UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

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[  ]Preliminary Proxy Statement
  
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[X]Definitive Proxy Statement
  
[  ]Definitive Additional Materials
  
[  ]Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

Eastside Distilling, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

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

 

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EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC.

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON DECEMBERAUGUST 8, 20172019

 

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS:

 

Notice is hereby given that the 2017 Annual Meeting2019 annual meeting of Stockholdersstockholders of Eastside Distilling, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), will be held at 2 p.m., local time, on DecemberAugust 8, 20172019 at the HiltonCompany’s headquarters at 1001 SE Water Avenue, Suite 390, Portland, Downtown, at 921 SW 6th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204,OR, 97214, for the following purposes:

 

 1.To elect Grover Wickersham, Trent Davis, Michael Fleming, Shelly Saunders, and Jack Petersonseven individuals to the Board of Directors, each to serve until the earlier ofof: (a) the annual general meeting of stockholders to be held in 20182020; or (b) his or her successor is duly elected and qualified;
 
2.To approve, amendments toby non-binding “say-on-pay” vote, the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”);
3.To ratify prior grantscompensation of stock options and restricted stock units under the 2016 Plan;
our named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement;
 4.To approve an amendment to the Company’s articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock par value $0.0001 from 15,000,000 to 50,000,000.
5.To ratify the appointment of M&K CPAS, PLLC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017;2019; and
 
5.6.To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.

 

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this Notice.

 

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on October 20, 2017June 25, 2019 as the record date (the “record date”“Record Date”) for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at this meeting. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on the record dateRecord Date are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the meeting and any adjournment thereof.

 

All stockholders are invitedYour vote is important. We urge you to submit your proxy (1) over the internet, (2) by telephone or (3) by mail, whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person. However,For specific instructions, please refer to ensure your representation at“Procedural Matters” beginning on the meeting, you are urged to mark, sign, datefirst page of the proxy statement and return the enclosedinstructions on the proxy card as promptly as possible inrelating to the postage-prepaid envelope enclosed for that purpose. Any stockholder attending the meeting may vote in person even if such stockholder has previously returned a proxy.annual meeting. We would appreciate receiving your proxy by Monday, August 5, 2019.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

Grover Wickersham

/s/Steven Shum

Steven Shum

Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chairman of the Board

Secretary

Portland, Oregon

October 31, 2017July 11, 2019

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on DecemberAugust 8, 2017:2019: The proxy statement isand our 2018 Annual Report are available athttp://www.eastsidedistilling.com/proxy-statements and www.proxyvote.com.

Proxy Statement

For the annual report to stockholders is available athttp://www.eastsidedistilling.com/annual-reports.Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To Be Held on August 8, 2019

 

Table of Contents

PROXY STATEMENT4
 
PROCEDURAL MATTERS4
 
PROPOSAL NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS*7
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE11
EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION15
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS20
STOCK OWNERSHIP22
PROPOSAL NO. 2Advisory Vote (Non-Binding) on Executive Compensation*24
PROPOSAL NO. 3 AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION*24
PROPOSAL NO. 4 RATIFY APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM*25
OTHER MATTERS27

*To be voted on at the meeting

 

EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC.

 

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE 20172019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

PROCEDURAL MATTERS

 

General

 

The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) of Eastside Distilling, Inc., a Nevada corporation, for use at the 2017 Annual Meeting2019 annual meeting of Stockholdersstockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on DecemberAugust 8, 20172019 at 22:00 p.m., local time, and at any adjournment thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Annual Meeting will be held at the HiltonCompany’s headquarters at 1001 SE Water Avenue, Suite 390, Portland, Downtown, at 921 SW 6th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204.OR, 97214. Our telephone number at our principal executive offices is (971) 888-4264. As used in this proxy statement, “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Eastside Distilling, Inc.

 

These proxy solicitation materials werewill first be mailed on or about November 3, 2017July 11, 2019 to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

 

Record Date and Outstanding SharesWhat is the purpose of the annual meeting?

 

OnlyAt our annual meeting, stockholders will act upon the matters outlined in the accompanying notice of the meeting and described in this proxy statement. These matters include the election of directors, an advisory (non-binding) vote on the compensation of our named executive officers disclosed in this proxy statement, a vote on an amendment to the articles of incorporation to increase the authorized shares of common stock par value $0.0001 from 15,000,000 to 50,000,000 and a vote on the ratification of the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm.

Please read this proxy statement carefully. You should consider the information contained in this proxy statement when deciding how to vote your shares at the annual meeting.

Who is entitled to vote?

The Board of Directors has set June 25, 2019 as the record date for the annual meeting. If you were a stockholder of record at the close of business on October 20, 2017 (the “record date”)the record date, June 25, 2019, you are entitled to receive notice of the meeting and to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. Our only outstanding voting securities are shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value. Asmeeting. Holders of the record date, 4,824,399 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding, which shares ofCompany’s common stock are held by an aggregate of 134 stockholders of record.

Revocability of Proxies

Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it at any time prior to its use by delivering to our Secretary, at the address referenced above, a written instrument revoking the proxy or delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date (in either case no later than the close of business on December 7, 2017) or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

Voting and Solicitation

Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held.

This solicitation of proxies is made by our Board of Directors, and all related costs will be borne by us. We may reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares for their expenses in forwarding solicitation material to such beneficial owners. Proxies may also be solicited by certain of our directors, officers or administrative employees without the payment of any additional consideration. Solicitation of proxies may be made by mail, by telephone, by email, in person or otherwise.per share.

 

StockholdersWhat is the difference between a “stockholder of Recordrecord” and “Street Name” Holdersa “street name” holder?

 

WhereThese terms describe how your shares are held. If your shares are registered directly in the holder’syour name that holder is the stockholderwith our transfer agent, Transfer Online, Inc. you are a “stockholder of record with respect to those shares.record.” If your shares are held by an intermediary, meaning in a stock brokerage account or by a bank, trust or other nominee, then the broker, bank, trust or other nominee is considered to be the stockholder of record aswith respect to those shares. ThoseHowever, you still are considered the beneficial owner of those shares, and your shares are said to be held in “street name” on behalf of the beneficial owner of the shares. Street-namename.” Street name holders generally cannot directly vote their shares directly and must instead instruct the broker, bank, trust or other nominee how to vote their shares using the voting instruction forminstructions provided by that broker or other nominee. Many brokers also offer the option of giving voting instructions over the internet or by telephone. Instructions for giving your vote as a street-name holder are provided on your voting instruction form.it.

 

Quorum; Abstentions; Broker Non-VotesWho can attend the meeting?

All stockholders as of the record date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the meeting.

What is a proxy?

A proxy is your designation of another person to vote on your behalf. The other person is called a proxy. If you designate someone as your proxy in a written document, that document also is called a proxy or a proxy card. When you designate a proxy, you also may direct the proxy how to vote your shares. We sometimes refer to this as your “proxy vote.” By completing and returning the enclosed proxy card, or voting by internet or telephone, you are giving the persons appointed as proxies by our Board of Directors the authority to vote your shares.

What is a proxy statement?

A proxy statement is a document that we are required to give you, or provide you access to, in accordance with regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), when we ask you to designate proxies to vote your shares of our common stock at a meeting of our stockholders. The proxy statement includes information regarding the matters to be acted upon at the meeting and certain other information required by regulations of the SEC and rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”).

How many shares must be present to hold the meeting?

 

At the Annual Meeting, an inspector of elections will determine the presence of a quorum and tabulate the results of the voting by stockholders. A quorum exists when holders ofleast a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote areoutstanding on the record date must be present at the Annual Meetingmeeting in person or by proxy. A quorumorder to hold the meeting and conduct business. This is necessary for the transaction of businesscalled a quorum. Your shares are counted as present at the Annual Meeting.meeting if:

you are present and vote in person at the meeting; or
you have properly submitted a proxy by mail, telephone or internet.

Broker non-votes can occur asAs of market close on the Record Date, 9,162,313 shares of our common stock were outstanding and entitled to shares held in street name. Under the current rules that govern brokers and other nomineevote. Because holders of record, ifcommon stock are entitled to one vote per share, a street-name holder does not give instructionstotal of 9,162,313 votes are entitled to itsbe cast at the annual meeting. Proxies that are received and voted as withholding authority, abstentions, and broker or other nominee, such broker or other nominee will be able to vote such shares only with respect to proposals for which the broker or other nominee has discretionary voting authority. A “broker non-vote” occurs whennon-votes (where a broker or other nominee submits a proxy for the Annual Meeting but does not vote on a particular proposal because suchbank, trust, broker or other nominee does not haveexercise discretionary voting power with respectauthority to that proposal, and has not received instructions fromvote on a matter) will be included in the beneficial owner.calculation of the number of shares considered to be present at the meeting.

How do I vote my shares?

If you are a stockholder of record as of the record date, you can give a proxy to be voted at the meeting in any of the following ways:

over the telephone by calling a toll-free number;
electronically, using the internet; or
by completing, signing and mailing the printed proxy card.

 

The electiontelephone and internet voting procedures have been set up for your convenience. We encourage you to reduce corporate expense by submitting your vote by telephone or internet. The procedures have been designed to authenticate your identity, to allow you to give voting instructions, and to confirm that those instructions have been recorded properly. If you are a stockholder of directors (Proposal No. 1), the approval of amendmentsrecord and you would like to submit your proxy by telephone or internet, please refer to the 2016 Plan (Proposal No. 2) andspecific instructions provided on the ratification of prior grants of stock options and restricted stock units under the 2016 Plan (Proposal No. 3) are proposals for which brokers do not have discretionary voting authority.enclosed proxy card. If you holdwish to submit your proxy by mail, please return your signed proxy card to us before the annual meeting.

If the shares you own are held in street name, andyour broker, bank, trust or other nominee, as the record holder of your shares, is required to vote your shares according to your instructions. Your broker, bank, trust or other nominee is required to send you directions on how to vote those shares. If you do not instructgive instructions to your broker, how to vote on these proposals, your brokerbank, trust or other nominee, it will not vote on them and these non-votes will be counted as broker non-votes. The ratification of the appointment of M&K CPAS, PLLC as our independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal No. 4) is considered to be discretionary and your brokerage firm willstill be able to vote on this proposal even if it doesyour shares with respect to certain “discretionary” items but will not be allowed to vote your shares with respect to certain “non-discretionary” items. In the case of non-discretionary items, the shares that do not receive voting instructions fromwill be treated as “broker non-votes.”

If, as of the Record Date, you are a stockholder of record and you attend the meeting, you may vote in person at the meeting. Even if you currently plan to attend the meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy as long as it holdsdescribed above so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the meeting. If you are a street name holder, you may vote your shares in its name.

Abstentions and broker non-votes are treated as shares present for the purpose of determining whether there is a quorum for the transaction of businessperson at the Annual Meeting. For purposes ofmeeting only if you obtain a signed letter or other document from your broker, bank, trust or other nominee giving you the proposalright to elect directors (Proposal No. 1),vote the proposal to approve amendments to the 2016 Plan (Proposal No. 2), the proposal to ratify prior grants of stock options and restricted stock units under the 2016 Plan (Proposal No. 3) and the proposal to ratify the appointment of M&K CPAS, PLLC as our independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal No. 4), abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted for determining the number of votes cast, and therefore will not affect the outcome of the vote on such proposals.

Required Votes and Voting

Assuming that a quorum is presentshares at the Annual Meeting, the following votes will be required:

With regardmeeting. If you have questions about attending or would like directions to Proposal No. 1, the five nominees for election to the Board of Directors who receive the greatest number of votes cast “for” the election of the directors by the shares present, in person or by proxy, will be elected to the Board of Directors. Stockholders are not entitled to cumulate votes in the election of directors.
With regard to Proposal No. 2, Proposal No. 3 and Proposal No. 4, approval of each of the proposals requires that the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast in opposition to it.

All shares entitled to vote and represented by properly executed, unrevoked proxies received before the Annual Meeting will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions given on those proxies. If no instructions are given on a properly executed proxy, the shares represented by that proxy will be voted as follows:

FORthe director nominees named in Proposal No. 1 of this proxy statement;

FORProposal No. 2, to approve amendments to the 2016 Plan;

FORProposal No. 3, to ratify prior grants of stock options and restricted stock units under the 2016 Plan;

FORProposal No. 4, to ratify the appointment of M&K CPAS, PLLC as our independent registered public accounting firm.

If any other matters are properly presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting, which may include, for example, a motion to adjourn the Annual Meeting to another time or place (including, without limitation, for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies), the persons named in the enclosed proxy and acting thereunder will have discretion to vote on those matters as they deem advisable. We do not currently anticipate that any other matters will be raised at the Annual Meeting.

Deadlines for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals

Stockholder proposals may be included in our proxy statement and form of proxy for an annual meeting so long as they are provided to us on a timely basis and satisfy the other conditions set forth in Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. We currently anticipate holding our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders in June 2018, although the Board may decide to schedule the meeting for a different date. For a stockholder proposal to be considered pursuant to Rule 14a-8 for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy for the annual meeting, to be held in 2018, we must receive the proposal at our principal executive offices, addressed to our Secretary, no later than March 1, 2018. Any proposals received after such date will be considered untimely. Submitting a stockholder proposal does not guarantee that it will be included in our proxy statement and form of proxy.

In addition, a shareholder proposal that is not intended for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of proxy under Rule 14a-8 (including director nominations) shall be considered “timely” as calculatedin accordance with Rule 14a-4(c) under the Exchange Act, andmay be brought before the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders provided that we receive information and notice of the proposal addressed to our Secretary at our principal executive offices, no later than April 15, 2018.

We strongly encourage any stockholder interested in submitting a proposal to contact our Secretary in advance of these deadlines to discuss any proposal he or she is considering, and stockholders may want to consult knowledgeable counsel with regardplease write to the detailed requirements of applicable securities laws. All notices of stockholder proposals, whether or not intended to be included in our proxy materials, should be in writing and sent to our principal executive offices, located at:Secretary, Eastside Distilling, Inc., 1001 SE Water Avenue, Suite 390 Portland, OregonOR, 97214 Attention: Secretary.or call (971) 888-4264.

 

What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card or voting instruction form?

If you receive more than one proxy card or voting instruction form, it means that you hold shares registered in more than one account. To ensure that all of your shares are voted, sign and return each proxy card, or if you submit your proxy vote by telephone or internet, vote once for each proxy card or voting instruction form you receive.

What if I do not specify how I want my shares voted?

If you submit a signed proxy card or submit your proxy by telephone or internet and do not specify how you want to vote your shares, the proxies will vote your shares:

FOR PROPOSAL NO. 1 the election of all of the seven nominees for director;
FOR PROPOSAL NO. 2the non-binding advisory approval of the compensation of our named executive officers disclosed in this proxy statement;

FOR PROPOSAL NO. 3the approval to amend the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles of Incorporation”) to increase the authorized shares of common stock par value $0.0001 from 15,000,000 to 50,000,000;

FOR PROPOSAL NO. 4the ratification of the appointment of M&K CPAS, PLLC as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019; and
In the discretion of the persons named as proxies as to all other matters that may be properly presented at the annual meeting.

Can I change my proxy after submitting my proxy?

Yes, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before your proxy is voted at the annual meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote by submitting a later-dated proxy by telephone, internet or mail, by voting in person at the meeting, or by delivering to our Secretary a written notice of revocation. Attending the meeting will not revoke your proxy unless you specifically request to revoke it.

If you hold your shares in street name, contact your broker, bank, trust or other nominee regarding how to revoke your proxy and change your vote.

What is the vote required to approve each matter?

 

Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors.The affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the votes cast on the election of directors at the meeting is required for nominees to be elected as directors. The seven nominees receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to the Board. Votes withheld and broker non-votes are not counted toward a nominee’s total.

Proposal No. 2: Advisory approval of compensation of our named executive officers. Because this is an advisory vote, it will not be binding upon the Board of Directors. However, the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements. This proposal will be approved upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the common stock present in person or by proxy at the meeting and voting on the matter. For purposes of counting votes on this matter, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as shares voted on the matter.

Proposal No. 3: Amendment to the articles of incorporation. We are asking stockholders to approve an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock par value $0.0001 from 15,000,000 to 50,000,000 shares. The Board believes that the proposed increase in authorized common stock is desirable to provide additional flexibility for potential future business and financial transactions. The affirmative vote of a majority of our outstanding common stock will be necessary to approve the adoption of the proposed amendment to our Articles. As a result, abstentions and non-votes will have the same effect as “against” votes.

Proposal No. 4: Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The affirmative vote of a majority of the common stock present in person or by proxy at the meeting and voting on the matter is necessary to approve the ratification of our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019. For purposes of counting votes on this matter, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as shares voted on the matter.

Are there other matters to be voted on at the meeting?

As of the date of this proxy statement, our Board of Directors does not know of any matters which may come before the meeting, other than the matters described in this proxy statement. Should any other matter requiring a vote of the stockholders arise and be properly presented at the annual meeting, the proxy gives the persons named in the proxy and designated to vote the shares discretionary authority to vote or otherwise act with respect to any such matter in accordance with their best judgment.

How does the Board recommend that I vote?

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote:

FOR PROPOSAL NO. 1 the election of all of the seven nominees for director;
FOR PROPOSAL NO. 2the non-binding advisory approval of the compensation of our named executive officers disclosed in this proxy statement;

FOR PROPOSAL NO. 3the ratification of the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to increase the authorized shares of common stock par value $0.0001 from 15,000,000 to 50,000,000.

FOR PROPOSAL NO. 4the ratification of the appointment of M&K CPAS, PLLC as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019.

Who pays for this proxy solicitation?

All costs of soliciting proxies will be borne by us. Our directors, officers, and other employees may without compensation other than their regular compensation, solicit proxies by further mailing or personal conversation, or by telephone, facsimile or electronic means. We will reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding soliciting material to the beneficial owners of our common stock.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

Stockholder Meeting

to be Held on August 8, 2019:

Our proxy statement and 2018 Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.

PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

General

 

Our Bylaws provide that the Board of Directors shall have not less than three (3) nor more than nine (9) seats. The Board of Directors has previously set the size of the Board of Directors at seven (7) directors. Two seats are currently vacant. The Board of Directors has decided to leaveeffective following the open director positions vacant at this time until qualified candidates have been identified.Annual Meeting. The directors shall be elected at each annual general meeting of the stockholders and, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, our Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until the director’s successor has been elected and qualified. If for any reason directors are not elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, they may be elected at any special meeting of the stockholders that is duly called and held for that purpose in the manner provided by the Bylaws.

 

Set forth below is certain information furnished to us by the director nominees. Trent D. Davis, one of our directors and a director nominee, is the brother-in-law of Murray Smith, our controller. Other than Messrs. Davis and Smith, there are no other family relationships among any of our directors or officers.

 

Nominees for Director

 

FiveSeven directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting for a one-year term ending on the earlier ofof: (a) the annual general meeting of stockholders to be held in 20182020; or (b) her or his successor is duly elected and qualified. The Board of Directors has nominated Grover Wickersham, Trent Davis, Michael Fleming, Shelly Saunders,Jack Peterson, David Holmes, Matthew Szot, Owen Lingley and Jack PetersonPaul F. Shoen for election to the Board of Directors.

 

Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by themfor the election of Grover Wickersham, Trent Davis, Michael Fleming, Shelly Saunders, and Jack Petersoneach of the nominees to the Board of Directors. Each of Messrs. Davis, Fleming, Peterson, Wickersham, and Ms. Saunders havenominee has indicated that he or she will serve if elected. We do not anticipate that any of these nominees will be unable or unwilling to stand for election, but if that occurs, all proxies received may be voted by the proxy holders for another person nominated by the Board of Directors. As there are fiveseven nominees, proxies may be voted for up to fiveseven persons.

 

Vote Required for Election of Directors

 

If a quorum is present, the nominees for election to the Board of Directors receiving the greatest number of votes cast “for” the election of the directors by the shares present, in person or by proxy, will be elected to the Board of Directors. Votes withheld and broker non-votes are not counted toward a nominee’s total.

 

Director Nominees

 

The names and certain information as of the record dateRecord Date about the nominees are set forth below.

 

Grover T. Wickersham, age 68, was appointed to our Board of Directors and as our Chairman in July 2016, and as our chief executive officer in November 2016. Mr. Wickersham currently serves on the boards of directors of S&W Seed Company (NASDAQ: SANW), an agricultural products company; Verseon Corporation, a London AIM-listed pharmaceutical development company; and SenesTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNES), a company that has developed proprietary technology for managing animal pest populations through fertility control. Mr. Wickersham has been a director of Glenbrook Capital Management, the general partner of a partnership that invests primarily in the securities of public companies, from 1996 to the present. From 1996 until its voluntary liquidation and dissolution in 2016, Mr. Wickersham served as the chairman of the board of trustees of The Purisima Funds, a trust that oversaw mutual funds advised by Fisher Investments of Woodside, California. Between 1976 and 1981, Mr. Wickersham served as a Staff Attorney, and then as a Branch Chief, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He holds a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a J.D. from University of California, Hastings College of Law. We believe that Mr. Wickersham is qualified to serve as a member of our Board of Directors because of his experience and knowledge of corporate finance and legal matters, his experience and knowledge of operational matters gained as a past and present director of other public and private companies, and his knowledge of our company.

Trent Davis, age 4851, was appointed to our Board of Directors in August 2016. Mr. Davis is currently CEO for Paulson Investment Company, LLC, which is a boutique investment firm specializing in private equity offerings for small to mid-cap markets. Formerly, from December 2014 to December 2018, Mr. Davis was President and COO of Whitestone Investment Network, Inc., which specializes in providing executive advisory services to small entrepreneurial companies, as well as restructuring, recapitalizing, and making strategic investments in small to midsize companies. In March of 2018, Mr. Davis was appointed to the Board of Directors of Senmiao Technology Limited (Nasdaq: AIHS), an online lending platform in China connecting Chinese investors with individual and small- to-medium-sized enterprise borrowers and creditors, and currently serves as an independent director and a member of the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. As the Lead Independent Director, from July 2015 to April 2017, Mr. Davis helped to successfully complete the reverse merger between Dataram Corporation (Nasdaq: DRAM), which develops, manufactures, and markets memory products primarily used in enterprise servers and workstations worldwide, and U.S. Gold Corp (Nasdaq: USAU), which is a gold exploration and development company. While at Dataram, from July 2014 to May 2017, Mr. Davis was Lead Director, chairman of the nominating and governance and special investments committees and member of the audit and compensation committees. Previously, from December 2014 to July 2015, Mr. Davis was Chairman of the Board for Majesco Entertainment Company (Nasdaq: COOL), which is an innovative developer, marketer, publisher, and distributor of interactive entertainment for consumers around the world. In April of 2017, Majesco completed a reverse merger with, and changed its name to PolarityTE, which is the owner of a novel regenerative medicine and tissue engineering platform. From November 2013 until July 2014, Mr. Davis served as the President and a Director of Paulson Capital Corp. (Nasdaq: PLCC) until he successfully completed the reverse merger of Paulson with VBI Vaccines, (Nasdaq: VBIV). He went on to serve as a Membermember of its Board of Directors and Audit Committee until May 2016. Mr. Davis was also the Chief Executive Officer of Paulson Investment Company. Inc.,Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Paulson Capital Corp, from July 2005 untilto October 2014, where he supervised all operations and over 200 investment representatives overseeing $1.5 billion in client assets. Prior to that, commencing in 1996, Mr. Davis served as Senior Vice President of Syndicate and National Sales of Paulson Investment Company, Inc. He has extensive experience in capital markets and brokerage operations and is credited with overseeing the syndication of approximately $600 million for over 50 client companies in both public and private transactions. In 2003, Mr. Davis served as a Chairman andof the Board of the National Investment Banking Association. Mr. Davis holds a B.S. in Business and Economics from Linfield College and an M.B.A. from the University of Portland and held the following FINRA Licenses: Series 7, 24, 63, 66, and 79.Portland. Mr. Davis is qualified to serve on the Board because of his deep knowledge of finance and public company issues, capital market, advisory and entrepreneurial experiences, and extensive expertise in operational and executive management.

 

Michael Fleming, age 6870, was appointed to our Board of Directors in August 2016. Mr. Fleming is currently an attorney with the law firm Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC specializing in real estate, dispute resolution, securities and environmental matters, a position he has held since 2013.matters. Mr. Fleming previously was an attorney with the law firm of Lane Powell PC from 2000 to 2013. Mr. Fleming is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jones Soda Co. (OTC: JSDA), a publicly traded premium beverage company. Mr. Fleming has served on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Puget Sound since 2002 and was Chairman of the Board of Directors for 2008/from 2008 to 2009. He has also been the President and owner of Kidcentre, Inc., a company in the business of providing child carechild-care services in downtown Seattle, Washington, since 1988. Since 1985, he has also been the President and owner of Fleming Investment Co., an investment company. Mr. Fleming holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Washington and a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. We believe Mr. Fleming is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors because of his experience serving on public company boards, as president and owner of two businesses as well as his legal expertise in matters of business and securities law.

 

Shelly A. Saunders, age 56, was appointed to our Board of Directors in August 2017. Since March 2015, Ms. Saunders is a consultant for Resources Global Professionals, a consulting firm serving global corporations. From June 2013 to January 2015, Ms. Saunders served as Vice President Finance and Country CFO for Campari Canada, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Davide Campari-Milano. From July 2009 to May 2013, Ms. Saunders served as Vice President Finance for Campari America/SKYY Spirits, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Davide Campari-Milano. Prior to joining Campari America, Ms. Saunders was a consultant for Resources Global Professionals, a Director Finance for Mervyns, and a Vice President Finance and Treasurer for Organic, Inc., among other positions. Ms. Saunders received a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and an MBA from University of California, Berkeley. Because of her prior service as a finance professional for one of the largest global spirits companies and her extensive experience and knowledge of, and contacts within, the spirits industry, we believe Ms. Saunders will be a valuable member of our board of directors and is well qualified to serve on our board and our audit committee.

Jack Peterson, age 5355, was appointed to our Board of Directors in August 2017. Since May 2007, Mr. Peterson has been the President of Sandstrom Partners, a brand development company that focuses on the creation and revitalization of thought leading brands such as Bulleit Bourbon, St-Germain, Stillhouse Whiskey, Miller Brewing, Pernod Ricard and Aviation Gin. In addition to Eastside, clients of the firm include Bacardi, Pernod Ricard, Brown Foreman and Diageo. From March 1996 to April 2007, Mr. Peterson was President of Borders, Perrin, Norrander, a full-service advertising agency in Portland, OR. Previously, Mr. Peterson served as account director and account executive at several advertising agencies including Hal Riney & Partners in San Francisco. Mr. Peterson holds a B.A. from the University of Minnesota. Because of his professional experience in brand development and establishing brand equity, and his contacts within the spirits industry, we believe Mr. Peterson will be a valuable member of our board of directors.

 

Matthew Szot, age 45, was elected to our board of directors and has served as the chairman of the audit committee of our board of directors since June 2018. Mr. Szot is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of S&W Seed Company (Nasdaq: SANW) where he has served since March 2010. Mr. Szot brings a wealth of knowledge in mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings, developing and implementing financial and operational process improvements, technical accounting, SEC reporting and compliance. During this tenure, Mr. Szot has been instrumental in negotiating, structuring and integrating six strategic acquisitions and raising more than $125 million for the company. Mr. Szot is also currently a Director and serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of both the Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committees of SenesTech (Nasdaq: SNES), a life science company focused on animal health. From February 2007 until October 2011, Mr. Szot served as the Chief Financial Officer for Cardiff Partners, LLC, a strategic consulting company that provided executive financial services to various publicly traded and privately held companies. Prior thereto, from 2003 to December 2006, Mr. Szot served as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Rip Curl, Inc., a market leader in wetsuit and action sports apparel products. From 1996 to 2003, Mr. Szot was a Certified Public Accountant with KPMG in the San Diego and Chicago offices and served as an Audit Manager for various publicly traded companies. Mr. Szot graduated with High Honors from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics/Accountancy. Mr. Szot is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of California. We believe that Mr. Szot is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his experience and knowledge of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance, as well as other operational, financial and accounting matters gained as a past and present chief financial officer of other public and private companies.

David Holmes, age 45, was appointed to our Board of Directors on October 15, 2018. Mr. Holmes currently serves as the founder of Third Floor, LLC, a development-stage company assembling a platform of brands primarily focused on ‘evolved beverages’ and cannabidiol (CBD) beverages. Prior thereto, he was a co-founder of Boathouse Beverage, the developer of the SpikedSeltzer brand, which was sold to ABInbev in 2016. While at Boathouse, Mr. Holmes built the SpikedSeltzer brand from concept to product to sale and, in the process, created a segment in the alcohol beverage market. He developed and directed all branding/marketing and related execution, along with sole responsibility for all investment, finance, logistics and field sales management. Following the SpikedSeltzer brand acquisition, Mr. Holmes became Vice President at ABInbev where his primary focus was on managing the operational transition to ABI, leading and guiding the brand identity transition into ABI and wholesaler outreach and relationship building. Prior to co-founding Boathouse Beverage, Mr. Holmes was a director and portfolio manager at Citi Capital Advisors from 2007 through 2012, where he ran its distressed debt opportunity fund. Mr. Holmes was also an analyst at Marathon Asset Management, an alternative asset management firm with $10 billion in assets under management investing in global credit and fixed income markets. Mr. Holmes has an MBA in Finance from Columbia University and a BA in Economics from Connecticut College.Because of his extensive experience within the spirits industry, the Company believes Mr. Holmes will be a valuable member of the Board.

Owen Lingley, age 39,is the founder of Craft Canning & Bottling (“Craft”) and Imperial Yeast. After receiving an economics degree from the University of Denver, he spent two years in Kazakhstan in the Peace Corps. Moving to the Northwest, he worked in packaging and at a yeast laboratory, before founding Craft in 2012. Craft has grown to be the industry leader in canning, with 17 lines spread over three states, packaging beer, wine, coffee, ready-to-drink cocktails, and cannabidiol beverages and was acquired by the Company in 2019. Following the acquisition, Mr. Lingley continues to serve as the non-executive Chairman of Craft. In 2014, he founded Imperial Yeast, which has grown to be the third largest supplier of liquid yeast to the brewing industry, and the first certified organic supplier of yeast in the world.Because of his extensive industry experience, particularly with respect to canning and bottling operations, we believe that Mr. Lingley will be a valuable member of the Board.

9

Paul F. Shoen, age 63,is a private investor and also founded and has served as the Chairman of Pantechnicon Aviation, Ltd., a company that buys and sells aircraft, since 1995. Although he is no longer associated with Amerco, Inc., over a 15-year period, Mr. Shoen served as a member of various Boards of Directors at the parent and subsidiary levels of Amerco, including the operational, real estate and insurance companies. He also served in various executive capacities within Amerco, including President and Vice-President of U-Haul International. Mr. Shoen also served on the Board of Directors of Paulson Capital Corp. from 1998 until its acquisition by VBI Vaccines Inc. in 2014. Mr. Shoen attended College of the Holy Cross where he earned a B.A. in Psychology. He has also taken graduate-level business courses at the University of Chicago. We believe that Mr. Shoen’s experience on other company boards and as a private investor is valuable to our Board.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTEFOR THE ELECTION OFMessrs. Wickersham, Davis, Fleming, peterson, szot, Holmes, Lingley and peterson, AND MS. SAUNDERSShoenTO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

 

Executive Officers

The names and certain information about our executive officers as of the record dateRecord Date are set forth below:

 

Name Age Position
Grover T. Wickersham  Robert Manfredonia 6854 Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the BoardPresident
Steven Shum 4748 Interim Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Melissa Heim 3335 Executive Vice President Operations and Master Distiller
Jarrett Catalani48Executive Vice President Sales
Allen Barteld51President and Chief Executive Officer of Motherlode
Murray Smith46Controller

 

Robert Manfredonia, age 54,has served as our President since December 6, 2018.Mr. Wickersham’s biographical details are set out above underManfredonia has over 25 years of experience helping liquor companies drive new business growth, distributor focus and forging strong relationships with external business partners. In April 2018, Mr. Manfredonia joined us from Russian Standard, where he was Vice President in charge of National Accounts. As Vice President of National Accounts at the heading “Director Nominees.”Company, Mr. Manfredonia was in charge of selling the Company’s Redneck Riviera Whiskey product to ‘big box’ retailers including Costco, Kroger, Albertsons, Walmart, CVS, Winn Dixie, Spec’s (Texas), Jewel Osco, ABC Liquors (Florida) and other significant accounts. He started his career as a sales manager with Southern Wine & Spirits. From 2012 through 2015, he was co-founder of Diamond Brands Inc., where he led the concept development, research and development, and bringing to market of a French sparkling wine. From 2007 through 2012, he was Western Division Director for Duvel Moortgat USA, where he had oversight of six breweries, five European, and U.S. management of 106 distributors. Prior to 2007, Mr. Manfredonia worked for Miller Brewing Company as a Division Director of International Brands. His oversight included nine urban centers and 52 distributors with a fiscal 2006 revenue increase of 42%. He served as a logistics specialist in the United States Air Force from 1984 through 1989, serving in Asia and Europe.

 

Steven Shum, age 4748, has served as our interim chief executive officer since May 2019 and as our chief financial officer since October 2015. Prior to joining us, Mr. Shum served as an officer and director of XZERES Corp from October 2008 until April 2015, a publicly-traded global renewable energy company, in various officer roles, including chief operating officer from September 2014 until April 2015, chief financial officer, principal accounting officer and secretary from April 2010 until September 2014 (under former name, Cascade Wind Corp) and chief executive officer and president from October 2008 to August 2010. Mr. Shum currently serves on the board of directors of Invo Bioscience Inc. (OTC: IVOB), a medical device company. Mr. Shum also serves as the managing principal of Core Fund Management, LP and the Fund Manager of Core Fund, LP. He was a founder of Revere Data LLC (now part of Factset Research Systems, Inc.) and served as its executive vice president for four years, heading up the product development efforts and contributing to operations, business development, and sales. He spent six years as an investment research analyst and portfolio manager of D.N.B. Capital Management, Inc. His previous employers include Red Chip Review and Laughlin Group of Companies. He earned a B.S. in Finance and a B.S. in General Management from Portland State University in 1992.

Jarrett Catalani, age 48, has served as our Senior Vice President Sales since July 2017. Mr. Catalani brings 27 years of experience in the alcoholic beverage industry. Prior to joining us, from May 2016 to September 2016, Mr. Catalani served as Senior Vice President Sales for Fishbowl Spirits, a premium spirits company, owned by singer songwriter Kenny Chesney. From October 2010 to April 2016, Mr. Catalani worked at ROUST (Russian Standard Vodka), in various officer roles, including Western Divisional Vice President from October 2010 until November 2012, and Senior Vice President of Sales from November 2012 until April 2016. From 2003 to 2010, Mr. Catalani worked in various roles at DIAGEO, his last position being Reserve Brand Director, California. Mr. Catalani’s other employers include Pilsner Urquell USA, Pete’s Brewing Company, Jim Taylor Corporation and Wilhelmi Beverage. Mr. Catalani holds a B.S. in Business Management from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale.

Melissa Heim, age 3335,has served as our master distiller since June 2012.2012 and has been a professional producer of spirits for 11 years. In November 2016, she was appointed our Executive Vice President Operations. We believe Ms. Heim iswas one of the first female commercial master distillerdistillers and blenderblenders west of the Mississippi River. Prior to joining our company,us, she apprenticed at and then served as head distiller at Rogue Distillery and Public House in Portland’s Pearl District, holding the latter position of head distiller from 2008 to 2010. Also, Ms. Heim co-founded and served as president of the Clear Boots Society, an organization that supports women’s leadership in the spirits industry. Ms. Heim studied Liberal Arts with emphasis on English at the University of Oregon. Ms. Heim is a current board member and Treasurer for the Women Distillers Guild, a member of the Craft Spirit Steering Committee for the international association Women of the Vine and Spirits, a member in good standing with the American Distilling Institute since 2014, a member in good standing with the American Craft Spirits Association since 2014, was named as one of the beverage industry’s top 40 under 40 tastemakers in 2017 and holds certification in advanced blending, maturation and warehousing techniques for spirits. She has earned the company over 40 medals for flavor including prestigious Double Golds at the country’s most competitive contests, besting some of the industry’s largest brands. Her works extends beyond distilled spirits, in 2019 she spearheaded the production and release of the first-of-their-kind CBD beverages, under the brand name Outlandish, which includes single serve seltzer, tonic and ginger ale. Ms. Heim oversees the Eastside portfolio of products and manages the company’s development and innovation team.

 

Allen Barteld, age 51, has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of MotherLode, our wholly-owned subsidiary acquired in March 2017, since June 2014. Prior to forming MotherLode in 2013, Mr. Barteld served as CEO of LawWerx, a software company, from 2009 to 2012. Mr. Barteld earned a Juris Doctor and Masters of Business Administration from Willamette University in 1997.

Murray Smith, age 46, has been our Controller since October 2016. Mr. Smith is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner with over twenty-four years’ accounting and finance leadership experience. Prior to joining us, from 2014 to 2016, Mr. Smith operated his own consulting practice focusing on contract-CFO services, corporate restructuring projects, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and internal audit outsourcing. From 2010 to 2014, Mr. Smith served as the Chief Financial Officer for Paulson Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: PLCC) where he was also responsible for regulatory compliance with the SEC, NASDAQ and FINRA. From 2009 to 2015, he also served as the Chief Financial Officer for Jewett-Cameron Trading Company, Ltd. (NASDAQ: JCTCF). Mr. Smith’s other previous employers have included Intel, Arthur Andersen and Teledyne. Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting, from the University of Washington.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Board of Directors Leadership Structure

 

The

In 2018, the Board of Directors has adoptedhad a structure under whichwhereby the chief executive officer and chairmanChair of our Board of Directors iswas the Chief Executive Officer. In May 2019, the structure was modified to have an “Executive Chair”, who was the most recent former Chief Executive Officer. The Executive Chair has expanded duties, including sourcing acquisitions and product development and assisting in financing activities as requested by the Company. The structure also includes a separate role from our vice-chairman andVice-Chair who acts as a lead independent director. We believe the current separation of the vice-chairman/vice-chair/lead independent director from the chairman/chief executive officer role allowsExecutive Chair allowed the chief executive officerBoard to focus his time and energy on running our business and managing our operations, while leveraging the experience and perspectivesbalance a Chair with inside knowledge of the vice-chairman. Company with appropriate oversight. We anticipate that the Board of Directors will elect a new Chair in conjunction with our Annual Meeting and will determine whether to maintain the non-independent chair / independent vice-chair structure or have an independent Chair structure. We recognize that different board leadership structures may be appropriate for companies in different situations and should be reviewed and carefully considered periodically in light of the Board’s composition and the needs of the Company. As a result, we intend to closely review and consider the optimal Board leadership structure for the Company at and following the Annual Meeting.

Our chief executive officer has generally also been a memberchair of the Board of Directors. Mr. Wickersham is the chairman as well as our chief executive officer. We believe it is important to make information and insight about us directly available to the directors in their deliberations. Our Board of Directors believes that separating the chief executive officer/chairman and vice-chairman/lead independent director roles is the appropriate leadership structure for us at this time and demonstrates our commitment to effective corporate governance.

Our chairman of the board is responsible for the effective functioning of our Board of Directors, enhancing its efficacy by guiding Board of Directors processes and presiding at Board of Directors meetings. Our chairmanTypically, our chair presides at stockholder meetings and ensures that directors receive appropriate information from our management to fulfill their responsibilities. Our chairmanWe expect our chair to also actsact as a liaison between our Board of Directors and executive management, facilitating clear and open communication between management and the Board of Directors.

 

Board of Directors Role in Risk Oversight

 

One of the key functions of our Board of Directors is informed oversight of our risk management process. Our Board of Directors willdoes not have a standing risk managementrisk-management committee, but rather intends to administeradministers this oversight function directly through our Board of Directors as a whole, as well as through our various standing committees as described below, that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. In particular, our Board of Directors is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure, and discusses with management our major risk exposures, their potential impact on us and the steps we take to manage them. While our Board is ultimately responsible for risk oversight, our standing committees and management assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in certain areas of risk. For example, our audit committee is responsible for monitoring and assessing risk exposure related to financing, accounting and investment risks.

 

Director Independence

 

Generally, under the listing requirements and rules of NASDAQ,Nasdaq, independent directors must comprise a majority of a listed company’s board of directors. Our Board of Directors has undertaken a review of its composition, the composition of its committees and the independence of each director. Our Board of Directors has determined that directors Trent Davis, Michael Fleming, David Holmes and Shelly SaundersMatthew Szot, and nominee Paul Shoen are independent within the meaning of NASDAQNasdaq listing standards. Accordingly, a majority of our directors isare independent, as required under applicable NASDAQNasdaq rules. In making this determination, our Board of Directors considered the current and prior relationships that each non-employee director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances our boardBoard of directorsDirectors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director.

 

The Board also considered other relationships that could cause a director not to be independent including that Trent D. Davis, one of our directors and a director nominee, is the brother-in-law of Murray Smith, our current CFO of our wholly-owned Craft Canning + Bottling subsidiary and former controller. In addition, Mr. Davis’ son is a staff sales employee. There are no other family relationships among any of our directors or officers.

Standing Committees and Attendance

 

The Board of Directors held a total of nineseven meetings during 2016. All directors2018. During 2018, each director attended more than 75% of the aggregateall of the meetings of theour Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors held during the period for which he or she was a director in 2016.

In September 2016, the Board of Directorshas established the following standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee, and a nominating and& corporate governance committee. The Board of Directors determined that establishing standing audit, compensation, and nominating and& corporate governance committees is an important element of sound corporate governance. Each committeeThe audit, compensation, and nominating & corporate governance committees held a total of threesix, nine and four meetings, respectively, during 2016,2018, and all directorseach director attended more than 75%all of the meetings of the committees if any, upon which such director served during the period foron which he or she has been a committee member during 2016.then served.

Audit Committee

Our audit committee oversees the engagement of our independent public accountants, reviews our audited financial statements, meets with our independent public accountants to review internal controls and reviews our financial plans. Our audit committee currently consists of Michael M. Fleming,Matthew Szot, who is the chair of the committee, Trent D. Davis and Shelly A. Saunders.Michael M. Fleming. Each of Messrs. Szot, Davis and Fleming and Ms. Saunders has been determined by our Board of Directors to be independent in accordance with NASDAQNasdaq and SEC standards. Our Board of Directors has also designated each of Mr. FlemingSzot and Ms. SaundersMr. Fleming as an “audit committee financial expert” as the term is defined under SEC regulations and has determined that each of Mr. FlemingSzot, Mr. Davis and Ms. SaundersMr. Fleming possesses the requisite “financial sophistication” under applicable NASDAQNasdaq rules. The audit committee operates under a written charter which is available on our website athttp://www.eastsidedistilling.com/s/ESDI-Audit-Committee-Charter-Adopted-101316.pdf.ESDI-Audit-Committee-Charter-Adopted-101316.pdf. Both our independent registered accounting firm and internal financial personnel will regularly meet with our audit committee and have unrestricted access to the audit committee. Each member of the audit committee is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including our consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows. Further, no member of the audit committee has participated in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, or those of any of our current subsidiaries, at any time during the past three years.

Compensation Committee

Our compensation committee reviews and recommends policies, practices and procedures relating to compensation for our directors, officers and other employees and advising and consulting with our officers regarding managerial personnel and development. Our compensation committee currently consists of Trent D. Davis, who is the chair of the committee and Matthew Szot and Michael M. Fleming, each of whom has been determined by our Board of Directors to be independent in accordance with NASDAQNasdaq standards. Each member of our compensation committee is also a non-employee director, as defined pursuant to Rule 16b-3, promulgated under the Exchange Act, and an outside director, as defined pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The compensation committee operates under a written charter which is available on the Company’s website athttp://www.eastsidedistilling.com/s/ESDI-Compensation-Committee-Charter-Adopted-101316.pdf.ESDI-Compensation-Committee-Charter-Adopted-101316.pdfThe compensation committee has not yet established processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive and director compensation, except as set forth in the compensation committee charter..

 

Nominating and& Corporate Governance Committee

Our nominating and& corporate governance committee (“Nominating Committee”) evaluates the composition, size and governance of our Board of Directors and its committees, evaluating and recommending candidates for election to our Board of Directors, establishing a policy for considering stockholder nominees and reviewing our corporate governance principles, establishing director compensation and providing recommendations to the Board of Directors. Our Nominating Committee currently consists of Michael M. Fleming, who is the chair of the committee, and Trent D. Davis, each of whom has been determined by our Board of Directors to be independent in accordance with NASDAQNasdaq standards. The Nominating Committee operates under a written charter which is available on the Company’s website athttp://www.eastsidedistilling.com/s/ESDI-Nominating-and-Corporate-Governance-Committee-Charter-Adopted-10.pdf.ESDI-Nominating-and-Corporate-Governance-Committee-Charter-Adopted-10.pdf.

Director Nomination Process

 

The Nominating Committeenominating committee identifies director nominees by first considering those current members of the Board of Directors who are willing to continue in service. Current members of the Board of Directors with skills and experience that are relevant to our business and who are effective as members of the Board of Directors and who are willing to continue in service are considered for re-nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by existing members of the Board of Directors with that of obtaining a new perspective.perspective, skills or experience, among other factors that the Board of Directors in their judgment believes are relevant. If any member of the Board of Directors does not wish to continue in service, if the Nominating Committeenominating committee or the Board of Directors decides not to re-nominate a member for reelection, if the Nominating Committeenominating committee or the Board of Directors decided to fill a director position that is currently vacant or if the Nominating Committeenominating committee or the Board of Directors decides to recommend that the size of the Board of Directors be increased, the Nominating Committeenominating committee identifies the desired skills and experience of a new nominee in light of the criteria described above.below. Current members of the Board of Directors and management are polled for suggestions as to individuals meeting the Board of Directors’ criteria. ResearchWe may also be performedperform research to identify qualified individuals.individuals and, if appropriate, the nominating committee may engage a search firm. Nominees for director are selected by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, after recommendation by the Nominating Committee, with any current directors who may be nominees themselves abstaining from any vote relating to their own nomination. All of our directors participated in the consideration of the director nominees for election at the Annual Meeting. Although the Nominating Committeenominating committee and the Board of Directors do not have a formal diversity policy, the Board of Directors instructedand the Nominating Committee tonominating committee consider such factors as it deemsthey deem appropriate to develop a Board and committees that are diverse in nature and comprised of experienced and seasoned advisors.advisors who may add valuable contributions. Factors considered by the Nominating Committeenominating committee include judgment, knowledge, skill, diversity (including, but not limited to, factors such as race, gender and experience), integrity, effectiveness as a Board member, experience with businesses and other organizations of comparable size, including experience in the spirits industry, business, finance, administration or public service, the relevance of a candidate’s experience to our needs and experience of other board members, familiarity with national and international business matters, experience with accounting rules and practices, willingness and ability to serve on committees, the desire to balance the considerable benefit of continuity with the periodic injection of the fresh perspective provided by new members, and the extent to which a candidate would be a desirable addition to the Board of Directors and any committees of the Board of Directors.

 

In addition, directors are expected to be able to exercise their best business judgment when acting on behalf of us and our stockholders, act ethically at all times and adhere to the applicable provisions of our code of business conduct and ethics. Other than consideration of the foregoing and applicable SEC and NASDAQNasdaq requirements, unless determined otherwise by the Nominating Committee, there are no stated minimum criteria, qualities or skills for director nominees. However, the Nominating Committee may also consider such other factors as it may deem are in the best interests of us and our stockholders. In addition, at least one member of the Board of Directors serving on the audit committee should meet the criteria for an “audit committee financial expert” having the requisite “financial sophistication” under applicable NASDAQNasdaq and SEC rules, and a majority of the members of the Board of Directors should meet the definition of “independent director” under applicable NASDAQNasdaq rules.

 

The Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors may consider suggestions for persons to be nominated for director that are submitted by stockholders. The Nominating Committee will evaluate stockholder suggestions for director nominees in the same manner as it evaluates suggestions for director nominees made by management, then-current directors or other appropriate sources. Stockholders suggesting persons as director nominees should send information about a proposed nominee to our Secretary at our principal executive offices as referenced above at least 90 days before the anniversary of the prior year’s annual stockholder meeting. This information should be in writing and should include a signed statement by the proposed nominee that he or she is willing to serve as a director of Eastside Distilling, Inc., a description of the proposed nominee’s relationship to the stockholder and any information that the stockholder feels will fully inform the Board of Directors about the proposed nominee and his or her qualifications. The Board of Directors may request further information from the proposed nominee and the stockholder making the recommendation. In addition, a stockholder may nominate one or more persons for election as a director at our annual meeting of stockholders. Please see the section abovebelow titled “Deadlines“Stockholder Proposals for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals”2020 Annual Meeting” for important information regarding stockholder proposals, including director nominations.

 

Code of Conduct and Ethics

 

We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors. We will provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of our code of business conduct and ethics. Requests may be directed to our principal executive offices at 1001 SE Water Avenue, Suite 390, Portland, Oregon 97214. Also, a copy of our code of business conduct and ethics is available on our website.websitehttps://static1.squarespace.com/static/56ce21152fe1314d29719fb4/t/591e0d42e6f2e133ca940503/1495141699066/Code+of+Conduct+and+Ethics.pdf. We will disclose, on our website, any amendment to, or a waiver from, a provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and that relates to any element of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics enumerated in applicable rules of the SEC.

 

20162018 Director Compensation

 

On October 13, 2016,During 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approvedestablished an annual compensation program for the grantdirectors that includes; 1) an annual retainer of non-qualified$16,000 paid in cash in quarterly installments, 2) $5,000 in stock awards per quarter, 3) $2,500 cash payment for each board committee chair, which is paid annually at the beginning of the year, 4) $1,000 for in-person board meetings and $500 for telephonic meetings and 5) 5,000 stock options under the 2016 Plan (as defined below) to purchase up to 11,667 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.40 per share (each on a post-reverse split basis) to each of our non-employee directors as of that date, Messrs. Davis, Fleming, Hirson and Wickersham. All directors will be reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending Board of Director and any committee meetings, provided that we have the resources to pay these expenses. Currently, directors receive no other compensation for their services on our Board.year. The following table sets forth information regarding compensation earned by or paid to our non-employee directors during the year ended December 31, 2016.2018.

 

Name Option
Awards
($)(1)
  Total
($)
 
Trent D. Davis $31,500  $31,500 
Michael M. Fleming $31,500  $31,500 
Lawrence Hirson $31,500  $31,500 
Grover T. Wickersham (2) $31,500  $31,500 

Name 

Fees Earned or Paid in Cash

($)

  

Stock
Awards

($)

  

Option
Awards

($)

  Total
($)
 
Trent D. Davis $35,250  $5,000(3) $28,243(5) $68,493 
Michael M. Fleming $25,250  $5,000(3) $28,243(5) $58,493 
Jack Peterson $20,700  $5,000(3) $28,243(5) $53,943 
Shelly A. Saunders(1) $23,000  $5,000(3) $28,243(5) $56,243 
Matthew Szot $13,625  $5,000(3) $11,405(6) $30,030 
Patrick Crowley(2) $5,000  $20,000(4) $11,190(6) $21,190 
David Holmes $5,500  $20,000(4) $11,190(6) $21,690 

 

 (1)Resigned from Board of Directors effective March 19, 2019.
(2)Resigned from Board of Directors effective June 12, 2019.
(3)Represents the aggregate-grant date fair value of 810 RSUs, valued using the closing stock price as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the respective dates of grant. As of December 31, 2018, the RSUs granted were fully vested. As of December 31, 2018, there were no unvested RSUs held by the non-employee directors.
(4)Represents $20,000 in value of RSUs, which vest in one installment one year from the date of the award (October 24, 2019) subject to continued service with the Company on that date. The exact number of shares to be issued on the vesting date will be calculated based upon the closing price of the Company’s common stock on such date.
(5)Represents the aggregate-grant date fair value of non-qualified stock options under the 2016 Plan. This includes two separate grants during the year, for the purchase up to 7,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.99 per share and for the purchase of up to 5,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $7.87 per share as of January 11, 2018 and October 15, 2018 respectively without regards to forfeitures, computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 – Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). The assumptions used to calculate the value of the stock options are set forth in Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 52. As of December 31, 2018, the total number of shares of outstanding stock options held by each non-employee director were as follows: Mr. Davis, 19,537; Mr. Fleming, 19,537; Mr. Peterson, 20,000; Ms. Saunders, 20,000; Mr. Szot, 5,000; Mr. Crowley, 5,000; and Mr. Holmes 5,000.
(6)Represents a grant of non-qualified stock options under the 2016 Plan to purchase up to 11,6675,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.40$7.87 per share to each of our non-employee directors as of October 13, 2016 without regards to forfeitures, computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 – Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”).
(2)The option awardsassumptions used to Mr. Wickersham were made priorcalculate the value of the stock options are set forth in Note 14 in the Notes to his employment with us as chief executive officer in November 2016.Consolidated Financial Statements on page 52.

 

9

EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our Named Executive Officers for services rendered during the past two fiscal years by (i) the two persons who served as our chief executive officer during 2016ended December 31, 2018, and (ii) the two most highly compensated executive officers other than the chief executive officer who were serving as executive officers at the end of 2016 and whose total compensation for 2016 exceeded $100,000. The persons described in clauses (i) and (ii) above are collectively referred to herein as our “named executive officers.”2017.

  2018 Summary Compensation Table
Name and Position Year Salary  Bonus  Stock Awards  Option Awards  All Other Compensation  Total ($) 
Grover T. Wickersham 2018 $120,000  $123,750  $164,314(4) $318,545(2) $               $726,609 
Former Chief Executive Officer, Director(1) 2017 $20,769  $50,000  $188,350(5) $156,740(3) $  $415,859 
                           
Robert Manfredonia 2018 $109,615  $  $50,000(7) $204,625(6) $  $364,240 
President(Since December 2018)                          
                           
Steve Shum 2018 $135,000  $132,250  $164,314(10) $318,545(8) $  $750,109 
Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, (Since October 1, 2015) 2017 $135,000  $63,461  $59,390(11) $5,095(9) $  $262,946 
                           
Melissa Heim 2018 $87,289  $10,000  $19,950(14) $68,575(12) $  $185,814 
Executive V.P. Operations and Master Distiller 2017 $85,000  $34,297  $57,906(15) $30,915(13) $  $208,118 

 

  Summary Compensation Table 
              All Other    
Name and Position Year  Salary  Bonus  Options (1)  Compensation  Total ($) 
Grover T. Wickersham (2)  2016  $1  $   31,500  (3) $  $31,501 
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board  2015  $        $  $9,000 
                         
Steven Shum (4)  2016   $ 183,942(5) $   $ 63,600(6) $  $247,542 
Chief Financial Officer  2015   $ 48,750(5)     198,050(7) $  $246,800 
                         
Steven Earles (8)  2016   $ 180,673(9) $  $  $30,000(10) $210,673 
Former President and Chief Executive Officer  2015   $ 152,083(9)        $  $152,083 

 (1)See Proposal No. 3 regarding

Effective May 10, 2019, Grover Wickersham transitioned to Executive Chairperson, stepping down from his dual role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In connection with his agreement to act as Executive Chairperson, Mr. Wickersham will be paid an annual fee of $185,000 and will be eligible for certain discretionary bonuses and equity awards. In addition, Mr. Wickersham will be reimbursed for out of pocket healthcare insurance at the stockholder ratificationsame rate that he was paying immediately prior to his transition. These payments will continue until the 2020 annual meeting of prior grantsstockholders irrespective of stock options and restricted stock units underwhether Mr. Wickersham continues to serve as Executive Chairperson. Mr. Wickersham has indicated that he will be available to continue to provide consulting services in the 2016 Plan.Company’s discretion.

 (2)Mr. Wickersham was appointed Chief Executive Officer in November 2016 and ChairmanAmounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the Board115,000 shares of common stock underlying the stock options granted on three separate dates of grant (with exercise prices of $3.92, $3.99 and $7.87 per share, respectively) without regards to forfeitures, computed in July 2016.accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). This amount does not reflect the actual economic value realized by the named executive officer. The options issued vest monthly over a 2 or 3-year period. The assumptions used to calculate the value of the stock options are set forth in Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 52 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2019.
 (3)Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the 11,66753,333 shares of common stock underlying the stock options granted on two separate dates of grant (with exercise prices of $4.80 and $3.78 per share, respectively) without regards to forfeitures, computed in accordance with ASC 718. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value realized by the named executive officer. The options issued vest monthly over a 3-year period. The assumptions used to calculate the value of the stock options are set forth in Note 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 46 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2018.
(4)Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of 24,098 restricted stock units calculated based on the closing sales price reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the respective dates of grant ($3.99, $7.19, and $7.69 per share, respectively) without regards to forfeitures.
(5)Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of 50,834 restricted stock units calculated based on the closing sales price reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the respective dates of grant ($4.80, $3.78, and $4.33 per share, respectively) without regards to forfeitures.
(6)Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the 75,000 shares of common stock underlying the stock options granted on two separate dates of grant (with exercise prices of $7.05 and $7.87 per share, respectively) without regards to forfeitures, computed in accordance with ASC 718. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value realized by the named executive officer. The options issued vest monthly over a 3-year period. The assumptions used to calculate the value of the stock options are set forth in Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 52 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2019.
(7)Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of 6,696 restricted stock units calculated based on the closing sales price reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the respective dates of grant ($7.05, and $7.94 per share, respectively) without regards to forfeitures.
(8)Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the 115,000 shares of common stock underlying the stock options granted on three separate dates of grant (with exercise prices pf $3.92, $3.99 and $7.87 per share, respectively) without regards to forfeitures, computed in accordance with ASC 718. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value realized by the named executive officer. The options issued vest monthly over a 2 or 3-year period. The assumptions used to calculate the value of the stock options are set forth in Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 52 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2019.
(9)Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the 1,667 shares of common stock underlying the stock option on the date of grant ($5.40(with an exercise price of $4.50 per share) without regards to forfeitures, computed in accordance with ASC 718. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value realized by the named executive officer. The options issued to Mr. Wickersham vest monthlyquarterly over a six-month3-year period. The assumptions used to calculate the value of the stock options are set forth in Note 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 46 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2018.
 (4)(10)Mr. Shum has served as our Chief Financial Officer since October 1, 2015.Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of 24,098 restricted stock units calculated based on the closing sales price reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the respective dates of grant ($3.99, $7.19, and $7.69 per share, respectively) without regards to forfeitures.
 (5)(11)$48,750Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of 13,000 restricted stock units calculated based on the closing sales price reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the respectively dates of grant ($6.00, $3.90, and $48,250 in salary for 2015 and 2016, respectively, was converted into series A convertible preferred stock.$4.33 per share, respectively) without regards to forfeitures.
 (6)(12)Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the 20,00025,000 shares of common stock underlying the stock option on the date of grant ($4.80(with an exercise price of $3.99 per share) without regards to forfeitures, computed in accordance with ASC 718. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value realized by the named executive officer. The options issued to Mr. Shum vest quarterly over a three-year3-year period. The assumptions used to calculate the value of the stock options are set forth in Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 52 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2019.
 (7)(13)Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the 14,16711,667 shares of common stock underlying the stock optionoptions granted on the datetwo separate dates of grant ($27.00(with an exercise price of $4.50 and $3.78 per share)share, respectively) without regards to forfeitures, computed in accordance with ASC 718. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value realized by the named executive officer. The options issued to Mr. Shum vest monthly over a two-year period with 25% vesting3-year period. The assumptions used to calculate the value of the stock options are set forth in Note 13 in the firstNotes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 46 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year following date of grant,ended December 31, 2017, filed with no options vesting during the first six months and 1/24th per month vesting during the second six months, and 75% vesting in the second year following date of grant (3/48th/month).SEC on April 2, 2018.
(8)Mr. Earles served as our Chief Executive Officer from October 31, 2014 through November 22, 2016 and as our President through January 19, 2017.
(9)$119,519 and $65,481 in salary for 2015 and 2016, respectively, was converted into series A convertible preferred stock.
(10)(14)Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of 5,4065,000 restricted stock units (“RSUs”)calculated based on the dateclosing sales price reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the dates of grant ($5.553.99 per share) without regards to forfeitures, computed in accordance with ASC 718.forfeitures.
(15)Amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of 5,548 restricted stock units calculated based on the closing sales price reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the respective dates of grant ($3.78 and $4.33 per share, respectively) without regards to forfeitures.

16

All Other Compensation

None

 

Outstanding Equity2018 Grants of Plan-Based Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the number of shares of common stock underlying restricted stock unit awards and stock options granted to our named executive officersthe Named Executive Officers in the year ended December 31, 2016.2018.

 

  All Other Stock Awards: All Other Option Awards:      
Name Grant Date Approval Date Estimated Future
Payouts Under Non- Equity Incentive Plan Awards
 Estimated Future
Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards
 All Other Stock Awards: All Other Option Awards: Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh) Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option
Awards (2)
  Grant Date 

Number of

Shares of
Stock or
Units (#)

  Number of Securities Underlying Options (#)  

Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards

($/Share)

  

Grant Date Fair Value of Stock

and Option

Awards(1)

 
Grover T. Wickersham 01/08/2018      50,000(2) $3.92  $130,650 
          Number of Number of                        
          Shares of Securities       01/11/2018      25,000(4) $3.99  $68,575 
          Stock or Underlying       01/11/2018  5,000(3)         $19,950 
          Units (#)(1) Options (#) (1)       04/17/2018  5,000(3)         $35,950 
Grover T. Wickersham  10/13/2016 10/13/2016            11,667(3) $5.40  $63,000 
                                                
Steven Earles  11/4/2016 11/4/2016         5,406(4)    $5.55  $30,000 
Steven Shum  9/20/2016 9/20/2016            20,000(5) $4.80  $96,000 
 08/18/2018  14,098(3)         $103,620 
                  
 10/15/2018     40,000(4) $7.87  $119,320 
                  
Melissa Heim 01/11/2018      25,000(4) $3.99  $68,575 
    5,000(3)         $19,950 
Steve Shum 01/08/2018     50,000(2) $3.92  $130,650 
                  
 01/11/2018      25,000(4) $3.99  $68,575 
    5,000(3)         $19,950 
 04/17/2018  5,000(3)         $35,950 
                  
 08/18/2018  14,098(3)         $103,620 
                  
 10/15/2018      40,000(4) $7.87  $119,320 
                  
Robert Manfredonia 4/02/2018      50,000(4) $7.05  $130,050 
    3,547(3)         $25,000 
 10/04/2018  3,149(3)         $25,000 
                  
 10/15/2018     25,000(4) $7.87  $74,575 

 

 (1)See Proposal No. 3 regarding the stockholder ratification of prior grants of stock options and restricted stock units under the 2016 Plan.
(2)Represents the grant date fair value of each equity award calculated in accordance with FASB Statement No. 123R –Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.ASC 718.
(2)Options vest quarterly over a 2-year period.
(3)RSUs vested immediately.
(4)Options vest quarterly over a 3-year period.

2018 Outstanding Equity Awards Fiscal Year-End

The following table sets forth all outstanding equity awards made to each of the Named Executive Officers that were outstanding as of December 31, 2018.

    Option Awards (1) 
Name Grant Date Number of| Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
  

Option

Exercise

Price ($)

  

Option

Expiration Date

Grover T.
Wickersham
 10/13/2016  35,000(1)    $5.40  10/13/2026
                 
  04/05/2017  29,167(2)  4,167  $4.80  04/05/2027
                 
  09/15/2017  10,000(3)  10,000  $3.78  09/15/2027
                 
  01/08/2018  25,000(2)  25,000  $3.92  01/08/2028
                 
  01/11/2018  8,333(3)  16,667  $3.99  01/08/2028
                 
  10/15/2018  3,333(3)  36,667  $7.87  10/15/2028
                 
Melissa Heim 03/25/2015  417(3)    $105.00  03/25/2025
                 
  09/20/2016  7,500(3)  2,500  $4.80  09/20/2026
                 
  12/30/2016  2,223(3)  1,111  $5.94  12/30/2016
                 
  03/14/2017  972(3)  695  $4.50  03/14/2027
                 
  09/15/2017  5,000(3)  5,000  $3.78  09/15/2027
                 
  01/11/2018  8,333(3)  16,667  $3.99  01/11/2028
                 
Steven Shum 10/1/2015  14,167(4)    $27.00  10/1/2020
                 
  9/20/2016  15,000(3)  5,000  $4.80  10/1/2026
                 
  03/14/2017  972(3)  695  $4.50  03/14/2027
                 
  01/08/2018  25,000(2)  25,000  $3.92  01/08/2028
                 
  01/11/2018  8,333(3)  16,667  $3.99  01/08/2028
                 
  10/15/2018  3,333(3)  36,667  $7.87  10/15/2028
                 
Robert Manfredonia 04/02/2018  16,667(3)  33,333  $7.05  04/02/2028
                 
  10/15/2018  2,083(3)  22,917  $7.87  10/15/2028

(1)Options vest monthly over a 6-month period.
(2)Options vest quarterly over 2-year period.
 (3)Options vest monthlyquarterly over a six-month3-year period.
 (4)RSUsOptions vest in four equal installmentsover a 2-year period with 25% vesting onin the first year following date of grant, with no options vesting during the first 6-months and 1/24th per month and 75% vesting in the second year following date and 25% vesting on each of January 1, 2017, April 1, 2017 and July 1, 2017.grant (3/48th/month).

 (5)18Options vest quarterly over a three-year period.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

None.

 

Employment Agreements

 

We have agreements with certain of our named executive officers, which include provisions regarding post-termination compensation. We do not have a formal severance policy or plan applicable to our executive officers as a group. The following summaries of the employment agreements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the employment agreements, as amended, which have been filed as.

 

Employment Agreement with Steven EarlesSteve Shum

 

On February 6,In 2015, we entered into an employment agreement with Steven Earles to serve as president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer and chairman of our Board of Directors.Mr. Shum, which was amended in 2016. The agreement had an initial term that was set to end on February 5, 2018 and providedannually renews for an annual base salary during the term of the agreement of $104,000 per year. Mr. Earles is eligible to receive an annual bonus of at the discretion of the Board of Directors. On August 12, 2015, we amended Mr. Earles’ employment agreement to increase his annual base salary to $245,000. On October 5, 2015, Mr. Earles resigned as our chief financial officer.one-year terms.

 

The agreement also contains the following material provisions:provisions among other terms: (i) reimbursement for all reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with his employment; (ii) two weeks paid vacation leave; (iii) medical, dental and life insurance benefits; (iv) 36-month non-compete/non-solicitation terms; and (v) a severance payment equal to six months of base salary upon termination without cause (as defined in the agreement).

Effective November 4, 2016, we entered into a Second Amendment to Employment Agreement (the “Earles Amendment”) with Mr. Earles. Under the Earles Amendment, Mr. Earles’ base salary was decreased to $120,000 per annum. In addition, Mr. Earles agreed to waive prior accrued and unpaid salary totaling approximately $182,000. He was granted a restricted stock units award pursuant to our 2016 Equity Incentive Plan equal to the quotient obtained by dividing $30,000 by the closing price of our common stock on the effective date of the Earles Amendment, which our Board deemed to be the fair market value of such shares as of the date of the Earles Amendment. The shares of common stock subject to the restricted stock units vest in four equal quarterly installments on each of November 4, 2016, January 1, 2017, April 1, 2017 and July 1, 2017. We also agreed to indemnify Mr. Earles to the fullest extent allowed by our Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles”), our Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), and applicable law, and notwithstanding Section 7.14 of our Bylaws, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rights granted pursuant to the Earles Amendment will apply to acts and actions occurring since October 31, 2014.

Mr. Earles resigned as our president and director effective January 19, 2017. Mr. Earles had previously resigned as our chief executive officer on November 22, 2016.

Employment Agreement with Steve Shum

On October 5, 2015, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Shum. The agreement has an initial term ending on October 5, 2018 and provides for an annual base salary during the term of the agreement of $195,000 per year. Mr. Shum is eligiblenot entitled to receive an annual bonus of at the discretion of the Board of Directors. In addition, Mr. Shum received an option to purchase 14,167 shares of our common stock. This option has a five-year term and vests as described above.

The agreement also contains the following material provisions: (i) reimbursement for all reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurredincreased severance in connection with his employment; (ii) two weeks paid vacation leave; (iii) medical, dental and life insurance benefits; (iv) 36-month non-compete/non-solicitation terms; and (v) a severance payment equal to six monthschange of base salary upon termination without cause (as defined in the agreement).

Effective November 4, 2016, we entered into a First Amendment to Employment Agreement (the “Shum Amendment”) with Mr. Shum. Under the Shum Amendment, Mr. Shum’s base salary was decreased to $135,000 per annum. In addition, Mr. Shum is entitled to quarterly bonuses based on individual and company performance at the discretion of our Board of Directors as well as quarterly bonuses based on the achievement by us of certain quarterly EBITDA targets. We agreed to pay Mr. Shum $4,250 for accrued and unpaid salary, which will be paid on the earlier of a qualified equity financing or six months from the effective date of the Shum Amendment. We also agreed to indemnify Mr. Shum to the fullest extent allowed by the Articles, the Bylaws and applicable law, and notwithstanding Section 7.14 of our Bylaws, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rights granted pursuant to the Shum Amendment shall apply to acts and actions occurring since October 31, 2014.control.

 

Employment Agreement with Melissa Heim

 

On February 27, 2015, we entered into an employment agreement with Ms.Melissa Heim. The agreement hasis for an initial term ending on February 27, 2020 and one-year periods thereafter.

The agreement contains the following provisions among other customary terms: (i) reimbursement for all reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with her employment; (ii) paid vacation leave; (iii) medical, dental and life insurance benefits and (iv) 36-month non-solicitation terms; (v) Ms. Heim is not entitled to increased severance in connection with a change of control.

Employment Agreement with Robert Manfredonia

Effective December 6, 2018, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Mr. Manfredonia. The agreement is for an initial term ending on December 5, 2021 and provides for an annual base salary during the term of the agreement of $40,000 per year. Ms. Heim$150,000. Mr. Manfredonia is eligible to receive an annuala cash bonus of at$100,000 per annum, which would be subject to Company results and individual performance. In addition, the Company will recommend to the compensation committee that it grant Mr. Manfredonia $37,500 worth of restricted stock units within the first 5 days of the completion of each quarter. Each award will be immediately vested and will be subject to the terms and conditions of the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan. Further, Mr. Manfredonia may be eligible to receive stock option grants pursuant to the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors. In addition, Ms. Heim received an option to purchase 417 shares of our common stock. This option has a five-year term and vests as described above.

compensation committee. The agreement also contains the following material provisions: (i) reimbursement for all reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with his employment;employment, along with a $500 per month car allowance; (ii) ten business days paid vacation leave; (iii) medical, dentalbenefits and life insurance benefits; and (iv) 36-month non-compete/non-solicitation terms.

We have increased Ms. Heim’s annual base salary during the course of her employment, and she now earns an annual base salary of $85,000.

Employment Agreement with Jarrett Catalani

Under the terms of Mr. Catalani’s employment agreement, Mr. Catalani will be employed as our Senior Vice President – Sales for a three-year term. Mr. Catalani will initially be paid an annual base salary of $150,000, subjectperquisites available to review from time to time by the compensation committee. Mr. Catalani’s employment agreement further provides that Mr. Catalani is eligible to participate in our annual bonus plan with an initial target annual bonus of $100,000, the actual payment of which will be determined based upon a combination of our results and individual performance against applicable performance goals fixed by the compensation committee.

In addition to salary and bonuses as summarized above, Mr. Catalani’s employment agreement provides that Mr. Catalani is eligible to participate in employee benefits plans as we may institute from time to time at the discretionother senior executives of the compensation committee. On August 10, 2017, he was granted 10,000 options under the 2016 Plan, which options will vest quarterly overCompany; and (iii) a three-year period, at an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant.

In the event Mr. Catalani’s employment is terminated “without cause” (as defined in Mr. Catalani’s employment agreement) after his failure to take corrective action during any applicable cure period, he will receive, in addition to any compensation otherwise due to him,severance payment of his then base salary and continuation of his benefits for six months following the termination. If his employment is terminated voluntarily, due to death or disability or is terminated for “cause” (as defined in Mr. Catalani’s employment agreement), all vesting of equity grants and awards will immediately cease and only routine compensation provided in Mr. Catalani’s employment agreement will be due.

Any amounts payable under Mr. Catalani’s employment agreement are subject to any policy (whether currently in existence or later adopted) established by us providing for clawback or recovery of amounts that were paid to Mr. Catalani. We will make any determination for such clawback or recovery in our sole discretion and in accordance with any applicable law or regulation.

Finally, Mr. Catalani is subject to intellectual property assignment, confidentiality and non-solicitation restrictions.

Employment Agreement with Allen Barteld

In connection with our acquisition of MotherLode, on March 8, 2017, we entered into a three-year employment agreement with Mr. Barteld. Under the terms of Mr. Barteld’s employment agreement, Mr. Barteld will be employed as the President and Chief Executive Officer of MotherLode, and will continue to serve as its manager, for a three-year term. Mr. Barteld was initially paid an annual base salary of $85,000, subject to review from time to time by the compensation committee. Upon the earlier of December 31, 2017 or the closing of a registered public offering of our common stock that results in net proceeds to us of at least $3,000,000, Mr. Barteld’s base salary was to be increased to $120,000 per year, subject to review from time to time by the compensation committee. In connection with our August 2017 follow-on public offering which resulted in net proceeds to us of approximately $5,000,000, Mr. Barteld’s salary was increased to $120,000 per year, subject to review from time to time by the compensation committee. Mr. Barteld’s employment agreement further provides that Mr. Barteld is eligible to participate in our annual bonus plan, the actual payment of which will be determined based upon a combination of our results and individual performance against applicable performance goals fixed by the compensation committee.

In addition to salary and bonuses as summarized above, Mr. Barteld’s employment agreement provides that Mr. Barteld is eligible to participate in employee benefits plans as we may institute from time to time at the discretion of the compensation committee. On March 20, 2017, Mr. Barteld was granted 83,334 incentive stock options under the 2016 Plan, which options will vest quarterly over a five-year period, at an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant.

In the event Mr. Barteld’s employment is terminated “without cause” (as defined in Mr. Barteld’s employment agreement) after his failure to take corrective action during any applicable cure period, or if he resigns for “good reason” (as defined in Mr. Barteld’s employment agreement), then he will receive, in addition to any compensation otherwise due to him, payment of his then base salary and continuation of his benefits for six months following the termination. Mr. Barteld may not resign for good reasontermination without first providing us with written notice of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for good reason within 90 days of the initial existence of such grounds, and a reasonable cure period of at least 30 days. If his employment is terminated voluntarily, due to death or disability or is terminated for “cause” (as defined in Mr. Barteld’s employment agreement), all vesting of equity grants and awards will immediately cease and only routine compensation provided in Mr. Barteld’s employment agreement will be due.

Any amounts payable under Mr. Barteld’s employment agreement are subject to any policy (whether currently in existence or later adopted) established by us providing for clawback or recovery of amounts that were paid to Mr. Barteld. We will make any determination for such clawback or recovery in our sole discretion and in accordance with any applicable law or regulation.

Finally, Mr. Barteld is subject to confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation restrictions.cause.

 

Potential Payments upon Termination

 

Under the terms of the employment agreements for Messrs.Mr. Shum, Catalani,Ms. Heim and Barteld,Mr. Manfredonia, they are each entitled to a severance payment of six (6) month’s salary at the then-applicable base salary rate in the event that we terminate their employment without “cause.” In addition, Mr. Barteld is entitled to a severance payment of six month’s salary at the then-applicable base salary rate if he resigns for “good reason.”

cause.

The following table sets forth quantitative information with respect to potential payments to be made to Messrs.Mr. Shum, Catalani,Ms. Heim and BarteldMr. Manfredonia upon termination without cause or good reason, as applicable, as provided in their respectivecause. The potential payments are based on the terms of Mr. Shum’s, Ms. Heim’s and Mr. Manfredonia’s employment agreements as described indiscussed above. For a more detailed description of the employment agreements for Mr. Shum, Ms. Heim and Mr. Manfredonia, see the “Employment Agreements” section above.

 

Name 

Potential Payment upon Termination
Without Cause or for Good

Reason, as applicable (1)

  Potential
Payment
upon
Termination
Without Cause
(1)
 
Steven Shum $67,500  $97,500(2)
Allen Barteld $60,000 
Jarrett Catalani $75,000 
Robert Manfredonia $75,000(3)
Melissa Heim $42,500(4)

 

(1)Employee entitled to six months’ severance at the then applicable base salary rate.
(2)Based on Mr. Shum’s 2019 annual base salary of $195,000.
(3)Based on Mr. Manfredonia’s 2019 annual base salary of $150,000.
(4)Based on Ms. Heim’s 2019 annual base salary.

Employee Benefit Plans

The following table reflects, as of December 31, 2016, compensation plans pursuant to which the Company is authorized to issue options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of its common stock, including the number of shares issuable under outstanding options, warrants and rights issued under the plans and the number of shares remaining available for issuance under the plans:

  (a)  (b)  (c) 
Plan category Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights  Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights  Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) 
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders  163,056  $5.48   3,611 
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders         
Total  163,056  $5.48   3,611 

We have granted options to purchase common stock to our officers, directors, employees and consultants under our 2016 Plan. The 2016 Plan also enables us to grant RSUs, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights and certain other equity-based compensation to our officers, directors, employees and consultants. Under the 2016 Plan, we awarded stock options to each of our non-employee directors in 2016. We also awarded RSUs and stock options to certain of our officers in 2016 under the 2016 Plan. See Proposal No. 3 regarding the stockholder ratification of prior grants of stock options and restricted stock units under the 2016 Plan.

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The following is a description of transactions since January 1, 20152017 as to which the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent (1%) of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years and in which any related person has or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than equity and other compensation, termination and other arrangements which are described above under the headings “Director Compensation”“Compensation of Directors” and “Executive Compensation.”

On August 23, 2017, our Board As of Directors appointed Jack Peterson to the Board to fill an existing vacancy on the Boarddate of Directors. Mr. Peterson is also the President of Sandstrom Partners. In late 2016, with the goal of increasing its brand value and accelerating sales, the Company retained Sandstrom and tasked them with reviewing the Company’s current product portfolio,this proxy statement, there are no proposed transactions as well as its new ideas, and advising it with respect to marketing, creation of brand awareness and product positioning, locally and nationally. The Company is using Sandstrom’s full range of brand development services, including research, strategy, brand identity, package design, environments, advertising as well as digital design and development. The Company anticipates that its product packaging design will changedescribed in the second half of 2017 as a result of Sandstrom’s efforts. The Company has paid $80,000 in cash and 33,334 shares of stock valued at $145,000 (at the time of issuance) to Sandstrom Partners in 2017 to date for services rendered by Sandstrom under its agreement with the Company.foregoing sentence.

 

On August 10, 2017, Mr. Wickersham and his affiliates purchased 55,555 units at $4.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one shares of common stock, for total proceeds of approximately $250,000 in cash.

On June 2, 2017, Mr.Grover Wickersham purchased 15,189 units at $3.90 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one three-year common stock purchase warrant exercisable at $7.50 per share (subject to adjustment), for total proceeds of $59,237 in cash.

 

On April 4, 2016,August 10, 2017, Mr. Earles purchased 185 units in an offering of units consisting of shares of our series A convertible preferred stockWickersham and warrants to purchase common stock (our “Series A Preferred Stock and Warrant Unit Offering”) in consideration of $185,000 in accrued and unpaid salary. Each unit consisted of one share of series A convertible preferred stock and one warrant to purchase 223 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.00 per share. Steven Shum, our chief financial officer, purchased 97 Units in the Series A Preferred Stock and Warrant Unit Offering in consideration of $97,000 in accrued and unpaid salary. Martin Kunkel, our former chief marketing officer, director and secretary, purchased 58 Units in the Series A Preferred Stock and Warrant Unit Offering in consideration of $58,000 in accrued and unpaid salary. Carrie Earles, our chief branding officer and wife of Steven Earles, purchased 83 Units in the Series A Preferred Stock and Warrant Unit Offering in consideration of $83,000 in accrued and unpaid salary. These issuances were unanimously approved by our Board of Directors,his affiliates, including all disinterested directors. Effective November 4, 2016, we entered into an agreement with Mr. Earles, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which Mr. Earles agreed to convert 185 shares of the Company’s series A convertible preferred stock into 41,111 shares of the Company’s Common Stock and to cancel his warrant to purchase 41,107 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.

On June 9, 2016, pursuant to a subscription agreement executed by the Grover T. Wickersham Employees’ Profit Sharing Plan (“PSP”)certain trusts for which Mr. Wickersham serves as trustee theas well as PSP (as defined and described below) purchased in a private placement an aggregate of 83,33455,555 units at $4.50 per unit, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one common stock purchase warrant (collectivelyPublic Warrant, for total proceeds of approximately $250,000 in cash. On August 9, 2018, Mr. Wickersham and his affiliates exercised the 55,555 warrants associated with the common stock, the “Common Stock Units”) at a purchase price of $3.00 per Common Stock Unit, for a total purchase price of $250,000.

On June 22, 2016, Mr. Wickersham directly purchased in a private placement an aggregate of 38,334 Common Stock Units at a purchase price of $3.00 per Common Stock Unit for a total purchase price of $115,000. On December 30, Mr. Wickersham assigned 24,680 of his warrants to a related and un-related party. He also voluntarily canceled 8,334 additional warrants.

On June 22, 2016, pursuant to a subscription agreement executed by an education trust established for the benefit of an unrelated minor for which Mr. Wickersham serves as trustee (“Education Trust”), the Education Trust purchased in a private placement 16,667 Common Stock Units at a purchase price of $3.00 per Common Stock Unit, for a total purchase price of $50,000.

On June 22, 2016, pursuant to a subscription agreement executed by the Lindsay Anne Wickersham 1999 Irrevocable Trust for which Mr. Wickersham serves as trustee (the “Irrevocable Trust”), the Irrevocable Trust purchased in a private placement 66,667 Common Stock Units at a purchase price of $3.00 per Common Stock Unit, for a total purchase price of $200,000.

On June 22, 2016, Mr. Fleming directly purchased in a private placement an aggregate of 8,334 Common Stock Units at a purchase price of $3.00 per Common Stock Unit, each Common Stock Unit consisting of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock2017 unit offering at an exercise price of $6.00$5.40 per share, for a total purchase priceproceeds of $25,000.approximately $300,000.

 

On June 30,August 23, 2017, our Board appointed Jack Peterson to the Board to fill an existing vacancy on the Board effective immediately. Mr. Peterson is also the President of Sandstrom Partners. In late 2016, with the PSPgoal of increasing its brand value and accelerating sales, the Company retained Sandstrom Partners and tasked them with reviewing the Company’s current product portfolio, as well as its new ideas, and advising it with respect to marketing, creation of brand awareness and product positioning, locally and nationally. The Company is using Sandstrom Partner’s full range of brand development services, including research, strategy, brand identity, package design, environments, advertising as well as digital design and development. The Company paid $140,000 in cash, issued 33,334 shares of stock valued at $145,000 (at the time of issuance), and issued 42,000 warrants with an exercise price of $3.50 valued at $43,596 (using a Black-Scholes value at the time of issuance) to Sandstrom Partners in 2017 for services rendered by Sandstrom under its agreement with the Company. We also paid approximately $220,608 in cash and issued an additional 10,025 shares valued at $40,000 (at the time of issuance) to Sandstrom Partners in 2018. On August 11, 2018, we issued 42,000 shares of common stock to Sandstrom in connection with the exercise of their 42,000 warrants in exchange for services rendered.

On December 29, 2017, the Grover T. Wickersham Employees’ Profit Sharing Plan (“PSP”), for which Mr. Wickersham served as trustee, purchased from us a promissory note bearing interest at the rate of 8% per annum (a “Promissory Note”) for aggregate consideration of $50,000, along$464,750. The Promissory Note was scheduled to mature on June 30, 2019, or in the event the Company completes a private or public offering of its equity or debt securities in which the gross amount raised in such financing is at least $2.0 million (a “Future Financing”), all amount due under this Promissory Note would become due and payable within five (5) business days of the final closing of such Future Financing. In lieu of receiving the cash repayment of amounts due under this Promissory Note in connection with a warrantFuture Financing, at the option of PSP, the principal amount due and payable could be used to acquire 8,334 sharespurchase the securities offered in the Future Financing. PSP used a balance of common stock$379,750 to purchase the Company’s new private offering of notes with warrants. The remaining principal balance of $85,000 was paid in April 2018. The new promissory notes bear interest at a price5% per annum, payable monthly on the last day of $6.00the month. The entire amount of principal and any accrued and unpaid interest is due and payable on May 1, 2021. In conjunction with this new offering, PSP was issued 37,975 warrants, exercisable at $5.40 per share. On July 7, 2016, the PSP purchased an additional Promissory Note for aggregate consideration of $120,000, along with a warrant to acquire 20,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.00 per share. On December 30, 2016, theAugust 9, 2018, PSP exercised 43,590the 37,975 warrants at $5.40 per share in exchange for a pricereduction in outstanding note principal due. $174,685 remains outstanding on the note. Mr. Wickersham no longer serves as trustee of $3.90 per share.PSP.

 

On June 30, 2016,December 29, 2017, the Grover T. and Jill Z. Wickersham 2000 Charitable Remainder Trust (the “Wickersham Trust”) purchased an additional Promissory Notefrom us a promissory note bearing interest at the rate of 8% per annum (a “Promissory Note”) for aggregate consideration of $50,000, along$179,300. The Promissory Note is due was schedule to mature on June 30, 2019, or in the event the Company completes a private or public offering of its equity or debt securities in which the gross amount raised in such financing is at least $2.0 million (a “Future Financing”), all amount due under the Promissory Note would become due and payable within five (5) business days of the final closing of such Future Financing. In lieu of receiving the cash repayment of amounts due under the Promissory Note in connection with a warrantFuture Financing, at the option of Wickersham Trust, the principal amount due and payable could be used to acquire 8,334purchase the securities offered in the Future Financing. During the first quarter of 2018, the Wickersham Trust used the balance to purchase the Company’s new private offering of notes with warrants. The new promissory notes bear interest at 5% per annum, payable monthly on the last day of the month. The entire amount of principal and any accrued and unpaid interest is due and payable on May 1, 2021. In conjunction with this new offering, the Wickersham Trust was issued 17,930 warrants, exercisable at $5.40 per share. On August 9, 2018, the Wickersham Trust exercised the 17,930 warrants at $5.40 per share in exchange for a reduction in outstanding note principal due. $82,478 remains outstanding on the note.

On March 29, 2018, June 22, 2018 and July 10, 2018, Paul F. Shoen, a director nominee, purchased from us promissory notes having an aggregate principal amount of $363,930, $500,000 and $197,020, respectively. The promissory notes bear interest at a rate of 5% per annum, payable monthly on the last day of the month. In August 2018, we repaid a total of $572,912 of the principal balance outstanding under the notes. In September 2018, Mr. Shoen sold an additional $300,000 of the outstanding principal amount. The entire amount of the remaining principal and any accrued and unpaid interest is due and payable on May 1, 2021. $188,037 currently remains outstanding on the notes.

On June 11, 2019, our Board appointed Owen Lingley to the Board to fill an existing vacancy on the Board effective immediately. Owen Lingley is the founder of Craft Canning, LLC, which was acquired by the Company on January 11, 2019 and subsequently changed its named to Craft Canning + Bottling LLC (“Craft”). In connection with the acquisition of Craft, Mr. Lingley received $1,843,200 in cash, 338,212 shares of common stock of the Company and a promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $731,211, which bears interest at an exercise pricea rate of $6.005% per share. On November 21, 2016,annum and matures on January 11, 2022. The shares acquired by Mr. Lingley in connection with the Wickersham Trust purchased an additional Promissory Note for aggregate considerationacquisition of $75,000, along withCraft are subject to a one-year lock-up restriction and have “piggyback” registration rights effective after the one-year lock-up.

In addition, the Company also issued to Mr. Lingley a warrant to acquire 12,500purchase 146,262 shares of common stock of the Company at $7.80 per share and an exercise priceperiod of $6.00three years. The shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant will be subject to the same “piggyback” registration rights as the shares received in connection with the acquisition of Craft, described above.

Following the acquisition of Craft, Mr. Lingley became non-executive Chairman of Craft and is party to a consulting agreement with the Company. Under his consulting agreement with the Company, Mr. Lingley receives annual cash compensation of $75,000 per share. On December 31, 2016, theyear.

Effective May 10, 2019, Grover Wickersham Trust exercised its 20,834 warrants alongannounced his transition to Executive Chairperson, stepping down from his dual role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In connection with an additional 11,218 warrants assigned fromsuch transition, Mr. Wickersham all at a priceentered into an Executive Chairperson Agreement (the “Executive Chairperson Agreement”), which became effective on May 13, 2019 (the “Effective Date”). Pursuant to the Executive Chairperson Agreement, Mr. Wickersham is paid an annual fee of $3.90 in exchange for eliminating the outstanding note principal.

On September 19, 2016, an entity for which Lawrence Hirson, a former director, serves as manager purchased $150,000 of promissory notes and received 3-year warrants to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $6.00 per share.

During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, our former chief executive officer paid expenses on our behalf on his personal credit card. These related party advances did not bear interest and were payable on demand. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the balance due to our former chief executive officer was approximately $0 and $27,075, respectively,$185,000 and is included in accounts payable oneligible for certain discretionary bonuses and equity awards. In addition, Mr. Wickersham is reimbursed for out of pocket healthcare insurance at the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We also had a note payable due our former chief executive officer insame rate that he was paying immediately prior to the amountExecutive Chairperson Agreement. These payments will continue until the 2020 annual meeting of $12,500 at December 31, 2015, that was repaid during fiscal year 2016.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, our former chief executive officer paid expenses on our behalf on his personal credit card. These related party advances did not bear interest and are payable on demand. At March 31, 2016, the balance duestockholders irrespective of whether Mr. Wickersham continues to our former chief executive officer was approximately $95,000, and is included in accounts payable on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

See “Principal Stockholders” for a current summary of the securities owned by our officers and directors.serve as Executive Chair.

 

We believe that the foregoing transactions were in our best interests. Consistent with Section 78.140 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, it is our current policy that all transactions between us and our officers, directors and their affiliates will be entered into only if such transactions are approved by a majority of the disinterested directors, are approved by vote of the stockholders, or are fair to us as a corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the board. We will continue to conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions on an ongoing basis, and, where appropriate, we will utilize our audit committee for the review of potential conflicts of interest on an ongoing basis.interest.

 

Executive Employment Arrangements

 

We have entered into employment agreements with certain of our executive officers. For more information regarding these agreements, see the section of this proxy statement captioned “Executive Officer Compensation – Employment“Employment Agreements.”

 

Policies and Procedures for Transactions with Related Persons

 

Our audit committee is responsible for reviewing, approving and overseeing any transaction between the Company and any related person and any other potential conflict of interest situations on an ongoing basis. We intend to adopt a policy that our executive officers, directors, nominees for election as a director, beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of our common stock and any members of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons are not 20permittedpermitted to enter into a related person transaction with us without the prior consent of our audit committee. Any request for us to enter into a transaction with an executive officer, director, nominee for election as a director, beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and such person would have a direct or indirect interest, must first be presented to our audit committee for review, consideration and approval. In approving or rejecting any such proposal, our audit committee is tomay consider the material facts of the transaction, including, but not limited to, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction. All of the transactions described above were entered into prior to the adoption of such policy, but after presentation, consideration and approval by our Board of Directors.

 

STOCK OWNERSHIP

 

Security Ownership of Principal Stockholders, Directors and Management

 

The following table sets forth information as of September 30, 2017June 28, 2019 as to each person or group who is known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding voting securities and as to the security and percentage ownership of each of our named executive officers and directors and of all of our executive officers and directors as a group. As of September 30, 2017,June 28, 2019, we had 4,824,3999,162,313 shares of common stock and no shares of series A preferred stock outstanding.

 

Beneficial ownership is determined under the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power over securities. Except in cases where community property laws apply or as indicated in the footnotes to this table, we believe that each stockholder identified in the table possesses sole voting and investment power over all shares of capital stock shown as beneficially owned by the stockholder.

Shares of common stock subject to options or warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of September 30, 2017June 28, 2019 are considered outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the options for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

Name And Address (1) Number of Common Shares Beneficially Owned  Percentage
Owned
 
       
5% Stockholders:        
Orca Investment Management (2)  649,018   7.12%
         
Officers and Directors:        
Grover T. Wickersham (3)  472,108(4)  5.04%
Michael Fleming  45,505(5)  0.50%
Trent Davis  37,838(6)  0.41%
Jack Peterson  103,930(7)  1.13%
Matthew Szot  6,671(8)  * 
David Holmes  3,750(9)  * 
Owen Lingley  484,474(10)  5.20%
Melissa Heim  46,830(11)  0.51%
Robert Manfredonia  47,042(12)  0.51%
Steven Shum  121,647(13)  1.31%
         
Director Nominees:        
Paul F. Shoen  175,327   1.88%
         
All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons)  1,369,795   14.73%

 

     Number of Shares    
     Subject to Options,    
     Warrants and RSUs  Total Shares 
  Number of Shares  Issuable  Beneficially Owned 
Name of Beneficial Owners Beneficially Held  By November 30, 2017 (1)  Number  Percent 
5% Stockholders            
Glenbrook Capital, L.P. (2)  526,916   188,931   715,847   14.28%
                 
Directors and Executive Officers                
Grover T. Wickersham  408,031 (3)   252,475 (4)   660,506   13.01%
Trent D. Davis  11,630   12,038   23,668   * 
Michael M. Fleming  14,963   16,372 (5)   31,335   * 
Melissa Heim  8,524   5,695   14,219   * 
Shelly A. Saunders  -   625   625   * 
Jack Peterson  42,734 (6)   42,625 (7)   85,359   1.75%
Steven Shum  17,000   19,340   36,340   * 
Allen Barteld  86,667   8,333   95,000   1.97%
Murray Smith  375   5,696   6,071   * 
Jarrett Catalani  -   834   834   * 
All executive officers, directors as a group (10 persons)  589,924   364,033 (8)   953,957   19.07%

* Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent of the outstanding common stock.

 (1)See Proposal No. 3 regardingUnless otherwise noted, the stockholder ratification of prior grants of stock options and restricted stock units under the 2016 Plan.
address is c/o Eastside Distilling, Inc., 1002 SE Water Avenue, Suite 390., Portland, Oregon 97214.
 (2)Glenbrook Capital, L.P. (“Glenbrook”)The address is a Nevada limited partnership, the general partner of which is Glenbrook Capital Management, a Nevada corporation (“GCM”). Glenbrook is overseen by its executive officers and a board of directors consisting of four directors. Grover T. Wickersham, the corporation’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is the owner of GCM. However, he does not direct the voting or disposition of the shares owned by Glenbrook. GCM disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities owned by Glenbrook Limited Partnership except to the extent of its pecuniary interest in the limited partnership.
2250 Aviation Drive, Suite 3, Roseburg, Oregon 97470.
 (3)The shares of common stock include (i) 97,114157,037 shares held directly; (ii) 178,531 shares owned by the employee profit sharing plan of Mr. Wickersham’s company, for which he serves as trustee; (iii) 42,44060,370 shares owned by a charitable remainder trust, for which he serves as co-trustee and a life beneficiary; and (iv) 87,745(iii) 45,856 shares owned by his minor daughter’s irrevocable trust, for which he serves as trustee.
 
(4)Includes (i) 205,80890,510 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of currently-exercisable warrants and (ii) 46,667118,335 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options exercisable on or before November 30, 2017.
August 27, 2019.
 (5)Includes (i) 9,334 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of currently-exercisable warrants and (ii) 7,03819,537 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options exercisable on or before November 30, 2017.
August 27, 2019.
 (6)Includes (i) 9,4005,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of currently-exercisable warrants and (ii) 19,537 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options exercisable on or before August 27, 2019.
(7)Includes (i) 11,071 shares of common stock held directly or indirectly by Mr. Peterson and (ii) 33,33443,688 shares of common stock owned by Sandstrom Partners, of which Mr. Peterson is the current CEO.
(7)Includes (i) 42,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of currently-exercisable warrants held by Sandstrom Partners, of which Mr. Peterson is the current CEO and (ii) 625(iii) 17,500 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options exercisable on or before November 30, 2017.
August 27, 2019, (iv) 30,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by Sandstrom Partners.
 (8)Includes (i) 256,142 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of currently-exercisable warrants and (ii) 107,8915,000 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options exercisable on or before November 30, 2017.August 27, 2019.
(9)Includes 3,750 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options exercisable on or before August 27, 2019.
(10)Includes 146,262 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants.
(11)Includes 32,780 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options exercisable on or before August 27, 2019.
(12)Includes 31,250 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options exercisable on or before August 27, 2019.
(13)Includes 93,751 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options exercisable on or before August 27, 2019.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities to file with the SEC reports of ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Form 4 and Form 5. Officers, directors and greater-than-ten-percentgreater-than-10% stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish to us copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us, or written representations from certain reporting persons, we believe that all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors, and greater-than-10% beneficial owners were met during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.2018.

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PROPOSAL NO. 2
Advisory Vote (non-Binding) on Executive Compensation

 

APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE 2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANOur executive compensation program is intended to attract, motivate, reward and retain the senior management talent required to achieve our corporate objectives and increase stockholder value. Our philosophy in setting compensation policies for executive officers is to align pay with performance, while at the same time providing competitive compensation. We believe that our compensation policies and procedures are aligned with the long-term interests of our stockholders.

As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, this proposal seeks a stockholder advisory vote on the approval of compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K through the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the stockholders approve the compensation of Eastside Distilling, Inc.’s executives, as disclosed in the compensation tables, and the related disclosure contained in the proxy statement.”

 

Our Board of Directors has previouslyurges you to endorse the compensation program for our executive officers by voting FOR the above resolution. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors believes that the executive compensation for 2018 was reasonable, appropriate and justified by the company’s performance. The Board of Directors recommended, and our stockholders approved, amendmentsthat the advisory vote on executive compensation be held every year. Therefore, the next advisory vote on executive compensation after the 2019 annual meeting will occur at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.

Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board of Directors. However, the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTEFOR approval of our executive compensation program as DISCLOSED in thIS proxy statement. Unless otherwise instructed, the persons named as proxies intend to vote all proxies received for approval of our executive compensation program.

PROPOSAL NO. 3
AMEND ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED SHARES

We are asking stockholders to approve an amendment to the 2016 PlanCompany’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles of Incorporation”), to (i) increase the number of shares of the common stock that may be issued under the 2016 Plan (the “Aggregate Limit”) by an additional 192,861authorized shares of common stock for a totalpar value $0.0001 from 15,000,000 to 50,000,000 shares. As of 500,000market close on June 25, 2019, (a) 9,162,313 shares of our common stock (ii) increase the numberwere issued and outstanding, (b) 2,234,555 were reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding equity awards and warrants and (c) a further 769,757 shares are reserved for issuance under our 2015 Stock Incentive Plan and 2016 Equity Incentive Plan. Accordingly, as of June 25, 2019, approximately 2,833,375 shares of our authorized common stock that may be granted to any Participant pursuant to Options to purchase common stock and Stock Appreciation Rights under the 2016 Plan in any one year period (the “Individual Option Limit”) from 8,333 shares to 200,000 shares, (iii) increase the number of shares of common stock that may be granted to any Participant pursuant to other Awards (the “Individual Award Limit”) under the 2016 Plan in any one year period from 8,333 shares to 200,000 shares and (iv) increase the number of shares of common stock that may be paid to any one Participant under the 2016 Planwere available for a Performance Period pursuant to Performance Compensation Awards under the 2016 Plan (the “Individual Performance Award Limit”) from 8,333 shares to 200,000 shares. future corporate purposes.

The Board of Directors has recommendedbelieves that the stockholders approve these amendmentsproposed increase in authorized common stock is desirable to the 2016 Plan.

Description of 2016 Equity Incentive Plan

We believe that our ability to grant equity-based awards is a valuable and necessary compensation tool that aligns the long-term financial interests of our employees, consultants and directors with the financial interests of our stockholders. In addition, we believe that our ability to grant options and other equity-based awards helps us to attract, retain and motivate employees, consultants and directors and encourages them to devote their best efforts to ourprovide additional flexibility for potential future business and financial success. In September 2016, our Board of Directors approved the adoption of the 2016 Plan. Our stockholders approved the adoption of the 2016 Plan in December 2016.transactions. The principal features of our 2016 Plan are summarized below. This summaryproposed amendment is qualified in its entirety by referencedesigned to the actual text of the 2016 Plan, the full text of which (not giving effect to the amendments described herein) is appended to this proxy statement asAppendix A.

Purpose of the 2016 Plan

The purpose of the 2016 Plan is to attract, retain and motivate directors, executive officers and other employees and certain consultants. The 2016 Plan enables us to grant equity awards to our directors, officers, employees and independent contractors providing services to us, at such levels determined by our Board of Directors, or a committee designated byenable the Board of Directors to issue additional shares of common stock when, in its judgment, such issuance would benefit the Company, without further action by stockholders. Management believes that the ability to issue additional shares without the delay and expense of obtaining stockholder approval can be necessaryan advantage to attract, retain and motivate the individuals whoCompany in connection with financings, or in pursuing acquisition opportunities. If approved, the increased number of authorized shares of common stock will be criticalavailable for issuance from time to our success in achieving its business objectives,time for such purposes as the Board of Directors may approve and thereby creating greater value for all our stockholders.

It is intended that the 2016 Plan qualify as an incentive stock option plan meeting the requirementsno further vote of Section 422stockholders of the Internal Revenue CodeCompany will be required for any issuance, except as may be required by law, regulation or the rules of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

Authorized Shares; Increased Limits

Nasdaq or any other stock exchange on which our shares may then be listed. The maximum numberavailability of the additional authorized shares of our common stock that may be issued underhave an anti-takeover effect, since the 2016 Plan (the “Aggregate Limit”) is currently 500,000,provided that,Board of Directors would possess the Aggregate Limit will automatically increase on January 1ability to dilute the position of each year for a period of up to 10 years, commencing on January 1, 2017, in an amount equal to 8%major stockholder by issuing additional shares of the number of outstanding shares of our capital stock, calculated on an as-converted basis, on December 31 of the preceding calendar year,same class, which may make a takeover more difficult or a lesser number of shares determined by our Board of Directors. After taking into account the automatic increase described in the foregoing sentence, effective January 1, 2017, the Aggregate Limit was 307,139.less attractive. The Board of Directors originally authorized the issuanceis not aware of 166,667 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2016 Plan. However, in May 2017 and June 2017, the Board of Directors approved amendmentsany effort to the 2016 Plan to increase the Aggregate Limit to new totals of 389,709 and 500,000 shares, respectively (and each on a post-reverse stock split basis), contingent upon stockholder adoption and approval of such increase at the next annual meeting of stockholders.

The 2016 Plan also contains the Individual Option Limit, the Individual Award Limit and the Individual Performance Award Limit. The original amount of each of these limits was 500,000 shares of common stock. However, after the 1-for-20 and 1-for-3 reverse stock splits that occurred in October 2016 and June 2017, respectively, these limits were each reduced to 8,333 shares of common stock. The Board of Directors has approved increasing eachobtain control of the Individual Option Limit, the Individual Award Limit and the Individual Performance Award Limit from 8,333 shares to 200,000 shares of common stock, and has recommended that the stockholders adopt and approve amendments to the 2016 Plan to increase these limits accordingly. The Board of Directors has determined that the increases to the Individual Option Limit, the Individual Award Limit and the Individual Performance Award Limit are necessary to permit us, a small publicly-traded company, to use equity awards to incentivize directors, officers, employees and independent contractors while saving cash resources. Specifically, we have historically utilized, and intend to continue to utilize, various forms of stock-based awards in order to hire, retain and motivate talented employees, consultants and directors and encourage them to devote their best efforts to our business and financial success. In addition, we believe that our ability to grant stock-based awards is a valuable and necessary compensation tool that aligns the long-term financial interests of our employees, consultants and directors with the financial interests of our stockholders.

Shares subject to stock awards granted under the 2016 Plan that expire or terminate without being exercised in full, or that are paid out in cash rather than in shares, do not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the 2016 Plan. Additionally, shares issued pursuant to stock awards under the 2016 Plan that we repurchase or that are forfeited, as well as shares used to pay the exercise price of a stock award or to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to a stock award, become available for future grant under the 2016 Plan.

Eligibility for Awards and Plan Administration

Employees, independent contractors and directors of us and our affiliates are eligible to receive awards under the 2016 Plan, along with such other individuals designated by the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee of our Board of Directors) who are reasonably expected to become employees, independent contractors or directors after the receipt of awards under the 2016 Plan.

Our Board of Directors, or a duly authorized committee of our Board of Directors, currently the compensation committee, will administer the 2016 Plan. Our Board of Directors may also delegate to one or more of our officers the authority to (1) designate employees (other than officers) to receive specified stock awards and (2) determine the number of shares subject to such stock awards. Under the 2016 Plan, our Board of Directors has the authority to determine the terms of awards, including recipients, the exercise, purchase or strike price of stock awards, if any, the number of shares subject to each stock award, the fair market value of a share of our common stock, the vesting schedule applicable to the awards, together with any vesting acceleration, the form of consideration, if any, payable upon exercise or settlement of the award and the terms of the award agreements. The Board of Directors may also amend outstanding awards under the 2016 Plan for the purpose of modifying the time or manner of vesting or the term of any outstanding award, with the consent of any adversely affected participant.

Stock Options

Incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options are granted pursuant to stock option agreements adopted by the plan administrator. The plan administrator determines the exercise price for stock options, within the terms and conditions of the 2016 Plan, provided that the exercise price of a stock option generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Options granted under the 2016 Plan vest at the rate specified in the stock option agreement as determined by the plan administrator.

Restricted Stock Unit Awards

Restricted stock unit awards (“RSUs”) are awards of hypothetical common stock units having a value equal to the fair market value of an identical number of shares of common stock, and granted pursuant to restricted stock unit award agreements adopted by the plan administrator. A restricted stock unit award may be settled by cash, delivery of stock, a combination of cash and stock as deemed appropriate by the plan administrator or in any other form of consideration set forth in the restricted stock unit award agreement. Additionally, dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares covered by a restricted stock unit award. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, restricted stock units that have not vested will be forfeited upon the participant’s cessation of continuous service for any reason.

Restricted Stock Awards

Restricted stock awards are awards of actual shares of common stock, and are granted pursuant to restricted stock award agreements adopted by the plan administrator. The plan administrator determines the terms and conditions of restricted stock awards, including vesting and forfeiture terms. If a participant’s service relationship with us ceases for any reason, we may receive through a forfeiture condition or a repurchase right any or all of the shares of common stock held by the participant that have not vested as of the date the participant terminates service with us.

Stock Appreciation Rights

Stock appreciation rights are awards to receive, upon exercise, an amount payable in cash or shares equal to the number of shares subject to the stock appreciation right multiplied by the excess of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date the award is exercised over the exercise price for the stock appreciation right. Stock appreciation rights are granted pursuant to stock appreciation grant agreements adopted by the plan administrator. The plan administrator determines the purchase price or strike price for a stock appreciation right, which generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. A stock appreciation right granted under the 2016 Plan may, but need not, vest and become exercisable in periodic installments as specified in the stock appreciation right agreement as determined by the plan administrator.

Performance Awards

The 2016 Plan provides that the plan administrator shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any awards contemplated by the 2016 Plan (subject to certain exceptions) to designate such award as a “performance-based compensation” award in order to qualify such award as performance-based compensation that is not subject to the $1,000,000 limitation on the income tax deductibility imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code. Our Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) may structure awards so that the stock or cash will be issued or paid only following the achievement of certain pre-established performance goals during a designated performance period. Unless the Board of Directors determines to submit the performance-based compensation award portions of the 2016 Plan and the definition of “performance goal” and “performance criteria” to our stockholders at the first stockholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which the 2016 Plan was last approved by stockholders (or any earlier meeting designated by the Board of Directors), in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, and such stockholder approval is obtained, then no further performance compensation awards shall be made under the 2016 Plan after the date of such annual meeting, but the 2016 Plan may continue in effect for awards to participants not in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code. Also, see above under the heading “Authorized Shares; Increased Limits” regarding the Individual Performance Award LimitCompany, and the proposed increase to such limit.

Changes to Capital Structure

In the event thereamendment is a specified type of change in our capital structure, such as any stock or extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, reorganization merger, consolidation, combination, exchange or other relevant change in capitalization, appropriate adjustments will be made to the exercise price of options and stock appreciation rights, the maximum number of shares subject to all awards and the maximum number of shares with respect to which any one person may be granted awards during any period stated in the 2016 Plan. Any adjustments will be made to ensure that any adjustments will not constitute a modification of any stock options within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) and Section 409A of the Code, will not adversely affect applicable exemptions under the Exchange Act and rules promulgated thereunder, and will not cause us to be denied a tax deduction on account of Section 162(m) of the Code.

Change in Control

The 2016 Plan provides that in the eventpart of a change in control, unless otherwise provided in an applicable award agreement, all options and stock appreciation rights shall become immediately exercisable with respectplan by management to 100%adopt a series of the shares subject to such options or stock appreciation rights, and the restricted period shall expire immediately with respect to 100% of the shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units. In addition, the plan administrator may in its discretion and upon advance notice, cancel any outstanding awards and pay to the holders thereof, in cash or stock or a combination thereof, the value of such awards based upon the price per share of common stock received in the event. Under the 2016 Plan, a change in control is defined to include (1) a sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets to any person or entity that is not our subsidiary; (2) individuals who constitute our incumbent Board of Directors ceasing to constitute at least a majority of our Board of Directors; (3) a complete liquidation or dissolution of us; (4) the acquisition by any person or company of more than 50% of the combined voting power of our then outstanding stock; or (5) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which our stockholders immediately prior to the 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).

Transferability

A participant may not transfer stock awards under the 2016 Plan other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise provided under the 2016 Plan.

Plan Amendment or Termination

Our Board of Directors has the authority to amend, suspend or terminate the 2016 Plan, provided that such action does not materially impair the existing rights of any participant without such participant’s written consent. Certain material amendments also require the approval of our stockholders. The 2016 will automatically terminate upon the tenth anniversary of the date our Board of Directors adopted the 2016 Plan. No stock awards may be granted under the 2016 Plan while it is suspended or after it is terminated, but awards granted before the termination date of the 2016 Plan may extend beyond such date.

Certain Federal Tax Consequences

The following summary of the federal income tax consequences of transactions under the 2016 Plan is based upon federal income tax laws in effect on the date of this proxy statement. This summary does not purport to be complete, and does not discuss state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences.

Non-qualified Stock Options. The grant of a Non-Qualified Stock Option under the 2016 Plan will not result in any federal income tax consequences to the participant or to us. Upon exercise of a Non-qualified Stock Option, the participant generally must recognize ordinary compensation income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares of common stock at the time of exercise over the option exercise price. If a participant exercises a Non-Qualified Stock Option and receives shares that are subject to the insider trading provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and sale of the shares could subject the participant to liability under Section 16(b), then the participant will not recognize income upon the exercise of the option until the six-month period during which section 16(b) applies has lapsed or the stock is sold, if a sale occurs earlier. The participant will have to pay taxes (including income taxes and, if the participant is an employee, Social Security, unemployment and Medicare taxes) at the time a Non-Qualified Stock Option is exercised even though the shares received upon exercise might not be sold until a later taxable year.

Incentive Stock Options. The grant of an Incentive Stock Option under the 2016 Plan will not result in any federal income tax consequences to the participant or to us. A participant recognizes no federal taxable income upon exercising an Incentive Stock Option (subject to the alternative minimum tax rules discussed below), and we receive no deduction at the time of exercise. In the event of a disposition of stock acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, the tax consequences depend upon how long the participant has held the shares. If the participant does not dispose of the shares within two years after the Incentive Stock Option was granted, nor within one year after the Incentive Stock Option was exercised, the participant will recognize a long-term capital gain (or loss) equal to the difference between the sale price of the shares and the exercise price. We are not entitled to any deduction under these circumstances.

If the participant fails to satisfy either of the foregoing holding periods (referred to as a “disqualifying disposition”), he or she will recognize ordinary compensation income in the year of the disposition. The amount of ordinary compensation income generally is the lesser of (i) the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and the exercise price or (ii) the difference between the fair market value of the stock at the time of exercise and the exercise price. Such amount is not subject to withholding for federal income and employment tax purposes, even if the participant is our employee. Any gain in excess of the amount taxed as ordinary income will generally be treated as a short-term capital gain. Generally, common stock acquired through the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option will not be considered to have been disposed of if transferred by reason of death, through certain tax-free reorganizations, or if pledged or liened.

The “spread” under an Incentive Stock Option —i.e., the difference between the fair market value of the shares at exercise and the exercise price—is classified as an item of adjustment in the year of exercise for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. If a participant’s alternative minimum tax liability exceeds such participant’s regular income tax liability, the participant will owe the alternative minimum tax liability.

Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock is generally taxable to the participant as ordinary compensation income on the date that the restrictions lapse (i.e. the date that the stock vests), in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on such date over the amount paid for such stock (if any). If the participant is an employee, this income is subject to withholding for federal income and employment tax purposes. We are entitled to an income tax deduction in the amount of the ordinary income recognized by the participant, subject to possible limitations imposed by the Code, including Section 162(m) thereof. Any gain or loss on the participant’s subsequent disposition of the shares will be treated as long-term or short-term capital gain or loss treatment depending on the sales price and how long the stock has been held since the restrictions lapsed. We do not receive a tax deduction for any subsequent gain.

Participants receiving Restricted Stock Awards may make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code (“Section 83(b) Election”) to recognize as ordinary compensation income in the year that such Restricted Stock is granted, the amount equal to the excess of the fair market value on the date of the issuance of the stock over the amount paid for such stock. If such an election is made, the recipient recognizes no further amounts of compensation income upon the lapse of any restrictions and any gain or loss on subsequent disposition will be long-term or short-term capital gain or loss to the recipient. The Section 83(b) Election must be made within 30 days from the time the Restricted Stock is issued.

Other Awards. Other Stock-Based Awards (such as Restricted Stock Units) are generally treated as ordinary compensation income as and when common stock or cash are paid to the participant upon vesting or settlement of such awards. If the participant is an employee, this income is subject to withholding for income and employment tax purposes. We are generally entitled to an income tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the recipient, subject to possible limitations imposed by the Code, including Section 162(m) thereof.

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under Code Section 162(m), no deduction is allowed in any taxable year for compensation in excess of $1 million paid to our “covered employees.” A “covered employee” is our chief executive officer and our three other most highly compensated officers other than the chief financial officer. An exception to this rule applies to “qualified performance based compensation,” which generally includes stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under a stockholder approved plan, and other forms of equity incentives, the vesting or payment of which is contingent upon the satisfaction of certain stockholder approved performance goals. We intend that the 2016 Plan allow for the grant of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that may be treated as “qualified performance based compensation” that is exempt from the limitations of Code Section 162(m), and for the grant of other performance-based awards that may be treated as “qualified performance based compensation,” but it makes no assurance that either such type of award will be so treated.

Vote Required

The approval of the amendments to the 2016 Plan requires that the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast against the proposal.anti-takeover measures.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR
the AMENDMENTSAPPROVE THE PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE 2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN.ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE AUTHORIZED SHARES TO 50,000,000.

 

PROPOSAL NO. 3
RATIFY PRIOR GRANTS OF STOCK OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS UNDER THE 2016 PLAN

The Board of Directors has approved prior grants of stock options and restricted stock units to certain individuals above the Aggregate Limit, the Individual Option Limit and the Individual Award Limit in effect at the time of such grants. The grants made above the Aggregate Limit, the Individual Option Limit and the Individual Award Limit are identified below under the heading “Additional Grants” and are referred to herein as the “Additional Grants.” The Board of Directors believes that the Additional Grants were made in the best interests of our stockholders and that ratification of the Additional Grants is necessary to retain and motivate our officers, employees, directors and consultants and align their long-term financial interests with the financial interests of our stockholders. Therefore, the Board of Directors recommends that the stockholders ratify the Additional Grants.

24

 

Additional Grants

The Additional Grants made above the Individual Option Limit and the Individual Award Limit (the “Individual Limit Additional Grants”) are listed in the table below in the columns labeled “Amount Above Individual Option Limit” and “Amount Above Individual Award Limit.” As of September 30, 2017, the Board of Directors has approved the issuance of 443,894 shares of common stock underlying stock options and restricted stock units, 136,755 of which (the “Aggregate Limit Additional Grants”) were above the Aggregate Limit of 307,139. Together with the Individual Limit Additional Grants, the Aggregate Limit Additional Grants constitute the Additional Grants for which the Board of Directors is seeking stockholder approval.

On October 10, 2017, we received a letter from a law firm purporting to represent a Company stockholder named Jason Price. The letter stated that such representative was launching an “investigation” into the Additional Grants. The representative stated the belief that the Board of Directors had violated the terms of the 2016 Plan by approving the Additional Grants, and such approval constituted a breach of fiduciary duty and possible evidence of material weaknesses in internal controls. The Board of Directors rejects any such contentions. Although we acknowledge that the Additional Grants were made despite the stated limits in the 2016 Plan, we believe that the Additional Grants were in the best interests of our stockholders and we categorically deny that such approval constituted a breach of fiduciary duty or evidence of material weaknesses in internal controls. The letter also requested that we launch an internal investigation related to the allegations in the letter. We believe that our existing corporate governance mechanisms are sufficiently robust as to be able to review and take a proper response to the letter.

As noted above, we utilize equity awards to retain and motivate its directors, officers, employees and consultants and align their long-term financial interests with the financial interests of our stockholders. The Board of Directors made the Additional Grants (notwithstanding the applicable limits) in furtherance of these goals and in the best interests of us and our stockholders.

Grantee Name Grant Date Options to Purchase Common Stock Granted  Amount Above Individual Option Limit  Restricted Stock Units Granted  Amount Above Individual Award Limit 
               
Allen Barteld 3/20/2017  83,334   75,001   -   - 
Jarrett Catalani 8/10/2017  10,000   1,667   -   - 
Trent Davis 10/13/2016  11,667   3,334   -   - 
Jay Harkins 10/13/2016  50,000   41,667   18,519   10,186 
Lawrence Hirson 10/13/2016  11,667   3,334   -   - 
Lenny Gotter 8/10/2017  -   -   9,500   1,167 
Michael Fleming 10/13/2016  11,667   3,334   -   - 
Ron Kalfon 12/30/2016  16,667   8,334   -   - 
Travis Schoney 9/15/2017  10,000   1,667   -   - 
Subtotal, Above    205,002   138,338   28,019   11,353 
                   
Melissa Heim 9/20/2016  10,000   1,667   -   - 
  12/30/2016  3,334   3,334   5,051   - 
  3/14/2017  1,667   1,667   -   - 
  9/15/2017  10,000   10,000   5,000   1,718 
Subtotal, Melissa Heim    25,001   16,668   10,051   1,718 
                   
Steve Shum 9/20/2016  20,000   11,667   -   - 
  3/14/2017  1,667   1,667   -   - 
Subtotal, Steve Shum    21,667   13,334   -   - 
                   
Murray Smith 10/17/2016  3,334   -   -   - 
  12/30/2016  10,000   5,001   -   - 
  3/14/2017  1,667   1,667   -   - 
  9/15/2017  5,000   5,000   -   - 
Subtotal, Murray Smith    20,001   11,668   -   - 
                   
Grover Wickersham (1) 10/13/2016  11,667   3,334   -   - 
  4/5/2017  33,334   33,334   33,334   25,001 
  9/15/2017  20,000   20,000   7,500   7,500 
Subtotal, Grover Wickersham    65,001   56,668   40,834   32,501 
TOTALS    336,672   236,676   78,904   45,572 

(1)During 2016 and through September 30, 2017, Mr. Wickersham’s annual salary is one dollar ($1).

Rescission of Additional Grants

If the stockholders do not ratify the Additional Grants, we will use our best efforts to rescind the Additional Grants. However, we expect that doing so may have a negative effect on the morale of the grantees who received the Additional Grants, which could cause an adverse effect on our business and financial position. None of the Additional Grants have been exercised, and the weighted average exercise price of the stock options comprising the Additional Grants is $5.48. If the Additional Grants are rescinded, the Board of Directors may make replacement grants under the 2016 Plan in its sole discretion.

Vote Required

The approval of the ratification of the Additional Grants requires that the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast against the proposal.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR
the RATIFICATION OF THE PRIOR GRANTS OF STOCK OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS UNDER THE 2016 Plan.

PROPOSAL NO. 4


RATIFY APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The independent registered public accounting firm of BPM LLPOur Audit Committee has selected M&K CPAS, PLLC (“BPM”M&K”) acted as our independent registered public accounting firm sincefor the year ending December 16, 201431, 2019. M&K began serving as our independent auditor as of October 6, 2017. Services provided to us by M&K in 2018 and audited2017 are described under the heading “Principal Accountant Fees and Services” below.

Our Board of Directors is asking our stockholders to ratify the selection of M&K as our independent registered public accounting firm.

Representatives of M&K plan to attend the annual meeting of stockholders, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will respond to appropriate questions by stockholders.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Audit Fees

M&K billed us $40,450 in fees for our 2018 annual audit and $7,000 in fees for the review of our quarterly financial statements in 2018. M&K billed us $29,065 in fees for our 2017 annual audit and $6,000 in fees for the review of our quarterly financial statements in 2017. Our former accounting firm, BPM LLP (“BPM”), billed us $24,000 in fees for our 2017 quarterly financial statements.

Audit Related Fees

We paid fees to M&K and BPM for assurance and related services of $20,000 and $26,400 related to other SEC filings in 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Tax Fees

For the years ended each of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the aggregate fees billed for tax compliance, by M&K were $0.

All Other Fees

For the fiscal years ended each of December 31, 2018 and 2017, we did not incur any fees for other products or services by M&K. M&K did not provide or conduct any other products or services during those periods.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

We have implemented pre-approval policies and procedures related to the provision of audit and non-audit services. Under these procedures, our audit committee pre-approves all services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm and the estimated fees related to these services.

All audit, audit related, and tax services were pre-approved by the audit committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by our independent registered public accounting firm was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions. Our pre-approval policies and procedures provide for the audit committee’s pre-approval of specifically described audit, audit-related, and tax services on an annual basis, but individual engagements anticipated to exceed pre-established thresholds must be separately approved. The policies and procedures also require specific approval by the audit committee if total fees for audit-related and tax services would exceed total fees for audit services in any fiscal year. The policies and procedures authorize the audit committee to delegate to one or more of its members pre-approval authority with respect to permitted services.

Audit Committee Report

In connection with our financial statements for the yearsfiscal year ended December 31, 2016, 20152018, the Audit Committee has:

● Reviewed and 2014. BPM was responsible for performing an independent audit of our consolidateddiscussed the audited financial statements with management;

● Discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 1301 (Communications with Audit Committees); and

● Received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence and discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence.

Based upon these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee approved our audited financial statements included in accordanceour Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States and issuing a reportSEC on its audit.March 28, 2019.

Submitted by the Audit Committee:

Matthew Szot (Chair)

Michael M. Fleming

Trent D. Davis

Prior Auditor

 

On October 6, 2017, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the audit committee, approved the dismissal of BPM as our independent registered public accounting firm.

 

The reports of BPM on our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

 

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and any subsequent interim period through June 30, 2017, there were no “disagreements” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and related instructions) with BPM on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of BPM, would have caused BPM to make reference thereto in its reports on the consolidated financial statements for such fiscal years. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and any subsequent interim period through June 30, 2017, there have been no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

We previously provided BPM with a copy of the disclosure it is making herein in response to Item 304(a) of Regulation S-K and requested that BPM furnish us with a copy of its letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”),SEC, pursuant to Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, stating whether or not BPM agrees with the statements related to them made by us in our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on October 10, 2017, related to these matters. A copy of BPM’s letter to the SEC, dated October 6, 2017, is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to such Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

On October 6, 2017, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the audit committee, approved the appointment of M&K CPAS, PLLC (“M&K”) as our new independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and any subsequent interim period through June 30, 2017, neither us, nor anyone on our behalf, consulted M&K regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on our financial statements, and no written report or oral advice was provided to us by M&K that M&K concluded was an important factor considered by us in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or a “reportable event” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

A representative of M&K is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting.

Audit Fees

BPM billed us $60,000 in fees for our 2016 annual audit and $37,800 in fees for the review of our quarterly financial statements in 2016. BPM billed us $52,500 in fees for our 2015 annual audit and $37,800 in fees for the review of our quarterly financial statements in 2015. M&K has not billed us any fees for any services to date.

Audit Related Fees

We did not pay any fees to BPM for assurance and related services in 2016 or 2015 that are not reported above under Audit Fees.

Tax Fees

For each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the aggregate fees billed for tax compliance by BPM were $0.

All Other Fees

For the fiscal years ended each of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the aggregate fees billed for other products or services by BPM were $0. BPM did not provide or conduct any other products or services during those periods.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

We have implemented pre-approval policies and procedures related to the provision of audit and non-audit services. Under these procedures, our audit committee pre-approves all services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm and the estimated fees related to these services.

All audit, audit related, and tax services were pre-approved by the audit committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by our independent registered public accounting firm was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions. Our pre-approval policies and procedures provide for the audit committee’s pre-approval of specifically described audit, audit-related, and tax services on an annual basis, but individual engagements anticipated to exceed pre-established thresholds must be separately approved. The policies and procedures also require specific approval by the audit committee if total fees for audit-related and tax services would exceed total fees for audit services in any fiscal year. The policies and procedures authorize the audit committee to delegate to one or more of its members pre-approval authority with respect to permitted services.

Audit Committee Report

In connection with our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, the Audit Committee has:

● Reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management;

● Discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by applicable auditing standards; and

● Received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence and discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence.

Based upon these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee approved our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC.

Submitted by the Audit Committee:

Michael M. Fleming (Chair)
Trent D. Davis
Shelly A. Saunders

Vote Required

 

The ratification of the appointment of M&K CPAS, PLLC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, requires that the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast against the proposal.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
FOR RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF M&K CPAS, PLLC
AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2017.2019.

 

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OTHER MATTERS

 

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors and Board Attendance at Annual Stockholder Meetings

 

Our stockholders may, at any time, communicate in writing with any member or group of members of the Board of Directors by sending such written communication to the attention of our Secretary by regular mail to our principal executive offices.

 

Copies of written communications received by our Secretary will be provided to the relevant director(s) unless such communications are considered, in the reasonable judgment of our Secretary, to be improper for submission to the intended recipient(s). Examples of stockholder communications that would be considered improper for submission include, without limitation, customer complaints, solicitations, communications that do not relate directly or indirectly to us or our business, or communications that relate to improper or irrelevant topics.

 

The Chairman of the Board of Directors is expected to make all reasonable efforts to attend our annual stockholder meeting in person. If the Chairman is unable to attend an annual stockholder meeting for any reason, at least one other member of the Board of Directors is expected to attend in person. Other members of the Board of Directors are expected to attend our annual stockholder meeting in person if reasonably possible. The Company held its 20162018 annual meeting on December 15, 2016.June 18, 2018. We do not maintain a formal policy regarding director attendance at annual stockholder meetings. Two of the Company’s directors attended our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Proxy Materials Delivered to a Shared Address

 

Stockholders who have the same mailing address and last name may have received a notice that your household will receive only one set of proxy statement.materials. This practice, commonly referred to as “householding,” is designed to reduce the volume of duplicate information and reduce printing and postage costs. A single proxy statement will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice, from us or from your bank, broker or other registered holder, that it will be householding communications to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. A number of banks, brokers and other registered holders with account holders who are our stockholders householdwill be householding our proxy materials. If you hold your shares in street name, and no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement in the future, or currently receive multiple copies of the proxy materials and would like to request householding, please notify your bank, broker or other registered holder. If you are a holder of record, and no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement in the future, or currently receive multiple copies of the proxy materials and would like to request householding, please notify us in writing at 1001 SE Water Avenue, Suite 390, Portland, Oregon 97214, or by telephone at (971) 888-4264. Any stockholder residing at a shared address to which a single copy of the proxy materials was delivered who wishes to receive a separate copy of our proxy statement may obtain a copy by written request addressed to 1001 SE Water Avenue, Suite 390, Portland, Oregon 97214, attention: Secretary. We will deliver a separate copy of our proxy statement to any stockholder who so requests in writing promptly following our receipt of such request.

 

Transaction of Other Business

Our Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be submitted at the Annual Meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the Annual Meeting, proxies will be voted in respect thereof as the proxy holders deem advisable.

Annual Report to Stockholders and Form 10-K

Our Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2016 (which is not a part of our proxy solicitation materials) is being mailed to our stockholders with this proxy statement. A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, without exhibits, is included with the Annual Report to Stockholders.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Grover T. Wickersham

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

Portland, Oregon

October 31, 2017

Appendix A

EASTSIDE DISTILLING, INC.
2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1.Purpose; Eligibility.

1.1General Purpose. The name of this plan is the Eastside Distilling, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purposes of the Plan are to (a) enable Eastside Distilling, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and any Affiliate to attract and retain the types of Employees, Consultants and Directors who will contribute to the Company’s long range success; (b) provide incentives that align the interests of Employees, Consultants and Directors with those of the shareholders of the Company; and (c) promote the success of the Company’s business.

1.2Eligible Award Recipients. The persons eligible to receive Awards are the Employees, Consultants and Directors of the Company and its Affiliates, and such other individuals designated by the Committee who are reasonably expected to become Employees, Consultants and Directors after the receipt of Awards.

1.3Available Awards. Awards that may be granted under the Plan include: (a) Incentive Stock Options, (b) Non-qualified Stock Options, (c) Stock Appreciation Rights, (d) Restricted Awards, (e) Performance Share Awards, and (f) Performance Compensation Awards.

2.Definitions.

Affiliate” means a corporation or other entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company.

Applicable Laws” means the requirements related to or implicated by the administration of the Plan under applicable state corporate law, United States federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or quoted, and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan.

Award” means any right granted under the Plan, including an Incentive Stock Option, a Non-qualified Stock Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Restricted Award, a Performance Share Award or a Performance Compensation Award.

Award Agreement” means a written agreement, contract, certificate or other instrument or document evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award granted under the Plan which may, in the discretion of the Company, be transmitted electronically to any Participant. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

27 
 

 

Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.Stockholder Proposals for 2020 Annual Meeting

 

Board” means the BoardStockholder proposals may be included in our proxy statement and form of Directors of the Company,proxy for an annual meeting so long as constituted at any time.

Cause” means:

With respectthey are provided to any Employee or Consultant: (a) If the Employee or Consultant is a party to an employment or service agreement with the Company or its Affiliates and such agreement provides for a definition of Cause, the definition contained therein; or (b) If no such agreement exists, or if such agreement does not define Cause: (i) the commission of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any other act involving willful malfeasance or material fiduciary breach with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; (ii) conduct that results in or is reasonably likely to result in harm to the reputation or business of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iii) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; (iv) intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between such Employee or Consultant and the Company or of any statutory duty owed to the Company; or (v) material violation of state or federal securities laws.

With respect to any Director, a determination by a majority of the disinterested Board members that the Director has engaged in any of the following: (a) malfeasance in office; (b) gross misconduct or neglect; (c) false or fraudulent misrepresentation inducing the director’s appointment; (d) willful conversion of corporate funds; (e) intentional, material violation of any statutory duty owed to the Company or its shareholders; or (f) repeated failure to participate in Board meetingsus on a regulartimely basis despite having received proper notice ofand satisfy the meetings in advance.

The Committee, in its absolute discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to whether a Participant has been discharged for Cause.

Change in Control” (a) The direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person that is not a subsidiary of the Company; (b) The Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; (c) The date which is 10 business days prior to the consummation of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (d) The acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of 50% or more (on a fully diluted basis) of either (i) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, taking into account as outstanding for this purpose such Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants, the conversion of convertible stock or debt, and the exercise of any similar right to acquire such Common Stock (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Plan, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliate, (B) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary, (C) any acquisition which complies with clauses, (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (e) of this definition or (D) in respect of an Award held by a particular Participant, any acquisition by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant (or any entity controlled by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant); or (e) the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company that requires the approval of the Company’s shareholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “Business Combination”), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (i) more than 50% of the total voting power of (A) the entity resulting from such Business Combination (the “Surviving Company”), or (B) if applicable, the ultimate parent entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of sufficient voting securities eligible to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Surviving Company (the “Parent Company”), is represented by the Outstanding Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which the Outstanding Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Business Combination; (ii) no Person (other than any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Company or the Parent Company) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect members of the board of directors of the Parent Company (or the analogous governing body) (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company); and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Parent Company (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time. Any reference to a section of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any regulations promulgated thereunder.

Committee” means a committee of one or more members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance withSection 3.3 andSection 3.4, or the Board if no such committee has been appointed.

Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company, or such other securities of the Company as may be designated by the Committee from time to time in substitution thereof.

Company” means Eastside Distilling, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and any successor thereto.

Consultant” means any individual who is engaged by the Company or any Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services.

Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Consultant or Director, is not interrupted or terminated. The Participant’s Continuous Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service,provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service;provided further that if any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, this sentence shall only be given effect to the extent consistent with Section 409A of the Code. For example, a change in status from an Employee of the Company to a Director of an Affiliate will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The Committee or its delegate, in its sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal or family leave of absence.

Covered Employee” has the same meaning asconditions set forth in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, as interpreted by Internal Revenue Service Notice 2007-49.

Deferred Stock Units (DSUs)” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2 hereof.

Director” means a member of the Board.

Disability” means that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment;provided, however, for purposes of determining the term of an Incentive Stock Option pursuant toSection 6.10 hereof, the term Disability shall have the meaning ascribed to itRule 14a-8 under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. The determination of whether an individual has a Disability shall be determined under procedures established by the Committee. Except in situations where the Committee is determining Disability for purposes of the term of an Incentive Stock Option pursuant toSection 6.10 hereof within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, the Committee may rely on any determination that a Participant is disabled for purposes of benefits under any long-term disability plan maintained by the Company or any Affiliate in which a Participant participates.

Disqualifying Disposition” has the meaning set forth inSection 14.12.

Effective Date” shall mean the date as of which this Plan is adopted by the Board.

Employee” means any person, including an Officer or Director, employed by the Company or an Affiliate;provided, that,for purposes of determining eligibility to receive Incentive Stock Options, an Employee shall mean an employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code. Mere service as a Director or payment of a director’s fee by the Company or an Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company or an Affiliate.

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

Fair Market Value” means, asamended (the “Exchange Act”), regarding the inclusion of any date,stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. We currently anticipate holding our 2020 annual meeting of stockholders in June 2020, although the valueBoard may decide to schedule the meeting for a different date. For a stockholder proposal to be considered pursuant to Rule 14a-8 for inclusion in our proxy statement and form of the Common Stock as determined below. If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation, the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (or if no sales were reported the closing price on the date immediately preceding such date) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in theWall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable. In the absence of an established marketproxy for the Common Stock,annual meeting to be held in 2020, we must receive the Fair Market Value shallproposal at our principal executive offices, addressed to our Secretary, no later than March 13, 2020. Any proposals received after such date will be determinedconsidered untimely. Submitting a stockholder proposal does not guarantee that it will be included in good faith by the Committeeour proxy statement and such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.form of proxy.

 

Free Standing Rights” has the meaning set forthIn addition, a stockholder proposal that is not intended for inclusion inSection 7.1(a).

Good Reason” means: (a) If an Employee or Consultant is a party to an employment or service agreement with the Company or its Affiliates and such agreement provides for a definition of Good Reason, the definition contained therein; or (b) If no such agreement exists or if such agreement does not define Good Reason, the occurrence of one or more of the following without the Participant’s express written consent, which circumstances are not remedied by the Company within thirty (30) days of its receipt of a written notice from the Participant describing the applicable circumstances (which notice must be provided by the Participant within ninety (90) days of the Participant’s knowledge of the applicable circumstances): (i) any material, adverse change in the Participant’s duties, responsibilities, authority, title, status or reporting structure; (ii) a material reduction in the Participant’s base salary or bonus opportunity; or (iii) a geographical relocation of the Participant’s principal office location by more than fifty (50) miles.

Grant Date” means the date on which the Committee adopts a resolution, or takes other appropriate action, expressly granting an Award to a Participant that specifies the key terms and conditions of the Award or, if a later date is set forth in such resolution, then such date as is set forth in such resolution.

Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

Incumbent Directors” means individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board,provided that any individual becoming a Director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the our proxy statement and form of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination)proxy under Rule 14a-8 (including director nominations) shall be an Incumbent Director. No individual initially elected or nominatedconsidered “timely” as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director.

calculatedNegative Discretion” means the discretion authorized by the Plan to be applied by the Committee to eliminate or reduce the size of a Performance Compensation Award in accordance with Section 7.4(d)(iv) of the Plan; provided, that, the exercise of such discretion would not cause the Performance Compensation Award to fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation”Rule 14a-4(c) under Section 162(m) of the Code.

Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.

Non-qualified Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, andmay be brought before the rules2020 annual meeting of stockholders provided that we receive information and regulations promulgated thereunder.notice of the proposal addressed to our Secretary at our principal executive offices, no earlier than April 10, 2020 and no later than May 10, 2020.

 

Option” means an Incentive Stock OptionWe strongly encourage any stockholder interested in submitting a proposal to contact our Secretary in advance of these deadlines to discuss any proposal he or a Non-qualified Stock Option granted pursuantshe is considering, and stockholders may want to the Plan.

Optionholder” means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.

Option Exercise Price” means the price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased upon the exercise of an Option.

Outside Director” means a Director who is an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.162-27(e)(3) or any successor to such statute and regulation.

Participant” means an eligible person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Award.

Performance Compensation Award” means any Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award pursuant toSection 7.4of the Plan.

Performance Criteria” means the criterion or criteria that the Committee shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Performance Period with respect to any Performance Compensation Award under the Plan. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s) shall be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company (or Affiliate, division, business unit or operational unit of the Company) and shall be limited to the following: (a) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); (b) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (c) net revenue or net revenue growth; (d) gross revenue; (e) gross profit or gross profit growth; (f) net operating profit (before or after taxes); (g) return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, or sales; (h) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow return on capital); (i) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; (j) gross or operating margins; (k) improvements in capital structure; (l) budget and expense management; (m) productivity ratios; (n) economic value added or other value added measurements; (o) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return); (p) expense targets; (q) margins; (r) operating efficiency; (s) working capital targets; (t) enterprise value; (u) safety record; (v) completion of acquisitions or business expansion; and (w) regulatory milestones and targets. Any one or more of the Performance Criteria may be used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of the Company and/or an Affiliate as a whole or any division, business unit or operational unit of the Company and/or an Affiliate or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or as compared to the performance of a group of comparable companies, or published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or the Committee may select Performance Criterion (o) above as compared to various stock market indices. The Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of Performance Goals pursuant to the Performance Criteria specified in this paragraph. To the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall, within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period. In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit the Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Criteria without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining shareholder approval.

Performance Formula” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more objective formulas applied against the relevant Performance Goal to determine,consult knowledgeable counsel with regard to the Performance Compensation Awarddetailed requirements of a particular Participant,applicable securities laws. All notices of stockholder proposals, whether all, some portion but less than all, or none of the Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.not intended to be included in our proxy materials, should be in writing and sent to our principal executive offices, located at: Eastside Distilling, Inc., 1001 SE Water Avenue, Suite 390, Portland, Oregon 97214, Attention: Secretary.

 

Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. The Committee is authorized at any time during the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), or at any time thereafter (but only to the extent the exercise of such authority after such period would not cause the Performance Compensation Awards granted to any Participant for the Performance Period to fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code), in its sole and absolute discretion, to adjust or modify the calculation of a Performance Goal for such Performance Period to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants based on the following events: (a) asset write-downs; (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results; (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (e) extraordinary, unusual or infrequently occurring items as described in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year; (f) acquisitions or divestitures; (g) any other specific unusual or nonrecurring events, or objectively determinable category thereof; (h) foreign exchange gains and losses; and (i) a change in the Company’s fiscal year.

Performance Period” means the one or more periods of time not less than one fiscal quarter in duration, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to and the payment of a Performance Compensation Award.

Performance Share Award” means any Award granted pursuant toSection 7.3hereof.

Performance Share” means the grant of a right to receive a number of actual shares of Common Stock or share units based upon the performance of the Company during a Performance Period, as determined by the Committee.

Permitted Transferee” means: (a) a member of the Optionholder’s immediate family (child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships), any person sharing the Optionholder’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Optionholder) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Optionholder) own more than 50% of the voting interests; (b) third parties designated by the Committee in connection with a program established and approved by the Committee pursuant to which Participants may receive a cash payment or other consideration in consideration for the transfer of a Non-qualified Stock Option; and (c) such other transferees as may be permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion.

Plan” means this Eastside Distilling, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and/or amended and restated from time to time.

Related Rights” has the meaning set forth inSection 7.1(a).

Restricted Award” means any Award granted pursuant toSection 7.2(a).

Restricted Period” has the meaning set forth inSection 7.2(a).

Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.

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

Stock Appreciation Right” means the right pursuant to an Award granted underSection 7.1 to receive, upon exercise, an amount payable in cash or shares equal to the number of shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Award is exercised, over (b) the exercise price specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement.

Stock for Stock Exchange” has the meaning set forth inSection 6.4.

Ten Percent Shareholder” means a person who owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Affiliates.

3.Administration.

3.1Authority of Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee or, in the Board’s sole discretion, by the Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee’s charter and Applicable Laws, and in addition to other express powers and authorization conferred by the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority:

(a) to construe and interpret the Plan and apply its provisions;

(b) to promulgate, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of the Plan;

(c) to authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan;

(d) to delegate its authority to one or more Officers of the Company with respect to Awards that do not involve Covered Employees or “insiders” within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act;

(e) to determine when Awards are to be granted under the Plan and the applicable Grant Date;

(f) from time to time to select, subject to the limitations set forth in this Plan, those Participants to whom Awards shall be granted;

(g) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be made subject to each Award;

(h) to determine whether each Option is to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-qualified Stock Option;

(i) to prescribe the terms and conditions of each Award, including, without limitation, the exercise price and medium of payment and vesting provisions, and to specify the provisions of the Award Agreement relating to such grant;

(j) to determine the target number of Performance Shares to be granted pursuant to a Performance Share Award, the performance measures that will be used to establish the performance goals, the performance period(s) and the number of Performance Shares earned by a Participant;

(k) to designate an Award (including a cash bonus) as a Performance Compensation Award and to select the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goals;

(l) to amend any outstanding Awards, including for the purpose of modifying the time or manner of vesting, or the term of any outstanding Award;provided, however, that if any such amendment impairs a Participant’s rights or increases a Participant’s obligations under his or her Award or creates or increases a Participant’s federal income tax liability with respect to an Award, such amendment shall also be subject to the Participant’s consent;

(m) to determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absences which may be granted to a Participant without constituting termination of their employment for purposes of the Plan, which periods shall be no shorter than the periods generally applicable to Employees under the Company’s employment policies;

(n) to make decisions with respect to outstanding Awards that may become necessary upon a change in corporate control or an event that triggers anti-dilution adjustments;

(o) to interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan; and

(p) to exercise discretion to make any and all other determinations which it determines to be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

The Committee also may modify the purchase price or the exercise price of any outstanding Award,provided that if the modification effects a repricing, shareholder approval shall be required before the repricing is effective.

3.2Committee Decisions Final. All decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participants, unless such decisions are determined by a court having jurisdiction to be arbitrary and capricious.

3.3Delegation. The Committee, or if no Committee has been appointed, the Board, may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee or committees of one or more members of the Board, and the term “Committee” shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated. The Committee shall have the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board or the Committee shall thereafter be to the committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board. From time to time, the Board may increase or decrease the size of the Committee, add additional members to, remove members (with or without cause) from, appoint new members in substitution therefor, and fill vacancies, however caused, in the Committee. The Committee shall act pursuant to a vote of the majority of its members or, in the case of a Committee comprised of only two members, the unanimous consent of its members, whether present or not, or by the written consent of the majority of its members and minutes shall be kept of all of its meetings and copies thereof shall be provided to the Board. Subject to the limitations prescribed by the Plan and the Board, the Committee may establish and follow such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it may determine to be advisable.

3.4Committee Composition. Except as otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors who are also Outside Directors. The Board shall have discretion to determine whether or not it intends to comply with the exemption requirements of Rule 16b-3 and/or Section 162(m) of the Code. However, if the Board intends to satisfy such exemption requirements, with respect to Awards to any Covered Employee and with respect to any insider subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Committee shall be a compensation committee of the Board that at all times consists solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors who are also Outside Directors. Within the scope of such authority, the Board or the Committee may (a) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Outside Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are either (i) not then Covered Employees and are not expected to be Covered Employees at the time of recognition of income resulting from such Award or (ii) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code or (b) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Non-Employee Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Nothing herein shall create an inference that an Award is not validly granted under the Plan in the event Awards are granted under the Plan by a compensation committee of the Board that does not at all times consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors who are also Outside Directors.

3.5Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as Directors or members of the Committee, and to the extent allowed by Applicable Laws, the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company against the reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding or in connection with any appeal therein, to which the Committee may be party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan, and against all amounts paid by the Committee in settlement thereof (provided, however, that the settlement has been approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) or paid by the Committee in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such Committee did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company, or in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reason to believe that the conduct complained of was unlawful;provided, however, that within 60 days after institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, such Committee shall, in writing, offer the Company the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend such action, suit or proceeding.

4.Shares Subject to the Plan.

4.1 Subject to adjustment in accordance withSection4.2 andSection 11, a total of 500,000 shares of Common Stock (on a post-reverse split basis) shall be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. During the terms of the Awards, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required to satisfy such Awards.

4.2 The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved for Awards under the Plan will automatically increase on January 1stof each year, for a period of not more than ten (10) years, commencing on January 1st of the year following the year in which the Effective Date occurs and ending on (and including) January 1, 2026, in an amount equal to eight percent (8%) of the total number of shares of Outstanding Company Common Stock on December 31st of the preceding calendar year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the Committee may act prior to January 1st of a given year to provide that there will be no January 1st increase for such year or that the increase for such year will be a lesser number of shares of Common Stock than provided herein.

4.3 Shares of Common Stock available for distribution under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares, treasury shares or shares reacquired by the Company in any manner.

4.4 Subject to adjustment in accordance withSection 11, no Participant shall be granted, during any one (1) year period, Options to purchase Common Stock and Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to more than 8,333 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate or any other Awards with respect to more than 8,333 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate. If an Award is to be settled in cash, the number of shares of Common Stock on which the Award is based shall count toward the individual share limit set forth in this Section 4.

4.5 Any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award that is canceled, forfeited or expires prior to exercise or realization, either in full or in part, shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: shares subject to an Award under the Plan shall not again be made available for issuance or delivery under the Plan if such shares are (a) shares tendered in payment of an Option, (b) shares delivered or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation, or (c) shares covered by a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right or other Awards that were not issued upon the settlement of the Award.

5.Eligibility.

5.1Eligibility for Specific Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Consultants and Directors, and to such other persons as the Committee shall select and those individuals whom the Committee determines are reasonably expected to become Employees, Consultants and Directors following the Grant Date.

5.2Ten Percent Shareholders. A Ten Percent Shareholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the Option Exercise Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the Grant Date and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the Grant Date.

6.Option Provisions. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Option so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 6, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Non-qualified Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no liability to any Participant or any other person if an Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option fails to qualify as such at any time or if an Option is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the terms of such Option do not satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

6.1Term. Subject to the provisions ofSection 5.2 regarding Ten Percent Shareholders, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the Grant Date. The term of a Non-qualified Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee;provided, however, no Non-qualified Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the Grant Date.

6.2Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option. Subject to the provisions ofSection 5.2 regarding Ten Percent Shareholders, the Option Exercise Price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may be granted with an Option Exercise Price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) and Section 409A of the Code.

6.3Exercise Price of a Non-qualified Stock Option. The Option Exercise Price of each Non-qualified Stock Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Non-qualified Stock Option may be granted with an Option Exercise Price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

6.4Consideration. The Option Exercise Price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations, either (a) in cash or by certified or bank check at the time the Option is exercised or (b) in the discretion of the Committee, upon such terms as the Committee shall approve, the Option Exercise Price may be paid: (i) by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company, with a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the Option Exercise Price (or portion thereof) due for the number of shares being acquired, or by means of attestation whereby the Participant identifies for delivery specific shares of Common Stock that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of attestation equal to the Option Exercise Price (or portion thereof) and receives a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the difference between the number of shares thereby purchased and the number of identified attestation shares of Common Stock (a “Stock for Stock Exchange”); (ii) a “cashless” exercise program established with a broker; (iii) by reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of such Option with a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Option Exercise Price at the time of exercise; (iv) any combination of the foregoing methods; or (v) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee. Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Option, the exercise price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option that is paid by delivery (or attestation) to the Company of other Common Stock acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company, shall be paid only by shares of the Common Stock of the Company that have been held for more than six months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes). Notwithstanding the foregoing, during any period for which the Common Stock is publicly traded (i.e., the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system) an exercise by a Director or Officer that involves or may involve a direct or indirect extension of credit or arrangement of an extension of credit by the Company, directly or indirectly, in violation of Section 402(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 shall be prohibited with respect to any Award under this Plan.

6.5Transferability of an Incentive Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.

6.6Transferability of a Non-qualified Stock Option. A Non-qualified Stock Option may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be transferable to a Permitted Transferee, upon written approval by the Committee to the extent provided in the Award Agreement. If the Non-qualified Stock Option does not provide for transferability, then the Non-qualified Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.

6.7Vesting of Options. Each Option may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Committee may deem appropriate, provided, however, that if no vesting schedule is specified at the time of grant, the Option shall be vested according to the following schedule: one-fourth (1/4th) of the shares subject to the Option shall vest one year following the date that the Option commences vesting as specified at the time of grant, or, if no date is specified at the time of grant, the Grant Date (such date for such Option, the “Vesting Commencement Date”), and the balance of the shares subject to the Option shall vest in a series of thirty-six (36) successive equal monthly installments measured from the first anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date, subject to Optionholder’s Continuous Service as of each such date.

The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. No Option may be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the terms of any Award Agreement upon the occurrence of a specified event.

6.8Termination of Continuous Service. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or in an employment agreement the terms of which have been approved by the Committee, in the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date three months following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement;provided that, if the termination of Continuous Service is by the Company for Cause, all outstanding Options (whether or not vested) shall immediately terminate and cease to be exercisable. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate.

6.9Extension of Termination Date. An Optionholder’s Award Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service for any reason would be prohibited at any time because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act or any other state or federal securities law or the rules of any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (a) the expiration of the term of the Option in accordance withSection 6.1 or (b) the expiration of a period after termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service that is three months after the end of the period during which the exercise of the Option would be in violation of such registration or other securities law requirements.

6.10Disability of Optionholder. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event that an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s Disability, the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date 12 months following such termination or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein or in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate.

6.11Death of Optionholder. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of death) by the Optionholder’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the Option upon the Optionholder’s death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of (a) the date 12 months following the date of death or (b) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after the Optionholder’s death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein or in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate.

6.12Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds $100,000, the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Non-qualified Stock Options.

7.Provisions of Awards Other Than Options.

7.1Stock Appreciation Rights.

(a)General

Each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7.1, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted alone (“Free Standing Rights”) or in tandem with an Option granted under the Plan (“Related Rights”).

(b)Grant Requirements

Any Related Right that relates to a Non-qualified Stock Option may be granted at the same time the Option is granted or at any time thereafter but before the exercise or expiration of the Option. Any Related Right that relates to an Incentive Stock Option must be granted at the same time the Incentive Stock Option is granted.

(c)Term of Stock Appreciation Rights

The term of a Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee;provided, however, no Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.

(d)Vesting of Stock Appreciation Rights

Each Stock Appreciation Right may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Stock Appreciation Right may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised as the Committee may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Stock Appreciation Rights may vary. No Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the terms of any Stock Appreciation Right upon the occurrence of a specified event.

(e)Exercise and Payment

Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the holder shall be entitled to receive from the Company an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Award is exercised, over (ii) the exercise price specified in the Stock Appreciation Right or related Option. Payment with respect to the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be made on the date of exercise. Payment shall be made in the form of shares of Common Stock (with or without restrictions as to substantial risk of forfeiture and transferability, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion), cash or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.

(f)Exercise Price

The exercise price of a Free Standing Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date of such Stock Appreciation Right. A Related Right granted simultaneously with or subsequent to the grant of an Option and in conjunction therewith or in the alternative thereto shall have the same exercise price as the related Option, shall be transferable only upon the same terms and conditions as the related Option, and shall be exercisable only to the same extent as the related Option;provided, however, that a Stock Appreciation Right, by its terms, shall be exercisable only when the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right and related Option exceeds the exercise price per share thereof and no Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with an Option unless the Committee determines that the requirements ofSection 7.1(b) are satisfied.

(g)Reduction in the Underlying Option Shares

Upon any exercise of a Related Right, the number of shares of Common Stock for which any related Option shall be exercisable shall be reduced by the number of shares for which the Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised. The number of shares of Common Stock for which a Related Right shall be exercisable shall be reduced upon any exercise of any related Option by the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Option has been exercised.

7.2Restricted Awards.

(a)General

A Restricted Award is an Award of actual shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”) or hypothetical Common Stock units (“Restricted Stock Units”) having a value equal to the Fair Market Value of an identical number of shares of Common Stock, which may, but need not, provide that such Restricted Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of, pledged or hypothecated as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of any obligation or for any other purpose for such period (the “Restricted Period”) as the Committee shall determine. Each Restricted Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Restricted Award so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7.2, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement.

(b)Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

(i)Each Participant granted Restricted Stock shall execute and deliver to the Company an Award Agreement with respect to the Restricted Stock setting forth the restrictions and other terms and conditions applicable to such Restricted Stock. If the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (A) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable and (B) the appropriate blank stock power with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. If a Participant fails to execute an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and stock power, the Award shall be null and void. Subject to the restrictions set forth in the Award, the Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a shareholder as to such Restricted Stock, including the right to vote such Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends;provided that, any cash dividends and stock dividends with respect to the Restricted Stock shall be withheld by the Company for the Participant’s account, and interest may be credited on the amount of the cash dividends withheld at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. The cash dividends or stock dividends so withheld by the Committee and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be distributed to the Participant in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, if applicable, upon the release of restrictions on such share and, if such share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends.
(ii)The terms and conditions of a grant of Restricted Stock Units shall be reflected in an Award Agreement. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued at the time a Restricted Stock Unit is granted, and the Company will not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of any such Award. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder. The Committee may also grant Restricted Stock Units with a deferral feature, whereby settlement is deferred beyond the vesting date until the occurrence of a future payment date or event set forth in an Award Agreement (“Deferred Stock Units”). At the discretion of the Committee, each Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (representing one share of Common Stock) may be credited with cash and stock dividends paid by the Company in respect of one share of Common Stock (“Dividend Equivalents”). Dividend Equivalents shall be withheld by the Company and credited to the Participant’s account, and interest may be credited on the amount of cash Dividend Equivalents withheld at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. Dividend Equivalents credited to a Participant’s account and attributable to any particular Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be distributed in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such Dividend Equivalents and earnings, if applicable, to the Participant upon settlement of such Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit and, if such Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such Dividend Equivalents.

(c)Restrictions

(i)Restricted Stock awarded to a Participant shall be subject to the following restrictions until the expiration of the Restricted Period, and to such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement: (A) if an escrow arrangement is used, the Participant shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate; (B) the shares shall be subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in the Award Agreement; (C) the shares shall be subject to forfeiture to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement; and (D) to the extent such shares are forfeited, the stock certificates shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a shareholder with respect to such shares shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company.
(ii)Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units awarded to any Participant shall be subject to (A) forfeiture until the expiration of the Restricted Period, and satisfaction of any applicable Performance Goals during such period, to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement, and to the extent such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are forfeited, all rights of the Participant to such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company and (B) such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
   
 (iii)The Committee shall have the authority to remove any or all of the restrictions on the Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units whenever it may determine that, by reason of changes in Applicable Laws or other changes in circumstances arising after the date the Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are granted, such action is appropriate.

 

(d)Restricted Period

 

With respect to Restricted Awards, the Restricted Period shall commence on the Grant Date and end at the time or times set forth on a schedule established by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement. No Restricted Award may be granted or settled for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting in the terms of any Award Agreement upon the occurrence of a specified event.

(e)Delivery of Restricted Stock and Settlement of Restricted Stock Units

Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth inSection 7.2(c) and the applicable Award Agreement shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such shares, except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. If an escrow arrangement is used, upon such expiration, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, the stock certificate evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock which have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired (to the nearest full share) and any cash dividends or stock dividends credited to the Participant’s account with respect to such Restricted Stock and the interest thereon, if any. Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, or at the expiration of the deferral period with respect to any outstanding Deferred Stock Units, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, one share of Common Stock for each such outstanding vested Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (“Vested Unit”) and cash equal to any Dividend Equivalents credited with respect to each such Vested Unit in accordance withSection 7.2(b)(ii) hereof and the interest thereon or, at the discretion of the Committee, in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to such Dividend Equivalents and the interest thereon, if any;provided, however, that, if explicitly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to pay cash or part cash and part Common Stock in lieu of delivering only shares of Common Stock for Vested Units. If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering shares of Common Stock, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the date on which the Restricted Period lapsed in the case of Restricted Stock Units, or the delivery date in the case of Deferred Stock Units, with respect to each Vested Unit.

(f)Stock Restrictions

Each certificate representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall bear a legend in such form as the Company deems appropriate.

7.3Performance Share Awards.

(a)Grant of Performance Share Awards

Each Performance Share Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Performance Share Award so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7.3, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. The Committee shall have the discretion to determine: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock or stock-denominated units subject to a Performance Share Award granted to any Participant; (ii) the performance period applicable to any Award; (iii) the conditions that must be satisfied for a Participant to earn an Award; and (iv) the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award.

(b)Earning Performance Share Awards

The number of Performance Shares earned by a Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period, as determined by the Committee. No payout shall be made with respect to any Performance Share Award except upon written certification by the Committee that the minimum threshold performance goal(s) have been achieved.

7.4Performance Compensation Awards.

(a)General

The Committee shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any Award described in this Plan (other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted with an exercise price equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Grant Date), to designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award in order to qualify such Award as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. In addition, the Committee shall have the authority to make an Award of a cash bonus to any Participant and designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award in order to qualify such Award as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

(b)Eligibility

The Committee will, in its sole discretion, designate within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) which Participants will be eligible to receive Performance Compensation Awards in respect of such Performance Period. However, designation of a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder for a Performance Period shall not in any manner entitle the Participant to receive payment in respect of any Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period. The determination as to whether or not such Participant becomes entitled to payment in respect of any Performance Compensation Award shall be decided solely in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.4. Moreover, designation of a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder for a particular Performance Period shall not require designation of such Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder in any subsequent Performance Period and designation of one person as a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder shall not require designation of any other person as a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder in such period or in any other period.

(c)Discretion of Committee with Respect to Performance Compensation Awards

With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have full discretion to select the length of such Performance Period (provided any such Performance Period shall be not less than one fiscal quarter in duration), the type(s) of Performance Compensation Awards to be issued, the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s), the kind(s) and/or level(s) of the Performance Goal(s) that is (are) to apply to the Company and the Performance Formula. Within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, with regard to the Performance Compensation Awards to be issued for such Performance Period, exercise its discretion with respect to each of the matters enumerated in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 7.4(c) and record the same in writing.

(d)Payment of Performance Compensation Awards

(i)Condition to Receipt of Payment

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company on the last day of a Performance Period to be eligible for payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period.

(ii)Limitation

A Participant shall be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award only to the extent that: (A) the Performance Goals for such period are achieved; and (B) the Performance Formula as applied against such Performance Goals determines that all or some portion of such Participant’s Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.

(iii)Certification

Following the completion of a Performance Period, the Committee shall review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, calculate and certify in writing the amount of the Performance Compensation Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Formula. The Committee shall then determine the actual size of each Participant’s Performance Compensation Award for the Performance Period and, in so doing, may apply Negative Discretion in accordance with Section 7.4(d)(iv) hereof, if and when it deems appropriate.

(iv)Use of Discretion

In determining the actual size of an individual Performance Compensation Award for a Performance Period, the Committee may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Performance Compensation Award earned under the Performance Formula in the Performance Period through the use of Negative Discretion if, in its sole judgment, such reduction or elimination is appropriate. The Committee shall not have the discretion to (A) grant or provide payment in respect of Performance Compensation Awards for a Performance Period if the Performance Goals for such Performance Period have not been attained or (B) increase a Performance Compensation Award above the maximum amount payable under Section 7.4(d)(vi) of the Plan.

(v)Timing of Award Payments

Performance Compensation Awards granted for a Performance Period shall be paid to Participants as soon as administratively practicable following completion of the certifications required by this Section 7.4 but in no event later than 2 1/2 months following the end of the fiscal year during which the Performance Period is completed.

(vi)Maximum Award Payable

Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Plan to the contrary, the maximum Performance Compensation Award payable to any one Participant under the Plan for a Performance Period (excluding any Options and Stock Appreciation Rights) is 8,333 shares of Common Stock or, in the event such Performance Compensation Award is paid in cash, the equivalent cash value thereof on the first or last day of the Performance Period to which such Award relates, as determined by the Committee. The maximum amount that can be paid in any calendar year to any Participant pursuant to a cash bonus Award described in the last sentence of Section 7.4(a) shall be $1,000,000. Furthermore, any Performance Compensation Award that has been deferred shall not (between the date as of which the Award is deferred and the payment date) increase (A) with respect to a Performance Compensation Award that is payable in cash, by a measuring factor for each fiscal year greater than a reasonable rate of interest set by the Committee or (B) with respect to a Performance Compensation Award that is payable in shares of Common Stock, by an amount greater than the appreciation of a share of Common Stock from the date such Award is deferred to the payment date.

8.Securities Law Compliance. Each Award Agreement shall provide that no shares of Common Stock shall be purchased or sold thereunder unless and until (a) any then applicable requirements of state or federal laws and regulatory agencies have been fully complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and its counsel and (b) if required to do so by the Company, the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company a letter of investment intent in such form and containing such provisions as the Committee may require. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Awards;provided, however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.

9.Use of Proceeds from Stock. Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Awards, or upon exercise thereof, shall constitute general funds of the Company.

10.Miscellaneous.

10.1Acceleration of Exercisability and Vesting. The Committee shall have the power to accelerate the time at which an Award may first be exercised or the time during which an Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest.

10.2Shareholder Rights. Except as provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, no Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Award pursuant to its terms and no adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions of other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Common Stock certificate is issued, except as provided inSection 11hereof.

10.3No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (a) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without Cause or (b) the service of a Director pursuant to the By-laws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be.

10.4Transfer; Approved Leave of Absence. For purposes of the Plan, no termination of employment by an Employee shall be deemed to result from either (a) a transfer of employment to the Company from an Affiliate or from the Company to an Affiliate, or from one Affiliate to another, or (b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the Employee’s right to reemployment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Committee otherwise so provides in writing, in either case, except to the extent inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code if the applicable Award is subject thereto.

10.5Withholding Obligations. To the extent provided by the terms of an Award Agreement and subject to the discretion of the Committee, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under an Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Company’s right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (a) tendering a cash payment; (b) authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Award,provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law; or (c) delivering to the Company previously owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock of the Company.

11.Adjustments Upon Changes in Stock. In the event of changes in the outstanding Common Stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of any stock or extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, an extraordinary corporate transaction such as any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange, or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the Grant Date of any Award, Awards granted under the Plan and any Award Agreements, the exercise price of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to all Awards stated inSection 4 and the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which any one person may be granted Awards during any period stated inSection 4 andSection 7.4(d)(vi) will be equitably adjusted or substituted, as to the number, price or kind of a share of Common Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards to the extent necessary to preserve the economic intent of such Award. In the case of adjustments made pursuant to this Section 11, unless the Committee specifically determines that such adjustment is in the best interests of the Company or its Affiliates, the Committee shall, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this Section 11 will not constitute a modification, extension or renewal of the Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code and in the case of Non-qualified Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this Section 11 will not constitute a modification of such Non-qualified Stock Options within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any adjustments made under this Section 11 shall be made in a manner which does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Further, with respect to Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, any adjustments or substitutions will not cause the Company to be denied a tax deduction on account of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Company shall give each Participant notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

12.Effect of Change in Control.

12.1 Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary:

(a) In the event of a Change of Control, all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall become immediately exercisable with respect to 100% of the shares subject to such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, and/or the Restricted Period shall expire immediately with respect to 100% of the shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

(b) With respect to Performance Compensation Awards, in the event of a Change in Control, all incomplete Performance Periods in respect of such Award in effect on the date the Change in Control occurs shall end on the date of such change and the Committee shall (i) determine the extent to which Performance Goals with respect to each such Performance Period have been met based upon such audited or unaudited financial information then available as it deems relevant and (ii) cause to be paid to the applicable Participant partial or full Awards with respect to Performance Goals for each such Performance Period based upon the Committee’s determination of the degree of attainment of Performance Goals or, if not determinable, assuming that the applicable “target” levels of performance have been attained, or on such other basis determined by the Committee.

To the extent practicable, any actions taken by the Committee under the immediately preceding clauses (a) and (b) shall occur in a manner and at a time which allows affected Participants the ability to participate in the Change in Control with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to their Awards.

12.2 In addition, in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may in its discretion and upon at least 10 days’ advance notice to the affected persons, cancel any outstanding Awards and pay to the holders thereof, in cash or stock, or any combination thereof, the value of such Awards based upon the price per share of Common Stock received or to be received by other shareholders of the Company in the event. In the case of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price that equals or exceeds the price paid for a share of Common Stock in connection with the Change in Control, the Committee may cancel the Option or Stock Appreciation Right without the payment of consideration therefor.

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

13.Amendment of the Plan and Awards.

13.1Amendment of Plan. The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend or terminate the Plan. However, except as provided inSection 11 relating to adjustments upon changes in Common Stock andSection 13.3, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company to the extent shareholder approval is necessary to satisfy any Applicable Laws. At the time of such amendment, the Board shall determine, upon advice from counsel, whether such amendment will be contingent on shareholder approval.

13.2Shareholder Approval. The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit any other amendment to the Plan for shareholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive officers.

13.3Contemplated Amendments. It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees, Consultants and Directors with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options or to the nonqualified deferred compensation provisions of Section 409A of the Code and/or to bring the Plan and/or Awards granted under it into compliance therewith.

13.4No Impairment of Rights. Rights under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (a) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (b) the Participant consents in writing.

13.5Amendment of Awards. The Committee at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Awards;provided, however, that the Committee may not affect any amendment which would otherwise constitute an impairment of the rights under any Award unless (a) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (b) the Participant consents in writing.

14.General Provisions.

14.1Forfeiture Events. The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain events, in addition to applicable vesting conditions of an Award. Such events may include, without limitation, breach of non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that are contained in the Award Agreement or otherwise applicable to the Participant, a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service for Cause, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company and/or its Affiliates.

14.2Clawback. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan, any Award which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement (or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement).

14.3Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

14.4Sub-plans. The Committee may from time to time establish sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying blue sky, securities, tax or other laws of various jurisdictions in which the Company intends to grant Awards. Any sub-plans shall contain such limitations and other terms and conditions as the Committee determines are necessary or desirable. All sub-plans shall be deemed a part of the Plan, but each sub-plan shall apply only to the Participants in the jurisdiction for which the sub-plan was designed.

14.5Deferral of Awards. The Committee may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Participants the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Participant to payment or receipt of shares of Common Stock or other consideration under an Award. The Committee may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, shares or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the Committee deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.

14.6Unfunded Plan. The Plan shall be unfunded. Neither the Company, the Board nor the Committee shall be required to establish any special or separate fund or to segregate any assets to assure the performance of its obligations under the Plan.

14.7Recapitalizations. Each Award Agreement shall contain provisions required to reflect the provisions ofSection 11.

14.8Delivery. Upon exercise of a right granted under this Plan, the Company shall issue Common Stock or pay any amounts due within a reasonable period of time thereafter. Subject to any statutory or regulatory obligations the Company may otherwise have, for purposes of this Plan, 30 days shall be considered a reasonable period of time.

14.9No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Committee shall determine whether cash, additional Awards or other securities or property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or whether any fractional shares should be rounded, forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

14.10Other Provisions. The Award Agreements authorized under the Plan may contain such other provisions not inconsistent with this Plan, including, without limitation, restrictions upon the exercise of the Awards, as the Committee may deem advisable.

14.11Section 409A. The Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Laws require otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six (6) month period immediately following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service shall instead be paid on the first payroll date after the six-month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service (or the Participant’s death, if earlier). Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor the Committee shall have any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any excise tax or penalty on any Participant under Section 409A of the Code and neither the Company nor the Committee will have any liability to any Participant for such tax or penalty.

14.12Disqualifying Dispositions. Any Participant who shall make a “disposition” (as defined in Section 424 of the Code) of all or any portion of shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within two years from the Grant Date of such Incentive Stock Option or within one year after the issuance of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of such Incentive Stock Option (a “Disqualifying Disposition”) shall be required to immediately advise the Company in writing as to the occurrence of the sale and the price realized upon the sale of such shares of Common Stock.

14.13Section 16. It is the intent of the Company that the Plan satisfy, and be interpreted in a manner that satisfies, the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 as promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act so that Participants will be entitled to the benefit of Rule 16b-3, or any other rule promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and will not be subject to short-swing liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, if the operation of any provision of the Plan would conflict with the intent expressed in thisSection 14.13, such provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted and/or deemed amended so as to avoid such conflict.

14.14Section 162(m). To the extent the Committee issues any Award that is intended to be exempt from the deduction limitation of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may, without shareholder or grantee approval, amend the Plan or the relevant Award Agreement retroactively or prospectively to the extent it determines necessary in order to comply with any subsequent clarification of Section 162(m) of the Code required to preserve the Company’s federal income tax deduction for compensation paid pursuant to any such Award.

14.15Beneficiary Designation. Each Participant under the Plan may from time to time name any beneficiary or beneficiaries by whom any right under the Plan is to be exercised in case of such Participant’s death. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form reasonably prescribed by the Committee and shall be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime.

14.16Expenses. The costs of administering the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

14.17Severability. If any of the provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, whether in whole or in part, such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby.

14.18Plan Headings. The headings in the Plan are for purposes of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the construction of the provisions hereof.

14.19Non-Uniform Treatment. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who are eligible to receive, or actually receive, Awards. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled to make non-uniform and selective determinations, amendments and adjustments, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements.

15.Effective Date of Plan. The Plan shall become effective as of the Effective Date, but no Award shall be exercised (or, in the case of a stock Award, shall be granted) unless and until the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company, which approval shall be within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

16.Termination or Suspension of the Plan. The Plan shall terminate automatically on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan after such date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any earlier date pursuant toSection 13.1 hereof. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated. Unless the Company determines to submitSection 7.4 of the Plan and the definition of “Performance Goal” and “Performance Criteria” to the Company’s shareholders at the first shareholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which the Plan was last approved by shareholders (or any earlier meeting designated by the Board), in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, and such shareholder approval is obtained, then no further Performance Compensation Awards shall be made to Covered Employees underSection 7.4 after the date of such annual meeting, but the Plan may continue in effect for Awards to Participants not in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code

17.Choice of Law. The law of the State of Nevada shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of law rules.

As adopted by the Board of Directors of Eastside Distilling, Inc. on September 8, 2016.

As approved by the shareholders of Eastside Distilling, Inc. on December 15, 2016.