UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.)
Filed by the Registrant |
☒ |
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant |
☐ |
Check
the appropriate box:
☐ |
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☒ |
Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ |
Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12 |
Sonim
Technologies, Inc.
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box)
☒ |
No fee required. |
☐ |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
☐ |
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
SONIM
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
6500
River Place Blvd.
Building
7, Suite 250
Austin,
TX 78730
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To
Be Held on October 26, 2022
Dear
Stockholder:
The
2022 annual meeting of stockholders of Sonim Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company,” “we”)
will be held online on October 26, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
Stockholders
may participate in the meeting only by logging in at:
www.virtualshareholdermeeting/SONM2022
Stockholders
will be able to listen to the meeting live, vote, and submit questions. There will be no physical location for stockholders to attend
the annual meeting.
By
hosting the annual meeting online, the Company is able to ensure the health and safety of its directors, officers, employees, and provide
a consistent experience to all stockholders regardless of location. Attendance at the virtual annual meeting will provide you with the
same rights to participate as you would have at an in-person meeting. Once admitted to the annual meeting, you should follow the instructions
that will be available on the meeting website in order to exercise your rights.
The
annual meeting will be held for the following purposes as more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement:
| 1. | To
elect the seven (7) directors to our Board of Directors, each to serve until the next annual
meeting and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified; |
| | |
| 2. | To
approve an amendment to our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, to increase the aggregate
number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance by 5,000,000 shares; |
| | |
| 3. | To
approve an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to effect a reverse
stock split of the Company’s common stock pursuant to which any whole number of outstanding
shares between and including two (2) and fifteen (15) shares would be combined, converted,
and changed into one share of common stock, with the final exchange ratio to be determined
by the Board of Directors in its discretion; |
| | |
| 4. | To
ratify the appointment of Moss Adams as the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022; and |
| | |
| 5. | To
conduct any other business properly brought before the meeting. |
Our
Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on September 15, 2022, as the record date for the annual meeting. This means that
holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on that date are entitled to receive notice of the annual meeting and
to vote their shares at the annual meeting and any related adjournments or postponements.
This
Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement is being first mailed to our stockholders on or after September 28, 2022.
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Whether or not you plan to participate in the annual meeting, we urge you to submit your vote via the Internet, telephone,
or mail in advance of the annual meeting. If you plan to participate in the annual meeting, please see the instructions in the accompanying
proxy statement.
|
By Order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
|
/s/ Clay Crolius |
|
Name: |
Clay Crolius |
|
Title: |
Secretary |
|
|
|
Austin,
Texas |
|
September
26, 2022 |
SONIM
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
6500
River Place Blvd.
Building
7, Suite 250
Austin,
TX 78730
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR
THE 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To
Be Held on October 26, 2022
MEETING
AGENDA
Proposals |
|
Page |
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Voting
Standard |
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Board
Recommendation |
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Proposal
1 – Election of Directors |
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8 |
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Plurality
of the votes of the holders of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors |
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FOR
all director nominees |
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|
Proposal
2 – Amendment of the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, to increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized
for issuance under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan |
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19 |
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Majority
of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter |
|
FOR |
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|
|
|
|
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Proposal
3 – Amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s
common stock |
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31 |
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Majority
of outstanding shares entitled to vote on the matter |
|
FOR |
|
|
|
|
|
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Proposal
4 – Ratification of the selection of Moss Adams as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal
year ending December 31, 2022 |
|
39 |
|
Majority
of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter |
|
FOR |
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING
The
information provided in the “question and answer” format below is for your convenience only and is merely a summary of the
information contained in this proxy statement. You should read this entire proxy statement carefully.
Why
am I receiving these materials?
We
have sent you these proxy materials because the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Sonim Technologies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, (“Company,” “Sonim,” or “we”) is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 2022 annual meeting
of stockholders, including at any adjournments or postponements of the annual meeting. You are invited to vote on the proposals described
in this proxy statement. See below under “How do I vote?”
How
can I participate in the annual meeting?
To
participate in the annual meeting, visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting/SONM2022 and enter your control number as indicated. You can find
your control number on your Notice of Meeting (the “Notice”), proxy card (if you received a printed copy of the proxy materials)
or the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. You will be able to log into the virtual meeting platform beginning at 9:00
a.m. Pacific Daylight Time on October 26, 2022. The annual meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time on October
26, 2022. We encourage you to log into the virtual meeting platform and ensure you can hear streaming audio prior to the annual meeting
start time.
The
virtual meeting platform is supported across browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari) and devices (desktops, laptops,
tablets, and cell phones) running the most updated version of applicable software and plugins. Participants should ensure that they have
a strong WiFi connection wherever they intend to participate in the annual meeting.
If
you wish to submit a question during the annual meeting, log into the virtual meeting platform, type your question into the “Ask
a Question” field, and click “Submit.” Questions pertinent to meeting matters will be answered during the annual meeting,
subject to time constraints. Questions regarding personal matters, including those related to employment, product or service issues,
or suggestions for product innovations, should be addressed to the appropriate party on the sonimtech.com website; these questions are
not pertinent to meeting matters and, therefore, will not be answered at the annual meeting. If we receive substantially similar questions,
we may group such questions together and provide a single response to avoid repetition.
If
you encounter any difficulties accessing the annual meeting, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the virtual
meeting platform’s log in page.
Who
can vote at the annual meeting?
Only
stockholders of record at the close of business on September 15, 2022 (the “Record Date”) will be entitled to vote at the
annual meeting. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter voted upon at the annual meeting. On the record date,
there were 40,272,229 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.
Stockholder
of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name
If
your shares are registered directly in your name with Sonim’s transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC,
then you are a stockholder of record with respect to those shares. As a stockholder of record, you may fill out and return the enclosed
proxy card, vote by proxy over the telephone, or vote by proxy through the Internet.
Beneficial
Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank
If
your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares
held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding
your account is considered to be the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the annual meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have
the right to direct your broker, bank, or other nominee regarding how to vote the shares in your account.
What
am I voting on?
The
following matters are scheduled for a vote:
| 1. | To
elect the seven (7) directors to our Board of Directors, each to serve until the next annual
meeting and until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified; |
| | |
| 2. | To
approve an amendment to our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, to increase the aggregate
number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance by 5,000,000 shares; |
| | |
| 3. | To
approve an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to effect a reverse
stock split of the Company’s common stock pursuant to which any whole number of outstanding
shares between and including two (2) and fifteen (15) shares would be combined, converted,
and changed into one share of common stock, with the final exchange ratio to be determined
by the Board of Directors in its discretion; |
| | |
| 4. | To
ratify the appointment of Moss Adams as the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022; and |
| | |
| 5. | To
conduct any other business properly brought before the meeting. |
What
if another matter is properly brought before the annual meeting?
The
Board knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the annual meeting. If any other matters are properly brought
before the annual meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on those matters in accordance
with their best judgment.
How
do I vote?
You
may either vote “For all” the nominees to the Board or you may “Withhold” your vote for any nominee you specify.
For each of the other matters to be voted on, you may vote “For” or “Against” or abstain from voting.
The
procedures for voting are as follows:
Stockholder
of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name
If
you are a stockholder of record, there are several ways for you to vote your shares:
|
● |
Via
the Internet—Before the annual meeting. You may vote at www.proxyvote.com, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, the day before the annual meeting. You will need the
control number included on your Notice or your proxy card (if you received a printed copy of the proxy materials). |
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|
● |
Via
the Internet—During the annual meeting. You may vote live at the annual meeting through the virtual meeting platform by
logging into www.virtualshareholdermeeting/SONM2022. You will need the control number included on your Notice or your proxy card
(if you received a printed copy of the proxy materials). |
|
|
|
|
● |
By
Telephone. You may vote using a touch-tone telephone by calling toll-free 1-800-690-6903 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until
11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, the day before the annual meeting. You will need the control
number included on your Notice or your proxy card (if you received a printed copy of the proxy materials). |
|
|
|
|
● |
By
Mail. If you received printed proxy materials, you may submit your vote by completing, signing and dating each proxy card received
and returning it in the prepaid envelope. Sign your name exactly as it appears on the proxy card. Proxy cards submitted by mail must
be received no later than 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, the day before the annual meeting,
to be voted at the annual meeting. |
Beneficial
Owners.
If
you are a beneficial owner, you should have received a Notice or voting instructions from the broker or other nominee holding your shares.
You should follow the instructions in the Notice or voting instructions provided by your broker or nominee in order to instruct your
broker or other nominee on how to vote your shares. The availability of telephone and Internet voting will depend on the voting process
of the broker or nominee.
If
I am a stockholder of record and I do not vote, or if I return a proxy card or otherwise vote without giving specific voting instructions,
what happens?
If
you are a stockholder of record and do not vote by completing your proxy card, by telephone or through the Internet, your shares will
not be voted.
If
you return a signed and dated proxy card or otherwise vote without marking voting selections, your shares will be voted in accordance
with the Board’s recommendation, which means:
| ● | “FOR”
the election of all seven nominees for directors; |
| | |
| ● | “FOR”
the amendment of the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, to increase the aggregate number
of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as
amended, by 5,000,000 shares on a pre-reverse stock split basis; |
| | |
| ● | “FOR”
the approval of an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended,
to effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock; and |
| | |
| ● | “FOR”
the ratification of the selection of Moss Adams as the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. |
If
any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, your proxyholder (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your
shares using his or her best judgment.
If
I am a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and I do not provide my broker with voting instructions, what happens?
If
you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and you do not instruct your broker, bank or other agent how to vote your shares,
your broker, bank or other agent may still be able to vote your shares in its discretion. In this regard, under the rules of the New
York Stock Exchange (NYSE), brokers, banks and other securities intermediaries that are subject to NYSE rules may use their discretion
to vote your “uninstructed” shares with respect to matters considered to be “routine” under NYSE rules, but not
with respect to “non-routine” matters. In this regard, Proposals 1 and 2 are considered to be “non-routine” under
NYSE rules meaning that your broker may not vote your shares on those proposals in the absence of your voting instructions. However,
Proposals 3 and 4 are considered to be “routine” matters under NYSE rules meaning that if you do not return voting instructions
to your broker by its deadline, your shares may be voted by your broker in its discretion on Proposals 3 and 4.
If
you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name, in order to ensure your shares
are voted in the way you would prefer, you must provide voting instructions to your broker, bank, or other nominee by the deadline
provided in the materials you receive from your broker, bank or other nominee.
Who
is paying for this proxy solicitation?
We
will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these proxy materials, our directors and employees may also solicit
proxies in person, by telephone, or by other means of communication. Directors and employees will not be paid any additional compensation
for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks, and other nominees for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to
beneficial owners.
What
does it mean if I receive more than one set of proxy materials?
If
you receive more than one set of proxy materials, your shares may be registered in more than one name or in different accounts. Please
follow the voting instructions on each proxy card you receive to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
Can
I change my vote after submitting my proxy?
Stockholder
of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name
Yes.
You can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the annual meeting. If you are the record holder of your shares, you may
revoke your proxy in any one of the following ways:
| ● | You
may submit another properly completed proxy card with a later date; |
| ● | You
may grant a subsequent proxy by telephone or through the Internet; and |
| ● | You
may send a timely written notice that you are revoking your proxy to Sonim’s Secretary
at 6500 River Place Blvd., Building 7, Suite 250, Austin, TX 78730, attention Clay Crolius. |
Your
most current proxy card or telephone or Internet proxy is the one that will be counted.
Beneficial
Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker, Bank or Other Nominee
If
your shares are held by your broker, bank or other nominee, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker, bank or other
nominee to revoke your proxy.
When
are stockholder proposals due for next year’s annual meeting?
Requirements
for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting
Our
amended and restated bylaws provide that, for stockholder director nominations or other proposals to be considered at an annual meeting,
the stockholder must give timely notice thereof in writing to our Secretary at 6500 River Place Blvd., Building 7, Suite 250, Austin,
TX 78730. To be timely for the 2023 annual meeting of Stockholders, a stockholder’s notice must be received by our Secretary at
our principal executive offices between the close of business June 28, 2023, and close of business July 28, 2023; provided that if the
date of the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders is earlier than September 26, 2023, or later than November 25, 2023, you must give the
required notice not earlier than the 120th day prior to the 2023 annual meeting date and not later than the 90th
day prior to the 2023 annual meeting date or, if later, the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure of that
annual meeting date is first made. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must also set forth the information required by our
amended and restated bylaws. In addition to satisfying the deadlines in the advance notice provisions of our bylaws, a stockholder who
intends to solicit proxies in support of nominees submitted under these advance notice provisions for the 2023 annual meeting must provide
the notice required under Rule 14a-19 to the Company’s corporate secretary not later than August 27, 2023 (provided that if the
date of the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders is earlier than September 26, 2023, or later than November 25, 2023, you must give the
required notice not later than sixty (60) days prior to our 2023 annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement
of the date of the annual meeting is first made).
Requirements
for stockholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials.
Stockholder
proposals submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”)
and intended to be presented at the 2023 annual meeting of Stockholders must be in writing and received by us not later than
May 31, 2023 in
order to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for that annual meeting.
How
are votes counted?
Votes
will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the annual meeting, who will separately count, for the proposal to elect directors,
votes “For,” “Withhold” and broker non-votes; and, with respect to the other proposals, votes “For”
and “Against,” abstentions and, if applicable, broker non-votes.
Abstentions
will be counted towards the vote total for each of Proposals 2, 3, and 4 and will have the same effect as “Against” votes.
Broker
non-votes will be counted for purposes of calculating whether a quorum is present at our 2022 annual meeting, but will not be counted
for purposes of determining the number of votes present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote with respect to a particular
proposal as to which that broker “non-vote” occurs. Thus, a broker “non-vote” will not impact our ability to
obtain a quorum for the annual meeting and will not otherwise affect the approval by a majority of the votes present in person or represented
by proxy and entitled to vote on any of the Proposals. Broker non-votes on Proposals 1, and 2 will have no effect and will not be counted
towards the vote total for any of those proposals. With respect to Proposals 3 and 4, broker non-votes are not expected because Proposals
3 and 4 are routine proposals.
Votes
will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the annual meeting. With respect to
Proposal 1, you may vote “For” all the nominees to the Board, “Withhold” your vote for all nominees, or you may
“Withhold” your vote for any nominee you specify. With respect to Proposals 2, 3 and 4, you may vote “For” or
“Against” or abstain from voting.
What
are “broker non-votes?”
As
discussed above, when a beneficial owner of shares held in street name does not give voting instructions to his or her broker, bank or
other securities intermediary holding his or her shares as to how to vote on matters deemed to be “non-routine” under NYSE
rules, the broker, bank or other such agent cannot vote the shares. These un-voted shares are counted as “broker non-votes.”
Proposals 1 and 2 are considered to be “non-routine” and we, therefore, expect broker non-votes to exist in connection with
those proposals.
As
a reminder, if you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name, in order to ensure
your shares are voted in the way you would prefer, you must provide voting instructions to your broker, bank or other agent by
the deadline provided in the materials you receive from your broker, bank or other agent.
How
many votes are needed to approve each proposal?
For
the election of directors, the seven nominees receiving the most “FOR” votes from the holders of shares present in person
or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors will be elected. Only votes “FOR” will affect the
outcome. Broker non-votes are not counted for the
purpose of determining the number of votes cast and will therefore not have any effect on the outcome of the vote on Proposal
1.
Approval
of Proposal 2 requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled
to vote on the matter. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote “Against”
Proposal 2. Broker non-votes are not counted for the
purpose of determining the number of votes cast and will therefore not have any effect on the outcome of the vote on Proposal
2.
Approval
of Proposal 3 requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote
thereon. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote “Against” Proposal 3. If you hold your shares in “street name”
(that is, your shares are held in an account at and registered in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, or similar organization),
your broker or other organization may vote your shares under limited circumstances if you do not provide voting instructions before the
annual meeting. These circumstances include voting your shares on so-called “routine matters.” Proposal 3 is a “routine”
matter.
Approval
of Proposal 4 requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares present in person
or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote “Against”
Proposal 4. If you hold your shares in “street name” (that is, your shares are
held in an account at and registered in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer or similar organization), your broker or other
organization may vote your shares under limited circumstances if you do not provide voting instructions before the annual meeting. These
circumstances include voting your shares on so-called “routine matters.” Proposal 4 is a “routine” matter.
Please
carefully review the table below.
#
|
|
Proposal
|
|
Vote
Required |
|
Effect
of Abstentions |
|
Routine
or non-routine Broker Non-Votes |
1
|
|
Election
of Directors |
|
Plurality
of votes cast. |
|
No
effect. |
|
The
matter is not routine.
No
effect. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
Amendment
to the Company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan |
|
Affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter. |
|
Same
effect as an “Against” vote. |
|
The
matter is not routine.
No
effect. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
Amendment
to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as Amended to Effect a Reverse Stock Split |
|
Affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. |
|
Same
effect as an “Against” vote. |
|
The
matter is routine.
Broker’s
non-votes are not expected. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
Ratification
of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
|
Affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter. |
|
Same
effect as an “Against” vote. |
|
The
matter is routine.
Broker’s
non-votes are not expected. |
What
is the quorum requirement?
A
quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. The presence at the annual meeting,
in person or represented by proxy, of the holders of one-third of our common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the
annual meeting constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting. On the record date, there were 40,272,229
shares outstanding and entitled to vote. Thus, the holders of at least 13,424,077 shares must be present in person or represented
by proxy at the annual meeting to have a quorum.
Your
shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or
other nominee) or if you vote in person at the annual meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted towards the quorum requirement.
If there is no quorum, the holders of a majority of shares present at the annual meeting in person or represented by proxy may adjourn
the annual meeting to another date.
How
can I find out the results of the voting at the annual meeting?
Preliminary
voting results will be announced at the annual meeting. In addition, final voting results will be published in a current report on Form
8-K that we expect to file within four business days after the annual meeting. If final voting results are not available to us in time
to file a Form 8-K within four business days after the annual meeting, we intend to file a Form 8-K to publish preliminary results and,
within four business days after the final results are known to us, file an additional Form 8-K to publish the final results.
What
proxy materials are available on the Internet?
The
proxy statement and annual report to stockholders are available at www.sonimtech.com under Investor Relations.
PROPOSAL
1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Sonim’s
Board consists of seven directors. Our Board has selected all seven of our directors for election at the annual meeting. Each director
to be elected and qualified will hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her respective successor
is elected, or, if sooner, until the director’s death, resignation, or removal. Each of the nominees listed below is currently
a director of the Company, and Mr. Howe and Mr. Mulica were previously elected by the stockholders. Messrs. Cassano, Wang, and Steenstra
were appointed as directors by the Company’s then-current non-management directors, Mr. Howe and Mr. Mulica in accordance with
the terms of certain subscription agreement dated April 13, 2022 (the “Subscription Agreement”), by and between the Company
and AJP Holding Company, LLC, following the approval of the Subscription Agreement by the stockholders of the Company on June 28, 2022.
Messrs. and Principe and Liu were appointed as directors by the Company’s then-current non-management directors, Messrs. Howe,
Mulica, Wang, Cassano, and Steenstra.
Nominees
The
Board, together with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, seeks to assemble a Board that, as a whole, possesses the appropriate
balance of professional and industry knowledge, financial expertise, and high-level management experience necessary to oversee and direct
the Company’s business. To that end, the Board and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee have identified and evaluated
nominees in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition, with the goal of recruiting members who complement and strengthen
the skills of other members and who also exhibit integrity, collegiality, sound business judgment and other qualities viewed as critical
to effective functioning of the Board. The brief biographies below include information, as of the date of this proxy statement, regarding
the specific and particular experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills of each director or nominee that led the Board to believe
that that nominee should continue to serve on the Board. However, each of the members of the Board may have a variety of reasons why
he or she believes a particular person would be an appropriate nominee for the Board, and these views may differ from the views of other
members.
The
current composition of the Board is illustrated in the table below. The Company’s diversity matrix is available on the Company’s
website.
Name,
Current Position and Occupation |
|
Year
First
Became
Director |
|
Age |
|
Independent |
|
Audit
Committee |
|
Compensation
Committee |
|
Nominating
and Governance
Committee |
Mike
Mulica,
Director |
|
2021 |
|
59 |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
Chairman |
|
✓ |
Alan
Howe,
Director |
|
2017 |
|
61 |
|
Yes |
|
✓
* |
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
Wang,
Director, Chairman of the Board |
|
2022 |
|
29 |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack
Steenstra,
Director |
|
2022 |
|
60 |
|
Yes |
|
✓ |
|
✓ |
|
Chairman |
James
Cassano,
Director |
|
2022 |
|
76 |
|
Yes |
|
Chairman,
* |
|
✓ |
|
|
Peter
Liu,
Director,
Chief Executive Officer |
|
2022 |
|
54 |
|
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jose
C. Principe
Director |
|
2022 |
|
72 |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
Audit Committee Financial Expert |
Jeffrey
Wang has served as Chairman of our Board since July 2022. Mr. Wang has served as a Software Engineer at Plaid Inc., a California-based
financial services company, since April 2022. Previously he was a Senior Software Engineer at Waymo LLC, Google LLC’s autonomous
driving technology company, from August 2019 to April 2022 with the data warehouse team, a Senior Software Engineer with the search ads
backend infrastructure at Google LLC from February 2015 to August 2019. Mr. Wang holds a BA in Computer Science from the University of
California, Berkeley. The Board believes that Mr. Wang’s experience at technology companies qualifies him to serve on our Board.
Peter
Liu has served as a member of our Board since July 2022. Mr. Liu has served as our Chief Executive Officer since April 2022.
Mr. Liu previously served as our Executive Vice President for Global Operations from September 2010 to April 2022. From 2007 to 2010,
Mr. Liu served as Global Quality Director for LOM/Perlos, an international VI supplier of mobile phones. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Liu was
the Head of Quality for the Strategic Growth Engine business at Motorola Solutions, Inc., a multinational telecommunications company.
Mr. Liu received an M.B.A. from Lawrence Technological University and a Bachelor’s in Engineering from Tianjin University. The
Board believes that Mr. Lui’s experience as our Executive Vice President for Global Operations and his knowledge of our Company
qualifies him to serve on our Board.
James
Cassano has served as a member of our Board since July 2022. Mr. Cassano is currently a Partner & Chief Financial Officer
of CoActive Health Solutions, LLC, a worldwide contract research organization, supporting the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
He also has been serving as a board member of Ideanomics, a global electric vehicle company, since January 2008. Mr. Cassano has served
as executive vice president, chief financial officer, secretary, and director of Jaguar Acquisition Corporation, a blank check company,
since its formation in June 2005. Mr. Cassano has served as a managing director of Katalyst LLC, a company which provides certain administrative
services to Jaguar Acquisition Corporation, since January 2005. In June 1998, Mr. Cassano founded New Forum Publishers, an electronic
publisher of educational material for secondary schools, and served as its chairman of the Board and chief executive officer until it
was sold to Apex Learning, Inc., a company controlled by Warburg Pincus, in August 2003. He remained with Apex until November 2003 in
transition as vice president business development and served as a consultant to the company through February 2004. In June 1995, Mr.
Cassano co-founded Advantix, Inc., a high volume electronic ticketing software and transaction services company which handled event related
client and customer payments, that was renamed Tickets.com and went public through an IPO in 1999. From March 1987 to June 1995, Mr.
Cassano served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of the Hill Group, Inc., a privately-held engineering and consulting
organization, and from February 1986 to March 1987, Mr. Cassano served as vice president of investments and acquisitions for Safeguard
Scientifics, Inc., a public venture development company. From May 1973 to February 1986, Mr. Cassano served as partner and director of
strategic management services (Europe) for the strategic management group of Hay Associates. Mr. Cassano received a BS in Aeronautics
and Astronautics from Purdue University and an MBA from Wharton Graduate School at the University of Pennsylvania. The Board believes
that Mr. Cassano’s extensive financial and executive experience with multiple private and public companies qualifies him to serve
on our Board.
Alan
Howe has served as a member of our Board since October 2017. Since April 2001, Mr. Howe has served as co-founder and Managing
Partner of Broadband Initiatives, LLC, a boutique corporate development and strategic consulting firm. Previously, Mr. Howe held various
executive management positions at Covad Communications, Inc., a provider of broadband voice and data communications, Teletrac, Inc.,
a location-tracking software company, Sprint Corporation, a telecommunications company, and Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company, a commercial
bank. Mr. Howe currently serves on the boards of Babcock and Wilcox, a company providing environmental technologies for the power industry,
Orion Energy Systems, Inc., a LED lighting and intelligent controls company, and NextNav, a developer of 3D geolocation services. Mr.
Howe previously served on the board of directors for Data I/O Corporation, magicJack, VocalTec, Ltd., a cloud communications company,
CafePress, an online retailer of user customized products, Urban Communications, a provider of fiber optic services, Qualstar Corporation,
a data storage products manufacturer, Determine. Inc., a provider of life cycle management solutions software, Widepoint Corporation,
a provider of technology products and services, and Resonant Inc., a hardware development company for mobile devices. The Board believes
that Mr. Howe’s extensive financial, executive and board experience with multiple private and public companies qualifies him to
serve on our Board.
Mike
Mulica has served as a member of our Board since April 2021. Mr. Mulica has served as Chairman at AlefEdge since March 2018 and
as its Chief Executive Officer since August 2021. From May 2018 to present, Mr. Mulica has served as the Global Management Advisor at
Mulica Consulting, advising public and private companies on global mobile Internet and application platforms. From May 2016 to August
2018, Mr. Mulica served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Actility Technologies, Inc., an IoT communications and software company.
From June 2014 to May 2016, Mr. Mulica served as the President, Worldwide Sales and Business Development at Real Networks, Inc., a content
and Internet software company. From October 2011 to July 2014, Mr. Mulica served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Openwave
Systems, Inc., a mobile Internet software company. Prior to his service at Openwave Systems, he held various leadership positions at
Motorola, Inc., a communications systems company, Synchronoss Technologies, an Internet software and services company, FusionOne, Inc.,
a mobile Internet software company, BridgePort Technologies, Inc., a mobile Internet software company, Phone.com, Inc., inventor of the
mobile Internet, California Microwave, Inc., a microwave and satellite systems company, and Tandem Computers, a fault tolerant computer
manufacturer. Mr. Mulica holds a BS in Finance from Marquette University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern
University. The Board believes that Mr. Mulica’s extensive operational, executive and board experience with numerous private and
public companies at various Internet, mobile and software companies qualifies him to serve on our Board.
Jose
C. Principe Dr. Principe, has served as a Distinguished Professor and Eckis Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the
University of Florida, Gainesville, where he has been teaching statistical signal processing and advanced machine learning, since 1987.
During his career, he innovated many aspects of adaptive systems and integrated information theory with machine learning. Dr. Principe
is the Founding Director of the Computational NeuroEngineering Laboratory, a University of Florida, Gainesville laboratory dedicated
to interfacing machine learning with the brain. Throughout his academic career, he also explored technology transfer and has been awarded
43 U.S. patents. With his graduate students, Dr. Principe created NeuroDimension in 1991, a software development company specializing
in neural networks, adaptive systems, and genetic optimization, in addition to being involved in two other startups with unique products:
fetal heart rate monitoring and ultra-low power e-pills. He is active in the International Electrical and Electronic Engineer Society
(IEEE) and the International Neural Network Society, has been awarded the IEEE Neural Network Pioneer Award and the IEEE Claude Shannon
Henry Nyquist Award. He was also named a Fellow of the IEEE, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the
National Academy of Inventors. The Board believes that Dr. Principe’s comprehensive engineering experience with signal monitoring
and processing qualified him to serve on our Board.
Jack
Steenstra has served as a member of our Board since July 2022. Mr. Steenstra has served as the Chief Technology Officer of Meta
Technologies Inc. since August 2017. From November 2015 to August 2017, he was a freelance technology consultant with various startups
including VRx Medical, an immersive digital therapeutics company, contributing to the technical, business, and product innovation of
new products, services, and associated businesses developing new wireless devices. From July 1995 to November 2015, Mr. Steenstra was
Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm, where he led a cross-functional department developing new products to support new business
opportunities. Prior to that, he was an engineer at Abbott Laboratories, where he developed digital surveillance systems, software, and
medical devices. Since January 2012, he has been a board member of Stepping Stone San Diego, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment
program specializing in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community. Mr. Steenstra holds a BS in Electrical and Electronics
Engineering from the University of Michigan and a MS in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Southern California.
The Board believes that Mr. Steenstra’s extensive leadership experience and business consulting experience qualifies him to serve
on our Board.
Vote
Required
Directors
are elected by a plurality of the votes of the holders of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the
election of directors. Accordingly, the seven nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected.
The
Board of Directors Recommends
a
Vote “FOR ALL” the Seven Director
Nominees
INFORMATION
REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Independence
of The Board of Directors
As
required under the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), and our Corporate Governance Guidelines, a majority of the members of
a listed company’s board of directors must qualify as “independent,” as affirmatively determined by the board of directors.
In addition, applicable Nasdaq rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation
and nominating committees be independent within the meaning of applicable Nasdaq rules. Audit committee members must also satisfy the
independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.
Consistent
with these considerations, our Board undertook a review of the independence of each director and considered whether any director has
a relationship which, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of judgment in carrying out the responsibilities
of a director. After review of all relevant transactions or relationships between each director, or any of his or her family members,
and the Company, its senior management, and its independent registered public accounting firm, the Board has affirmatively determined
that the following directors are independent directors within the meaning of the applicable Nasdaq listing standards: Messrs. Cassano,
Howe, Mulica, Principe, Steenstra, and Wang.
In
making these determinations, our Board considered certain relationships and transactions that occurred in the ordinary course of business
between the Company and entities with which some of our directors are or have been affiliated. The Board determined that such transactions
would not impair the particular director’s independence or interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out
director responsibilities. The Board determined that Mr. Liu, by virtue of his employment with the Company as Chief Executive Officer,
is not an independent director.
Board
Leadership Structure
The
Board of the Company has an independent chair, Jeffrey Wang. As Board Chair, Mr. Wang has broad authority, among other things, to call
and preside over Board meetings, including meetings of the independent directors, to set meeting agendas and to determine materials to
be distributed to the Board. Accordingly, the Board Chair has substantial ability to shape the work of the Board. Peter Liu, the Company’s
Chief Executive Officer, currently serves as our principal executive officer. The Company believes that having an independent Board Chair
reinforces the independence of the Board in its oversight of the business and affairs of the Company. In addition, the Company believes
that having an independent Board Chair creates an environment that is more conducive to objective evaluation and oversight of management’s
performance, increasing management accountability and improving the ability of the Board to monitor whether management’s actions
are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. As a result, the Company believes that having an independent Board Chair
can enhance the effectiveness of the Board as a whole.
Role
of the Board in Risk Oversight
One
of the Board’s key functions is informed oversight of the Company’s risk management process. The Board does not have a standing
risk management committee, but rather administers this oversight function directly through the Board as a whole, as well as through various
Board standing committees that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. In particular, our Board is responsible
for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure, including a determination of the nature and level of risk appropriate for the Company.
Our Audit Committee has the responsibility to consider and discuss our major financial risk exposures and the steps our management has
taken to monitor and control these exposures, including guidelines and policies to govern the process by which risk assessment and management
is undertaken. The Audit Committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, in addition to oversight of the performance
of our internal audit function. Audit Committee responsibilities also include oversight of cybersecurity risk management, and, to that
end, the committee typically meets annually with IT or business personnel responsible for cybersecurity risk management. Our Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance guidelines, including whether they are successful
in preventing illegal or improper liability-creating conduct. Our Compensation Committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation
policies and programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking. Typically, the applicable Board committees meet at least
annually with the employees responsible for risk management in the committees’ respective areas of oversight. It is the responsibility
of the committee chairs to report findings regarding material risk exposures to the Board as quickly as possible. The Board has delegated
to the Board’s Chair the responsibility of coordinating between the Board and management with regard to the determination and implementation
of responses to any problematic risk management issues.
Meetings
of The Board of Directors; Attendance
The
Board met 26 times during the last fiscal year. Each Board member attended 75% or more of the aggregate number of meetings of the
Board and of the committees on which she or he served, held during the portion of the last fiscal year for which she or he was a director
or committee member.
It
is the Company’s policy to invite nominees for director to attend the annual meeting. All of our then-current directors attended
our 2021 annual meeting of stockholders.
Information
Regarding Committees of the Board of Directors
The
Board has three committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The following
table provides meeting information for fiscal 2021 for each of the Board committees:
Committee: |
|
Audit |
|
Compensation |
|
Nominating
and Corporate Governance |
Total
meetings in the fiscal year 2021: |
|
4 |
|
1 |
|
0 |
Below
is a description of each committee of the Board. Each of the committees has adopted a written charter that is available to stockholders
on our website at www.sonimtech.com.
Audit
Committee
The
Audit Committee of the Board oversees the Company’s corporate accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of its financial
statements. The Audit Committee performs several functions, including:
|
● |
recommending
and retaining an independent registered public accounting firm to serve as independent auditor to audit our financial statements,
overseeing the independent auditor’s work and determining the independent auditor’s compensation; |
|
|
|
|
● |
approving
in advance all audit services and non-audit services to be provided to us by our independent auditor; |
|
|
|
|
●
|
establishing
procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls,
auditing or compliance matters, as well as for the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable
accounting or auditing matters; |
|
|
|
|
● |
overseeing
our risk assessment and risk management processes; |
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviewing
and ratifying all related party transactions, based on the standards set forth in our related party transactions policy; |
|
|
|
|
● |
reviewing
and discussing with management and our independent auditor the results of the annual audit and the independent auditor’s review
of our quarterly financial statements; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
conferring
with management and our independent auditor about the scope, adequacy and effectiveness of our internal accounting controls, the
objectivity of our financial reporting and our accounting policies and practices. |
The
Audit Committee currently consists of James Cassano, Alan Howe and Jack Steenstra, each of whom is “independent” under applicable
SEC rules and Nasdaq listing standards for Audit Committee membership, as determined by our Board. Our Board has further determined that
each member of the Audit Committee satisfies the financial literacy and sophistication requirements of the SEC and Nasdaq listing rules.
In addition, our Board has determined that Mr. Cassano and Mr. Howe are each an audit committee financial expert, as defined by SEC rules
and regulations.
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS(1)
The
Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, with the management
of the Company. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed
by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and the SEC. The Audit Committee
has also received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable
requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent accountants’ communications with the audit committee concerning independence,
and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the accounting firm’s independence. Based on the foregoing,
the Audit Committee has recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
|
Members
of the Audit Committee: |
|
|
|
Mr. James Cassano (Chairperson) |
|
Mr. Alan Howe |
|
Mr.
Jack Steenstra |
(1)
The material in this report is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed “filed” with the SEC and is not to be
incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the
date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing.
Compensation
Committee
The
primary purpose of our Compensation Committee is to discharge the responsibilities of our Board in overseeing our compensation policies,
plans and programs and to review and determine the compensation to be paid to our executive officers, directors and other senior management,
as appropriate.
The
principal duties and responsibilities, among others, of our Compensation Committee include:
|
● |
establishing
and approving, and making recommendations to the board of directors regarding, performance goals and objectives relevant to the compensation
of our chief executive officer, evaluating the performance of our chief executive officer in light of those goals and objectives
and setting, or recommending to the full board of directors for approval, the chief executive officer’s compensation, including
incentive-based and equity-based compensation, based on that evaluation; |
|
|
|
|
● |
setting
the compensation of our other executive officers, based in part on recommendations of the chief executive officer; |
|
|
|
|
● |
exercising
administrative authority under our equity incentive plan and employee benefit plans; |
|
|
|
|
● |
establishing
policies and making recommendations to our board of directors regarding director compensation; |
|
|
|
|
● |
overseeing
risks and exposures associated with executive and director compensation plans and arrangements; reviewing and discussing with
management the compensation discussion and analysis that we may be required from time to time to include in SEC filings; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
preparing
a compensation committee report on executive and director compensation as may be required from time to time to be included in future
annual proxy statements or annual reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. |
The
Compensation Committee currently consists of Mike Mulica, James Cassano, and Jack Steenstra, each of whom are independent directors under
applicable Nasdaq listing standards. In making this determination, the Board considered whether the director has a relationship with
the Company that is material to the director’s ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a member
of the Compensation Committee.
Compensation
Committee Processes and Procedures
The
agenda for each meeting of the Compensation Committee is usually developed by the Chair of the Compensation Committee in consultation
with the CEO. The Compensation Committee generally meets in executive session. However, from time to time, various members of management
and other employees as well as outside advisors or consultants may be invited by the Compensation Committee to make presentations, to
provide financial or other background information or advice or to otherwise participate in Compensation Committee meetings. The CEO may
not participate in, or be present during, any deliberations or determinations of the Compensation Committee regarding his compensation
or individual performance objectives. The charter of the Compensation Committee grants the Compensation Committee full access to all
books, records, facilities and personnel of the Company. In addition, under the charter, the Compensation Committee has the authority
to obtain, at the expense of the Company, advice and assistance from compensation consultants and internal and external legal, accounting
or other advisors and other external resources that the Compensation Committee considers necessary or appropriate in the performance
of its duties. The Compensation Committee has direct responsibility for the oversight of the work of any consultants or advisers engaged
for the purpose of advising the Committee. In particular, the Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain, in its sole discretion,
compensation consultants to assist in its evaluation of executive and director compensation, including the authority to approve the consultant’s
reasonable fees and other retention terms. Under the charter, the Compensation Committee may select, or receive advice from, a compensation
consultant, legal counsel or other adviser to the compensation committee, other than in-house legal counsel and certain other types of
advisers, only after taking into consideration six factors, prescribed by the SEC and Nasdaq, that bear upon the adviser’s independence;
however, there is no requirement that any adviser be independent.
The
Compensation Committee considers matters related to individual compensation, such as compensation for new executive hires, as well as
high-level strategic issues, such as the efficacy of the Company’s compensation strategy, potential modifications to that strategy
and new trends, plans or approaches to compensation, at various meetings throughout the year. Generally, the Compensation Committee’s
process comprises two related elements: the determination of compensation levels and the establishment of performance objectives for
the current year. For executives other than the CEO, the Compensation Committee solicits and considers evaluations and recommendations
submitted to the Committee by the CEO. In the case of the CEO, the evaluation of his performance is conducted by the Compensation Committee,
which determines any adjustments to his compensation as well as awards to be granted. For all executives as part of its deliberations,
the Compensation Committee may review and consider, as appropriate, materials such as financial reports and projections, operational
data, tax and accounting information, tally sheets that set forth the total compensation that may become payable to executives in various
hypothetical scenarios, executive and director stock ownership information, company stock performance data, analyses of historical executive
compensation levels and current Company-wide compensation levels and recommendations of the Compensation Committee’s compensation
consultant, including analyses of executive and director compensation paid at other companies identified by the consultant.
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee currently consists of Mike Mulica and Jack Steenstra, each of whom qualifies as
an independent director under the listing standards of Nasdaq. The principal duties and responsibilities, among others, of our Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee include:
|
● |
assessing
the need for new directors and identifying individuals qualified to become directors; |
|
● |
recommending
to the Board of Directors the persons to be nominated for election as directors and to each of the board’s committees; |
|
● |
assessing
individual director performance, participation and qualifications; |
|
● |
developing,
recommending, overseeing the implementation of and monitoring compliance with our corporate governance guidelines, and periodically
reviewing and recommending any necessary or appropriate changes to our corporate governance guidelines; |
|
● |
monitoring
the effectiveness of the Board and the quality of the relationship between management and the board; and |
|
● |
overseeing
an annual evaluation of the Board’s performance. |
The
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that candidates for director should have certain minimum qualifications, including
the ability to read and understand basic financial statements, being over 21 years of age and having the highest personal integrity and
ethics. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also intends to consider such factors as possessing relevant expertise upon
which to be able to offer advice and guidance to management, having sufficient time to devote to the affairs of the Company, demonstrated
excellence in his or her field, having the ability to exercise sound business judgment and having the commitment to rigorously represent
the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders. However, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee retains the right
to modify these qualifications from time to time. Candidates for director nominees are reviewed in the context of the current composition
of the Board, the operating requirements of the Company and the long-term interests of stockholders. In conducting this assessment, the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers skills, age, diversity (including gender, racial and ethnic diversity) and such
other factors as it deems appropriate, given the current needs of the Board and the Company, to maintain a balance of knowledge, experience
and capability.
At
this time, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not have a policy with regard to the consideration of director candidates
recommended by stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that it is in the best position to identify,
review, evaluate and select qualified candidates for Board membership, based on the comprehensive criteria for Board membership approved
by the Board.
Arrangements
in Connection with Directors’ Election and Nomination
Messrs.
Cassano, Wang, and Steenstra were appointed as directors by the Company’s then-current non-management directors, Mr. Howe and Mr.
Mulica, following the approval of the Subscription Agreement by the stockholders of the Company on June 28, 2022, and consummation of
the first closing under the terms of the Subscription Agreement. The Subscription Agreement does not contemplate a duty of the Company
to re-nominate any of Messrs. Cassano, Wang, and Steenstra.
On
July 13, 2022, contemporaneously with the first closing of the Subscription Agreement, AJP Holding Company, LLC and Mr. Liu entered into
a certain support agreement (the “Support Agreement”) with the Company pursuant to which they agreed among other things,
to vote the shares of common stock owned by them in favor of the election of Mr. Howe and Mr. Mulica (or other Continuing Directors,
as such term defined in the Subscription Agreement). The Support Agreement also requires, as a condition to AJP Holding Company, LLC
and Mr. Liu transferring any shares of common stock owned by them that are subject to the Support Agreement, that the acquirer of such
shares of common stock agree to be bound by the terms of the Support Agreement. The Support Agreement will terminate upon the Director
End Time (as such term defined in the Subscription Agreement).
Stockholder
Communications With The Board Of Directors
Historically,
the Company has not provided a formal process related to stockholder communications with the Board. Nevertheless, efforts have been made
to ensure that the views of stockholders are heard by the Board or individual directors, as applicable, and that appropriate responses
are provided to stockholders in a timely manner. The Company believes its responsiveness to stockholder communications to the Board has
been excellent.
Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
We
have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, or the Code of Conduct, applicable to all of our employees, executive officers, and
directors. The Code of Conduct is available on our website at www.sonimtech.com. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of
our Board of Directors will be responsible for overseeing the Code of Conduct and must approve any waivers of the Code of Conduct for
employees, executive officers, and directors. We expect that any amendments to the Code of Conduct, or any waivers of its requirements,
will be disclosed on our website.
Corporate
Governance Guidelines
Our
Board of Directors adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to assure that the Board will have the necessary authority and practices in
place to review and evaluate the Company’s business operations as needed and to make decisions that are independent of the Company’s
management. The guidelines are also intended to align the interests of directors and management with those of the Company’s stockholders.
The Corporate Governance Guidelines set forth the practices the Board intends to follow with respect to board composition and selection,
including diversity, board meetings and involvement of senior management, CEO performance evaluation and succession planning, corporate
social responsibility and board committees and compensation. The Corporate Governance Guidelines may be viewed at www.sonimtech.com.
Employee,
Officer and Director Hedging
No
officer, director, employee, or consultant to the Company may engage in short sales, transactions in put or call options, hedging transactions,
margin accounts, pledges, or other inherently speculative transactions with respect to the Company’s stock at any time in accordance
with the Company’s insider trading policy dated as of March 26, 2019.
PROPOSAL
2
AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S 2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
In
May 2020, our Board approved an amendment to the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”) which was approved by the stockholders
in September 2020. We refer to the 2019 Plan, as subsequently amended, as the Amended 2019 Plan throughout this proxy statement. We
refer to the Sonim Technologies, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended, as “2019 ESPP.”
On
September 15, our Board approved a second amendment to the 2019 Plan, subject to stockholder approval. The material terms of the
Second Amended 2019 Plan are summarized below. The Second Amended 2019 Plan contains the following material changes from the Amended
2019 Plan:
|
● |
Subject
to adjustment for certain changes in our capitalization (including the reverse stock split
described in Proposal 3), the aggregate number of shares of our common stock that may be
issued under the Amended 2019 Plan will not exceed 6,908,247 shares, which is an increase
of 5,000,000 shares over the aggregate number of shares of our common stock that may be issued
under the 2019 Plan. |
|
|
|
|
● |
Such
increase also constitutes a corresponding increase in the number of shares available for issuance under the Second Amended 2019 Plan
pursuant to the exercise of incentive stock options. |
As
of the Record Date the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance but unissued under the 2019 Plan is 194,892, and
the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance but unissued under the 2019 ESPP is 58,337. As of the Record
Date, the Company has outstanding stock options to purchase approximately 64,847 shares of common stock, 1,076,736 shares
of common stock subject to outstanding restricted stock units and warrants to purchase 2 shares of common stock, all of which were granted
under the 2019 Plan and various other prior plans and non-plan agreements.
Why
You Should Vote for the Second Amended 2019 Plan
Equity
Awards Are an Important Part of Our Compensation Philosophy
The
Board believes that it is very important that our eligible employees, consultants and directors receive part of their compensation in
the form of equity awards to foster their investment in us, reinforce the link between their financial interests and those of our other
stockholders and maintain a competitive compensation program. Equity compensation fosters an employee ownership culture, motivates employees
to create stockholder value and, because the awards are typically subject to vesting and other conditions, promotes a focus on long-term
value creation. The equity incentive programs we have in place have worked to build stockholder value by attracting and retaining extraordinarily
talented employees, consultants and directors. The Board believes we must continue to offer competitive equity compensation packages
in order to attract and motivate the talent necessary for our continued growth and success.
We
Expect to Continue to Experience Substantial Growth in Our Business
Our
Board approved the Second Amended 2019 Plan to help ensure that we have sufficient shares available to attract and retain qualified employees
to support our operations.
The
Second Amended 2019 Plan Combines Compensation and Governance Best Practices Designed to Protect our Stockholders’ Interests
We
recognize that equity compensation awards dilute stockholder equity and must be used judiciously. Our equity compensation practices are
designed to be in line with industry norms, and we believe our historical share usage has been responsible and mindful of stockholder
interests. Certain provisions in the Second Amended 2019 Plan are designed to protect our stockholders’ interests and to reflect
corporate governance best practices including:
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Flexibility
in designing equity compensation scheme. The Second Amended 2019 Plan allows us to provide a broad array of equity incentives,
including traditional stock option grants, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards
(“RSU”), performance stock awards and performance cash awards. By providing this flexibility we can quickly and
effectively react to trends in compensation practices and continue to offer competitive compensation arrangements to attract and
retain the talent necessary for the success of our business. |
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No
discounted stock options or stock appreciation rights. All stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the Second
Amended 2019 Plan must have an exercise price or strike price equal to or greater than the fair market value of our common stock
on the date the stock option or stock appreciation right is granted. |
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Limits
on non-employee director compensation. The maximum number of shares of common stock subject to awards granted under the Second
Amended 2019 Plan or otherwise during any one calendar year to any non-employee director, taken together with any cash fees paid
by us to the non-employee director during that year for service on our board of directors, will not exceed $600,000 in total value
(calculating the value of the awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes), or, with respect to the
calendar year in which a non-employee director is first appointed or elected to our board of directors, $1,000,000. |
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Awards
subject to forfeiture/clawback. Awards granted under the Second Amended 2019 Plan are
subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that we are required to adopt
pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which
our securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform
and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law. In addition, we may impose other clawback,
recovery or recoupment provisions in a stock award agreement, including a reacquisition right
in respect of previously acquired shares or other cash or property upon the occurrence of
cause. |
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No
single trigger accelerated vesting upon change in control. The Second Amended 2019 Plan does not provide for any automatic mandatory
vesting of awards upon a change in control. |
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No
liberal change in control definition. The change in control definition in the Second Amended 2019 Plan is not a “liberal”
definition. A change in control transaction must actually occur in order for the change in control provisions in the Second Amended
2019 Plan to be triggered. |
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Termination
of stock options and stock appreciation rights on a participant’s termination for cause. If a participant’s service
is terminated for cause, which is defined under the Second Amended 2019 Plan as (i) the participant’s commission of any felony
or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or any applicable
foreign jurisdiction; (ii) the participant’s attempted commission of or participation in a fraud or act of dishonesty against
us; (iii) the participant’s intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement with us, or any statutory duty the
participant owes to us; (iv) the participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of our confidential information or trade secrets;
or (v) the participant’s gross misconduct, the participant’s stock options and stock appreciation rights terminate immediately,
and the participant is prohibited from exercising his or her stock options and stock appreciation rights. |
We
Manage Our Equity Award Usage Carefully
The
following table provides certain additional information regarding our equity incentive plans as of the Record Date.
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As of September 15, 2022 | |
Total number of shares of common stock subject to outstanding stock options | |
| 64,847 | |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding stock options | |
$ | 41.20 | |
Weighted-average remaining term of outstanding stock options | |
| 5.48 years | |
Total number of shares of common stock subject to outstanding full value awards | |
| 1,076,736 | |
Total number of shares of common stock available for grant under the 2019 Plan | |
| 194,892 | |
Total number of shares of common stock available for grant under other equity incentive plans (1) | |
| 58,337 | |
Total number of shares of common stock outstanding | |
| 40,272,229 | |
Per-share closing price of common stock as reported on Nasdaq Capital Market | |
$ | 0.69 | |
(1)
Represents shares issuable pursuant to our 2019 ESPP.
The
following table provides detailed information regarding the activity related to our equity incentive plans for fiscal years 2019, 2020,
and 2021.
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Fiscal Year 2021 | | |
Fiscal Year 2020 | | |
Fiscal Year 2019 | |
Total number of shares of common stock subject to stock options granted | |
| 0 | | |
| 62,600 | | |
| 99,858 | |
Total number of shares of common stock subject to full value awards granted | |
| 220,268 | | |
| 280,600 | | |
| 15,950 | |
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Weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding | |
| 9,464,560 | | |
| 4,620,855 | | |
| 1,860,358 | |
Burn Rate (1) | |
| 2 | % | |
| 7 | % | |
| 6 | % |
(1)
Burn rate is the summation of the total number of stock options granted and full value awards granted divided by the weighted-average
shares outstanding
If
Proposal 2 Is Not Approved, We Will Not Have Enough Shares Available under the Second Amended 2019 Plan to Make Grants to Help Us Attract
and Retain Top Employees.
If
our stockholders approve this Proposal 2, the Second Amended 2019 Plan will become effective on the date of the annual meeting. If our
stockholders fail to approve this Proposal 2, the Amended 2019 Plan will remain as is without any changes thereto. If this Proposal 2
is not approved, we will not have sufficient shares available under the Amended 2019 Plan to make grants to help us retain top employees
and, unless we adopt a new inducement plan without the approval of our stockholders (pursuant to Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Listing
Rules), we will not be able to use equity compensation awards to attract new employees.
Description
of the Amended 2019 Plan
The
material features of the Amended 2019 Plan are outlined below. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete
text of the Amended 2019 Plan. Stockholders are encouraged to read the actual text of the Amended 2019 Plan, which is appended to this
proxy statement as Appendix A and may be accessed from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Awards.
The Second Amended 2019 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, or ISOs, nonstatutory stock options, or NSOs, stock
appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance-based stock awards, and other stock awards, or
collectively, stock awards.
Eligibility.
Employees, non-employee directors, and consultants are eligible to participate in the Second Amended 2019 Plan. All of our 55
employees, six non-employee directors, and 23 consultants are currently eligible to participate in the Second Amended 2019
Plan and may receive all types of stock awards, other than ISOs, under the Second Amended 2019 Plan. ISOs may be granted under the Second
Amended 2019 Plan only to our employees in the United States.
Authorized
Shares. If this Proposal 2 is approved, the total number of our common stock reserved for issuance under the Amended 2019 Plan will
not exceed 6,908,247, which number is the sum of (i) 188,503 shares that were approved in connection with the 2019 Plan’s
initial adoption, (ii) the number of shares subject to outstanding stock options or other stock awards that were granted under our 2012
Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, as of the initial adoption of the 2019 Plan, to the extent such awards are forfeited, terminated,
expire or are otherwise not issued, (iii) 300,000 shares that were approved at the Company’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders,
(iv) the entirety of the shares added pursuant the evergreen provision of the 2019 Plan and (v) 5,000,000 shares to be added pursuant
to this Proposal No. 2. Additionally, the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the Amended 2019 Plan automatically
increases on January 1 of each calendar year for ten (10) years ending on and including January 1, 2029, in an amount equal to 5% of
the total number of shares of our capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the prior calendar year, unless our board of directors
or compensation committee determines prior to the date of increase that there will be a lesser increase, or no increase. The foregoing
share amounts do not reflect the effect of the reverse stock split described in Proposal 3 and such amounts would be adjusted pursuant
to the terms of the Amended 2019 Plan to account for the changes to our capital structure resulting from such reverse stock split, as
described below under “Changes to Capital Structure” below.
Shares
subject to stock awards granted under our Second Amended 2019 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 our Second Amended 2019 Plan.
Additionally, shares become available for future grant under our Second Amended 2019 Plan if they were issued under stock awards under
our Second Amended 2019 Plan and we repurchase them or they are forfeited. This includes shares used to pay the exercise price of a stock
award or to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to a stock award.
Plan
Administration. Our board of directors, or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors, will administer our Second Amended
2019 Plan. Our board of directors may also delegate to one or more of our officers the authority to (i) designate employees (other than
officers) to receive specified stock awards, and (ii) determine the number of shares subject to such stock awards. Under our Second Amended
2019 Plan, our board of directors has the authority to determine and amend the terms of awards, including:
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recipients;
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the
exercise, purchase or strike price of stock awards, if any; |
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the
number of shares subject to each stock award; |
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the
fair market value of a share of our common stock in the event no public market exists for our common stock; |
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the
vesting schedule applicable to the awards, together with any vesting acceleration; and |
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the
form of consideration, if any, payable upon exercise or settlement of the award. |
Under
our Second Amended 2019 Plan, our board of directors also generally has the authority to effect, with the consent of any adversely affected
participant:
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the
reduction of the exercise, purchase or strike price of any outstanding award; |
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the
cancellation of any outstanding stock award and the grant in substitution therefor of other awards, cash or other consideration;
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any
other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles. |
Non-Employee
Director Limitation. The maximum number of shares of common stock subject to awards granted under the Second Amended 2019 Plan or
otherwise during any one calendar year to any non-employee director, taken together with any cash fees paid by us to the non-employee
director during that year for service on our board of directors, will not exceed $600,000 in total value (calculating the value of the
awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes), or, with respect to the calendar year in which a non-employee
director is first appointed or elected to our board of directors, $1,000,000.
Stock
Options. ISOs and NSOs 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 our Second Amended 2019 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 our Second Amended 2019 Plan vest at the rate specified in the stock option agreement as determined by the plan administrator.
The plan administrator determines the term of stock options granted under the Second Amended 2019 Plan, up to a maximum of ten years.
Unless the terms of an optionholder’s stock option agreement provide otherwise, if an optionholder’s service relationship
with us, or any of our affiliates, ceases for any reason other than disability, death or cause, the optionholder may generally exercise
any vested options for a period of three months following the cessation of service. The option term may be extended in the event that
exercise of the option following such a termination of service is prohibited by applicable securities laws or our insider trading policy.
If an optionholder’s service relationship with us or any of our affiliates ceases due to disability or death, or an optionholder
dies within a certain period following cessation of service, the optionholder or a beneficiary may generally exercise any vested options
for a period of 12 months in the event of disability and 18 months in the event of death. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable
stock option agreement or other written agreement between us or any of our affiliates and the participant, options terminate immediately
upon the termination of the individual’s employment for cause. In no event may an option be exercised beyond the expiration of
its term. Acceptable consideration for the purchase of common stock issued upon the exercise of a stock option will be determined by
the plan administrator and may include (1) cash, check, bank draft or money order, (2) a broker-assisted cashless exercise, (3) the tender
of shares of our common stock previously owned by the optionholder, (4) a net exercise of the option if it is an NSO, and (5) other legal
consideration approved by the plan administrator.
Tax
Limitations on ISOs. The aggregate fair market value, determined at the time of grant, of our common stock with respect to ISOs that
are exercisable for the first time by an optionholder during any calendar year under all of our stock plans may not exceed $100,000.
Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit will generally be treated as NSOs. No ISO may be granted to any person who, at the
time of the grant, owns or is deemed to own stock possessing more than 10% of our total combined voting power or that of any of our affiliates
unless (i) the option exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option on the date of grant
and (ii) the term of the ISO does not exceed five years from the date of grant. The maximum number of shares of our common stock that
may be issued upon the exercise of ISOs under our Second Amended 2019 Plan is equal to three times the aggregate number of shares reserved
under the Second Amended 2019 Plan.
Restricted
Stock Unit Awards. Restricted stock unit awards are granted pursuant to restricted stock unit award agreements adopted by the plan
administrator. Restricted stock unit awards may be granted in consideration for any form of legal consideration that may be acceptable
to our board of directors and permissible under applicable law. 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 once the participant’s continuous service ends for any reason.
Restricted
Stock Awards. Restricted stock awards are granted pursuant to restricted stock award agreements adopted by the plan administrator.
A restricted stock award may be awarded in consideration for cash, check, bank draft or money order, past services to us or any other
form of legal consideration (including future services) that may be acceptable to our board of directors and permissible under applicable
law. 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 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 through a forfeiture condition or a
repurchase right.
Performance
Awards. The Second Amended 2019 Plan permits the grant of performance awards. A performance award is a stock or cash award that is
payable (including that may be granted, may vest, or may be exercised) contingent upon the achievement of pre-determined performance
goals during a performance period. A performance award may require the completion of a specified period of continuous service. The length
of any performance period, the performance goals to be achieved during the performance period, and the measure of whether and to what
degree such performance goals have been attained will generally be determined by the plan administrator.
Performance
goals under the Second Amended 2019 Plan will be based on any one or more of the following performance criteria: (1) earnings (including
earnings per share and net earnings); (2) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (3) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization; (4) total stockholder return; (5) return on equity or average stockholder’s equity; (6) return on assets, investment,
or capital employed; (7) stock price; (8) margin (including gross margin); (9) income (before or after taxes); (10) operating income;
(11) operating income after taxes; (12) pre-tax profit; (13) operating cash flow; (14) sales or revenue targets; (15) increases in revenue
or product revenue; (16) expenses and cost reduction goals; (17) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (18) economic
value added (or an equivalent metric); (19) market share; (20) cash flow; (21) cash flow per share; (22) share price performance; (23)
debt reduction; (24) implementation or completion of projects or processes; (25) subscriber satisfaction; (26) stockholders’ equity;
(27) capital expenditures; (28) debt levels; (29) operating profit or net operating profit; (30) workforce diversity; (31) growth of
net income or operating income; (32) billings; (33) the number of subscribers, including but not limited to unique subscribers; (34)
employee retention; and (35) other measures of performance selected by the plan administrator.
Performance
goals may be based on a company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, affiliates or business segments, and
in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant
indices. Unless specified otherwise by the plan administrator at the time the performance goals are established, the plan administrator
will appropriately make adjustments in the method of calculating the attainment of performance goals for a performance period as follows::
(1) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (2) to exclude exchange rate effects; (3) to exclude the effects of changes
to generally accepted accounting principles; (4) to exclude the effects of items that are “unusual” in nature or occur “infrequently”
as determined under generally accepted accounting principles; (6) to exclude the dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures;
(7) to assume that any business divested by us achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a performance
period following such divestiture; (8) to exclude the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of our common stock by reason of
any stock dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange
of shares or other similar corporate change, or any distributions to common stockholders other than regular cash dividends; (9) to exclude
the effects of stock based compensation and the award of bonuses under our bonus plans; (10) to exclude costs incurred in connection
with potential acquisitions or divestitures that are required to be expensed under generally accepted accounting principles; and (11)
to exclude the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges that are required to be recorded under generally accepted accounting
principles.
Stock
Appreciation Rights. 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 our Second Amended 2019
Plan vests at the rate specified in the stock appreciation right agreement as determined by the plan administrator.
Other
Stock Awards. Our plan administrator may grant other awards based in whole or in part by reference to our common stock. Our plan
administrator will set the number of shares under the stock award and all other terms and conditions of such awards.
Changes
to Capital Structure. In the event that there is a specified type of change in our capital structure, such as a stock split or recapitalization,
appropriate adjustments will be made to (i) the class and the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under our Second Amended
2019 Plan, (ii) the class and the maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of ISOs, and (iii) the class and the
number of shares and exercise price, strike price, or purchase price, if applicable, of all outstanding stock awards.
Corporate
Transactions. Our Second Amended 2019 Plan provides that in the event of certain specified significant corporate transactions including:
(i) a sale of all or substantially all of our assets, (ii) the sale or disposition of more than 50% of our outstanding securities, (iii)
the consummation of a merger or consolidation where we do not survive the transaction and (iv) the consummation of a merger or consolidation
where we do survive the transaction but the shares of our common stock outstanding prior to such transaction are converted or exchanged
into other property by virtue of the transaction, each outstanding award will be treated as the plan administrator determines unless
otherwise provided in an award agreement or other written agreement between us and the award holder. The plan administrator may take
one of the following actions with respect to such awards:
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arrange
for the assumption, continuation or substitution of a stock award by a successor corporation; |
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arrange
for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us to a successor corporation; |
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accelerate
the vesting, in whole or in part, of the stock award and provide for its termination prior to the transaction; |
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arrange
for the lapse, in whole or in part, of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by us; |
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cancel
or arrange for the cancellation of the stock award, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time of the
transaction, in exchange for such cash consideration, if any, as the plan administrator may deem appropriate; or |
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make
a payment, in the form determined by the plan administrator, equal to the excess, if any, of the value of the property the participant
would have received on exercise of the awards before the transaction over any exercise price payable by the participant in connection
with the exercise, multiplied by the number of shares subject to the stock award. Any escrow, holdback, earnout or similar provisions
in the definitive agreement for the transaction may apply to such payment to the holder of a stock award to the same extent and in
the same manner as such provisions apply to holders of our common stock. |
The
plan administrator is not obligated to treat all stock awards or portions of stock awards, even those that are of the same type, in the
same manner in the event of a corporate transaction.
In
the event of a change in control, awards granted under our Second Amended 2019 Plan will not receive automatic acceleration of vesting
and/or exercisability, although this treatment may be provided for in an award agreement or in any other written agreement between us
and the participant. Under our Second Amended 2019 Plan, a change in control generally will be deemed to occur in the event: (i) the
acquisition by any a person or company of more than 50% of the combined voting power of our then outstanding stock; (ii) a merger, consolidation,
or similar transaction in which our stockholders immediately before the transaction do not own, directly or indirectly, more than 50%
of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving entity or the parent of the surviving entity; (iii) a sale, lease, exclusive
license or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets other than to an entity more than 50% of the combined voting power
of which is owned by our stockholders; or (iv) an unapproved change in the majority of our board of directors.
Transferability.
A participant generally may not transfer stock awards under our Second Amended 2019 Plan other than by will, the laws of descent
and distribution, or as otherwise provided under our Second Amended 2019 Plan.
Amendment
or Termination. Our board of directors has the authority to amend, suspend, or terminate our Second Amended 2019 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. No ISOs may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the date our
board of directors originally adopted our Second Amended 2019 Plan. No stock awards may be granted under our Second Amended 2019 Plan
while it is suspended or after it is terminated.
U.S.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The
following is a summary of the principal United States federal income tax consequences to participants and us with respect to participation
in the Second Amended 2019 Plan. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive and does not discuss the income tax laws of any local,
state or foreign jurisdiction in which a participant may reside. The information is based upon current federal income tax rules and therefore
is subject to change when those rules change. Because the tax consequences to any participant may depend on his or her particular situation,
each participant should consult the participant’s tax adviser regarding the federal, state, local and other tax consequences of
the grant or exercise of an award or the disposition of stock acquired the Second Amended 2019 Plan. The Second Amended 2019 Plan is
not qualified under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and is
not subject to any of the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Our ability to realize the benefit of any
tax deductions described below depends on our generation of taxable income as well as the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions
of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of our tax reporting obligations.
Nonstatutory
Stock Options
Generally,
there is no taxation upon the grant of an NSO if the stock option is granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of
the underlying stock on the grant date. Upon exercise, a participant will recognize ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the
fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of exercise of the stock option over the exercise price. If the participant is
employed by us or one of our affiliates, that income will be subject to withholding taxes. The participant’s tax basis in those
shares will be equal to their fair market value on the date of exercise of the stock option, and the participant’s capital gain
holding period for those shares will begin on that date.
Subject
to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation,
we will generally be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the participant.
Incentive
Stock Options
The
Second Amended 2019 Plan provides for the grant of stock options that are intended to qualify as “incentive stock options,”
as defined in Section 422 of the Code. Under the Code, a participant generally is not subject to ordinary income tax upon the grant or
exercise of an ISO. If the participant holds a share received upon exercise of an ISO for more than two years from the date the stock
option was granted and more than one year from the date the stock option was exercised, which is referred to as the required holding
period, the difference, if any, between the amount realized on a sale or other taxable disposition of that share and the participant’s
tax basis in that share will be long-term capital gain or loss. If, however, a participant disposes of a share acquired upon exercise
of an ISO before the end of the required holding period, which is referred to as a disqualifying disposition, the participant generally
will recognize ordinary income in the year of the disqualifying disposition equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of
the share on the date of exercise of the stock option over the exercise price. However, if the sales proceeds are less than the fair
market value of the share on the date of exercise of the stock option, the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant will
not exceed the gain, if any, realized on the sale. If the amount realized on a disqualifying disposition exceeds the fair market value
of the share on the date of exercise of the stock option, that excess will be short-term or long-term capital gain, depending on whether
the holding period for the share exceeds one year.
For
purposes of the alternative minimum tax, the amount by which the fair market value of a share of stock acquired upon exercise of an ISO
exceeds the exercise price of the stock option generally will be an adjustment included in the participant’s alternative minimum
taxable income for the year in which the stock option is exercised. If, however, there is a disqualifying disposition of the share in
the year in which the stock option is exercised, there will be no adjustment for alternative minimum tax purposes with respect to that
share. In computing alternative minimum taxable income, the tax basis of a share acquired upon exercise of an ISO is increased by the
amount of the adjustment taken into account with respect to that share for alternative minimum tax purposes in the year the stock option
is exercised.
We
are not allowed an income tax deduction with respect to the grant or exercise of an ISO or the disposition of a share acquired upon exercise
of an ISO after the required holding period. If there is a disqualifying disposition of a share, however, we will generally be entitled
to a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the participant, subject to the requirement of reasonableness and
the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and provided that either the employee includes that amount in income or we timely satisfy
our reporting requirements with respect to that amount.
Restricted
Stock Awards
Generally,
the recipient of a restricted stock award will recognize ordinary income at the time the stock is received equal to the excess, if any,
of the fair market value of the stock received over any amount paid by the recipient in exchange for the stock. If, however, the stock
is not vested when it is received (for example, if the employee is required to work for a period of time in order to have the right to
sell the stock), the recipient generally will not recognize income until the stock becomes vested, at which time the recipient will recognize
ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock on the date it becomes vested over any amount paid
by the recipient in exchange for the stock. A recipient may, however, file an election with the Internal Revenue Service, within 30 days
following his or her receipt of the stock award, to recognize ordinary income, as of the date the recipient receives the award, equal
to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock on the date the award is granted over any amount paid by the recipient for
the stock.
The
recipient’s basis for the determination of gain or loss upon the subsequent disposition of shares acquired from a restricted stock
award will be the amount paid for such shares plus any ordinary income recognized either when the stock is received or when the stock
becomes vested.
Subject
to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation,
we will generally be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the recipient of the stock award.
Restricted
Stock Unit Awards
Generally,
the recipient of a restricted stock unit award structured to conform to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or an exception
to Section 409A of the Code will recognize ordinary income at the time the stock is delivered equal to the excess, if any, of the fair
market value of the stock received over any amount paid by the recipient in exchange for the stock. To conform to the requirements of
Section 409A of the Code, the stock subject to a restricted stock unit award may generally only be delivered upon one of the following
events: a fixed calendar date (or dates), separation from service, death, disability or a change in control. If delivery occurs on another
date, unless the restricted stock unit award otherwise complies with or qualifies for an exception to the requirements of Section 409A
of the Code, in addition to the tax treatment described above, the recipient will owe an additional 20% federal tax and interest on any
taxes owed.
The
recipient’s basis for the determination of gain or loss upon the subsequent disposition of shares acquired from a restricted stock
unit award will be the amount paid for such shares plus any ordinary income recognized when the stock is delivered.
Subject
to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation,
we will generally be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the recipient of the restricted stock
unit award.
Stock
Appreciation Rights
Generally,
if a stock appreciation right is granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date,
the recipient will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the stock or cash received upon such exercise. Subject
to the requirement of reasonableness, the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the satisfaction of a tax reporting obligation,
we will generally be entitled to a tax deduction equal to the taxable ordinary income realized by the recipient of the stock appreciation
right.
New
Plan Benefits
Name and Position | |
Number of Shares |
Hao (Peter) Liu, Chief
Executive Officer | |
4,014,419 (1) |
Clayton Crolius,
Chief Financial Officer | |
(1) |
Charles Becher, Chief
Commercial Officer | |
400,000 (1) |
All current executive officers as a group | |
(1) |
All current directors who are not executive officers as a group | |
$189,000 per calendar year (2) |
All employees, including all current officers who are not executive officers, as a group | |
(1) |
|
(1) |
Awards
granted under the Second Amended 2019 Plan to our executive officers and other employees are discretionary and are not subject to
set benefits or amounts under the terms of the Second Amended 2019 Plan. However, in August 2022, our board of directors approved
for grant a number of stock option awards to certain employees (including our executive officers) under the 2019 Plan subject to
stockholder approval of this Proposal 2, and the number of shares subject to each such award is indicated in this table. |
|
(2) |
Awards
granted under the Amended 2019 Plan to our non-employee directors are discretionary and are not subject to set benefits or amounts
under the terms of the Second Amended 2019 Plan. However, pursuant to our current non-employee director compensation program, each
of our current non-employee directors automatically will be granted an annual RSU award on the date of each of our annual meetings
of stockholders, provided that such individual will be continuing as a non-employee director following such date. Each non-employee
director who will continue as a non-employee director following such annual meeting will be granted an award of RSUs under our 2019
Equity Incentive Plan having an aggregate grant date fair value of $60,000. The grant date fair value is prorated for directors
that were appointed during the prior twelve months. The number of shares of our common stock subject to each such award is not determinable
at this time. On and after the date of the annual meeting, any such RSU awards will be granted under the Second Amended 2019 Plan
if this Proposal 2 is approved by our stockholders. For additional information regarding our current director compensation program,
see the “Director Compensation” section below. |
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The
following table provides certain information with respect to all of the Company’s equity compensation plans in effect as of the
end of the fiscal year 2021.
Plan
Category | |
Number
of Securities to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (a) | | |
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (b) | | |
Number
of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected
in Column (a)) (c) | |
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders | |
| 442,524 | (1) | |
$ | 39.9972 | (2) | |
| 596,580 | (3) |
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Total | |
| 442,524 | | |
$ | 39.9972 | | |
| 596,580 | |
(1) |
The
aggregate number consists of the following: 40,738 shares subject to options to purchase common stock issued pursuant to our 2012
Equity Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2021, 54,675 shares subject to options to purchase common stock issued pursuant to our 2019
Equity Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2021, and 347,111 shares issuable upon vesting of outstanding RSUs issued pursuant to our
2019 Equity Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2021. |
|
|
(2) |
This
weighted average exercise price does not reflect shares that will be issued upon the vesting of outstanding RSUs. |
(3) |
Includes
538,243 shares authorized for future issuance under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and 58,337 shares authorized for future issuance
under our 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of December 31, 2021. Under 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the number of shares
of common stock reserved for issuance will automatically increase on January 1 of each calendar year for 10 years, starting January
1, 2020, and ending on, and including, January 1, 2029, in an amount equal to the lesser of 1% of the total number of shares of capital
stock outstanding on December 31st of the prior calendar year, and (ii) 50,000 shares, unless the Board of Directors or Compensation
Committee determines prior to such date that there will be a lesser increase, or no increase. Effective January 1, 2022, 50,000 additional
shares were added to the 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, the number of shares subject to
outstanding stock options or other stock awards that were granted under the 2012 Option Plan that are forfeited, terminated, expire,
or are otherwise not issued are available for issuance. Additionally, the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance
under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan will automatically increase on January 1 of each calendar year for 10 years, starting January
1, 2020 and ending on and including January 1, 2029, in an amount equal to 5% of the total number of shares of capital stock outstanding
on December 31 of the prior calendar year, unless the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee determines prior to the date of
increase that there will be a lesser increase, or no increase. Effective January 1, 2022, 940,444 additional shares were added to
the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. Subject to certain express limits of the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, shares available for award purposes
under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan generally may be used for any type of award authorized under that plan, including options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted stock, RSUs, performance-based stock or cash awards or other similar rights to purchase or acquire
shares of our common stock. |
Vote
Required
Provided
that the quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to
vote on Proposal 2 is required for approval of Proposal 2.
The
Board of Directors Recommends
a
Vote “FOR” Proposal 2
PROPOSAL
3
AMENDMENT
TO THE COMPANY’S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, AS AMENDED TO EFFECT A REVERSE STOCK SPLIT
The
Board has approved to submit for the stockholders’ vote and approval the amendment to the Company’s amended and restated
certificate of incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) that would effect a reverse stock split whereby
a number of outstanding shares of our common stock between and including two (2) and fifteen (15), such number consisting only of whole
shares, will be combined into one share of our common stock, (the “Reverse Stock Split”).
Under
the proposed amendment, any whole number of outstanding shares between and including two (2) and fifteen (15) shares would be combined,
converted and changed into one share of common stock. The Board believes that stockholder approval of the range of potential exchange
ratios (rather than a single exchange ratio) provides the Board with the flexibility to achieve the desired results of the Reverse Stock
Split and, therefore, is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. If the stockholders approve this proposal, the Board
would effect the Reverse Stock Split only upon the Board’s determination that such Reverse Stock Split would be in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders at that time.
The
effectiveness of this amendment or the abandonment of this amendment will be determined by the Board in its discretion. To effect the
Reverse Stock Split, the Board would set the timing for such a split and select the specific ratio from the range of ratios described
in this Proposal 3. No further action on the part of stockholders will be required to either implement or abandon the Reverse Stock Split.
Upon
receiving stockholder approval of the proposed amendment, the Board will have the sole discretion to elect pursuant to Section 242(c)
of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) as it determines to be in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders, whether to effect a Reverse Stock Split and, if so, the number of shares of our common stock between and including two
(2) and fifteen (15) that will be combined into one share of our common stock, at any time before the first anniversary of the annual
meeting. If the proposal is approved by stockholders, and the Board determines to implement a Reverse Stock Split, we would communicate
to the public the specific ratio the Board selects.
If
the Board determines to effect a Reverse Stock Split by filing the amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation would be amended accordingly. The text of the form of amendment to the
Certificate of Incorporation, which would be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect the Reverse Stock Split
reflected therein, is set forth in Appendix B to this proxy statement. However, such text is subject to amendment to include such
changes as may be required by the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or as the Board deems necessary and advisable
to effect one of the Reverse Stock Split, if any.
Except
for adjustments that may result from the treatment of fractional shares as described below, each stockholder will hold the same percentage
of outstanding common stock immediately following the Reverse Stock Split as such stockholder held immediately prior to such Reverse
Stock Split. The par value of the common stock would remain unchanged at $0.0001 per share. The amendment would not change the number
of authorized shares of common stock. Accordingly, the Reverse Stock Split selected, if any, will have the effect of creating additional
unreserved shares of our authorized common stock. These additional shares may be used by us for various purposes in the future without
further stockholder approval, including, among other things:
|
● |
raising
capital to fund our development of our next generation of products or otherwise; |
|
|
|
|
● |
establishing
strategic relationships with other companies; |
|
|
|
|
● |
providing
equity incentives to our employees, officers or directors; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
expanding
our business through the acquisition of other businesses or products. |
You
should keep in mind that the implementation of a Reverse Stock Split does not have an effect on the actual or intrinsic value of the
Company’s business or your proportional ownership in the Company. You should also consider that in many cases, the market price
of a company’s shares declines after events similar to the Reverse Stock Split.
Reasons
for the Reverse Stock Split
Our
common stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “SONM.” Nasdaq has several continued listing criteria that companies must
satisfy in order to remain listed on the exchange. One criteria for continued listing is that we maintain a closing bid price that is
greater than or equal to $1.00 per share.
We
announced on February 18, 2022, that we had received a letter dated February 16, 2022, from the Listing Qualifications Department of
the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Staff”) notifying the Company that, for thirty (30) consecutive business days, the bid price
for the Company’s common stock had closed below $1.00 per share, which is the minimum closing price required to maintain continued
listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules, or the “Minimum Bid Requirement.” In accordance
with the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the Company was given one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days, which expired on August 15, 2022, to
regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement. On August 10, 2022, the Company provided written notice to the Staff of the Company’s
intention to cure the deficiency mentioned in the letter dated February 16, 2022, and requested an additional one hundred and eighty
(180) calendar days to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary. On August
16, 2022, the Company received a letter from the Staff notifying the Company that the Staff had agreed to provide the additional one
hundred and eighty (180) calendar days. In order to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement, the closing bid price of the
Company’s common stock must be at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten (10) consecutive business days during the additional
one hundred and eighty (180)-day compliance period, which will expire on February 13, 2023, unless the Staff exercises its discretion
to extend this period pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules. If we do not regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement by February
13, 2023, our common stock could be subject to delisting.
Our
Board believes that the continued listing of our common stock on Nasdaq is in the best interests of our stockholders. If our common stock
was delisted from Nasdaq, trading, if any, in our securities may then continue to be conducted in the over-the-counter market on the
OTC bulletin board, OTC Markets or in the “pink sheets.” In this case, we could face significant material adverse consequences,
including:
●
the issuance of our securities may require compliance with the individual securities laws or “blue sky” laws of several states,
which may be time-consuming and costly;
●
limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
●
the determination that our common stock is a “penny stock,” which would require brokers trading in our common stock to adhere
to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our common stock;
●
more limited amount of news and analyst coverage for us;
●
decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future; and
●
decreased ability of our security holders to sell their securities in certain states.
The
purpose of the Reverse Stock Split is to increase the market price of our common stock. The Board intends to implement a Reverse Stock
Split with a specific conversion ratio only if it believes that a decrease in the number of shares outstanding is likely to improve the
trading price for our common stock and improve the likelihood that we will be allowed to maintain our listing on Nasdaq. If the trading
price of our common stock increases without implementing one of the Reverse Stock Split exchange ratios, the Board may exercise its discretion
not to implement any of the Reverse Stock Split exchange ratios.
Further,
the Board also believes that the increased market price of our common stock expected as a result of implementing a Reverse Stock Split
will improve the marketability and liquidity of our common stock and will encourage interest and trading in our common stock. Because
of the trading volatility often associated with low-priced stocks, many brokerage houses and institutional investors have internal policies
and practices that either prohibit them from investing in low-priced stocks or tend to discourage individual brokers from recommending
low-priced stocks to their customers. Some of these policies and practices may function to make the processing of trades in low-priced
stocks economically unattractive to brokers. Additionally, because brokers’ commissions on low-priced stocks generally represent
a higher percentage of the stock price than commissions on higher-priced stocks, the current average price per share of our common stock
can result in individual stockholders paying transaction costs representing a higher percentage of their total share value than would
be the case if the share price were substantially higher. It should be noted that the liquidity of our common stock may be harmed by
the proposed Reverse Stock Split given the reduced number of shares that would be outstanding after the Reverse Stock Split. The Board
is hopeful, however, that the anticipated higher market price will reduce, to some extent, the negative effects on the liquidity and
marketability of the common stock inherent in some of the policies and practices of institutional investors and brokerage houses described
above.
The
Board does not intend for this transaction to be the first step in a series of plans or proposals of a “going private” transaction
within the meaning of Rule 13e-3 of the Exchange Act.
Board
Discretion to Implement the Reverse Stock Split
If
the Reverse Stock Split is approved by the Company’s stockholders at the annual meeting, the actual Reverse Stock Split will be
effected, if at all, only upon a subsequent determination by the Board that a Reverse Stock Split (with a reverse split ratio determined
by the Board as described above) is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders at the time. Such determination will be
based upon many factors, including existing and expected marketability and liquidity of the common stock, prevailing market conditions
and the likely effect on the market price of the common stock. Notwithstanding approval of the Reverse Stock Split by the stockholders,
the Board may, in its sole discretion, abandon the proposed amendment and determine prior to the effectiveness of any filing with the
Delaware Secretary of State not to effect the Reverse Stock Split prior to the one (1)-year anniversary of the annual meeting, as permitted
under Section 242(c) of the DGCL. If the Board fails to implement the Reverse Stock Split prior to the one (1)-year anniversary of the
annual meeting, stockholder approval would again be required prior to implementing any Reverse Stock Split.
Discretionary
Authority of the Board to Abandon Reverse Stock Split
The
Board reserves the right to abandon the Reverse Stock Split without further action by our stockholders at any time before the effectiveness
of the certificate of amendment, even if the Reverse Stock Split has been authorized by our stockholders. By voting in favor of the Reverse
Stock Split, you are expressly authorizing our Board to determine not to proceed with, and abandon, the Reverse Stock Split if it should
so decide.
Criteria
to be Used for Decision to Effect a Reverse Stock Split
If
the stockholders approve the Reverse Stock Split, the Board will be authorized to proceed with any of the alternative Reverse Stock Split
exchange ratios that it selects in its sole discretion. In determining whether to proceed with one of the Reverse Stock Split exchange
ratios, the Board expects to consider a number of factors, including market conditions, existing and expected trading prices of our common
stock, the Nasdaq listing requirements, our additional funding requirements and the amount of our authorized but unissued common stock.
Effects
of the Reverse Stock Split
After
the Effective Time (as defined below) of the Reverse Stock Split, each stockholder will own a reduced number of shares of common stock.
This would affect all of the Company’s stockholders uniformly and would not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership
in the Company, except to the extent that the Reverse Stock Split results in a stockholder owning a fractional share as described below.
The number of stockholders of record would not be affected by the Reverse Stock Split, except to the extent that any stockholder holds
only a fractional share interest and receives cash for such interest after the Reverse Stock Split.
Proportionate
voting rights and other rights of the holders of common stock would not be affected by the Reverse Stock Split (other than as a result
of the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares as described below). For example, a holder of 2% of the voting power of the outstanding
shares of common stock immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split would continue to hold 2% of the voting power of the outstanding
shares of common stock after the Reverse Stock Split.
The
Reverse Stock Split would reduce the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under our 2019 Plan, in proportion to the
reverse split ratio of the Reverse Stock Split.
Similarly,
under the terms of the 2019 Plan and the agreements governing the Company’s outstanding restricted stock units, the Reverse Stock
Split will effect a reduction in the number of shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon the vesting of such restricted
stock units in proportion to the reverse split ratio of the Reverse Stock Split. In connection with the Reverse Stock Split, the number
of shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units will be rounded down to
the nearest whole share, and no cash payment will be made in respect of such rounding.
The
following table contains approximate information relating to the common stock under three specific ratios within the range, based on
share information as of the record date:
|
|
Number of
Shares of Common Stock Before Reverse |
|
|
Estimated
Number of
Shares
of Common
Stock
After the Reverse
Stock Split |
|
|
|
Stock
Split |
|
|
2:1 |
|
|
6:1 |
|
|
|
15:1 |
|
Issued and
outstanding(1) |
|
|
40,272,229
|
|
|
|
20,136,114 |
|
|
|
6,712,038 |
|
|
|
2,684,815 |
|
Reserved
for future issuance pursuant to 2019 Plan and 2019 Plan and 2019 ESPP(2) |
|
|
234,671 |
|
|
|
117,335 |
|
|
|
39,111 |
|
|
|
15,644 |
|
Reserved
for future issuance pursuant to outstanding options, RSUs, and warrants |
|
|
1,141,585 |
|
|
|
570,792 |
|
|
|
190,264 |
|
|
|
76,105 |
|
(1) |
The
shares presented are an estimate as we do not know the number of fractional shares that will be required to be paid out in cash following
the Reverse Stock Split. |
|
|
(2) |
Share
reserve for 2019 Plan does not include additional shares that would be available for future issuance. |
No
fractional shares of common stock will be issued in connection with any of the proposed Reverse Stock Split exchange ratios. Holders
of a common stock who would otherwise receive a fractional share of common stock pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split will receive cash
in lieu of the fractional share as described below.
The
common stock is currently registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company is subject to the periodic reporting and
other requirements of the Exchange Act. The Reverse Stock Split would not affect the registration of the common stock under the Exchange
Act. After the Reverse Stock Split, provided that the Company continues to meet the minimum bid price and other listing requirements,
the common stock would continue to be reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SONM.”
Certain
Risks and Potential Disadvantages Associated with the Reverse Stock Split
If
the Reverse Stock Split is implemented, some stockholders may consequently own less than one hundred (100) shares of common stock. A
purchase or sale of less than one hundred (100) shares (an “odd lot” transaction) may result in incrementally higher trading
costs through certain brokers, particularly “full service” brokers. Therefore, those stockholders who own less than one hundred
(100) shares following the Reverse Stock Split may be required to pay modestly higher transaction costs should they then determine to
sell their shares in the Company.
The
effect of the Reverse Stock Split upon the market prices for the common stock cannot be accurately predicted, and the history of similar
stock split combinations for companies in like circumstances is varied. In particular, there is no assurance that the price per share
of the common stock after the Reverse Stock Split will be two (2) to fifteen (15) times, as applicable, the price per share of the common
stock immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the market price of the common stock
immediately after the proposed Reverse Stock Split will be maintained for any period of time. Even if an increased share price can be
maintained, the Reverse Stock Split may not achieve the other desired results which have been outlined above. Moreover, because some
investors may view a Reverse Stock Split negatively, there can be no assurance that approval of the Reverse Stock Split will not adversely
impact the market price of the common stock or, alternatively, that the market price following the Reverse Stock Split will either exceed
or remain in excess of the current market price.
In
addition, although we believe the Reverse Stock Split may enhance the desirability of our common stock to certain potential investors,
we cannot assure you that, if implemented, our common stock will be more attractive to institutional and other long-term investors or
that the liquidity of our common stock will increase since there would be a reduced number of shares outstanding after the Reverse Stock
Split. The increase in the number of shares of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock may have an anti-takeover effect by
permitting the issuance of shares to purchasers who might oppose a hostile takeover bid or oppose any efforts to amend or repeal certain
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company.
The
increased number of available authorized but unissued shares as a result of the Reverse Stock Split would give the Company’s management
more flexibility to resist or impede a third-party takeover bid that provides an above-market premium that is favored by a majority of
the independent stockholders. Any such anti-takeover effect of the Reverse Stock Split would be in addition to existing anti-takeover
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Effective
Time
If
the proposed Reverse Stock Split is approved at the annual meeting and the Board elects to proceed with one of the Reverse Stock Split
in one of the approved ratios, the Reverse Stock Split would become effective as of the filing (which we refer to as the “Effective
Time”) of the applicable Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with the office of the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware. Except as explained below with respect to fractional shares, at the Effective Time, all shares of common stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior thereto will be, automatically and without any action on the part of the stockholders, combined
and converted into new shares of common stock in accordance with the Reverse Stock Split ratio determined by the Board among the choices
set forth in this Proposal 3.
Cash
Payment In Lieu of Fractional Shares
No
fractional shares of common stock will be issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. Instead, in lieu of any fractional shares to
which a holder of common stock would otherwise be entitled as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, the Company shall pay cash equal to
the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock as reported on Nasdaq on the date the Certificate of Amendment to the Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
Exchange
of Stock Certificates
As
soon as practicable after the effective date of the Reverse Stock Split, stockholders will be notified that the Reverse Stock Split has
been effected. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, our transfer agent, will act as exchange agent for purposes of implementing
the exchange of stock certificates. Holders of pre-split shares will be asked to surrender to the exchange agent certificates representing
pre-split shares in exchange for certificates representing post-split shares in accordance with the procedures to be set forth in a letter
of transmittal that will be delivered to our stockholders. No new certificates will be issued to a stockholder until the stockholder
has surrendered to the exchange agent his, her or its outstanding certificate(s) together with the properly completed and executed letter
of transmittal. STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT DESTROY ANY STOCK CERTIFICATES AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT THEIR STOCK CERTIFICATES UNTIL THEY RECEIVE
A TRANSMITTAL FORM FROM OUR EXCHANGE AGENT. STOCKHOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROMPTLY SURRENDER CERTIFICATES TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT FOLLOWING
RECEIPT OF TRANSMITTAL FORMS IN ORDER TO AVOID HAVING SHARES POSSIBLY BECOMING SUBJECT TO ESCHEAT LAWS. Stockholders whose shares are
held in book-entry form or by their stockbroker do not need to submit old share certificates for exchange. These stockholders’
book-entry records or brokerage accounts will automatically reflect the new quantity of shares based on the selected Reverse Stock Split
ratio. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, our transfer agent will send to such stockholders or their brokers a transmittal
letter along with a statement of ownership indicating the number of post-Reverse Stock Split shares of common stock held. As of the Effective
Time, each certificate or other share ownership record representing pre-split shares will be deemed for all corporate purposes to evidence
ownership of post-split shares.
No
Appraisal Rights
Under
the DGCL, our stockholders do not have a right to dissent and are not entitled to appraisal rights with respect to the proposed amendment
to our Certificate of Incorporation to effect the Reverse Stock Split, and we will not independently provide our stockholders with any
such rights.
Certain
Material Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reverse Stock Split to U.S. Holders
The
following is a summary of certain material federal income tax considerations of the proposed Reverse Stock Split to certain U.S. Holders
(as defined below) of our common stock but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. This summary is based
on provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations thereunder and administrative rulings, court decisions and other legal authorities related
thereto, each as in effect as of the date of this proposal and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations. Any such
change or differing interpretation, which may or may not be retroactive, could alter the tax consequences to the stockholders described
herein. This discussion is included for general informational purposes only and does not purport to consider all aspects of U.S. federal
income taxation that might be relevant to a U.S. Holder. It addresses only stockholders who hold the pre-Reverse Stock Split shares and
post-Reverse Stock Split shares as capital assets. It does not purport to be complete and does not address stockholders subject to special
rules, such as financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, dealers in securities, mutual funds, real estate
investment trusts, regulated investment companies, stockholders who hold their pre-Reverse Stock Split shares through individual retirement
or other tax-deferred accounts, stockholders who are not U.S. Holders (as defined below), stockholders who have a functional currency
other than the U.S. dollar, partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships or disregarded entities for U.S. federal income
tax purposes (or persons holding pre-Reverse Stock Split shares through such entities), stockholders who hold the pre-Reverse Stock Split
shares as part of a straddle, hedge or conversion transaction, stockholders who hold the pre-Reverse Stock Split shares as qualified
small business stock within the meaning of Section 1202 of the Code or Section 1244 stock for purposes of Section 1244 of the Code, stockholders
who acquired their stock in a transaction subject to the gain rollover provisions of Section 1045 of the Code, stockholders who are subject
to the alternative minimum tax or Medicare contribution tax provisions of the Code or stockholders who acquired their pre-Reverse Stock
Split shares pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation. In addition, this summary does not address
any tax consequences other than certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split, including the tax consequences
of the Reverse Stock Split under state, local or non-U.S. tax laws, or under estate, gift, excise or other non-income tax laws, the tax
consequences of transactions effectuated prior or subsequent to, or concurrently with, the Reverse Stock Split (whether or not any such
transactions are consummated in connection with the Reverse Stock Split) including, without limitation, the tax consequences to holders
of options, warrants or similar rights to acquire our common stock. Furthermore, we have not obtained a ruling from the Internal Revenue
Service or an opinion of legal or tax counsel with respect to the consequences of the Reverse Stock Split. There can be no assurance
that the IRS will not take a position contrary to these statements or that a contrary position taken by the IRS would not be sustained
by a court. Each stockholder is advised to consult his, her or its tax advisor as to the federal income tax consequences of the Reverse
Stock Split in such stockholder’s situation.
For
purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock that is any of the following:
● |
an
individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States or someone treated as a U.S. citizen or resident for U.S. federal income
tax purposes; |
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a
corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the
laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
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● |
an
estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
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a
trust if (i) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more “United States
persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) are authorized or have the authority to control all substantial
decisions of the trust or (ii) it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United
States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
The
Reverse Stock Split is intended to be treated as a “recapitalization” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the remainder
of this discussion assumes the Reverse Stock Split so qualifies. The federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split will
vary depending on whether a stockholder receives solely a reduced number of shares in the Reverse Stock Split or receives cash for fractional
shares. A stockholder who solely receives a reduced number of shares generally will not recognize gain or loss in the Reverse Stock Split.
A stockholder who receives cash for fractional shares generally should recognize gain (but not loss) equal to the difference between
the portion of the tax basis of the pre-Reverse Stock Split shares allocated to the fractional share interest and the cash received for
such fractional shares. Such gain will be a capital gain and will be short-term if the pre-Reverse Stock Split shares were held for one
(1) year or less and long-term if held more than one (1) year at the time of the Reverse Stock Split. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate
U.S. Holders are generally subject to preferential tax rates. The aggregate tax basis of the post-Reverse Stock Split shares received
will be equal to the aggregate tax basis of the pre-Reverse Stock Split shares exchanged therefor (excluding any portion of the holder’s
basis allocated to fractional shares), and the holding period of the post-Reverse Stock Split shares received will include the holding
period of the pre-Reverse Stock Split shares exchanged. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors as to application of the foregoing
rules where shares of common stock were acquired at different times or at different prices.
No
gain or loss will be recognized by the Company as a result of the Reverse Stock Split.
STOCKHOLDERS
SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS
AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT ARISING UNDER U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY
STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.
Vote
Required
The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock will be required to approve Proposal 3 and the
corresponding amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to effect the Reverse Stock Split.
The Board of Directors Recommends
a Vote “FOR” Proposal
3
PROPOSAL
4
RATIFICATION
OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has selected Moss Adams as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, and has further directed that management submit the selection of its independent registered
public accounting firm for ratification by the stockholders at the annual meeting. Moss Adams has audited the Company’s financial
statements since 2013. Representatives of Moss Adams are expected to be present at the annual meeting. They will have an opportunity
to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Neither
the Company’s Bylaws nor other governing documents or law require stockholder ratification of the selection of Moss Adams as the
Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. However, the Audit Committee of the Board is submitting the selection
of Moss Adams to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection,
the Audit Committee of the Board will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee
of the Board in its discretion may direct the appointment of different independent auditors at any time during the year if they determine
that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
The
following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Moss Adams LLP (Campbell, CA, PCAOB ID: 659) for the audit
of our annual financial statements for fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, and fees billed for other services rendered by Moss Adams LLP during
fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020.
Type
of Fees | |
Fees
for Fiscal 2021 | | |
Fees
for Fiscal 2020 | |
Audit
Fees (1) | |
$ | 664,250 | | |
$ | 734,425 | |
Audit-Related
Fees | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Tax
Fees (2) | |
| 39,108 | | |
| 72,991 | |
All
Other Fees | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Total
Fees | |
$ | 703,358 | | |
$ | 807,416 | |
The
Audit Committee must pre-approve all audit related services and permissible non-audit services (unless in compliance with exceptions
available under applicable laws and rules related to immaterial aggregate amounts of services) provided by our independent registered
public accounting firm. However, the Audit Committee may delegate preapproval authority to one or more committee members so long as any
such preapproval decisions are presented to the full committee at the next scheduled meeting.
Pre-Approval
Policies and Procedures
The
Audit Committee must
pre-approve all audit related services and permissible non-audit services (unless
in compliance with exceptions available under applicable laws and rules related to immaterial aggregate amounts of services) provided
by our independent registered public accounting firm. However, the Audit
Committee may delegate preapproval authority to one or more committee members so
long as any such preapproval decisions are presented to the full committee at the next scheduled meeting.
The
Audit Committee has determined that all such services rendered by the independent registered public accounting firm are permissible under
applicable laws and regulations, and during 2020 and 2021, were pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with the Audit Committee
pre-approval policy. A copy of our pre-approval policy is attached as Exhibit A to our audit committee charter which is available in
the investor relations section of our website at www.sonimtech.com.
The
Audit Committee has determined the services provided by Moss Adams are compatible with maintaining the independence of Moss Adams.
Vote
Required
The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter
at the annual meeting will be required to ratify the selection of Moss Adams.
The
Board Of Directors Recommends
a
Vote “FOR” Proposal 4
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF
CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our capital stock as of the Record Date for:
|
● |
each
of our named executive officers; |
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|
● |
each
of our directors; |
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|
|
● |
all
of our current directors and executive officers as a group; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
each
person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. |
We
have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and thus it represents sole or shared voting or investment
power with respect to our securities. Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, the persons and entities named in the table
have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares that they beneficially owned, subject to community property laws
where applicable. The information does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose, including for purposes of
Sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Securities Act.
We
have based our calculation of the percentage of beneficial ownership on 40,272,229 shares of our common stock outstanding as of
the Record Date. In accordance with SEC rules, we have deemed shares of our common stock subject to stock options that are currently
exercisable or exercisable within sixty (60) days of the Record Date and shares of our common stock underlying RSUs that are currently
releasable or releasable within sixty (60) days of the Record Date to be outstanding and to be beneficially owned by the person holding
the common stock options or RSUs for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person. We did not deem these shares outstanding,
however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
Unless
otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table below is c/o Sonim Technologies, Inc., 6500 River Place
Blvd., Building 7, Suite 250, Austin, TX 78730. The information provided in the table is based on our records, information filed with
the SEC, and information provided to us, except where otherwise noted.
| |
Shares Beneficially Owned | |
Beneficial Owner Name | |
Number | | |
Percentage | |
Directors and Named Executive Officers | |
| | | |
| | |
Peter Liu(1) | |
| 1,061,128 | | |
| 2.6 | % |
Clay Crolius | |
| - | | |
| * | |
Jose Carlos Principe | |
| - | | |
| * | |
Jeffrey Wang(2) | |
| 19,463,452 | | |
| 48.3 | % |
Alan Howe(3) | |
| 120,553 | | |
| * | |
Jack Steenstra | |
| - | | |
| * | |
Mike Mulica(4) | |
| 181,293 | | |
| * | |
James Cassano | |
| - | | |
| * | |
All executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons) | |
| 20,826,426 | | |
| 51.7 | % |
Five Percent Holders | |
| | | |
| | |
AJP Holding Company, LLC(5) | |
| 19,463,452 | | |
| 48.3 | % |
| * | Represents
beneficial ownership of less than one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of our common
stock. |
| | |
| (1) | Consists
of (i) 1,048,512 shares of common stock, (ii) 4,075 shares of common stock
issuable pursuant to previously granted RSUs within 60 days of September 15, 2022,
and (iii) 8,541 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding
options held by Peter Liu exercisable within 60 days of September 15, 2022. |
| | |
|
(2) |
Consists
of 19,463,452 shares of common stock purchased and held by AJP Holding Company, LLC (“AJP”) pursuant to the subscription
agreement dated April 13, 2022, by and between the AJP and the Company. Mr. Wang is the sole manager of AJP and disclaims beneficial
ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Address of AJP is P.O. Box 2729 Sunnyvale, CA
94087. |
|
|
|
| (3) | Consists
of 6,700 shares of common stock, and 113,620 shares subject to RSUs vesting and exercisable
within 60 days of September 15, 2022, and 233 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding
options that are fully vested. |
| | |
| (4) | Consists
of (i) 6,626 shares of common stock and (ii) 174,667 shares of common stock issuable pursuant
to previously granted RSUs within 60 days of September 15, 2022. |
| | |
|
(5) |
Mr.
Wang is the sole manager of AJP and disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest
therein. Address of AJP is P.O. Box 2729 Sunnyvale, CA 94087. |
There
are no arrangements, known to the Company, the operation of which would result in a change in control of the Company.
Change
in Control
On
April 13, 2022, the Company entered into a Subscription Agreement with AJP Holding Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which Purchaser agreed to purchase from the Company an aggregate of 20,833,333 shares of the
Company’s common stock for a purchase price of $17,500,000.
On
July 13, 2022, the Company and the Purchaser consummated the first closing pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Subscription Agreement,
and the Company issued and sold 14,880,952 shares of the Company’s common stock for the aggregate purchase price of twelve million
five hundred thousand dollars ($12,500,000). Of 14,880,952 shares of common stock, 13,928,571 shares of common stock were issued to the
Purchaser and 952,381 shares of common stock were issued to Peter Liu, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The entirety of the purchase
price paid by the Purchaser was comprised of the funds remitted by or for the benefit of the members of the Purchaser and was transferred
to the Purchaser in the form of capital contribution.
On
August 8, 2022, the Company and the Purchaser consummated the second closing pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Subscription
Agreement, and the Company issued 208,750 shares of Common Stock to each of the two assignees of the Purchaser, and 5,534,881 shares
of Common Stock to the Purchaser for the aggregate purchase price of five million dollars ($5,000,000). The entirety of the purchase
price paid by the Purchaser was comprised of the funds remitted by or for the benefit of the members of the Purchaser and was transferred
to the Purchaser in the form of capital contribution. Our director Jeffrey Wang is the sole manager and the owner of 40% of the membership
interests in the Purchaser.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Our
named executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2021, consisting of one individual who served as an executive officer at year-end
and one former executive officer for whom disclosure would have been provided but for the fact that such individual was not serving as
an executive officer as of December 31, 2021, are: Robert Tirva, our President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer,
and Thomas W. Wilkinson, our former Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Liu is not considered a named executive officer for the year ended December
31, 2021 because he was not an executive officer of the Company during 2021.
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth information regarding compensation earned during the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 by
our named executive officers, or NEOs.
Name
and Principal Position | |
Year | | |
Salary
($) | | |
Bonus
($) | | |
Stock
Awards ($)(1) | | |
Option
Awards ($)(1) | | |
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | | |
All
Other Compensation ($) | | |
Total
($) | |
Robert
Tirva | |
| 2021 | | |
$ | 325,000 | | |
$ | 400,000 | (2) | |
$ | 199,999 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 924,999 | |
President,
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer | |
| 2020 | | |
$ | 300,000 | | |
$ | 90,000 | | |
$ | 531,252 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 921,252 | |
Thomas
W. Wilkinson | |
| 2021 | | |
$ | 166,667 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 440,364 | (3) | |
$ | 607,031 | |
Former
Chief Executive Officer | |
| 2020 | | |
$ | 400,000 | | |
$ | 160,000 | | |
$ | 475,050 | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | - | | |
$ | 8,650 | (4) | |
$ | 1,043,700 | |
(1) |
This
column reflects the full grant date fair value for stock awards or options, respectively, granted during the fiscal year as measured
pursuant to ASC Topic 718 as stock-based compensation in our consolidated financial statements. The grant date fair value of stock
awards was based on the closing price per share of our common stock on the applicable grant date. These amounts do not necessarily
correspond to the actual value that may be recognized from the stock options and stock awards by the NEOs. |
|
|
(2) |
50%
of Mr. Tirva’s net (after applicable withholding taxes) bonus for 2021 was paid in fully-vested shares of our common stock
awarded under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (233,638 shares of our common stock granted on January 27, 2022). |
|
|
(3) |
Represents
(a) severance benefits (including estimated cost of reimbursement of premiums to continue health insurance under COBRA for one year)
of $430,714 payable to Mr. Wilkinson pursuant to his Separation and Release Agreement with the Company, and (b) $9,650 for World
Presidents Organization activities to which Mr. Wilkinson was entitled to pursuant to his employment agreement. |
|
|
(4) |
Represents
$8,650 for World Presidents Organization activities to which Mr. Wilkinson was entitled pursuant to his employment agreement. |
Outstanding
Equity Awards at December 31, 2021
The
following tables provide information about outstanding equity awards held by each of our named executive officers at December 31, 2021.
Awards for the named executive officers were granted under our 2019 Plan.
Option
Awards
Name |
|
Grant Date |
|
Exercisable |
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#) |
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price |
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date |
Robert Tirva |
|
11/1/2019 |
|
|
9,510 |
(1) |
|
|
16,899 |
|
|
$ |
22.60 |
|
|
10/31/2029 |
(1) |
25%
of the shares of common stock underlying the option, or 4,225 shares, vested in September 2020, the first anniversary of the vesting
commencement date, and the remainder will vest in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter, subject to Mr. Tirva’s continuous
service through the relevant vesting dates. During the 13 months following a change in control, if we terminate Mr. Tirva’s
employment without cause or if Mr. Tirva resigns for good reason, vesting of this option will accelerate in full. |
Stock
Awards
Name | |
Grant
Date | |
Number
of Shares or Units
of Stock that Have
Not Vested (#) | | |
Market
Value of Shares or Units of Stock
That Have Not Vested ($)(4) | |
Robert
Tirva | |
11/1/2019 | |
| 4,224 | (1) | |
$ | 3,894 | |
| |
6/9/2020 | |
| 34,350 | (2) | |
$ | 31,664 | |
| |
9/29/2020 | |
| 7,500 | (2) | |
$ | 6,914 | |
| |
06/18/2021 | |
| 33,495 | (3) | |
$ | 30,876 | |
(1) |
25%
of the shares, or 2,113 shares, vested in September 2020, the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date, and the remainder
will vest in 3 equal annual installments thereafter, subject to Mr. Tirva’s continuous service through the relevant vesting
dates. During the 13 months following a change in control, if we terminate Mr. Tirva’s employment without cause or if Mr. Tirva’s
resigns for good reason, vesting of this award will accelerate in full. |
(2) |
25%
of the shares, or 13,950 shares, vested in June 2021, the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date, and the remainder will
vest in 3 equal annual installments thereafter, subject to Mr. Tirva’s continuous service through the relevant vesting dates.
During the 13 months following a change in control, if we terminate employment without cause or individual resigns for good reason,
vesting of these awards will accelerate in full. |
|
|
(3) |
100%
of the shares are scheduled to vest on June 18, 2022, subject to continuous employment thru the relevant vest date. During the 13
months following a change in control, if we terminate employment without cause or individual resigns for good reason, vesting of
these awards will accelerate in full. |
|
|
(4) |
Based
on closing price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on December 31, 2021 ($0.9218). |
Agreements
with Our Named Executive Officers for Fiscal Year 2021
Set
forth below are descriptions of our employment agreements with our named executive officers. For a discussion of the severance pay and
other benefits to be provided in connection with a termination of employment and/or a change in control under the arrangements with our
named executive officers that were providing services to the Company as of December 31, 2021, See “Potential Payments upon Termination
or Change in Control.”
Mr.
Wilkinson. In October 2019, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Wilkinson. Under the terms of the employment agreement,
Mr. Wilkinson received an annual base salary of $400,000. Further, he was eligible, beginning in the fiscal year 2020, for an annual
bonus of 100% of his base salary based on performance against targets determined by the Board of Directors at the beginning of each year.
In the Wilkinson employment agreement, the Company agreed to establish a transaction bonus plan (as further described below), which will
be funded by 10% of the consideration payable to company stockholders in the event of a change in control after deducting transaction
expenses, of which Mr. Wilkinson shall have a 50% interest. In addition, Mr. Wilkinson was entitled to receive up to $15,000 each year
for his participation in World Presidents Organization activities and a monthly stipend of $2,000 indefinitely while employed by the
Company for office space in Austin, Texas. Mr. Wilkinson was eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans generally available
to our employees, as well as in discretionary bonuses (if any) approved by the Board of Directors from time to time.
Mr.
Tirva. In September 2019, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Tirva, which was first amended in December 2019. Under
the terms of the employment agreement, Mr. Tirva was entitled to an annual base salary of $300,000 and was eligible to receive an annual
bonus of 50% of his base salary based on performance against targets to be determined by the Board of Directors at the beginning of each
year.
On
October 14, 2021, we entered into an amended employment agreement with Mr. Tirva. The amended employment agreement reflects Mr. Tirva’s
position as the Company’s President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer and provides that Mr. Tirva will receive
an annual base salary of $400,000. The amended employment agreement also provides that Mr. Tirva’s target annual bonus opportunity
is 100% of his base salary, with the actual annual bonus amount to be determined each year based on performance against performance targets
determined by the Board of Directors. Mr. Tirva is also eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans generally available to
our employees.
Potential
Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
Each
of our named executive officers that were providing services to the Company as of December 31, 2021 is eligible to receive certain benefits
pursuant to his employment agreement with us, as described below. “Cause,” “good reason,” “enterprise value,”
“financial investors” and “change in control” are defined in the applicable employment agreements with each of
our named executive officers.
Mr.
Wilkinson. Mr. Wilkinson’s employment agreement provided that, upon Mr. Wilkinson’s termination without cause, or
due to his death, permanent disability or for good reason, in either case at any time prior to a change in control or more than 13 months
after a change in control, Mr. Wilkinson would receive 12 months of continued base salary and reimbursement for COBRA health insurance
premiums for up to 12 months following the date of termination. If Mr. Wilkinson’s employment was terminated without cause, or
his employment was terminated for good reason, in either case at any time within 13 months after a change in control, Mr. Wilkinson would
have received 18 months of continued base salary, reimbursement for COBRA health insurance premiums for a period of up to 18 months,
150% of his target bonus for the year of termination (assuming full achievement, but no over-achievement, of performance targets under
the bonus plan), and accelerated vesting of any then outstanding options or stock awards.
In
connection with his separation with the Company, on May 31, 2021 we entered into a Separation and Release Agreement with Mr. Wilkinson
(the “Separation Agreement”). Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, we agreed to provide severance benefits (consisting of
total cash severance pay of $400,000 and reimbursement of premiums to continue health insurance under COBRA for up to one year) to Mr.
Wilkinson which were consistent with the severance benefits provided for in his employment agreement. In consideration for such severance
benefits, the Separation Agreement includes a general release of claims by Mr. Wilkinson in favor of the Company. All of the stock options
and stock awards that we had granted to Mr. Wilkinson prior to his separation terminated upon his separation to the extent that they
had not vested prior to the date of his separation. In accordance with the Separation Agreement, Mr. Wilkinson’s participation
in our transaction bonus plan terminated on November 30, 2021.
Mr.
Tirva. Mr. Tirva’s amended employment agreement provides that if his employment with us is terminated by us without cause
or by Mr. Tirva for good reason, in any such case prior to a change in control or more than 13 months after a change in control, or due
to Mr. Tirva’s death or permanent disability, Mr. Tirva will receive 12 months of continued base salary and reimbursement for COBRA
health insurance premiums for up to 12 months following the date of termination. If Mr. Tirva’s employment with us is terminated
by us without cause, or if he terminates his employment with us for good reason, in either case at any time within 13 months after a
change in control, Mr. Tirva will receive 18 months of continued base salary, reimbursement for COBRA health insurance premiums for a
period of up to 18 months, 150% of his target bonus for the year of termination (assuming full achievement, but no over-achievement,
of performance targets under the bonus plan), and accelerated vesting of any then-outstanding options or stock awards granted by the
Company to him. The severance benefits described above would, if triggered, be conditioned on Mr. Tirva providing us with a release of
claims in a form acceptable to us. The amended employment agreement also provides that if Mr. Tirva’s employment with us is terminated
by us without cause, by Mr. Tirva for good reason, or due to his death or permanent disability, he will receive a pro-rated target annual
bonus for the year in which the termination of employment occurs.
Transaction
Bonus Plan
In
December 2019, our Board of Directors approved a transaction bonus plan that is intended to incentivize Company employees who are in
a position to significantly impact the value received by the Company’s stockholders in a change of control transaction. Pursuant
to the plan, upon consummation of a change of control transaction, 10% of the consideration payable to Company stockholders, after deducting
transaction expenses, will be distributed to plan participants, including Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Tirva. The plan has a three-year term
and may be extended by the administrator. Subject to the terms of the plan, participants must be continuously providing services to the
Company through the date of the closing of a change in control transaction to be eligible to receive a bonus thereunder, and payment
is contingent upon delivery and non-revocation of a general release of claims. Our Board of Directors has allocated a 50% interest in
the plan to Mr. Wilkinson and a 10% interest in the plan to Mr. Tirva.
As
noted above, Mr. Wilkinson’s participation in the transaction bonus plan terminated on November 30, 2021.
Executive
Bonus Plan
Given
the uncertainties of the global pandemic that existed during most of 2021, our Board of Directors did not approve bonus plan metrics
or targets for 2021. Instead, the Board of Directors met at the end of the year and considered the Company’s performance during
the year. The Board of Directors determined that Mr. Tirva would be paid a bonus of $400,000 based on the Company’s performance
and his contributions during 2021.
Pension
Benefits
Our
named executive officers did not participate in, or otherwise receive any benefits under, any pension or retirement plan sponsored by
us during 2021.
Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation
Our
named executive officers did not participate in, or earn any benefits under, a nonqualified deferred compensation plan sponsored by us
during 2021.
Employee
Benefit Plans
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 executive officers 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 executive officers and encourages them to devote their
best efforts to our business and financial success. Vesting of equity awards (other than awards granted in lieu of cash salary or bonus)
is generally tied to continuous service with us and serves as an additional retention measure. Our executive officers generally are awarded
an initial new hire grant upon commencement of employment.
Each
of our named executive officers currently employed by us holds equity awards under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan that were granted subject
to the general terms thereof and the applicable forms of award agreement thereunder. The specific vesting terms of each named executive
officer’s equity awards are described above under “Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2021.”
Prior
to our initial public offering, we granted all equity awards pursuant to our 2012 Equity Incentive Plan. We currently grant all equity
awards pursuant to our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. All options are granted with a per share exercise price equal to no less than the
fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the date of the grant, and generally vest on a monthly basis over 48 months, subject
to the continued service with us through each vesting date. All options have a maximum term of up to 10 years from the date of grant,
subject to earlier expiration following the cessation of an executive officer’s continuous service with us. Option vesting is subject
to acceleration as described above under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.” Options generally remain
exercisable for three months following an executive officer’s termination, except in the event of a termination for cause or due
to disability or death. RSUs generally vest annually over four (4) years (other than awards granted in lieu of cash salary or bonus,
which may be vested at grant), subject to the continued service with us through each vesting date.
Health
and Welfare Benefits
We
pay premiums for medical insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance for all full-time employees, including our named executive
officers. These benefits are available to all full-time employees, subject to applicable laws.
401(k)
Plan
We
maintain a defined contribution retirement plan that provides eligible U.S. employees with an opportunity to save for retirement on a
tax advantaged basis. Eligible employees may defer eligible compensation on a pre-tax, or after-tax, basis, up to the statutorily prescribed
annual limits on contributions under the Code. Contributions are allocated to each participant’s individual account and are then
invested in selected investment alternatives according to the participants’ directions. Employees are immediately and fully vested
in their contributions. The 401(k) plan is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code with the 401(k) plan’s related
trust intended to be tax exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code. As a tax-qualified retirement plan, contributions to the 401(k) plan
are deductible by us when made, and contributions and earnings on those amounts are not taxable to the employees until withdrawn or distributed
from the 401(k) plan. We currently provide a matching contribution under the 401(k) plan.
Director
Compensation
The
following table sets forth information regarding compensation earned during the year ended December 31, 2021 by our non-employee directors
who served as directors during such year. Mr. Wilkinson, our former Chief Executive Officer, served on our Board of Directors but did
not receive compensation for his service as a director and the compensation paid to Mr. Wilkinson for his service as an employee during
the year ended December 31, 2021, is set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table” above.
Name | |
Fees
earned or Paid in Cash ($) | | |
Stock
awards(1)(4) ($) | | |
Option
awards(1) ($) | | |
Total($) | |
Alan
Howe | |
$ | 50,000 | | |
$ | 59,998 | (2) | |
| - | | |
$ | 109,998 | |
John
Kneuer | |
$ | 64,667 | | |
$ | 59,998 | (2) | |
| - | | |
$ | 124,665 | |
Sue
Swenson | |
$ | 57,000 | | |
$ | 59,998 | (2) | |
| - | | |
$ | 116,998 | |
Kenny
Young(5) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
$ | 0 | |
Michael
Mulica | |
$ | 21,500 | | |
$ | 224,349 | (3) | |
| - | | |
$ | 245,849 | |
Ken
Naumann(6) | |
| - | | |
$ | 39,100 | (6) | |
| - | | |
$ | 39,100 | |
(1) |
This
column reflects the full grant date fair value for stock awards or options, respectively, granted during the year ended December
31, 2021 as measured pursuant to ASC Topic 718 as stock-based compensation in our consolidated financial statements. The grant date
fair value of stock awards were based on the closing price per share of our common stock on the applicable grant date. These amounts
do not necessarily correspond to the actual value that may be recognized from the stock awards by the non-employee directors. |
|
|
(2) |
Each
non-employee director was awarded 27,906 RSUs on November 12, 2021 having a grant date fair value of $59,998. |
|
|
(3) |
Mr.
Mulica was awarded 6,626 RSUs on June 17, 2021 for his initial appointment to the Board of Directors having a grant date fair value
of $39,100, 75,000 RSUs on October 18, 2021 having a grant date fair value of $155,250, and 13,953 RSUs on November 12, 2021 having
a grant date fair value of $29,999. |
|
|
(4) |
As
of December 31, 2021, each non-director employee held the following number of RSUs: (i) Mr. Howe (36,206); (ii) Mr. Kneuer (36,206);
(iii) Ms. Swenson (36,206); and Mr. Mulica (95,579) Messrs. Young and Naumann, did not hold any RSUs at the end of fiscal 2021. As
of December 31, 2021, each non-director employee held the following number stock options: (i) Mr. Howe (4,625); (ii) Mr. Kneuer (4,392);
and (iii) Ms. Swenson (4,392). Messrs. Young, Mulica and Naumann did not hold any stock options at the end of fiscal 2021. |
|
|
(5) |
Mr.
Young declined to receive any compensation for his services as a member of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof. Mr.
Young resigned from the Board of Directors effective February 3, 2022. |
|
|
(6) |
Mr.
Naumann was awarded 6,626 RSUs on June 17, 2021 for his initial appointment to the Board of Directors having a grant date fair value
of $39,100. Mr. Naumann resigned from the Board of Directors effective July 16, 2021. |
Non-Employee
Director Compensation Policy
We
maintain a non-employee director compensation policy pursuant to which our non-employee directors are eligible to receive compensation
for service on our Board of Directors and committees of our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee may
amend the non-employee director compensation policy from time to time.
Equity
Compensation
Each
new non-employee director who joins our Board of Directors is granted an initial award of RSUs under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
Messrs. Mulica and Naumann each received an initial award of 6,626 RSUs under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan in June 2021. Each of these
annual awards vest in full on the earlier of the first anniversary of the grant date, immediately prior to the next annual meeting of
the Company’s stockholders, a change in control of the Company, or the director’s death or disability, subject to the director’s
continued service through the applicable vesting date.
Each
of our non-employee directors continuing to serve on the Board of Directors also receives an annual equity award of RSUs under our 2019
Equity Incentive Plan. As noted above, for 2021 these awards were granted on November 12, 2021 and had a grant date fair value of $59,998.
Mr. Mulica’s annual grant was pro-rated based on his 2021 service period and had a grant date fair value of $29,999. On the date
of each annual meeting of our stockholders beginning in 2022, if an annual meeting is held, each non-employee director who will continue
as a non-employee director following such meeting will be granted an award of RSUs under our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan having an aggregate
grant date fair value of $60,000. Each of these annual awards vest in full on the earlier of the first anniversary of the grant date,
immediately prior to the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, a change in control of the Company, or the director’s
death or disability, subject to the director’s continued service through the applicable vesting date.
If
a non-employee director is appointed or elected to our Board of Directors other than in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders,
then such non-employee director shall be awarded the full initial grant upon such non-employee director’s appointment or election,
and the annual grant to be awarded to such non-employee director at the first annual meeting of stockholders following such appointment
or election shall be pro-rated for the number of months served prior to such annual meeting of stockholders.
In
addition to the above compensation, on October 18, 2021, in recognition of additional committee work and board of Directors assignments,
Mr. Mulica was granted an additional 75,000 RSUs with a grant date fair value of $155,250.
Each
RSUs award granted under the policy will fully vest upon a change of control or the non-employee director’s death or disability.
Cash
Compensation
Each
non-employee director will receive an annual cash retainer of $35,000 for serving on our Board of Directors. The non-executive chairperson
of our Board of Directors will receive an additional annual cash retainer of $25,000.
The
chairperson and members of the three principal standing committees of our Board of Directors will be entitled to the following annual
cash retainers:
Board
Committee | |
Chairperson
Fee | | |
Member
Fee | |
Audit
Committee | |
$ | 15,000 | | |
$ | 7,500 | |
Compensation
Committee | |
$ | 10,000 | | |
$ | 5,000 | |
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee | |
$ | 7,500 | | |
$ | 3,750 | |
All
annual cash compensation amounts will be payable in equal quarterly installments in arrears, pro-rated based on the days served in the
applicable fiscal quarter.
We
also reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by non-employee directors for their attendance at meetings of our Board
of Directors or any committee thereof.
Agreements
with Our Named Executive Officers Following the Change of Control
Set
forth below are descriptions of our employment agreements with our named executive officers following our change of control pursuant
to the Subscription Agreement.
Mr.
Liu. In April 2022, the Board appointed Peter
Liu, who had been serving as the Company’s Executive VP for Global Operations, as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. On
August 20, 2022, the Company entered an employment agreement with Mr. Liu (the “Employment Agreement”). Under the Employment
Agreement, Mr. Liu receives an annual base salary of $450,000 (the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary is conditioned to be retroactively
effective as of April 14, 2022, and Mr. Liu is entitled to receive, following the execution of the Employment Agreement, a lump sum payment
of the difference between the Base Salary and the base salary pursuant to Mr. Liu’s previous employment arrangements.
Additionally,
under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Liu will be eligible to participate in the Company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “EIP”)
in connection with Mr. Liu’s equity awards. Under the EIP, Mr. Liu will be entitled to receive stock option grants, to purchase
in the aggregate a total of 4,014,419 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Options”), provided that the following
conditions are satisfied: (i) Mr. Liu remains continuously employed by the Company; (ii) the Company’s board of directors approves
the issuance of Options; and (iii) the EIP shall have been amended (pursuant to all applicable laws and regulations including the approval
of the stockholders of the Company of such amendment) to increase the number of shares available under the EIP to permit the issuance
of the Options. Each Option will vest over four (4) years, with one-fourth (1/4th) of the shares underlying such Option vesting
on the one-year anniversary of the date of Mr. Liu’s appointment as CEO, and one-twelfth (1/12th) of the shares underlying such
Option vesting in quarterly installments thereafter. The Options will have a maximum term of ten (10) years from each grant date and
will terminate earlier upon termination of employment prior to the ten-year period. The Options will be issued pursuant to the terms
and conditions of the EIP, at an exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date
of each grant.
Mr.
Crolius. On July 13, 2022, the Board appointed Clay Crolius as Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer)
of the Company. In connection with Mr. Crolius’ appointment, the Company and Mr. Crolius entered into a letter agreement dated
July 13, 2022, delineating the terms of his employment: Mr. Crolius is entitled to a base salary of $275,000 per year, a discretionary
bonus, and to other benefits generally applicable to all employees of the Company.
Directors’
Indemnification and Insurance
General
Indemnification by the Company
The
Company provides indemnification for its directors and officers so that they will be free from undue concern about personal liability
in connection with their service to the Company. Under the Company’s Bylaws, the Company is required to indemnify its directors
and officers to the extent not prohibited under Delaware or other applicable law. The Company has also entered into indemnity agreements
with its executive officers and directors. These agreements provide, among other things, that the Company will indemnify the officer
or director, under the circumstances and to the extent provided for in the agreement, for expenses, damages, judgments, fines and settlements
he or she may be required to pay in actions or proceedings which he or she is or may be made a party by reason of his or her position
as a director, officer or other agent of the Company, and otherwise to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and the Company’s
Bylaws.
Indemnification
as a result of Subscription Agreement
Additionally,
pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreement for six (6) years after the first closing, the Company shall, and the Purchaser
shall, if applicable, vote its shares of common stock to cause the Company to indemnify and hold harmless all indemnified persons
comprising of the directors and officers having resigned as a result of the Subscription Agreement to the fullest extent permitted
by the Delaware law in the event of any threatened or actual claim, suit, action, proceeding or investigation, whether civil,
criminal or administrative, based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to (i) the fact that
such indemnified person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their respective
predecessors prior to the first closing or (ii) the Subscription Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, against
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) in advance of
the final disposition of any claim, suit, proceeding or investigation to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The Company
shall not settle or consent to the entry of a judgment in any threatened or actual claim for which indemnification could be sought
by an indemnified person under the Subscription Agreement, unless such settlement or consent includes an unconditional release of
such indemnified person from all liability arising out of such claim or such indemnified person otherwise consents in writing to
such settlement or consent. The Company will cooperate with an indemnified person in the defense of any matter for which such
indemnified person could seek indemnification under the Subscription Agreement.
Prior
to the first closing, the Company obtained and fully paid the premium for the non-cancellable extension of the directors’ and officers’
liability coverage of the Company’s existing directors’ and officers’ insurance policies and the Company’s existing
fiduciary liability insurance policies (collectively, we refer to such insurance as the “D&O insurance”), in each case
for a claims reporting or discovery period of at least six (6) years from and after the first closing with respect to any claim related
to any period of time at or prior to the first closing from an insurance carrier with the same or better credit rating as the Company’s
current insurance carrier with respect to D&O insurance with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are no less
favorable than the coverage provided under the Company’s existing policies; provided that in no event will the Company be obligated
to pay annual premiums for insurance in excess of $1,100,000.
The
indemnified persons have the right to enforce the provisions of the Subscription Agreement relating to their indemnification. Such provisions
may not be terminated, amended or otherwise modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any indemnified person without the prior
written consent of such person. In addition, the Company shall pay all reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees,
that may be incurred by any indemnified person in enforcing the indemnity and other obligations provided in the Subscription Agreement.
If
the Company (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person and is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such
consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any person, then proper provision
must be made so that such continuing or surviving corporation or entity or transferee of such assets, as the case may be, assumes the
obligations set forth above relating to the indemnified person.
TRANSACTIONS
WITH RELATED PERSONS AND INDEMNIFICATION
Related-Person
Transactions Policy and Procedures
In
2019, the Company adopted a written Related-Person Transactions Policy that sets forth the Company’s policies and procedures regarding
the identification, review, consideration and approval or ratification of “related-persons transactions.” For purposes of
the Company’s policy only, a “related-person transaction” is a transaction, arrangement, or relationship (or any series
of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which the Company and any “related person” are participants involving
an amount that exceeds $120,000. Transactions involving compensation for services provided to the Company as an employee, director, consultant,
or similar capacity by a related person are not covered by this policy. A related person is any executive officer, director, or more
than 5% stockholder of the Company, including any of their immediate family members, and any entity owned or controlled by such persons.
Under
the policy, where a transaction has been identified as a related-person transaction, management must present information regarding the
proposed related-person transaction to the Audit Committee (or, where Audit Committee approval would be inappropriate, to another independent
body of the Board) for consideration and approval or ratification. The presentation must include a description of, among other things,
the material facts, the interests, direct and indirect, of the related persons, the benefits to the Company of the transaction and whether
any alternative transactions were available. To identify related-person transactions in advance, the Company relies on information supplied
by its executive officers, directors and certain significant stockholders. In considering related-person transactions, the Committee
takes into account the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to (a) the risks, costs and benefits to
the Company, (b) the impact on a director’s independence in the event the related person is a director, immediate family member
of a director or an entity with which a director is affiliated, (c) the terms of the transaction, (d) the availability of other sources
for comparable services or products and (e) the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties or to or from
employees generally. In the event a director has an interest in the proposed transaction, the director must recuse himself or herself
form the deliberations and approval. The policy requires that, in determining whether to approve, ratify or reject a related-person transaction,
the Committee consider, in light of known circumstances, whether the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders, as the Committee determines in the good faith exercise of its discretion.
Certain
Related-Person Transactions
The
following is a description of transactions since January 1, 2021, to which we have been a participant and in which (i) the amount involved
exceeded or will exceed the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and
(ii) any of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our common stock, or any members of their immediate family,
had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than compensation arrangements which are described in the sections titled
“Executive Compensation” and “Management—Non-Employee Director Compensation” and other than
the transactions described in the section titled “Change in Control.”
Registration
Rights Agreement
We
are party to a registration rights agreement which provides, among other things, that within 30 days of the Second Closing, as defined
in the Subscription Agreement, we were obligated to file with the SEC a registration statement to register the resale of all registrable
securities held by Purchaser or any person that receives Registrable Securities (as that term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement)
(each a “Holder”). The Company’s obligation to register the Registrable Securities for sale under the Securities Act
of 1933 terminates upon the first to occur of (i) the date that is five years from the effective date of the shelf registration statement
filed by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, (ii) the date on which all Holders can sell shares of common stock
of the Company under Rule 144 without volume restrictions, and (iii) the date on which no registrable securities are held by any Holder.
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS
Section 16(a) of the Exchange
Act requires our executive officers, Board members, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities
to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC, and such persons are also required by SEC regulations to furnish
us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us, we believe
that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, all of our executive officers, Board members, and greater than ten percent stockholders
complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements, except one Form 4 for one transaction filed by Mike Mulica.
HOUSEHOLDING
OF PROXY MATERIALS
The
SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for annual
meeting materials with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single set of annual meeting materials
addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially means extra convenience
for stockholders and cost savings for companies.
This
year, a number of brokers with account holders who are Sonim stockholders will be “householding” the Company’s proxy
materials. A single set of annual meeting materials 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 your broker that they will be “householding”
communications to your address, “householding” will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent.
If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in “householding” and would prefer to receive a separate set of annual
meeting materials, please notify your broker or Sonim. Direct your written request to Sonim Technologies, Inc., Attention: Clay Crolius,
CFO, 6500 River Place Blvd., Building 7, Suite 250, Austin, TX 78730 or contact Clay Crolius at (650) 378-8100. Stockholders who
currently receive multiple copies of the annual meeting materials at their addresses and would like to request “householding”
of their communications should contact their brokers.
OTHER
MATTERS
The
Board of Directors knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the annual meeting. If any other matters are
properly brought before the annual meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on such matters
in accordance with their best judgment.
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors |
|
|
|
|
/s/
Clay Crolius |
|
Name: |
Clay
Crolius |
|
Title: |
Secretary |
|
|
Austin,
Texas |
|
September
26, 2022 |
|
A
copy of the Company’s Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2021, as amended, is available without charge upon written request to: Corporate Secretary, Sonim Technologies, Inc., 6500 River Place
Blvd., Building 7, Suite 250, Austin, TX 78730.
APPENDIX
A
Amended
2019 Plan
Sonim
Technologies, Inc.
2019
Equity Incentive Plan
Adopted
by the Board of Directors: March 2019
Approved
by the Stockholders: May 2019
IPO
Date/Effective Date: May 9, 2019
Amended
by the Board of Directors: May 31, 2020
Approved
by the Stockholders: September 29, 2020
Restated
to illustrate the effect of the reverse stock split: September 15, 2021
Amended
by the Board of Directors: September 15, 2022
1.
General.
(a)
Successor to and Continuation of Prior Plan. The Plan is the successor to and continuation of the Sonim Technologies, Inc. 2012 Equity
Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”). From and after 12:01 a.m. Pacific time on the Effective Date, no additional
stock awards will be granted under the Prior Plan. All Awards granted on or after 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on the Effective Date will
be granted under this Plan. All stock awards granted under the Prior Plan will remain subject to the terms of the Prior Plan.
(i)
Any shares that would otherwise remain available for future grants under the Prior Plan as of 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on the Effective
Date (the “Prior Plan’s Available Reserve”) will cease to be available under the Prior Plan at such time.
Instead, that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Prior Plan’s Available Reserve will be added to the Share Reserve (as
further described in Section 3(a) below) and will be immediately available for grants and issuance pursuant to Stock Awards hereunder,
up to the maximum number set forth in Section 3(a) below.
(ii)
In addition, from and after 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on the Effective Date, with respect to the aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock subject, at such time, to outstanding stock awards granted under the Prior Plan that (1) expire or terminate for any reason prior
to exercise; (2) are forfeited or repurchased because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required to vest such shares
or otherwise return to the Company; or (3) are reacquired, withheld (or not issued) to satisfy a tax withholding obligation in connection
with an award (such shares the “Returning Shares”) will immediately be added to the Share Reserve as shares
of Common Stock (as further described in Section 3(a) below) as and when such a share becomes a Returning Share, up to the maximum number
set forth in Section 3(a) below.
(b)
Eligible Award Recipients. Employees, Directors and Consultants are eligible to receive Awards.
(c)
Available Awards. The Plan provides for the grant of the following Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options,
(iii) Stock Appreciation Rights (iv) Restricted Stock Awards, (v) Restricted Stock Unit Awards, (vi) Performance Stock Awards, (vii)
Performance Cash Awards, and (viii) Other Stock Awards.
(d)
Purpose. The Plan, through the grant of Awards, is intended to help the Company secure and retain the services of eligible award
recipients, provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and any Affiliate, and provide
a means by which the eligible recipients may benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock.
2.
Administration.
(a)
Administration by Board. The Board will administer the Plan. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee or
Committees, as provided in Section 2(c).
(b)
Powers of Board. The Board will have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:
(i)
To determine: (A) who will be granted Awards; (B) when and how each Award will be granted; (C) what type of Award will be granted;
(D) the provisions of each Award (which need not be identical), including when a person will be permitted to exercise or otherwise receive
cash or Common Stock under the Award; (E) the number of shares of Common Stock subject to, or the cash value of, an Award; and (F) the
Fair Market Value applicable to a Stock Award.
(ii)
To construe and interpret the Plan and Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for administration
of the Plan and Awards. The Board, in the exercise of these powers, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or
in any Award Agreement or in the written terms of a Performance Cash Award, in a manner and to the extent it will deem necessary or expedient
to make the Plan or Award fully effective.
(iii)
To settle all controversies regarding the Plan and Awards granted under it.
(iv)
To accelerate, in whole or in part, the time at which an Award may be exercised or vest (or the time at which cash or shares of Common
Stock may be issued in settlement thereof).
(v)
To suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, suspension or termination
of the Plan will not impair a Participant’s rights under the Participant’s then-outstanding Award without the Participant’s
written consent, except as provided in subsection (viii) below.
(vi)
To amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable, including, without limitation, by adopting amendments relating
to Incentive Stock Options and certain nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code and/or to make the Plan or Awards
granted under the Plan compliant with the requirements for Incentive Stock Options or exempt from, or compliant with, the requirements
for nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, subject to the limitations, if any, of applicable law. If required
by applicable law or listing requirements, and except as provided in Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the Company
will seek stockholder approval of any amendment of the Plan that (A) materially increases the number of shares of Common Stock available
for issuance under the Plan, (B) materially expands the class of individuals eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, (C) materially
increases the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, (D) materially reduces the price at which shares of Common Stock may
be issued or purchased under the Plan, (E) materially extends the term of the Plan, or (F) materially expands the types of Awards available
for issuance under the Plan. Except as provided in the Plan (including subsection (viii) below) or an Award Agreement, no amendment of
the Plan will impair a Participant’s rights under an outstanding Award unless (1) the Company requests the consent of the affected
Participant, and (2) such Participant consents in writing.
(vii)
To submit any amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy
the requirements of (A) Section 422 of the Code regarding “incentive stock options” or (B) Rule 16b-3.
(viii)
To approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan and to amend the terms of any one or more Awards, including, but not
limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable to the Participant than previously provided in the Award Agreement, subject to
any specified limits in the Plan that are not subject to Board discretion; provided, however, that a Participant’s rights
under any Award will not be impaired by any such amendment unless (A) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and
(B) such Participant consents in writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) a Participant’s rights will not be deemed to have
been impaired by any such amendment if the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that the amendment, taken as a whole, does not materially
impair the Participant’s rights, and (2) subject to the limitations of applicable law, if any, the Board may amend the terms of
any one or more Awards without the affected Participant’s consent (A) to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive
Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (B) to change the terms of an Incentive Stock Option, if such change results in impairment
of the Award solely because it impairs the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code;
(C) to clarify the manner of exemption from, or to bring the Award into compliance with, Section 409A of the Code; or (D) to comply with
other applicable laws or listing requirements.
(ix)
Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests
of the Company and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan or Awards.
(x)
To adopt such rules, procedures and sub-plans related to the operation and administration of the Plan as are necessary or appropriate
under local laws and regulations to permit participation in the Plan by Employees, Directors or Consultants who are foreign nationals
or employed outside the United States (provided that Board approval will not be necessary for immaterial modifications to the Plan or
any Award Agreement made to ensure or facilitate compliance with the laws or regulations of the relevant foreign jurisdiction).
(xi)
To effect, with the consent of any adversely affected Participant, (A) the reduction of the exercise, purchase or strike price of
any outstanding Stock Award; (B) the cancellation of any outstanding Stock Award and the grant in substitution therefor of a new (1)
Option or SAR, (2) Restricted Stock Award, (3) Restricted Stock Unit Award, (4) Other Stock Award, (5) cash and/or (6) other valuable
consideration determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, with any such substituted award (x) covering the same or a different number
of shares of Common Stock as the cancelled Stock Award and (y) granted under the Plan or another equity or compensatory plan of the Company;
or (C) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles (collectively (A) through (C),
an “Exchange Program”).
(c)
Delegation to Committee.
(i)
General. The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees. If administration of
the Plan is delegated to a Committee, the Committee will have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore
possessed by the Board that have been delegated to the Committee, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee of the Committee
any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board will thereafter be
to the Committee or subcommittee, as applicable). Any delegation of administrative powers will be reflected in resolutions, not inconsistent
with the provisions of the Plan, adopted from time to time by the Board or Committee (as applicable). The Board may retain the authority
to concurrently administer the Plan with the Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously
delegated.
(ii)
Rule 16b-3 Compliance. The Committee may consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3.
(d)
Delegation to an Officer. The Board may delegate to one (1) or more Officers the authority to do one or both of the following (i)
designate Employees who are not Officers to be recipients of Options and SARs (and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, other
Stock Awards) and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the terms of such Awards, and (ii) determine the number of shares of Common
Stock to be subject to such Stock Awards granted to such Employees; provided, however, that the Board resolutions regarding such
delegation will specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to the Stock Awards granted by such Officer and
that such Officer may not grant a Stock Award to himself or herself. Any such Stock Awards will be granted on the form of Stock Award
Agreement most recently approved for use by the Committee or the Board, unless otherwise provided in the resolutions approving the delegation
authority. The Board may not delegate authority to an Officer who is acting solely in the capacity of an Officer (and not also as a Director)
to determine the Fair Market Value pursuant to Section 13(x)(iii) below.
(e)
Effect of Board’s Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good faith will not
be subject to review by any person and will be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.
3.
Shares Subject to the Plan.
(a)
Share Reserve.
(i)
Subject to Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, and the following sentence regarding the annual increase, the aggregate
number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards will not exceed 6,908,247, which number is the sum
of (A) 188,503 shares that were approved in connection with the initial adoption of the Plan on the Effective Date, plus (B) the number
of shares that remained available for issuance under the Prior Plan’s Available Reserve as of the initial adoption of the Plan
on the Effective Date, plus (C) the Returning Shares, if any, which become available for grant under this Plan from time to time, plus
(D) 300,000 shares that were approved at the Company’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, plus (E) the entirety of the evergreen
increases under the Plan; plus (F) 5,000,000 shares approved at the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (such aggregate
number of shares described in (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) above, the “Share Reserve”). In addition, the
Share Reserve will automatically increase on January 1st of each calendar year, beginning on January 1 in the calendar year following
the calendar year in which the IPO Date occurs and ending on (and including) January 1, 2029 (each, an “Evergreen Date”)
in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the total number of shares of Capital Stock outstanding on the last day of the preceding calendar
year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may act prior to the Evergreen Date of a given year to provide that there will be no increase
in the Share Reserve for such year or that the increase in the Share Reserve for such year will be a lesser number of shares of Common
Stock than would otherwise occur pursuant to the preceding sentence.
(ii)
For clarity, the Share Reserve in this Section
3(a) is a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan. As a single share may be subject
to grant more than once (e.g., if a share subject to a Stock Award is forfeited, it may be made subject to grant again as provided
in Section 3(b) below), the Share Reserve is not a limit on the number of Stock Awards that can be granted.
(iii)
Shares may be issued in connection with a merger
or acquisition as permitted by NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c) or, if applicable, NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08, AMEX Company
Guide Section 711 or other applicable rule, and such issuance will not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan.
(b)
Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve. If a Stock Award or any portion thereof (i) expires or otherwise terminates without all
of the shares covered by such Stock Award having been issued or (ii) is settled in cash (i.e., the Participant receives cash rather
than stock), such expiration, termination or settlement will not reduce (or otherwise offset) the number of shares of Common Stock that
may be available for issuance under the Plan. If any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to a Stock Award are forfeited back to or
repurchased by the Company because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required to vest such shares in the Participant
or shares of Common Stock that are surrendered to the Company pursuant to an Exchange Program, then the shares that are forfeited, repurchased
or so surrendered will again become available for issuance under the Plan. Any shares reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax
withholding obligations on a Stock Award or as consideration for the exercise or purchase price of a Stock Award will again become available
for issuance under the Plan.
(c)
Incentive Stock Option Limit. Subject to the provisions of Section 9(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the aggregate maximum
number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will be will
be a number of shares of Common Stock equal to three (3) multiplied by the Share Reserve.
(d)
Limitation on Compensation of Non-Employee Directors. During any one calendar year, no Non-Employee Director may receive Stock Awards
under the Plan that, when combined with cash compensation received for service as a Non-Employee Director, exceeds $600,000 in a calendar
year, increased to $1,000,000 in the calendar year of his or her initial services as a Non-Employee Director (calculating the value of
any such Stock Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Stock Awards for financial reporting purposes). Stock Awards granted
to an individual while he or she was serving in the capacity as an Employee or Consultant but not a Non-Employee Director will not count
for purposes of the limitations set forth in this Section 3(d).
(e)
Source of Shares. The stock issuable under the Plan will be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including
shares repurchased by the Company on the open market or otherwise.
4.
Eligibility.
(a)
Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or a “parent
corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” thereof (as such terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code).
Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants; provided, however, that
Stock Awards may not be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants who are providing Continuous Service only to any “parent”
of the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, unless (i) the stock underlying such Stock Awards is treated
as “service recipient stock” under Section 409A of the Code (for example, because the Stock Awards are granted pursuant to
a corporate transaction such as a spin off transaction), (ii) the Company, in consultation with its legal counsel, has determined that
such Stock Awards are otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code, or (iii) the Company, in consultation with its legal counsel, has
determined that such Stock Awards comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
(b)
Ten Percent Stockholders. A Ten Percent Stockholder will not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of such
Option is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five
years from the date of grant.
5.
Provisions Relating to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.
Each
Option or SAR will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as the Board deems appropriate. All Options will be separately
designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory 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. If an Option is not specifically
designated as an Incentive Stock Option, or if an Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but some portion or all of the Option
fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under the applicable rules, then the Option (or portion thereof) will be a Nonstatutory
Stock Option. The provisions of separate Options or SARs need not be identical; provided, however, that each Award Agreement will
conform to (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise) the substance of
each of the following provisions:
(a)
Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no Option or SAR will be exercisable after the
expiration of ten years from the date of its grant or such shorter period specified in the Award Agreement.
(b)
Exercise Price. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise or strike price of each
Option or SAR will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option or SAR on the date the Award
is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option or SAR may be granted with an exercise or strike price lower than 100% of the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Award if such Award is granted pursuant to an assumption of or substitution for another
option or stock appreciation right pursuant to a Corporate Transaction and in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 409A
of the Code and, if applicable, Section 424(a) of the Code. Each SAR will be denominated in shares of Common Stock equivalents.
(c)
Purchase Price for Options. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be paid, to the
extent permitted by applicable law and as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, by any combination of the methods of payment
set forth below. The Board will have the authority to grant Options that do not permit all of the following methods of payment (or otherwise
restrict the ability to use certain methods) and to grant Options that require the consent of the Company to use a particular method
of payment. The permitted methods of payment are as follows:
(i)
by cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company;
(ii)
pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of the
stock subject to the Option, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions
to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds;
(iii)
by delivery to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of Common Stock;
(iv)
if an Option is a Nonstatutory Stock Option, by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce
the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does
not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Company will accept a cash or other payment from the Participant
to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares
to be issued. Shares of Common Stock will no longer be subject to an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that
(A) shares issuable upon exercise are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (B) shares are delivered
to the Participant as a result of such exercise, and (C) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations; or
(v)
in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board and specified in the applicable Award Agreement.
(d)
Exercise and Payment of a SAR. To exercise any outstanding SAR, the Participant must provide written notice of exercise to the Company
in compliance with the provisions of the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such SAR. The appreciation distribution payable
on the exercise of a SAR will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of
the exercise of the SAR) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant
is vested under such SAR, and with respect to which the Participant is exercising the SAR on such date, over (B) the aggregate strike
price of the number of Common Stock equivalents with respect to which the Participant is exercising the SAR on such date. The appreciation
distribution may be paid in Common Stock, in cash, in any combination of the two or in any other form of consideration, as determined
by the Board and contained in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR.
(e)
Transferability of Options and SARs. The Board may, in its sole discretion, impose such limitations on the transferability of Options
and SARs as the Board will determine. In the absence of such a determination by the Board to the contrary, the following restrictions
on the transferability of Options and SARs will apply:
(i)
Restrictions on Transfer. An Option or SAR will not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (or
pursuant to subsections (ii) and (iii) below), and will be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant.
The Board may permit transfer of the Option or SAR in a manner that is not prohibited by applicable laws or regulations. Except as explicitly
provided in the Plan, neither an Option nor a SAR may be transferred for consideration.
(ii)
Domestic Relations Orders. Subject to the approval of the Board or a duly authorized Officer, an Option or SAR may be transferred
pursuant to the terms of a domestic relations order, official marital settlement agreement or other divorce or separation instrument
as permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.421-1(b)(2) or comparable non-U.S. law. If an Option is an Incentive Stock Option, such
Option may be deemed to be a Nonstatutory Stock Option as a result of such transfer.
(iii)
Beneficiary Designation. Subject to the approval of the Board or a duly authorized Officer, a Participant may, by delivering written
notice to the Company or to any third party designated by the Company, in a form approved by the Company (or the designated broker),
designate a third party who, upon the death of the Participant, will thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option or SAR and receive
the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. In the absence of such a designation, upon the death of the Participant,
the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate or the Participant’s legal heirs will be entitled to exercise the
Option or SAR and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. However, the Company may prohibit designation
of a beneficiary at any time, including due to any conclusion by the Company that such designation would be inconsistent with the provisions
of applicable laws.
(f)
Vesting Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option or SAR may vest and become exercisable in periodic
installments that may or may not be equal. The Option or SAR may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when
it may or may not be exercised (which may be based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals or other criteria) as the Board may deem
appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options or SARs may vary. The provisions of this Section 5(f) are subject to any Option
or SAR provisions governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option or SAR may be exercised.
(g)
Termination of Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the
Participant and the Company, if a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates (other than for Cause and other than upon the Participant’s
death or Disability), the Participant may exercise his or her Option or SAR (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise
such Award as of the date of termination of Continuous Service) within the period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date which
occurs three (3) months following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified
in the applicable Award Agreement), and (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement. If,
after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant does not exercise his or her Option or SAR (as applicable) within the applicable
time frame, the Option or SAR will terminate.
(h)
Extension of Termination Date. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant
and the Company, if the exercise of an Option or SAR following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than
for Cause and other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance
of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option or SAR will terminate
on the earlier of (i) the expiration of a total period of time (that need not be consecutive) equal to the applicable post termination
exercise period after the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option or SAR would
not be in violation of such registration requirements, and (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the applicable
Award Agreement. In addition, unless otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement, if the sale of any Common Stock received
upon exercise of an Option or SAR following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service (other than for Cause) would
violate the Company’s insider trading policy, then the Option or SAR will terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the
period of months (that need not be consecutive) equal to the applicable post-termination exercise period after the termination of the
Participant’s Continuous Service during which the sale of the Common Stock received upon exercise of the Option or SAR would not
be in violation of the Company’s insider trading policy, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in
the applicable Award Agreement.
(i)
Disability of Participant. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant
and the Company, if a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant
may exercise his or her Option or SAR (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option or SAR as of the date
of termination of Continuous Service), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date which occurs 12 months
following such termination of Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Award Agreement), and (ii) the expiration
of the term of the Option or SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Participant does
not exercise his or her Option or SAR within the applicable time frame, the Option or SAR (as applicable) will terminate.
(j)
Death of Participant. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or other agreement between the Participant and
the Company, if (i) a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Participant’s death, or (ii) the Participant
dies within the period (if any) specified in the Award Agreement for exercisability after the termination of the Participant’s
Continuous Service for a reason other than death, then the Option or SAR may be exercised (to the extent the Participant was entitled
to exercise such Option or SAR as of the date of death) by the Participant’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise
the Option or SAR by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the Option or SAR upon the Participant’s death,
but only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) the date 18 months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period
specified in the Award Agreement), and (ii) the expiration of the term of such Option or SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement. If,
after the Participant’s death, the Option or SAR is not exercised within the applicable time frame, the Option or SAR (as applicable)
will terminate.
(k)
Termination for Cause. Except as explicitly provided otherwise in the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between
the Participant and the Company, if a Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated for Cause, the Option or SAR will terminate
immediately upon such Participant’s termination of Continuous Service, and the Participant will be prohibited from exercising his
or her Option or SAR from and after the date of such termination of Continuous Service. If a Participant’s Continuous Service is
suspended pending an investigation of the existence of Cause, all of the Participant’s rights under the Option or SAR will also
be suspended during the investigation period.
(l)
Non-Exempt Employees. If an Option or SAR is granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the U.S. Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938, as amended, the Option or SAR will not be first exercisable for any shares of Common Stock until at least six
months following the date of grant of the Option or SAR (although the Award may vest prior to such date). Consistent with the provisions
of the U.S. Worker Economic Opportunity Act, (i) if such non-exempt Employee dies or suffers a Disability, (ii) upon a Corporate Transaction
in which such Option or SAR is not assumed, continued, or substituted, (iii) upon a Change in Control, or (iv) upon the Participant’s
retirement (as such term may be defined in the Participant’s Award Agreement in another agreement between the Participant and the
Company, or, if no such definition, in accordance with the Company’s then current employment policies and guidelines), the vested
portion of any Options and SARs may be exercised earlier than six months following the date of grant. The foregoing provision is intended
to operate so that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise or vesting of an Option or SAR will be
exempt from his or her regular rate of pay. To the extent permitted and/or required for compliance with the U.S. Worker Economic Opportunity
Act to ensure that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise, vesting or issuance of any shares under
any other Stock Award will be exempt from the employee’s regular rate of pay, the provisions of this Section 5(l) will apply to
all Stock Awards and are hereby incorporated by reference into such Stock Award Agreements.
6.
Provisions of Stock Awards other than Options and SARs.
(a)
Restricted Stock Awards. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions as
the Board will deem appropriate. To the extent consistent with the Company’s bylaws, at the Board’s election, shares of Common
Stock may be (x) held in book entry form subject to the Company’s instructions until any restrictions relating to the Restricted
Stock Award lapse; or (y) evidenced by a certificate, which certificate will be held in such form and manner as determined by the Board.
The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate
Restricted Stock Award Agreements need not be identical. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will conform to (through incorporation
of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i)
Consideration. A Restricted Stock Award may be awarded in consideration for (A) cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to
the Company, (B) past services to the Company or an Affiliate, or (C) any other form of legal consideration (including future services)
that may be acceptable to the Board, in its sole discretion, and permissible under applicable law.
(ii)
Vesting. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement may be subject to forfeiture to the Company in
accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board.
(iii)
Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. If a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company 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 of termination of Continuous Service under the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement.
(iv)
Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be transferable by the
Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, as the Board will determine
in its sole discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement remains subject to the terms of the
Restricted Stock Award Agreement.
(v)
Dividends. A Restricted Stock Award Agreement may provide that any dividends paid on Restricted Stock will be subject to the same
vesting and forfeiture restrictions as apply to the shares of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award to which they relate.
(b)
Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement will be in such form and will contain such terms and conditions
as the Board will deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements may change from time to time,
and the terms and conditions of separate Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreements need not be identical. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award
Agreement will conform to (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the Agreement or otherwise) the substance of
each of the following provisions:
(i)
Consideration. At the time of grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid
by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. The consideration to be paid
(if any) by the Participant for each share of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award may be paid in any form of legal
consideration that may be acceptable to the Board, in its sole discretion, and permissible under applicable law.
(ii)
Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board may impose such restrictions on or conditions to the
vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit Award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
(iii)
Payment. A Restricted Stock Unit Award may be settled by the delivery of shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent, any combination
thereof or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.
(iv)
Additional Restrictions. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Board, as it deems appropriate, may impose
such restrictions or conditions that delay the delivery of the shares of Common Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to a Restricted
Stock Unit Award to a time after the vesting of such Restricted Stock Unit Award.
(v)
Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of Common Stock covered by a Restricted Stock Unit
Award, as determined by the Board and contained in the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. At the sole discretion of the Board, such
dividend equivalents may be converted into additional shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award in such manner
as determined by the Board. Any additional shares covered by the Restricted Stock Unit Award credited by reason of such dividend equivalents
will be subject to all of the same terms and conditions of the underlying Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement to which they relate.
(vi)
Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Restricted Stock Unit Award
Agreement, such portion of the Restricted Stock Unit Award that has not vested will be forfeited upon the Participant’s termination
of Continuous Service.
(c)
Performance Awards.
(i)
Performance Stock Awards. A Performance Stock Award is a Stock Award that is payable (including that may be granted, may vest or
may be exercised) contingent upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Stock Award
may but need not require the Participant’s completion of a specified period of Continuous Service. The length of any Performance
Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance
Goals have been attained will be conclusively determined by the Board or Committee, in its sole discretion. In addition, to the extent
permitted by applicable law and the applicable Award Agreement, the Board may determine that cash may be used in payment of Performance
Stock Awards.
(ii)
Performance Cash Awards. A Performance Cash Award is a cash award that is payable contingent upon the attainment during a Performance
Period of certain Performance Goals. A Performance Cash Award may also require the completion of a specified period of Continuous Service.
At the time of grant of a Performance Cash Award, the length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the
Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained will be conclusively determined
by the Board or Committee, in its sole discretion. The Board may specify the form of payment of Performance Cash Awards, which may be
cash or other property, or may provide for a Participant to have the option for his or her Performance Cash Award, or such portion thereof
as the Board may specify, to be paid in whole or in part in cash or other property.
(iii)
Board Discretion. The Board retains the discretion to adjust or eliminate the compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment
of Performance Goals and to define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for a Performance Period.
(d)
Other Stock Awards. Other forms of Stock Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock,
including the appreciation in value thereof (e.g., options or stock rights with an exercise price or strike price less than 100% of the
Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant) may be granted either alone or in addition to Stock Awards provided for under
Section 5 and the preceding provisions of this Section 6. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board will have sole and complete
authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock Awards will be granted, the number of shares
of Common Stock (or the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted pursuant to such Other Stock Awards and all other terms and conditions
of such Other Stock Awards.
7.
Covenants of the Company.
(a)
Availability of Shares. The Company will keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock reasonably required to
satisfy then-outstanding Stock Awards.
(b)
Compliance with Law. The Company will seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency, as necessary, such authority as may
be required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise or vesting of the Stock Awards; provided,
however, that this undertaking will not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan or other securities or
applicable laws, any Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts
and at a reasonable cost, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority that counsel for
the Company deems necessary or advisable for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company will be relieved
from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise or vesting of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority
is obtained. A Participant will not be eligible for the grant of an Award or the subsequent issuance of cash or Common Stock pursuant
to the Award if such grant or issuance would be in violation of any applicable law.
(c)
No Obligation to Notify or Minimize Taxes. The Company will have no duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such holder as
to the time or manner or tax treatment of exercising such Stock Award. Furthermore, the Company will have no duty or obligation to warn
or otherwise advise such holder of a pending termination or expiration of an Award or a possible period in which the Award may not be
exercised. The Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of an Award to the holder of such Award.
8.
Miscellaneous.
(a)
Use of Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock. Proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards will constitute
general funds of the Company.
(b)
Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Awards. Corporate action constituting a grant by the Company of an Award to any Participant
will be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Board, regardless of when the instrument,
certificate, or letter evidencing the Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant. In the event that
the corporate records (e.g., Board consents, resolutions or minutes) documenting the corporate action constituting the grant contain
terms (e.g., exercise price, vesting schedule or number of shares) that are inconsistent with those in the Award Agreement or related
grant documents as a result of a clerical error in the papering of the Award Agreement or related grant documents, the corporate records
will control and the Participant will have no legally binding right to the incorrect term in the Award Agreement or related grant documents.
(c)
Stockholder Rights. No Participant will 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 an Award unless and until (i) such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of,
or the issuance of shares of Common Stock under, the Award pursuant to its terms, and (ii) the issuance of the Common Stock subject to
such Award has been entered into the books and records of the Company.
(d)
No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan, any Award Agreement or any other instrument executed thereunder or in
connection with any Award granted pursuant thereto will 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 will affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate
(i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the
terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the bylaws
of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state or foreign jurisdiction in which the
Company or the Affiliate is domiciled or incorporated, as the case may be. Furthermore, to the extent the Company is not the employer
of a Participant, the grant of an Award will be not establish an employment or other service relationship between the Company and the
Participant.
(e)
Change in Time Commitment. In the event a Participant’s regular level of time commitment in the performance of his or her services
for the Company and any Affiliates is reduced (for example, and without limitation, if the Participant is an Employee of the Company
and the Employee has a change in status from a full-time Employee to a part-time Employee or takes an extended leave of absence) after
the date of grant of any Award to the Participant, the Board has the right in its sole discretion to (x) make a corresponding reduction
in the number of shares or cash amount subject to any portion of such Award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date
of such change in time commitment, and (y) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting or payment schedule
applicable to such Award. In the event of any such reduction, the Participant will have no right with respect to any portion of the Award
that is so reduced or extended.
(f)
Incentive Stock Option Limitations. 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 any Affiliates) exceeds U.S. $100,000 (or such other limit established in the Code) or otherwise does not
comply with the rules governing Incentive Stock Options, the Options or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the order
in which they were granted) or otherwise do not comply with such rules will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding
any contrary provision of the applicable Option Agreement(s).
(g)
Investment Assurances. The Company may require a Participant, as a condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Award,
(i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business
matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial
and business matters and that such Participant is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits
and risks of exercising the Award; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring
Common Stock subject to the Award for the Participant’s own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise
distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, will be inoperative
if (A) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Award has been registered under a then currently
effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (B) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel
for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may,
upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate
in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the Common Stock.
(h)
Withholding Obligations. Unless prohibited by the terms of an Award Agreement, the Company may, in its sole discretion, satisfy any
U.S. and non-U.S. federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to an Award by any of the following means or by a combination
of such means: (i) causing the Participant to tender a cash payment; (ii) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common
Stock issued or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with the Stock Award; provided, however, that (A) no shares
of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the maximum amount of tax that may be required to be withheld by law (or such other
amount as may be permitted while still avoiding classification of the Stock Award as a liability for financial accounting purposes) ),
and (B) with respect to a Stock Award held by any Participant who is subject to the filing requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange
Act, any such share withholding must be specifically approved by the Compensation Committee as the applicable method that must be used
to satisfy the tax withholding obligation or such share withholding procedure must otherwise satisfy the requirements for an exempt transaction
under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; (iii) withholding cash from a Stock Award settled in cash; (iv) withholding payment from any
amounts otherwise payable to the Participant; (v) by means of a “cashless exercise” pursuant to a program developed under
Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board, or (vi) by such other method as may be set forth in the Award Agreement.
(i)
Electronic Delivery. Any reference herein to a “written” agreement or document will include any agreement or document
delivered electronically, filed publicly at www.sec.gov (or any successor website thereto) or posted on the Company’s intranet
(or other shared electronic medium controlled by the Company to which the Participant has access).
(j)
Deferrals. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board, in its sole discretion, may determine that the delivery of Common
Stock or the payment of cash, upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of all or a portion of any Award may be deferred and may establish
programs and procedures for deferral elections to be made by Participants. Deferrals by Participants will be made in accordance with
Section 409A of the Code. Consistent with Section 409A of the Code, the Board may provide for distributions while a Participant is still
an employee or otherwise providing services to the Company. The Board is authorized to make deferrals of Awards and determine when, and
in what annual percentages, Participants may receive payments, including lump sum payments, following the Participant’s termination
of Continuous Service, and implement such other terms and conditions consistent with the provisions of the Plan and in accordance with
applicable law.
(k)
Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Unless otherwise expressly provided for in an Award Agreement, the Plan and Award Agreements
will be interpreted to the greatest extent possible in a manner that makes the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder exempt from Section
409A of the Code, and, to the extent not so exempt, in compliance with Section 409A of the Code. If the Board determines that any Award
granted hereunder is not exempt from and is therefore subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award
will incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code, and to the
extent an Award Agreement is silent on terms necessary for compliance, such terms are hereby incorporated by reference into the Award
Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan (and unless the Award Agreement specifically provides otherwise), if
the shares of Common Stock are publicly traded, and if a Participant holding an Award that constitutes “deferred compensation”
under Section 409A of the Code is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, no distribution or payment
of any amount that is due because of a “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code without regard to
alternative definitions thereunder) will be issued or paid before the date that is six months following the date of such Participant’s
“separation from service” or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death, unless such distribution or payment
can be made in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, and any amounts so deferred will be paid in a lump sum on the day
after such six month period elapses, with the balance paid thereafter on the original schedule.
(l)
Exchange Program. Without prior stockholder approval, the Board may engage in an Exchange Program.
(m)
Clawback/Recovery. All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that the
Company is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s
securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable
law. In addition, the Board may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in an Award Agreement as the Board determines
necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to a reacquisition right in respect of previously acquired shares of Common Stock
or other cash or property upon the occurrence of an event constituting Cause. No recovery of compensation under such a clawback policy
will be an event giving rise to a right to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar
term) under any agreement with the Company or an Affiliate.
9.
Adjustments upon Changes in Common Stock; Other Corporate Events.
(a)
Capitalization Adjustments. In the event of a Capitalization Adjustment, the Board will appropriately and proportionately adjust:
(i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a), (ii) the class(es) and maximum number
of securities that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 3(c), and (iii) the class(es)
and number of securities and price per share of stock subject to outstanding Stock Awards. The Board will make such adjustments, and
its determination will be final, binding and conclusive.
(b)
Dissolution or Liquidation. Except as otherwise provided in the Stock Award Agreement, in the event of a dissolution or liquidation
of the Company, all outstanding Stock Awards (other than Stock Awards consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not
subject to a forfeiture condition or the Company’s right of repurchase) will terminate immediately prior to the completion of such
dissolution or liquidation, and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Company’s repurchase rights or subject to a forfeiture
condition may be repurchased or reacquired by the Company notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such Stock Award is providing Continuous
Service; provided, however, that the Board may, in its sole discretion, cause some or all Stock Awards to become fully vested,
exercisable and/or no longer subject to repurchase or forfeiture (to the extent such Stock Awards have not previously expired or terminated)
before the dissolution or liquidation is completed but contingent on its completion.
(c)
Corporate Transaction. The following provisions will apply to Stock Awards in the event of a Corporate Transaction unless otherwise
provided in the Stock Award Agreement or any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant or unless
otherwise expressly provided by the Board at the time of grant of a Stock Award. In the event of a Corporate Transaction, then, notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan, the Board may take one or more of the following actions with respect to Stock Awards, contingent upon
the closing or completion of the Corporate Transaction:
(i)
arrange for the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company)
to assume or continue the Stock Award or to substitute a similar stock award for the Stock Award (including, but not limited to, an award
to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Corporate Transaction);
(ii)
arrange for the assignment of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of Common Stock issued pursuant
to the Stock Award to the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or the surviving or acquiring corporation’s parent company);
(iii)
accelerate the vesting, in whole or in part, of the Stock Award (and, if applicable, the time at which the Stock Award may be exercised)
to a date prior to the effective time of such Corporate Transaction as the Board determines (or, if the Board does not determine such
a date, to the date that is five days prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction), which exercise is contingent upon the
effectiveness of such Corporate Transaction with such Stock Award terminating if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective
time of the Corporate Transaction; provided, however, that the Board may require Participants to complete and deliver to the Company
a notice of exercise before the effective date of a Corporate Transaction
(iv)
arrange for the lapse, in whole or in part, of any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to the Stock
Award;
(v)
cancel or arrange for the cancellation of the Stock Award, to the extent not vested or not exercised prior to the effective time
of the Corporate Transaction, in exchange for such cash consideration, if any, as the Board, in its sole discretion, may consider appropriate;
and
(vi)
make a payment, in such form as may be determined by the Board equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the per share amount (or value
of property per share) payable to holders of Common Stock in connection with the Corporate Transaction, over (B) the per share exercise
price under the applicable Stock Award, multiplied by the number of shares subject to the Stock Award. For clarity, this payment may
be zero (U.S. $0) if the amount per share (or value of property per share) payable to the holders of the Common Stock is equal to or
less than the exercise price of the Stock Award. In addition, any escrow, holdback, earnout or similar provisions in the definitive agreement
for the Corporate Transaction may apply to such payment to the holder of the Stock Award to the same extent and in the same manner as
such provisions apply to the holders of Common Stock.
The
Board need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Stock Awards or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants.
The Board may take different actions with respect to the vested and unvested portions of a Stock Award.
(d)
Change in Control. A Stock Award may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a Change in
Control as may be provided in the Stock Award Agreement for such Stock Award or as may be provided in any other written agreement between
the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration will occur.
10.
Termination or Suspension of the Plan.
The
Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. No Incentive Stock Options may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the earlier
of (i) the Adoption Date, or (ii) the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company. No Awards may be granted under the
Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.
11.
Existence of the Plan; Timing of First Grant or Exercise.
The
Plan will come into existence on the Adoption Date; provided, however, no Stock Award may be granted prior to the IPO Date (that
is, the Effective Date). In addition, no Stock Award will be exercised (or, in the case of a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock
Unit Award, Performance Stock Award, or Other Stock Award, will be granted) and no Performance Cash Award will be settled unless and
until the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, which approval will be within 12 months after the Adoption Date.
12.
Choice of Law.
The
law of the State of Delaware will govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without
regard to that state’s conflict of laws rules.
13.
Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following definitions will apply to the capitalized
terms indicated below:
(a)
“Adoption Date” means the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.
(b)
“Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary” of
the Company as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Board will have the authority to determine the time or times
at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.
(c)
“Award” means a Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award.
(d)
“Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms
and conditions of an Award.
(e)
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(f)
“Capital Stock” means each and every class of common stock of the Company, regardless of the number of
votes per share.
(g)
“Capitalization Adjustment” means any change that is made in, or other events that occur with respect to,
the Common Stock subject to the Plan or subject to any Stock Award after the Adoption Date without the receipt of consideration by the
Company through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other
than cash, large nonrecurring cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange
of shares, change in corporate structure or any similar equity restructuring transaction, as that term is used in Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor thereto). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
conversion of any convertible securities of the Company will not be treated as a Capitalization Adjustment.
(h)
“Cause” will have the meaning ascribed to such term in any written agreement between the Participant and
the Company defining such term and, in the absence of such agreement, such term means, with respect to a Participant, the occurrence
of any of the following events: (i) such Participant’s commission of any felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral
turpitude under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or any applicable foreign jurisdiction; (ii) such Participant’s
attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company or any Affiliate; (iii) such Participant’s
intentional, material violation of any contract or agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Affiliate or of any statutory
duty owed to the Company or any Affiliate; (iv) such Participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company’s or any
Affiliate’s confidential information or trade secrets; or (v) such Participant’s gross misconduct. The determination that
a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service is either for Cause or without Cause shall be made by the Company in its
sole discretion. Any determination by the Company that the Continuous Service of a Participant was terminated by reason of dismissal
without Cause for the purposes of outstanding Stock Awards held by such Participant shall have no effect upon any determination of the
rights or obligations of the Company or such Participant for any other purpose.
(i)
“Change in Control” means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions,
of any one or more of the following events:
(i)
any Exchange Act Person becomes the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the
combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control will not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition of securities of the
Company directly from the Company, (B) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company by an investor, any affiliate thereof
or any other Exchange Act Person that acquires the Company’s securities in a transaction or series of related transactions the
primary purpose of which is to obtain financing for the Company through the issuance of equity securities, (C) on account of the acquisition
of securities of the Company by any individual who is, on the IPO Date, either an executive officer or a Director (either, an “IPO
Investor”) and/or any entity in which an IPO Investor has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting
rights or participation in profits or capital contributions) of more than 50% (collectively, the “IPO Entities”)
or on account of the IPO Entities continuing to hold shares that come to represent more than 50% of the combined voting power of the
Company’s then outstanding securities as a result of the conversion of any class of the Company’s securities into another
class of the Company’s securities having a different number of votes per share pursuant to the conversion provisions set forth
in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; or (D) solely because the level of Ownership held by any Exchange
Act Person (the “Subject Person”) exceeds the designated percentage threshold of the outstanding voting securities
as a result of a repurchase or other acquisition of voting securities by the Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided
that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of voting securities
by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject Person becomes the Owner of any additional voting securities that, assuming
the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred, increases the percentage of the then outstanding voting securities Owned by the
Subject Person over the designated percentage threshold, then a Change in Control will be deemed to occur;
(ii)
there is consummated a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) the Company and, immediately
after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto
do not Own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting
power of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction or (B) more than 50% of the combined outstanding voting
power of the parent of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, in each case in substantially the same
proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; provided,
however, that a merger, consolidation or similar transaction will not constitute a Change in Control under this prong of the definition
if the outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the surviving Entity or its parent are
owned by the IPO Entities;
(iii)
there is consummated a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to an Entity, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which
are Owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities
of the Company immediately prior to such sale, lease, license or other disposition; provided, however, that a sale, lease, exclusive
license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries will not constitute
a Change in Control under this prong of the definition if the outstanding voting securities representing more than 50% of the combined
voting power of the acquiring Entity or its parent are owned by the IPO Entities; or
(iv)
individuals who, on the date the Plan is adopted by the Board, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”)
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; provided, however, that if the appointment
or election (or nomination for election) of any new Board member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the
Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member will, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing or any other provision of the Plan, the term Change in Control will not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction
effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company and the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous
term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant will supersede the foregoing definition
with respect to Awards subject to such agreement; provided, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous
term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition will apply. To the extent required for compliance
with Section 409A of the Code, in no event will a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred if such transaction is not also a “change
in the ownership or effective control of” the Company or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets
of” the Company as determined under Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder).
The Board may, in its sole discretion and without a Participant’s consent, amend the definition of “Change in Control”
to conform to the definition of “Change in Control” under Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations thereunder.
(j)
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any applicable regulations and guidance
thereunder.
(k)
“Committee” means a committee of one or more Directors to whom authority has been delegated by the Board
in accordance with Section 2(c).
(l)
“Common Stock” means, as of the IPO Date, the common stock of the Company, having one vote per share.
(m)
“Company” means Sonim Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(n)
“Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, who is (i) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate
to render consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such services, or (ii) serving as a member of the board of directors
of an Affiliate and is compensated for such services. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, will
not cause a Director to be considered a “Consultant” for purposes of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person is
treated as a Consultant under this Plan only if a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act is available to register either
the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such person.
(o)
“Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether
as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. 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 service with the Company or an Affiliate, will
not terminate a Participant’s Continuous Service; provided, however, that if the Entity for which a Participant is rendering
services ceases to qualify as an Affiliate, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, such Participant’s Continuous Service
will be considered to have terminated on the date such Entity ceases to qualify as an Affiliate. For example, a change in status from
an Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or to a Director will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service.
To the extent permitted by law, the Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party’s sole discretion, may determine
whether Continuous Service will be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board or chief executive
officer, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave, or (ii) transfers between the Company, an Affiliate, or their
successors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence will be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in an Award
only to such extent as may be provided in the Company’s leave of absence policy, in the written terms of any leave of absence agreement
or policy applicable to the Participant, or as otherwise required by law. In addition, to the extent required for exemption from or compliance
with Section 409A of the Code, the determination of whether there has been a termination of Continuous Service will be made, and such
term will be construed, in a manner that is consistent with the definition of “separation from service” as defined under
Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) (without regard to any alternative definition thereunder).
(p)
“Corporate Transaction” means the consummation, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions,
of any one or more of the following events:
(i)
a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, of the consolidated
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(ii)
a sale or other disposition of more than 50% of the outstanding securities of the Company;
(iii)
a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or
(iv)
a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or similar transaction are converted or exchanged by virtue of the
merger, consolidation or similar transaction into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise.
If
required for compliance with Section 409A of the Code, in no event will a Corporate Transaction be deemed to have occurred if such transaction
is not also a “change in the ownership or effective control of” the Company or “a change in the ownership of a substantial
portion of the assets of” the Company as determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) (without regard to any alternative
definition thereunder).
(q)
“Director” means a member of the Board.
(r)
“Disability” means, with respect to a Participant, the inability of such Participant to engage in any substantial
gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that
has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, as provided in Sections 22(e)(3) and 409A(a)(2)(c)(i)
of the Code, and will be determined by the Board on the basis of such medical evidence as the Board deems warranted under the circumstances.
(s)
“Effective Date” means the IPO Date.
(t)
“Employee” means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director,
or payment of a fee for such services, will not cause a Director to be considered an “Employee” for purposes of the Plan.
(u)
“Entity” means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity.
(v)
“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(w)
“Exchange Act Person” means any natural person, Entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section
13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), except that “Exchange Act Person” will not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company, (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities
pursuant to a registered public offering of such securities, (iv) an Entity Owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the
Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of stock of the Company; or (v) any natural person, Entity or “group”
(within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) that, as of the Effective Date, is the Owner, directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities.
(x)
“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows:
(i)
If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on any established market, the Fair Market Value of a share
of Common Stock will be, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such exchange
or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the date of determination, as reported
in a source the Board deems reliable.
(ii)
Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if there is no closing sales price for the Common Stock on the date of determination, then
the Fair Market Value will be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
(iii)
In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined by the Board in good faith and in a
manner that complies with Sections 409A and 422 of the Code.
(y)
“Incentive Stock Option” means an option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan that is intended to
be, and qualifies as, an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(z)
“IPO Date” means the date of the underwriting agreement between the Company and the underwriter(s) managing
the initial public offering of the Common Stock, pursuant to which the Common Stock is priced for the initial public offering.
(aa)
“Non-Employee Director” means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee or officer of the Company
or an Affiliate, does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from the Company or an Affiliate for services rendered
as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required under
Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (“Regulation S-K”)), does not possess
an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in
a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered
a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3.
(bb)
“Nonstatutory Stock Option” means any Option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan that does not qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option.
(cc)
“Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange
Act.
(dd)
“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase shares of Common Stock
granted pursuant to the Plan.
(ee)
“Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms
and conditions of an Option grant. Each Option Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ff)
“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.
(gg)
“Other Stock Award” means an award based in whole or in part by reference to the Common Stock which is
granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 6(d).
(hh)
“Other Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Other Stock
Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an Other Stock Award grant. Each Other Stock Award Agreement will be subject to the terms
and conditions of the Plan.
(ii)
“Own,” “Owned,” “Owner,” “Ownership”
means a person or Entity will be deemed to “Own,” to have “Owned,” to be the “Owner” of, or to have
acquired “Ownership” of securities if such person or Entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding,
relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such
securities.
(jj)
“Parent” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with
the Company, if each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power
of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after
the adoption of the Plan shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.
(kk)
“Participant” means a person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person
who holds an outstanding Stock Award.
(ll)
“Performance Cash Award” means an award of cash granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section
6(c)(ii).
(mm)
“Performance Criteria” means the one or more criteria that the Board or Committee (as applicable) will
select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goals for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish
such Performance Goals may be based on any one of, or combination of, the following as determined by the Board or Committee (as applicable):
(1) earnings (including earnings per share and net earnings); (2) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (3) earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (4) total stockholder return; (5) return on equity or average stockholder’s equity;
(6) return on assets, investment, or capital employed; (7) stock price; (8) margin (including gross margin); (9) income (before or after
taxes); (10) operating income; (11) operating income after taxes; (12) pre-tax profit; (13) operating cash flow; (14) sales or revenue
targets; (15) increases in revenue or product revenue; (16) expenses and cost reduction goals; (17) improvement in or attainment of working
capital levels; (18) economic value added (or an equivalent metric); (19) market share; (20) cash flow; (21) cash flow per share; (22)
share price performance; (23) debt reduction; (24) implementation or completion of projects or processes; (25) subscriber satisfaction;
(26) stockholders’ equity; (27) capital expenditures; (28) debt levels; (29) operating profit or net operating profit; (30) workforce
diversity; (31) growth of net income or operating income; (32) billings; (33) the number of subscribers, including but not limited to
unique subscribers; (34) employee retention; and (35) other measures of performance selected by the Board.
(nn)
“Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Board or
Committee (as applicable) for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. Performance Goals may be based on a Company-wide
basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, Affiliates, or business segments, and in either absolute terms or relative
to the performance of one or more comparable companies or the performance of one or more relevant indices. Unless specified otherwise
by the Board or Committee (as applicable) (i) in the Award Agreement at the time the Award is granted or (ii) in such other document
setting forth the Performance Goals at the time the Performance Goals are established, the Board or Committee (as applicable) will appropriately
make adjustments in the method of calculating the attainment of Performance Goals for a Performance Period as follows: (1) to exclude
restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (2) to exclude exchange rate effects; (3) to exclude the effects of changes to generally
accepted accounting principles; (4) to exclude the effects of items that are “unusual” in nature or occur “infrequently”
as determined under generally accepted accounting principles; (6) to exclude the dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures;
(7) to assume that any business divested by the Company achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a Performance
Period following such divestiture; (8) to exclude the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company by
reason of any stock dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination
or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any distributions to common stockholders other than regular cash dividends;
(9) to exclude the effects of stock based compensation and the award of bonuses under the Company’s bonus plans; (10) to exclude
costs incurred in connection with potential acquisitions or divestitures that are required to be expensed under generally accepted accounting
principles; and (11) to exclude the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges that are required to be recorded under generally
accepted accounting principles. In addition, the Board or Committee (as applicable) retains the discretion to reduce or eliminate the
compensation or economic benefit due upon attainment of Performance Goals and to define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria
it selects to use for such Performance Period. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in the payment or vesting corresponding
to the degree of achievement as specified in the Stock Award Agreement or the written terms of a Performance Cash Award.
(oo)
“Performance Period” means the period of time selected by the Board or Committee (as applicable) 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 Stock Award or a Performance Cash Award. Performance Periods may be of varying and overlapping duration, at the sole discretion
of the Board or Committee (as applicable).
(pp)
“Performance Stock Award” means a Stock Award granted under the terms and conditions of Section 6(c)(i).
(qq)
“Plan” means this Sonim Technologies, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to
time.
(rr)
“Restricted Stock Award” means an award of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms
and conditions of Section 6(a).
(ss)
“Restricted Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Restricted
Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement will be subject
to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(tt)
“Restricted Stock Unit Award” means a right to receive shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant
to the terms and conditions of Section 6(b).
(uu)
“Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a
Restricted Stock Unit Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Unit Award grant. Each Restricted Stock Unit Award
Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(vv)
“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.
(ww)
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(xx)
“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right to receive the appreciation
on Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 5.
(yy)
“Stock Appreciation Right Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock
Appreciation Right evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation Right grant. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement will
be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(zz)
“Stock Award” means any right to receive Common Stock granted under the Plan, including an Incentive Stock
Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a Restricted Stock Award, a Restricted Stock Unit Award, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Performance
Stock Award or any Other Stock Award.
(aaa)
“Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the
terms and conditions of a Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(bbb)
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than 50% of the outstanding
capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether,
at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation will have or might have voting power by reason of the happening
of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership, limited liability company
or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or
capital contribution) of more than 50%.
(ccc)
“Ten Percent Stockholder” 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 any Affiliate.
APPENDIX
B
Amendment
to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
CERTIFICATE
OF AMENDMENT TO THE
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION
OF
SONIM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
The
undersigned, [XX], hereby certifies that:
1.
He is the [title] of Sonim Technologies, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a Delaware corporation, and is duly authorized
by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation to execute this instrument.
2.
The present name of the Corporation is “Sonim Technologies, Inc.” The Corporation filed its Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 14, 2019.
3.
This Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly approved by the Corporation’s Board
of Directors and duly adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation at the meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation duly called
and held upon notice in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 222 and 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware.
4.
Article IV, Section A of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended to read in
its entirety as follows:
A.
This Company is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and
“Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation shall have
authority to issue is 105,000,000. 100,000,000 shares shall be Common Stock of the par value of $0.001 per share and 5,000,000 shares
shall be Preferred Stock of the par value of $0.001 per share.
Upon
the filing and effectiveness (the “Effective Time”) pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law of this Certificate
of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, each [XX] shares of Common Stock, par value
$0.001 per share, issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time shall, automatically and without any action on the part of the respective
holders thereof, be combined and converted into one (1) share of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company. No fractional
shares shall be issued and, in lieu thereof, any holder of less than one (1) share of Common Stock shall, upon surrender after the Effective
Time of a certificate, which formerly represented shares of Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time, be entitled to receive cash (without interest or deduction) from the Corporation’s transfer agent for such holder’s
fractional share in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying (a) the closing price per share of the Common Stock as reported
on the The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC as of the date of the Effective Time, by (b) the fraction of one share owned by the stockholder. Each
certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Common Stock, shall thereafter represent that number of
shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificate shall have been combined, subject to the
elimination of fractional share interests as described above.
****
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
to be executed this day of [date].
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SONIM
TECHNOLOGIES, INC. |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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Sonim Technologies (NASDAQ:SONM)
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