termination of employment, Mr. Chuang is entitled to accrued but unpaid salary but no severance.  The agreement contains confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants in favor of the Company.


In 2011,

On January 31, 2020, we entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Lam.  The agreement was amended and restated on May 3, 2013 and certain changes were made includingSu to renew the defined terms theof her employment, effective as of November 14, 2019 with a term and the restrictive covenants; otherwise, the 2011 agreement and the amended and restated agreement generally contain similar terms.  The amended and restated agreement contains a fiveof one year, term and is renewable automatically for one-year terms, unless either Ms. Lam orearlier terminated by the Company notifies the otheror Ms. Su in writing of her/accordance with its desire not to renew at least 90 days prior to the end of the current term.terms. Pursuant to the agreement, Ms. LamSu is entitled to: (i) a base salary of $80,000 per year, (ii) a one-time grant of 200,0006,000 shares of common stock, as described below under the section entitled “Share Award Agreement,Agreements,” and (iii) reimbursement of certain business expenses.   Ms. LamSu is eligible for an annual cash bonus at the sole discretion of the Board.   Upon termination of employment, Ms. LamSu is paidentitled to accrued but unpaid salary but no severance.  The agreement contains confidentiality, trade secretnon-competition and non-disparagement protectionsnon-solicitation covenants in favor of the Company and non-competition and non-solicitation covenantsCompany. The employment agreement with Ms. Su was renewed on November 11, 2020, effective on November 14, 2020, for six months following termination.


On March 25, 2016, the Company entered into one-year employment agreements, effective as of November 10, 2015,one more year with Mr. Ya Ming (Jeffrey) Wong and Mr. Yuen Ching (Sammy) Ho to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively. These agreements are in substantially the same form as the previous one-year employment agreements entered into on November 10, 2014 and November 7, 2013 (which expired by their terms), and provide for annual salaries of $100,000 for Mr. Wong and $80,000 for Mr. Ho, and annual bonuses at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors.  The employment agreements also provide that each of Mr. Wong and Mr. Ho will receive a grant of 100,000 Restricted Stock Units (“RSU”) which are vested 25% on March 30, 2016, 25% on June 30, 2016, 25% on September 30, 2016 and 25% on December 31, 2016.
terms.

We do not have any other arrangements providing for payments or benefits in connection with the resignation, severance, retirement or other termination of any of our named executive officers, and we do not have any arrangements providing for payments or benefits on a change in control of the Company.

Share Award Agreement

and Option Agreements

We entered into a Stock AwardOption Agreement with Ms. Lam under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), dated effective May 3, 2013,August 29, 2017, pursuant to which Ms. Lam was granted an option to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock at a per share purchase price of $6.30 per share.  The shares subject to the option vested in two equal installments on the date of the Stock Option Agreement and the sixth month anniversary thereof.

We entered into a Stock Option Agreement with Mr. Chuang under Plan on August 29, 2017, pursuant to which Mr. Chuang was granted an option to purchase 7,000 shares of common stock at a per share purchase price of $6.30.  The shares subject to the option vested in two equal installments on the date of the Stock Option Agreement and the sixth month anniversary thereof.

We entered into a Stock Option Agreement with Mr. Chuang under Plan, dated August 24, 2018, pursuant to which Mr. Chuang was granted an option to purchase 7,000 shares of common stock at a per share purchase price of $9.25 per share. The shares subject to the option vested in two equal installments on the date of the Stock Option Agreement and the sixth month anniversary thereof. 

We entered into a Stock Option Agreement with Mr. Chuang under Plan, dated August 12, 2019, pursuant to which Mr. Chuang was granted an option to purchase 7,000 shares of common stock at a per share purchase price of $3.85 per share. The shares subject to the option vested in two equal installments on the date of the Stock Option Agreement and the sixth month anniversary thereof. 

We entered into a Stock Option Agreement with Ms. Su under Plan, dated August 29, 2017, pursuant to which Ms. Su was granted an option to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock at a per share purchase price of $6.30 per share.  The shares subject to the option vested in two equal installments on the date of the Stock Option Agreement and the sixth month anniversary thereof.

We entered into a Restricted Stock Unit (“RSU”) Award Agreement with Ms. Su under Plan, dated December 13, 2018, pursuant to which Ms. Su was awarded 200,000 restricted stock units (“RSUs”).6,000 RSUs.  Shares of common stock underlying the RSUs are issued to Ms. Lamvested as follows: (i) 50,0001,500 shares were earnedvested on May 3, 2013the date of the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, (ii) 1,500 shares vested on March 31, 2019; (iii) 1,500 shares vested on June 30, 2019; and issued by(iv)1,500 shares vested on September 30, 2019.

We entered into a Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement with Ms. Su under Plan, dated January 31, 2020, pursuant to which Ms. Su was awarded 6,000 RSUs.  Shares of common stock underlying the CompanyRSUs vested as follows: (i) 1,500 shares vested on August 28, 2013,the date of the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, (ii) 50,0001,500 shares were earnedvested on May 3, 2014March 31, 2020; (iii) 1,500 shares vested on June 30, 2020; and issued by the Company(iv)1,500 shares vested on August 7, 2014, (iii) 50,000 shares were earned on May 3, 2015, but have not yet been issued and (iv) 50,000 shares will be earned and issued on May 3, 2016.  However, the issuanceSeptember 30, 2020.

We entered into a Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement with Ms. Su under Plan, dated November 10, 2020, pursuant to which Ms. Su was awarded 6,000 RSUs.  Shares of all sharescommon stock underlying the RSUs will be accelerated if Ms. Lam is terminated due to her death or disability.vest as follows: (i) 1,500 shares vested on the date of the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, (ii) 1,500 shares vested on March 31, 2021; (iii) 1,500 shares will vest on June 30, 2021; and (iv)1,500 shares will vest on September 30, 2021. If Ms. Lam is terminatedSu ceases to be providing continuous services to the Company for any reason, other than death or disability, a pro-rata amount of theany unvested shares underlying the RSUs will be acceleratedforfeited.

The Company effected a 1 for 5 reverse stock split on December 20, 2019 and issued equal to: 50,000, multiplied by the ratio of the number of calendar days lapsed since the most recent annual issuance date divided by 365, but in any case no more than 50,000 shares.  “Disability” generally means that Ms. Lam qualifies for benefits under our long-term disability plan or in the absence ofall references to shares and per share data have been retroactively restated to reflect such plan, a physical or mental impairment that renders her substantially incapable of performing the essential functions of her job.

split.  


Equity Incentive Plan


The Nova Lifestyle, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) was approved by the stockholders at the 2014 Annual Meeting and became effective on May 13, 2014.  The Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted stock and performance awards.  In July 2014, weDuring the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company granted stock and options to its directors and executive officers.

On November 7, 2018, the Company entered into restricted stock awardoption agreements under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan with the fourthree independent directorsmembers of the Board.  Weboard of directors. The Company agreed to grant 5,000the Company’s three independent directors Messrs. Liu, Patel and La, options to purchase an aggregate of 60,000 shares to Mr. Talevich and 4,000of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $5.90 per shares, to Mr. Viotto, Mr. Kam and Mr. Yam respectively, each with a grant dateterm of July 9, 2014.  The restricted period lapses as to twenty-five percent (25%) of the restricted stock on each of the three-month, six-month, nine-month and twelve-month anniversaries of the grant date.  The fair value of these shares was $81,090, which was calculated based on the stock price of $4.77 per share on July 9, 2014.  On March 24, 2015, we granted Mr. Viotto, Mr. Kam and Mr. Yam each 12,195 shares of restricted stock under the Plan.  The fair value of these shares was $40,000, which was calculated based on the stock price of $3.28, the price of a share of our common stock on March 24, 2015.  The Company granted 12,195 shares to Mr. Liu with a grant date of May 19, 2015.  The fair value of these shares was $38,292, which was calculated based on the stock price of $3.14, the price of a share of our common stock on May 19, 2015.


On November 10, 2014, our Board, upon the approval of our Compensation Committee, approved the grant of 46,403 restricted stock units to each of Mr. Wong, Mr. Ho and Ms. Lam.  The fair value of the 46,403 shares was $200,000, which was calculated based on the stock price of $4.31 per share on October 27, 2014, the date the awards were determined by the Compensation Committee.5 years. Twenty-five percent (25%) of those stock options vested on November 30, 2018, 25% vested on February 28, 2019, 25% vested on May 31, 2019, and the restrictedremaining 25% vested on August 31, 2019.

On November 4, 2019, the Company entered into stock unitsoption agreements under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan with the three independent members of the board of directors, Mr. Liu, Mr. La and Mr. Patel. The Company agreed to grant the Company’s three independent directors options to purchase an aggregate of 60,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.80 per share, with a term of 5 years. Twenty-five percent (25%) of those stock options vested on November 30, 2019, 25% vested on February 28, 2020, 25% vested on May 31, 2020, and the remaining 25% vested on August 31, 2020.  

We entered into a Stock Option Agreement with Mr. Chuang under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), dated August 24, 2018, pursuant to which Mr. Chuang was granted an option to purchase 7,000 shares of common stock at a per share purchase price of $9.25 per share. The shares subject to the option vested in two equal installments on the date of the Stock Option Agreement and the sixth month anniversary thereof.

We entered into a Stock Option Agreement with Mr. Chuang under the Plan, dated August 12, 2019, pursuant to which Mr. Chuang was granted an option to purchase 7,000 shares of common stock at a per share purchase price of $3.85 per share. The shares subject to the option vested in two equal installments on the date of the Stock Option Agreement and the sixth month anniversary thereof. 

We entered into a Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement with Ms. Su under the Plan, dated December 13, 2018, pursuant to which Ms. Su was awarded 6,000 RSUs.  Shares of common stock underlying the RSUs vested as follows: (i) 1,500 shares vested on the date of the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, (ii) 1,500 shares vested on March 31, 2019; (iii) 1,500 shares vested on June 30, 2015,2019; and (iv) 1,500 shares vested on September 30, 2019.

We entered into a Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement with Ms. Su under the remaining RSU grantsPlan, dated January 31, 2020, pursuant to which Ms. Su was awarded 6,000 RSUs.  Shares of common stock underlying the RSUs vested as follows: (i) 1,500 shares vested on the date of the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, (ii) 1,500 shares vested on March 31, 2020; (iii) 1,500 shares vested on June 30, 2020; and (iv)1,500 shares vested on September 30, 2020.

We entered into a Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement with Ms. Su under the Plan, dated November 10, 2020, pursuant to which Ms. Su was awarded 6,000 RSUs.  Shares of common stock underlying the RSUs will vest as follows: twenty-five percent (25%)(i) 1,500 shares vested on the date of the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, (ii) 1,500 shares vested on March 31, 2021; (iii) 1,500 shares will vest on June 30, 2015, twenty-five percent (25%)2021; and (iv)1,500 shares will vest on September 30, 2015, and twenty-five percent (25%)2021. If Ms. Su ceases to be providing continuous services to the Company for any reason, any unvested shares will be forfeited.

The Company effected a 1 for 5 reverse stock split on December 31, 2015.

20,

2019 and all references to shares and per share data have been retroactively restated to reflect such split.  

Retirement Plans

We currently do not have any defined contribution plan, defined benefit pension plan, supplemental retirement plan or nonqualified defined contribution plan for our named executive officers and we do not currently intend to establish any such plan.


Outstanding Equity Awards at 20152020 Fiscal Year-End Table


The following table sets forth information concerning the outstanding equity awards for the year ended December 31, 20152020 of each of our named executive officers.

  Option Awards  Stock Awards 
Name 
# of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options -
Exercisable
  
# of Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options -
Unexercisable
  Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#)  
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
  
 
Option
Expiration
Date
  
# of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
  
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That Have
Not Vested
($) (2)
  
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards: #
of
Unearned
Shares,
 Units or
Other
Rights
That Have
Not Vested
  
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards: 
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That Have
Not Vested
($)
 
Ya Ming Wong
 $0  $0  $0  $0   N/A  $0  $0  $0  $0 
                                     
Yuen Ching Ho
  0   0   0   0   N/A   0   0   0   0 
                                     
Thanh H. Lam
  0   0   0   0   N/A   50,000
(1)
  90,000   0   0 
(1) Represents unvested shares of stock under Ms. Lam’s Stock Award Agreement described above under the section entitled “Share Award Agreement.”  Fifty thousand shares were earned on May 3, 2013 and issued to her on August 28, 2013, 50,000 shares were earned on May 3, 2014 and issued to her on August 7, 2014, 50,000 shares were earned on May 3, 2015 and an additional 50,000 shares will be earned on May 3, 2016, subject to earlier issuance on termination of employment.
(2) Value is based on the closing price of $1.80 per share of our common stock on NASDAQ on December 31, 2015.  There is no guarantee that, if or when the stock is issued, it will have this value.
21

  

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

 

Name

 

# of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options - Exercisable

  

# of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options - Unexercisable

  

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#)

  

Option Exercise Price ($)

 

Option Expiration Date

 

# of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested

  

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) (2)

  

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: # of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested

  

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)

 

Thanh H. Lam

  

20,000

   

0

   

0

   

6.30

 

8/29/2022

  

0

   

0

   

0

   

0

 
                                  

Jeffery Chuang

  

7,000

   

0

   

0

   

6.30

 

8/29/2022

  

0

   

0

   

0

   

0

 
                                  

Jeffery Chuang

  

7,000

   

0

   

0

   

9.25

 

8/24/2023

  

0

   

0

   

0

   

0

 
                                  

Jeffery Chuang

  

7,000

   

0

   

0

   

3.85

 

8/12/2024

  

0

   

0

   

0

   

0

 
                                  

Min Su

  

10,000

   

0

   

0

   

6.30

 

8/29/2022

  

0

   

0

   

0

   

0

 

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

Information about our equity compensation plans that were either approved or not approved by our stockholders is as follows (as of December 31, 2015)2020):

Plan Category

 

(a) Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights

  

(b) Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights

  

(c) Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a))

 
             

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

  

340,500

  

$

5.97

   

0.00

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

  

  

$

   

 

Total

  

340,500

  

$

5.97

   

0.00

 


Plan Category (a) Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights  (b) Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights  (c) Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a)) 
          
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
  
  
$
   
3,577,918
 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
  
  
$
   
 
Total
  
  
$
   
3,577,918
 (1)
(1) Under our 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan, the maximum number of shares of common stock available for issuance is 4,000,000.  As of December 31, 2015, a total of 422,082 shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units have been granted pursuant to the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS


Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

On January 1, 2011, Nova Furniture entered into the St. Joyal Shareholder Agreement with St. Joyal, an unrelated California corporation engaged in business investment and development. St. Joyal has introduced us from time to time in 2010 and 2011 to prospective customers through its business contacts with U.S. domestic furniture wholesalers and retailers. St. Joyal did not receive any commissions or compensation from Nova Furniture for these introductions. Pursuant to the St. Joyal Shareholder Agreement, St. Joyal agreed to pay $2.4 million to Nova Furniture by January 1, 2014, for 18.75% of the equity interest in Nova Furniture, of which St. Joyal had paid $1.65 million as of December 31, 2013 and $0.75 million remained outstanding. The parties agreed to extend the payment of the remaining balance until April 15, 2014, at which time the balance was paid in full.  The St. Joyal Shareholder Agreement also provides for St. Joyal to help us expand into the U.S. market by continuing to introduce us to prospective customers and acting as an advisor to us on sales and other business matters. The St. Joyal Shareholder Agreement provides for no compensation to St. Joyal, nor do we have any plans to compensate St. Joyal other than the reimbursement of expenses, of which none have accrued as of December 31, 2015.

On September 30, 2011, Diamond Bar leased a showroom in High Point, North Carolina from the Company’s president.president who is currently also the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. The lease is to be renewed at the beginning ofand has been renewed each year.year since 2011. On March 16, 2015,April 1, 2020, the Company renewed the lease for an additional one year term. The lease was for $31,650 and only for use during two furniture exhibitions to be held betweenthe amount of $34,561, with a term of one year, which was renewed again on April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016.2021. During the years ended December 31, 20152020 and 2014,2019, the Company paid rental amounts of $32,916$34,561 that are included in selling expenses, respectively.

On January 4, 2018, the Company entered into a sales representative agreement with a consulting firm, which is owned by the Chief Executive Officer and $32,283,Chairman of the Board, for sales representative service for a term of two years. On January 4, 2020, the Company renewed the agreement for an additional two years. The Company agreed to compensate the sales representative via commission at predetermined rates of the relevant sales amount. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recorded $296,308 and $126,949 as commission expense to this sales representative consulting firm, respectively.

There were no other transactions with any related persons (as that term is defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K) since the beginning of our last fiscal year, or the fiscal year preceding our last fiscal year, or any currently proposed transaction in which we were or are to be a participant and the amount involved was in excess of $120,000 and in which any related person had a direct or indirect material interest.

22

Prior to June 4, 2013, we relied on our Board to review related party transactions involving us on an ongoing basis to prevent conflicts of interest. The Board would review a transaction in light of the affiliations of the director, officer or employee and the affiliations of such person’s immediate family. Transactions were presented to the Board for approval before they were entered into or, if this was not possible, for ratification after the transaction had occurred. If the Board found that a conflict of interest existed, then it determined the appropriate remedial action, if any. The Board approved or ratified a transaction if it determined that the transaction was consistent with our best interests. These policies and procedures were not evidenced in writing. Upon our establishment of an Audit Committee on June 4, 2013, we granted authority for reviewing related party transactions to the Audit Committee to approve or ratify such related party transactions.

Director Independence

Our Board currently is comprised of seven directors: Mr. Wong  and Ms. Lam, who have served as our directors since June 30, 2011, and Mr. Ho, who has served as a director since May 28, 2013, none of whom qualifies as an “independent” director for the purposes of the NASDAQ listed company standards currently in effect and all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and Mr. Viotto, Mr. Yam, and Mr. Kam, who have served as directors since May 28, 2013 and Mr. Liu who has served as a director since May 19, 2015, all of whom qualify as “independent” directors for the purposes of the NASDAQ listed company standards currently in effect and all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.  We have elected, and propose to elect, the above independent directors to our Board as a requirement to the listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange, and has established an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee as separately-designated committees of the Board with written charters governing such committees. The Board has confirmed Mr. Liu as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined under Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. The composition of our Board, and that of its committees, is subject to the corporate governance provisions of our primary trading market, including the requirement for the appointment of independent directors in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and regulations adopted pursuant thereto by the SEC and the national securities exchange on which our common stock is listed.

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock, to file reports regarding ownership of, and transactions in, our securities with the Commission and to provide us with copies of those filings. Based solely on our review of the copies received by us and on the written representations of certain reporting persons, we believe that all such Section 16(a) filing requirements were timely met during 20152020, except that Bin Luifor the following reports: Form 4 for Min Su reporting a grant of 6,000 RSUs on November 10, 2020 was filed on November 16, 2020, Mr. Ming-Cherng Sky Tsai  did not file a Form 3 within two days of being appointedfor appointment as a director of the Company in July 2020.  The Company effected a 1 for 5 reverse stock split on December 20, 2019 and did not file a Form 4 within 2 days of receiving a grant of 12,195all references to shares of restricted common stock on May 19, 2015.

and per share data have been retroactively restated to reflect such split.

23


AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT


The Audit Committee has furnished the following report on its activities during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.2020. The report is not deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC or subject to the SEC’s proxy rules or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and the report shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any prior or subsequent filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into any such filing. The Audit Committee charter sets forth the responsibilities of the Audit Committee. A copy of the Audit Committee charter is posted on our website at www.novalifestyle.com.

The primary function of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in its oversight and monitoring of our financial reporting and auditing process.  Management has primary responsibility for our financial statements and the overall reporting process, including maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and assessing the effectiveness of our system of internal controls. The independent registered public accounting firm audits the annual financial statements prepared by management, expresses an opinion as to whether those financial statements fairly present our financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and discusses with the Audit Committee any issues they believe should be raised with the Audit Committee. These discussions include a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements. The Audit Committee monitors our processes, relying, without independent verification, on the information provided to it and on the representations made by management and the independent registered public accounting firm.


The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with our management and representatives of Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited,& Co., our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has discussed Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited’s& Co.’s judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of our accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Audit Committee by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114 (which superseded Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61), other standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), rules of the SEC, and other applicable regulations. The Audit Committee also received the written disclosures and the letter from Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited& Co. required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the firm’s independence from our management and has discussed with Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited& Co. its independence. The members of the Audit Committee considered whether the services provided by Crowe Horwath (HK)Centurion ZD CPA Limited,& Co., for the year ended December 31, 2015,2020, are compatible with maintaining their independence. The Board has delegated to the Audit Committee the authority to approve the engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm.


Based upon its reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to our Board that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20152020 for filing with the SEC and the Board approved that recommendation.

 Bin Liu

Umesh Patel (Chairman)

 Michael Viotto

Ming-Cherng Sky Tsai

 Peter Kam

Charlie Huy La

April 13, 2021


April 5, 2016

24

SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

If you wish to have a proposal included in our proxy statement and form of proxy for next year’s annual meeting in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, your proposal must be received by us at our principal executive office on orat a reasonable time before December 6, 2016.the Company begins to print and send its proxy materials for next year’s annual meeting. A proposal which is received after that date or which otherwise fails to meet the requirements for shareholder proposals established by the SEC will not be included. The submission of a shareholder proposal does not guarantee that it will be included in the proxy statement.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have filed reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a website that contains the reports, proxy statements and other information we file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC website is www.sec.gov.

You may request, and we will provide at no cost, a copy of these filings, including any exhibits to such filings, by writing us at the following address: Nova LifeStyle, Inc. 6565 E. Washington Blvd., Commerce, CA 90040, Attn: Corporate Secretary, or by telephoning us at the following number: (323) 888-9999.


888-9999.

ANNUAL REPORT


A copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015,2020, which has been filed with the SEC pursuant to the 1934 Act, is included with this Proxy Statement. Additional copies of this Proxy Statement and/or the Annual Report, as well as copies of any Quarterly Report may be obtained without charge upon written request to Nova LifeStyle, Inc. 6565 E. Washington Blvd., Commerce, CA 90040, Attn: Corporate Secretary, or on the SEC’s internet website at www.sec.gov.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT


You are cordially invited to attend the 20162021 Annual Meeting. However, to ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting, please submit your proxy or voting instructions. Please see the instructions on the proxy and voting instruction card. Submitting a proxy or voting instructions will not prevent you from attending the 20162021 Annual Meeting and voting in person, if you so desire, but will help the Company secure a quorum and reduce the expense of additional proxy solicitation.


In the event that it is not possible or advisable for you to travel to California to attend the 2021 Annual Meeting in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you must vote your shares prior to 2021 Annual Meeting by returning an executed form of proxy as described above. Additionally, you may revoke a previously submitted form of proxy at any time by re-submitting this form of proxy by mail or email or by hand before 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on May 27, 2021.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  

April 5, 201613, 2021

/s/ Thanh H. Lam

 
 

Thanh H. Lam

 

Chairperson of the Board, President and PresidentCEO


ANNEX A

NOVA LIFESTYLE INC.

2021 OMNIBUS EQUITY PLAN

ARTICLE 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1.

PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.

The Nova LifeStyle Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Plan has been established by Nova LifeStyle Inc. to (a) attract and retain high caliber employees, directors, consultants and independent contractors; (b) motivate Participants, by means of appropriate incentives, to achieve long-range goals; (c) provide incentive compensation opportunities that are competitive with those of other similarly-situated companies; and (d) further align Participants’ interests with those of the Corporation’s stockholders through compensation that is based on the Corporation’s common stock; and thereby promote the long-term financial interest of the Corporation, including the growth in value of the Corporation’s equity and enhancement of long-term stockholder return.

Capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in Section 9 of the Plan.

1.2.

TYPES OF AWARDS AVAILABLE UNDER THE PLAN.

The Plan provides for five types of Awards:

Options - the Option Grant Program under which Eligible Persons may be granted Incentive Stock Options or Non-Statutory Stock Options to purchase Shares is set forth in Article 2;

Stock Appreciation Rights - the Stock Appreciation Rights Program under which Eligible Persons may be granted a right to receive the appreciation in the Fair Market Value of Shares in the form of cash or Stock is set forth in Article 3;

Restricted Stock - the Restricted Stock Program under which Eligible Persons may be issued Shares, subject to certain conditions and restrictions, is set forth in Article 4; and

Unrestricted Stock: the Unrestricted Stock Program under which Eligible Persons may be issued Shares, is set forth in Article 5; and

Restricted Stock Units - the Restricted Stock Unit Program under which Eligible Persons may be granted a right to receive Stock upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and restrictions is set forth in Article 6.

The provisions of Articles 1, 7 (to the extent applicable), 8 and 9 apply to each type of Award made under the Plan and govern the interests of all persons under the Plan.

1.3.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

(a)

General Administration. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee (as designated pursuant to Paragraph (b)). Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of the Award Agreements by which Awards shall be evidenced (which shall not be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan), and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, all of which determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive.

(b)

Appointment of Committee. The Board shall appoint the Committee from among its nonemployee members to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Board from time to time may remove members from, or add members to, the Committee and shall fill all vacancies thereon. The Committee at all times shall be composed of two or more nonemployee directors who shall meet all of the following requirements:

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(i)

Disinterested Administration for Rule 16b-3 Exemption. During the period any director is serving on the Committee, he shall (A) not be an officer of the Corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the Corporation, or otherwise currently employed by the Corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the Corporation; (B) not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from the Corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the Corporation for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a director, except for an amount that does not exceed the dollar amount for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Rule 404(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (C) not possess an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Rule 404(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (D) not be engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Rule 404(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The requirements of this subsection are intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and shall be interpreted and construed in a manner which assures compliance with said Rule 16b-3. To the extent said Rule 16b-3 is modified to reduce or increase the restrictions on who may serve on the Committee, the Plan shall be deemed modified in a similar manner;

(ii)

Outside Director. No director serving on the Committee may be a current employee of the Corporation or a former employee of the Corporation (or any corporation affiliated with the Corporation under Code §1504) receiving compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan) during each taxable year during which the director serves on the Committee. Furthermore, no director serving on the Committee shall be or have ever been an officer of the Corporation (or any Code §1504 affiliated corporation), or shall receive remuneration (directly or indirectly) from such a corporation in any capacity other than as a director.

(iii)

Independent Director Rule for Stock Exchange. During the period any director is serving on the Committee, he shall satisfy all requirements to qualify as an independent director for purposes of the rules of the exchange on which the Stock is traded.

(c)

Organization. The Committee may select one of its members as its chairman and shall hold its meetings at such times and at such places as it shall deem advisable. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. Actions may be taken by a majority of the Committee at a meeting or by unanimous written consent of all Committee members in lieu of a meeting. The Committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings and shall report the same to the Board at the meeting next succeeding.

(d)

Powers of Committee. The Committee may make one or more Awards under the Plan to a Participant. The Committee shall decide which Eligible Persons shall receive an Award and when to grant an Award, the type of Award that it shall grant and the number of Shares covered by the Award. The Committee shall also decide the terms, conditions, performance criteria, restrictions and other provisions of the Award. The Committee may grant a single Award or an Award in combination with another Award(s) to a Participant. The Committee may grant an Award as an alternate to or replacement of an existing Award under the Plan or award under any other compensation plan or arrangement of the Corporation or a Related Corporation, including a plan of any entity acquired by the Corporation or a Related Corporation, upon the cancellation of the existing award; provided, that such grant of an alternate or replacement Award may be made only if the alternate or replacement Award does not constitute a repricing of the existing award (as limited by Section 1.5(c) of the Plan). In making Award decisions, the Committee may take into account the nature of services rendered by the individual, the individual’s present and potential contribution to the Corporation’s success and such other factors as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems relevant.

The Committee shall interpret the Plan, establish and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, decide the terms and provisions of any Award Agreements made under the Plan, and determine how to administer the Plan. The Committee also shall decide administrative methods for the exercise of Stock Options. Each Committee decision shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties.

(e)

Delegation by Committee. Unless prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of a stock exchange, the Committee may allocate all or some of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members. The Committee also may delegate some or all of it administrative duties and powers to any Employee, including officers.

(f)

Information to be Furnished to Committee. The records of the Corporation and Related Corporations as to an Eligible Person’s or Participant’s employment, termination of employment, performance of Services, termination of Services, leave of absence, reemployment and compensation shall be conclusive on all persons unless determined to be manifestly incorrect. Participants and other persons entitled to benefits under the Plan must, as a condition to the receipt or settlement of any Award hereunder, furnish the Committee with such evidence, data or information as the Committee reasonably considers desirable to carry out the terms of the Plan.

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(g)

Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification that they have as members of the Board or the Committee, the Corporation shall indemnify the members of the Committee (and any designees of the Committee, as permitted under Paragraph (e)), to the extent permitted by applicable law, against reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees) actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Award awarded hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved to the extent required by and in the manner provided by the articles of incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation relating to indemnification of the members of the Board) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to such matters as to which it is adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such Committee member or members (or their designees) did not act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation.

1.4.

ELIGIBILITY.

The persons eligible to participate in this Plan (“Eligible Persons”) are as follows:

(a)

Employees. Employees (including Employees who are members of the Board and Employees who reside in countries other than the United States), provided that awards of Incentive Stock Options shall only be made to Employees.

(b)

Outside Directors. Non-Employee members of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Corporation.

(c)

Consultants. Other consultants and independent advisors who provide bona-fide services to the Corporation (or any Related Corporation).

(d)

New Hires. Persons who have been offered employment by the Corporation or a Related Corporation, provided that such a prospective Employee may not be granted an Incentive Stock Option until he or she becomes an Employee and may not receive any payment or exercise any right relating to an Award until such person begins employment with the Corporation or the Related Corporation.

1.5

STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

(a)

Shares Available for Issuance.

(i)

Reserve. The Stock issuable under the Plan shall be Shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Stock, including Shares repurchased by the Corporation as treasury shares. The maximum number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be 3,000,000 Shares.

(ii)

Share Use. Any Shares granted under the Plan that are forfeited because of the failure to meet an Award contingency or condition shall again be available for issuance pursuant to new Awards granted under the Plan. To the extent any Shares covered by an Award are not delivered to a Participant or beneficiary because the Award is forfeited or canceled, such Shares shall not be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under the Plan. However, should the Exercise Price of an Option under the Plan be paid with Shares or should Shares otherwise issuable under the Plan be withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the exercise or vesting of an Award under the Plan, then such number of Shares shall be treated for purposes of this Paragraph as having been issued to the holder and shall not be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the above, Shares repurchased by the Company using stock option exercise proceeds and the total number of Shares underlying a SAR granted and exercised under the Plan whether or not a SAR is settled cash or Shares, or a combination thereof, shall not be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan.

(iii)

Individual Participant Limitations. The maximum aggregate cash amount payable under the Plan for any Awards intended to constitute performance-based compensation to any Participant in any single calendar year shall not exceed $1,000,000. Subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph (b) below, the maximum aggregate number of Shares (including Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, and RSUs) that may be granted to any Participant in any calendar year shall be 1,000,000 Shares.

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FORM OF PROXY
GRAPHIC

(b)

Adjustment to Shares and Awards.

(i)

Recapitalization. If the Corporation is involved in a corporate transaction or any other event which affects the Shares (including, without limitation, any recapitalization, reclassification, reverse or forward stock split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares), then the Committee shall adjust Awards to preserve the benefits or potential benefits of the Awards as follows:

(1)

The Committee shall take action to adjust the number and kind of Shares that are issuable under the Plan and the maximum limits for each type of grant;

(2)

The Committee shall take action to adjust the number and kind of Shares subject to outstanding Awards;

(3)

The Committee shall take action to adjust the Exercise Price or base price of outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights; and

(4)

The Committee shall make any other equitable adjustments.

Only whole Shares shall be issued in making the above adjustments. Further, the number of Shares available under the Plan or the number of Shares subject to any outstanding Awards shall be the next lower number of Shares, so that fractions are rounded downward. Any adjustment to or assumption of ISOs under this Section shall be made in accordance with Code §424. If the Corporation issues any rights to subscribe for additional Shares pro rata to holders of outstanding Shares of the class or classes of stock then set aside for the Plan, then each Participant shall be entitled to the same rights on the same basis as holders of outstanding Shares with respect to such portion of the Participant’s Award as is exercised on or prior to the record date for determining stockholders entitled to receive or exercise such rights.

(ii)

Reorganization. If the Corporation is part of any reorganization involving merger, consolidation, acquisition of the Common Stock or acquisition of the assets of the Corporation, the Committee, in its discretion, may decide that:

(1)

any or all outstanding Awards shall pertain to and apply, with appropriate adjustment as determined by the Committee, to the securities of the resulting corporation to which a holder of the number of Shares subject to each such Award would have been entitled;

(2)

any or all outstanding Options or SARs shall become immediately fully exercisable (to the extent permitted under federal or state securities laws) and shall remain exercisable for the remaining term of the Options or SARs under the terms of the Plan;

(3)

any or all Options or SARs shall become immediately fully exercisable (to the extent permitted under federal or state securities laws) and shall be terminated after giving at least 30 days’ notice to the Participants to whom such Options or SARs have been granted; and/or

(4)

any or all unvested Restricted Stock Units AND Restricted Stock on which restrictions have not yet lapsed shall become immediately fully vested, nonforfeitable and payable.

(iii)

Limits on Adjustments. Any issuance by the Corporation of stock of any class other than the Stock, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to any Award, except as specifically provided otherwise in this Plan. The grant of Awards under the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or authority of the Corporation to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate or dissolve, or to liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets. All adjustments the Committee makes under this Plan shall be conclusive.

(c)

No Repricings. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Corporation (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of Shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the Exercise Price of outstanding Options or the base price of SARs or to cancel outstanding Options or SARS in exchange for cash, other awards or Options or SARs with an Exercise Price or base price that is less than the Exercise Price of the original Options or base price of the original SARs without stockholder approval.


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ARTICLE 2

OPTION GRANT PROGRAM

2.1

TERMS.

The grant of an Option entitles the Participant to purchase the number of Shares designated in the Award Agreement for such Option at an Exercise Price established by the Committee. Options may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Statutory Stock Options, as determined in the discretion of the Committee. Each Option shall be evidenced by and conditional on an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Committee, which Award Agreement shall specify whether the Option is an ISO or NSO. No ISO may be granted to any person more than ten (10) years after the Effective Date of the Plan. Award Agreements need not be identical, but shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof, by reference in the Award Agreements, or otherwise) the terms specified below and be subject to the provisions of the Plan applicable to such Options.

To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant), subject to ISOs granted to any Participant under the Plan and any other option plan of the Corporation or any Related Corporation that first become exercisable in any calendar year, including any ISOs which become exercisable on an accelerated basis during such year, exceeds the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), such excess Options shall be treated as NSOs.

2.2

VESTING.

Each Option shall vest and become exercisable at such time or times, during such period, and for such number of Shares as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing the Option; provided that no Option may be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years (or, in the case of an ISO granted to a 10% Stockholder, five (5) years) from the date of grant. Vesting may be conditioned on the continued performance of Services or the achievement of performance conditions measured on an individual, corporate or other basis, or any combination thereof.

2.3

EXERCISE PRICE.

The Exercise Price shall be fixed by the Committee, provided that the Exercise Price for any Option shall never be less than one hundred percent (100%) (or, in the case of a 10% Stockholder receiving an ISO, 110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on the Option grant date.

2.4

METHOD OF EXERCISE.

The Participant may exercise the Option by delivering a written notice of exercise to the Corporation, in the form and manner designated by the Committee. The notice shall be effective only if accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price in full. The Committee shall have the discretion to provide that the Exercise Price may be payable, to the extent permitted by applicable law, in one or more of the forms specified below:

(a)

Cash/Check. Cash or check made payable to the Corporation;

(b)

Shares Owned. By delivery to the Corporation of Shares owned by the Participant (by either actual delivery of Shares or by attestation, with such Shares valued at Fair Market Value as of the day of exercise) with such documentation as the Committee may require or in such other manner as the Committee may require;

(c)

Share Withholding. By withholding Shares that would otherwise be acquired on exercise having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the Exercise Price;

(d)

Cashless Exercise. By cashless exercise through delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Corporation the amount of proceeds from a sale of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the Exercise Price; and/or

(e)

Other Forms. In any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee, so long as it does not result in the deferral of recognition of income or a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Code §409A.

2.5

SETTLEMENT OF AWARD.

The Corporation shall deliver Shares as soon as practicable after the Corporation’s receipt of the Participant’s properly completed notice of exercise and payment in full of the Exercise Price as described in Section 2.4. Such Shares shall be subject to such conditions as the Committee may establish, except that such conditions may not cause the deferral of recognition of income.

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2.6

CANCELLATION AND REGRANT OF OPTIONS.

The Committee shall have the authority to effect, at any time and from time to time, with the consent of the affected Participant, the cancellation of any or all outstanding Options under the Option Grant Program and to grant in substitution new Options covering the same or different number of Shares which might have an Exercise Price per Share no less than the Fair Market Value per Share on the new grant date. The cancellation and grant need not be simultaneous.

ARTICLE 3

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS PROGRAM

3.1

TERMS.

A Stock Appreciation Right (“SAR”) entitles the Participant to receive, with respect to each Share subject to the SAR, the appreciation in the Fair Market Value over a base price established by the Committee (as determined below), payable in cash or Stock, or a combination of both, as determined by the Committee at the time of payment. Each SAR shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Committee. Award Agreements evidencing SARs need not be identical, but shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof, by reference in the Award Agreements, or otherwise) the terms specified below and be subject to the provisions of the Plan applicable to such SARs.

3.2

VESTING.

The SAR shall cover a specified number of Shares and shall vest and become exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish; provided that no SAR may be exercisable more than ten (10) years after the date of grant unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. Vesting may be conditioned on the continued performance of Services or the achievement of performance conditions measured on an individual, corporate or other basis, or any combination thereof.

3.3

VALUE.

The base price in effect for Shares covered by a SAR shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant. In no event, however, may the base price per Share be less than the Fair Market Value per Share on the grant date. The Participant will receive upon exercise of the SAR an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the surrender date over the base price of a Share (the “Spread”) multiplied by the number of Shares covered by the SAR Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide at the time it grants a SAR that the Spread covered by such SAR may not exceed a specified amount.

3.4

METHOD OF EXERCISE.

The Participant may exercise the SAR by delivering a written notice of exercise to the Corporation, in the form and manner designated by the Committee. 

3.5

SETTLEMENT OF AWARD.

To the extent the Committee determines that the Participant will receive cash upon exercise of a SAR, the Corporation shall deliver the cash amount which becomes due upon exercise of a SAR as soon as administratively practicable after the Corporation’s receipt of the Participant’s properly completed notice of exercise. To the extent the Committee determines that Shares will be delivered to the Participant upon exercise of a SAR, the Shares shall be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee may establish, except that such conditions may not cause the deferral of recognition of income.

ARTICLE 4

RESTRICTED STOCK PROGRAM

4.1

TERMS.

A Restricted Stock Award is a grant of Shares subject to conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee. Each Restricted Stock Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Committee. Award Agreements evidencing Restricted Stock Awards need not be identical, but shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof, by reference in the Award Agreements, or otherwise) the terms specified below and be subject to the provisions of the Plan applicable to such Restricted Stock Awards.

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4.2

LAPSE OF RESTRICTIONS.

Each Restricted Stock Award shall be, for the applicable Period of Restriction determined by the Committee, subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall determine. Lapse of restrictions may be conditioned on the continued performance of Services or the achievement of performance conditions measured on an individual, corporate or other basis, or any combination thereof.

4.4

SHARE ESCROW/LEGENDS.

(a)

Legend. Unless the certificate representing shares of the Restricted Stock are deposited with a custodian (as described in subparagraph (b) below), each certificate shall bear the following legend (in addition to any other legend required by law):

“The transferability of this certificate and the shares represented hereby are subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions (including forfeiture and restrictions against transfer) contained in the Nova LifeStyle Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Plan and a Restricted Stock Agreement dated __________, ____, between ________________ and Nova LifeStyle Inc. The Plan and the Restricted Stock Agreement are on file in the office of the Corporate Secretary of Nova LifeStyle Inc.

Such legend shall be removed or canceled from any certificate evidencing shares of Restricted Stock as of the date that such Shares become nonforfeitable.

(b)

Deposit with Custodian. As an alternative to delivering a stock certificate to the Participant, the Committee may deposit or transfer such Shares electronically to a custodian designated by the Committee. The Committee shall cause the custodian to issue a receipt for the Shares to the Participant for any Restricted Stock so deposited. The custodian shall hold the Shares and deliver the same to the Participant in whose name the Restricted Stock evidenced thereby are registered only after such Shares become nonforfeitable.

ARTICLE 5

UNRESTRICTED STOCK PROGRAM

The Committee may, in its sole discretion, award Unrestricted Stock to any Participant as a stock bonus or otherwise pursuant to which such Participant may receive shares of Stock free of restrictions or limitations that would otherwise be applied under Section 4 of this Plan.

ARTICLE 6

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT (RSU) PROGRAM

6.1

TERMS.

A Restricted Stock Unit Award entitles the Participant to receive Shares upon the vesting of the Award. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in the form approved by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan, Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee. Award Agreements evidencing Restricted Stock Unit Awards need not be identical, but shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof, by reference in the Award Agreements, or otherwise) the terms specified below and be subject to the provisions of the Plan applicable to Restricted Stock Unit Awards.

6.2

VESTING.

Each Restricted Stock Unit shall be subject to such vesting conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall determine and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing the RSU. Vesting may be conditioned on the continued performance of Services or the achievement of performance conditions measured on an individual, corporate or other basis, or any combination thereof.

6.3

SETTLEMENT OF AWARD.

As soon as practicable following the date each Restricted Stock Unit vests, the Corporation shall deliver to the Participant the Share underlying such Restricted Stock Unit, subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee may establish.

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ARTICLE 7

PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION

7.1

AWARDS OF PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION.

At its discretion, the Committee may make Awards to Participants intended to comply with the performance-based compensation. In such event, the number of Shares becoming exercisable or transferable or amounts payable with respect to grants of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, and/or awards of Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be determined based on the attainment of written performance goals based on the performance measures set forth in Section 7.2 and which have been approved by the Committee for a specified performance period. The performance goals shall state, in terms of an objective formula or standard, the method of computing the amount of compensation payable to the Participant if the goal is attained.

7.2

PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

Performance measures may include the following: (i) earnings before all or any taxes (“EBT”); (ii) earnings before all or any of interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”); (iii) earnings before all or any of interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization and rent (“EBITDAR”); (iv) earnings before all or any of interest expense and taxes (“EBIT”); (v) net earnings; (vi) net income; (vii) operating income or margin; (viii) earnings per share; (ix) growth; (x) return on stockholders’ equity; (xi) capital expenditures; (xii) expenses and expense ratio management; (xiii) return on investment; (xiv) improvements in capital structure; (xv) profitability of an identifiable business unit or product; (xvi) profit margins; (xvii) stock price; (xviii) market share; (xvix) revenues; (xx) costs; (xxi) cash flow; (xxii) working capital; (xxiii) return on assets; (xxiv) economic value added; (xxv) industry indices; (xxvi) peer group performance; (xxvii) regulatory ratings; (xxviii) asset quality; (xxix) gross or net profit; (xxx) net sales; (xxxi) total stockholder return; (xxxii) sales (net or gross) measured by product line, territory, customers or other category; (xxxiii) earnings from continuing operations; (xxxiv) net worth; (xxxv) levels of expense, receivables, cost or liability by category, operating unit or any other delineation, or any other measures approved by the Committee. Performance Measures may relate to the Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates, one or more of its divisions or units or any combination of the foregoing, on a consolidated or nonconsolidated basis, and may be applied on an absolute basis or be relative to one or more peer group companies or indices, or any combination thereof, all as the Committee determines. In addition, the performance measures may be calculated without regard to extraordinary items.

7.3

PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND CERTIFICATION.

Awards intended to be performance-based compensation shall be granted by a committee of “outside directors.” Pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.3(d) hereof, the Committee may establish a subcommittee, if necessary, to make such grants. Any payment of compensation with respect to an Award that is intended to be performance-based compensation will be, subject to the written certification of the Committee that the performance measures were satisfied prior to the payment of the performance-based compensation. This written certification may include the approved minutes of the Committee meeting in which the certification is made.

ARTICLE 8

RULES APPLICABLE TO ALL AWARDS

8.1

TERMINATION OF SERVICE.

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and included in the Participant’s Award Agreement, in the event that a Participant’s Service with the Corporation and all Related Corporations is terminated for any reason, all Awards held by the Participant which are unexercised or have not yet vested as of such date shall expire, terminate, and become unexercisable as of such termination date, provided, however, that if the Participant’s Service terminates for reasons other than Cause, all outstanding vested Options and SARs held by the Participant as of his or her termination date shall continue to be exercisable until the earlier of the expiration of their term or the date that is three months after such termination date.

8.2

ACCELERATION OF VESTING.

The Committee shall have complete discretion, subject to the terms of the Plan, exercisable either at the time an Award is granted or at any time while the Award remains outstanding, to accelerate the vesting of or lapse of restrictions on any Award.

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8.3

EXTENSION OF EXERCISE PERIOD.

The Committee shall have complete discretion, subject to the terms of the Plan, exercisable either at the time an Award is granted or at any time while the Award remains outstanding, to extend the period of time for which the Option or SAR is to remain exercisable following the Participant’s termination of Service from the limited exercise period otherwise in effect for that Option or SAR to such greater period of time as the Committee shall deem appropriate, but in no event beyond the expiration of the Option or SAR term, and/or to permit the Option or SAR to be exercised, during the applicable post-termination exercise period, not only with respect to the number of vested Shares for which such Option or SAR is exercisable at the time of the Participant’s termination of Service but also with respect to one or more additional installments in which the Participant would have vested had the Participant continued in Service. Such an extension may result in recharacterization of an ISO as a Non-Statutory Stock Option.

8.4

TRANSFERABILITY.

All rights with respect to an Award granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be available during his or her lifetime only to such Participant, except as designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that the Committee shall have the discretion to provide that an Award other than an ISO may, in connection with the Participant’s estate plan, be assigned in whole or in part during the Participant’s lifetime to a trust established exclusively for one or more members of the Participant’s immediate family. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for the Award immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Committee may deem appropriate. Any assignment shall not affect the Participant’s obligations to satisfy applicable tax withholding as described herein. The Participant may also designate in writing one or more persons as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of his or her outstanding Awards, and those Awards shall, except to the extent that any lifetime transfer as provided herein, automatically be transferred to such beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the Participant’s death while holding those Awards. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Corporation, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Corporation during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, benefits under an Award remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate. A beneficiary or beneficiaries shall take the transferred Awards subject to all the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement, including (without limitation) the limited time period during which any Award may be exercised following the Participant’s death.

8.5

STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS.

Except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement, the Participant (or his or her beneficiaries) holding an Award shall have no stockholder rights with respect to the Shares subject to the Award until he or she has received and become a holder of record of the Shares underlying the Award or, in the case of Restricted Stock, all restrictions have lapsed.

8.6

TAX WITHHOLDING.

(a)

Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Corporation’s obligation to deliver Shares under the Plan shall, to the extent required by Federal, state, local or foreign law, be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, state, local and foreign income and employment tax withholding requirements (or, in the case of Restricted Stock, the making of arrangements satisfactory to the Corporation regarding such payment). Whenever under the Plan payments are to be made in cash, such payments may be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding requirements.

(b)

Tender of Shares. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide any or all Participants granted Non-Statutory Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock, or RSUs settled in Stock under the Plan with the right to use Shares in satisfaction of all or part of the applicable withholding taxes to which such Participants may become subject in connection with the exercise of their Options or SARs, the vesting of their Restricted Stock, or the settlement of their Restricted Stock Units or other Awards in Stock. Such right may be provided to any such Participant in either or both of the following formats:

(i)

The election to have the Corporation withhold, from the Shares otherwise issuable upon the exercise of the NSO or SAR, the vesting of the Restricted Stock, or the settlement of Restricted Stock Units or other Awards in Stock, a portion of those Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the applicable withholding taxes (not to exceed the minimum required by law) designated by the Participant.

(ii)

The election to deliver to the Corporation, at the time the NSO or SAR is exercised, the Restricted Stock vests, or the Restricted Stock Units or other Awards are settled in Stock, one or more Shares previously acquired by such Participant (other than in connection with the Option or SAR exercise, Restricted Stock vesting or Restricted Stock Units or other Awards in Stock settlement triggering the withholding taxes) with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the withholding taxes (not to exceed the minimum required by law) designated by the Participant.

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ARTICLE 9

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:

9.1 Award Agreement shall mean a written document setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted to a Participant under the Plan, and is a condition to the grant of an Award hereunder.

9.2 Awards shall mean any award or benefit granted to any Participant under the Plan, including, without limitation, the grant of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Unrestricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.

9.3 Board shall mean the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

9.4 Cause shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by the Participant, any act or omission by such person constituting a breach or default under any written or oral agreement between such person and the Corporation (or any Related Corporation), any unauthorized use or disclosure by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any Related Corporation), or any other intentional act by such person adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Related Corporation) in a material manner. The foregoing definition shall not be deemed to be inclusive of all the acts or omissions which the Corporation (or any Related Corporation) may consider as grounds for the dismissal or discharge of any Participant or other person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Related Corporation).

9.5 Change of Control shall mean the first of the following events to occur:

(a)

The acquisition by any one person or more than one person acting as a group (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5)(v)(B)), other than the Corporation, any Related Corporation, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Corporation or any Related Corporation, (a “Person”) of any of stock of the Corporation that, together with stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Corporation. For purposes of this Paragraph (a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) the acquisition of additional stock by a Person who is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Corporation, (ii) any acquisition in which the Corporation does not remain outstanding thereafter and (iii) any acquisition pursuant to a transaction which complies with Paragraph (c) below. An increase in the percentage of stock owned by any one Person as a result of a transaction in which the Corporation acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this Paragraph;

(b)

The replacement of individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute a majority of the Board, during any twelve (12) month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the Board before the date of the appointment or election, provided that, if the Corporation is not the relevant corporation for which no other corporation is a majority stockholder for purposes of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5)(iv)(A)(2), this Paragraph (b) shall be applied instead with respect to the members of the board of the directors of such relevant corporation for which no other corporation is a majority stockholder;

(c)

The acquisition by any one person or more than one person acting as a group (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi)(D)), other than the Corporation, a Related Corporation or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Corporation or any Related Corporation, during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such by such person or persons, of ownership of stock of the Corporation possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Corporation. For purposes of this Paragraph (c), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) the acquisition of additional control by a person or more than one person acting as a group who are considered to effectively control the Corporation within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi) and (ii) any acquisition pursuant to a transaction which complies with Paragraph (a); or

(d)

The acquisition by any individual person or more than one person acting as a group (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii)(C)), other than a transfer to a related person within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii)(B), during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons, of assets from the Corporation that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Corporation immediately prior to such acquisition(s). For purposes of this Paragraph (d), “gross fair market value” means the value of the assets of the Corporation, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

The above definition of “Change of Control” shall be interpreted by the Board, in good faith, to apply in a similar manner to transactions involving partnerships and partnership interests, and to comply with Code §409A and official guidance issued thereunder from time to time.

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9.6 Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

9.7 Committee shall mean the particular entity, whether the Committee or the Board, which is authorized to administer the Plan, to the extent such entity is carrying out its administrative functions under the Plan.

9.8 Corporation shall mean Nova LifeStyle Inc., a Nevada corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of Nova LifeStyle Inc. which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan.

9.9 Disability shall mean, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or in an employment, change of control or similar agreement in effect between the Participant and the Corporation or Related Corporation, the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; or, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Corporation or a Related Corporation.

9.10 Effective Date shall mean the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

9.11 Eligible Persons shall mean persons eligible to participate in the Plan, as described in Section 1.4.

9.12 Employee shall mean an employee of the Corporation (or any Related Corporation).

9.13 Exercise Price shall mean the per Share exercise price of an Option as determined under Article 2 of the Plan.

9.14 Fair Market Value per Share on the relevant date shall mean, if the Shares are duly listed on a national securities exchange or on The Nasdaq Stock Market, the closing price of the Stock on the relevant date, or, if there are no sales on such date, on the next preceding day on which there were sales, or if the Shares are not so listed, the fair market value of the Shares for the relevant date, as determined by the Committee in good faith and in compliance with Code §409A.

9.15 Incentive Stock Option or ISO shall mean an Option that is intended to qualify as, and that satisfies the requires applicable to, an “incentive stock option” described in Code § 422(b).

9.16 Non-Statutory Stock Option or NSO shall mean an Option that is not intended to be, or does not qualify as, an Incentive Stock Option.

9.17 Option shall mean a right to acquire Stock of the Corporation pursuant to a Non-Statutory Stock Option or Incentive Stock Option granted under Article 2 of the Plan.

9.18 Participant shall mean any Eligible Person who receives an Award under the Plan, and includes those former Eligible Persons who have certain post-termination rights under the terms of an Award granted under the Plan.

9.19 Reserved.

9.20 Period of Restriction shall mean the period(s) during which the transfer of an Award or the Shares subject to an Award is limited in some way (based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals, or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, at its discretion) or the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, pursuant to the terms of this Plan or the applicable Award Agreement.

9.21 Plan shall mean the Nova LifeStyle Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Plan, as set forth in this document.

9.22 Related Corporation shall mean any affiliate of the Corporation; provided, however, that with respect to any ISO and for purposes of the definition of 10% Stockholder, “Related Corporation” shall mean any Corporation during any period in which it is a “parent corporation” (as that term is defined in Code §424(e)) with respect to the Corporation or a “subsidiary corporation” (as that term is defined in Code §424(f)) with respect to the Corporation.

9.23 Restricted Stock shall mean a grant of Shares granted under Article 4 of the Plan that is subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee determines and sets forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

9.24 Restricted Stock Unit or RSUs shall mean a right to receive Shares upon satisfaction of certain vesting requirements pursuant to Article 6 of the Plan.

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9.25 Service shall mean the performance of services for the Corporation (or any Related Corporation) by a person in the capacity of an Employee, a non-Employee member of the board of directors, or a consultant or independent advisor, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in the Award Agreement.

9.26 Shares or Stock shall mean Shares of common stock of the Corporation, par value $0.001 per share.

9.27 Stock Appreciation Rights or SARs shall mean a right to receive the appreciation in the Fair Market Value of Shares, as granted under Article 3 of the Plan.

9.28 10% Stockholder shall mean the owner of stock (as determined under Code §424(d)) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Related Corporation).

ARTICLE 10

MISCELLANEOUS

10.1

EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN.

(a)

Effective Date. The Plan shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the Board, subject to approval by the stockholders of the Corporation at the first annual meeting of stockholders held following the adoption by the Board, or any special meeting of the stockholders duly called. Options may be granted under the Option Grant Program at any time on or after the Effective Date. However, until the stockholders approve the Plan, no Options or SARs granted under the Plan may be exercised, no Restricted or Unrestricted Stock shall be issued under the Plan and no Award may be settled in Stock under the Plan. If stockholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12) months after the Effective Date, then all Awards shall be null and void.

(b)

Termination Date. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Plan’s effective date, or (ii) the date on which all Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been issued as fully-vested Shares. Should the Plan terminate on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date, then all Awards outstanding at that time shall continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Award Agreements.

10.2

AMENDMENT OF PLAN.

(a)

Amendment and Termination By the Board. Subject to Paragraph (b) below, the Board shall have the power at any time to add to, amend, modify or repeal any of the provisions of the Plan, to suspend the operation of the entire Plan or any of its provisions for any period or to terminate the Plan in whole or in part. In the event of any such action, the Committee shall prepare written procedures which, when approved by the Board, shall govern the administration of the Plan resulting from such addition, amendment, modification, repeal, suspension or termination. The Committee may amend any Award Agreement that it previously has authorized under the Plan and the applicable Participant; provided, however, that no Award Agreement may be amended to reprice or constructively reprice any Award.

(b)

Restrictions on Amendment and Termination. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (a) above, the following restrictions shall apply to the Board’s authority under Paragraph (a) above:

(i)

Prohibition Against Adverse Effects on Outstanding Awards. No addition, amendment, modification, repeal, suspension or termination shall adversely affect, in any way, the rights of the Participants who have outstanding Awards without the consent of such Participants;

(ii)

Stockholder Approval Required for Certain Modifications. No modification or amendment of the Plan may be made without the prior approval of the stockholders of the Company if (i) such modification or amendment would cause the applicable portions of the Plan to fail to qualify as an ISO plan pursuant to Code §422, (ii) such modification or amendment would materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under the Plan, (iii) such modification or amendment would materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under the Plan, or (iv) such modification or amendment would materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan. Clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) of the preceding sentence shall be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b)(2) of Rule 16b-3 of the 1934 Act. Stockholder approval shall be made by a majority of the votes cast at a duly held meeting at which a quorum representing a majority of all outstanding voting stock is, either in person or by proxy, present and voting, or by the written consent in lieu of a meeting of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting stock or such greater number of shares of voting stock as may be required by the Company’s articles or certificate of incorporation and bylaws and by applicable law; provided, however, that for modifications described in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, such stockholder approval, whether by vote or by written consent in lieu of a meeting, must be solicited substantially in accordance with the rules and regulations in effect under Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act as required by paragraph (b)(2) of Rule 16b-3 of the 1934 Act.

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10.3

CONTINUING SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE; LEGENDS.

The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required. If at any time on or after the Effective Date, the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine that the requirements of any applicable federal or state securities laws should fail to be met, no Shares issuable under Awards and no Options or SARs shall be exercisable until the Committee has determined that these requirements have again been met. The Committee may suspend the right to exercise an Options or SAR at any time when it determines that allowing the exercise and issuance of Shares would violate any federal or state securities or other laws, and may provide that any time periods to exercise the Option or SAR are extended during a period of suspension. With respect to “Insiders,” transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee. Each Award Agreement and each certificate representing securities granted pursuant to the Plan (including securities issuable pursuant to the terms of derivative securities) may bear such restrictive legend(s) as the Corporation deems necessary or advisable under applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws. If any Award is made to a Participant who is subject to the Corporation’s policy regarding trading of its Stock by its officers and directors and Shares are scheduled to be delivered under the Plan to the Participant on a day (the “original distribution date”) that does not occur during a “window period” applicable to the Participant, as determined by the Corporation in accordance with such policy, then the Corporation can choose not to deliver such Shares on such original distribution date and instead to deliver such Shares on the first day of the next “window period” applicable to the Participant pursuant to such policy, but in no event later than the March 15 following the close of the calendar year in which such Shares were no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (within the meaning of Code §409A).

10.4

LIQUIDATION OF THE CORPORATION.

In the event of the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation, any outstanding Awards granted under this Plan shall be deemed automatically canceled without any action on the part of the Corporation and without regard to or limitation by any other provision of the Plan.

10.5

NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS.

Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Related Corporation employing or retaining such person) or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time for any reason, with or without Cause.

10.6

RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

For all purposes of this Plan, except as otherwise expressly provided:

(a)

all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles;

(b)

all references in this Plan to designated “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and other subdivisions of the body of this Plan except to the extent identified as references to sections or subsections of the Code;

(c)

the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Plan as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

(d)

whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Plan, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

(e)

whenever this Plan refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless business days are expressly specified;

(f)

a reference to any legislation or to any provision of any legislation shall include such legislation, as amended through the date hereof, and all subsequent amendments or modification thereto or re-enactment thereof, any legislative provision substituted therefor and all regulations and statutory instruments issued thereunder or pursuant thereto; and

(g)

except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

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10.7

UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN.

The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Corporation, nothing set forth herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Corporation. In its sole discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver Stock or a payment in lieu of or with respect to Awards hereunder, provided, however, that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan.

10.8

AWARDS TO PARTICIPANTS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.

The Committee may modify the terms of any Award under the Plan made to or held by a Participant who is then resident or primarily employed outside the United States in any manner deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate in order that the Award shall conform to laws, regulations, and customs of the country in which the Participant is then resident or primarily employed, or so that the value and other benefits of the Award to the Participant, as affected by foreign tax laws and other restrictions applicable as a result of the Participant’s residence or employment abroad, shall be comparable to the value of such an Award to a Participant who is resident or primarily employed in the United States. Such authorization shall extend to and include establishing one or more separate sub-plans which include provisions not inconsistent with the Plan that comply with statutory or regulatory requirements imposed by the foreign country or countries in which the Participant resides.

10.9

SEVERABILITY.

In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

10.10

GOVERNING LAW.

To the extent not preempted by United States Federal law, the Plan, and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Nevada.

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