UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

(Rule 14a-101)

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

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.)

 

Filed by Registrantþ 
   
Filed by Party other than Registrant 
   
Check the appropriate box:  

Preliminary Proxy StatementConfidential, for Use of the Commission
   Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
   
þDefinitive Proxy StatementDefinitive Additional Materials
   
Soliciting Materials Pursuant to §240.14a-12  

 

VerifyMe, Inc.

 (Name(Name of Registrant as Specified In Itsin its Charter)

 

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

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
  
þNo fee required.
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1)Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2)Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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$_____ per share as determined under Rule 0-11 under the Exchange Act.
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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)Amount previously paid:materials
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)1) and 0-11
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VerifyMe, Inc.

Clinton Square, 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 510

Rochester, NY 14604

(585) 736-9400

VERIFYME, INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERSSTOCKHOLDERS
JUNE 9, 2022

 

To the shareholdersThe annual meeting of VerifyMe:

We are pleased to invite you to attend the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Shareholdersstockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of VerifyMe, Inc. will be held on Thursday, June 9, 2022, at 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The Annual Meeting will be conducted as a Nevada corporation (“VerifyMe” orvirtual meeting of stockholders by means of a live webcast. We believe that hosting a virtual meeting will enable greater stockholder participation from any location. You will be able to participate in the “Company”), whichvirtual annual meeting, vote your shares and submit questions during the annual meeting via the internet by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VRME2022. There will take place at 10:00 a.m., local time, on November 19, 2019 atnot be a physical meeting location and you will not be able to attend the offices of Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A., 3001 PGA Boulevard, Suite 305, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410,Annual Meeting in person. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the meeting.

The Annual Meeting is being held for the following purposes:purposes, which are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement:

 

1.·Toto elect seven directors;

 

2.·To authorize the Board of Directors to effect, in its discretion, a reverse stock split of the outstanding and treasury shares of the Company’s common stock at a ratio ranging from 1-for-25 to 1-for-120, to be determined by the Board of Directors, and to approve a correspondingthe amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles2020 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the authorized number of Incorporation, as amended, to effectshares available for future issuance under the reverse stock split;plan by 1,000,000 shares;

 

3.·Toto ratify the selectionappointment of MaloneBailey, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019;2022; and

 

4.·

To approve an adjournment of the Annual Meeting to a later date or time, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Annual Meeting to approve any of the proposals presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting; and

5.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

Meeting or at any adjournment of the meeting.

 

The BoardOur board of Directorsdirectors has fixed the close of business on September 25, 2019April 13, 2022, as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment of the Annual Meeting.

We are following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s “e-proxy” rules that allow public companies to furnish proxy materials to stockholders over the internet. The “e-proxy” rules remove the requirement for public companies to automatically send stockholders a full, printed copy of proxy materials and allow them instead to deliver to their stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Record Date”“Notice of Internet Availability”) and to provide online access to the documents. The Notice of Internet Availability provides instructions on how to view our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the internet and vote, and request a determinationprinted copy of shareholdersthe proxy materials. These “e-proxy” rules allow us to provide you with the information you need, while lowering the cost of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of our Annual Meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Patrick White

Chief Executive Officer

Rochester, New York

April 25, 2022

Your Vote is Important. Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, we hope you will vote as soon as possible. You may vote by the internet, by telephone, or, if you requested and received paper copies of the proxy materials by mail, by mailing a proxy card or voting instruction form. We encourage you to vote using the internet, as it is the most cost-effective way to vote. Even if you have voted by internet, telephone or proxy card, you may still vote via the internet if you attend the virtual meeting. If you own your shares through a broker we encourage you to follow the instructions provided by your broker about how to vote. Unless you provide your broker with voting instructions, your broker cannot vote your shares on non-discretionary items such on the proposal to elect the seven director nominees, or the proposal for the amendment of the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 9, 2022
Our proxy statement and Annual Report to Stockholders are available online at www.proxyvote.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROXY STATEMENT1
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING1
PROPOSAL ONE: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS8
MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS15
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION17
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION20
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS22
PROPOSAL TWO: APPROVAL OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE 2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN24
PROPOSAL THREE: RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM33
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE34
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS35
OTHER MATTERS36
APPENDIX A: FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE VERIFYME, INC. 2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANA-1

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VERIFYME, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING

Why am I receiving these materials?

The board of directors of VerifyMe, Inc. (“VerifyMe,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”), a Nevada corporation, is providing these proxy materials to you on the internet, or has delivered printed versions to you by mail, and is soliciting your proxy to vote at the annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on Thursday, June 9, 2022, at 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, or at any adjournment or postponement of the meeting, for the purposes set forth in this proxy statement and in the accompanying notice of annual meeting of stockholders.

The Annual Meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting of stockholders by means of a live webcast. You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting online, vote your shares, and submit your questions during the meeting via the internet by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VRME2022. There will not be a physical meeting location and you will not be able to attend in person. We invite you to attend the Annual Meeting and request that you vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. However, you do not need to attend the meeting to vote your shares. Instead, you may vote by the internet, by telephone or by mailing a proxy card or voting instruction form.

We are making these proxy materials available to stockholders on or about April 25, 2022.

Why did I receive a one-page notice in the mail regarding the internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

We are following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) “e-proxy” rules that allow public companies to furnish proxy materials to stockholders over the internet. The “e-proxy” rules remove the requirement for public companies to automatically send stockholders a full, printed copy of proxy materials and allow them instead to deliver to their stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice of Internet Availability”) and to provide online access to the documents. As a result, we mailed the Notice of Internet Availability to many of our stockholders on or about April 25, 2022.

The Notice of Internet Availability provides instructions on how to:

·View our proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the internet and vote; and

·Request a printed copy of the proxy materials.

In addition, stockholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by e-mail on an ongoing basis. Choosing to receive your future proxy materials by e-mail will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will reduce the environmental impact of printed materials.

What is included in these proxy materials?

These proxy materials include:

·Our Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (“fiscal year 2021”); and

·Notice of the 2022 Annual Meeting and this proxy statement.

If you request and receive printed versions of the proxy materials by mail, these proxy materials also include a copy of the proxy card.

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What am I voting on?

The board of directors is soliciting your proxy in connection with the Annual Meeting to be held on Thursday, June 9, 2022, at 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. You are voting on the following proposals:

·Proposal One: the election of seven directors to serve until the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

·Proposal Two: the approval of an amendment to the Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the authorized number of shares available for future issuance under the plan by 1,000,000 shares;

·Proposal Three: the ratification of the appointment of MaloneBailey, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022; and

How does the board of directors recommend I vote?

Our board of directors recommends that the stockholders vote their shares:

·FOR each of the seven director nominees named in this proxy statement;

·FOR the approval of amendment to the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the authorized number of shares available for future issuance under the plan by 1,000,000 shares; and

·FOR the ratification of the appointment of MaloneBailey, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022.

Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?

Only stockholders at the close of business on April 13, 2022, the record date for the Annual Meeting, will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting to be held on November 19, 2019. This Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 are available at: https://www.proxyvote.com.

If You Plan to Attend

Please note that space limitations make it necessary to limit attendance to shareholders. Registration and seating will begin at 9:30 a.m.  Shares can be voted at the meeting only if the holder is present in person or by valid proxy.

For admission to the meeting, each shareholder may be asked to present valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, and proofpostponement thereof. As of stock ownership as of the Record Date, such as the enclosed proxy card or a brokerage statement reflecting stock ownership. Cameras, recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the meeting.

If you do not plan on attending the meeting, please vote your shares via the Internet, by phone or by signing and dating the enclosed proxy and return it in the business envelope provided. Your vote is very important.

By the Order of the Board of Directors

/s/ Patrick White

Patrick White

Chief Executive Officer

Dated: October 21, 2019

Whether or not you expect to attend in person, we urge you to vote your shares at your earliest convenience. This will ensure the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Promptly voting your shares via the Internet, by phone or by signing, dating, and returning the enclosed proxy card will save us the expense and extra work of additional solicitation. An addressed envelope for which no postage is required if mailed in the United States is enclosed if you wish to vote by mail. Submitting your proxy now will not prevent you from voting your shares at the meeting if you desire to do so, as your proxy is revocable at your option. Your vote is important, so please act today!

VerifyMe, Inc.

Table of Contents

Page
Questions and Answers Regarding the Annual Meeting of Shareholders1
Proposal 1.  Election of Directors Proposal8
Directors and Executive Officers8
Corporate Governance11
Board Responsibilities11
Director Independence11
Board Committees and Charters11
Audit Committee12
Audit Committee Financial Expert12
Compensation Committee12
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee13
Number of Meetings of the Board in 201813
Board Diversity13
Board Leadership Structure13
Board Risk Oversight14
Code of Ethics14
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports14
Communication with the Company’s Board14
Transactions with Related Persons15
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management17
Executive Compensation19
Summary Compensation Table19
Employment and Consulting Agreements with Named Executive Officers20
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End21
Director Compensation for the Year Ended December 31, 201822
Consulting Agreement with Chairman of the Board22
Proposal 2.  Reverse Split of Our Common Stock and Related Amendment of Articles of Incorporation23
Overview23
Reasons for the Reverse Split24
Certain Risks Associated with the Reverse Split25
Principal Effects of the Reverse Split26
Fractional Shares27
No Going Private Transaction27
Procedure for Implementing the Reverse Split28
Effect on Beneficial Owners of Common Stock28
Effect on Registered “Book-Entry” Holders of Common Stock28
Exchange of Stock Certificates and Elimination of Fractional Share Interests28
Accounting Matters29
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences29
No Appraisal Rights30
Anti-Takeover Effects of the Reverse Split30
Plans for Newly Available Shares30

Proposal 3. Ratification of Public Accounting Firm31
Principal Accounting Fees and Services32
Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Policy32
Audit Committee Report33

Proposal 4. Adjournment of the Annual Meeting

34
Notice Pursuant to Section 78.0296 of the Nevada Revised Statutes34
Other Matters34
Annex AA-1

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VerifyMe, Inc.

Clinton Square, 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 510

Rochester, NY 14604

(585) 736-9400

2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

PROXY STATEMENT

Why am I receiving these materials?

This proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) is being sent to the holders of shares of the voting stock of VerifyMe, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“VerifyMe” or the “Company”), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by VerifyMe for use at the 2019 Annual Meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) which will take place at 10:00 a.m. on November 19, 2019 at the offices of Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A., 3001 PGA Boulevard, Suite 305, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410. The proxy materials relating to the Annual Meeting are first being mailed to shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting on or about October 21, 2019. A copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 is being mailed concurrently with this Proxy Statement.

Who is entitled to vote?

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) has fixed the close of business on September 25, 2019 as the record date, (the “Record Date”) for a determinationthere were 7,252,115 shares of shareholdersour common stock outstanding and entitled to noticevote. Holders of and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 110,280,258 shares of common stock outstanding. Each share of the Company’s common stock represents one vote that may be voted on each matter that may come before the Annual Meeting. There are no shares ofour outstanding preferred stock that are not entitled to vote.

 

What is the difference between holding shares as a record holder and as a beneficial owner?

Stockholders of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If on April 13, 2022, your shares areof our common stock were registered directly in your name with the Company’sour transfer agent, West Coast Stock Transfer, Inc., then you are a stockholder of record.

Beneficial Owners: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank. If on April 13, 2022, your shares of our common stock were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer or other similar organization, then you are the “record holder”beneficial owner of those shares. If you are a record holder, these proxy materials have been provided directly to you by the Company.

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account, a bank or other holder of record, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of those shares held in “street name.” If your shares are held in street name,name” and these proxy materials have beenare being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As thea beneficial owner, you have the right to instruct this organizationdirect your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account or you may work with your broker to arrange to vote your shares directly. You are also invited to participate in the Annual Meeting. Your broker, trustee or nominee has enclosed or provided voting instructions for you to use in directing the broker, trustee or nominee on how to vote your shares.

 

Who may attend the meeting?

Record holders and beneficial owners may attend the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held in street name, you will need to bring a copy of a brokerage statement or other documentation reflecting your stock ownership as of the Record Date. Please see below forFor instructions on how to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting, if your shares are held in street name.see the “How do I vote?” section below.

 

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How doCan I vote?

Record Holder

1.Vote by Internet. The website address for internet voting is on your proxy card.
2.Vote by phone. Call 1-800-690-6903 and follow the instructions on your proxy card.
3.Vote by mail. Mark, date, sign and mail promptly the enclosed proxy card (a postage-paid envelope is provided for mailing in the United States).
4.Vote in person. Attend and vote at the Annual Meeting.

If you vote by Internet or phone, please DO NOT mail your proxy card.

Beneficial Owner (Holding Shares in Street Name)

1.Vote by Internet. The website address for Internet voting is on your vote instruction form.
2.Vote by mail. Mark, date, sign and mail promptly the enclosed vote instruction form (a postage-paid envelope is provided for mailing in the United States).
3.Vote in person. Obtain a valid legal proxy from the organization that holds your shares and attend and vote at the Annual Meeting.

What constitutes a quorum?

To carry on the business of the Annual Meeting we must have a quorum. A quorum is present when a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote, as of the Record Date, are represented in person or by proxy.person?

 

Shares owned by the Company are not considered outstanding or considered toWe will be present at the Annual Meeting. Broker non-votes and abstentions are counted as present for the purpose of determining the existence of a quorum.

What happens if the Company is unable to obtain a quorum?

If a quorum is not present to transact business athosting the Annual Meeting Norman Gardner,only by means of a live webcast. You will not be able to attend the Company’s Chairman ofmeeting in person. Please be assured that you will be afforded the Board, or Patrick White,same rights and opportunities to participate in the Company’s Chief Executive Officer are authorizedvirtual meeting as you would at an in-person meeting. You will be able to adjournlisten to the Annual Meeting, untilsubmit questions and vote by going to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VRME2022. If you wish to listen to the Annual Meeting, but do not wish to submit questions or vote during the Annual Meeting, you may go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VRME2022 and log in as a quorum is present or represented.guest.

  

Which proposals are considered “Routine” or “Non-Routine”?

Proposals 2, 3 and 4 are routine.

Proposal 1 is non-routine.

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The Annual Meeting webcast will start at 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Thursday, June 9, 2022. We encourage you to access the meeting website prior to the start time to allow time for check in.

How do I register to attend the Annual Meeting?

You do not need to register to attend the Annual Meeting webcast. Follow the instructions on your Notice of Internet Availability or proxy card (if you requested a printed copy of the proxy materials) to access the Annual Meeting. See “Can I attend the Annual Meeting in person?” above.

How can I submit a question at the Annual Meeting?

Stockholders may submit questions during the Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VRME2022, the virtual meeting website, after accessing the Annual Meeting with their 16-digit unique control number found on the Notice of Internet Availability or proxy card (if you requested a printed copy of the proxy materials) and by following the instructions available on the virtual meeting website. We request that questions submitted during the meeting include your contact information.

We will respond to questions directly related to matters being voted on at the Annual Meeting during the Annual Meeting. We will respond to other questions received during the Annual Meeting promptly after the meeting. Questions regarding personal matters, including those related to employment, are not pertinent to Annual Meeting matters and therefore will not be answered.

 

What is “householding” and how does it impact me?

We have adopted a process called “householding” for mailing proxy materials in order to reduce printing and mailing expenses. The SEC householding rules allow us to deliver a single Notice of Internet Availability to stockholders of record who share the same address. If you share an address with another stockholder and have received only one Notice of Internet Availability, but you would prefer to continue receiving a separate Notice of Internet Availability, you may request a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability at no cost to you by writing to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at VerifyMe, Inc., 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 510 Rochester, New York 14604, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or by calling (585) 736-9400. Alternatively, if you are currently receiving multiple copies of the Notice of Internet Availability at the same address and wish to receive a single copy in the future, you may contact us by calling or writing to us at the telephone number or address given above.

If you are a beneficial owner, the bank, broker non-vote?or other holder of record may deliver only one copy of the Notice of Internet Availability to stockholders who have the same address unless the bank, broker or other holder of record has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. If you wish to receive a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability, now or in the future, you may contact us at the address or telephone number above and we will promptly deliver a separate copy. Beneficial owners sharing an address who are currently receiving multiple copies of the Notice of Internet Availability and wish to receive a single copy in the future should contact their bank, broker or other holder of record to request that only a single copy be delivered to all stockholders at the shared address in the future.

What does it mean if I receive more than one Notice of Internet Availability or voting instruction card?

If you receive more than one Notice of Internet Availability or voting instruction card, your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. Please vote using each Notice of Internet Availability or voting instruction card to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

Where can I view the proxy materials on the internet?

We are making this proxy statement and voting instructions available to stockholders on or about April 25, 2022, at www.proxyvote.com. We are also making our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K available at the same time and by the same method. The 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K is not a part of the proxy solicitation material and is not incorporated herein by reference.

How can I receive a printed copy of the proxy materials, including the annual report?

Stockholder of Record. You may request a printed copy of the proxy materials by any of the following methods:

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·Telephone: call toll-free at 1-800-579-1639;

·Internet at www.proxyvote.com; or

·E-mail at sendmaterial@proxyvote.com. If requesting materials by e-mail, please send a blank e-mail with the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow on the Notice of Internet Availability included in the subject line.

Beneficial Owner. You may request a printed copy of the proxy materials by following the instructions provided to you by your broker, bank or nominee.

How do I vote?

Stockholder of Record. If you are a stockholder of record, there are four ways to vote:

·By internet at www.proxyvote.com. We encourage you to vote this way.

·By touch tone telephone: call toll-free at 1-800-690-6903.

·By completing and mailing your proxy card, if you requested a printed copy of the proxy materials.

·At the Annual Meeting: instructions on how to vote during the Annual Meeting webcast are posted at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VRME2022. Votes submitted during the Annual Meeting must be received no later than the closing of the polls at the Annual Meeting.

Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to vote to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the meeting and vote your shares if you have already voted by proxy. Only the latest vote you submit will be counted. For instructions on how to change your vote, see the “Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy?” section below.

Beneficial Owner. If you hold your shares in “street name” as a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank or nominee (“broker”), you must vote your shares in the manner prescribed by your broker. Your broker has enclosed or otherwise provided a voting instruction card for you to use in directing the broker how to vote your shares. Check the voting instruction card used by that organization to see if it offers internet or telephone voting.

Instead of directing your broker how to vote your shares, you may elect to attend the Annual Meeting and vote your shares during the meeting. Instructions on how to vote during the Annual Meeting webcast are posted at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VRME2022. Votes submitted during the Annual Meeting must be received no later than the closing of the polls at the Annual Meeting.

How many votes do I have?

On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of common stock you owned as of April 13, 2022, the record date for the Annual Meeting.

What is the quorum requirement?

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if at least a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote are “present” at the meeting. As of the record date, there were 7,252,115 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.

If you are a stockholder of record, your shares will be counted as “present” at the meeting if:

·You attend and vote at the meeting;

·You have voted by internet or telephone; or

·You have properly submitted a proxy card.

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If your shares are held in street name, you must instruct the organization who holds your shares how to vote your shares. If you do not provide voting instructions, your shares will not be counted as “present” at the meeting if your broker has voted on any non-routine proposal. This vote is called a “broker non-vote.” Broker non-votes do not count as a vote “FOR”discretionary item or “AGAINST” Proposals 1, 3 or 4, but have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” Proposal 2.

If you are the shareholder of record, and you sign and return a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions, then the proxy holders will vote your shares in the manner recommended by the Board on all matters presented in this Proxy Statement and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion with respect to any other matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting. If your shares are held in street name and you do not provide specific voting instructions to the organization that holds your shares, the organization may generally vote at its discretion on routine matters, but not on non-routine matters. If you sign your proxy card but do not provide instructions on how your broker should vote,has otherwise voted based on your broker will vote your shares as recommended by the Board on any routine matter. See the note below and the following question and answer.

Important rule affecting beneficial owners holding shares in street name.

If your shares are held in street name, you must instruct the organization that holds your shares how to vote your shares. Brokers may not vote shares on the election of directors if they have not received instructions from their clients. Additionally, brokers may not vote shares on any “non-routine” proposals if they have not received instructions from their clients. Please submit your voting instructions so that your vote is counted.

How are abstentions treated?instructions.

 

Abstentions only have an effectand broker non-votes on non-discretionary items will be counted towards the outcomequorum requirement. If there is no quorum, a majority of any matter being voted on that requires the approval based onshares present at the Company’s total voting stock outstanding.On matters where abstentions have an effect, abstentions will reducemeeting and entitled to vote may adjourn the number of affirmative votes received, but not the required amount needed for the proposalmeeting to pass.another date.

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How many votes are needed forto approve each proposal to pass, is broker discretionary voting allowed and what is the effect of an abstention?proposal?

 

The table below shows the vote required to approve each of the proposals described in this proxy statement, assuming the presence of a quorum, in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting.

Proposals Proposal Vote
Required 
Description
 Broker
Discretionary
Vote
Allowed 
Required
One EffectElection of
Abstentions
on the
Proposal 
1.To elect seven directors;directors PluralityNoNo effect* of the votes of the shares cast at the Annual Meeting
     
Two 
2.Approval of amendment to the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the authorized number of shares available for future issuance under the plan by 1,000,000 sharesTo authorize the Board to effect, in its discretion,Affirmative vote of a reverse
stock splitmajority of the outstanding and treasury shares ofcast on the
Company’s common stock at a ratio ranging from 1-for-25
to 1-for-120, to be determined by the Board of Directors,
and to approve a corresponding amendment to the
Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, to effect the reverse stock split;
Majority of the outstanding
voting power
YesEquivalent to
a vote against proposal
     
Three 
3.To ratify the selectionappointment of MaloneBailey, LLP as our independent registered public
accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019; and2022
 MajorityAffirmative vote of the
votes cast
YesNo effect*
4.

To approve an adjournmenta majority of the Annual Meeting to a later
date or time, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote
of proxies if there are not sufficient votes atshares cast on the time of the
Annual Meeting to approve any of the proposals presented for a
vote at the Annual Meeting.

Majority of the
votes cast

Yes

No effect*proposal

 

*Abstentions will reduceHow are votes counted?

For Proposal 1, you may vote “FOR” or “WITHHOLD” with respect to each of the number of affirmative votes received, but notnominees. In tabulating the required percentage neededvoting results for the proposal to pass. Withholding votes on the election of directors, is equivalentonly “FOR” votes are counted. If you elect to an abstention.

Effective September 5, 2019, Mr. Laurence Blickman, a former director, granted the Board an irrevocable proxy to vote all shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by him, which constitutes approximately 7.48% of our common stock issued and outstanding as of the Record Date, on all matters with limited exceptions, which proxy expires on December 4, 2019. A copy of the irrevocable proxy was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 16, 2019. Mr. Blickman retained the dispositive power with respect to these shares and has sold 1,099,551 shares as of the date of this Proxy Statement.

What are the voting procedures?

In voting by proxy with regard toabstain in the election of directors, you may vote in favorthe abstention will not impact the outcome of all nominees, withhold your votes as to all nominees, or withhold your votes as to specific nominees. With regard to the remaining proposals, you may vote in favorelection. Broker non-votes are not counted and will not impact the outcome of each proposal or against each proposal, or in favor of some proposals and against others, or you may abstain from voting on any of these proposals. You should specify your respective choices on the accompanying proxy card or your vote instruction form.

Is my proxy revocable?vote.

 

You may revoke your proxyvote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” with respect to Proposals 2 and reclaim your right3. In tabulating the voting results for these proposals, “FOR” and “AGAINST” votes are counted. For Proposals 2 and 3, abstentions are not counted and will not impact the outcome of the vote. With respect to Proposal 2, broker non-votes are not counted and will not impact the outcome of the vote. A broker will have discretionary authority to vote upon Proposal 3 relating to and including the dayratification of the Annual Meetingselection of our independent registered public accounting firm.

Who counts the votes?

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has been appointed inspector of election by giving written notice to the Corporate Secretary of VerifyMe, by delivering a proxy card dated after the date of the proxy or by voting in personCompany and will tabulate votes at the Annual Meeting. All written notices of revocation and other communications with respect to revocations of proxies should be addressed to: VerifyMe, Inc., Clinton Square, 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 510 Rochester, NY 14604 Attention: Corporate Secretary.

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Who is paying for the expenses involved in preparing and mailing this proxy statement?

All of the expenses involved in preparing, assembling and mailing these proxy materials and all costs of soliciting proxies will be paid by the Company. In addition to the solicitation by mail, proxies may be solicited by the Company’s officers and regular employees by telephone or in person. Such persons will receive no compensation for their services other than their regular salaries. Arrangements will also be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the shares held of record by such persons, and we may reimburse such persons for reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by them in so doing.

 

What happens if additional matters are presented at the Annual Meeting?I do not give specific voting instructions?

 

Other thanStockholder of Record. If you are a stockholder of record and you do not cast your vote, no votes will be cast on your behalf on any of the items of business described in this Proxy Statement, we are not aware of any other business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. IfHowever, if you submit a signed proxy card,but no instructions are given, the persons named as proxy holders will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting. If for any reason any of the Company’s nominees are not available as a candidate for director, the persons named as proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other candidate or candidates as may be nominatedrepresented by the Board.proxy will be voted on your behalf in accordance with the recommendations of our board of directors as follows:

 

What is “householding” and how does it affect me?

·FOR the seven director nominees named in this proxy statement;

 

Record holders who have the same address and last name will receive only one copy of their proxy materials, unless we are notified that one or more of these record holders wishes to continue receiving individual copies. This procedure will reduce the Company’s printing costs and postage fees. Shareholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards.

·FOR approval of amendment the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan to increase the authorized number of shares available for future issuance under the plan by 1,000,000 shares; and

  

If you are eligible for householding, but you and other record holders with whom you share an address, receive multiple copies of these proxy materials, or if you hold VerifyMe stock in more than one account, and in either case you wish to receive only a single copy of each of these documents for your household, please contact the Company’s Corporate Secretary at: VerifyMe, Inc., Clinton Square, 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 510 Rochester, NY 14604 Attention: Corporate Secretary.

If you participate in householding and wish to receive a separate copy of these proxy materials, or if you do not wish to continue to participate in householding and prefer to receive separate copies of these documents in the future, please contact the Company’s Corporate Secretary as indicated above. Beneficial owners can request information about householding from their brokers, banks or other holders of record.

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Do I have dissenters’ (appraisal) rights?

·FOR the ratification of the appointment of MaloneBailey, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022.

In the event other business properly comes before the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement of the meeting, the individuals named in the proxy will vote the shares represented by the proxy in their discretion.

 

Appraisal rightsBeneficial Owner. If you are a beneficial owner and you do not availableprovide your broker with specific voting instructions, or if you do not obtain a legal proxy that gives you the right to VerifyMe shareholdersvote the shares electronically via the internet at the Annual Meeting, your broker is not permitted to, and will not, vote your shares on your behalf, and your shares will not be counted with respect to Proposal 1 and Proposal 2, which are non-routine proposals. Your broker, trustee or nominee has discretionary authority to vote your uninstructed shares with respect to Proposal 3, which is a routine proposal. Uninstructed shares with respect to which your broker does not have discretionary authority are known as “broker non-votes.”

Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy?

If you are a stockholder of record, you may change your vote by revoking your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting in any one of following ways:

·enter a timely new vote by internet or telephone;

·submit another properly completed, later-dated proxy card;

·send a written notice that you are revoking your proxy to: VerifyMe, Inc., 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 510, Rochester, New York 14604, Attention: Corporate Secretary, which must be received no later than June 8, 2022; or

·attend the Annual Meeting webcast and vote during the meeting. Attending the meeting without voting during the meeting will not, by itself, revoke a previously submitted proxy unless you specifically request your prior proxy be revoked.

If you hold your shares in street name, contact your broker or other organization regarding how to revoke your instructions and change your vote. You may change your vote prior to the meeting by submitting a later-dated vote on the internet or by telephone, or by participating in the Annual Meeting webcast and by submitting a later vote during the meeting.

How can I find out the voting results of the proposals brought beforeAnnual Meeting?

Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be published in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC within four business days after the Annual Meeting.

 

Can a shareholder present a proposal to be consideredWho is paying for this proxy solicitation?

Our board of directors is soliciting proxies for use at the 2020 Annual Meeting?Meeting, and we will bear the cost of the proxy solicitation. In addition to solicitation by mail, our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies personally, by telephone, email or other means of communication. We will not compensate any of these persons for soliciting proxies on our behalf. We will reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares for their expenses in forwarding solicitation material to such beneficial owners. In addition, we have retained Advantage Proxy, Inc., a professional proxy solicitation firm, which will assist us in delivering the proxy materials and soliciting proxies for a fee of approximately $7,500.

 

No business may be transacted at the 2020 Annual Meeting of shareholders (the “2020 Annual Meeting”) other than business that is: (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board (or any duly authorized committee thereof); (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board (or any duly authorized committee thereof); or (c) in the case of anWhen are stockholder proposals and director nominations due for next year’s annual meeting?

At our annual meeting otherwise properly brought before the meeting by any shareholder of the Company, (i) who is a shareholderstockholders each year, our board of record on the date of the giving of the notice and on the record date for the determination of shareholders entitleddirectors submits to vote at such meeting, and (ii) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in the Company’s Bylaws.

Proposals by shareholders and persons nominatedstockholders its nominees for election as directors. In addition, the board of directors by shareholders shall be consideredmay submit other matters to the stockholders for action at the 2020 Annual Meeting only if advance notice thereof has been timely given by the shareholder and such proposals or nominations are otherwise proper for consideration under applicable law, the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles of Incorporation”), and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”). Notice of any proposal to be presented by any shareholder or of the name of any person to be nominated by any shareholder for election as a director of the Company at any meeting of shareholders shall be delivered to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at its principal office not less than 60 nor more than 90 days prior to the day of the meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the meeting is first publicly announced or disclosed (in a public filing or otherwise) less than 70 days prior to the day of the meeting, such advance notice shall be given not more than 10 days after such date is first so announced or disclosed. Public notice shall be deemed to have been given more than 70 days in advance of the 2020 Annual Meeting if the Company shall have previously disclosed, in the Bylaws or otherwise, that the annual meeting in each year is to be held on a determinable date, unless and until the Board determines to hold the meeting on a different date.meeting.

  

Any shareholder who gives notice of any such proposal shall deliver therewith the text of the proposal to be presented and a brief written statement of the reasons such shareholder favors the proposal and setting forth such shareholder’s name and address, the number and class of all shares of each class of stock of the Company beneficially owned by such shareholder and any material interest of such shareholder in the proposal (other than as a shareholder). Any shareholder desiring to nominate any person for election as a director of the Company shall deliver with such notice a statement, in writing, setting forth (i) the name of the person to be nominated, (ii) the number and class of all shares of each class of stock of the Company beneficially owned by such person, (iii) the information regarding such person required by Item 401 of Regulation S-K adopted by the SEC (or the corresponding provisions of any regulation subsequently adopted by the SEC applicable to the Company) and any other information regarding such person which would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC, had such nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated by the Board, (iv) such person’s signed consent to serve as a director of the Company if elected, (v) such shareholder's name and address and the number and class of all shares of each class of stock of the Company beneficially owned by such shareholder, (vi) a representation that such shareholder is a holder of record of stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, and (vii) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the shareholder.

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The person presiding at

Our stockholders may submit proposals for inclusion in the 2020 Annual Meeting shall determine whether such notice has been duly given and shall direct thatproxy materials. These proposals and nominees notmust satisfy the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). To be considered if such notice has not been duly given.

A nomination or otherfor inclusion in next year’s proxy materials, you must submit your proposal will be disregarded if it does not comply with the above procedures. All proposals and nominations should be sentin writing by December 22, 2022, to VerifyMe, Inc., Clinton Square,our Corporate Secretary, 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 510, Rochester, NY 14604 Attention: Corporate Secretary.New York 14604.

 

We reserve the rightOur Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), provide that if you, as a stockholder, want to amend the Bylawsrecommend a nominee for director or bring business before a meeting you must timely provide a notice in writing to our Corporate Secretary. To be timely, your notice must be delivered to or mailed and any change will applyreceived at our office not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the 2020first anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting. Stockholder notices must set forth the specific information as more fully described in our Bylaws. Assuming our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders is held on the same date as the Annual Meeting, unless otherwise specified in the amendment.then written notice of a nomination for our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders must be delivered to or mailed and received by our Corporate Secretary at our principal office, 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 510, Rochester, New York 14604, no later than March 11, 2023.

 

Interest of Officers and Directors in Matters to Be Acted Upon

Except in the election to the Company’s nominees, none of the officers or directorsIf you have any interest in any of the mattersquestions or need assistance with voting, please contact our proxy solicitor Advantage Proxy, Inc. toll free at 1-877-870-8565 or collect at 206-870-8565 or by email to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting.ksmith@advantageproxy.com.

  

The Board Recommends that Shareholders Vote “For” Proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4.

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PROPOSAL 1. ONE:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

The sizenumber of our Boarddirectors is established by the board and is currently set at seven. At the Annual Meeting, the seven directorspersons listed below will be nominated as directors. The term of office of each person elected as a director will continue until the next annual meeting or until his successor has been elected and qualified, or until the Board currently consists of six directors with one vacancy. The terms of alldirector’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

All of the Company’s current directors will expireboard’s nominees for director, except for Adam Stedham, were elected at the Annual Meeting. The Board, upon the recommendation oflast annual meeting and all were recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has nominatedof our board of directors. All nominees have consented to serve if elected. In the following incumbent directors: (i) Norman Gardner, (ii) Christopher Gardner, (iii) Marshall Geller, (iv) Howard Goldberg, (v) Arthur Lafferevent that any nominee should be unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the proxies will be voted for the election of such other persons as the Nominating and (vi) Patrick White, and one director nominee, Scott Greenberg, for election at the Annual Meeting, each for a one-year termCorporate Governance Committee may recommend, provided that expires at the next year’s annual shareholders’ meeting.

If all of the directors and the director nominee named in this Proxy Statement are elected at the Annual Meeting the Board will consist of seven directors. The proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of the director nominees named in this Proxy Statement.proxy statement.

 

AllThe SEC’s rules require us to briefly discuss the particular experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led our board of directors to conclude that each director or nominee for director should serve on our board of directors. We have provided this discussion in a separate paragraph immediately below the biographical information of each director.

The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the election as directors each of the nominees listed above have been nominated by the Board and have agreed to serve if elected. The seven persons who receive the most votes cast will be elected and will serve as directors until the next Annual Meeting. If a nominee becomes unavailable for election before this Annual Meeting, the Board can name a substitute nominee and proxies will be voted for such substitute nominee unless an instruction to the contrary is written on the proxy card.below.

 

The Board recommends a vote “For” the election of the director nominees.

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

DirectorsNominees for Election as Directors:

 

NameAgePosition
NormanChris Gardner 77
Age: 68 ChairmanIndependent Director
Christopher Gardner 65
Director since: May 2019 DirectorBoard Committee: Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair)
Mr. Gardner is an international best-selling author and award-winning film producer. Mr. Gardner was a Senior Advisor to Wisdom Tree Investments, Inc. (NASDAQ:WETF), an exchange-traded fund, from June 2018 to June 2020. From October 2010 until April 2016, he was the Ambassador of Happyness for AARP, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Americans age 50 and older. Mr. Gardner established the institutional brokerage firm of Gardner Rich and Company in 1989 that closed in December 2012.
Experience and Qualifications`
Mr. Gardner’s entrepreneurial experience and network of relationships which we believe are valuable assets to the Company and its growth give him the qualifications, skills and financial expertise to serve on our board of directors.
Marshall Geller 80
Age: 83 DirectorNon-Executive Vice Chairman of the Board
Howard Goldberg 74
Director since: July 2017 DirectorBoard Committee: Audit; Nominating and Corporate Governance; Executive; Mergers & Acquisitions (Chair)
Scott Greenberg63Director Nominee
Arthur Laffer79Director
Patrick White66Mr. Geller was a director and a member of the audit committee of GP Strategies Corporation (formerly NYSE:GPX) from 2002 until October 2021. Mr. Geller was a director of Wright Investors’ Service Holdings Inc. (OTCMKT:WISH), formerly National Patent Development Corporation, from January 2015 until October 2018. He is currently a Director and Chief Executive Officermember of the audit committee of G3 VRM Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq:GGGV) since 2021. He is also currently a Director of Easy Smart Pay, a public-private partnership of the California State Association of Counties Finance Corporation. Mr. Geller formerly served as a director of California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., (formerly Nasdaq:CPKI) from 2008 until 2011, and Hexcel Corporation (NYSE:HXL) from 1994 until 2003. Mr. Geller was a founder of St. Cloud Capital, a Los Angeles based private equity fund, and Senior Investment Advisor from December 2001 until September 2017. He has spent more than 50 years in corporate finance and  investment banking, including 21 years as a Senior Managing Partner of Bear, Stearns & Co., with oversight of all operations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Hong Kong and the Far East. Mr. Geller is currently on the Board of Directors of UCLA Health System and on the Board of Governors of Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles. Mr. Geller also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Business & Economics at California State University, Los Angeles.

  

Director Nominee Biographies

Norman Gardner– Mr. Gardner, the Company’s founder, was appointed as Chairman of the Board on January 28, 2017. Mr. Gardner was previously a director and Vice-Chairman of the Company from the Company’s inception in November 1999 until January 1, 2013.  Mr. Gardner served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company from November 1999 until January 1, 2013, and from January 28, 2017 until August 9, 2017. Mr. Gardner has been a consultant to the Company since June 2017 and was previously a consultant to the Company from January 2013 until January 2017. As our Chairman and Founder, he brings to the Board extensive knowledge of the Company’s products, structure, history, major shareholders and culture.

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Christopher Gardner – Christopher Gardner

Experience and Qualifications
Mr. Geller’s financial and business experience, including as a managing partner of a private equity fund, and his many years of experience and expertise as an investor in and adviser to companies in various sectors as well as his experience with serving on the boards of directors of other public and private corporations give him the qualifications, skills and financial expertise to serve on our board of directors.
Howard Goldberg
Age: 76Lead Independent Director
Director since: July 2017Board Committee: Audit; Compensation; Nominating and Corporate Governance; Executive; Mergers & Acquisition
Mr. Goldberg has served as our Lead Independent director during 2020, having served from time to time in that capacity. From 2003 through 2005, Mr. Goldberg served as a part-time consultant to Laser Lock Technologies, Inc., the predecessor to VerifyMe, and provided consulting service to us again from 2016 through December 2017. Mr. Goldberg has been a private investor in both real estate and start-up companies and has provided consulting services to start-up companies since 1999. From 1994 through 1998, Mr. Goldberg served as President, CEO and board member of Player’s International, a publicly traded company in the gaming business prior to its sale to Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. Mr. Goldberg served on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of Imall Inc., a publicly traded company that provided on-line shopping prior to its sale to Excite-at-Home. Mr. Goldberg served as a member of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee of the Shelbourne Entities from August 2002 until their liquidation in April 2004. Mr. Goldberg served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Winthrop Realty Trust, a publicly traded real estate investment trust, from December 2003 to August 2016 when Winthrop’s assets were transferred to a liquidating trust. Mr. Goldberg was a member of Winthrop’s Audit Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and was its lead independent trustee. Mr. Goldberg served as a trustee for Winthrop Realty Liquidating Trust until December 2019 when it was finally liquidated. Mr. Goldberg was a director of New York REIT, Inc. from March 2017 until October 2018, when it converted to a limited liability company called New York REIT LLC. Since October 2018, Mr. Goldberg has been a manager of New York REIT LLC. Mr. Goldberg has a law degree from New York University and was previously the managing partner of a New Jersey law firm where he specialized in gaming regulatory law and real estate from 1970 through 1994.
Experience and Qualifications
Mr. Goldberg’s experience as a director of other public companies and his legal expertise gives him the qualifications, skills and financial expertise to serve on our board of directors.
Scott Greenberg
Age: 65Executive Chairman of the Board
Director since: November 2019Board Committee: Executive; Audit (Chair); Compensation; Mergers & Acquisitions
Mr. Greenberg served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE:GPX) from August 2018 until October 2021 when it was acquired by Learning Technologies Group.  He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of GP Strategies from April 2005 until July 2020. He was also the President of GP Strategies from 2001 to 2006, Chief Financial Officer from 1989 until 2005, Executive Vice President from 1998 to 2001, Vice President from 1985 to 1998, and held various other positions with GP Strategies since 1981. Mr. Greenberg was also a Director of Wright Investors’ Service Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKT:WISH), formerly National Patent Development Corporation, from 2004 to 2015.

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Experience and Qualifications
Mr. Greenberg’s significant experience and expertise in management, acquisitions and strategic planning, as well as many years of finance and related transactional experience give him the qualifications, skills and financial expertise to serve on our board of directors.
Arthur Laffer
Age: 81Independent Director
Director since: March 2019Board Committee: Compensation (Chair)
Dr. Laffer is the founder and chairman of Laffer Associates, an institutional economic research and consulting firm. Dr. Laffer has served as a director of NexPoint Residential Trust Inc. (NYSE:NXRT) since May 2015, NexPoint Real Estate Finance Inc. (NYSE:NREF) since February 2020, and Melt Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since February 2022. He was a director of EVO Transportation & Energy Services, Inc. (OTCPINK:EVOA) from August 2018 to December 2019 and the GEE Group Inc. (NYSE American:JOB) from January 2015 to March 2020. Dr. Laffer’s economic acumen and influence in triggering a world-wide tax-cutting movement in the 1980s have earned him the distinction in many publications as “The Father of Supply-Side Economics.” Dr. Laffer was a member of President Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board for both of his two terms (1981-1989). Dr. Laffer also advised Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on fiscal policy in the UK during the 1980s. In the early 1970s, Dr. Laffer was the first to hold the title of Chief Economist at the Office of Management and Budget under George Shultz. Additionally, Dr. Laffer served as Charles B. Thornton Professor of Business Economics at the University of Southern California and as Associate Professor of Business Economics at the University of Chicago. In June 2019, Dr. Laffer received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Experience and Qualifications
Dr. Laffer’s expertise in economics and his experience as a director of multiple companies give him the qualifications, skills and financial expertise to serve on our board of directors.

Adam H Stedham
Age: 53Independent Director
Director since: April 2022Board Committee: Audit (Chair); Compensation
Mr. Stedham is a senior executive of Learning Technologies Group plc and is CEO of GP Strategies and has served as CEO since June 2020.  He also served as President from November 2017 to October 2021. Mr. Stedham joined GP Strategies in 1997, after 6 years as a nuclear reactor operator in the US Navy. He has held roles of increasing responsibility during his tenure, including leading operational service lines, directing acquisitions and divestitures, heading business development, and managing the Asia-Pacific region. He is also on the board of directors of GP Strategies and is the Chairman of the Board of Global Connections for Women, a non-profit organization. Mr. Stedham has significant expertise in business strategy, mergers and acquisitions, learning and performance innovation, global operations, and strategic relationship management. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Anderson University, Master’s of Education from University of Pennsylvania, and Master’s in Adult & Community Education from Ball State University.
Experience and Qualifications
Mr. Stedham’s prior experience as the chief executive officer and president of a public company gives him the qualifications, skills to serve on our board of directors.

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Patrick White
Age: 69Chief Executive Officer, Director
Director since: July 2017
Mr. White has served as our Chief Executive Officer since August 2017. Mr. White founded Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSE:DSS), a technology company, serving as its Chief Executive Officer and director from August 2002 until December 2012 and as its business consultant from 2012 to March 2015. He has been a director of Box Score Brands, Inc. (formerly, U-Vend, Inc.) since 2009. Mr. White was a Financial Adviser for the Monroe County Government from April 2016 until May 2017. Mr. White worked as an independent consultant from March 2015 until March 2016. Mr. White was a consultant to the Company from June 2017 through August 2017, when he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer.
Experience and Qualifications
Mr. White’s prior experience as the chief executive officer of a public company gives him the qualifications and skills to serve on our board of directors

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Board Meetings

The board of directors held 11 meetings during fiscal year 2021. Each director then in office attended at least 75% of the total of board meetings and meetings of board committees on which he served during fiscal year 2021 with the exception of Arthur Laffer.

Director Independence

The listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. No director will qualify as independent unless the board affirmatively determines that the director has no relationship with us that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Based upon the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules and regulations, our board has determined that each of Chris Gardner, Marshall Geller, Howard Goldberg, Arthur Laffer, and Adam H Stedham are independent. Scott Greenberg was appointed as our Executive Chairman on April 7, 2022, and upon such appointment ceased to be independent. Patrick White, Chief Executive Officer, is not considered independent because he is our employee.

Board Leadership Structure

We separate the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of the board because we believe that our corporate governance is most effective when these positions are not held by the same person. The board recognizes the differences between the two roles and believes that separating them allows each person to focus on his individual responsibilities. Under this leadership structure, our Chief Executive Officer can focus his attention on generating sales, overseeing sales and marketing, and managing the day-to-day company operations, while our Executive Chairman can focus his attention on board responsibilities.

Although the board has not adopted a formal policy regarding the separation of the roles of the Executive Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, we believe that having separate positions is the appropriate leadership structure for us at this time. Depending on the circumstances, other leadership models, such as combining the role of Executive Chairman with the role of Chief Executive Officer, might be appropriate. Accordingly, our board of directors intends to periodically review our leadership structure.

In addition to an Executive Chairman, we have appointed Marshall Geller to serve as our non-executive Vice Chairman of our board. He will lead all independent director discussions including all executive sessions.

Lead Independent Director

The board of directors has appointed a lead independent director, currently Howard Goldberg, in order to promote independent leadership of the board. The lead independent director presides over the executive sessions of the independent directors, chairs board meetings in the Non-Executive Vice Chairman’s absence, and is available to engage directly with major stockholders where appropriate. The guidance and direction provided by the lead independent director reinforce the board’s independent oversight of management and contribute to communication among members of the board of directors.

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Board Committees

The board of directors has established an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Executive Committee, Mergers & Acquisitions Committee and Pricing Committee. The table below shows the number of meetings held, and actions by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting, during fiscal year 2021 and the names of the directors who served during fiscal year 2021 and currently serving on each committee.

Committee Name

Number of

Meetings Held

Committee Members
Audit4

Mr. Geller

Mr. Goldberg

Mr. Greenberg (1)

Compensation2

Mr. Goldberg

Mr. Greenberg

Mr. Laffer (1)

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee1

Mr. Gardner (1)

Mr. Geller

Mr. Goldberg

Executive2

Mr. Greenberg (1)

Mr. Geller

Mr. Goldberg

Mergers & Acquisitions Committee(2)1

Mr. Geller (1)

Mr. Greenberg

Mr. Goldberg
(1)Chair
(2)The Committee meets on a weekly basis. Minute meetings were held once during the year ended December 31, 2022.

Each committee acts pursuant to a written charter adopted by our board of directors. The current charters for each board committee are available on our website, www.verifyme.com under the heading, “Investors” and the subheading, “Corporate Governance.” The information contained on our website is not a part of this proxy statement.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee monitors the integrity of our financial statements, monitors the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, monitors the performance of our internal audit function and the auditors, and monitors our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee has the sole authority and responsibility to select, evaluate and engage independent auditors for the Company. The Audit Committee reviews with the auditors and with the Company’s financial management our annual and interim financial statements and all matters relating to the annual audit of the Company. The Audit Committee also prepares the audit committee report that the SEC requires to be included in our annual proxy statement.

The Audit Committee is a separately designated standing committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The board of directors has determined that each member of the audit committee meets the independence and financial literacy requirements applicable to audit committee members under the Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules. The board of directors has further determined that Mr. Stedham qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee reviews, recommends and approves salaries and other compensation of the Company’s executive officers, and administers the Company’s equity incentive plans (including reviewing, recommending and approving stock option and other equity incentive grants to executive officers).

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The Compensation Committee meets in executive session to determine the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. In determining the amount, form, and terms of such compensation, the Committee considers the annual performance evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer conducted by the board in light of our goals and objectives relevant to Chief Executive Officer compensation, competitive market data pertaining to Chief Executive Officer compensation at comparable companies, and such other factors as it deems relevant, and is guided by, and seeks to promote, the best interests of the Company since May 8, 2019. Mr. Gardnerand its stockholders.

In addition, subject to existing agreements, the Compensation Committee determines the salaries, bonuses, and other matters relating to compensation of the executive officers of the Company using similar parameters. It sets performance targets for determining periodic bonuses payable to executive officers. It also reviews and makes recommendations to the board regarding executive and employee compensation and benefit plans and programs generally, including employee bonus and retirement plans and programs (except to the extent specifically delegated to a board appointed committee with authority to administer a particular plan). In addition, the Compensation Committee approves the compensation of non-employee directors and reports it to the full board.

The Compensation Committee also reviews and makes recommendations with respect to stockholder proposals related to compensation matters. The committee administers the Company’s equity incentive plans, including the review and grant of stock options and other equity incentive grants to executive officers and other employees and consultants.

The Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion and at the Company’s cost, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser. The Compensation Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any compensation consultant, legal counsel and other adviser retained by the committee.

The board of directors has been a Senior Advisordetermined that each member of the Compensation Committee meets the independence requirements applicable to Wisdom Tree Investments, Inc. (NASDAQ:WETF), an exchange-traded fund, since June 12, 2018. From October 2010 until April 2016, he wascompensation committee members under the AmbassadorNasdaq listing standards.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies individuals qualified to become members of Happynessthe board, consistent with criteria approved by the board; recommends to the board the director nominees for AARP, a nonprofit organization dedicatedthe next annual meeting of stockholders or special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to empowering Americans age 50 and older. Mr. Gardner is an international best-selling author and award-winning film producer. Mr. Gardner establishedbe elected; recommends to the institutional brokerage firm of Gardner Rich and Company in 1989 that closed in December 2012. Mr. Gardner was selectedboard candidates to servefill any vacancies on the Boardboard; develops, recommends to the board, and reviews the corporate governance guidelines applicable to the Company; and oversees the evaluation of the board and management.

In recommending director nominees for his entrepreneurialthe next annual meeting of stockholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee ensures the Company complies with its contractual obligations, if any, governing the nomination of directors. It considers and recruits candidates to fill positions on the board, including as a result of the removal, resignation or retirement of any director, an increase in the size of the board or otherwise. The committee conducts, subject to applicable law, any and all inquiries into the background and qualifications of any candidate for the board and such candidate’s compliance with the independence and other qualification requirements established by the committee. The committee also recommends candidates to fill positions on committees of the board.

In selecting and recommending candidates for election to the board or appointment to any committee of the board, the committee does not believe that it is appropriate to select nominees through mechanical application of specified criteria. Rather, the committee shall consider such factors at it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, the following: personal and professional integrity, ethics and values; experience in corporate management, such as serving as an officer or former officer of a publicly-held company; experience in the Company’s industry; experience as a board member of another publicly-held company; diversity of expertise and networkexperience in substantive matters pertaining to the Company’s business relative to other directors of relationships,the Company; practical and mature business judgment; and composition of the board (including its size and structure).

The committee develops and recommends to the board a policy regarding the consideration of director candidates recommended by the Company’s stockholders and procedures for submission by stockholders of director nominee recommendations.

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In appropriate circumstances, the committee, in its discretion, will consider and may recommend the removal of a director, in accordance with the applicable provisions of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. If we are subject to a binding obligation that requires director removal structure inconsistent with the foregoing, then the removal of a director shall be governed by such instrument.

The committee oversees the evaluation of the board and management. It also develops and recommends to the board a set of corporate governance guidelines applicable to us, which the Board believescommittee shall periodically review and revise as appropriate. In discharging its oversight role, the committee is empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention.

The board of directors has determined that each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meets the director independence requirements of the Nasdaq listing standards.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee acts on behalf of the board between regularly scheduled board meetings, and subject to certain limitations imposed by applicable legal or regulatory requirements, may exercise during such intervals, all of the powers of the board in the management of the business, affairs and property of our Company other than: (i) the filling of vacancies on the board; (ii) approving or adopting, or recommending to the shareholders, any action or matter; (iii) adopting, amending or repealing the our Amended and Restated Bylaws; and (iv) those matters that are valuable assetsspecifically delegated to other committees of the board or that are under active review by the board or a board committee, unless the board specifically determines otherwise.

Mergers & Acquisitions Committee

The Mergers & Acquisitions Committee is empowered to review and assess, and assist the board in reviewing and assessing, potential mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic investments. In addition, the committee is empowered to assist management in identifying and reviewing merger and acquisition opportunities and is charged with assessing the associated risk to the Company and making recommendations with respect to the terms thereof to the board. The committee is also charged with planning of, and evaluating the execution of, integrations of merger and acquisition transactions and meets unofficially on a weekly basis.

Board Diversity

Our Board believes that diversity can strengthen board performance. While we do not have a formal policy on diversity, the board considers diversity to include the skill set, background, reputation, type and length of business experience, diversity with respect to characteristics, such as gender, race and ethnicity of the board members as well as a particular nominee’s contributions to that mix. The board believes that diversity brings a variety of ideas, judgments and considerations that benefit the Company and its growth. Christopher Gardnerstockholders. Although there are many other factors, the board seeks individuals with experience on operating and growing businesses.

The following matrix discloses the gender and demographic backgrounds of our board as self-identified by its members in accordance with the newly enacted Nasdaq Listing Rule 5606.

Board Diversity Matrix (as of April 13, 2022)
Total Number of Directors: 7
FemaleMaleNon-BinaryDid Not Disclose
Gender
Part I: Gender Identity
Directors7
Part II: Demographic Background
Black or African American1
Asian
White6
Did not Disclose Demographic Background

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Director Attendance at Annual Meetings

Although the Company does not have a policy regarding director attendance of our annual meeting of stockholders, board members are encouraged to attend. Patrick White and Scott Greenberg attended the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders.

Role of the Board in Risk Oversight

The Company’s risk management function is overseen by the board. This oversight is conducted in part through the board’s committees. Our Audit Committee focuses on risks associated with financial matters, particularly financial reporting and disclosures, accounting, internal control over financial reporting, financial policies, and compliance with legal and regulatory matters related to accounting and financial reporting. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee focuses on the oversight of risks associated with our corporate governance, including board membership and structure. Our Compensation Committee focuses on the oversight of risks arising from our compensation policies and programs.

While our board committees have certain oversight responsibilities, the full board retains responsibility for general oversight of risk. Our Executive Chairman works closely together with other members of the board when material risks are identified on how to best address such risks. If the identified risk poses an actual or potential conflict with management, our independent directors may conduct the assessment. In addition, our management keeps the board apprised of material risks and provides its directors access to all information necessary for them to understand and evaluate how these risks interrelate, how they affect us, and how management addresses those risks.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

The board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to all of our employees, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Although not required, the Code of Ethics also applies to our directors. The Code of Ethics provides written standards that we believe are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships, full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure and compliance with laws, rules and regulations and the prompt reporting of illegal or unethical behavior, and accountability for adherence to the Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics is available on our website at www.verifyme.com/code-of-conduct. The information contained on our website is not related to Norman Gardner.a part of this proxy statement.

 

Anti-Hedging Policy

We have a no hedging policy that prohibits directors, officers and employees from engaging in transactions that hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of equity securities granted as compensation.

Stockholder Communications

Stockholders may send correspondence by mail to the full board of directors or to individual directors. Stockholders should address correspondence to the board of directors or individual board members in care of: VerifyMe, Inc., 75 S. Clinton Ave, Suite 510, Rochester, New York 14604, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

All stockholder correspondence will be compiled by our Corporate Secretary and forwarded as appropriate. In general, correspondence relating to corporate governance issues, long-term corporate strategy, or similar substantive matters will be forwarded to the board of directors, the individual director, one of the aforementioned committees of the board, or a committee member for review. Correspondence relating to ordinary business affairs or those matters more appropriately addressed by our officers or their designees will be forwarded to such persons accordingly.

MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

We are currently served by six executive officers, Mr. White, Mr. Greenberg, Ms. Gezerlis, Mr. Goldstein, Mr. Fliderman, and Ms. Meyers.

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Patrick White, age 69, is our Chief Executive Officer. Additional information about Mr. White can be found under “Proposal One: Election of Directors.”

Scott Greenberg, age 65, is our Executive Chairman. Additional information about Mr. Greenberg has been nominated for election to the Board at the 2019 Annual Meeting. Mr. Greenberg has served as Chief Executive Officercan be found under “Proposal One: Election of GP Strategies Corporation (“GP Strategies”) since April 2005. He was President of GP Strategies from 2001 to 2006, Chief Financial Officer from 1989 until 2005, Executive Vice President from 1998 to 2001, Vice President from 1985 to 1998, and held various other positions with GP Strategies since 1981. Mr. Greenberg was also a Director of Wright Investors’ Service Holdings, Inc., formerly National Patent Development Corporation (“NPDC”), from 2004 to 2015. The Board believes Mr. Greenberg is qualified to serve on the Board because, if elected, he would bring to the Board significant experience and expertise in management, acquisitions and strategic planning, as well as many years of finance and related transactional experience.

Arthur Laffer – Dr. Laffer has served as a director of the Company since March 23, 2019. Dr. Laffer is the founder and chairman of Laffer Associates, an institutional economic research and consulting firm, as well as Laffer Investments, an institutional investment management firm utilizing diverse investment strategies. Dr. Laffer has served as a director of EVO Transportation & Energy Services, Inc. (OTCPINK: EVOA) since August 2018, GEE Group, Inc. (NYSE American: JOB) since January 2015, and NexPoint Residential Trust Inc. (NYSE: NXRT) since May 2015. Dr. Laffer’s economic acumen and influence in triggering a world-wide tax-cutting movement in the 1980s have earned him the distinction in many publications as “The Father of Supply-Side Economics.Directors. Dr. Laffer was a member of President Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board for both of his two terms (1981-1989). Dr. Laffer also advised Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on fiscal policy in the UK during the 1980s. In the early 1970s, Dr. Laffer was the first to hold the title of Chief Economist at the Office of Management and Budget under Mr. George Shultz. Additionally, Dr. Laffer served as Charles B. Thornton Professor of Business Economics at the University of Southern California and as Associate Professor of Business Economics at the University of Chicago. In June 2019, Dr. Laffer received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Board believes Dr. Laffer is qualified to serve on the Board because of his expertise in economics and his experience as a director of multiple companies.

Marshall Geller– Mr. Geller has served as a director of the Company since July 12, 2017. Mr. Geller has been a director and a member of the audit committee of GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE:GPX) since 2002. Mr. Geller was a director of Wright Investors’ Service Holdings Inc. (OTCMKT:WISH) since January 2015. Mr. Geller was a founder of St. Cloud Capital, a Los Angeles based private equity fund, and Senior Investment Advisor from December 2001 until September 2017. He has spent more than 50 years in corporate finance and investment banking, including 21 years as a Senior Managing Partner of Bear, Stearns & Co., with oversight of all operations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Hong Kong and the Far East. Mr. Geller is currently on the Board of Directors of UCLA Health System and is on the Board of Governors of Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles. Mr. Geller also served on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Business & Economics at California State University, Los Angeles. Mr. Geller was appointed to the Company’s Board for his experience as a managing partner of a private equity fund, his many years of experience and expertise as an investor in and adviser to companies in various sectors and his experience with serving on the board of directors of other companies.

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Howard Goldberg– Mr. Goldberg has served as a director of the Company since July 12, 2017. Mr. Goldberg served as a director of Winthrop Realty Trust from 2003 until August 2016, when it was converted to Winthrop Realty Liquidating Trust. Since August 2016, Mr. Goldberg has served as a trustee of the Winthrop Realty Liquidating Trust. Mr. Goldberg was a director of New York REIT, Inc. from March 2017 until October 2018, when it converted to a limited liability company called New York REIT LLC. Since October 2018, Mr. Goldberg has been a manager of New York REIT LLC. He has been retired since 1994 after a long career as a lawyer. He provided consulting services to the Company through December 31, 2017. Mr. Goldberg was appointed to the Board for his experience with being a director of other public companies and his legal expertise.

Patrick White – Patrick White has served as a director of the Company since July 12, 2017. Mr. White founded Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSE:DSS), a technology company, and served as its chief executive officer and director from August 2002 until December 2012 and as its business consultant from 2012 to March 2015. He has been a director of Box Score Brands, Inc. (formerly, U-Vend, Inc.) since 2009. Mr. White was a Financial Adviser for the Monroe County Government from April 2016 until May 2017. Mr. White worked as an independent consultant from March 2015 until March 2016. He was a consultant to the Company from June 1, 2017 through August 14, 2017, when he was appointed Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. White was appointed to our Board for his experience with previously serving as the chief executive officer of a public company.

Executive Officers

NameAgePosition
Patrick White66Chief Executive Officer and President
Norman Gardner77Secretary and Treasurer
Margaret Gezerlis38Chief Financial Officer
Keith Goldstein51Chief Operating Officer

Patrick White – See above for Mr. Patrick White’s biography.

Norman Gardner– See above for Mr. Norman Gardner’s biography.

 

Margaret Gezerlis– Ms. Gezerlis, age 41, has been the Company’sour Chief Financial Officer since May 2018.2018 and was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in February 2022. In November 2018, Ms. Gezerlis became an employee of the Company.our employee. Ms. Gezerlis was previously an employee of the CFO Squad LLC from February 2018 until November 2018, where she worked as an independent contractor for the Company. Previously, Ms. Gezerlis was a Financial Reporting Manager at Bankrate.com from March 2017 until February 2018. Prior to her position at Bankrate.com, Ms. Gezerlis was a financial reporting manager atfor Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:WPRT) from March 2014 to November 2016 and a performance services manager at Workiva, previously Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:WK) from June 2012 to March 2014.(Nasdaq:FSYS). Ms. Gezerlis holds an international accounting qualification from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

 

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Keith Goldstein – Mr. Goldstein, age 54, has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since February 2022. Mr. Goldstein was acting Chief Operating Officer of the Company since September 1, 2017. Mr. Goldstein served asis the manager and principal of POC Advisory Group, LLC, which provides business advisory services, since May 2017. We contracted with POC Advisory Group, LLC for Mr. Goldstein’s services until he became an employee of our Company in February 2022. Mr. Goldstein was the Chief Executive Officer of Infinacom, LLC, a provider of biometric based security solutions, from April 2018 until March 2019. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of ABCorpABCorp., North America, a supplier of secure payment, retail and identification cards, vital record and transaction documents, systems and services to governments and financial institutions, from 2011 until April 2017, and has provided professional sales and advisory services to ABCorpABCorp. since April 2017.

 

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships amongSandy Fliderman, age 45, has been the Company’s directors and/or executive officers.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Chief Technology Officer since 2015. Mr. Fliderman is the President and Co-Founder of Industry FinTech Inc. since February 1, 2017. Prior to his current role with the Company, Mr. Fliderman was the Chief Information Officer at VEEDIMS, LLC, an Internet of Things technology company specializing in data collection and distribution in the aerospace and marine industries. In addition, IT/IS, R&D and Operations, Mr. Fliderman lead the charge for VEEDIMS, LLC to attain the AS9100 and ISO9001:2008 certifications needed to do business in the aerospace markets. Mr. Fliderman started his career working on the trading floor at JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) for a number of years before founding the NYC based digital creative agency called Zaah where he was Chief Technology Officer and Founder for almost 15 years. Mr. Fliderman was co-inventor on a number of patents and created the technology behind VerifyMe.

 

Board ResponsibilitiesNancy Meyers

The Board oversees, counsels, and directs management in regard to, age 52, who recently joined the long-term interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Board’s responsibilities include establishing broad corporate policies and reviewing the overall performance of the Company. The Board is not involved in the operating details on a day-to-day basis.

Director Independence

With the exception of Mr. Patrick White and Mr. Norman Gardner, our Board has determined that each of our current directors and Mr. Scott Greenberg, the director nominee, is independent in accordance with the independence standards under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. In affirmatively determining Mr. Greenberg’s independence, the Board considered his service as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of GP Strategies, where Mr. Marshall Geller, a member of our Board, serves as a director, and determined that it does not impact his independence.

Our Board has determined that as a result of Mr. Norman Gardner being a consultant to the Company, and Mr. White being anCompany’s executive officer, neither is an independent director under the Nasdaq Listing Rules.

Our Board has determined that Mr. Marshall Geller, Mr. Howard Goldberg and Mr. Scott Greenberg are independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules’ independence standards for Audit Committee members. Our Board has also determined that Marshall Geller, Christopher Gardner and Howard Goldberg are independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules independence standards for Compensation Committee members.

Board Committees and Charters

The Board has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Finance and Uplisting Committee. The Board and its committees meet throughout the year and act by written consent from time to time as appropriate. The Board delegates various responsibilities and authority to its committees to the extent permitted by the applicable law. 

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The following table identifies the current members of the standing committees of the Board:

  NameAudit
Committee (1)
Compensation
Committee
Nominating and
Corporate
Governance
Committee

Finance and
Uplisting
Committee

Christopher GardnerXX
Marshall GellerXChairmanChairmanChairman
Howard GoldbergXXXX
Arthur LafferX

(1)       Following Mr. Robin’s resignation in September 2019, the Audit Committee currently consists of two members. Effective immediately upon the Annual Meeting, Mr. Greenberg (if elected)team will serve as the ChairmanSenior Vice President of the Audit Committee.

Audit Committee

The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include monitoring the integrity of the financial statements ofFinance and Investor Relations. Prior to joining the Company monitoring the independent registered public accounting firm’s (the “Auditors”) qualifications and independence, monitoring the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and the Auditors, and evaluating the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. It also meets with our Auditors to review the results of their audit and review of our annual and interim consolidated financial statements. Mr. Scott Greenberg has agreed to serve as Audit Committee Chairman if elected at the Annual Meeting. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter which is available on the Company’s website: https://www.verifyme.com/investor#sec. The Audit Committee held nine meetings in 2018.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

Our Board has determined that Mr. Greenberg, a director nominee, is qualified as an Audit Committee Financial Expert, as that term is defined by the rules of the SEC, in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Mr. Greenberg (if elected) will replace Mr. Eugene Robin who had previously qualified as an Audit Committee Financial Expert until his resignation in September 2019.

Compensation Committee

The responsibilities2021, Ms. Meyers had several accounting and financial reporting roles at GP Strategies Corporation, ultimately serving as Manager of the Compensation Committee include reviewing compensation of our executive officers and making recommendations to the Company regarding compensation. The Compensation Committee has the power to set performance targets for determining periodic bonuses payable to executive officers and may review and make recommendations with respect to shareholder proposals related to compensation matters. Additionally, the Compensation Committee is responsible for administering the VerifyMe, Inc.Financial Reporting from October 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”). The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter which is available on the Company’s website: https://www.verifyme.com/investor#sec. The Compensation Committee held two meetings in 2018.

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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee include identifying, recommending and recruiting individuals qualified to become Board members, establishing a policy for shareholder nominations, recommending removal of directors, evaluating the Board and management, establishing corporate governance guidelines, and evaluating its own performance and charter. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates under a written charter which is available on the Company’s website: https://www.verifyme.com/investor#sec. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held one meeting in 2018.

Number of Meetings of the Board in 2018

In 2018, the Board had two meetings and took action by written consent on five occasions. For a part of 2018 the Board also had a standing Executive Committee, which had four meetings and acted by written consent on 15 occasions in 2018. There were no directors (who were incumbent at the time) who attended fewer than 75 percent of the aggregate total number of Board meetings and meetings of the Board committees of which the director was a member during 2018. VerifyMe does not have a policy regarding director attendance of annual shareholders’ meetings. Messrs. Norman Gardner and Patrick White attended the 2018 annual shareholders’ meeting.

Board Diversity

While we do not have a formal policy on diversity, the Board considers diversity to include the skill set, background, reputation, type and length of business experience of the Board members as well as a particular nominee’s contributions to that mix.  The Board believes that diversity brings a variety of ideas, judgments and considerations that benefit the Company and its shareholders.  Although there are many other factors, the Board seeks individuals with experience on operating and growing businesses.

Board Leadership Structure

Mr. Norman Gardner serves as the Chairman of the Board and actively interfaces with management, the Board and counsel regularly. The Board has not adopted a formal policy regarding the separation of the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee periodically assesses these roles and the board leadership structure to ensure that it best serves the interests of the Company and its shareholders.

The Board has determined that separating the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders at this time, asit allows the Chief Executive Officer to focus on generating sales, overseeing sales and marketing, and managing the Company while leveraging the experience and perspectives of the Chairman, who is our founder, and offers an additional channel of communication for other directors, investors and employees.

The Board has also created the position of Lead Director to facilitate the communications between management and the Board and to promote effective governance standards. The Board elects a Lead Director from our independent directors. Mr. Howard Goldberg currently serves as our Lead Director.

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Board Risk Oversight

The Company’s risk management function is overseen by the Board. The Company’s management keeps the Board apprised of material risks and provides its directors access to all information necessary for them to understand and evaluate how these risks interrelate, how they affect us, and how management addresses those risks. Mr. Norman Gardner, Chairman of the Board, works closely together with the other members of the Board once material risks are identified on how to best address such risks. If the identified risk poses an actual or potential conflict with management, the Company’s independent directors may conduct the assessment. Presently, the primary risks affecting us are the Company’s ability to generate revenue and our liquidity.

Code of Ethics

The Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to all of the Company’s employees, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Although not required, the Code of Ethics also applies to the Company’s directors. The Code of Ethics provides written standards that we believe are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships, full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure and compliance with laws, rules and regulations and the prompt reporting of illegal or unethical behavior. The Code of Ethics is available on the Company’s website athttps://www.verifyme.com/code-of-conduct and the Company will provide a copy, without charge, to anyone that requests one in writing to VerifyMe, Inc., Clinton Square, 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 510 Rochester, NY 14604 Attention: Corporate Secretary.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) requires the Company’s directors, executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of the Company’s common stock to file initial reports of beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock and other equity securities with the SEC. These individuals are required by the regulations of the SEC to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based solely on a review of the copies of the forms furnished to us, we believe that, during the year ended December 31, 2018, all of our executive officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements, except that one Form 4 for each of Messrs. Laurence Blickman and Marshall Geller reporting grants of common stock and warrants to purchase common stock was not timely filed due to an administrative error.

Communication with the Company’s Board

Although VerifyMe does not have a formal policy regarding communications with the Board, shareholders may communicate with the Board by writing to us at VerifyMe, Inc., Clinton Square, 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 510 Rochester, NY 14604 Attention: Corporate Secretary. Shareholders who would like their submission directed to a member of the Board may so specify, and the communication will be forwarded, as appropriate.

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Transactions with Related Persons

The followinguntil May 2021. Ms. Meyers is a summaryChartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and brings over 20 years of transactions, since January 1, 2017, to which we have been a partyexperience in which the amount involved exceeded the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of our total assets at December 31, 2017finance, accounting, and December 31, 2018, and in which any of our directors, executive officers, beneficial holders of more than 5% of our capital stock or certain other related persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than compensation arrangements that are described in sections of this Proxy Statement entitled “Employment and Consulting Agreements” and “Consulting Agreement with Chairman of the Board.”operations.

In January 2018, we issued 1,749,683 shares and 1,749,683 warrants to purchase common stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share to entities controlled by Paul Klapper, a former member of our Board, relating to a note payable conversion that took place in June 2017 prior to the time he became a director. Mr. Klapper resigned from the Board on March 31, 2018.

On February 19, 2018, we authorized a warrant reduction program (the “Program”) permitting warrant holders of our outstanding $0.15 warrants to exercise their warrants for $0.10 per share (the “Reduced Price”) under the terms of the Program. We received total gross proceeds of approximately $2,079,345 from the exercise of warrants under the Program at the Reduced Price. Included in the above amounts are gross proceeds of $1,205,458, consisting of $572,000 from Carl Berg, $110,000 from Marshall Geller, $71,500 from Harvey Eisen, and $451,958 from Laurence Blickman, each a director at the time of the exercise. Currently, only Mr. Geller remains a director.

On March 31, 2018, we entered into a Settlement Agreement with Paul Klapper, who was at the time a member of our Board, and certain other parties named in the Settlement Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, we (i) paid a total of $500,000 (the “Settlement Amount”) to a fund controlled by Paul Klapper and an additional party and (ii) issued a total of 1,000,000 shares of our common stock to the fund and a third party (the “Settlement Shares”). In exchange for the payment and issuance to Mr. Klapper, the Company obtained from Mr. Klapper the cancellation of certain revenue sharing agreements, as of March 31, 2018, between us and Mr. Klapper (or an affiliate) and the third party, and termination of our obligation to issue Mr. Klapper or his affiliates warrants to purchase 3,700,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.40 per share.  As a condition of entering into the Settlement Agreement, we accelerated the vesting of 150,000 shares of restricted common stock held by Mr. Klapper which were part of a 300,000 share grant in August 2017. Mr. Klapper joined the Board on July 14, 2017 and resigned as of March 31, 2018. 

On July 31, 2018, our former director, Laurence Blickman, exercised 1,439,524 warrants held by an entity under his control at an exercise price of $0.15 per share for a total price of $215,929.

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In 2017, we authorized a private placement with a maximum offering amount of $2,100,000 allowing investors to purchase units consisting of 715,000 shares of common stock and 715,000 five-year warrants exercisable at $0.15 per share. In January 2018, we approved an increase in the offering. The following directors or former directors of the Company purchased the following securities in connection with the offering:

·Carl Berg - $400,000 for 5,720,000 shares and 5,720,000 warrants;
·Laurence Blickman $291,777 for 4,172,411 shares and 4,172,411 warrants;
·Harvey Eisen - $50,000 for 715,000 shares and 715,000 warrants;
·

Marshall Geller - $250,000 for 3,575,000 shares and 3,575,000 warrants;

·Howard Goldberg - $115,000 for 1,644,500 shares and 1,644,500 warrants;
·Larry Schafran - $115,000 for 1,644,500 shares and 1,644,500 warrants (including shares issued to a member of Schafran’s household); and
·Paul Klapper - $26,000 for 371,800 shares and 371,800 warrants.

  

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Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners

  

The following table sets forthEXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

This proxy statement contains information about the number of shares of VerifyMe’ common stock beneficially ownedascompensation earned and paid to our named executive officers during fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (“fiscal year 2020”). For fiscal year 2021, in accordance with the executive compensation disclosure rules and regulations of the Record Dateby (i) those persons known to VerifyMe to be owners of more than 5% of its common stock, (ii) each director and director nominee, (iii)SEC, we determined that the Named Executive Officers (as defined in the Summary Compensation Table), and (iv) VerifyMe’following officers were our named executive officers and directors as a group. Unless otherwise specified in the notes to this table, the address for each person is: VerifyMe, Inc., Clinton Square, 75 S. Clinton Ave, Suite 510 Rochester, NY 14604 Attention: Corporate Secretary.officers:

 

Beneficial

Owner

  

Amount of

Beneficial

Ownership
of

Common
Stock(1)

  

Percent of
Common Stock

Beneficially
Owned (1)

 Amount of
Beneficial
Ownership of
Series B
Convertible
Preferred
Stock
 Percent of
Series B
Convertible
Preferred
Stock
           
Named Executive Officers
and Directors:
         
          
Patrick White (2) 7,650,000 6.50%    
Keith Goldstein (3) 3,000,000 2.65%    
Norman Gardner (4) 8,964,469 7.78%    
Christopher Gardner (5) 240,000 *    
Marshall Geller (6) 7,895,000 7.00%    
Howard Goldberg (7) 4,306,755 3.85%    
Scott Greenberg (8)      
Arthur Laffer (9)    240,000 *    
         
All directors and executive
officers as a group (8
persons) (10)
 32,396,224 24.94% 

 

   
          
 5% Shareholders:        
Carl Berg (11) 11,837,500 10.73%    
Laurence Blickman (12) 

9,493,918

 8.61%    
Estate of Claudio Ballard (13)     0.85  100% 

___________________

*·Indicates less than 1%.Patrick White, Chief Executive Officer;

 

17·Keith Goldstein, President and Chief Operating Officer; and
Table of Contents

 

(1)Based on 110,280,258 shares of common stock issued·Margaret Gezerlis, our Executive Vice President and outstanding as of the Record Date. Beneficial ownership is determined under the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. A person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities that can be acquired by such person within 60 days whether upon the exercise of options, warrants or conversion of notes. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, we believe that each of the shareholders named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock indicated as beneficially owned by them. This table does not include any unvested stock options except for those vesting within 60 days. As for the 5% shareholders, we are relying upon reports filed by each 5% shareholder with the SEC.
(2)Mr. White is the Chief Executive Officer and director. Includes 7,000,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $0.07 per share and 500,000 and shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $0.14 per share.
(3)Mr. Goldstein is the Chief OperatingFinancial Officer. Includes 2,000,000 shares of common stock underlying vested stock options exercisable at $0.04 per share and 1,000,000 shares of common stock underlying vested stock options exercisable at $0.2102 per share held by POC Advisory Group, LLC.  Mr. Goldstein is the managing member of POC Advisory Group, LLC.
(4)Mr. Norman Gardner is Chairman of the Board. Includes 165,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $0.11 per share, 250,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $0.25 per share, and 4,500,000 shares of common stock underlying vested stock options exercisable at $0.07 per share.
(5)Mr. Christopher Gardner is a director. Includes 240,000 shares of restricted common stock which vests quarterly over a one year period beginning on May 8, 2019.
(6)Mr. Geller is a director. Includes 4,975,000 shares of common stock held by the Marshall & Patricia Geller Living Trust (the “Geller Trust”) which are beneficially owned by Mr. Geller, and 2,475,000 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable at $0.15 per share held by the Geller Trust.
(7)Mr. Goldberg is a director. Consists of 1,644,500 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable at $0.15 held by Mr. Goldberg.
(8)Mr. Greenberg is a director nominee.
(9)Mr. Laffer is a director. Includes 240,000 shares of restricted common stock which vest quarterly over a one year period beginning on March 15, 2019.
(10)Includes an aggregate of 15,515,000 shares of common stock underlying vested stock options.
(11)Consists of 397,500 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Berg and 11,440,000 shares of common stock held by Berg & Berg Enterprises, LLC (“Berg & Berg”), which are beneficially owned by Mr. Berg, the managing member and primary owner of Berg & Berg. The address for Mr. Berg and Berg & Berg is 10050 Bandley Dr., Cupertino, CA 95014.
(12)Includes (i) 2,982,869 shares owned by Laurence J. Blickman 1991 Trust, of which Mr. Blickman is the trustee, (ii) 1,174,829 shares owned by Laurence J. Blickman SEP IRA, (iii) 5,198,469 shares owned by Laurence J. Blickman Profit Sharing Plan, and (iv) 137,751 shares owned by 2005 Blickman Family Trust, of which Mr. Blickman is the trustee. Effective September 5, 2019, Mr. Laurence Blickman, a former director, granted the Board an irrevocable proxy to vote all shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by him on all matters with limited exceptions, which proxy expires on December 4, 2019. A copy of the irrevocable proxy was filed with the SEC on September 16, 2019. Mr. Blickman retained the dispositive power with respect to these shares and has sold 1,099,551 shares as of the date of this Proxy Statement. Because a majority vote is required for the Board to vote Mr. Blickman’s shares by proxy, each director individually is not deemed to be a beneficial owner with respect to these shares. The address for Mr. Blickman is 233 Alameda de las Pulgas, Atherton, CA 94027.
(13)Mr. Ballard is deceased. Represents 0.85 share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company convertible into our common stock, subject to a 4.99% beneficial ownership limitation. Address: c/o Shepard Lane, Esq. 2 Park Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10016. Series B Convertible Preferred Stock has limited voting rights and is not entitled to vote on any of the Proposals in this Proxy Statement.

18
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Executive Compensation

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following information is related to the compensation paid, distributed or accrued by us for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 to our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) serving during the last fiscal year and the other most highly compensated executive officers serving at the end of the last fiscal year whose compensation exceeded $100,000 (the “Named Executive Officers”).

Name and

Principal

Position

 Year  

Salary

($)

  

Stock

Awards

($) (1)

  

Option

Awards

($)(1)

  

All Other

Compensation

($)(2)

  

Total

Compensation

($)

Patrick White  2021   280,000   -   -   17,344  297,344
  CEO  2020   186,629(3)  375,600(3)  90,563(4)  14,400  667,192
                     
Keith Goldstein(5)  2021   195,667   43,500   -75,366(6)  14,400  328,933
President & COO  2020   174,000   17,750   78,283   14,400  284,433
                     
Margaret Gezerlis  2021   156,667   21,100   -   12,480  190,247
EVP & CFO  2020   138,640   17,750   13,716   12,000  182,106

 

 

Summary Compensation Table

Name and         Stock   Option  All Other  Total 
Principal    Salary    Awards   Awards  Compensation  Compensation 
Position Year  ($)    ($)   ($)(1)  ($)(2)  ($) 
                      
Patrick White (3)  2018   200,000(4)   16,240(5)   48,466   14,400   279,106 
CEO  2017   75,291(4)       240,631   25,000   340,922 
                           
Keith Goldstein (6)  2018   145,000        271,745   14,400   431,145 
COO  2017   41,000        318,818     1,000   359,818 
_____________

(1)

Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stockthe option awards granted during each respective fiscal year,award, calculated in accordance with FASBFinancial Accounting StandardStandards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” or ASC 718. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the option awards are set forth in Note 1 to our auditedof the financial statements included into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

2021.

 

(2)

The amounts shown in this column reflect amounts paid by us to or on behalf of each named executive officer for medical insurance reimbursement. For 2017, the amounts for Mr. White also included his consulting fees.

reimbursement and company matching contributions to 401(k).

 

(3)Mr. White served as a consultant to us during 2017 and was appointed our Chief Executive Officer on August 15, 2017.

(4)Pursuant to Mr. White’s Employment Agreement and Amendments to the Employment Agreement, $50,000 of his annual salary was deferred for each year of the two-yearthree-year term beginning August 15, 2017, for a total deferred salary of $100,000. This$150,000. In lieu of a cash payment the Company issued Restricted Stock awards to Mr. White in the amount was subsequentlyequal to his total deferred for another year.compensation. See “Employment and Consulting Agreements”Agreements with Named Executive Officers” below.

(5)

Represents Includes the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted stock awards granted to Mr. White for his service as a director,CEO, and in lieu of his deferred annual salary, calculated in accordance with ASC 718. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the restricted stock awards are set forth in Note 1 to our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.2020.

(4)

Represents the change in fair value by applying FASB ASC 718 “Compensation—Stock Compensation” modification accounting for a three-year extension on the expiration for 140,000 options previously granted to Mr. White, now expiring August 15, 2025. All other terms with respect to the options remained the same.

 

(5)(6)Mr. Goldstein was appointed Chief Operating Officer

Prior to the employment agreement entered into on September 1, 2017. The amounts representFebruary 15, 2022, we had a consulting fees paid toagreement with POC Advisory Group, LLC, of which Mr. Goldstein is the managing member.member, pursuant to which Mr. Goldstein served as the Company’s acting Chief Operating Officer.  The Company compensated POC Advisory Group, LLC for Mr. Goldstein’s time at a rate of $14,500 per month in January and February 2021, then $16,668 per month starting in March 2021.

(6)Represents the change in fair value by applying FASB ASC 718 “Compensation-Stock Compensation” modification accounting for a three-year extension on the expiration for 80,000 options previously granted to Mr. Goldstein.  All other terms with respect to the options remain the same.

  

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Employment and Consulting Agreements with Named Executive Officers

Patrick White - Chief Executive Officer

 

The Company entered into an Employment Agreement, dated as of August 15, 2017, with Patrick White, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, with an annual salary of $200,000. Mr. White agreed to defer $50,000 each year until August 15, 2019 in order to improve the Company’s liquidity. On August 13, 2019, Mr. White entered into an amendmentAmendment to his Employment Agreement, extending it for one year at the same base annual salary of $200,000 and deferring the $100,000 he was owed and $50,000 of his current salary until August 15, 2020. In connection with the amendment,Amendment, the Boardboard granted Mr. White 500,000 fully vested five-year Incentive Stock Optionsimmediately vesting incentive stock options under the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan exercisable at $0.14(the “2017 Plan”) for 10,000 shares of common stock that expires five-years from the date of grant with an exercise price of $7.00 per share. On April 16, 2020, we awarded Mr. White a restricted stock award of 37,500 shares of our common stock in lieu of the $150,000 in deferred salary. The restricted stock award vests in full one-year from the date of grant, subject to Mr. White’s continued services as an officer and employee on the vesting date. In the event of Mr. White’s termination without cause, Mr. White is entitled to receive any unpaid salary and expenses, a payment equal to 12 months of his salary, and a continuation of benefits for six months. In connection with his 2017 Employment Agreement and a Consulting Agreement, dated as of June 2, 2017, he received grants of 5,000,000 five-yearoptions for 100,000 shares of common stock options atthat expire five years from the date of grant with an exercise price of $0.07$3.50 per share, and 2,000,000 five-yearon April 17, 2018, he received options for 40,000 shares of common stock options atwhich expire five years from the date of grant and have an exercise price of $0.07$3.50 per share. These awards were amended in April 2020 to extend the term such that the options expire eight years from the date of grant. All of Mr. White’s stock options are vested. InUnder his Employment Agreement, in the event Mr. White iswas terminated or his title as Chief Executive Officer changeschanged within 12 months following a change in control, Mr. White will bewould have been entitled to receive any unpaid salary and expenses, a payment equal to 18 months of his salary at the rate in effect on the date of such termination, and a continuation of benefits for a period of 18 months. On May 19, 2020, we agreed to extend Mr. White’s Employment Agreement until August 15, 2021 and to include automatic renewal provisions for one-year terms. On August 15, 2020, the deferral of Mr. White’s salary ended and his salary was restored to its full amount of $200,000. On October 12, 2020, we and Mr. White entered into a further amendment to Mr. White’s employment agreement to increase Mr. White’s annual base salary to $280,000, effective immediately. In addition, the term of Mr. White’s Employment Agreement would have been extended for a period of not less than 18 months from and after a Change of Control (as the term is defined in the Employment Agreement), and Mr. White’s surviving spouse or estate would have been entitled to certain payments upon his death following a Change of Control. On February 16, 2022, upon the expiration of his prior Employment Agreement, the Company entered into a new employment with Mr. White, effective as of February 15, 2022 entitling him to a bonus of 1% of all organic sales over $1,500,000. Mr. White was also issued restricted stock units equal to 70% of his base salary, totaling 61,250 under the Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”).

Keith Goldstein - Chief Operating Officer

 

On September 1, 2017, the Company entered into a six-month Consulting Agreement with POC Advisory Group, LLC (“POC”) pursuant to which Mr. Keith Goldstein served as our acting Chief Operating Officer and received a monthly fee of $10,000 per month plus 4% of any sales made by Mr. Goldstein on behalf of the Company. When we refer to compensation and equity grants to Mr. Goldstein in this Proxy Statement, technically POC is the party. Mr. Goldstein was granted five-year non-plan stock options to purchase 2,000,00040,000 shares of our common stock exercisable at $0.04with an exercise price of $2.00 per share.share and a five-year term that vested in equal monthly increments over the initial six-month term.

 

On March 1, 2018, the Company amended the Consulting Agreement with POC Advisory Group, LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Goldstein, extending it for a one-year term which expired on February 28, 2019. Under the first amendment to the Consulting Agreement2019, under which Mr. Goldstein received a monthly fee of $12,500 per month. The amendment provided Mr. Goldstein with an additional grant of five-year options to purchase 1,000,00020,000 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $0.21$10.51 per share. Allshare that have a five-year term. Options with respect to 10,000 shares vested upon execution of thesethe amendment and options are vested.with respect to the remaining 10,000 shares vested on February 28, 2019. The amendment also terminated Mr. Goldstein’s right to the 4% sales commission. In February 2019, the Company agreed to renew Mr. Goldstein’s Consulting Agreementagreement on a month-to-month basis on the terms of the amendment, pending Boardboard approval of a new agreement. On April 9, 2019, we entered into a second amendmentSecond Amendment to the Consulting Agreement at a feewith POC Advisory Group, LLC.

18
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On March 1, 2021, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement with POC Advisory Group, LLC. The key provisions of $14,500 per month or $174,000 per year over a two-year term.the Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement include the following:

·Mr. Goldstein received an aggregate annual fee of $214,400 payable in equal monthly installments during the 12-month term of the agreement for services provided;

·Mr. Goldstein received a grant of 10,000 shares of restricted stock under the Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan. The shares vest in equal quarterly installments over the 12-month term of the agreement, subject to Mr. Goldstein performing services for the Company as of each applicable vesting date;

The Consulting Agreement provided for the extension of the expiration date to March 1, 2026 for the Consultant’s existing options to purchase an aggregate of 80,000 shares of Company common stock, and provided Mr. Goldstein receivedwith a new grant2% sales commission on sales in excess of 2,000,000 five-year stock options under the 2017 Plan. The 2,000,000 stock options vest annually in equal increments over the two-year term subject to Mr. Goldstein performing services$500,000 for the Company as of each applicable vesting date and executing the Company’s standard stock option agreement. Any unvested options will vest immediately upon a change of control.year ended December 31, 2021, excluding sales related to acquired businesses. The Consulting Agreement, as amended, may becould have been terminated at any time by the Company for cause. If terminated without cause, Mr. Goldstein iswould have been entitled to any unpaid fees and any unpaid and accrued expenses. The Consulting Agreement, as amended, contained non-compete provisions prohibiting Mr. Goldstein from competing with us during the term of the Consulting Agreement and for one year after termination.

On February 16, 2022, the Company entered into a new employment with Mr. Goldstein, effective as of February 15, 2022, which superseded in its entirety the Consulting Agreement, entitling him to a bonus of 1% of all organic sales over $1,500,000 and an increase in base salary to $235,000. Mr. Goldstein was also issued restricted stock units equal to 70% of his base salary, totaling 51,407 under the Company’s 2020 Plan.

Margaret Gezerlis - Chief Financial Officer

On May 17, 2018, we appointed Margaret Gezerlis as our Chief Financial Officer and entered into a Consulting Agreement with Ms. Gezerlis under which the Company agreed to pay Ms. Gezerlis a $1,000 signing bonus and a consulting fee of $1,500 per month. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Gezerlis had been an employee of the CFO Squad LLC since February 2018 and had provided services to the Company through her employment at CFO Squad LLC.

On November 15, 2018, we entered into an Employment Agreement with Ms. Gezerlis with an initial term of one year, which automatically renewed for additional one-year terms until either party gives 30-day notice of non-renewal or otherwise terminated the agreement according to its terms. Under the Employment Agreement, Ms. Gezerlis was entitled to an annual base salary of $84,000 per year as well as a monthly stipend of $1,000 in lieu of benefits. The Employment Agreement also provided that Ms. Gezerlis’ annual base salary would increase to $145,000 upon the successful listing of our common stock on a national securities exchange. On June 18, 2020, upon the listing of our common stock and warrants to purchase common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market, Ms. Gezerlis’ annual base salary increased to $145,000 and she received the money accrued for the interim salary increase. Additionally, pursuant to the Employment Agreement, on March 11, 2019, Ms. Gezerlis was granted options to purchase 2,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $16.05 per share. The options vested quarterly in equal installments over one year. The Employment Agreement could have been terminated by us for cause or by Ms. Gezerlis for good reason. Additionally, by its terms the Employment Agreement terminated automatically upon a change of control. If terminated by us without cause or by Ms. Gezerlis with good reason Ms. Gezerlis would have been entitled to any accrued and unpaid salary and expenses, a payment equal to 12 months of her then base salary, and six months of benefits. If the Employment Agreement terminated due to a change of control of our company, Ms. Gezerlis would have been entitled to a payment equal to 18 months of her then base salary and 18 months of benefits. If terminated upon us giving notice of non-renewal and she remained employed until the end of the respective term, Ms. Gezerlis was entitled to any accrued and unpaid salary and expenses and six months of benefits.

On January 7, 2020, Ms. Gezerlis received a grant of stock options for 4,000 shares of common stock that expire in five-years which are exercisable at $3.50 per share and vest quarterly over 2020 subject to continued service as an officer on each applicable vesting date. In April 2020, the Company approved a salary increase of $4,000 per month, effective January 1, 2020, to a total of $11,000 per month, for Ms. Gezerlis, half of which we deferred and paid in full upon the closing of our June 2020 public offering of our securities. Ms. Gezerlis now receives the full amount of the salary increase on a monthly basis. On May 7, 2020, Ms. Gezerlis became entitled to receive a commission equal to 5.0% of the gross sales price of Company products and services sold by Ms. Gezerlis beginning on April 21, 2020.

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On February 16, 2022, the Company entered into a new employment with Ms. Gezerlis, effective as of February 15, 2022 entitling her to a bonus of 0.5% of all organic sales over $1,500,000. Ms. Gezerlis was also issued restricted stock units equal to 50% of her base salary, totaling 28,125 under the Company’s 2020 Plan.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table sets forth the outstanding equity awards for our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2021.

   Option Awards   Stock Awards 
         
         
Name  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable

   Option
Exercise
Price
($)
   Option
Expiration
Date

   Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
   Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($) (1)
 
Patrick White  140,000   3.50   8/15/2025   -   - 
   10,000   7.00   8/14/2025   -   - 
Keith Goldstein  20,000 (2)   10.51   3/1/2025   2,500   7,938 
   40,000 (2)   2.00   3/1/2025   -   - 
   20,000 (2)   9.75   4/5/2024   -   - 
Margaret Gezerlis  4,000   3.50   1/7/2025   2,500   7,938 
   2,000   16.05   11/15/2023   -   - 

(1)The amounts in these columns are calculated by multiplying the number of shares by the closing market price of our Common Stock on December 31, 2021, of $3.175 per share.

(2)These options are held by POC Advisory Group LLC, of which Mr. Goldstein is the managing member.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Our directors are eligible to receive options, restricted stock and other equity linked grants under our equity incentive plans. The Compensation Committee of the Board has approved a director compensation policy to govern the annual compensation payable to directors for their service on our Board.

On January 1st of each year beginning in 2021, each non-employee director that does not have a separate compensation arrangement with the Company will receive an award of either restricted stock units or restricted stock under the Plan (or a successor stockholder-approved plan thereto) with a grant date fair value equal to $75,000, and if such non-employee director serves as a Board committee chair or as the Lead Independent Director, he or she will also receive an additional award of restricted stock units or restricted stock award under the Plan (or a successor stockholder-approved plan thereto) with a grant date fair equal to $25,000, regardless of the number of Board committees the non-employee director chairs. A non-employee director may specify before December 15th of the year prior to the year of grant whether he or she would prefer to receive his or her awards to be granted in the following year to be in the form of restricted stock units or restricted stock; provided, however, such choice will not be binding on the Committee. The number of shares of the Company’s common stock subject to each award of restricted stock units or restricted stock will be determined by dividing the grant date fair value by the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the most recent day immediately preceding the date of grant on which the shares of stock were tradeable. The restricted stock units or restricted stock granted pursuant to the Policy will vest in full on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the date of grant subject to the non-employee director’s continued service to the Board through such date, or the death or disability of the non-employee director, and will be payable upon the earlier of the director’s separation from service as a director or, upon an earlier payment date elected by the director, provided that the election is made no later than December 15th of the year prior to the year of grant. The Compensation Committee has reserved the right to make any necessary, appropriate or desirable changes to the terms of the Policy, and has adjusted the Policy starting January 1st of 2022 by increasing the grant fair value of the award for service on the board from $75,000 to $100,000.

  

 20 
Table of Contents

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table sets forth the equity awards we have made to our Named Executive Officers that were outstanding as of December 31, 2018:

 Option AwardsStock Awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable

 

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable

 

 

 

Option
Exercise
Price

($)

 

 

 

 

Option
Expiration
Date

Number of
Shares of
Restricted
Stock That
Have Not
Vested

(#)

Market Value
of Shares of
Restricted
Stock That
Have Not
Vested

($)

Patrick White6,000,000     1,000,000 (1)0.078/15/202275,000 (2)16,500 (3)
       
Keith Goldstein2,000,000 (4)0.0409/01/2022
 500,000      500,000 (5)0.2103/01/2023

_________________

(1) Vest on August 9, 2019.

(2) Vest every three months.

(3) Based on $0.22 per share, the closing price of the Company’s common stock as of December 28, 2018.

(4) These options are held by POC, of which Mr. Goldstein is the managing member.

(5) Vest on February 28, 2019.

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Director Compensation for the Year Ended December 31, 2018 

 

The following table sets forth information about the compensation earned by or paid to our directors during theour fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.2021. Please refer to the “Summary Compensation Table” above for compensation earned by Mr. White as a member of the Board.

board of directors.

 

 Stock All Other Total 
 Awards(1) Compensation Compensation 
Name ($) ($) ($) Stock Units
($)
(1)
Stock Awards
($)
(2)
All Other
Compensation ($)
Total Compensation
($)
Norman Gardner 16,240 162,000 (2) 178,240 -300,000187,000(3)487,000
Carl Berg (3) 81,318  81,318 
Laurence Blickman (3) 31,585   30,000 (4) 61,585 
Harvey Eisen (3) 108,236  108,236 
Howard Goldberg197,240-197,240
Marshall Geller 28,337  28,337 221,525(4)-221,525
Howard Goldberg 36,457  36,457 
Lawrence G. Schafran (3) 6,143  6,143 
Dr. Arthur Laffer197,240-197,240
Christopher Gardner197,240-197,240
Scott Greenberg221,525(4)-221,525

______________

(1)

(1)Amounts reported represent the aggregate grant date fair value of units granted without regards to forfeitures granted to the independent members of our board of directors during 2021, computed in accordance with ASC 718. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value realized by the director. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the option awards are set forth in Note 1 to our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021.
(2)Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted stock awards grantedin 2021.
(3)Pursuant to his retirement agreement dated April 15, 2021, Mr. Gardner received a monthly consulting fee of $14,583.33 and was reimbursed $1,000 a month for health insurance and other medical expenses.
(4)Includes the aggregate grant date fair value of SPAC restricted stock units to Directors also serving as directors of G3 VRM Holding LLC. Includes restricted stock units in the SPAC (“SPAC RSUs”), vesting upon the initial business combination of the SPAC, subject to continuous service to the Company through the vesting date. The Company accounts for the SPAC RSUs under ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging.

The table below sets forth the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards granted during 2018, calculated in accordance with ASC 718. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the stock awards are set forth in Note 1 to our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. The following table presents the number of equity awards outstanding forunexercised options held by each of our non-employee directors outstanding as of December 31, 2018.2021.

 

Name Stock Awards Option Awards
Carl Berg 495,000 
Laurence Blickman 535,000 
Harvey Eisen 510,000 
Norman Gardner 150,000 4,500,000
Marshall Geller 505,000 
Howard Goldberg 580,000 
NameAggregate Number of Unexercised Option
Awards Outstanding at December 31, 2021
Norman Gardner90,000(1)
Chris Gardner20,000(2)
Marshall Geller23,000(3)
Howard Goldberg25,000(4)
Scott Greenberg10,000(2)
Arthur Laffer23,000(5)

 

(1)90,000 options have an expiration date of June 29, 2025 and the exercise price is $3.50 per share. Pursuant to his retirement agreement, effective April 15, 2021 Mr. Gardner agreed to cancel options to purchase 8,300 shares that were scheduled to expire on December 21, 2026.
(2)The options have an expiration date of January 6, 2025 and an exercise price of $3.505.
(3)20,000 options have an expiration date of January 6, 2025 and an exercise price of $3.505. 3,000 options expire on May 27, 2025 and have an exercise price of $5.295.
(4)20,000 options have an expiration date of January 6, 2025 and an exercise price of $3.505. 5,000 options expire on May 27, 2025 and have an exercise price of $5.295.
(5)20,000 options have an expiration date of January 6, 2025 and an exercise price of $3.505. 3,000 options expire on April 16, 2025 and have an exercise price of $4.025

(2) Mr. Gardner receives an annual consulting fee of $150,000 and is reimbursed up to $1,000 a month for health insurance and other medical expenses. Please see “Consulting Agreement with Chairman of the Board” below.

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(3) Former director.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

 

(4) OnThe following table sets forth the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned as of April 25, 2018,13, 2022, by: (i) those persons known by us to be owners of more than 5% of its common stock; (ii) each director; (iii) our named executive officers (as disclosed in the Company approvedSummary Compensation Table); and (iv) our executive officers and directors as a group. Unless otherwise specified in the paymentnotes to this table, the address for each person is: VerifyMe, Inc., 75 S. Clinton Avenue, Suite 510, Rochester, New York 14604. We also have 0.85 share of $30,000 to Mr. Blickman forSeries B Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding held by the services he rendered in connection with the negotiating and resolving the transactions pertaining to a settlement agreement with shareholders.Estate of Claudio Ballard.

 

Beneficial Owner 

Amount of Beneficial

Ownership of

Common Stock (1)

 

Percent of
Common Stock

Beneficially
Owned
(1)

Named Executive Officers:        
Patrick White  210,067(2)  2.84%
Keith Goldstein  100,000(3)  1.36%
Margaret Gezerlis  15,250(4)  * 
Directors:        
Chris Gardner  157,128(5)  2.15%
Marshall Geller  342,784(6)  4.64%
Howard Goldberg  175,138(7)  2.40%
Scott Greenberg  83,608(8)  1.15%
Arthur Laffer  172,923(9)  2.35%
Adam H. Stedham  -   - 
All current directors and
executive officers as a group
(10 persons)
  1,330,626   16.9%

Consulting Agreement with Chairman of the Board

* indicates less than 1%

 

On June 29, 2017, the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement with Norman Gardner. Under the terms of the Consulting Agreement, Mr. Gardner receives a consulting fee of $12,500 per month or $150,000 per year over a three-year term. The Consulting Agreement provides that the Company will reimburse Mr. Gardner for up to $1,000 a month for health insurance and other medical expenses. Also Mr. Gardner received a grant of 10,000,000 five-year vested stock options exercisable at $0.07. In the event of termination without cause, Mr. Gardner is entitled to receive any unpaid salary and expenses, a payment equal to 12 months of his consulting fee, and a continuation of benefits for a period of six-months. The Consulting Agreement further provides for 12 months of severance and health insurance reimbursement if it is terminated without cause and 18 months of severance and health insurance reimbursement upon a change of control if Mr. Gardner terminates the Agreement within one year of the change of control.

(1)Based on 7,252,115 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of April 13, 2022. Beneficial ownership is determined under the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. A person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities that can be acquired by such person within 60 days whether upon the exercise of options or warrants. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, we believe that each of the stockholders named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock indicated as beneficially owned by them. This table does not include any unvested restricted stock units, restricted stock awards, stock options or warrants except for those vesting within 60 days. As for the 5% stockholders, we are relying upon reports filed by each 5% stockholder with the SEC.
(2)Includes 140,000 and 10,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $3.50 per share and $7.00 per share, respectively.
(3)Includes 20,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $9.75 per share, 40,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $2.00 per share and 20,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $10.51 per share all of which are held by POC Advisory Group LLC, which are beneficially owned by Mr. Goldstein. Mr. Goldstein is the managing member and primary owner of POC Advisory Group LLC.
(4)Includes 2,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $16.05 per share and 4,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $3.505 per share.
(5)Includes 16,009 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable at $4.60 per share and 20,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $3.505 per share.
(6)Includes 202,341 shares of common stock held by Geller Trust, 7,000 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable at $4.60 per share held by the Geller Trust, 3,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $5.295 per share held by the Geller Trust, 20,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $3.505 per share held by the Geller Trust, 31,941 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable at $4.60 per share held by the Geller Trust, 14,300 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable at $7.50 per share held by the Geller Trust, 22,880 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable at $7.50 per share held by the Geller Trust, and 12,320 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable at $7.50 per share held by the Geller Trust.

  

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PROPOSAL 2. REVERSE STOCK SPLIT OF OUR COMMON STOCK AND RELATED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

 

(7)Includes 4,290 and 28,600 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable at $7.50 per share, 5,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $5.295 per share, and 20,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $3.505 per share. Mr. Goldberg’s shares are held directly in a pledged account with Merrill Lynch, but as of April 13, 2021, no debt is outstanding in this account.
(8)Includes 10,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $3.505 per share, and 6,403 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable at $4.60 per share.
(9)Includes 25,600 and 10,800 shares of common stock underlying warrants exercisable at $4.60 per share, 20,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $3.505 per share, and 3,000 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable at $4.025 per share.

Overview

The table above does not include the following grants:

 

Our Board has determined it to be advisable and in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders and is submitting to the shareholders for their approval a proposed amendment to our Articles of Incorporation that would effect a reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common stock and treasury stock (the “Reverse Split”) at a ratio ranging from 1-for-25 to 1-for-120, with the final ratio to be determined by the Board in its discretion following the approval by the shareholders, without the proportional reduction in the number of shares of common stock the Company is authorized to issue.

·39,308 restricted stock units/award to each of four members of the Board, which convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis, that were granted under the VerifyMe, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, and vest on January 19, 2023, subject to continuous service as a member of the board of directors,

 

You are being asked to vote on the proposed amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to effect the Reverse Split because the Company does not intend to proportionately reduce the number of shares of common stock the Company is authorized to issue in connection with the Reverse Split. Pursuant to Section NRS 78.207 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, the Company may effect a reverse split of its issued and outstanding common stock without obtaining shareholder approval, if it proportionally decreases the number of authorized shares of common stock concurrently with effecting the reverse stock split. We are currently authorized to issue 675,000,000 shares of common stock. Accordingly, if the Company were to effect a reverse stock split at a 1-for-25 ratio without obtaining shareholder approval, it would require a simultaneous reduction in the number of shares of its authorized common stock from 675,000,000 to 27,000,000 shares. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board has not approved and the Company does not intend to effect a proportionate reduction in the number of shares of common stock the Company is authorized to issue in connection with the Reverse Split.

·178,282 performance restricted stock units were issued to management, which convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis, that were granted under the VerifyMe, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, vesting over a period of two to three years, in two tranches, depending on certain criteria being met,

 

If the Board, following the approval by the shareholders, decides in its discretion to effect the Reverse Split, it would set the Reverse Split ratio from the range described in this Proposal 2 and the Articles of Incorporation would be amended accordingly. Approval of this Reverse Split proposal will authorize the Board in its discretion to effect the Reverse Split at any of the ratios within the range described above, or not to effect the Reverse Split. A form of the Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation that would be filed with the Secretary of State of Nevada to effect the Reverse Split is set forth inAnnex A (the “Certificate of Amendment”). However, such form is subject to amendment to include such changes as may be required by the office of the Secretary of State of Nevada or as the Board deems necessary and advisable to effect the Reverse Split. If at any time prior to the effectiveness of the filing of the Certificate of Amendment with the Nevada Secretary of State, the Board determines that it would not be in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders to effect the Reverse Split, in accordance with Nevada law and notwithstanding the approval by the shareholders, the Board may abandon the Reverse Split without further action by the shareholders.

·28,592 restricted stock units, which convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis, were granted under the VerifyMe, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, vest on January 1, 2023, subject to continuous service as a member of the board of directors, and become payable upon separation as a director,

 

We believe that giving the Board the discretion to set the ratio within the stated range will provide us with the flexibility to implement the Reverse Split in a manner designed to maximize the anticipated benefits for our shareholders. By voting in favor of the Reverse Split, you are expressly authorizing the Board to select one ratio from among the ratios set forth in this Proposal 2. If the shareholders approve this Proposal 2, the Board would effect the Reverse Split only upon the Board’s determination that the Reverse Split would be in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders at that time. In determining whether to implement the Reverse Split and selecting the Reverse Split ratio, our Board will consider several factors, including:

·178,282 performance restricted stock units were issued to management, which convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis, that were granted under the VerifyMe, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, and vest on February 16, 2024,

 

·60,000 performance restricted stock units were issued to two members of the Board, which convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis, that were granted under the VerifyMe, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, and vest on April 7, 2024.

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·the initial listing requirements of The Nasdaq Capital Market, including the minimum bid price requirement;
·the historical trading price and trading volume of our common stock;
·the then prevailing trading price and trading volume for our common stock;
·the anticipated impact of the Reverse Split on the trading price of and market for our common stock; and
·the prevailing general market and economic conditions.

If approved by the shareholders, the authorization to effect the Reverse Split will remain effective until our common stock is listed on a national securities exchange or one year from the date of the Annual Meeting, whichever is earlier.

  

ReasonsPROPOSAL TWO:
 APPROVAL OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE 2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

Amendment to the Plan

We are asking our stockholders to approve the adoption of the First Amendment to the Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Amendment”) to increase the number of shares available under the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”) by 1,000,000 shares, which will also extend the term of the 2020 Plan to June 9, 2032.

The 2020 Plan was adopted by our Board on August 10, 2020 and approved by our stockholders on September 30, 2020. The Amendment was adopted by our Board on March 28, 2022 and is now being submitted to our stockholders for their approval. The Amendment will become effective upon stockholder approval.

The closing stock price of a share of the Reverse SplitCompany’s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on April 13, 2022, our record date, was $3.24.

Description of the 2020 Plan

��

The full text of the 2020 Plan and the Amendment are attached to this proxy statement as Appendix A and Appendix B, respectively. The principal terms of the 2020 Plan as amended by the Amendment are described below, but the description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2020 Plan and the Amendment. In the event of a conflict between the description and the terms of the 2020 Plan or the Amendment, the terms of the 2020 Plan or Amendment will govern. The Amendment will not become effective unless approved by our stockholders.

Purpose

 

The purpose of the Reverse Split2020 Plan is to increasepromote stockholder value and our future success by providing appropriate retention and performance incentives to employees and non-employee directors of the market priceCompany or its affiliates, and any other individuals who perform services for the Company or its affiliates.

Administration

Except as noted below, the 2020 Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of ourthe Board. Under the 2020 Plan, each member of the Committee is required to be, and currently is, both a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and a non-employee director meeting the independence requirements for compensation committee members under the rules and regulations of the exchange on which the Company’s shares of common stock in connectionare traded.

The Committee will have the authority to select the employees and other individuals (other than non-employee directors) to receive awards under the 2020 Plan, to determine the type, size and terms of the award to be made to each individual selected, to determine the time when awards will be granted, to establish performance objectives, and to prescribe the form of award agreement. The Committee is also authorized to interpret the 2020 Plan and the awards granted under the 2020 Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the 2020 Plan, and to make any other determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the 2020 Plan. The Committee may authorize any one or more of its members or any officer of the Company or any affiliate to execute and deliver documents or to take any other action on behalf of the Committee with respect to awards made or to be made to participants, subject to the contemplated listingrequirements of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market. The Board intends to implementapplicable law, including without limitation, Section 16 of the Reverse Split only if it believes that a decrease in the number of shares outstanding is likely to improve the trading price for our common stock.Exchange Act.

 

The Board believes that effectinghas all the Reverse Stock Split is desirable for a number of reasons, including:

List our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market. Our common stock is currently traded onpowers otherwise vested in the over-the-counter market and quoted onCommittee by the OTCQB market under the symbol “VRME”. On October 10, 2019, the last sale price of our common stock was $0.11 per share. We intend to apply to have our common stock listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market. We expect that the Reverse Split will increase the market price of our common stock so that we will be able to meet the minimum bid price requirementterms of the listing rules2020 Plan in respect of The Nasdaq Capital Market.awards granted to non-employee directors.

 

Broaden our investor base. We believe the Reverse Split may increase the price of our common stock or potentially decrease its volatility, and thus may allow a broader range of institutional investors with the ability to invest in our common stock. For example, many funds and institutions have investment guidelines and policies that prohibit them from investing in stocks trading below a certain threshold. We believe that increased institutional investor interest in the Company and our common stock will potentially increase the overall market for our common stock.

Increase Analyst and Broker Interest. We believe the Reverse Split would help increase analyst and broker-dealer interest in our common stock as many brokerage and investment advisory firms’ policies can discourage analysts, advisors, and broker-dealers from following or recommending companies with low stock prices. Because of the trading volatility and lack of liquidity often associated with lower-priced stocks, many brokerage houses have adopted investment guidelines, policies and practices that either prohibit or discourage them from investing in or trading such stocks or recommending them to their customers. Some of those guidelines, policies and practices may also function to make the processing of trades in lower-priced stocks economically unattractive to broker-dealers. While we recognize that we will remain a “penny stock” under the SEC rules, if our common stock is not listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, we expect the increase in the stock price resulting from the Reverse Split will position us better if our business continues to grow as we anticipate. Additionally, because brokers’ commissions and dealer mark-ups/mark-downs on transactions in lower-priced stocks generally represent a higher percentage of the stock price than commissions and mark-ups/mark-downs on higher-priced stocks, the current average price per share of our common stock can result in shareholders or potential shareholders paying transaction costs representing a higher percentage of the total share value than would otherwise be the case if the share price were substantially higher.

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, except for permitted adjustments in connection with a corporate transaction or recapitalization, neither the Committee nor the Board may, without the prior approval of the stockholders of the Company, (a) reduce, directly or indirectly, the per-share exercise price of an outstanding option or stock appreciation right after it is granted; (b) cancel an option or stock appreciation right when the exercise price of the option or stock appreciation right exceeds the fair market value of a share in exchange for cash or another award (other than in connection with a change in control); or (c) take any other action that is treated as a repricing under United States generally accepted accounting principles or by the rules or regulations of the exchange on which the Company’s shares are traded.

Certain Risks Associated

No member of the Committee and no officer of the Company will be liable for anything done or omitted to be done by him or her, by any other member of the Committee or by any officer of the Company in connection with the Reverse Split

performance of duties under the 2020 Plan, except for his or her own willful misconduct or gross negligence, or as expressly provided by applicable law, and the Company will indemnify each member of the Committee and officer of the Company against any such liability.

 

If the Reverse Split does not result in a proportionate increase in the price of our common stock, we may not be able to list our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market.Eligible Participants

 

We expect thatEmployees and non-employee directors of the Reverse SplitCompany or its affiliates, and other individuals who perform services for the Company or any of will increaseits affiliates, are eligible to receive awards under the market price2020 Plan. As of our common stock so that weApril 13, 2022, approximately 15 persons, including 6 executive officers, 5 non-employee directors and approximately 5 other individuals may be considered for awards under the 2020 Plan.

Neither the Committee nor the Board has made any decisions with respect to the individuals who may receive awards under the 2020 Plan on or after stockholder approval of the Amendment on June 9, 2022, or the amount or nature of future awards.

Authorized Shares

If the Amendment is approved, the maximum number of shares available for grant and issuance under the 2020 Plan will be able to meet the minimum bid price requirement of the listing rules of The Nasdaq Capital Market. However, the effect of Reverse Split upon the market price of our common stock cannot be predicted with certainty, and the results of reverse stock splits by companies in similar circumstances have been varied. It is possible that the market price of our common stock following the Reverse Split will not increase sufficiently for us to be in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. If we are unable meet the minimum bid price requirement, we may be unable to list our shares on The Nasdaq Capital Market.

Even if the Reverse Split achieves the requisite increase in the market price of our common stock, we cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to comply with the minimum bid price requirement of The Nasdaq Capital Market.

Even if the reverse stock split achieves the requisite increase in the market price of our common stock to be in compliance with the minimum bid price of The Nasdaq Capital Market, there can be no assurance that the market price of our common stock following the Reverse Split will remain at the level required for continuing compliance with that requirement. It is not uncommon for the market price of a company’s common stock to decline in the period following a reverse stock split. If the market price of our common stock declines following the effectuation of the Reverse Split, the percentage decline may be greater than would occur in the absence of a reverse stock split. In any event, other factors unrelated to(a) 2,069,110, plus (b) the number of shares available for issuance under the Company’s 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) on September 30, 2020.

Awards will be counted against the available share reserve on the date of our common stock outstanding, such as negative financialgrant, based on the maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the award. Any shares of Common Stock related to awards issued under the 2020 Plan or operational results, could adversely affect the market2017 Plan that are forfeited, canceled, expired or otherwise terminated without the issuance of shares of Common Stock for any reason will be added back and again be available for issuance under the 2020 Plan. In addition, shares of Common Stock that are retained or reacquired by the Company to satisfy the exercise price or purchase price of our common stockan award or to satisfy the tax withholding obligation in connection with an award, as well as any shares of Common Stock covered by an award that is settled in cash, will be added back and jeopardize our ability to meet or maintain The Nasdaq Capital Market’s minimum bid price requirement.again be available for issuance under the 2020 Plan.

 

Even ifAwards granted through the Reverse Split increasesassumption of, or substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company acquired by the market priceCompany or any affiliate, or with which the Company or any affiliate combines, will not reduce the maximum number of our common stock, our stock price could fall and we couldshares of Common Stock that may be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market.  issued under the 2020 Plan.

Types of Awards

The Nasdaq Capital Market requires that the trading price of its listed stocks remain above one dollar in order2020 Plan allows for the granting of the following types of awards: stock to remain listed. If a listedoptions (both incentive stock trades below one dollar for more than 30 consecutive trading days, then itoptions and nonqualified stock options); stock appreciation rights; restricted stock; restricted stock units; and other stock-based awards. Each award granted under the 2020 Plan is subject to delisting from The Nasdaq Capital Market. In addition, to maintain a listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market, we must satisfy minimum financialan award agreement containing the particular terms and other continued listing requirements and standards, including those regarding director independence and independent committee requirements, minimum stockholders’ equity, and certain corporate governance requirements. If we are unable to satisfy these requirements or standards, we could beconditions of that award, subject to delisting. Such a delisting would likely have a negative effect on the price of our common stock and would impair your ability to sell or purchase our common stock when you wish to do so. Inlimitations imposed by the event of a delisting, we would expect to take actions to restore our compliance with the listing requirements, but we can provide no assurance that any such action taken by us would allow our common stock to become listed again, stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our common stock, prevent our common stock from dropping below the minimum bid price requirement, or prevent future non-compliance with the listing requirements.2020 Plan.

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The Reverse Split may decrease the liquidity of our common stock.

 

The liquidity ofStock Options. A stock option is the shares of our common stock may be affected adversely by the reverse stock split given the reducedright to purchase a specified number of shares that will be outstanding following the Reverse Split, especially if the market price of our common stock does not increase asfor a result of the Reverse Split. In addition, the Reverse Split may increase the number of shareholders who own odd lots (less than 100 shares) of our common stock, creating the potential for such shareholders to experience an increase in the cost of selling their shares and greater difficulty effecting such sales.

Following the Reverse Split, the resulting market price of our common stock may not attract new investors, including institutional investors, and may not satisfy the investing requirements of those investors. Consequently, the trading liquidity of our common stock may not improve.

Although we believe that a higher market price of our common stock may help generate greater or broader investor interest, there can be no assurance that the Reverse Split will result in a share price that will attract new investors, including institutional investors. In addition, there can be no assurance that the market price of our common stock will satisfy the investing requirements of those investors. As a result, the trading liquidity of our common stock may not necessarily improve.

Principal Effects of the Reverse Split

If approved and implemented, the principal effects of the Reverse Split would include the following:

·the number of outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock and treasury stock will decrease based on the Reverse Split ratio selected by the Board;

·the number of shares of the Company’s common stock held by individual shareholders will decrease based on the Reverse Split ratio selected by the Board, and the number of shareholders who own “odd lots” of less than 100 shares of our common stock will increase;

·the number of shares common stock reserved for issuance under our 2017 Plan will be reduced proportionally based on the Reverse Split ratio selected by the Board (along with any other appropriate adjustments or modifications); and

·the exercise price of our outstanding stockspecified exercise price. Stock options and warrants and the conversion price of our outstanding convertible securities (if any) and the number of shares reserved for issuance upon exercise or conversion thereof will be adjusted in accordance with their terms based on the Reverse Split ratio selected by the Board.

The Reverse Split will not change the number of authorized shares of our common stock or preferred stock, or the par value of the common stock or preferred stock.

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The table below shows, as of the Record Date, the approximate number of outstanding shares of our common stock (excluding treasury shares) that would result from the Reverse Split ratios (without giving effect to the treatment of fractional shares) based on 110,280,258 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of such date:

Reverse Stock Split Ratio

Shares of Common Stock

Outstanding After the
Reverse Stock Split

1-for-254,411,211
1-for-120919,003

If the Reverse Split ratio is between the two numbers in the table above, the number of outstanding shares will be proportionately reduced.

If effected, the Reverse Split also would reduce our treasury shares proportionately based on the Reverse Split ratio. As of the Record Date, we had 350,540 shares of common stock held as treasury shares.

Shares of common stock after the Reverse Split will be fully paid and non-assessable. The amendment will not change any of the other terms of our common stock. The shares of common stock after the Reverse Split will have the same voting rights and rights to dividends and distributions and will be identical in all other respects to the shares of common stock prior to the Reverse Split. Following the Reverse Split, we will continue to be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.

Because the number of authorized shares of our common stock will not be reduced, an overall effect of the Reverse Split of the outstanding common stock will be an increase in authorized but unissued shares of our common stock. These shares may be issued by our Board in its sole discretion. See “Anti-Takeover Effects ofeither (a) incentive stock options, which are stock options that meet the Reverse Split” below. Any future issuance will have the effect of diluting the percentage of stock ownership and voting rights of the present holders of our common stock and preferred stock.

Fractional Shares

No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the Reverse Split. We will round up any fractional shares resulting from the Reverse Split to the nearest whole share.

No Going Private Transaction

Notwithstanding the decrease in the number of outstanding shares of common stock following the proposed Reverse Stock Split, the Board does not intend for this transaction to be the first step in a “going private transaction” within the meaning of Rule 13e-3requirements under the Exchange Act.

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Procedure for Implementing the Reverse Split

The Reverse Split, if approved by our shareholders, would become effective following the filing of a Certificate of Amendment to our Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada as of the time of filing or such other time set forth in the Certificate of Amendment (the “Effective Time”). The Effective Time of the Reverse Split will be determined by our Board based on its evaluation as to when such action will be the most advantageous to us and our shareholders. Beginning at the Effective Time, each certificate representing shares of our common stock will be deemed for all corporate purposes to evidence ownership of the number of whole shares into which the shares previously represented by the certificate were combined pursuant to the Reverse Split. The form of amendment to our Articles of Incorporation to implement the Reverse Split is attached to this Proxy Statement asAnnex A. The Reverse Split alone will have no effect on our authorized capital stock, and the total number of authorized shares will remain the same as before the Reverse Split.

After the Effective Time, our common stock will have a new Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (“CUSIP”) number, which is a number used to identify our equity securities. Stock certificates with the older CUSIP number will need to be exchanged for stock certificates with the new CUSIP number by following the procedures described below.

Effect on Beneficial Owners of Common Stock

Upon the implementation of the Reverse Split, we intend to treat shares held by shareholders through a bank, broker, custodian or other nominee in the same manner as the shareholders whose shares are registered in their names. Banks, brokers, custodians or other nominees will be instructed to effect the Reverse Split for their beneficial holders holding our common stock in street name. However, these banks, brokers, custodians or other nominees may have different procedures than registered shareholders for processing the Reverse Split. Shareholders who hold shares of our common stock with a bank, broker, custodian or other nominee and who have any questions in this regard are encouraged to contact their banks, brokers, custodians or other nominees.

Effect on Registered “Book-Entry” Holders of Common Stock

Certain registered holders of our common stock may hold some or all of their shares electronically in book-entry form with West Coast Stock Transfer, Inc., our transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”). These shareholders do not have stock certificates evidencing their ownership of the common stock. They are, however, provided with a statement reflecting the number of shares registered in their accounts.

Shareholders who hold shares electronically in book-entry form with the Transfer Agent will not need to take action in connection with the Reverse Split. The Reverse Split will automatically be reflected in the Transfer Agent’s records and on their next statement.

Exchange of Stock Certificates and Elimination of Fractional Share Interests

We expect that the Transfer Agent will act as the exchange agent for the purposes of implementing the exchange of stock certificates in connection with the Reverse Split. As soon as practicable after filing of an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation effecting a Reverse Split, the shareholders holding common stock in certificated form will be sent a letter of transmittal by the Transfer Agent. The letter of transmittal will contain instructions on how a shareholder should surrender his, her or its certificates representing pre-split shares of our common stock to the Transfer Agent in exchange for certificates representing post-split shares. No new certificates will be issued to a shareholder until that shareholder has surrendered the certificate(s) representing the outstanding pre-Reverse Split shares together with the properly completed and executed letter of transmittal.

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SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD NOT DESTROY ANY STOCK CERTIFICATES AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY CERTIFICATES TO THE TRANSFER AGENT WITHOUT THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY CERTIFICATES TO THE COMPANY.

No service charges, brokerage commissions or transfer taxes will be payable by any shareholder in connection with the exchange of certificates, except that if any new stock certificates are to be issued in a name other than that in which the surrendered certificate(s) are registered it will be a condition of such issuance that (1) the person requesting such issuance pays all applicable transfer taxes resulting from the transfer (or prior to transfer of such certificate, if any) or establishes to our satisfaction that such taxes have been paid or are not payable, (2) the transfer complies with all applicable federal and state securities laws, and (3) the surrendered certificate is properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer.

Accounting Matters

The Reverse Split and the related proposed amendment to our Articles of Incorporation will not affect the par value of our common stock, which will remain $0.001 per share. As a result of the Reverse Split, upon the Effective Time, the stated capital on our balance sheet attributable to our common stock, which consists of the par value per share of our common stock multiplied by the aggregate number of shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, will be reduced in proportion to the size of the Reverse Split. Accordingly, our additional paid-in capital account, which consists of the difference between our stated capital and the aggregate amount paid to us upon issuance of all currently outstanding shares of our common stock, shall be credited with the amount by which the stated capital is reduced. Our shareholders’ equity, in the aggregate, will remain unchanged. However, after the Reverse Split, net income or loss per share, and other per share amounts, will be increased because there will be fewer shares of common stock outstanding. In future financial statements, net income or loss per share and other per share amounts for periods ending before the Reverse Split would be recast to give retroactive effect to the Reverse Split.

Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences

Each shareholder is advised to consult their own tax advisor as the following discussion may be limited, modified or not apply based on your particular situation.

The following discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Split is based on the current provisionsSection 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury regulations promulgated underor (b) nonqualified stock options, which are stock options that do not meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) rulingsor that are designated as a nonqualified stock option. Only employees of the Company and pronouncementscertain of its affiliates may receive awards of incentive stock options, and judicial decisions now in effect. Those legal authoritiesincentive stock options are subject to change atadditional limitations. Stock options (other than stock options assumed or granted in substitution for outstanding stock options of a company acquired by the Company or any time by legislative, judicial or administrative action, possibly with retroactive effectaffiliate) are subject to the Reverse Split. No rulingfollowing: (i) the exercise price shall be equal to or greater than the fair market value of the shares subject to such stock option on the date of grant; and (ii) the expiration date shall be no later than 10 years from the IRSdate of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that on the expiration date of a nonqualified stock option, (a) the exercise of the option is prohibited by applicable law, or (b) shares of Common Stock may not be purchased or sold by certain employees or directors of the Company due to the “black-out period” under a Company policy or a “lock-up” agreement undertaken in connection with an issuance of securities by the Company, the Committee may, to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code, extend the expiration date of the nonqualified stock option, but not beyond a period of 30 days following the end of the legal prohibition, black-out period or lock-up agreement period, and provided further that no extension may be made if the exercise price of the option is above the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the initial expiration date. The exercise price may be payable either in (1) cash, (2) if permitted by the Committee, by delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly the proceeds from the sale of shares, (3) if permitted by the Committee, by tendering shares previously acquired, (4) if permitted by the Committee, by withholding shares that would otherwise be issued having a fair market value on the exercise date equal to the exercise price, or (5) any combination of the foregoing.

Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right is a right to receive cash or other property based on the increase in the value of a share over the per share exercise price. Stock appreciation rights (other than stock appreciation rights assumed or granted in substitution for outstanding stock appreciation rights of a company acquired by the Company or any affiliate) are subject to the following: (a) the exercise price shall be equal to or greater than the fair market value of the shares subject to such stock appreciation right on the date of grant; and (b) the expiration date shall be no later than 10 years from the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that on the expiration date of a stock appreciation right, (a) the exercise of the stock appreciation right is prohibited by applicable law, or (b) shares of Common Stock may not be purchased or sold by certain employees or directors of the Company due to the “black-out period” under a Company policy or a “lock-up” agreement undertaken in connection with an issuance of securities by the Company, the Committee may, to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code, extend the expiration date of the stock appreciation right, but not beyond a period of 30 days following the end of the legal prohibition, black-out period or lock-up agreement period, and provided further that no extension may be made if the exercise price of the stock appreciation right is above the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the initial expiration date.

Restricted Stock. Restricted stock is an award of shares that is subject to vesting conditions. Prior to the expiration of the vesting period, a participant who has received an award of restricted stock has the right to vote and to receive dividends on the underlying unvested shares, subject, however, to the restrictions and limitations imposed pursuant to the 2020 Plan and award agreement.

Restricted Stock Units. A restricted stock unit is an award that is valued by reference to shares, which may be paid to a participant upon vesting in shares, cash or other property.

Other Stock-Based Awards. An other stock-based award is an award denominated or payable in shares, other than a stock option, stock appreciation right, restricted stock or restricted stock unit. Other stock-based awards may be settled in cash, shares or other property.

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Performance Awards. The Committee may grant awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units or other stock-based awards as “performance awards,” with the vesting or payment of such awards based on the achievement of specified performance objectives. Performance objectives may be based upon the attainment of specific or per-share amounts of, or changes in, one or more, or a combination of two or more, of the following: (i) earnings including operating income, economic income, economic net income, earnings before or after taxes, earnings before or after interest, depreciation, amortization, or extraordinary or special items or book value per share (which may exclude nonrecurring items); (ii) pre-tax income or after-tax income; (iii) earnings per common share (basic or diluted); (iv) operating profit; (v) revenue, revenue growth or rate of revenue growth; (vi) return on assets (gross or net), return on investment, return on capital, or return on equity; (vii) returns on sales or revenues; (viii) operating expenses; (ix) stock price appreciation; (x) cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on investment (discounted or otherwise), net cash provided by operations, or cash flow in excess of cost of capital; (xi) implementation or completion of critical projects or processes; (xii) economic value created; (xiii) cumulative earnings per share growth; (xiv) operating margin or profit margin; (xv) common stock price or total stockholder return; (xvi) cost targets, reductions and savings, productivity and efficiencies; (xvii) strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified market penetration, geographic business expansion, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, human resources management, supervision of litigation, information technology, and goals relating to acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and similar transactions, and budget comparisons; (xviii) personal professional objectives, including any of the foregoing performance goals, the implementation of policies and plans, the negotiation of transactions, the development of long-term business goals, formation of joint ventures, research or development collaborations, and the completion of other corporate transactions; (xix) such other performance objectives determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; and (xx) any combination of any of the foregoing. The Committee may provide that, in measuring the achievement of the performance objectives, an award may include or exclude items such as realized investment gains and losses, extraordinary, unusual, non-recurring or infrequently recurring items, asset write-downs, effects of force majeure events (such as a pandemic), accounting changes, currency fluctuations, acquisitions, divestitures, reserve-strengthening and other non-operating items. Performance goals may be expressed in terms of attaining a specified level of the particular criteria or the attainment of a percentage increase or decrease in the particular criteria, and may be applied to one or more of the Company or an affiliate, or a division or strategic business unit of the Company or an affiliate, or may be applied to the performance of the Company relative to a market index, a group of other companies or a combination thereof, or other pre-established target or designated comparison group, all as determined by the Committee. Performance goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no payment will be made (or no vesting will occur), levels of performance at which specified payments will be made (or specified vesting will occur), and a maximum level of performance above which no additional payment will be made (or at which full vesting will occur).

Dividend Equivalents. Awards other than stock options and stock appreciation rights may include the right to receive dividends or dividend equivalents, subject to such terms, conditions, restrictions or limitations, if any, as the Committee may establish.

Award Limitations

Non-Employee Director Award Limitation. The aggregate of (a) the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes of any awards granted during any fiscal year to a non-employee director, and (b) the total amount of any cash fees or other property paid to such non-employee director during the fiscal year, in respect of the director’s service as a member of the Board during such year, shall not exceed $300,000. The independent members of the Board may make exceptions to this limit for a non-executive chair of the Board, provided that the non-employee director receiving such additional compensation may not participate in the decision to award such compensation.

Incentive Stock Options. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of the Company or an affiliate, provided such affiliate is also a “parent corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code or a “subsidiary corporation” of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code, on the date of grant. The aggregate fair market value (determined as of the time the incentive stock option is granted) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the matters discussed below has been requested,first time by any individual during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and thereits affiliates) shall not exceed $100,000, and any incentive stock option or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) will be treated as a nonqualified stock option. If, at the time an incentive stock option is no assurance thatgranted, the IRS or a court would agree withemployee recipient owns (after application of the conclusions set forthrules contained in this discussion. The following discussion assumes thatSection 424(d) of the pre-splitCode) shares of commonCommon Stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock were, and post-split sharesof the Company or its subsidiaries, then: (a) the exercise price for such incentive stock option will be held as “capital assets” as defined inat least 110% of the Code. This discussion mayfair market value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such incentive stock option on the date of grant; and (b) such incentive stock option will not address certain U.S. federal income tax consequencesbe exercisable after the date five years from the date such incentive stock option is granted. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be relevantissued under the 2020 Plan pursuant to particular shareholdersincentive stock options may not exceed, in lightthe aggregate, 1,000,000.

Transferability. A participant’s rights in an award may be assigned or transferred only in the event of their specific circumstancesdeath; provided, however, that the Committee may allow a participant to assign or transfer without consideration an award (other than an incentive stock option) to one or more members of his or her immediate family, to a partnership of which the only partners are the participant or members of the participant’s immediate family, or to certain typesa trust established by the participant for the exclusive benefit of shareholders (like dealers in securities, insurance companies, foreign individualsthe participant or one or more members of his or her immediate family. Incentive stock option may not be transferable by a participant other than by will or the laws of descent and entities, financial institutionsdistribution and tax-exempt entities) that may only be subject to special treatmentexercisable during the participant’s lifetime by the participant.

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Tax Withholding

The exercise or payment of awards and the issuance of shares under the U.S.2020 Plan is conditioned upon a participant making satisfactory arrangements for the satisfaction of any liability to withhold federal, income tax laws. This discussion also does not address any tax consequences under state, local or foreign laws.income or other taxes. In accordance with rules established by the Committee, the required tax withholding obligations may be settled in cash, or with shares, including shares that are part of the award that gives rise to the withholding requirement.

 

Effect of Certain Events

Death, Disability or Termination. The Committee may include in an award agreement provisions related to the death, disability or termination of employment or service of a participant, including without limitation the acceleration of the exercisability, vesting or settlement of, or the lapse of restrictions or deemed satisfaction of performance objectives with respect to, an award.

Change in Control. The Committee may provide in an award agreement provisions relating to a “change in control” of the Company, including without limitation the acceleration of the exercisability, vesting or settlement of, or the lapse of restrictions or deemed satisfaction of performance objectives with respect to, an award.

“Change in control” generally means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:

(a)an individual, entity or group of persons acquires the ownership, directly or indirectly, of the Company’s securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities, other than (i) through a merger, consolidation or similar transaction; (ii) in connection with a financing by the Company through the issuance of equity securities; and (iii) by an overall reduction in the number of the Company’s outstanding securities;
(b)a merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which the Company’s stockholders immediately before such transaction do not own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the surviving entity (or the parent of the surviving entity) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such transaction;
(c)a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than to an entity more than 50% of the combined voting power of which is owned by the Company’s stockholders in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction;
(d)a majority of the members of the Board serving on the date the 2020 Plan is approved by the stockholders (the “Incumbent Board”) were no longer serving on the Board within any 24-month period; provided that any new Board member approved or recommended by a majority of the Incumbent Board then in office (other than as a result of any settlement of a proxy or consent solicitation contest or any action taken to avoid such a contest) will be considered a member of the Incumbent Board; or
(e)the complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

No change in control shall be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the capital stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

Recoupment

Notwithstanding anything in the 2020 Plan or in any award agreement to the contrary, the Company will be entitled to the extent required by applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any regulations promulgated with respect thereto) or stock exchange listing conditions, in each case as in effect from time to time, to recoup compensation of whatever kind paid under the 2020 Plan by the Company at any time.

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Adjustments

In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of the Company by reason of any corporate transaction or change in corporate capitalization such as a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, split-up, split-off, spin-off, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, rights offering, reorganization, combination, consolidation, subdivision or exchange of shares, a sale by the Company of all or part of its assets, any distribution to stockholders other than a normal cash dividend, partial or complete liquidation of the Company or similar event, the Committee or Board, as applicable, shall adjust the (a) the class and aggregate number of shares available under the 2020 Plan; (b) the class, number and exercise price of outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the 2020 Plan; and (c) the class and number of shares subject to any other awards granted under the 2020 Plan and the terms of such awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance goals), as may be determined to be appropriate by the Committee or Board.

Amendments and Termination

The 2020 Plan may be amended in whole or in part at any time and from time to time by the Board, and the terms of any outstanding award under the 2020 Plan may be amended from time to time by the Committee (or Board as applicable) in its discretion provided that no amendment may be made without stockholder approval if such amendment would (a) increase the number of shares available for grant under the 2020 Plan; (b) change the class of persons eligible to receive incentive stock options; (c) decrease the minimum stock option or stock appreciation right exercise price; or (d) amend or repeal the prohibitions against repricing or exchange. No amendment may adversely affect in a material manner any right of a participant under an award without his or her written consent.

The 2020 Plan may be suspended in whole or in part at any time and from time to time by the Board. The 2020 Plan shall terminate upon the adoption of a resolution of the Board terminating the 2020 Plan. If the Amendment is approved, no award may be granted under the 2020 Plan after the date that is 10 years from the date the Amendment or any subsequent amendment was last approved and adopted by the stockholders of the Company. No termination of the 2020 Plan shall materially alter or impair any of the rights or obligations of any person, without his or her consent, under any award granted under the 2020 Plan.

New Plan Benefits

The benefits or amounts to be received by or allocated to participants and the number of shares to be granted under the 2020 Plan cannot be determined at this time because the amount and form of grants to be made to any eligible participant in any year is determined at the discretion of the Committee or Board, as applicable.

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PLEASE CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE SPLIT IN YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION.

 

We will not recognize any gain or loss forAggregate Awards Granted

The following table sets forth information with respect to the number of shares subject to awards previously granted to the following listed individuals and specified groups under the 2020 Plan since its inception through April 13, 2022, our record date:

Name and PositionNumber of
Shares
Underlying
Option
Number of
Shares
Underlying
Restricted Stock
Units
Number of
Shares
Underlying
Restricted Stock
Grants
Named Executive Officers:   
Patrick White, Chief Executive Officer-61,250-
Keith Goldstein, President & Chief Operating
Officer
-56,40710,000
Margaret Gezerlis, EVP & Chief Financial Officer-33,1254,250
All Current Executive Officers as a Group-193,28214,250
All Current Directors who are not Executive
Officers as a Group
-453,83439,308
Each Nominee for Election as a Director: (1)   
Chris Gardner-50,00239,308
Marshall Geller-98,310-
Howard Goldberg-89,310-
Scott Greenberg-98,310-
Arthur Laffer-89,310-
Adam H Stedham-28,592-
Each Associate of any of Such Directors,
Executive Officer or Nominees
---
Each Other Person who Received or is to
Receive 5 Percent of Such Options, Warrants or
Rights
---
All Employees, Including all Current Officers
Who are not Executive Officers, as a Group
--5,000

(1) Patrick White is also a director nominee and is listed under Named Executive Officers.

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of 2020 Plan Awards

The following discussion is intended to provide only a general outline of the U.S. federal income tax purposes asconsequences of participation in the 2020 Plan and the receipt of awards or payments thereunder by participants subject to U.S. taxes. It does not address any other taxes imposed by the United States, taxes imposed by any state or political subdivision thereof or foreign jurisdiction, or the tax consequences applicable to participants who are not subject to U.S. taxes. The discussion set forth below does not purport to be a resultcomplete analysis of all potential tax consequences relevant to recipients of awards, particular circumstances, or all awards available under the Reverse Split.

A shareholder will not recognize gain or loss for2020 Plan. It is based on U.S. federal income tax purposeslaw and interpretational authorities as of the date of this proxy statement, which are subject to change at any time.

Nonqualified stock options. A participant who exercises a nonqualified stock option recognizes taxable ordinary income in the year the stock option is exercised in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares purchased on the exchangeexercise date over the exercise price. Subject to applicable provisions of pre-Reverse Splitthe Code, including Section 162(m), the Company is entitled to a tax deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant. Any gain or loss realized by the participant upon the subsequent disposition of the shares of our common stock for post-Reverse Split shares of our common stock in the Reverse Split. A shareholder’s aggregate tax basis in the post-Reverse Split shares of our common stock the shareholder receives in the Reverse Split will be the sametaxed as the shareholder’s aggregate tax basisshort-term (if held one year or less) or long-term (if held more than one year) capital gain, but will not result in the pre-Reverse Split shares of our common stock the shareholder surrenders in exchange therefor. A shareholder’s holding periodany further deduction for the post-Reverse Split shares of our common stock the shareholder receives in the Reverse Split will include the shareholder’s holding period for the pre-Reverse Split shares of our common stock the shareholder surrenders in exchange therefor. Shareholders who have different bases or holding periods for pre-Reverse Split shares of our common stock should consult their tax advisors regarding their bases or holding periods in their post-Reverse Split common stock.Company.

 

No Appraisal Rights

Shareholders have no rights underIncentive stock options. A participant who exercises an incentive stock option does not recognize ordinary income at the Nevada Revised Statutes or under our charter documentstime of exercise (although, the participant may be subject to exercise dissenters’ rights of appraisal with respectalternative minimum tax), and the Company is not entitled to a tax deduction. Upon the Reverse Stock Split.

Anti-Takeover Effectsdisposition of the Reverse Split

The effective increase in our authorized and unissued shares as a resultobtained from the exercise of the Reverse Split could potentially be used by our Board to thwart a takeover attempt. The overall effectsincentive stock option more than two years after the date of this might be to discourage, or make itgrant and more difficult to engage in, a merger, tender offer or proxy contest, orthan one year after the acquisition or assumptiondate of control by a holder of a large block of our securities andexercise, the removal of incumbent management. The Reverse Split could make the accomplishment of a merger or similar transaction more difficult, even if it is beneficial to the shareholders. Our Board might use the additional shares to resist or frustrate a third-party transaction, favored by a majorityexcess of the independent shareholders that would provide an above-market premium, by issuing additional shares to frustrate the takeover effort.

As discussed above, the principal goalssale price of the Company in effectingshares over the Reverse Split are to increase the ability of institutions to purchase our common stock and stimulate the interest in our common stock by analysts and brokers as well as increase the likelihood of listing our common stock on a national securities exchange. This Reverse Split is not the result of management’s knowledge of an effort to accumulate the Company’s securities or to obtain controlexercise price of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, solicitation or otherwise.

Neither our Articles of Incorporation nor our Bylaws presently contain any provisions having anti-takeover effects and the Reverse Split proposalincentive stock option is not a plan by our Board to adopt a series of amendments to our Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws to institute an anti-takeover provision. We do not have any plans or proposals to adopt other provisions or enter into other arrangements that may have material anti-takeover consequences.

Plans for Newly Available Shares

Other than the contemplated registered public offering of our common stock and warrants to purchase our common stock,taxed as discussed in more detail in the registration statement on Form S-1 filed on October 10, 2019, we presently have no specific plans, nor have we entered into any agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect tolong-term capital gain. If the shares of authorized common stock that will become available for issuance as a resultare sold within two years of the Reverse Split.

The Board recommendsgrant date and/or within one year of the date of exercise, the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise (or sale proceeds if less) over the exercise price is taxed as ordinary income, and, subject to applicable provisions of the Code, including Section 162(m), the Company is entitled to a vote “Fortax deduction for this Proposal 2.amount; any remaining gain is taxed as short-term capital gain, without a Company tax deduction.

 

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Stock appreciation rights. A participant who exercises a stock appreciation right recognizes taxable ordinary income in the year the stock appreciation right is exercised in an amount equal to the cash and/or the fair market value of any shares or other property received. Subject to applicable provisions of the Code, including Section 162(m), the Company is entitled to a tax deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant.

Restricted stock and restricted stock units. A participant normally will not recognize taxable income and the Company will not be entitled to a deduction upon the grant of shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units or other stock-based awards. When the restricted stock vests, the restricted stock units settle or the other stock-based awards are paid or settle, the participant will recognize taxable ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares or other property received at that time, less the amount, if any, paid for the shares, and, subject to applicable provisions of the Code, including Section 162(m), the Company will be entitled at that time to a deduction in the same amount. However, a participant may elect to recognize taxable ordinary income in the year shares of restricted stock are granted in an amount equal to the excess of their fair market value at the grant date, determined without regard to certain restrictions, over the amount, if any, paid for the shares. In that event, subject to applicable provisions of the Code, including Section 162(m), the Company will be entitled to a deduction in such year in the same amount. Any gain or loss realized by the participant upon the subsequent disposition of shares received will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain, but will not result in any further deduction for the Company.

Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 2021

  Equity Compensation Plan Information
Plan Category Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
 Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights (2)
 Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
  (a) (b) (c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 257,000 (1) $4.83  1,262,336 (3)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders 208,471 (4) $3.20  -
Total 465,471 $4.38  1,262,336

(1)Represents shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options granted under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) and the 2013 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan, as amended (the “2013 Plan”).

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(2)Represents the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding stock options. The weighted-average exercise price does not take into account the shares issuable upon vesting of outstanding restricted stock units under the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”) or the 2013 Plan, which do not have an exercise price.

(3)Includes 460,000 shares remaining available under the 2021 Stock Purchase Plan, 757,566 shares remaining available for issuance under the 2020 Plan and 44,770 shares remaining for issuance under the 2013 Plan.

(4)Includes individual grants to employees and consultants for services rendered to the Company which were not made under the Company’s existing equity incentive plans.

Vote Required

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares cast on this proposal is required for approval of the Amendment.

The board of directors recommends a vote FOR

the proposal to approval of the First Amendment to our 2020 Equity Incentive Plan.

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PROPOSAL 3. TO RATIFYTHREE:
RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTIONAPPOINTMENT OF
OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2019

 

Our BoardThe Audit Committee has selected the accounting firm of MaloneBailey, LLP (“MaloneBailey”), to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. The stockholders are being asked to ratify the Audit Committee’s selection of MaloneBailey.

Stockholder ratification of the selection of MaloneBailey is not required by our Bylaws or otherwise. However, the board is submitting the selection of our independent registered accounting firm to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate governance. If the stockholders fail to ratify this appointment, the Audit Committee may, but is not required to, reconsider whether to retain MaloneBailey. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different 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. We have been advised by MaloneBailey that a representative will be present at the Annual Meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. We intend to give such representative an opportunity to make a statement if he or she should so desire.

The board of directors recommends that you vote FOR the proposal to ratify the selection of MaloneBailey, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. MaloneBailey has been VerifyMe’s independent registered public accounting firm since January 2018.2022.

 

Selection of VerifyMe’s independent registered public accounting firm is not required to be submitted to a vote of the shareholders of VerifyMeFees for ratification. However, VerifyMe is submitting this matter to the shareholders as a matter of good corporate governance. Even if the selection is ratified, the Board may, in its discretion, appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of VerifyMe and its shareholders. If the appointment is not ratified, the Board will consider its options.Professional Services Provided by MaloneBailey, LLP

 

A representative of MaloneBailey is not expected to be present at the Annual Meeting.

As previously disclosed, on November 27, 2017, the Audit Committee of the Board approved the dismissal of Morison Cogen LLP (“Former Auditor”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The reports of the Former Auditor on our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 did not contain any adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle, except that the reports contained a paragraph stating that there was substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years preceding the dismissal, and through the date of dismissal: (i) there were no disagreements (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) between the Company and the Former Auditor on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of the Former Auditor would have caused the Former Auditor to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for such years, and (ii) there were no “reportable events” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K). The Company has provided the Former Auditor with a copy of disclosure in this Proposal 3 as required by Item 304 of Regulation S-K.

The Board recommends a vote “For” this Proposal 3.

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Principal Accounting Fees and Services

All of the services provided and fees charged by MaloneBailey, LLP, our principal accountant, were approved by our Audit Committee. The following table shows the fees for professional services renderedprovided by MaloneBailey LLP forduring the yearsfiscal year ended December 31, 20182021, which we refer to as fiscal year 2021 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.2020, which we refer to as fiscal year 2020.

 

 

Year Ended

December 31,

2018

($)

 

Year Ended

December 31,

2017

($)

  Fiscal Year
2021
 Fiscal Year
2020
 
Audit Fees (1)  44,000   38,000  $94,500  $79,400 
Audit Related Fees (2)     4,000 
Audit-Related Fees (2)  24,150   56,689 
Tax Fees(3)  5,000      5,500   4,500 
All Other Fees(4)  3,000   59,500   -   - 
Total  52,000   101,500  $124,150  $140,589 

 

(1)

Audit fees – these fees relate to services rendered for the audits of our annual consolidated financial statements, for the review of our quarterly financial statements, and for services that are normally provided by the auditor in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

  
(2)AuditAudit-related fees consist of fees for assurance and related fees – theseservices that are reasonably related to the performance of the  audit or review of our financial statements  and are not reporter under “Audit Fees.”
(3)Tax fees relate to audit related consulting.services performed in connection with the Company’s annual tax return.
(4)All other fees relate to services rendered in connection with our registration statement filings with the SEC.

 

Audit Committee’sWe did not incur any audit-related fees in fiscal years 2021 or 2020.

Policy on Pre-Approval Policyof Retention of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services on a case-by-case basis. In its review of non-audit services, the Audit Committee considers whether the engagement could compromise the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm, and whether the reasons of efficiency or convenience is in our best interest to engage our independent registered public accounting firm to perform the services. All of the services provided, and fees charged by MaloneBailey LLP were approved by our Audit Committee.

 

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The principal purpose of theIndependence Analysis by Audit Committee is to assist the Board in its general oversight of our accounting practices, system of internal controls, audit processes and financial reporting processes. The Audit Committee is responsible for appointing and retaining our independent auditor and approving the audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditor. The Audit Committee’s function is more fully described in its Audit Committee Charter, and copy of which is available on our corporate website at https://www.verifyme.com/investor#sec. The Audit Committee currently consists of Howard Goldberg and Marshall Geller. The Audit Committee meets with the independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management present, to discuss the results of its examinations, the evaluations of our internal controls, and the overall quality of our financial reporting. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls.

 

The Audit Committee has metconsidered whether the provision of the services described above was compatible with maintaining the independence of MaloneBailey and held discussions with management and MaloneBailey. Management represented todetermined that the Audit Committee that our financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the financial statements with management and MaloneBailey. The Audit Committee reviewed with MaloneBailey its judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability,provision of our accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussedthese services was compatible with the Audit Committee under auditing standards generally accepted in the United States.

The Audit Committee has:

·reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management;

·met privately with the independent registered public accounting firm and discussed matters required by Statement on Auditing Standard No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”);

·received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm, as required by the applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed its independence with the Company; and

·in reliance on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

This report is submitted by the Audit Committee.

Eugene Robin, Chairman

Howard Goldberg

Marshall Geller

This Audit Committee Report is not deemed “filed” and is not incorporated by reference into any filings with the SEC.firm’s independence. 

 

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PROPOSAL 4. TO APPROVE AN ADJOURNMENTREPORT OF THE ANNUAL MEETINGAUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The shareholders are being askedIn connection with our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Audit Committee has: (1) reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management; (2) discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm (the “Auditors”) the matters required to approve an adjournmentbe discussed by the applicable requirements of the Annual Meeting to a later date or time, if necessary, to permit further solicitationPublic Company Accounting Oversight Board and vote of proxies if there are not sufficient votes at the timeSEC; and (3) received the written disclosures and the letter from the Auditors required by applicable requirements of the Annual MeetingPublic Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the Auditors’ communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the Auditors their independence.

Based on the review and discussions referred to approve anyin items (1) through (3) of the proposals presentedabove paragraph, the Audit Committee recommended to the board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for a vote at the Annual Meeting.fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, for filing with the SEC.

 

If the Annual Meeting is adjourned to a different date or time, notice need not be given, if the new date and time are announced at the Annual Meeting. But if the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the notice of the adjourned meeting will be given to each shareholder of record entitled to such notice pursuant to the Bylaws and applicable law.Adam Stedham, Chair

Marshall Geller

Any adjournment of the Special Meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies will allow shareholders who have already sent in their proxies to revoke them at any time prior to the time the proxies are used.

The Board recommends a vote “For” this Proposal 4. 

NOTICE PURSUANT TO SECTION 78.0296 OF NEVADA REVISED STATUTES

On October 20, 2019, the Board adopted resolutions to ratify certain corporate actions of the Board, some of which had been previously approved via email authorizations by some members of the Board. Notice of this ratification is being provided to our shareholders pursuant to Section NRS 78.0296 of the Nevada Revised Statutes. For more information regarding the corporate actions that were ratified, please contact our Corporate Secretary at 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 510, Rochester, NY 14604.

OTHER MATTERS

VerifyMe has no knowledge of any other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting and does not intend to present any other matters. However, if any other matters shall properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment, the persons soliciting proxies will have the discretion to vote as they see fit unless directed otherwise.

If you do not plan to attend the Annual Meeting, in order that your shares may be represented and in order to assure the required quorum, please sign, date and return your proxy promptly. In the event you are able to attend the Annual Meeting, at your request, VerifyMe will cancel your previously submitted proxy.Howard Goldberg

 

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ANNEX A

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO THE

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

VERIFYME, INC.

(Pursuant to NRS 78.385 and 78.390)CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

 

VerifyMe, Inc.,The following is a corporation organizedsummary of transactions since January 1, 2021 to which we have been a party in which the amount involved exceeded the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at the end of the last two recent fiscal years and existingin which any of our executive officers, directors, director nominees or beneficial holders of more than five percent of our capital stock had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than compensation arrangements which are described under the Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 78, does hereby certify as follows:sections of this proxy statement entitled “Executive Compensation” and “Director Compensation.”

 

1.       ThatOn April 12, 2022, VerifyMe, Inc. (“we,” “us” or the name“Company”) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with the Purchasers identified therein (the “Purchasers”) providing for the issuance and sale to the Purchasers of an aggregate of 880,208 shares of our common stock the (“Common Shares”), a pre-funded warrant to purchase up to 675,000 shares of our common stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrant”) and warrants to purchase up to 1,555,208 shares of common stock (the “Common Warrants” and together with the Common Shares and the Pre-Funded Warrant, the “Securities”) for gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $5.0 million. The Pre-Funded Warrant is exercisable immediately and shall terminate when fully exercised and has an exercise price of $0.001. The Common Warrants will be exercisable for a period of five years commencing six months from the date of issuance and have an exercise price of $3.215 per share. Both the Common Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrant contain price adjustment provisions which may, under certain circumstances, reduce the applicable exercise price. We closed this transaction on April 14, 2022. In connection with this transaction, the Company paid the placement agent, Maxim Group LLC, a cash fee of approximately $340,000 at closing. Four of the Corporation is VerifyMe, Inc. (the “Corporation”).Company’s directors, Scott Greenberg, Marshall Geller, Chris Gardner and Dr. Arthur Laffer, directly or through their affiliates, participated in the offering as Purchasers and acquired an aggregate of 93,312 Common Shares and 93,312 Common Warrants.

 

2.       ThatAlso on October 8, 2019, the board of directors of the Corporation unanimously adopted a resolution setting forth the following amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles of Incorporation”) of the Corporation, subject to the approval of the same by the shareholders of the Corporation in accordance with NRS 78.390:

Article III, Section 1 of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“Section 1. Authorized Shares. The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Seven Hundred Fifty Million (750,000,000), consisting of two classes to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock”, with all such shares having a par value of $0.001 per share. The total number of shares of Common Stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Six Hundred Seventy-Five Million (675,000,000). The total number of shares of Preferred Stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Seventy-Five Million (75,000,000). The Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more series, each series to be appropriately designated by a distinguishing letter or title, prior to the issuance of any shares thereof. The voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions, and relative, participating, optional and other rights, and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof, of the Preferred Stock shall hereinafter be prescribed by a resolution of the board of directors of the Corporation pursuant to Section 3 of this Article III.

Effective as of _____________ [a.m./p.m.], Pacific Time, on the date this Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation is filed with the Secretary of State of Nevada (the “Effective Time”), each ____________ shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be combined and changed into one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock without any further action by the Corporation or any holder thereof, subject to the treatment of fractional share interests as described below (the “Reverse Stock Split”). No certificates representing fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issuedApril 12, 2022, in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Shareholders who otherwise would be entitledSecurities Purchase Agreement, we entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Purchasers. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, we are required to receive fractional sharesfile a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) within 75 calendar days after the closing of Common Stock because they hold a numberthe sale of shares not evenly divisible by the Reverse Stock Split ratio will automatically be entitledSecurities. Our failure to receive an additional fraction of a share of Common Stockmeet the filing deadlines and other requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement may subject us to round up to the next whole share. Each certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Common Stock (“Old Certificates”), shall thereafter represent that number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Common Stock represented by the Old Certificate shall have been combined, plus any additional fraction of a share of Common Stock to round up to the next whole share.”monetary penalties.

 

In addition, on April 12, 2022, in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement, we entered into lock-up agreements (collectively the “Lock-Up Agreements”) with our executive officers and directors. Under the Lock-Up Agreements, our executive officers and directors agreed to lock-up all Common Shares beneficially owned by them for a period of ninety (90) after the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

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3.       That the shareholders

OTHER MATTERS

As of the Corporation holding ___% of the voting power of the Corporation have approved the Amendment pursuant to NRS 78.385 and NRS 78.390.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation asdate of this ______ dayproxy statement, the board of ________, 20__.

directors does not know of any other matters that are to be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. Should any other matter come before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will have discretionary authority to vote all proxies with respect to the matter in accordance with their judgment.

 

 VERIFYME, INC.By Order of the Board of Directors
 

 Patrick White
 Chief Executive Officer
  
Rochester, New York 
Chief Executive OfficerApril 25, 2022

 

We will make available at no cost, upon your written request, a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (without exhibits), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of exhibits to our Form 10-K will be made available, upon your written request and payment to us of the reasonable costs of reproduction and mailing, if any. Written requests should be made to: Corporate Secretary, VerifyMe, Inc., 75 S. Clinton Ave., Suite 510, Rochester, New York 14604.

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APPENDIX A

FIRST AMENDMENT

TO THE

VERIFYME, INC.

2020 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

The VerifyMe, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is hereby amended as follows, effective June 9, 2022:

1.       Section 5.1(a) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:

“(a)      Available Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to the Plan as of the Effective Date will be (i) 2,069,110, plus (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Prior Plan on the Effective Date. If the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company on the Effective Date, no awards may be granted under the Prior Plan on or after the Effective Date.”

*    *    *    *    *

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VERIFYME, INC.

VerifyMe, Inc.

Clint Square, 75 S. Clinton Ave. SuiteCLINTON AVE.,
SUITE 510

Rochester,ROCHESTER, NY 14604

 

VOTE BY INTERNET

Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com

Use the internetInternet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up untilinformation. Vote by 11:59 P.M.p.m. Eastern Time on 11/18/19.Wednesday, June 8, 2022 (the day before the meeting). Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALSDuring The Meeting - Go to

If you would like to reducewww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VRME2022

You may attend the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronicallymeeting via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and when prompted, indicatevote during the meeting. Have the information that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronicallyis printed in future years.the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions.

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up untilinstructions. Vote by 11:59 P.M.p.m. Eastern Time on 11/18/19.Wednesday, June 8, 2022 (the day before the meeting). Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

 

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

 

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:x

 

D21644-P43398

KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
  DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

 

VERIFYME, INC.

The Board of Directors recommends you vote
FOR all listed the
nominees and FOR Proposals 2, 3
and 4listed.

For
All

Withhold
All
For All
Except
 To withhold authority to vote for any
individual nominee(s), mark “For All
Except” and write the number(s) of
the nominee(s) on the line below.
   
1. Election of Directors  For  
All
  Withhold  
All
  For All  
Except
   
      
1.  Election of Directorso  Nominees:oo  ________________________________
   Nominees:     
       
01)  NormanChris Gardner 05)  Scott GreenbergArthur Laffer     
02)  Christopher GardnerMarshall Geller 06)  Arthur LafferPatrick White     

03) Marshall GellerHoward Goldberg

04) Scott Greenberg

 07)  Patrick WhiteAdam H Stedham     

      04)   Howard GoldbergThe Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR Proposals 2,  and 3. ForAgainstAbstain
      
     

 For

Against

Abstain

2. To authorizeapprove the Board of Directors to effect, in its discretion, a reverse stock split of the outstanding and treasury shares of the Company’s common stock at a ratio ranging from 1-for-25 to 1-for-120, to be determined by the Board of Directors, and to approve a corresponding amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, to effect the reverse stock split.VerifyMe, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan.ooo
3. To ratify the selectionappointment of MaloneBailey, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.2022.ooo
    

4.  To approve an adjournment of the Annual Meeting to a later date or time, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Annual Meeting to approve any of the proposals presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting.

ooo

NOTE: SuchIn their discretion, and in accordance with applicable law, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business asmatters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

of the meeting.
   

For address change/comments, mark here.

(see reverse for instructions)

o
  
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer. 

    
       

 
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]  Date Signature (Joint Owners)  Date 

 

   
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the AnnualStockholder Meeting: to be held on June 9, 2022.

The Notice and Proxy Statement and the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 are available atwww.proxyvote.com. www.proxyvote.com.

   
  

D21645-P43398

 

 

VERIFYME, INC.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

November 19, 2019

June 9, 2022 at 10:12:00 AM

PM (Eastern Time)

This proxy is solicited by theon behalf of our Board of Directors

and each matter to be voted on at the

Annual Meeting has been proposed by our Board of Directors.

The stockholder(s)undersigned hereby appoint(s)appoints Patrick White and Norman Gardner,Margaret Gezerlis, and each of them, as proxy, eachproxies, with the power to appoint a substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of common stock of VerifyMe, Inc. that the shareholder(s) is/areundersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of ShareholdersStockholders to be held virtually at 10:www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VRME2022 at 12:00 a.m., local timePM (Eastern Time) on November 19, 2019, at the offices of Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A., 3001 PGA Boulevard, Suite 305, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410,Thursday, June 9, 2022, and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

·This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance withas specified by you and it revokes any prior proxy given by you.
·      Unless you withhold authority to vote for one or more of the Boardnominees according to the instructions on the reverse side of Directors' recommendations. If any other business is presented at the meeting, this proxy, your signed proxy will be voted byFOR the above-named proxies at the directionelection of the Boardseven director nominees listed on the reverse side of Directors. Atthis proxy and described in the present time, the Board of Directors knows of no other business to be presented at the meeting.accompanying Proxy Statement.
 
·      Unless you specify otherwise, your signed proxy will be voted FOR Proposals 2 and 3 listed on the reverse side of this proxy and described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.
 

 Address change / comments :

·      You acknowledge receipt with this proxy of a copy of the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement dated April 25, 2022, describing more fully the proposals listed in this proxy.

 

(If you noted any Address Changes and / or Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)
Continued and to be signed on reverse side