This is a confidential draft submission to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 106(a) of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 on July 29, 2021 and is not being filed publicly under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Registration No. 333-

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

HOUR LOOP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   5961   47-2869399

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

8201 164th Ave NE #200

Redmond, WA 98052-7615

Telephone: (206) 385-0488

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Sam Lai

Chief Executive Officer

8201 164th Ave NE #200

Redmond, WA 98052-7615

Telephone: (206) 385-0488 ext. 100

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:

 

Laura Anthony, Esq.

Craig D. Linder, Esq.

Anthony L.G., PLLC

625 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 600

West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

Telephone: (561) 514-0936

 

M. Ali Panjwani, Esq.

Pryor Cashman LLP

7 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

Telephone: (212) 421-4100

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. [X]

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [  ]

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [  ]

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [  ]

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer [  ] Accelerated filer [  ]
   
Non-accelerated filer [X] Smaller reporting company [X]
   
  Emerging growth company [X]

 

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

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price(1)

  

Amount of

Registration Fee

 
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (2)(3)  $57,500,000   $6,273.25 
Representative’s Warrant to purchase common stock  $   $(4)
Common stock issuable upon exercise of Representative’s Warrants to purchase common stock (5)  $3,593,750   $392.08 
TOTAL  $61,093,750   $6,665.33(7)

 

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
   
(2) Pursuant to Rule 416, the securities being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of additional shares of common stock as may be issued after the date hereof as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
   
(3) Includes shares the underwriters have the option to purchase to cover over-allotments, if any.
   
(4) No fee required pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act.
   
(5) The Representative’s Warrants are exercisable at a per share exercise price equal to 125% of the public offering price per share. As estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act, the proposed maximum aggregate offering price of the Representative’s warrants is $3,593,750, which is equal to 125% of $2,875,000 (5% of $57,500,000 of shares of common stock sold in this offering). Pursuant to Rule 416, the registrant is also registering an indeterminate number of additional shares of common stock that are issuable by reason of the anti-dilution provisions of the Representative’s Warrants.

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a) may determine.

 

 

 

 
 

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities, in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION   DATED JULY 29, 2021

 

[             ] Shares

 

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

 

Common Stock

 

We are offering [●] shares of our common stock (“Common Stock”). This is our initial public offering. Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for our Common Stock. We expect the initial public offering price to be between $[●] and $[●] per share. For purposes of this prospectus, the assumed initial public offering price per share is $[●], the mid-point of the anticipated price range. The actual number of shares we will offer will be determined based on the actual public offering price.

 

We intend to apply to list our Common Stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “HOUR”. We believe that upon the completion of the offering contemplated by this prospectus, we will meet the standards for listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in listing our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market; however, we will not complete this offering unless we are so listed.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” under the federal securities laws and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and future filings. See “Prospectus Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company.”

 

Investing in our Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. Before buying any shares, you should carefully read the discussion of the material risks of investing in our Common Stock under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 16 of this prospectus.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed on the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

   Per share   Total 
Public offering price  $[●]   $[●]
Underwriting discounts and commissions (1)  $[●]   $[●] 
Proceeds, before expenses, to us  $[●]   $[●] 

 

(1) See “Underwriters” beginning on page 80 of this prospectus for additional information regarding the compensation payable to the underwriters.

 

We have granted a 45-day option to the underwriters to purchase up to [●] additional shares of Common Stock solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If the underwriters exercise the option in full, the total underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us will be $[●], and the total proceeds to us, before expenses, will be $[●].

 

Delivery of the shares of Common Stock is expected to be made on or about [●], 2021.

 

EF HUTTON

 

division of Benchmark Investments, LLC

 

The date of this prospectus is [●], 2021

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page 
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ii
INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA ii
TRADEMARKS AND COPYRIGHTS ii
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 1
RISK FACTORS 16
USE OF PROCEEDS 36
DIVIDEND POLICY 37
CAPITALIZATION 37
MARKET PRICE FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 38
DILUTION 38
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS 39
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 50
MANAGEMENT 60
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 67
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT 77
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 78
UNDERWRITING 80
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES 89
LEGAL MATTERS 91
EXPERTS 92
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR 92
DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION’S POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES 92
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 92
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS F-1

 

No dealer, salesperson or other individual has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in this prospectus in connection with the offer made by this prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs or that information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof.

 

For investors outside the United States: We have not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the shares of our common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

 

i
 

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. Specifically, forward-looking statements may include statements relating to:

 

  our future financial performance;
     
  changes in the market for our products and services;
     
  our expansion plans and opportunities; and
     
  other statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target” or similar expressions.

 

These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this prospectus and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

 

As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, our actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:

 

  the level of demand for our products and services;
     
  competition in our markets;
     
  our ability to grow and manage growth profitably;
     
  our ability to access additional capital;
     
  changes in applicable laws or regulations;
     
  our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;
     
  the possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and
     
  other risks and uncertainties indicated in this prospectus, including those under “Risk Factors.”

 

INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

 

We are responsible for the disclosure in this prospectus. However, this prospectus includes industry data that we obtained from internal surveys, market research, publicly available information and industry publications. The market research, publicly available information and industry publications that we use generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. The information therein represents the most recently available data from the relevant sources and publications and we believe remains reliable. We did not fund and are not otherwise affiliated with any of the sources cited in this prospectus. Forward-looking information obtained from these sources is subject to the same qualifications and additional uncertainties regarding the other forward-looking statements in this prospectus.

 

TRADEMARKS AND COPYRIGHTS

 

We own or have rights to trademarks or trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business, including our corporate names, logos and website names. In addition, we own or have the rights to copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary rights that protect the content of our products and the formulations for such products. This prospectus may also contain trademarks, service marks and trade names of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Our use or display of third parties’ trademarks, service marks, trade names or products in this prospectus is not intended to, and should not be read to, imply a relationship with or endorsement or sponsorship of us. Solely for convenience, some of the copyrights, trade names and trademarks referred to in this prospectus are listed without their ©, ® and ™ symbols, but we will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights to our copyrights, trade names and trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

 

ii
 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights certain information about us, this offering, and selected information contained in this prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. For a more complete understanding of the Company and this offering, we encourage you to read and consider the more detailed information in this prospectus, including “Risk Factors” and the financial statements and related notes. Unless the context otherwise requires, “Hour Loop,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or “the Company” refers to “Hour Loop, Inc.,” a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

Overview

 

Our Business

 

We are an online retailer engaged in e-commerce retailing in the U.S. market since 2013. We operate both our own website at www.hourloop.com and as a third-party seller on www.amazon.com and www.walmart.com. We manage more than 100,000 stock-keeping units (“SKUs”). Product categories include home/garden décor, toys, kitchenware, apparels, and electronics. Our primary strategy is to bring most of our vendors product selections to the customers. We have advanced software that assists us in identifying product gaps so we can keep such products in stock year-round including the entirety of the last quarter (holiday season) of the calendar year (“Q4”). In upcoming years, we plan to expand our business rapidly by increasing the number of business managers, vendors and SKUs.

 

Our Financial Position

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we generated revenues of $38,655,264 and $26,564,693, respectively, and reported net income of $3,671,668 and $(424,583), respectively, and cash flow from operating activities of $3,671,008 and $(517,933), respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we generated revenues of $9,322,913 and $4,261,863 and reported net income of $865,894 and $(450,604), respectively, and cash flow from operating activities of $(1,155,965) and $(351,387), respectively. As noted in our consolidated financial statements, as of March 31, 2021, we had retained earnings of $4,885,513.

 

Business Model

 

There are three main types of business models on Amazon: wholesale, private label and retail arbitrage. Our business model is wholesale, also known as reselling, which refers to buying products in bulk directly from the brand or manufacturer at a wholesale price and making a profit by selling the product on Amazon.

 

The advantages of selling via a wholesale model:

 

  - Purchase lower unit quantities with wholesale orders than private label products.
     
  - Selling wholesale is less time intensive and easier to scale than sourcing products via retail arbitrage.
     
  - More brands will want to work with us because we can provide broader Amazon presence.

 

The challenges of selling via a wholesale model:

 

  - Fierce competition on listing for Buy Box on amazon.com (as described below).
     
  - Developing and maintaining relationships with brand manufacturers.

 

1
 

 

Market description/opportunities

 

Total retail sales increased 6.9% to $4.04 trillion in 2020 from $3.78 trillion in 2019. Consumers spent $861.12 billion online with U.S. merchants in 2020, which is around 21.3% of total retail sales for 2020, compared to 15.8% for 2019.

 

Amazon accounted for nearly a third of all e-commerce in the United States. With a more than 5% gain in e-commerce penetration for U.S. retail sales in 2020, we anticipate a larger market in the upcoming years.

 

Formation and Management

 

We were originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Washington on January 13, 2015. However, we converted from a Washington corporation to a Delaware corporation on April 7, 2021. The company was founded in 2013 by Sam Lai and Maggie Yu. With their vision, leadership, and software development skills, the company grew rapidly. From 2013 to 2020, sales grew from $0 to $38,655,264.

 

Competitive advantage

 

Among 9.7 million sellers on Amazon, we believe we have two main competitive advantages. First, we have strong operations and sales teams. They specialize in each task, including, but not limited to, listing, shipment, advertising, reconciliation and sales. Second, we believe our proprietary software system gives us an advantage over our competition. The system is highly customized to our business model; it collects and processes large amounts of data every day to optimize our operation and sales. Through advanced software, we can identify product gaps and keep them in stock all year round.

 

Historical Performance

 

Our year end gross revenues and net profits from 2013 through 2020 is presented in the table below:

 

     Year-over-         Year-over 
Year  Revenue   Year %   Income   Net Income %   -Year % 
2013  $26,135    -   $4,682    18%   - 
2014  $1,102,237    4117%  $150,300    14%   3110%
2015  $2,567,267    133%  $228,009    9%   52%
2016  $7,337,012    186%  $77,752    1%   NA 
2017  $17,487,124    138%  $-122,176    -1%   -257%
2018  $24,402,144    40%  $657,821    3%   NA 
2019  $26,564,693    9%  $-424,583    -2%   -165%
2020  $38,655,264    46%  $3,671,668    9%   NA 

 

2
 

 

Pricing Strategy and Policies

 

In an ideal world, we would like to price our products at key stone pricing or double wholesale cost. However, we operate in a hyper competitive environment and we must stay competitive. Therefore, we must draw a good balance between gross margin and revenue. Our main objectives focus on increasing volume and maximizing profits, which is achieved with a customized auto pricing system we developed internally, in combination with well-trained business managers’ judgment on pricing skills as well as constant monitoring. One principal feature of the pricing system is that it automatically syncs public data of competing offers from Amazon regularly, so business managers can make price settings and adjustments based on accurate data, and thus be able to set optimal selling prices for products. In addition, the system is constantly improved with new features and optimizations.

 

At a high level, our automated pricing tool helps us stay competitive while our business managers mainly focus on increasing gross margins. Our proprietary repricing tool analyze sales trend, projected sales, inventory age, inventory cost, potential profits, FBA fees, competing offers, and seasonality and determines an urgency level, then depending on the level of urgency, it automatically adjusts prices accordingly.

 

Business managers, after establishing the bases for prices, begin to develop pricing strategies for each product while taking the current market conditions, company goals (ex: increasing short-term or long-term profits) and strategies into consideration. Furthermore, business managers consider different marketing segments such as costs and competitions in order to develop effective pricing strategies and policies.

 

The following subsections provide more insight into various pricing strategies we have developed over the years. Our internal training mainly focuses on competition-based pricing policy and value-based pricing policy.

 

  I. Competition-Based Pricing Policy: 20% of our products are toys, which are extremely popular and competitive. In this type of environment where volume is high but gross margin is low, our main strategy is to purchase large quantities, so we can increase sales volume and price competitively while maintaining an average return on investment (“ROI”) of at least 15%. We are using the competition-based pricing policy to match competitor’s prices, which means constantly winning Buy Box (as described below). Our pricing system is capable of automatically matching all Buy Box.
     
  II. Promotional Pricing Policy: To boost lagging sales, we adapted our own promotional pricing policy, which involves offering modest discounts on products with inventory age over 45 days, which proves to be a cost-effective at reducing the number of low turn-over SKUs.
     
  III. Value-Based Pricing Policy: We incorporate a value-based pricing strategy when inventories are constrained, which can happen when customer demand suddenly spikes due to external factors, supply shortage, or seasonal spikes. We set prices to reflect the value perceived by customers, especially on products under gift categories when consumer demands are higher. Contrary to a typical seller, we opt to maintain high gross margin instead of marking down prices and running special deals during the high-demand season during Q4. Therefore, business managers can achieve increases in both sales and high average ROI of 40%.

 

Buy Box on amazon.com is the top right section on a product page where customers can directly add items to their shopping carts. Since many sellers on amazon.com can sell the same product, they must compete to “win the Buy Box” for a certain product. Winning the Amazon Buy Box simply means that you were chosen for the Buy Box placement. When you win this placement, customers have a button to directly add your product to their carts, giving you an advantage over competing sellers. For a seller to be eligible for the Buy Box, they must meet a set of performance-based requirements including order defect rate, customer shopping experience, time and experience on the Amazon selling platform, and status as a professional seller.

 

3
 

 

Overview of Market & Competition

 

According to Marketplace Pulse, U.S. e-commerce grew 32% in 2020 to reach $790 billion, up from $598 billion the year before. According to the Department of Commerce, e-commerce represented 14% of total retail spending, a significant increase from 11.3% in 2019.

 

For the past ten years, e-commerce in the U.S. grew, on average, 15% year-over-year. In 2020, the market reached a total sales figure it would have otherwise gotten to in 2021. Thus, two years of e-commerce growth in one year.

 

U.S. E-Commerce Sales

According to Marketplace Pulse, Amazon was one of the big winners in the fourth quarter, a record quarter with nearly $250 billion in e-commerce spending. While during the first two quarters boosted by the pandemic - Q2 and Q3 - it grew at or below the overall U.S. e-commerce growth rate. In the fourth quarter, Amazon grew faster than the market (based on a naive comparison of its reported North America segment growth). Its fulfillment capacity allowed the company to be more confident with deliveries than its main rivals.

 

4
 

 

Amazon North America vs. US E-Commerce Growth

 

Target market size

 

Total Addressable Market

 

As an e-commerce company retailing in the U.S. market, our total addressable market covers all U.S. residents with Internet access, where segmentally includes repeat customers and new customers to online shopping every year.

 

Growth of E-commerce vs. Total Retail Sales

 

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce data, the e-commerce’s share of total retail sales has steadily been on the rise, where total volume increased by an incredible 44% of year-over-year growth. The total retail sales increased by 6.9% to $4.04 trillion from 2019 to 2020, and all growths came from the e-commerce sales. Consumers spent $861.12 billion online with U.S. merchants in 2020, which is around 21.3% of total retail sales for the year compared to 15.8% in 2019. The strong growth of U.S. online spending shows the future potential of our target market size. The U.S. e-commerce sales accounted for more than 20% of total retail sales in 2020, and Amazon represented one-third of the total.

 

Growth of Amazon Prime Members

 

In 2020, Amazon had over 140 million Prime Members in the U.S., and we were seeing continuous year-over-year growth over the past years. The number of Amazon Prime users in the U.S. is forecasted to reach more than 153 million by 2022, with 3% annual growth.

 

Operational advantages

 

According to Marketplace Pulse, Hour Loop is one of the top 100 third-party sellers on U.S. Amazon. In 2019 there were only 18,000 sellers, out of 2,700,000 (or 0.67%) that exceeded $1 million in annual sales. Our sales in 2019 were $26.6 million.

 

Automation

 

We developed a proprietary software that is tailor made to all our operational needs. This includes managing order review process, shipment managements, inventory management, accounting, and complete end-to-end third-party integrations. This allows us to scale, reduce cost, and improve quality.

 

5
 

 

Profitability Management

 

We have experienced operations managers tracking team performances with key performance indicators. We have departments specializing in logistic costs, advertising, marketing, and product management. We hold monthly process reviews to identify early red flags and look for areas to optimize. Each quarter we set increasingly difficult bars both to grow gross margin and further reduce expenses.

 

Continuous Process Optimization

 

In order to improve operating efficiencies, we have effective process optimization adapting to the changing policies of the e-commerce marketplace. Our proprietary software allows us to continually accelerate process effectiveness based on specific requirements. Over time, our system eliminates unnecessary procedures that could be replaced by an advanced algorithm. For instance, we simplify Fulfillment by Amazon (“FBA”) shipments process through application programming interface (“API”) integration. Our self-developed system also tracks insightful analysis of our profitability, clearer visualizes the drivers and optimums to better manage operational costs.

 

Data-Driven Approach

 

We make decisions based on analysis and interpretation of the data sets rather than observations over the market trend. By standardizing processes and combine data-driven management, we can ensure the organization maintains consistency that is high quality. Our business managers use historical data and sales projection provided by our proprietary software to find potential product gaps and keep products in stock all year round. This advantage enables powerful predictive insights in correlating real-time data with past sales patterns.

 

Training Programs

 

Our effective training programs accelerates employees’ professional development and enables the company to hire new graduates or people without experience. Our training programs are very task-specific and we continually improve the materials in order to fit new industry needs. Other than the training material, we assign mentors to evaluate and monitor trainees’ performance at each stage of the training program.

 

Task Generalization

 

By generalizing each task with a standard process, we are able to shift assignments at regular intervals in order to find the most suitable employee for each specific task. Moreover, business managers are also able to rotate the vendors they manage easily. This allows our organization to effectively and consistently manage a vendor when a key employee who previously managed such vendor is no longer with the company. In addition, the task generalization allows the company to hire remote teams to further reduce labor costs.

 

Multicultural Management

 

We have a multicultural management team that is linguistically and culturally diverse in order to make judgments from different perspectives. Our remote teams in Taiwan and the Philippines provide diverse professional insights on specific tasks.

 

Technological advantages

 

Our software architecture was designed from the ground up to be scalable, secured, and easily extensible. By using JRuby on Rails, we can make use the best parts of Java, Ruby, and Rails without paying for their disadvantages. For example, we can use the massive collections of Java library, portability, speed, multi-threading, and maturity, but we do not have to be tied down with verbose code and strict typing. Rails allow us to quickly build web pages and integrate both the frontend and the backend. The application runs on Amazon Web Services (“AWS”) and can be easily scaled up to as many hosts as needed. It is accessible from a browser, so there is no need to setup or install anything on the client-side.

 

6
 

 

Cost advantage

 

Access to Low Product Costs

 

We lower our product average costs by direct import items that have high volume, purchasing in bulk with better prices, and negotiating discounts or rebates over increased purchase volume every year. Our strong growth of purchase every year allows us to negotiate better discounts than the rivals. Therefore, we have the cost advantages to compete at low prices.

 

Efficient Processes and Technologies

 

Our proprietary software allows us to tailor make tools based on our specific use cases and leverage technologies to greatly reduce manual operations. We also saved the expense of using third-party software in managing inventory, orders, product listings, and especially the advertising analytic tool. In fact, our search engine optimization allows us to have Advertising Cost of Sales (“ACoS”) significantly lower than the industry average of 27.59% in 2020.

 

Low Distribution and Logistic costs

 

We saved the cost of managing the warehouse, shipping, and product distribution as we are enrolled in Amazon’s FBA program. The program allows us to reduce fixed costs of the physical assets and quickly scale up the business without thinking much about infrastructure complexity. Apart from using the FBA program, we also use FedEx, Amazon partnered carrier, Amazon Freight, and Amazon Global Logistics to reduce expense. The competitive shipping rates we secured provide us a cost-efficient way to deliver shipments from overseas and domestic to Amazon warehouse.

 

Efficiently Managed Operations

 

We have a good management structure within the firm and a data-driven system that allows employees to manage tasks quickly and cost-efficiently. According to the CSI Market, the average annual revenue per employee of the retail industry in 2020 is $429,920, whereas in our company it is $644,254. Our revenue per employee is also higher than the industry rivals, such as Amazon $483,789, Walmart $238,165, and Costco $654,308. While our employees on average brought in higher revenues, our annual labor cost per employee is relatively low at less than $30,000 per year.

 

Reduced Labor Costs

 

Our labor cost is below 5% of our revenue. We leverage third-party logistic companies to forward or prep our shipments to Amazon, which reduces our logistic operation labor costs. We also worked with labor outsourcing partner located in Philippines. They provide virtual assistants to help us with data entries and repetitive work, which is a very cost-effective way to do a lot of grunt work.

 

List of key competitors by market size/share

 

Our key competitor is Amazon Retail. Amazon Retail frequently buys from the same brands we sell and sells them at a loss. Amazon Retails offers can be identified by the “Sold by Amazon” tag on Amazon’s site, and they are formed by the two components: 1) Amazon Vendor Central and 2) Sold by Amazon program. We do not consider other third-party sellers as key competitors, because none of them represent enough market share to influence sales outcome. The addressable market is incredibly vast, thus we believe there are plenty of opportunities for everyone.

 

7
 

 

Amazon Vendor Central

 

Amazon Vendor Central allows manufacturers and brand owners to sell directly to Amazon as a first-party seller. This is one of the key competitive factors as Amazon usually buys bulk from the brands and sells at a very low price, which leads to hyper-competitive pricing. On pricing control, Amazon does not always follow the Minimum Advertised Pricing guidelines from manufacturers, which also puts us at a disadvantage when selling the same products.

 

Sold by Amazon Program

 

With the rise of e-commerce platforms, Amazon is looking for opportunities to attract customers away from its retail store rivals. In 2019, they rolled out a new program entitled Sold by Amazon (“SBA”) to help sellers grow their business. This program gives brand owners the control of inventory management and listings with Amazon having the authority to constantly monitor and change the price to make sure customers are getting the best deals. Once the products are enrolled in the SBA program, Amazon will set the Minimum Gross Proceeds (“MGP”) to pay sellers the lowest possible amount on each unit sold. This new program is another threat to our company as Amazon is the one taking control of pricing, and they set the price very low in order to compete with competitors’ low price strategy.

 

Strengths and weaknesses of each competitor

 

Strengths of Sold by Amazon

 

First, ship from and Sold by Amazon creates competition for potential customers who prefer to buy products from Amazon rather than a third-party seller. Secondly, Amazon monitors and manages pricing which makes the product price range at a highly competitive level. In fact, the chance of Amazon winning buy box is even higher as they have the best deal for customers. Finally, Amazon is not restricted by its policy to third-party sellers. One of the critical policies is the restock limit. Amazon limits certain items restock quantities based on recent sales activity, and this affects the in-stock rate of popular items that needs a greater volume.

 

Weaknesses of Sold by Amazon

 

As Amazon focuses on sales more than relationships with vendors, they do not follow vendors’ Minimum Advertised Pricing (“MAP”) strictly. We believe this has led to the devaluation of brands and will have a negative impact on building a long-term relationship with the vendors. Once the vendor hands over their price control to Amazon, we believe it is unlikely for them to sell at their original target price further, and it influences their offline sales. And in fact, it makes a huge difference in profitability to both Amazon and the vendor when reacts to the competitive pricing changes.

 

Apart from the weaknesses of business relationships, we believe Amazon also has disadvantages in the niche marketplaces, where product offerings are narrower and more personalized. As a third-party seller, we cooperate with vendors in developing custom projects that bring product differentiation and scarcity effect. However, we believe Amazon only concentrates on the masses, which gives them the deficiency of having products that are targeted in certain market segments.

 

List potential substitute products that pose a credible threat to Company’s product

 

No potential substitute products would pose a credible threat to our company as we have developed a wide product diversification.

 

8
 

 

As a company that focus on reselling wholesale products, we have the resilience to find substitution of products or brands. We established product diversification by managing wide range of SKUs and continually expand our product categories. Our business strategy allows us to mitigate risk and generate significant profit by selling low volumes items diversified across a large variety of products.

 

In contrast, private labels sellers manage small number of SKUs that have large volumes in return with higher profit per unit. However, private labels have much higher risk when experiencing stagnant or declining sales as they would have lower capability to find sales replacements that are already established.

 

Strength of barriers to entry – risk of entry by additional competitors or alliances

 

Strength of Barriers to Entry

 

Higher Capital, Low Margin: Selling online is general low margin, but it requires high capital investment in order to purchase goods and run advertising.

 

Product Differentiation: Our proprietary software allows us to manage a huge number of SKUs. This allows us to participate in profitable long-tail products in addition to well-known popular ones. The turnover rate for long-tail products is slow, so newcomers are not likely to enter. It also requires a sophisticated system to manage. Furthermore, vendor relationships do not happen overnight.

 

Advanced System: We have already developed a highly sophisticated system which has been refined over time to become highly effective. Even if a new entrant has a team of the best software engineers in the world, it will still take them many years to refine their system. There is a myriad of intricacies as to the effectiveness of a system. Even if the new entrants have the system built, it will still take them years to collect historical sales data. By the time new entrants have done all that, our system would have continued to mature. This means we would be able to manage more SKUs more profitably with lower costs.

 

Risk of Entry- Potential Entrants

 

Vendor Vertical Integration: A vendor may forward integrate into the e-commerce marketplace in order to directly engage with their online customers.

 

Multichannel E-commerce: There is a chance of established online retail firms such as sellers on eBay, Walmart, and Etsy expanding their business to the Amazon marketplace.

 

Brick-and-Mortar: As the online retail is growing and offline retail is contracting, there are more brick-and-mortar stores migrating from offline to online.

 

Improving Sales of Popular Items and Securing the Inventories Without Paying Higher Storage Fees By Partnering With Third Party Warehouses

 

As a retailer our success is heavily influenced by the inventory control of our suppliers (vendors). However, many of our suppliers are having difficulties to maintain their stock level due to various reasons, such as the shortage of shipping containers, lack of labor, or disruption in manufacturing. The situation exacerbates during the pandemic and in peak season. In order to secure the inventories, we start to order large quantities of popular items or buying them out to store in the Amazon fulfillment center (“FC”). However, the monthly storage fee of Amazon FC in peak season (Q4) is 3.5 times higher than normal season, which puts pressure on our profits. To maintain the balance of inventory level and margins, our plan is to establish relationship(s) with third-party warehouse(s) and incorporate them in our overall stock planning process. By doing this, we can improve sales by preventing popular items from going out of stock, since we had secured adequate inventories ahead of time. Furthermore, we can also avoid paying higher Amazon storage fees in Q4.

 

9
 

 

Growth Objectives Outline

 

In 2021, we plan to grow the number of suppliers from 226 to 300, the number of business managers from 20 to 50, the number of active SKUs from 42k to 60k, and the number of total employees from 60 to 120. In 2022, we plan to grow the number of suppliers to 650, the number of business managers to 200, the number of active SKUs to130k, and the number of total employees to 250. In 2023, we plan to grow the number of suppliers to 1,200, the number of business managers to 350, the number of active SKUs to 200k, and the number of total employees to 500. In 2024, we plan to grow the number of suppliers to 2000, the number of business mangers to 600, the number of active SKUs to 300k, and the number of total employees to 900. We believe in order to be successful in the long-term, we must invest in talents.

 

New business managers are the key to growth, they are analogous to new stores in a traditional brick and mortar retail business. Although the return on investment is extremely high over the long-term when investing in people, initially the return is very low or even negative. Therefore, as we continue to fuel the rapid growth, we will need to increase the number of people faster than the growth. We anticipate that ratio to improve when we reached critical mass of highly proficient business managers from the new hires.

 

Market and Supplier Development - Establishing a Vendor Acquisition Team

 

In order to continue growing at a rapid pace, we must onboard new vendors at scale. We anticipate establishing a vendor acquisition team dedicated to onboarding new vendors would drastically improve our vendor acquisition success rate. This team would specialize in the skills required to convince vendors to sell us their goods. Currently, this is being done by individual business managers with varying skill levels. The success rate by the individual business managers varies. Establishing this new team should ensure more consistency, so we can better plan for the future. The team would consist of three to five executive managers who are responsible for researching and contacting potential vendors. Furthermore, on a monthly basis, the team would be reviewing the lists of potential vendors who are not yet collaborating with us and reach out to them to reconnect. The objective of the vendor and supplier team is to on board 150 vendors per year and increasing our product range as well as diversifying our product categories.

 

COVID-19

 

Our business, results of operations, and financial condition may be materially adversely impacted if a public health outbreak, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, interferes with our ability, or the ability of our employees, contractors, suppliers, and other business partners to perform our and their respective responsibilities and obligations relative to the conduct of our business.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect the economies and financial markets worldwide, resulting in an economic downturn that could impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. As a result, our ability to fund through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, and through other means at acceptable terms, if at all, may be disrupted, in the event our financing needs for the foreseeable future are not able to be met by our balances of cash, cash equivalents and cash generated from operations.

 

In addition, the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and various governmental responses in the United States has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business operations, including our ability to carry on business development activities, restrictions in business-related travel, delays or disruptions in our on-going projects, and unavailability of the employees of the Company or third parties with whom we conduct business, due to illness or quarantines, among others. Our business was negatively impacted by disruptions in our supply chain, which limited our ability to source merchandise, and limits on products fulfillment placed by Amazon. For example, we may be unable to launch new products, replenish inventory for existing products, ship into or receive inventory in our third-party warehouses in each case on a timely basis or at all. The extent to which COVID-19 could impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, and will depend on many factors, including the duration of the outbreak, the effect of travel restrictions and social distancing efforts in the United States and other countries, the scope and length of business closures or business disruptions, and the actions taken by governments to contain and treat the disease. As such, we cannot presently predict the scope and extent of any potential business shutdowns or disruptions. Possible effects may include, but are not limited to, disruption to our customers and revenue, absenteeism in our labor workforce, unavailability of products and supplies used in our operations, shutdowns that may be mandated or requested by governmental authorities, and a decline in the value of our assets, including various long-lived assets.

 

10
 

 

Bank of America Loan

 

On June 18, 2019, the Company issued a Promissory Note (the “BofA Note”) in the amount of $785,000 to Bank of America (the “Lender”) for a loan in the amount of $785,000. The BofA Note matures on June 18, 2024 and bears interest at a rate of 8.11 % per annum. The monthly payment is $15,963, consisting of $11,398 of principal and $4,565 of interest. As of July 23, 2021, the aggregate principal amount of the BofA Note outstanding is $0. As of July 29, 2021, there is an outstanding balance of deferred interest of $27,996.

 

PPP Loan

 

On April 7, 2020, the Company issued a Promissory Note (the “Note”) in the amount of $27,012 under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) to JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Lender”). The PPP, established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which was enacted March 27, 2020, provides for loans to qualifying businesses for amounts up to 2.5 times of the average monthly payroll expenses of the qualifying business. The Note matures on April 7, 2022 and bears interest at a rate of 0.98% per annum, payable monthly commencing October 5, 2020, following an initial deferral period as specified under the PPP loan. The Note may be prepaid at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (the “Flexibility Act”), signed on June 5, 2020, amended certain provisions of the PPP, including the deferral period and repayment terms. The Flexibility Act extends the deferral period of payments of PPP loan principal, interest, and fees to the date when the SBA makes a final decision on the borrower’s application for forgiveness, or 10 months after the last day of the covered period if a borrower has not applied for forgiveness (whichever is earlier). This extension applies regardless of the terms of the PPP and does not require an amendment of the PPP. As such, the Company has not made any payments on the Note during 2020.

 

Under the terms of the PPP loan, up to the entire amount of principal and accrued interest may be forgiven to the extent PPP loan proceeds are used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act and applicable implementing guidance issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration under the PPP loan. On May 6, 2021, the entire amount of principal and accrued interest on the Note was forgiven.

 

Affiliated Loans

 

On January 1, 2021, the Company and Sam Lai, its Chief Executive Officer, entered into a promissory note in the total principal amount of $597,537 (the “Lai Note”). The Lai Note memorializes loans in the aggregate amount of $597,537 that Mr. Lai previously advanced to the Company and its subsidiaries to fund their operations. The Lai Note bears no interest, and the Company may prepay all or any portion of the principal amount outstanding of the Lai Note at any time without penalty. The Lai Note matures on December 31, 2021. As of July 29, 2021, the principal balance of the Lai Note was $597,537.

 

On January 1, 2021, the Company and Maggie Yu, its Senior Vice President, entered into a promissory note in the total principal amount of $597,537 (the “Yu Note”). The Yu Note memorializes loans in the aggregate amount of $597,537 that Mr. Yu previously advanced to the Company and its subsidiaries to fund their operations. The Yu Note bears no interest, and the Company may prepay all or any portion of the principal amount outstanding of the Yu Note at any time without penalty. The Yu Note matures on December 31, 2021. As of July 29, 2021, the principal balance of the Yu Note was $597,537.

 

Summary Risk Factors

 

Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

  We face intense competition;

 

11
 

 

  Our business depends on our ability to build and maintain strong product listings on e-commerce platforms. We may not be able to maintain and enhance our product listings if we receive unfavorable customer complaints, negative publicity or otherwise fail to live up to consumers’ expectations, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and growth prospects;
     
  We experience significant fluctuations in our operating results and growth rate;
     
  We face risks related to successfully optimizing and operating our fulfillment and customer service operations;
     
  The variability in our retail business places increased strain on our operations;
     
  Continued increases in Amazon Marketplace fulfillment and storage fees could have an adverse impact on our profit margin and results of operations;
     
  A change in one or more of the Company’s vendors’ policies or the Company’s relationship with those vendors could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations;
     
  Our revenue is dependent upon maintaining our relationship with Amazon and failure to do so, or any restrictions on our ability to offer products on the Amazon Marketplace, could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations;
     
  Loss of key personnel or the inability to attract, train and retain qualified employees could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations;
     
  We may face difficulties in meeting our labor needs to effectively operate our business;
     
  Our business could be adversely affected by increased labor costs, including costs related to an increase in minimum wage and health care;
     
  Breach of data security could harm our business and standing with our customers;
     
  Our hardware and software systems are vulnerable to damage, theft or intrusion that could harm our business;
     
  Our inability or failure to protect our intellectual property rights, or any claimed infringement by us of third-party intellectual rights, could have a negative impact on our operating results;
     
  The Company’s business is influenced by general economic conditions
     
  Disruption of global capital and credit markets may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and capital resources;
     
  The Company is dependent upon access to capital for its liquidity needs;
     
  We may complete a future significant strategic transaction that may not achieve intended results or could increase the number of our outstanding shares or amount of outstanding debt or result in a change of control;
     
  Historically, we have experienced declines, and we may continue to experience fluctuation in our level of sales and results from operations;
     
  The ability of the Company to satisfy its liabilities and to continue as a going concern will continue to be dependent on the implementation of several items, the success of which is not certain;

 

12
 

 

  Parties with whom the Company does business may be subject to insolvency risks or may otherwise become unable or unwilling to perform their obligations to the Company;
     
  Failure to comply with legal and regulatory requirements could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations;
     
  Litigation may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations;
     
  The effects of natural disasters, terrorism, acts of war, and public health issues may adversely affect our business;
     
  A pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease, such as COVID-19, may materially and adversely affect our business;
     
  The loss of key senior management personnel or the failure to hire and retain highly skilled and other key personnel could negatively affect our business;
     
  The ability of Sam Lai, our Chief Executive Officer, and Maggie Yu, our Senior Vice President, who are husband and wife, to control our business may limit or eliminate minority stockholders’ ability to influence corporate affairs;
     
  Government regulation is evolving and unfavorable changes could harm our business;
     
  We are subject to product liability claims when people or property are harmed by the products we sell;
     
  We could face prior period sales tax and corporate tax liabilities, penalties and collection obligations;
     
  Once our common stock is listed on Nasdaq Capital Market, there can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with Nasdaq Capital Market’s continued listing standards;
     
  The market price of our common stock may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment;
     
  Our current accounting and inventory tracking systems could impair our ability to file accurate and timely financial statements; and
     
  The possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

 

Corporate Information

 

We were originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Washington on January 13, 2015. However, we converted from a Washington corporation to a Delaware corporation on April 7, 2021. Our principal executive offices are located at 8201 164th Ave NE #200, Redmond, WA 98052-7615 and our telephone number at that location is (206) 385-0488. Our wholly owned subsidiary Flywheel Consulting Limited also has an office in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. The address of our website is www.hourloop.com. The inclusion of our website address in this prospectus does not include or incorporate by reference the information on our website into this prospectus.

 

The name of the Company, the logos of the Company, and other trade names, trademarks or service marks of the Company appearing in this prospectus are the property of the Company. Trade names, trademarks and service marks of other organizations appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective holders.

 

13
 

 

Nasdaq Capital Market Listing

 

We intend to list of our common stock and warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market. There is no assurance that our listing application will be approved by the Nasdaq Capital Market. The approval of our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market is a condition of closing. If our application to the Nasdaq Capital Market is not approved or we otherwise determine that we will not be able to secure the listing of the common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we will not complete the offering.

 

The Offering
     
Issuer:   Hour Loop, Inc.
     
Securities offered by us:   [●] shares of common stock (up to [●] shares if the underwriter exercises their over-allotment option in full).
     
Public Offering Price:   $[●] per share (based on an assumed public offering price per share of $[●], which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). The actual offering price per share will be as determined between the Representative and us based on market conditions at the time of pricing. Therefore, the assumed public offering price used throughout this prospectus may not be indicative of the final offering price.
     
Over-allotment option:   We have granted to the Representative an option to purchase up to an additional [●] shares of common stock exercisable solely to cover over-allotments, if any, at the applicable public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions shown on the cover page of this prospectus. The Representative may exercise this option in full or in part at any time and from time to time until 45 days after the date of this prospectus.
     
Common stock outstanding before this offering:   10,000,000 shares of common stock (1)
     
Common stock to be outstanding after this offering:   [●] shares of common stock. If the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, the total number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after this offering would be [●].
     
Representative’s Warrant:   The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part also registers for sale warrants (the “Representative’s Warrants”) to purchase [●] shares of our common stock (5% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering) to the underwriters, as a portion of the underwriting compensation payable in connection with this offering. The Representative’s Warrants will be exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the three year period commencing 180 days following the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part at an exercise price of $[●] (125% of the public offering price of the common stock). Please see “Underwriting—Representative’s Warrants” for a description of these warrants.
     
Use of proceeds:   We expect to receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $45,442,834 (or approximately $52,417,834 if the Representative exercises in full its over-allotment option) after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions (7.00% of the gross proceeds of the offering) and after our offering expenses, estimated at $1,057,166. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund the purchase of inventory, expansion of our labor force, acquisition of other companies, working capital and general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

14
 

 

Risk factors:   See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 16 of this prospectus for a discussion of some of the factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our common stock.
     
Listing Application; Separation:   We intend to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “HOUR.” The approval of our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market is a condition of closing this offering.
     
Lock-Ups:   We and our directors, officers and certain principal shareholders have agreed with the Representative not to offer for sale, issue, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of any of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock for a period of six (6) months after the date of this prospectus. See “Underwriting—Lock-Up Agreements.”
     
Dividend policy:   We do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our common stock following our public offering.

 

(1) Unless we indicate otherwise, all information in this prospectus:

 

  is based on 10,000,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of July 29, 2021;
     
  assumes no exercise by the Representative of its option to purchase up to an additional [●] shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any;
     
  excludes [●] shares of our common stock underlying the Representative’s Warrant to be issued to the Underwriters in connection with this offering.

 

SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following table presents our selected historical consolidated financial data for the periods indicated. The selected historical consolidated financial data for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 are derived from the audited financial statements. The summary historical financial data for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 and the balance sheet data as of March 31, 2021 and 2020 are derived from our unaudited financial statements.

 

Historical results are included for illustrative and informational purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of results we expect in future periods, and results of interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. The data presented below should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

15
 

 

    Year Ended     Three Months Ended  
   

December 31,

2020

    December 31, 2019    

March 31,

2021

    March 31, 2020  
                         
Statement of Operations Data                                
Total revenues   $ 38,655,264       26,564,693       9,322,913       4,261,863  
Total cost of goods sold.     16,639,491       14,135,029       4,094,552       2,498,723  
Gross profit     22,015,773       12,429,664       5,228,361       1,763,140  
Total operating expenses     18,328,925       12,821,405       4,364,003       2,203,369  
Income (loss) from operations     3,686,848       (391,741 )     864,358       (440,229 )
Total other non-operating income     (15,180 )     (32,842 )     1,536       (10,375 )
Income tax provisions     -       -       -       -  
Net income (loss)     3,671,668       (424,583 )     865,894       (450,604 )
Other Comprehensive Income     (4,691 )     1,510       (1,222 )     (374 )
Total Comprehensive Income   $ 3,666,977       (423,073 )     864,672       (450,978 )
Basic and diluted net loss per share     0.37       (0.04 )     0.09       (0.05 )
                                 
Balance Sheet Data (at period end)                                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 4,968,064       838,963       3,768,381       448,381  
Working capital (deficit) (1)     3,927,861       825,493       4,808,153       355,718  
Total assets     9,847,134       4,722,351       11,758,891       4,125,067  
Total liabilities     5,825,875       4,367,171       6,870,160       4,228,865  
Stockholders’ equity     4,021,259       355,180       4,888,731       (103,798 )

 

(1) Working capital represents total current assets less total current liabilities.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities carries a significant degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risks, as well as the other information contained in this prospectus, including our historical financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before you decide to purchase our securities. Any one of these risks and uncertainties has the potential to cause material adverse effects on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results which could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements expressed by us and a significant decrease in the value of our common shares and warrants. Refer to “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

We may not be successful in preventing the material adverse effects that any of the following risks and uncertainties may cause. These potential risks and uncertainties may not be a complete list of the risks and uncertainties facing us. There may be additional risks and uncertainties that we are presently unaware of, or presently consider immaterial, that may become material in the future and have a material adverse effect on us. You could lose all or a significant portion of your investment due to any of these risks and uncertainties.

 

Below is a summary of material risks, uncertainties and other factors that could have a material effect on the Company and its operations:

 

  We face intense competition;
     
  Our business depends on our ability to build and maintain strong product listings on e-commerce platforms. We may not be able to maintain and enhance our product listings if we receive unfavorable customer complaints, negative publicity or otherwise fail to live up to consumers’ expectations, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and growth prospects;

 

16
 

 

  We experience significant fluctuations in our operating results and growth rate;
     
  We face risks related to successfully optimizing and operating our fulfillment and customer service operations;
     
  The variability in our retail business places increased strain on our operations;
     
  Continued increases in Amazon Marketplace fulfillment and storage fees could have an adverse impact on our profit margin and results of operations;
     
  A change in one or more of the Company’s vendors’ policies or the Company’s relationship with those vendors could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations;
     
  Our revenue is dependent upon maintaining our relationship with Amazon and failure to do so, or any restrictions on our ability to offer products on the Amazon Marketplace, could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations;
     
  Loss of key personnel or the inability to attract, train and retain qualified employees could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations;
     
  We may face difficulties in meeting our labor needs to effectively operate our business;
     
  Our business could be adversely affected by increased labor costs, including costs related to an increase in minimum wage and health care;
     
  Breach of data security could harm our business and standing with our customers;
     
  Our hardware and software systems are vulnerable to damage, theft or intrusion that could harm our business;
     
  Our inability or failure to protect our intellectual property rights, or any claimed infringement by us of third-party intellectual rights, could have a negative impact on our operating results;
     
  The Company’s business is influenced by general economic conditions
     
  Disruption of global capital and credit markets may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and capital resources;
     
  The Company is dependent upon access to capital for its liquidity needs;
     
  We may complete a future significant strategic transaction that may not achieve intended results or could increase the number of our outstanding shares or amount of outstanding debt or result in a change of control;
     
  Historically, we have experienced declines, and we may continue to experience fluctuation in our level of sales and results from operations;
     
  The ability of the Company to satisfy its liabilities and to continue as a going concern will continue to be dependent on the implementation of several items, the success of which is not certain;
     
  Parties with whom the Company does business may be subject to insolvency risks or may otherwise become unable or unwilling to perform their obligations to the Company;
     
  Failure to comply with legal and regulatory requirements could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations;

 

17
 

 

  Litigation may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations;
     
  The effects of natural disasters, terrorism, acts of war, and public health issues may adversely affect our business;
     
  A pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease, such as COVID-19, may materially and adversely affect our business;
     
  The loss of key senior management personnel or the failure to hire and retain highly skilled and other key personnel could negatively affect our business;
     
  The ability of Sam Lai, our Chief Executive Officer, and Maggie Yu, our Senior Vice President, who are husband and wife, to control our business may limit or eliminate minority stockholders’ ability to influence corporate affairs;
     
  Government regulation is evolving and unfavorable changes could harm our business;
     
  We are subject to product liability claims when people or property are harmed by the products we sell;
     
  We could face prior period sales tax and corporate tax liabilities, penalties and collection obligations;
     
  Once our common stock is listed on Nasdaq Capital Market, there can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with Nasdaq Capital Market’s continued listing standards;
     
  The market price of our common stock may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment; and
     
 

 

Our current accounting and inventory tracking systems could impair our ability to file accurate and timely financial statements.

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

We face intense competition.

 

The online retail business is rapidly evolving and intensely competitive. Some of our current and potential competitors have greater resources, longer histories, and/or more customers. They may secure better terms from vendors, adopt more aggressive pricing, and devote more resources to technology, infrastructure, fulfillment, and marketing.

 

Competition continues to intensify, including with the development of new business models and the entry of new and well-funded competitors, and as our competitors enter into business combinations or alliances and established companies in other market segments expand to become competitive with our business. In addition, new and enhanced technologies, including search, web and infrastructure computing services, digital content, and electronic devices continue to increase our competition. The Internet facilitates competitive entry and comparison shopping, which enhances the ability of new, smaller, or lesser-known businesses to compete against us. As a result of competition, our product offerings may not be successful, we may fail to gain or may lose business, and we may be required to increase our spending or lower prices, any of which could materially reduce our sales and profits.

 

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Our business depends on our ability to build and maintain strong product listings on e-commerce platforms. We may not be able to maintain and enhance our product listings if we receive unfavorable customer complaints, negative publicity or otherwise fail to live up to consumers’ expectations, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and growth prospects.

 

Maintaining and enhancing our product listings is critical in expanding and growing our business. However, a significant portion of our perceived performance to the customer depends on third parties outside of our control, including suppliers and third-party delivery agents as well as online retailers such as Amazon and Walmart. Because our agreements with our online retail partners are generally terminable at will, we may be unable to maintain these relationships, and our results of operations could fluctuate significantly from period to period. Because we rely on third parties to deliver our products, we are subject to shipping delays or disruptions caused by inclement weather, natural disasters, labor activism, health epidemics or bioterrorism. We may also experience shipping delays or disruptions due to other carrier-related issues relating to their own internal operational capabilities. Further, we rely on the business continuity plans of these third parties to operate during pandemics, like the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have limited ability to influence their plans, prevent delays, and/or cost increases due to reduced availability and capacity and increased required safety measures.

 

Customer complaints or negative publicity about our products, delivery times, or marketing strategies, even if not accurate, especially on blogs, social media websites and third-party market sites, could rapidly and severely diminish consumer view of our product listings and result in harm to our brands. Customers may also make safety-related claims regarding products sold through our online retail partners, such as Amazon, which may result in an online retail partner removing the product from its marketplace. We have from time to time experienced such removals and such removals may materially impact our financial results depending on the product that is removed and length of time that it is removed. We also use and rely on other services from third parties, such as our telecommunications services, and those services may be subject to outages and interruptions that are not within our control.

 

We experience significant fluctuations in our operating results and growth rate.

 

We are not always able to accurately forecast our growth rate. We base our expense levels and investment plans on sales estimates. A significant portion of our expenses and investments is fixed, and we are not always able to adjust our spending quickly enough if our sales are less than expected.

 

Our revenue growth may not be sustainable, and our percentage growth rates may decrease. Our revenue and operating profit growth depend on the continued growth of demand for the products offered by us, and our business is affected by general economic and business conditions. A softening of demand, whether caused by changes in customer preferences or a weakening of the U.S. economy, may result in decreased revenue or growth.

 

Our sales and operating results will also fluctuate for many other reasons, including due to factors described elsewhere in this section and the following:

 

  our ability to retain and increase sales to existing customers, attract new customers, and satisfy our customers’ demands;
  our ability to retain and expand our network of vendors;
  our ability to offer products on favorable terms, manage inventory, and fulfill orders;
  the introduction of competitive products, price decreases, or improvements;
  changes in usage or adoption rates of the Internet, e-commerce, electronic devices, and web services;
  timing, effectiveness, and costs of expansion and upgrades of our systems and infrastructure;
  the extent to which we finance, and the terms of any such financing for, our current operations and future growth;
  the outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, which may include significant monetary damages or injunctive relief and could have a material adverse impact on our operating results;
  variations in the mix of products we sell;
  variations in our level of merchandise and vendor returns;
  the extent to which we offer fast and free delivery and provide additional benefits to our customers;
  factors affecting our reputation;
  the extent to which we invest in technology and content, fulfillment, and other expense categories;

 

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  increases in the prices of fuel and gasoline, as well as increases in the prices of other energy products and commodities like paper and packing supplies and hardware products;
  the extent to which operators of the networks between our customers and us, the online retailer, successfully charge fees to grant our customers unimpaired and unconstrained access to our online services;
  our ability to collect amounts owed to us when they become due;
  the extent to which new and existing technologies, or industry trends, restrict online advertising or affect our ability to customize advertising or otherwise tailor our product and service offerings;
  the extent to which use of our services is affected by spyware, viruses, phishing and other spam emails, denial of service attacks, data theft, computer intrusions, outages, and similar events; and
  disruptions from natural or man-made disasters, extreme weather, geopolitical events and security issues (including terrorist attacks and armed hostilities), labor or trade disputes, and similar events.

 

We face risks related to successfully optimizing and operating our fulfillment and customer service operations.

 

Failures to adequately predict customer demand or otherwise optimize and operate our fulfillment and customer service operations successfully from time to time result in excess or insufficient fulfillment or customer service capacity, increased costs, and impairment charges, any of which could materially harm our business. As we continue to add fulfillment and customer service capability or add new businesses with different requirements, our fulfillment and customer service operations become increasingly complex and operating them becomes more challenging. There can be no assurance that we will be able to operate our operations effectively.

 

In addition, failure to optimize inventory in our fulfillment operations increases our net shipping cost by requiring long-zone or partial shipments. We may be unable to adequately staff our fulfillment and customer service operations. Our failure to properly handle such inventory or to accurately forecast product demand may result in us being unable to secure sufficient storage space or to optimize our fulfillment operations or cause other unexpected costs and other harm to our business and reputation.

 

We rely on a limited number of shipping companies to deliver inventory to us and completed orders to our customers. The inability to negotiate acceptable terms with these companies or performance problems or other difficulties experienced by these companies or by our own transportation systems could negatively impact our operating results and customer experience. In addition, our ability to receive inbound inventory efficiently and ship completed orders to customers also may be negatively affected by natural or man-made disasters, extreme weather, geopolitical events and security issues, labor or trade disputes, and similar events.

 

The variability in our retail business places increased strain on our operations.

 

Demand for our retail products can fluctuate significantly for many reasons, including as a result of seasonality, promotions, product launches, or unforeseeable events, such as in response to natural or man-made disasters, extreme weather, or geopolitical events. For example, we expect a disproportionate amount of our retail sales to occur during our fourth quarter. Our failure to stock or restock popular products in sufficient amounts such that we fail to meet customer demand could significantly affect our revenue and our future growth. When we overstock products, we may be required to take significant inventory markdowns or write-offs and incur commitment costs, which could materially reduce profitability. We regularly experience increases in our net shipping cost due to FBA fee increases, split-shipments, and additional long-zone shipments necessary to ensure timely delivery for the holiday season. If too many customers access the websites on which we engage in online retailing within a short period of time due to increased demand, we may experience system interruptions that make the websites unavailable or prevent us from efficiently fulfilling orders, which may reduce the volume of goods we offer or sell and the attractiveness of our products. In addition, we may be unable to adequately staff for fulfillment of orders and customer service during these peak periods and delivery and other fulfillment companies and customer service co-sourcers may be unable to meet the seasonal demand.

 

As a result of holiday sales, as of December 31 of each year, our cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities balances typically reach their highest level (other than as a result of cash flows provided by or used in investing and financing activities). This operating cycle results in a corresponding increase in accounts payable as of December 31. Our accounts payable balance generally declines during the first three months of the year, resulting in a corresponding decline in our cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities balances.

 

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Continued increases in Amazon Marketplace fulfillment and storage fees could have an adverse impact on our profit margin and results of operations.

 

The Company utilizes Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (“FBA”) platform to store their products at the Amazon fulfillment center and to pack and distribute these products to customers. If Amazon continues to increase its FBA fees, our profit margin could be adversely affected.

 

A change in one or more of the Company’s vendors’ policies or the Company’s relationship with those vendors could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.

 

The Company is dependent on its vendors to supply merchandise in a timely and efficient manner. If a vendor fails to deliver on its commitments, whether due to financial difficulties or other reasons, the Company could experience merchandise shortages that could lead to lost sales.

 

Historically, the Company has not experienced difficulty in obtaining satisfactory sources of supply and management believes that it will continue to have access to adequate sources of supply. No individual vendor exceeded 15% of purchases in fiscal 2020.

 

Our revenue is dependent upon maintaining our relationship with Amazon and failure to do so, or any restrictions on our ability to offer products on the Amazon Marketplace, could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Company generates a substantial amount of its revenue through the Amazon Marketplace. Therefore, we depend in large part on our relationship with Amazon for growth. In particular, we depend on our ability to offer products on the Amazon Marketplace. We also depend on Amazon for the timely delivery of products to customers. Any adverse change in our relationship with Amazon, including restrictions on the ability to offer products or termination of the relationship, could adversely affect our continued growth and financial condition and results of operations.

 

Loss of key personnel or the inability to attract, train and retain qualified employees could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.

 

The Company believes that its future prospects depend, to a significant extent, on the services of its executive officers. Our future success will also depend on our ability to attract and retain qualified key personnel. The loss of the services of certain of the Company’s executive officers and other key management personnel could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.

 

In addition to our executive officers, the Company’s business is dependent on our ability to attract, train and retain qualified team members. Our ability to meet our labor needs while controlling our costs is subject to external factors such as unemployment levels, health care costs and changing demographics. If we are unable to attract and retain adequate numbers of qualified team members, our operations and support functions could suffer. Those factors, together with increased wage and benefit costs, could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

We may face difficulties in meeting our labor needs to effectively operate our business.

 

We are heavily dependent upon our labor workforce. Our compensation packages are designed to provide benefits commensurate with our level of expected service. However, we face the challenge of filling many positions at wage scales that are appropriate to the industry and competitive factors. We also face other risks in meeting our labor needs, including competition for qualified personnel, overall unemployment levels, and increased costs associated with complying with regulations relating to COVID-19. Changes in any of these factors, including a shortage of available workforce, could interfere with our ability to adequately service our customers and could result in increasing labor costs.

 

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Our business could be adversely affected by increased labor costs, including costs related to an increase in minimum wage and health care.

 

Labor is one of the primary components in the cost of operating our business. Increased labor costs, whether due to competition, unionization, increased minimum wage, state unemployment rates, health care, or other employee benefits costs may adversely impact our operating expenses. Additionally, there is no assurance that future health care legislation will not adversely impact our results or operations.

 

Breach of data security could harm our business and standing with our customers.

 

The protection of our supplier (vendor), employee and business data is critical to us. Our business, like that of most companies, involves confidential information about our employees, our suppliers and our Company. We rely on commercially available systems, software, tools and monitoring to provide security for processing, transmission and storage of all such data, including confidential information. Despite the security measures we have in place, our facilities and systems, and those of our third-party service providers, may be vulnerable to security breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming or human errors, or other similar events. Unauthorized parties may attempt to gain access to our systems or information through fraud or other means, including deceiving our employees or third-party service providers. The methods used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems are also constantly changing and evolving, and may be difficult to anticipate or detect. We have implemented and regularly review and update our control systems, processes and procedures to protect against unauthorized access to or use of secured data and to prevent data loss. However, the ever-evolving threats mean we must continually evaluate and adapt our systems and processes, and there is no guarantee that they will be adequate to safeguard against all data security breaches or misuses of data. Any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of customer payment card or personal information or employee personal or confidential information, whether by us or our vendors, could damage our reputation, expose us to risk of litigation and liability, disrupt our operations, harm our business and have an adverse impact upon our net sales and profitability. As the regulatory environment related to information security, data collection and use, and privacy becomes increasingly rigorous, with new and changing requirements applicable to our business, compliance with those requirements could also result in additional costs. Further, if we are unable to comply with the security standards established by banks and the credit card industry, we may be subject to fines, restrictions and expulsion from card acceptance programs, which could adversely affect our retail operations.

 

We face risks related to system interruption and lack of redundancy

 

We experience occasional system interruptions and delays that make the websites on which we engage in online retailing unavailable or slow to respond and prevent us from efficiently accepting or fulfilling orders or providing services to third parties, which may reduce our net sales and the attractiveness of our products and services. Steps we take to add software and hardware, upgrade our systems and network infrastructure, and improve the stability and efficiency of our systems may not be sufficient to avoid system interruptions or delays that could adversely affect our operating results.

 

Our computer and communications systems and operations in the past have been, or in the future could be, damaged or interrupted due to events such as natural or man-made disasters, extreme weather, geopolitical events and security issues (including terrorist attacks and armed hostilities), computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins, and similar events or disruptions. Any of these events could cause system interruption, delays, and loss of critical data, and could prevent us from accepting and fulfilling customer orders and providing services, which could make our product offerings less attractive and subject us to liability. Our systems are not fully redundant and our disaster recovery planning may not be sufficient. In addition, our insurance may not provide sufficient coverage to compensate for related losses. Any of these events could damage our reputation and be expensive to remedy.

 

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Our hardware and software systems are vulnerable to damage, theft or intrusion that could harm our business.

 

Any failure of our computer hardware or software systems that causes an interruption in our operations or a decrease in inventory tracking could result in reduced net sales and profitability. Additionally, if any data intrusion, security breach, misappropriation or theft were to occur, we could incur significant costs in responding to such event, including responding to any resulting claims, litigation or investigations, which could harm our operating results.

 

Our inability or failure to protect our intellectual property rights, or any claimed infringement by us of third-party intellectual rights, could have a negative impact on our operating results.

 

Our trademark, trade secrets and other intellectual property, including proprietary software, are valuable assets that are critical to our success. The unauthorized reproduction or other misappropriation of our intellectual property could cause a decline in our revenue. In addition, any infringement or other intellectual property claim made against us could be time-consuming to address, result in costly litigation, cause product delays, require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements or result in our loss of ownership or use of the intellectual property.

 

The Company’s business is influenced by general economic conditions.

 

The Company’s performance is subject to general economic conditions and their impact on levels of discretionary consumer spending. General economic conditions impacting discretionary consumer spending include, among others, wages and employment, consumer debt, reductions in net worth, residential real estate and mortgage markets, taxation, fuel and energy prices, interest rates, consumer confidence and other macroeconomic factors.

 

Consumer purchases of discretionary items generally decline during recessionary periods and other periods where disposable income is adversely affected. A downturn in the economy affects retailers disproportionately, as consumers may prioritize reductions in discretionary spending, which could have a direct impact on purchases of our products and services and adversely impact our results of operations. In addition, reduced consumer spending may drive us and our competitors to offer additional products at promotional prices, which would have a negative impact on gross profit.

 

Disruption of global capital and credit markets may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and capital resources.

 

Distress in the financial markets has in the past and can in the future result in extreme volatility in security prices, diminished liquidity and credit availability. There can be no assurance that our liquidity will not be affected by changes in the financial markets and the global economy or that our capital resources will at all times be sufficient to satisfy our liquidity needs.

 

The Company is dependent upon access to capital for its liquidity needs.

 

The Company must have sufficient sources of liquidity to fund its working capital requirements and indebtedness. The future availability of financing will depend on a variety of factors, such as economic and market conditions, the availability of credit and the Company’s credit rating, as well as the Company’s reputation with potential lenders. These factors could materially adversely affect the Company’s ability to fund its working capital requirements, costs of borrowing, and the Company’s financial position and results of operations would be adversely impacted.

 

We may complete a future significant strategic transaction that may not achieve intended results or could increase the number of our outstanding shares or amount of outstanding debt or result in a change of control.

 

We will evaluate and may in the future enter into strategic transactions. Any such transaction could happen at any time following the closing of the merger, could be material to our business and could take any number of forms, including, for example, an acquisition, merger or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets.

 

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Evaluating potential transactions and integrating completed ones may divert the attention of our management from ordinary operating matters. The success of these potential transactions will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated growth opportunities and cost synergies through the successful integration of the businesses we acquire with our existing business. Even if we are successful in integrating the acquired businesses, we cannot assure you that these integrations will result in the realization of the full benefit of any anticipated growth opportunities or cost synergies or that these benefits will be realized within the expected time frames. In addition, acquired businesses may have unanticipated liabilities or contingencies.

 

If we complete an acquisition, investment or other strategic transaction, we may require additional financing that could result in an increase in the number of our outstanding shares or the aggregate principal amount of our debt. A strategic transaction may result in a change in control of our company or otherwise materially and adversely affect our business.

 

Historically, we have experienced declines, and we may continue to experience fluctuation in our level of sales and results from operations.

 

A variety of factors has historically affected, and will continue to affect, our sales results and profit margins. These factors include general economic conditions; competition; actions taken by our competitors; consumer trends and preferences; access to third party marketplaces; and new product introductions and changes in our product mix.

 

There is no assurance that we will achieve positive levels of sales and earnings growth, and any decline in our future growth or performance could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

The ability of the Company to satisfy its liabilities and to continue as a going concern will continue to be dependent on the implementation of several items, the success of which is not certain.

 

The Company’s primary source of liquidity is available cash and cash equivalents, which is limited. Therefore, the ability of the Company to meet its liabilities and to continue as a going concern is dependent on, among other things, improved profitability, the continued implementation of its business strategy, the availability of future funding, implementation of one or more corporate initiatives to reduce costs at the parent company level and other strategic alternatives, including selling all or part of the remaining business or assets of the Company, and overcoming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

There can be no assurance that we will be successful in further implementing our business strategy or that the strategy, including the completed initiatives, will be successful in sustaining acceptable levels of sales growth and profitability.

 

Parties with whom the Company does business may be subject to insolvency risks or may otherwise become unable or unwilling to perform their obligations to the Company.

 

The Company is a party to contracts, transactions and business relationships with various third parties, including partners, vendors, suppliers, service providers and lenders, pursuant to which such third parties have performance, payment and other obligations to the Company. In some cases, the Company depends upon such third parties to provide essential products, services or other benefits, including with respect to merchandise, advertising, software development and support, logistics, other agreements for goods and services in order to operate the Company’s business in the ordinary course, extensions of credit, credit card accounts and related receivables, and other vital matters. Economic, industry and market conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, could result in increased risks to the Company associated with the potential financial distress or insolvency of such third parties. The Company is not currently able to accurately determine the extent and scope of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on such third parties. If any of these third parties were to become subject to bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceedings, the rights and benefits of the Company in relation to its contracts, transactions and business relationships with such third parties could be terminated, modified in a manner adverse to the Company, or otherwise impaired. The Company cannot make any assurances that it would be able to arrange for alternate or replacement contracts, transactions or business relationships on terms as favorable as the Company’s existing contracts, transactions or business relationships, if at all. Any inability on the part of the Company to do so could negatively affect the Company’s cash flows, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Failure to comply with legal and regulatory requirements could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.

 

The Company’s business is subject to a wide array of laws and regulations. Significant legislative changes that impact our relationship with our workforce (none of which is represented by unions) could increase our expenses and adversely affect our operations. Examples of possible legislative changes impacting our relationship with our workforce include changes to an employer’s obligation to recognize collective bargaining units, the process by which collective bargaining units are negotiated or imposed, minimum wage requirements, health care mandates, and changes in overtime regulations.

 

Our policies, procedures and internal controls are designed to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including those imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nasdaq Capital Market, as well as applicable employment laws. Additional legal and regulatory requirements increase the complexity of the regulatory environment in which we operate and the related cost of compliance. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations may result in damage to our reputation, financial condition and market price of our stock.

 

The certificate of incorporation and bylaws provides that state or federal court located within the state of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for substantially all disputes between us and our shareholders, which could limit its stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees.

 

Section 21 of our certificate of incorporation and Section 7.4 of our bylaws provides that “[u]nless the corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be a state or federal court located in the county in which the principal office of the corporation in the State of Delaware is established, in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange of 1934, as amended, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction.” Therefore, the exclusive forum provision in our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws will not relieve us of our duty to comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and shareholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with these laws, rules and regulations.

 

This exclusive forum provision may limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum of its choosing for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us or our directors, officers or other employees. In addition, shareholders who do bring a claim in the state or federal court in the State of Delaware could face additional litigation costs in pursuing any such claim, particularly if they do not reside in or near Delaware. The state or federal court of the State of Delaware may also reach different judgments or results than would other courts, including courts where a shareholder would otherwise choose to bring the action, and such judgments or results may be more favorable to us than to our shareholders. However, the enforceability of similar exclusive forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation have been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find this type of provision to be inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings. If a court were to find the exclusive forum provision contained in our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we might incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions.

 

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By purchasing common stock in this offering, you are bound by the fee-shifting provision contained in our bylaws, which may discourage you to pursue actions against us.

 

Section 7.4 of our bylaws provides that “[i]f any action is brought by any party against another party, relating to or arising out of these Bylaws, or the enforcement hereof, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the prosecution or defense of such action.”

 

In the event you initiate or assert a claims against us, in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions contained in our Bylaws, and you do not, in a judgment prevail, you will be obligated to reimburse us for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with such claim, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses and costs of appeal, if any.

 

THE FEE SHIFTING PROVISION CONTAINED IN THE BYLAWS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE DEEMED A WAIVER BY ANY HOLDER OF COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY’S COMPLIANCE WITH THE U.S. FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER. THE FEE SHIFTING PROVISION CONTAINED IN THE BYLAWS DO NOT APPLY TO CLAIMS BROUGHT UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT AND SECURITIES ACT.

 

Litigation may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our business is subject to the risk of litigation by employees, consumers, partners, suppliers, competitors, stockholders, government agencies or others through private actions, class actions, administrative proceedings, regulatory actions or other litigation. The outcome of litigation, particularly class action lawsuits and regulatory actions, is difficult to assess or quantify. We may incur losses relating to these claims, and in addition, these proceedings could cause us to incur costs and may require us to devote resources to defend against these claims that could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

The effects of natural disasters, terrorism, acts of war, and public health issues may adversely affect our business.

 

Natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes may affect store and distribution center operations. In addition, acts of terrorism, acts of war, and military action both in the United States and abroad can have a significant effect on economic conditions and may negatively affect our ability to purchase merchandise from suppliers for sale to our customers. Public health issues, such as flu or other pandemics, whether occurring in the United States or abroad, could disrupt our operations and result in a significant part of our workforce being unable to operate or maintain our infrastructure or perform other tasks necessary to conduct our business. Additionally, public health issues may disrupt, or have an adverse effect on, our suppliers’ operations, our operations, our customers, or customer demand. Our ability to mitigate the adverse effect of these events depends, in part, upon the effectiveness of our disaster preparedness and response planning as well as business continuity planning. However, we cannot be certain that our plans will be adequate or implemented properly in the event of an actual disaster. We may be required to suspend operations in some or all our locations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Any significant declines in public safety or uncertainties regarding future economic prospects that affect customer spending habits could have a material adverse effect on customer purchases of our products.

 

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A pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease, such as COVID-19, may materially and adversely affect our business.

 

Our business, results of operations, and financial condition may be materially adversely impacted if a public health outbreak, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, interferes with our ability, or the ability of our employees, contractors, suppliers, and other business partners to perform our and their respective responsibilities and obligations relative to the conduct of our business.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect the economies and financial markets worldwide, resulting in an economic downturn that could impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. As a result, our ability to fund through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, and through other means at acceptable terms, if at all, may be disrupted, in the event our financing needs for the foreseeable future are not able to be met by our balances of cash, cash equivalents and cash generated from operations.

 

In addition, the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and various governmental responses in the United States has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business operations, including our ability to carry on business development activities, restrictions in business-related travel, delays or disruptions in our on-going projects, and unavailability of the employees of the Company or third parties with whom we conduct business, due to illness or quarantines, among others. Our business was negatively impacted by disruptions in our supply chain, which limited our ability to source merchandise, and limits on products fulfillment placed by Amazon. For example, we may be unable to launch new products, replenish inventory for existing products, ship into or receive inventory in our third-party warehouses in each case on a timely basis or at all. The extent to which COVID-19 could impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, and will depend on many factors, including the duration of the outbreak, the effect of travel restrictions and social distancing efforts in the United States and other countries, the scope and length of business closures or business disruptions, and the actions taken by governments to contain and treat the disease. As such, we cannot presently predict the scope and extent of any potential business shutdowns or disruptions. Possible effects may include, but are not limited to, disruption to our customers and revenue, absenteeism in our labor workforce, unavailability of products and supplies used in our operations, shutdowns that may be mandated or requested by governmental authorities, and a decline in the value of our assets, including various long-lived assets.

 

The loss of key senior management personnel or the failure to hire and retain highly skilled and other key personnel could negatively affect our business.

 

We depend on our senior management and other key personnel, particularly Sam Lai, our Chief Executive Officer. We do not have “key person” life insurance policies. We also rely on other highly skilled personnel. Competition for qualified personnel in the technology industry has historically been intense, particularly for software engineers, computer scientists, and other technical staff. The loss of any of our executive officers or other key employees or the inability to hire, train, retain, and manage qualified personnel, could harm our business.

 

The ability of Sam Lai, our Chief Executive Officer, and Maggie Yu, our Senior Vice President, who are husband and wife, to control our business may limit or eliminate minority stockholders’ ability to influence corporate affairs.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, Mr. Sam Lai, our Chief Executive Officer, and Maggie Yu, our Senior Vice President, who are husband and wife, beneficially owned an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of our common stock, which represents 100% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. Following this offering, Mr. Lai and Ms. Yu will control approximately [●]% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock if all the common stock being offered are sold. Because of this voting control through the shares of the common stock they beneficially own, they are able to significantly influence membership of our Board of Directors, as well as all other matters requiring stockholder approval. The interests of our Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President may differ from the interests of other stockholders with respect to the issuance of shares, business transactions with or sales to other companies, selection of other officers and directors and other business decisions. The minority stockholders will have no way of overriding decisions made by our Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President.

 

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As a controlled company, we are not subject to all of the corporate governance rules of Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

The “controlled company” exception to the Nasdaq Capital Market rules provides that a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company, a “controlled company,” need not comply with certain requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market corporate governance rules. As of the date of this prospectus, Mr. Sam Lai, our Chief Executive Officer, and Maggie Yu, our Senior Vice President, who are husband and wife, beneficially owned an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of our common stock, which represents 100% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. Following this offering, Mr. Lai and Ms. Yu will control approximately [●]% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock if all the common stock being offered are sold. If we obtain listing on Nasdaq Capital Market, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market. Controlled companies are exempt from the Nasdaq Capital Market’s corporate governance rules requiring that listed companies have (i) a majority of the board of directors consist of “independent” directors under the listing standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market, (ii) a nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors and a written nominating/corporate governance committee charter meeting the requirements of Nasdaq Capital Market, and (iii) a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors and a written compensation committee charter meeting the requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market. We currently utilize and presently intend to continue to utilize these exemptions. As a result, we may not have a majority of independent directors, our nomination and corporate governance committee and compensation committee may not consist entirely of independent directors and such committees may not be subject to annual performance evaluations. Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market. See “Management – Board Committees and Director Independence - Controlled Company and Director Independence”.

 

Government regulation is evolving and unfavorable changes could harm our business.

 

We are subject to general business regulations and laws, as well as regulations and laws specifically governing the Internet and e-commerce. These regulations and laws cover taxation, privacy, data protection, data security, network security, consumer protection, pricing, content, copyrights, distribution, transportation, mobile communications, electronic device certification, electronic waste, energy consumption, environmental regulation, electronic contracts and other communications, competition, employment, trade and protectionist measures, web services, the provision of online payment services, registration, licensing, and information reporting requirements, unencumbered Internet access to our services or access to our facilities, the design and operation of websites, health, safety, and sanitation standards, the characteristics, legality, and quality of products and services, product labeling, the commercial operation of unmanned aircraft systems, and other matters. It is not clear how existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, libel, privacy, data protection, data security, network security, and consumer protection apply to aspects of our operations such as the Internet, e-commerce, digital content, web services, electronic devices, advertising, and artificial intelligence technologies and services. A large number of jurisdictions regulate our operations, and the extent, nature, and scope of such regulations is evolving and expanding as the scope of our businesses expand. Unfavorable regulations, laws, decisions, or interpretations by government or regulatory authorities applying those laws and regulations, or inquiries, investigations, or enforcement actions threatened or initiated by them, could cause us to incur substantial costs, expose us to unanticipated civil and criminal liability or penalties (including substantial monetary fines), diminish the demand for, or availability of, our products, increase our cost of doing business, require us to change our business practices in a manner materially adverse to our business, damage our reputation, impede our growth, or otherwise have a material effect on our operations.

 

We are subject to product liability claims when people or property are harmed by the products we sell

 

Some of the products we sell expose us to product liability claims relating to personal injury, illness, death, or environmental or property damage, and can require product recalls or other actions. Although we maintain liability insurance, we cannot be certain that our coverage will be adequate for liabilities actually incurred or that insurance will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all. Some of our agreements with our vendors do not indemnify us from product liability.

 

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We could face prior period sales tax and corporate tax liabilities, penalties and collection obligations

 

We make an assessment of sales tax payable including any related interest and penalties and accrues these estimates on the financial statements. Pursuant to the Wayfair decision, each state enforced sales tax collection at different dates. We collect and remit sales tax in accordance with the state regulations. We estimate that as of March 31, 2021, we owe $634,842 in sales taxes along with penalties and interest. However, we are currently engaged in the process of negotiating and remediating the amount of sales tax with the states in which we owe sales tax and anticipate becoming compliant in tax payments in such states in nine months from the date of this prospectus.

 

We are subject to a variety of taxes and tax collection obligations in the U.S. (federal and state). We may recognize additional tax expense and be subject to additional tax liabilities, including other liabilities for tax collection obligations due to changes in laws, regulations, administrative practices, principles, and interpretations related to tax, including changes to the global tax framework, competition, and other laws and accounting rules in various jurisdictions. Such changes could come about as a result of economic, political, and other conditions. An increasing number of jurisdictions are considering or have adopted laws or administrative practices that impose new tax measures, including revenue-based taxes, targeting online commerce and the remote selling of goods and services. These include new obligations to collect sales, consumption, value added, or other taxes on online marketplaces and remote sellers, or other requirements that may result in liability for third party obligations. Our results of operations and cash flows could be adversely effected by additional taxes of this nature imposed on us prospectively or retroactively or additional taxes or penalties resulting from the failure to comply with any collection obligations or failure to provide information about our customers, suppliers, and other third parties for tax reporting purposes to various government agencies. In some cases we also may not have sufficient notice to enable us to build systems and adopt processes to properly comply with new reporting or collection obligations by the effective date.

 

Our tax expense and liabilities are also affected by other factors, such as changes in our business operations, acquisitions, investments, entry into new businesses and geographies, intercompany transactions, losses incurred in jurisdictions for which we are not able to realize related tax benefits, the applicability of special or extraterritorial tax regimes, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in our stock price, changes to our forecasts of income and loss and the mix of jurisdictions to which they relate, and changes in our tax assets and liabilities and their valuation. In the ordinary course of our business, there are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Significant judgment is required in evaluating and estimating our tax expense, assets, and liabilities.

 

We are also subject to tax controversies in various jurisdictions that can result in tax assessments against us. Developments in an audit, investigation, or other tax controversy can have a material effect on our operating results or cash flows in the period or periods for which that development occurs, as well as for prior and subsequent periods. We regularly assess the likelihood of an adverse outcome resulting from these proceedings to determine the adequacy of our tax accruals. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, the final outcome of audits, investigations, and any other tax controversies could be materially different from our historical tax accruals.

 

Our current accounting and inventory tracking systems could impair our ability to file accurate and timely financial statements

 

The capabilities of our inventory systems to track prior period costs at an item level have not been operationalized for the purposes of calculating inventory value. This could hinder our ability to accurately track inventory value and could impact our ability to provide accurate financials in a timely manner. The company uses Quickbooks Online as both it’s accounting system and inventory tracking system. The company currently doesn’t conduct the period end review and accounting month end close using this accounting system. These procedures are done outside of the accounting system using spreadsheets. The manual nature of these procedures could lead to delay as well as errors in our financial reporting. These errors could include incorrect unit cost data for FIFO inventory valuation.

 

The company currently values inventory by using estimates of the number of units and cost per unit. Our ability to accurately estimate unit costs in a timely manner is dependent on our inventory tracking systems. The company plans on operationalizing an inventory tracking system in the next 9 months. The company plans to start conducting the period end review and accounting month end close using the accounting system over the next 9 months.

 

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Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock, the Offering and Lack of Liquidity

 

Once our common stock is listed on Nasdaq Capital Market, there can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with Nasdaq Capital Market’s continued listing standards.

 

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for shares of our common stock. As a condition to consummating this offering, our common stock offered in this prospectus must be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market or another national securities exchange. Accordingly, in connection with the filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we intend to apply to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols “HOUR.” Assuming that our common stock is listed and after the consummation of this offering, there can be no assurance any broker will be interested in trading our stock. Therefore, it may be difficult to sell your shares of common stock if you desire or need to sell them. Our underwriters are not obligated to make a market in our common stock, and even if it makes a market, it can discontinue market making at any time without notice. Neither we nor the underwriters can provide any assurance that an active and liquid trading market in our common stock will develop or, if developed, that such market will continue.

 

Once our common stock is approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, there is no guarantee that we will be able to maintain such listing for any period of time by perpetually satisfying Nasdaq Capital Market’s continued listing requirements. Our failure to continue to meet these requirements may result in our common stock being delisted from Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

The market price of our common stock may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

We cannot predict the prices at which our common stock will trade. The initial public offering price of our common stock will be determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters and may not bear any relationship to the market price at which our common stock will trade after this offering or to any other established criteria of the value of our business and prospects, and the market price of our common stock following this offering may fluctuate substantially and may be lower than the initial public offering price. The market price of our common stock following this offering will depend on a number of factors, including those described in this “Risk Factors” section, many of which are beyond our control and may not be related to our operating performance. In addition, the limited public float of our common stock following this offering will tend to increase the volatility of the trading price of our common stock. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our common stock, since you might not be able to sell your shares at or above the price you paid in this offering. Factors that could cause fluctuations in the market price of our common stock include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

  actual or anticipated changes or fluctuations in our results of operations;
     
  the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in these projections, or our failure to meet these projections;
     
  announcements by us or our competitors of new products or new or terminated significant contracts, commercial relationships, or capital commitments;
     
  industry or financial analyst or investor reaction to our press releases, other public announcements, and filings with the SEC;
     
  rumors and market speculation involving us or other companies in our industry;
     
  price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time;
     
  changes in operating performance and stock market valuations of other technology companies generally, or those in our industry in particular;
     
  the expiration of market stand-off or contractual lock-up agreements and sales of shares of our common stock by us or our stockholders;

 

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  failure of industry or financial analysts to maintain coverage of us, changes in financial estimates by any analysts who follow our company, or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors;
     
  actual or anticipated developments in our business, or our competitors’ businesses, or the competitive landscape generally;
     
  litigation involving us, our industry, or both, or investigations by regulators into our operations or those of our competitors;
     
  developments or disputes concerning our intellectual property rights, our products, or third-party proprietary rights;
     
  announced or completed acquisitions of businesses or technologies by us or our competitors;
     
  new laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business;
     
  any major changes in our management or our board of directors, particularly with respect to Mr. Lai;
     
  general economic conditions and slow or negative growth of our markets; and
     
  other events or factors, including those resulting from war, incidents of terrorism, or responses to these events.

 

In addition, the stock market in general has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies. Broad market and industry factors may seriously affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, in the past, following periods of volatility in the overall market and the market prices of a particular company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against that company. Securities litigation, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources from our business. This could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.

 

Our common stock may be subject to the “penny stock” rules in the future. It may be more difficult to resell securities classified as “penny stock.”

 

Our common stock may be subject to “penny stock” rules (generally defined as non-exchange traded stock with a per-share price below $5.00) in the future. While our common stock will not be considered “penny stock” following this offering since they will be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, if we are unable to maintain that listing and our common stock is no longer listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, unless we maintain a per-share price above $5.00, our common stock will become “penny stock.” These rules impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers that recommend the purchase or sale of penny stocks to persons other than those who qualify as “established customers” or “accredited investors.” For example, broker-dealers must determine the appropriateness for non-qualifying persons of investments in penny stocks. Broker-dealers must also provide, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, a standardized risk disclosure document that provides information about penny stocks and the risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, disclose the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, furnish monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account, provide a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser, and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction.

 

Legal remedies available to an investor in “penny stocks” may include the following:

 

● If a “penny stock” is sold to the investor in violation of the requirements listed above, or other federal or states securities laws, the investor may be able to cancel the purchase and receive a refund of the investment.

 

● If a “penny stock” is sold to the investor in a fraudulent manner, the investor may be able to sue the persons and firms that committed the fraud for damages.

 

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These requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity, if any, in the secondary market for a security that becomes subject to the penny stock rules. The additional burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by such requirements may discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in our securities, which could severely limit the market price and liquidity of our securities. These requirements may restrict the ability of broker-dealers to sell our common stock or our warrants and may affect your ability to resell our common stock and our warrants.

 

Many brokerage firms will discourage or refrain from recommending investments in penny stocks. Most institutional investors will not invest in penny stocks. In addition, many individual investors will not invest in penny stocks due, among other reasons, to the increased financial risk generally associated with these investments.

 

For these reasons, penny stocks may have a limited market and, consequently, limited liquidity. We can give no assurance at what time, if ever, our common stock or our warrants will not be classified as a “penny stock” in the future.

 

If the benefits of any proposed acquisition do not meet the expectations of investors, stockholders or financial analysts, the market price of our common stock may decline.

 

If the benefits of any proposed acquisition do not meet the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the market price of our common stock prior to the closing of the proposed acquisition may decline. The market values of our common stock at the time of the proposed acquisition may vary significantly from their prices on the date the acquisition target was identified.

 

In addition, broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of our common stock irrespective of our operating performance. The stock market in general has experienced price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the particular companies affected. The trading prices and valuations of these stocks, and of our securities, may not be predictable. A loss of investor confidence in the market for retail stocks or the stocks of other companies which investors perceive to be similar to us could depress our stock price regardless of our business, prospects, financial conditions or results of operations. A decline in the market price of our securities also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional securities and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future.

 

Changes in accounting principles and guidance, or their interpretation, could result in unfavorable accounting charges or effects, including changes to our previously filed financial statements, which could cause our stock price to decline.

 

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. These principles are subject to interpretation by the SEC and various bodies formed to interpret and create appropriate accounting principles and guidance. A change in these principles or guidance, or in their interpretations, may have a significant effect on our reported results and retroactively affect previously reported results.

 

As an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, we are permitted to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements.

 

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act. As a result, we are permitted to, and intend to, rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements. For so long as we are an emerging growth company, we will not be required to:

 

  have an auditor report on our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
     
  comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditors’ report providing additional information about the audit and the consolidated financial statements (i.e., an auditor discussion and analysis);

 

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  submit certain executive compensation matters to stockholder advisory votes, such as “say-on-pay” and “say-on-frequency”; and
     
  disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation.

 

In addition, Section 102 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period. Our consolidated financial statements may therefore not be comparable to those of companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards.

 

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest to occur of: (i) the end of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenue is $1.07 billion or more; (ii) the end of the fiscal year in which the market value of our common shares that are held by non-affiliates is at least $700.0 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter; (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt; and (iv) the end of the fiscal year during which the fifth anniversary of this offering occurs.

 

Until such time, however, we cannot predict if investors will find our securities less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the price of our securities may be more volatile.

 

If we are unable to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and have an adverse effect on the value of our securities.

 

As a public company, we would be required to maintain internal control over financial reporting and to report any material weaknesses in such internal control. Further, we will be required to report any changes in internal controls on a quarterly basis. In addition, we would be required to furnish a report by management on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will design, implement, and test the internal controls over financial reporting required to comply with these obligations. If we identify material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, if we are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting when required, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the value of our securities could be negatively affected. We also could become subject to investigations by the Commission or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.

 

As an emerging growth company, our auditor will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls.

 

Our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting while we are an emerging growth company. This means that the effectiveness of our financial operations may differ from our peer companies in that they may be required to obtain independent registered public accounting firm attestations as to the effectiveness of their internal controls over financial reporting and we are not. While our management will be required to attest to internal control over financial reporting and we will be required to detail changes to our internal controls on a quarterly basis, we cannot provide assurance that the independent registered public accounting firm’s review process in assessing the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, if obtained, would not find one or more material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. Further, once we cease to be an emerging growth company and cease to be a smaller reporting company (as described below), we will be subject to independent registered public accounting firm attestation regarding the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. Even if management finds such controls to be effective, our independent registered public accounting firm may decline to attest to the effectiveness of such internal controls and issue a qualified report.

 

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We believe we will be considered a smaller reporting company and will be exempt from certain disclosure requirements, which could make our common stock less attractive to potential investors.

 

Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act defines a “smaller reporting company” as an issuer that is not an investment company, an asset-backed issuer, or a majority-owned subsidiary of a parent that is not a smaller reporting company and that:

 

  had a public float of less than $250 million as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter, computed by multiplying the aggregate worldwide number of shares of its voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates by the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average of the bid and asked prices of common equity, in the principal market for the common equity; or
     
  in the case of an initial registration statement under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the Exchange Act, for shares of its common equity, had a public float of less than $250 million as of a date within 30 days of the date of the filing of the registration statement, computed by multiplying the aggregate worldwide number of such shares held by non-affiliates before the registration plus, in the case of a Securities Act registration statement, the number of such shares included in the registration statement by the estimated public offering price of the shares; or
     
  in the case of an issuer whose public float as calculated under paragraph (1) or (2) of this definition was zero or whose public float was less than $700 million, had annual revenues of less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available.

 

As a smaller reporting company, we will not be required and may not include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section in our proxy statements; we will provide only two years of financial statements; and we need not provide the table of selected financial data. We also will have other “scaled” disclosure requirements that are less comprehensive than issuers that are not smaller reporting companies which could make our common stock less attractive to potential investors, which could make it more difficult for our stockholders to sell their shares.

 

Upon becoming a public company, we will incur significant increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives.

 

Upon becoming a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has imposed various requirements on public companies including requiring establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations have increased and will continue to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. For example, we expect that these rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, which could make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we will incur as a public company or the timing of such costs.

 

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. In particular, we must perform system and process evaluation and testing of our internal control over financial reporting to allow management to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In addition, we will be required to have our independent registered public accounting firm attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting the later of our second annual report on Form 10-K or the first annual report on Form 10-K following the date on which we are no longer an emerging growth company or a smaller reporting company. Our compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act will require that we incur substantial accounting expense and expend significant management efforts. We currently do not have an internal audit group, and we will need to hire additional accounting and financial staff with appropriate public company experience and technical accounting knowledge. If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner, or if we or our independent registered public accounting firm identify deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, the value of our securities could decline and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.

 

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Our ability to successfully implement our business plan and comply with Section 404 requires us to be able to prepare timely and accurate financial statements. We expect that we will need to continue to improve existing, and implement new operational and financial systems, procedures and controls to manage our business effectively. Any delay in the implementation of, or disruption in the transition to, new or enhanced systems, procedures or controls, may cause our operations to suffer and we may be unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective and to obtain an unqualified report on internal controls from our auditors as required under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. This, in turn, could have an adverse impact on value of our securities, and could adversely affect our ability to access the capital markets.

 

Our management team will have immediate and broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering and we may use the net proceeds in ways with which you disagree.

 

The net proceeds from this offering will be immediately available to our management to use at their discretion. We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund the purchase of inventory, expansion of our labor force, acquisition of other companies, working capital and general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.” We have not allocated specific amounts of the net proceeds from this offering for any of the foregoing purposes. Accordingly, our management will have significant discretion and flexibility in applying the net proceeds of this offering. You will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. It is possible that the net proceeds will be invested in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for us or our stockholders. The failure of our management to use such funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and results of operation.

 

You will experience immediate and substantial dilution as a result of this offering and may experience additional dilution in the future.

 

You will incur immediate and substantial dilution as a result of this offering. After giving effect to the sale by us of up to $50,000,000 in common stock offered in this offering, at an assumed initial public offering price of $[●] per common stock (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), and after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by us, investors in this offering can expect an immediate dilution of $[●] per share, or [●]%, at the assumed initial public offering price.

 

Anti-takeover provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could impair a takeover attempt.

 

The Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control or changes in our management without the consent of our board of directors. These provisions include:

 

  no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which limits the ability of minority stockholders to elect director candidates;
     
  the exclusive right of our board of directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors or the resignation, death, or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our board of directors;

 

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  the ability of our board of directors to determine whether to issue shares of our preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms of those shares, including preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly dilute the ownership of a hostile acquirer;
     
  limiting the liability of, and providing indemnification to, our directors and officers;
     
  providing that a special meeting of the stockholders may only be called by a majority of the board of directors;
     
  providing that directors may be removed prior to the expiration of their terms by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote; and
     
  advance notice procedures that stockholders must comply with in order to nominate candidates to our board of directors or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting, which may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company.

 

These provisions, alone or together, could delay hostile takeovers and changes in control of the Company or changes in our board of directors and management.

 

Any provision of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our security holders to receive a premium for their securities and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our securities.

 

We have never paid dividends on our common stock and have no plans to do so in the future.

 

Holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors. To date, we have paid no cash dividends on our shares of common stock and we do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain future earnings, if any, to provide funds for operations of our business. Therefore, any return investors in our common stock may have will be in the form of appreciation, if any, in the market value of their shares of common stock. See “Dividend Policy.”

 

We will indemnify and hold harmless our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law.

 

Our certificate of incorporation provide that we will indemnify and hold harmless our officers and directors against claims arising from our activities, to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. If we were called upon to perform under our indemnification obligations, then the portion of our assets expended for such purpose would reduce the amount otherwise available for our business.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the common stock we are offering will be approximately $45,442,834 (based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $[●] per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). If the Representative fully exercises the over-allotment option, the net proceeds of the common stock we sell will be $52,417,834. “Net proceeds” is what we expect to receive after deducting the underwriting discount and commission and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to fund the purchase of inventory, expansion of our labor force, acquisition of other companies, working capital and general corporate purposes. The amounts that we actually spend for any specific purpose may vary significantly, and will depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the pace of progress of our research and development, market conditions, and our ability to qualify vendors. In addition, we may use a portion of any net proceeds to acquire complementary compounds; however, we do not have plans for any acquisitions at this time.

 

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This expected use of net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures may vary significantly depending on numerous factors. As a result, our management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the net proceeds from this offering for other purposes, and we will have broad discretion in the application of net proceeds from this offering.

 

Pending our use of the net proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments and U.S. government securities.

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock and do not currently anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The agreements into which we may enter in the future, including indebtedness, may impose limitations on our ability to pay dividends or make other distributions on our capital stock. Payment of future dividends on our common stock, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements and surplus, financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. We intend to retain future earnings, if any, for reinvestment in the development and expansion of our business.

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table shows:

 

  Our capitalization as of March 31, 2021; and
     
  On a pro forma basis, our unaudited capitalization as of March 31, 2021, as adjusted to reflect the receipt of the net proceeds from the sale by us in this offering of common stock, after deducting $44,557,166 in estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We derived this table from, and it should be read in conjunction with and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, our historical and unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. You should also read this table in conjunction with “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial and Operating Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

   As of March 31, 2021 
   Actual   As Adjusted (1) 
   (unaudited)     
Cash and cash equivalents  $3,768,381   $ [●] 
            
Stockholders’ equity:           
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized and 10,000,000 and [●] shares issued and outstanding on an actual basis and adjusted basis, respectively, and   1,000     [●] 
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value 10,000,000 shares authorized and 0 shares issued and outstanding, respectively   -     [●] 
Additional paid-in capital   6,621     [●] 
Retained earnings   4,885,513     4,885,513 
Total stockholders’ equity   4,888,731     4,888,731 
Total capitalization  $4,888,731   $ [●] 

 

(1) The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after the offering is based on 10,000,000, which is the number of shares outstanding on July 29, 2021, assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional [●] shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any, and excludes [●] shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrant granted to the Underwriters upon completion of this offering.

 

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MARKET PRICE FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Market Information

 

Our common stock is not currently listed on any national securities exchange market or quoted on the OTC Markets. We intend to apply to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “HOUR.” There is no assurance that our listing application will be approved by the Nasdaq Capital Market. The approval of our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market is a condition of closing this offering.

 

Holders of Common Stock

 

As of July 29, 2021, there were approximately 2 record holders of our common stock. The number of record holders does not include beneficial owners of common stock whose shares are held in the names of banks, brokers, nominees or other fiduciaries.

 

We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock and do not currently anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain future earnings, if any, for reinvestment in the development and expansion of our business.

 

Historical Common Equity Transactions

 

In connection with our original formation as a Washington corporation on January 13, 2015, we issued 500 shares of common stock, no par value per share, to each of Sam Lai, our Chief Executive Officer, and Maggie Yu, our Senior Vice President (for an aggregate of 1,000 shares of common stock) for services rendered.

 

In connection with our conversion from a Washington corporation to a Delaware corporation on April 7, 2021, we issued 5,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, to each of Sam Lai, our Chief Executive Officer, and Maggie Yu, our Senior Vice President (for an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of common stock).

 

The above issuances/sales were made pursuant to an exemption from registration as set forth in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

DILUTION

 

If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the assumed public offering price per share of common stock and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.

 

The net tangible book value of our common stock as of March 31, 2021 was $4,806,621 or approximately $0.48 per share. Net tangible book value per share represents our total tangible assets less our total tangible liabilities, divided by the number of shares of common stock.

 

Net tangible book value dilution per share to new investors represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers in this offering and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after the completion of this offering. After giving effect to our issuance and sale of the common stock in this offering at the assumed public offering price of $[●] per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, our pro forma net tangible book value as of March 31, 2021 would have been $[●] or approximately $[●] per share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $[●] per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $[●] per share to purchasers of common stock in this offering, as illustrated in the following table:

 

Assumed public offering price per unit       $[●] 
Net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2021   $

0.48

      
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors   $[●]      
Less: pro forma net tangible book value per share after giving effect to the offering        $[●] 
Immediate dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors        $[●] 

 

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The following table sets forth, as of March 31, 2021, the assumed number of shares of common stock purchased from us, the total consideration paid to us and the average price per share paid by existing stockholders and to be paid by new investors purchasing common stock in this offering, after giving pro forma effect to the new investors in this offering at the public offering price of $[●] per share, together with the total consideration paid an average price per share paid by each of these groups, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

 

   Shares Purchased    Total Consideration  Average
Price
 
   Number   Percent    Amount    Percent   per Share 
Existing stockholders   10,000,000    [●]%   $1,000    [●]%  $0.0001 
New investors   [●]    [●]%   $[●]    [●]%  $[●] 
Total   [●]    [●]%   $[●]    [●]%  $[●] 

 

If the Representative’s over-allotment option is exercised in full for shares of common stock at the assumed offering price, the number of shares held by new investors will increase to [●], or approximately [●]% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding after this offering and the shares held by existing stockholders will be [●] shares of common stock but the percentage of shares held by existing stockholders will decrease to [●]% of the total shares outstanding.

 

The foregoing discussion and tables above do not give effect to the dilution that would result from [●] shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrant granted to the Underwriter upon completion of this offering, including the exercise of any over-allotment in full.

 

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

This Description of Business section, along with other sections of this prospectus, includes statistical and other industry and market data that we obtained from industry publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies generally indicate that their information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. While we believe that these industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies are reliable, we have not independently verified such data and we do not make any representation as to the accuracy of the information. Unless the context otherwise requires, “Hour Loop,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company” refers to Hour Loop, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

Overview

 

Our Business

 

We are an online retailer engaged in e-commerce retailing in the U.S. market since 2013. We operate both our own website at www.hourloop.com and as a third-party seller on www.amazon.com and www.walmart.com. We manage more than 100,000 stock-keeping units (“SKUs”). Product categories include home/garden décor, toys, kitchenware, apparels, and electronics. Our primary strategy is to bring most of our vendors product selections to the customers. We have advanced software that assists us in identifying product gaps so we can keep such products in stock year-round including the entirety of the last quarter (holiday season) of the calendar year (“Q4”). In upcoming years, we plan to expand our business rapidly by increasing the number of business managers, vendors and SKUs.

 

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Business Model

 

There are three main types of business models on Amazon: wholesale, private label and retail arbitrage. Our business model is wholesale, also known as reselling, which refers to buying products in bulk directly from the brand or manufacturer at a wholesale price and making a profit by selling the product on Amazon.

 

The advantages of selling via a wholesale model:

 

  - Purchase lower unit quantities with wholesale orders than private label products.
     
  - Selling wholesale is less time intensive and easier to scale than sourcing products via retail arbitrage.
     
  - More brands will want to work with us because we can provide broader Amazon presence.

 

The challenges of selling via a wholesale model:

 

  - Fierce competition on listing for Buy Box on amazon.com (as described below).
     
  - Developing and maintaining relationships with brand manufacturers.

 

Market description/opportunities

 

Total retail sales increased 6.9% to $4.04 trillion in 2020 from $3.78 trillion in 2019. Consumers spent $861.12 billion online with U.S. merchants in 2020, which is around 21.3% of total retail sales for 2020, compared to 15.8% for 2019.

 

Amazon accounted for nearly a third of all e-commerce in the United States. With a more than 5% gain in e-commerce penetration for U.S. retail sales in 2020, we anticipate a larger market in the upcoming years.

 

Formation and Management We were originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Washington on January 13, 2015. However, we converted from a Washington corporation to a Delaware corporation on April 7, 2021. The company was founded in 2013 by Sam Lai and Maggie Yu. With their vision, leadership, and software development skills, the company grew rapidly. From 2013 to 2020, sales grew from $0 to $38,655,264.

 

Competitive advantage

 

Among 9.7 million sellers on Amazon, we believe we have two main competitive advantages. First, we have strong operations and sales teams. They specialize in each task, including, but not limited to, listing, shipment, advertising, reconciliation and sales. Second, we believe our proprietary software system gives us an advantage over our competition. The system is highly customized to our business model; it collects and processes large amounts of data every day to optimize our operation and sales. Through advanced software, we can identify product gaps and keep them in stock all year round.

 

Historical Performance

 

Our year end revenues and net income profits from 2013 through 2020 is presented in the table below:

 

     Year-over-         Year-over 
Year  Revenue   Year %   Income   Net Income %   -Year % 
2013  $26,135    -   $4,682    18%   - 
2014  $1,102,237    4117%  $150,300    14%   3110%
2015  $2,567,267    133%  $228,009    9%   52%
2016  $7,337,012    186%  $77,752    1%   NA 
2017  $17,487,124    138%  $-122,176    -1%   -257%
2018  $24,402,144    40%  $657,821    3%   NA 
2019  $26,564,693    9%  $-424,583    -2%   -165%
2020  $38,655,264    46%  $3,671,668    9%   NA 

 

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Pricing Strategy and Policies

 

In an ideal world, we would like to price our products at key stone pricing or double wholesale cost. However, we operate in a hyper competitive environment and we must stay competitive. Therefore, we must draw a good balance between gross margin and revenue. Our main objectives focus on increasing volume and maximizing profits, which is achieved with a customized auto pricing system we developed internally, in combination with well-trained business managers’ judgment on pricing skills as well as constant monitoring. One principal feature of the pricing system is that it automatically syncs public data of competing offers from Amazon regularly, so business managers can make price settings and adjustments based on accurate data, and thus be able to set optimal selling prices for products. In addition, the system is constantly improved with new features and optimizations.

 

At a high level, our automated pricing tool helps us stay competitive while our business managers mainly focus on increasing gross margins. Our proprietary repricing tool analyze sales trend, projected sales, inventory age, inventory cost, potential profits, FBA fees, competing offers, and seasonality and determines an urgency level, then depending on the level of urgency, it automatically adjusts prices accordingly.

 

Business managers, after establishing the bases for prices, begin to develop pricing strategies for each product while taking the current market conditions, company goals (ex: increasing short-term or long-term profits) and strategies into consideration. Furthermore, business managers consider different marketing segments such as costs and competitions in order to develop effective pricing strategies and policies.

 

The following subsections provide more insight into various pricing strategies we have developed over the years. Our internal training mainly focuses on competition-based pricing policy and value-based pricing policy.

 

  I. Competition-Based Pricing Policy: 20% of our products are toys, which are extremely popular and competitive. In this type of environment where volume is high but gross margin is low, our main strategy is to purchase large quantities, so we can increase sales volume and price competitively while maintaining an average return on investment (“ROI”) of at least 15%. We are using the competition-based pricing policy to match competitor’s prices, which means constantly winning Buy Box (as described below). Our pricing system is capable of automatically matching all Buy Box.
     
  II. Promotional Pricing Policy: To boost lagging sales, we adapted our own promotional pricing policy, which involves offering modest discounts on products with inventory age over 45 days, which proves to be a cost-effective at reducing the number of low turn-over SKUs.
     
  III. Value-Based Pricing Policy: We incorporate a value-based pricing strategy when inventories are constrained, which can happen when customer demand suddenly spikes due to external factors, supply shortage, or seasonal spikes. We set prices to reflect the value perceived by customers, especially on products under gift categories when consumer demands are higher. Contrary to a typical seller, we opt to maintain high gross margin instead of marking down prices and running special deals during the high-demand season during Q4. Therefore, business managers can achieve increases in both sales and high average ROI of 40%.

 

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Buy Box on amazon.com is the top right section on a product page where customers can directly add items to their shopping carts. Since many sellers on amazon.com can sell the same product, they must compete to “win the Buy Box” for a certain product. Winning the Amazon Buy Box simply means that you were chosen for the Buy Box placement. When you win this placement, customers have a button to directly add your product to their carts, giving you an advantage over competing sellers. For a seller to be eligible for the Buy Box, they must meet a set of performance-based requirements including order defect rate, customer shopping experience, time and experience on the Amazon selling platform, and status as a professional seller.

 

Overview of Market & Competition

 

According to Marketplace Pulse, U.S. e-commerce grew 32% in 2020 to reach $790 billion, up from $598 billion the year before. According to the Department of Commerce, e-commerce represented 14% of total retail spending, a significant increase from 11.3% in 2019.

 

For the past ten years, e-commerce in the U.S. grew, on average, 15% year-over-year. In 2020, the market reached a total sales figure it would have otherwise gotten to in 2021. Thus, two years of e-commerce growth in one year.

 

U.S. E-Commerce Sales

 

According to Marketplace Pulse, Amazon was one of the big winners in the fourth quarter, a record quarter with nearly $250 billion in e-commerce spending. While during the first two quarters boosted by the pandemic - Q2 and Q3 - it grew at or below the overall U.S. e-commerce growth rate. In the fourth quarter, Amazon grew faster than the market (based on a naive comparison of its reported North America segment growth). Its fulfillment capacity allowed the company to be more confident with deliveries than its main rivals.

 

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Amazon North America vs. US E-Commerce Growth

 

Target market size

 

Total Addressable Market

 

As an e-commerce company retailing in the U.S. market, our total addressable market covers all U.S. residents with Internet access, where segmentally includes repeat customers and new customers to online shopping every year.

 

Growth of E-commerce vs. Total Retail Sales

 

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce data, the e-commerce’s share of total retail sales has steadily been on the rise, where total volume increased by an incredible 44% of year-over-year growth. The total retail sales increased by 6.9% to $4.04 trillion from 2019 to 2020, and all growths came from the e-commerce sales. Consumers spent $861.12 billion online with U.S. merchants in 2020, which is around 21.3% of total retail sales for the year compared to 15.8% in 2019. The strong growth of U.S. online spending shows the future potential of our target market size. The U.S. e-commerce sales accounted for more than 20% of total retail sales in 2020, and Amazon represented one-third of the total.

 

Growth of Amazon Prime Members

 

In 2020, Amazon had over 140 million Prime Members in the U.S., and we were seeing continuous year-over-year growth over the past years. The number of Amazon Prime users in the U.S. is forecasted to reach more than 153 million by 2022, with 3% annual growth.

 

Operational advantages

 

According to Marketplace Pulse, Hour Loop is one of the top 100 third-party sellers on U.S. Amazon. In 2019 there were only 18,000 sellers, out of 2,700,000 (or 0.67%) that exceeded $1 million in annual sales. Our sales in 2019 were $26.6 million.

 

Automation

 

We developed a proprietary software that is tailor made to all our operational needs. This includes managing order review process, shipment managements, inventory management, accounting, and complete end-to-end third-party integrations. This allows us to scale, reduce cost, and improve quality.

 

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Profitability Management

 

We have experienced operations managers tracking team performances with key performance indicators. We have departments specializing in logistic costs, advertising, marketing, and product management. We hold monthly process reviews to identify early red flags and look for areas to optimize. Each quarter we set increasingly difficult bars both to grow gross margin and further reduce expenses.

 

Continuous Process Optimization

 

In order to improve operating efficiencies, we have effective process optimization adapting to the changing policies of the e-commerce marketplace. Our proprietary software allows us to continually accelerate process effectiveness based on specific requirements. Over time, our system eliminates unnecessary procedures that could be replaced by an advanced algorithm. For instance, we simplify Fulfillment by Amazon (“FBA”) shipments process through application programming interface (“API”) integration. Our self-developed system also tracks insightful analysis of our profitability, clearer visualizes the drivers and optimums to better manage operational costs.

 

Data-Driven Approach

 

We make decisions based on analysis and interpretation of the data sets rather than observations over the market trend. By standardizing processes and combine data-driven management, we can ensure the organization maintains consistency that is high quality. Our business managers use historical data and sales projection provided by our proprietary software to find potential product gaps and keep products in stock all year round. This advantage enables powerful predictive insights in correlating real-time data with past sales patterns.

 

Training Programs

 

Our effective training programs accelerates employees’ professional development and enables the company to hire new graduates or people without experience. Our training programs are very task-specific and we continually improve the materials in order to fit new industry needs. Other than the training material, we assign mentors to evaluate and monitor trainees’ performance at each stage of the training program.

 

Task Generalization

 

By generalizing each task with a standard process, we are able to shift assignments at regular intervals in order to find the most suitable employee for each specific task. Moreover, business managers are also able to rotate the vendors they manage easily. This allows our organization to effectively and consistently manage a vendor when a key employee who previously managed such vendor is no longer with the company. In addition, the task generalization allows the company to hire remote teams to further reduce labor costs.

 

Multicultural Management

 

We have a multicultural management team that is linguistically and culturally diverse in order to make judgments from different perspectives. Our remote teams in Taiwan and the Philippines provide diverse professional insights on specific tasks.

 

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Technological advantages

 

Our software architecture was designed from the ground up to be scalable, secured, and easily extensible. By using JRuby on Rails, we can make use the best parts of Java, Ruby, and Rails without paying for their disadvantages. For example, we can use the massive collections of Java library, portability, speed, multi-threading, and maturity, but we do not have to be tied down with verbose code and strict typing. Rails allow us to quickly build web pages and integrate both the frontend and the backend. The application runs on Amazon Web Services (“AWS”) and can be easily scaled up to as many hosts as needed. It is accessible from a browser, so there is no need to setup or install anything on the client-side.

 

Cost advantage

 

Access to Low Product Costs

 

We lower our product average costs by direct import items that have high volume, purchasing in bulk with better prices, and negotiating discounts or rebates over increased purchase volume every year. Our strong growth of purchase every year allows us to negotiate better discounts than the rivals. Therefore, we have the cost advantages to compete at low prices.

 

Efficient Processes and Technologies

 

Our proprietary software allows us to tailor make tools based on our specific use cases and leverage technologies to greatly reduce manual operations. We also saved the expense of using third-party software in managing inventory, orders, product listings, and especially the advertising analytic tool. In fact, our search engine optimization allows us to have Advertising Cost of Sales (“ACoS”) significantly lower than the industry average of 27.59% in 2020.

 

Low Distribution and Logistic costs

 

We saved the cost of managing the warehouse, shipping, and product distribution as we are enrolled in Amazon’s FBA program. The program allows us to reduce fixed costs of the physical assets and quickly scale up the business without thinking much about infrastructure complexity. Apart from using the FBA program, we also use FedEx, Amazon partnered carrier, Amazon Freight, and Amazon Global Logistics to reduce expense. The competitive shipping rates we secured provide us a cost-efficient way to deliver shipments from overseas and domestic to Amazon warehouse.

 

Efficiently Managed Operations

 

We have a good management structure within the firm and a data-driven system that allows employees to manage tasks quickly and cost-efficiently. According to the CSI Market, the average annual revenue per employee of the retail industry in 2020 is $429,920, whereas in our company it is $644,254. Our revenue per employee is also higher than the industry rivals, such as Amazon $483,789, Walmart $238,165, and Costco $654,308. While our employees on average brought in higher revenues, our annual labor cost per employee is relatively low at less than $30,000 per year.

 

Reduced Labor Costs

 

Our labor cost is below 5% of our revenue. We leverage third-party logistic companies to forward or prep our shipments to Amazon, which reduces our logistic operation labor costs. We also worked with labor outsourcing partner located in Philippines. They provide virtual assistants to help us with data entries and repetitive work, which is a very cost-effective way to do a lot of grunt work.

 

List of key competitors by market size/share

 

Our key competitor is Amazon Retail. Amazon Retail frequently buys from the same brands we sell and sells them at a loss. Amazon Retails offers can be identified by the “Sold by Amazon” tag on Amazon’s site, and they are formed by the two components: 1) Amazon Vendor Central and 2) Sold by Amazon program. We do not consider other third-party sellers as key competitors, because none of them represent enough market share to influence sales outcome. The addressable market is incredibly vast, thus we believe there are plenty of opportunities for everyone.

 

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Amazon Vendor Central

 

Amazon Vendor Central allows manufacturers and brand owners to sell directly to Amazon as a first-party seller. This is one of the key competitive factors as Amazon usually buys bulk from the brands and sells at a very low price, which leads to hyper-competitive pricing. On pricing control, Amazon does not always follow the Minimum Advertised Pricing guidelines from manufacturers, which also puts us at a disadvantage when selling the same products.

 

Sold by Amazon Program

 

With the rise of e-commerce platforms, Amazon is looking for opportunities to attract customers away from its retail store rivals. In 2019, they rolled out a new program entitled Sold by Amazon (“SBA”) to help sellers grow their business. This program gives brand owners the control of inventory management and listings with Amazon having the authority to constantly monitor and change the price to make sure customers are getting the best deals. Once the products are enrolled in the SBA program, Amazon will set the Minimum Gross Proceeds (“MGP”) to pay sellers the lowest possible amount on each unit sold. This new program is another threat to our company as Amazon is the one taking control of pricing, and they set the price very low in order to compete with competitors’ low price strategy.

 

Strengths and weaknesses of each competitor

 

Strengths of Sold by Amazon

 

First, ship from and Sold by Amazon creates competition for potential customers who prefer to buy products from Amazon rather than a third-party seller. Secondly, Amazon monitors and manages pricing which makes the product price range at a highly competitive level. In fact, the chance of Amazon winning buy box is even higher as they have the best deal for customers. Finally, Amazon is not restricted by its policy to third-party sellers. One of the critical policies is the restock limit. Amazon limits certain items restock quantities based on recent sales activity, and this affects the in-stock rate of popular items that needs a greater volume.

 

Weaknesses of Sold by Amazon

 

As Amazon focuses on sales more than relationships with vendors, they do not follow vendors’ Minimum Advertised Pricing (“MAP”) strictly. We believe this has led to the devaluation of brands and will have a negative impact on building a long-term relationship with the vendors. Once the vendor hands over their price control to Amazon, we believe it is unlikely for them to sell at their original target price further, and it influences their offline sales. And in fact, it makes a huge difference in profitability to both Amazon and the vendor when reacts to the competitive pricing changes.

 

Apart from the weaknesses of business relationships, we believe Amazon also has disadvantages in the niche marketplaces, where product offerings are narrower and more personalized. As a third-party seller, we cooperate with vendors in developing custom projects that bring product differentiation and scarcity effect. However, we believe Amazon only concentrates on the masses, which gives them the deficiency of having products that are targeted in certain market segments.

 

List potential substitute products that pose a credible threat to Company’s product

 

No potential substitute products would pose a credible threat to our company as we have developed a wide product diversification.

 

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As a company that focus on reselling wholesale products, we have the resilience to find substitution of products or brands. We established product diversification by managing wide range of SKUs and continually expand our product categories. Our business strategy allows us to mitigate risk and generate significant profit by selling low volumes items diversified across a large variety of products.

 

In contrast, private labels sellers manage small number of SKUs that have large volumes in return with higher profit per unit. However, private labels have much higher risk when experiencing stagnant or declining sales as they would have lower capability to find sales replacements that are already established.

 

Strength of barriers to entry – risk of entry by additional competitors or alliances

 

Strength of Barriers to Entry

 

Higher Capital, Low Margin: Selling online is general low margin, but it requires high capital investment in order to purchase goods and run advertising.

 

Product Differentiation: Our proprietary software allows us to manage a huge number of SKUs. This allows us to participate in profitable long-tail products in addition to well-known popular ones. The turnover rate for long-tail products is slow, so newcomers are not likely to enter. It also requires a sophisticated system to manage. Furthermore, vendor relationships do not happen overnight.

 

Advanced System: We have already developed a highly sophisticated system which has been refined over time to become highly effective. Even if a new entrant has a team of the best software engineers in the world, it will still take them many years to refine their system. There is a myriad of intricacies as to the effectiveness of a system. Even if the new entrants have the system built, it will still take them years to collect historical sales data. By the time new entrants have done all that, our system would have continued to mature. This means we would be able to manage more SKUs more profitably with lower costs.

 

Risk of Entry- Potential Entrants

 

Vendor Vertical Integration: A vendor may forward integrate into the e-commerce marketplace in order to directly engage with their online customers.

 

Multichannel E-commerce: There is a chance of established online retail firms such as sellers on eBay, Walmart, and Etsy expanding their business to the Amazon marketplace.

 

Brick-and-Mortar: As the online retail is growing and offline retail is contracting, there are more brick-and-mortar stores migrating from offline to online.

 

Improving Sales of Popular Items and Securing the Inventories Without Paying Higher Storage Fees By Partnering With Third Party Warehouses

 

As a retailer our success is heavily influenced by the inventory control of our suppliers (vendors). However, many of our suppliers are having difficulties to maintain their stock level due to various reasons, such as the shortage of shipping containers, lack of labor, or disruption in manufacturing. The situation exacerbates during the pandemic and in peak season. In order to secure the inventories, we start to order large quantities of popular items or buying them out to store in the Amazon fulfillment center (“FC”). However, the monthly storage fee of Amazon FC in peak season (Q4) is 3.5 times higher than normal season, which puts pressure on our profits. To maintain the balance of inventory level and margins, our plan is to establish relationship(s) with third-party warehouse(s) and incorporate them in our overall stock planning process. By doing this, we can improve sales by preventing popular items from going out of stock, since we had secured adequate inventories ahead of time. Furthermore, we can also avoid paying higher Amazon storage fees in Q4.

 

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Growth Objectives Outline

 

In 2021, we plan to grow the number of suppliers from 226 to 300, the number of business managers from 20 to 50, the number of active SKUs from 42k to 60k, and the number of total employees from 60 to 120. In 2022, we plan to grow the number of suppliers to 650, the number of business managers to 200, the number of active SKUs to130k, and the number of total employees to 250. In 2023, we plan to grow the number of suppliers to 1,200, the number of business managers to 350, the number of active SKUs to 200k, and the number of total employees to 500. In 2024, we plan to grow the number of suppliers to 2000, the number of business mangers to 600, the number of active SKUs to 300k, and the number of total employees to 900. We believe in order to be successful in the long-term, we must invest in talents.

 

New business managers are the key to growth, they are analogous to new stores in a traditional brick and mortar retail business. Although the return on investment is extremely high over the long-term when investing in people, initially the return is very low or even negative. Therefore, as we continue to fuel the rapid growth, we will need to increase the number of people faster than the growth. We anticipate that ratio to improve when we reached critical mass of highly proficient business managers from the new hires.

 

Market and Supplier Development - Establishing a Vendor Acquisition Team

 

In order to continue growing at a rapid pace, we must onboard new vendors at scale. We anticipate establishing a vendor acquisition team dedicated to onboarding new vendors would drastically improve our vendor acquisition success rate. This team would specialize in the skills required to convince vendors to sell us their goods. Currently, this is being done by individual business managers with varying skill levels. The success rate by the individual business managers varies. Establishing this new team should ensure more consistency, so we can better plan for the future. The team would consist of three to five executive managers who are responsible for researching and contacting potential vendors. Furthermore, on a monthly basis, the team would be reviewing the lists of potential vendors who are not yet collaborating with us and reach out to them to reconnect. The objective of the vendor and supplier team is to on board 150 vendors per year and increasing our product range as well as diversifying our product categories.

 

COVID-19

 

Our business, results of operations, and financial condition may be materially adversely impacted if a public health outbreak, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, interferes with our ability, or the ability of our employees, contractors, suppliers, and other business partners to perform our and their respective responsibilities and obligations relative to the conduct of our business.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect the economies and financial markets worldwide, resulting in an economic downturn that could impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. As a result, our ability to fund through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, and through other means at acceptable terms, if at all, may be disrupted, in the event our financing needs for the foreseeable future are not able to be met by our balances of cash, cash equivalents and cash generated from operations.

 

In addition, the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and various governmental responses in the United States has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business operations, including our ability to carry on business development activities, restrictions in business-related travel, delays or disruptions in our on-going projects, and unavailability of the employees of the Company or third parties with whom we conduct business, due to illness or quarantines, among others. Our business was negatively impacted by disruptions in our supply chain, which limited our ability to source merchandise, and limits on products fulfillment placed by Amazon. For example, we may be unable to launch new products, replenish inventory for existing products, ship into or receive inventory in our third-party warehouses in each case on a timely basis or at all. The extent to which COVID-19 could impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, and will depend on many factors, including the duration of the outbreak, the effect of travel restrictions and social distancing efforts in the United States and other countries, the scope and length of business closures or business disruptions, and the actions taken by governments to contain and treat the disease. As such, we cannot presently predict the scope and extent of any potential business shutdowns or disruptions. Possible effects may include, but are not limited to, disruption to our customers and revenue, absenteeism in our labor workforce, unavailability of products and supplies used in our operations, shutdowns that may be mandated or requested by governmental authorities, and a decline in the value of our assets, including various long-lived assets.

 

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Bank of America Loan

 

On June 18, 2019, the Company issued a Promissory Note (the “BofA Note”) in the amount of $785,000 to Bank of America (the “Lender”) for a loan in the amount of $785,000. The BofA Note matures on June 18, 2024 and bears interest at a rate of 8.11 % per annum. The monthly payment is $15,963, consisting of $11,398 of principal and $4,565 of interest. As of July 23, 2021, the aggregate principal amount of the BofA Note outstanding is $0. As of July 29, 2021, there is an outstanding balance of deferred interest of $27,996.

 

PPP Loan

 

On April 7, 2020, the Company issued a Promissory Note (the “Note”) in the amount of $27,012 under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) to JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Lender”). The PPP, established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which was enacted March 27, 2020, provides for loans to qualifying businesses for amounts up to 2.5 times of the average monthly payroll expenses of the qualifying business. The Note matures on April 7, 2022 and bears interest at a rate of 0.98% per annum, payable monthly commencing October 5, 2020, following an initial deferral period as specified under the PPP loan. The Note may be prepaid at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (the “Flexibility Act”), signed on June 5, 2020, amended certain provisions of the PPP, including the deferral period and repayment terms. The Flexibility Act extends the deferral period of payments of PPP loan principal, interest, and fees to the date when the SBA makes a final decision on the borrower’s application for forgiveness, or 10 months after the last day of the covered period if a borrower has not applied for forgiveness (whichever is earlier). This extension applies regardless of the terms of the PPP and does not require an amendment of the PPP. As such, the Company has not made any payments on the Note during 2020.

 

Under the terms of the PPP loan, up to the entire amount of principal and accrued interest may be forgiven to the extent PPP loan proceeds are used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act and applicable implementing guidance issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration under the PPP loan. On May 6, 2021, the entire amount of principal and accrued interest on the Note was forgiven.

 

Affiliated Loans

 

On January 1, 2021, the Company and Sam Lai, its Chief Executive Officer, entered into a promissory note in the total principal amount of $597,537 (the “Lai Note”). The Lai Note memorializes loans in the aggregate amount of $597,537 that Mr. Lai previously advanced to the Company and its subsidiaries to fund their operations. The Lai Note bears no interest, and the Company may prepay all or any portion of the principal amount outstanding of the Lai Note at any time without penalty. The Lai Note matures on December 31, 2021. As of July 29, 2021, the principal balance of the Lai Note was $597,537.

 

On January 1, 2021, the Company and Maggie Yu, its Senior Vice President, entered into a promissory note in the total principal amount of $597,537 (the “Yu Note”). The Yu Note memorializes loans in the aggregate amount of $597,537 that Mr. Yu previously advanced to the Company and its subsidiaries to fund their operations. The Yu Note bears no interest, and the Company may prepay all or any portion of the principal amount outstanding of the Yu Note at any time without penalty. The Yu Note matures on December 31, 2021. As of July 29, 2021, the principal balance of the Yu Note was $597,537.

 

Approval of the Hour Loop, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan

 

On June 27, 2021, our Board of Directors and shareholders holding a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock approved the Hour Loop, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”). Under the 2021 Plan, a total of 1,500,000 shares of common stock are authorized for issuance pursuant to the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, performance shares or other cash- or stock-based awards to officers, directors, employees and eligible consultants to the Company or its subsidiaries. Subject to adjustment as provided in the 2021 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued under the 2021 Plan will be cumulatively increased on January 1, 2022 and on each subsequent January 1, by a number of shares equal to the smaller of (i) 3% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31, or (ii) an amount determined by our Board of Directors.

 

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Employees

 

As of July 29, 2021, we had three full-time employees. As of July 29, 2021, our subsidiary, Flywheel Consulting Limited had 60 full time employees. None of our employees or Flywheel Consulting Limited’s employees is represented by a union. Flywheel Consulting Limited and us consider our relations with our employees to be good.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, we are involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. To the knowledge of our management, there are no legal proceedings currently pending against us which we believe would have a material effect on our business, financial position or results of operations and, to the best of our knowledge, there are no such legal proceedings contemplated or threatened.

 

Properties

 

Our corporate headquarters are located at 8201 164th Ave NE #200, Redmond, WA 98052-7615, where we rent a virtual office from an unaffiliated third party under a virtual office/meeting room agreement. This agreement provides for daily telephone answering, messaging and fax services, and paid access to conference rooms on an as-needed basis. The virtual office arrangement expires on August 31, 2021. Terms of the virtual office arrangement provide for a rent payment of $29.50 per month. We also lease a warehouse located at Floor 35, No. 1123-1139, Fangshan Beier Road, Xiangbei Industry District, Xiamin, China, where we lease approximately 1680 square feet from an unaffiliated third party. This lease expires on January 1, 2022. Terms of this lease provides for a base rent payment of RMB$21,840 (US$3,116) per month. Our wholly owned subsidiary, Flywheel Consulting Limited also has an office at 27F. No.251, Mingquan 1st Rd., Xinxing Dist., Kaohsiungcity, Taiwan, where we lease approximately 2,230 rentable square feet of office space from an unaffiliated third party. This lease expires on August 31, 2022. Terms of the Taiwan office lease provide for a base rent payment of NTD$94,500 (US$3,400) per month. We believe that these facilities are adequate for our current and near-term future needs.

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

References in this prospectus to “we,” “us” or the “Company” refer to Hour Loop, Inc. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Overview

 

Our Business

 

We are an online retailer engaged in e-commerce retailing in the U.S. market since 2013. We operate both our own website at www.hourloop.com and as a third-party seller on www.amazon.com and www.walmart.com. We manage more than 100,000 stock-keeping units (“SKUs”). Product categories include home/garden décor, toys, kitchenware, apparels, and electronics. Our primary strategy is to bring most of our vendors product selections to the customers. We have advanced software that assists us in identifying product gaps so we can keep such product in stock all year round including the entirety of the last quarter (holiday season) of the calendar year (“Q4”). For the upcoming years, we plan to expand our business rapidly. By increasing the numbers of business managers, vendors, SKUs, we intend to grow around 85% to 95% in revenue each year for the next three years.

 

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Business Model

 

There are three main types of business models on Amazon including wholesale, private label and retail arbitrage. Our business model is wholesale, also known as reselling, which refers to buying products in bulk directly from the brand or manufacturer at a wholesale price and making a profit by selling the product on Amazon.

 

The advantages of selling via a wholesale model:

 

  - Purchase lower unit quantities with wholesale orders than private label products.
     
  - Selling wholesale is less time intensive and easier to scale than sourcing products via retail arbitrage.
     
  - More brands will want to work with us because we can provide broader Amazon presence.

 

The challenges of selling via a wholesale model:

 

  - Fierce competition on listing for Buy Box on amazon.com (as described below).
     
  - Develop and maintain relationships with brand manufacturer.

 

Market description/opportunities

 

Total retail sales increased 6.9% to $4.04 trillion in year 2020 from $3.78 trillion in year 2019. Consumers spent $861.12 billion online with U.S. merchants in 2020, which is around 21.3% of total retail sales for the year 2020 compared to 15.8% for the year 2019.

 

Amazon accounted for nearly a third of all e-commerce in the United States. With more than 5% gain in e-commerce penetration for U.S. retail sales in 2020, we anticipate a larger market in the upcoming years.

 

Formation and Management

 

We were originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Washington on January 13, 2015. However, we converted from a Washington corporation to a Delaware corporation on April 7, 2021. Our owner and Chief Executive Officer, Sam Lai, started the business in 2014, when he served as a software development engineer in Amazon. With his great vision, software developing skill and good leadership, Mr. Lai has led us to grow rapidly. From 2014 to 2020, sales have increased from $1,102,237 to $38,655,264.

 

Competitive advantage

 

Among 9.7 million sellers on Amazon, we believe we have two main competitive advantages. First, we believe that we have strong operation and sales teams. They specialized in each task, including but not limited to listing, shipment, advertising, reconciliation and sales. By delivering high quality results and enhancing procedures through the process, our teams are competitive. Second, we believe our highly developed software system gives us an advantage over our competition. We develop our own software to process the large amount of data we collected every day, to simplify the operation and sales procedures and to integrate data between departments. Through advanced software, we can identify product gaps and keep them in stock all year round and this is our main advantage.

 

Our Financial Position

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we generated revenues of $38,655,264 and $26,564,693, respectively, and reported net income of $3,671,668 and $(424,583), respectively, and cash flow from operating activities of $3,671,008 and $(517,933), respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we generated revenues of $9,322,913 and $4,261,863 and reported net income of $865,894 and $($450,604), respectively, and cash flow from operating activities of $(1,155,965) and $(351,387), respectively. As noted in our consolidated financial statements, as of March 31, 2021, we had retained earnings of $4,885,513.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

    3 Months Ended  
    March 31, 2021     March 31, 2020  
             
Statement of Operations Data            
Total revenues   $ 9,322,913       4,261,863  
Total cost of goods sold.     4,094,552       2,498,723  
Gross profit     5,228,361       1,763,140  
Total operating expenses     4,364,003       2,203,369  
Income (loss) from operations     864,358       (440,229 )
Total other non-operating income     1,536       (10,375 )
Income tax provisions     -       -  
Net income (loss)     865,894       (450,604 )
Other Comprehensive Income     (1,222 )     (374 )
Total Comprehensive Income   $ 864,672       (450,978 )

 

Revenue

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, our revenues increased by $5,061,050, or 119%, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to organic growth in our business. We attribute this to the growth in the e-commerce market as well as ability of our team to successfully bring target the customer base.

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, our cost of goods sold increased by $1,595,829 or 64% as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020. The percentage increase in cost of goods sales was lower than the percentage increase in revenue reflecting improved profitability.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31,2021 were $4,364,003 as compared to $2,203,369 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of $2,160,634. The increase is primarily related to an increase in platform fees paid to Amazon due to greater revenue in this period. The platform fees paid to Amazon are proportional to the revenue generated.

 

Other Income

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, other income amounted to $1,536 as compared to ($10,375) for the three months ended March 31, 2020, a change of $11,911. The increase in other income was primarily due to no interest due to payoff of the Bank of America loan.

 

Total Comprehensive Income

 

Total comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31,2021 was $864,672 as compared to a net loss of $450,798 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of $1,315,650.

 

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Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

The following table shows a comparison of our 2020 and 2019 income statements.

 

    Year Ended  
    December 31, 2020     December 31, 2019  
             
Statement of Operations Data                
Total revenues   $ 38,655,264       26,564,693  
Total cost of goods sold.     16,639,491       14,135,029  
Gross profit     22,015,773       12,429,664  
Total operating expenses     18,328,925       12,821,405  
Income (loss) from operations     3,686,848       (391,741 )
Total other non-operating income     (15,180 )     (32,842 )
Income tax provisions     -       -  
Net income (loss)     3,671,668       (424,583 )
Other Comprehensive Income     (4,691 )     1,510  
Total Comprehensive Income   $ 3,666,977       (423,073 )

 

Revenue

 

We generated $38,655,264 in revenue in 2020 as compared to $26,564,693 in 2019. The growth in revenue was 12,090,571 or 45.5%. We attribute this growth to our continued growth and maturity in our operating model which was further enhanced by a favorable e-commerce environment. We continued to add vendors that we purchased products from.

 

Cost of Goods Sold

 

Cost of goods sold during the year ended December 31,2020 totaled $16,639,491 as compared to 14,135,029 during the year ended December 31, 2019. Cost of goods sold include the cost of the merchandise sold, shipping costs as well as estimated losses due to damage to goods.

 

Operating Expense

 

Operating Expenses for the year ended December 31,2020 totaled $18,328,925, a $5,507,520 increase from the $12,821,405 of operating expenses in the year ended December 31, 2019. This change was caused by an increase in platform fees paid to Amazon. These fees are proportional to the revenue. The increase in revenue in 2020 over 2019 drove this increase in platform fees.

 

Other (Expense) Income

 

Other income decreased to $15,180 for the year ended December 31,2020 from $32,842 for the year ended December 31, 2019. This was due to lower interest expense of $43,269 in 2020 as opposed to interest expense of 51,794 in 2019. The lower interest expense in 2020 was due to our paying off our Bank of America loan.

 

Total Comprehensive Income

 

Total Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 31,2020 was $3,666,977 while the net loss for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $423,073. The change in Total Comprehensive Income was $4,090,050. This change was driven by an improvement in both our revenue as well as our costs in the year ended December 31, 2020 over the year ended December 31,2019.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31,2020 and 2019

 

Liquidity is the ability of an enterprise to generate adequate amounts of cash to meet its needs for cash requirements. We had cash of $4,968,064 and $838,963 as of December 31,2020 and December 31,2019, respectively.

 

Our primary uses of cash have been for inventory, payments to Amazon related to sales and shipping of products, for services provided, payments for marketing and advertising and salaries paid to our employees. We have received funds from the sales of products that we sell online. The following trends are reasonably likely to result in changes in our liquidity over the near to long term:

 

  An increase in working capital requirements to finance the rapid growth in our current business,
     
  An increase in fees paid to Amazon and other partners as our sales grows
     
  The cost of being a public company;
     
  Marketing and advertising expenses for attracting new customers; and
     
  Capital requirements for the development of additional infrastructure

 

Since inception, we have generated liquidity from the profitability of our ongoing business and from debt to fund our operations.

 

The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the years ended December 31,2020 and December 31, 2019.

 

   Year Ended 
   December 31, 2020   December 31, 2019 
         
Statement of Cash Flows          
Net cash from operating activities  $3,671,008    (517,933)
Net cash used in investing activities  $-    - 
Net cash provided by financing activities  $452,982    509,013 
Effect of changes in foreign currency rates  $5,111    4,473 
Net increase (decrease) in cash  $4,129,101    (4,447)
Cash - beginning of the period  $838,963    843,410 
Cash - end of the period  $4,968,064    838,963 

 

Net Cash From Operating Activities:

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, cash generated by operating activities amounted to $3,671,008. This was driven by the net income of $3,671,668. Changes in our operating liabilities and assets used up cash of $77,086. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, cash used in operating activities amounted to $517,933, mainly resulting from a net loss of $424,583. Changes in our operating liabilities and assets used up cash of $185,114.

 

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Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities:

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, no cash was generated by or used in investing activities. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, no cash was generated by or used in investing activities. In both these years, the company made no investments to procure fixed assets.

 

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities:

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, cash provided from financing activities amounted to $452,982, mainly resulting from $1,145,230 in net advances from related parties offset by payments of $718,362 towards the line of credit. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, cash provided from financing activities amounted to $509,013, mainly resulting from a net change in the line of credit of $455,196 and net advances from related parties of $49,996.

 

Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020

 

The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

 

   Three months ended 
   March 31, 2021   March 31, 2020 
         
Statement of Cash Flows          
Net cash from operating activities  $(1,155,965)   (351,387)
Net cash used in investing activities  $-    - 
Net cash provided by financing activities  $(43,077)   (38,255)
Effect of foreign exchange rate  $(641)   (940)
Net increase (decrease) in cash  $(1,199,683)   (390,582)
Cash - beginning of the period  $4,968,064    838,963 
Cash - end of the period  $3,768,381    448,381 

 

Net Cash From Operating Activities:

 

Net cash flow used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $1,155,965 as compared to $351,387 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of $804,578 or 229%. This increase is primarily attributable to cash usage related to the acquisition of inventory. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, our inventory levels increased by $2,971,952 and compared to a decline in inventory levels of $167,387 during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

 

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities:

 

Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $0. The net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $0. During both these periods, the company made no acquisition of property, plant and equipment.

 

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities:

 

Net cash used by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $43,077 and compared to net cash used in financing activities of $38,255 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of $4,822.

 

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Off-balance sheet financing arrangements

 

We have no obligations, assets or liabilities which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.

 

COVID-19

 

Our business, results of operations, and financial condition may be materially adversely impacted if a public health outbreak, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, interferes with our ability, or the ability of our employees, contractors, suppliers, and other business partners to perform our and their respective responsibilities and obligations relative to the conduct of our business.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect the economies and financial markets worldwide, resulting in an economic downturn that could impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. As a result, our ability to fund through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, and through other means at acceptable terms, if at all, may be disrupted, in the event our financing needs for the foreseeable future are not able to be met by our balances of cash, cash equivalents and cash generated from operations.

 

In addition, the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and various governmental responses in the United States has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our business operations, including our ability to carry on business development activities, restrictions in business-related travel, delays or disruptions in our on-going projects, and unavailability of the employees of the Company or third parties with whom we conduct business, due to illness or quarantines, among others. Our business was negatively impacted by disruptions in our supply chain, which limited our ability to source merchandise, and limits on products fulfillment placed by Amazon. For example, we may be unable to launch new products, replenish inventory for existing products, ship into or receive inventory in our third-party warehouses in each case on a timely basis or at all. The extent to which COVID-19 could impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, and will depend on many factors, including the duration of the outbreak, the effect of travel restrictions and social distancing efforts in the United States and other countries, the scope and length of business closures or business disruptions, and the actions taken by governments to contain and treat the disease. As such, we cannot presently predict the scope and extent of any potential business shutdowns or disruptions. Possible effects may include, but are not limited to, disruption to our customers and revenue, absenteeism in our labor workforce, unavailability of products and supplies used in our operations, shutdowns that may be mandated or requested by governmental authorities, and a decline in the value of our assets, including various long-lived assets.

 

Contractual obligations

 

We do not have any long-term capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, except as follows:

 

Bank of America Loan

 

On June 18, 2019, the Company issued a Promissory Note (the “BofA Note”) in the amount of $785,000 to Bank of America (the “Lender”) for a loan in the amount of $785,000. The BofA Note matures on June 18, 2024 and bears interest at a rate of 8.11 % per annum. The monthly payment is $15,963, consisting of $11,398 of principal and $4,565 of interest. As of July 23, 2021, the aggregate principal amount of the BofA Note outstanding is $0. As of July 29, 2021, there is an outstanding balance of deferred interest of $27,996.

 

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PPP Loan

 

On April 7, 2020, the Company issued a Promissory Note (the “Note”) in the amount of $27,012 under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) to JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Lender”). The PPP, established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which was enacted March 27, 2020, provides for loans to qualifying businesses for amounts up to 2.5 times of the average monthly payroll expenses of the qualifying business. The Note matures on April 7, 2022 and bears interest at a rate of 0.98% per annum, payable monthly commencing October 5, 2020, following an initial deferral period as specified under the PPP loan. The Note may be prepaid at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (the “Flexibility Act”), signed on June 5, 2020, amended certain provisions of the PPP, including the deferral period and repayment terms. The Flexibility Act extends the deferral period of payments of PPP loan principal, interest, and fees to the date when the SBA makes a final decision on the borrower’s application for forgiveness, or 10 months after the last day of the covered period if a borrower has not applied for forgiveness (whichever is earlier). This extension applies regardless of the terms of the PPP and does not require an amendment of the PPP. As such, the Company has not made any payments on the Note during 2020.

 

Under the terms of the PPP loan, up to the entire amount of principal and accrued interest may be forgiven to the extent PPP loan proceeds are used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act and applicable implementing guidance issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration under the PPP loan. On May 6, 2021, the entire amount of principal and accrued interest on the Note was forgiven.

 

Affiliated Loans

 

On January 1, 2021, the Company and Sam Lai, its Chief Executive Officer, entered into a promissory note in the total principal amount of $597,537 (the “Lai Note”). The Lai Note memorializes loans in the aggregate amount of $597,537 that Mr. Lai previously advanced to the Company and its subsidiaries to fund their operations. The Lai Note bears no interest, and the Company may prepay all or any portion of the principal amount outstanding of the Lai Note at any time without penalty. The Lai Note matures on December 31, 2021. As of July 29, 2021, the principal balance of the Lai Note was $597,537.

 

On January 1, 2021, the Company and Maggie Yu, its Senior Vice President, entered into a promissory note in the total principal amount of $597,537 (the “Yu Note”). The Yu Note memorializes loans in the aggregate amount of $597,537 that Mr. Yu previously advanced to the Company and its subsidiaries to fund their operations. The Yu Note bears no interest, and the Company may prepay all or any portion of the principal amount outstanding of the Yu Note at any time without penalty. The Yu Note matures on December 31, 2021. As of July 29, 2021, the principal balance of the Yu Note was $597,537.

 

Leases

 

The Company has 3 operating leases (Hour Loop has Xiamen warehouse lease and Seattle warehouse lease, and Flywheel has office lease in Taiwan). The company has signed leases through 2022. The first payment was made in the amount of $. We make lease payments in advance. The table below outlines payments for non-cancelable operating leases.

 

Years Ending December 31,2021  Amount 
2021   59,796 
Total Lease Payments   59,796 

 

Sales Taxes

 

We make an assessment of sales tax payable including any related interest and penalties and accrues these estimates on the financial statements. Pursuant to the Wayfair decision, each state enforced sales tax collection at different dates. We collect and remit sales tax in accordance with the state regulations. We estimate that as of March 31, 2021, we owe $634,842 in sales taxes along with penalties and interest. However, we are currently engaged in the process of negotiating and remediating the amount of sales tax with the states in which we owe sales tax and anticipate becoming compliant in tax payments in such states in nine months from the date of this prospectus.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid financial instruments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value.

 

Inventory and Cost of Goods Sold

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is principally determined on a first-in first-out basis. The Company’s costs include the amounts it pays manufacturers for product, tariffs and duties associated with transporting product across national borders, and freight costs associated with transporting the product from its manufacturers to its warehouses.

 

Cost of goods sold is comprised of the book value of inventory sold to customers during the reporting period.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property, plant, and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated or amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset using the straight-line method.

 

Fair Value Measurement

 

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other current liabilities approximate fair value because of the immediate or short term maturity of these financial instruments.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC Topic 606”). The Company adopted ASC Topic 606 as of January 1, 2019. The standard did not affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, or cash flows. There were no changes to the timing of revenue recognition as a result of the adoption.

 

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which provided a five-step model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers as follows:

 

  Identify the contract with a customer.
  Identify the performance obligations in the contract.
  Determine the transaction price.
  Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
  Recognize revenue when or as performance obligations are satisfied.

 

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The Company derives its revenue from the sale of consumer products. The Company sells its products directly to consumers through online retail channels. The Company considers customer order confirmations to be a contract with the customer. Customer confirmations are executed at the time an order is placed through third-party online channels. For all of the Company’s sales and distribution channels, revenue is recognized when control of the product is transferred to the customer (i.e., when the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied), which typically occurs at shipment date. As a result, the Company has a present and unconditional right to payment and record the amount due from the customer in accounts receivable.

 

The Company evaluated principal versus agent considerations to determine whether it is appropriate to record platform fees paid to Amazon as an expense or as a reduction of revenue. Platform fees are recorded as sales and distribution expenses and are not recorded as a reduction of revenue because the Company owns and controls all the goods before they are transferred to the customer. The Company can, at any time, direct Amazon, similarly, other third-party logistics providers (“Logistics Providers”), to return the Company’s inventories to any location specified by the Company. It is the Company’s responsibility to make any returns made by customers directly to Logistic Providers and the Company retains the back-end inventory risk. Further, the Company is subject to credit risk (i.e., credit card chargebacks), establishes prices of its products, can determine who fulfills the goods to the customer (Amazon or the Company) and can limit quantities or stop selling the goods at any time. The customer can return the products within 30 days after the products are delivered and estimated sales returns are calculated based on the expected returns. Based on these considerations, the Company is the principal in this arrangement.

 

Performance Obligations. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good to the customer and is the unit of account in ASC Topic 606. A contract’s transaction price is recognized as revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied. Each of the Company’s contracts have a single distinct performance obligation, which is the promise to transfer individual goods. For consumer product sales, the Company has elected to treat shipping and handling as fulfillment activities, and not a separate performance obligation. The Company bills customers for charges for shipping and handling on certain sales and such charges are recorded as part of net revenue.

 

For each contract, the Company considers the promise to transfer products to be the only identified performance obligation. In determining the transaction price, the Company evaluates whether the price is subject to refund or adjustment to determine the net consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled.

 

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

Accounts receivable are stated at historical cost less allowance for doubtful accounts. On a periodic basis, management evaluates its accounts receivable and determines whether to provide an allowance or if any accounts should be written off based on a past history of write-offs, collections and current credit conditions. A receivable is considered past due if the Company has not received payments based on agreed-upon terms. The Company performs on-going evaluations of its customers and maintains an allowance for bad and doubtful receivables.

 

Leases

 

The Company has elected the adoption under ASC Topic 842, Leases, which allows the Company to apply the transition provision at the Company’s adoption date instead of at the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company elected the optional practical expedient permitted under the transition guidance which allows the Company to carry forward the historical accounting treatment for existing leases upon adoption.

 

Sales Taxes

 

Company makes an assessment of sales tax payable including any related interest and penalties. The Company’s accounting policy is to exclude the tax collected and remitted from revenues and cost of revenues. Pursuant to the Wayfair decision, each state enforced sales tax collection at different dates. The company makes sales collects and remits sales tax in accordance with the state regulations. In the past, where the company has not collected these taxes, the company has made estimates of amounts owed and accrued these on the financial statements.

 

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Income Taxes

 

Prior to 2021, the Company, with the stockholder’s consent, has elected to be taxed as an “S corporation” under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and comparable state income tax law. As an S corporation, the Company is generally not subject to corporate income taxes, and the Company’s net income or loss is reported on the individual tax return of the stockholder of the Company. Therefore, no provision or liability for income taxes is reflected in the financial statements.

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties, and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred.

 

Related Parties

 

The Company accounts for related party transactions in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 850 (Related Party Disclosures). A party is considered to be related to the Company if the party directly or indirectly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. Related parties also include principal owners of the Company, its management, members of the immediate families of principal owners of the Company and its management and other parties with which the Company may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests. A party which can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties or if it has an ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that one or more of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests is also a related party.

 

Earnings per Share

 

The Company computes basic earnings per common share using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. For period in which the Company reports net losses, diluted net loss per share attributable to stockholders is the same as basic net loss per share attributable to stockholders, because potentially dilutive common shares are not assumed to have been issued if their effect is anti-dilutive.

 

Foreign Currency and Currency Translation

 

In case of a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, the functional currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at year-end, with resulting translation gains or losses included within other comprehensive income or loss.

 

MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth the names and ages of the members of our Board of Directors and our executive officers and the positions held by each. Our Board of Directors elects our executive officers annually by majority vote. Each director’s term continues until his or her successor is elected or qualified at the next annual meeting, unless such director earlier resigns or is removed.

 

Name   Age   Positions Held   Entity   Initial Term of
Office

Sam Lai

 

38

  Chairman of Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director   Hour Loop, Inc.   June 12, 2013
                 
Sau Kuen (Maggie) Yu   44   Senior Vice President and Director   Hour Loop, Inc.   June 12, 2013
                 
Rahul Ratan   51   Chief Financial Officer   Hour Loop, Inc.   June 14, 2021
                 
Douglas Branch   70   Director   Hour Loop, Inc.   June 1, 2021
                 
Michael Lenner       Director   Hour Loop, Inc.   June 1, 2021
                 

Shyan-Ming (Bruce) Twu

  54  

Senior Finance Manager

  Flywheel Consulting Limited   February 22, 2021
                 
Chia Wei (Willy) Lin   28   Operations Manager   Flywheel Consulting Limited   July 15, 2019
                 
Wen Ching (Grendy) Chen   41   Business Manager of Amazon Business   Flywheel Consulting Limited   September 1, 2016
                 
Peri Wu   53   Human Resource Manager   Flywheel Consulting Limited   October 21, 2019

 

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Biographical information concerning our directors and executive officers listed above is set forth below.

 

Executive Officers

 

Sam Lai. Mr. Lai has served as our Chief Executive Officer and been a member of our Board of Directors since June 2013 and our Chairman of Board since April 2021. He is a seasoned software engineer who has designed and built software and code from the ground up at Hour Loop, Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., UnifiedEdge, Inc., Kits, and Applied Research Labs for the past 18 years. From December 2009 through June 2017, Mr. Lai served as a Software Development Engineer for Amazon.com, Inc. From March 2009 through December 2009, he served as a Senior Java Developer at UnifiedEdge, Inc. From February 2007 through March 2009, Mr. Lai served as a Senior Java Developer at Kits. From September 2005 through February 2007, he served as a Software Development Engineer for Amazon.com, Inc. From March 2003 through January 2004, Mr. Lai served as a Research Engineer Scientist Assistant at Applied Research Labs. Mr. Lai graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from University of Texas at Austin in 2003 and a Masters degree in Computer Science from University of California, San Diego in 2004. Mr. Lai does not hold, and has not previously held, any directorships in any reporting companies.

 

Sau Kuen (Maggie) Yu. Ms. Yu has served as our Senior Vice President and has been a member of our Board of Directors since June 2013. Since graduating from University of California, San Diego until June 2013, Ms. Yu has no employment history. Ms. Yu graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from University of California, San Diego in 2004. Ms. Yu does not hold, and has not previously held, any directorships in any reporting companies.

 

Rahul Ratan. Mr. Ratan has served as our Chief Financial Officer since June 14, 2021. Mr. Ratan has 20 years of experience as a finance professional. Prior to joining Hour Loop, he served as Chief Financial Officer at multiple companies. From February 2020 until June 2021, he was Chief Financial officer Consultant at Commerce Intermediate Holdings, LLC and it’s portfolio companies, namely Compass Sales Solutions, LLC, Tour de Force , Inc and MITS. From December 2020 until February2021, he served as the Chief Financial Officer at Puppy Dogs and Ice Cream, a leading e-commerce book seller. From September 2018 until February 2020, he was the Chief Financial Officer at Commerce Intermediate Holdings, LLC and its portfolio companies. During his time at Commerce Intermediate Holdings, LLC, he helped grow the company by executing and integrating multiple acquisitions. These included the acquisition of Compass Sales Solutions, Tour de Force and MITS. He streamlined processes and implemented accounting systems to provide reporting consistent with US GAAP. From November 2017 until December 2019, Mr. Ratan served as the Chief Financial Officer at Connected2Fiber. From February 2016 until November 2017, Mr. Ratan served as Chief Financial Officer consultant at Connected2Fiber. From September 2013 until June 2021, he served as the principal at Oxford Management Group LLC, an Accounting and Finance company providing accounting support to several businesses. From June 2012 through August 2013, Mr. Ratan served as a Director at the Yankee Candle Company, Inc. From February 2002 until March 2005 and from September, 2007 through June, 2012, he served as an Associate Director doing Finance and Pricing at AT&T. During his time at AT&T, Mr. Ratan worked on a variety of financial analysis. Mr. Ratan graduated with an undergraduate degree from the Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (IRIMEE) at Jamalpur, India and with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) Degree from Yale University in May, 2001. Mr. Ratan does not hold, and has not previously held, any directorships in any reporting companies.

 

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Shyan-Ming (Bruce) Twu. Mr. Twu has served as the Senior Finance Manager of our wholly owned subsidiary Flywheel Consulting Limited since February 2021. Mr. Twu has 21 years of experience working in corporate finance and accounting industry. From March 2020 through December 2020, he served as the Director of Accounting and Finance at E-Formula Tech Inc. in Taipei, Taiwan (an energy company in air cooling systems and solar power plants). From August 2017 through July 2019, Mr. Twu served as Executive Assistant to General Manager at Strength Master Fitness Tech Co., LTD. (a listed global fitness product company of 300 employees with operations in Taiwan, China and the USA). From February 2013 through July 2017, he served as a Finance Manager at WRC Pacific Ltd., an American subsidiary company in Taiwan (a leading global recycling company of metal-bearing wastewater treatment sludge and associated recyclable materials). From December 2011 through February 2013, Mr. Twu served as a Finance Manager at Teco Image Systems(a world-wide multifunction printer company). From March 2011 through December 2011, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Long Way Enterprises Corp., Ltd (a 10,000-employee protective sports accessory manufacturing company in Taiwan). From May 2004 through March 2011, Mr. Twu served as Finance Manager and Assistant Finance Manger at Lite-On Semiconductor Corp. (a 1,500-employee electronic manufacturing company listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange). From January 2001 through April 2004, he served as a Finance Specialist at China Synthetic Rubber Corporation (a listed company on the Taiwan Stock Exchange). From September 1999 through December 2000, Mr. Twu served as an Assistant Finance Specialist at I-Lan Food Corp. (a listed company on Singapore Stock Exchange). Mr. Twu graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Finance from Eastern Michigan University in May 1995 and an MBA in Finance and Investment from CUNY in August 1997.

 

Chia Wei (Willy) Lin. Mr. Lin has served as the Operations Manager of our wholly owned subsidiary Flywheel Consulting Limited since July 2019. From August 2016 through June 2019, Mr. Lin served as a Sales Manager at Taiwan Ecolink International Co., Ltd. Mr. Lin graduated with a Bachelors Degree in German Studies from Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages in 2015.

 

Wen Ching (Grendy) Chen. Wen Ching (Grendy) Chen. Ms. Chen had been served as the Business Manager on our wholly owned subsidiary Flywheel Consulting Limited since April 2016; from March 2021, her position was changed to General Manager of Amazon Business. Mrs. Chen graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Economics from York University in 2005. She worked as the administer in Testy Enterprise Ltd in Toronto from 2005 till 2007. From 2009 till 2011, Mrs. Chen worked in TIE trading company in China as the manger of sales department.

 

Peri Wu. Ms. Wu has served as the Human Resource Manager of our wholly owned subsidiary Flywheel Consulting Limited since October 2019. From December 2014 through December 2018, Ms. Wu served as the Office Manager of Velocite Tech Co., Ltd. From August 2013 through March 2014, she served as the Office Manager at Wallace Academic Editing. From October 2007 through April 2013, she served as the Operations Manager at Lines Up International Co. Ms. Wu graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Japanese Studies from Chinese Culture University in 1991.

 

Independent Directors

 

Douglas Branch. Mr. Branch has been an independent member of our Board of Directors since June 1, 2021. Since 1991, Mr. Branch has served in a number of executive positions (the latest position as Executive Vice President, US Sales) at Gund, a division of Spin Master Inc. From 2016 through 2018, he served as the Executive Vice President, US Sales at Enesco. Mr. Branch graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in marketing from University of Massachusetts.

 

Michael Lenner. Mr. Lenner has been an independent member of our Board of Directors since June 1, 2021. Since May 2018, Mr. Lenner has served as Vice President, Software Engineering, Disney Streaming Services at The Walt Disney Company. From August 2017 through May 2018, he served as Vice President, Software Engineering at BAMTECH Media. From July 2014 through August 2017, Mr. Lenner served as Vice President, Software Engineering and Senior Director, Software Engineering at Major League Baseball Advanced Media. From February 2011 through June 2014, he served as the Vice President, Engineering at H. Bloom. Mr. Lenner graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Physics from Binghamton University and a Masters of Science Degree in Computer Science from Columbia University.

 

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Family Relationships

 

Sam Lai, our Chief Executive Officer and member of our Board of Directors, and Maggie Yu, our Senior Vice President and member of our Board of Directors, are married.

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

No executive officer, member of the board of directors or control person of our Company has been involved in any legal proceeding listed in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K in the past 10 years.

 

Board Committees and Director Independence

 

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. Our common stock is not currently listed on any national securities exchange market or quoted on the OTC Markets. We intend to apply to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. In order to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we are required to comply with the Nasdaq Capital Market standards.

 

Controlled Company and Director Independence

 

The “controlled company” exception to the rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market provide that a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company, a “controlled company,” need not comply with certain requirements of Nasdaq Capital Market corporate governance rules. As stated above, Sam Lai, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Maggie Yu, Senior Vice President of the Company, who are husband and wife, beneficially owns 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, representing 100.00% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding common stock. As a result, the Company is a “controlled company” under the Nasdaq Capital Market corporate governance standards. As a controlled company, Hour Loop, Inc. does not have to comply with certain corporate governance requirements under the Nasdaq Capital Market rules, including the following:

 

  A majority of the Company’s Board of Directors to consist of “independent directors” as defined by the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market;
     
  The compensation of the Company’s executive officers to be determined, or recommended to the Board of Directors for determination, by independent directors constituting a majority of the independent directors of the Board in a vote in which only independent directors participate or by a Compensation Committee comprised solely of independent directors; and
     
  That director nominees to be selected, or recommended to the Board of Directors for selection, by independent directors constituting a majority of the independent directors of the Board in a vote in which only independent directors participate or by a nomination committee comprised solely of independent directors.

 

The Company intends to avail itself of each of these exemptions. More specifically, a majority of the Company’s board of directors will not consist of independent directors and the Company will not have a compensation committee or a nominating and corporate governance committee. Therefore, for as long as the Company remains a “controlled company,” the Company will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of these corporate governance requirements. If at any time the Company ceases to be a “controlled company” under the rules of Nasdaq Capital Market, the Company’s Board of Directors will take all action necessary to comply with the corporate governance rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, including establishing certain committees composed entirely of independent directors, subject to a permitted “phase-in” period.

 

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Notwithstanding the Company’s status as a controlled company, the Company will remain subject to the corporate governance standard of the Nasdaq Capital Market that requires the Company to have an audit committee with at least three independent directors as well as composed entirely of independent directors. As a result, the Company must have at least one independent director on our audit committee at the time of listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, at least two independent directors within 90 days of listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and at least three independent directors within one year of listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, where at least one of the independent directors qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under SEC rules and as a financially sophisticated audit committee member under the Nasdaq Capital Market rules.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that two of its four directors, including Sam Lai and Maggie Yu are non-independent directors of the Company and two of its four directors, including Douglas Branch and Michael Lenner are independent directors of the Company. The Company’s audit committee consists of the three directors, including Douglas Branch, Michael Lenner and Sam Lai. Mr. Branch is the chair of the audit committee. The Company shall replace Mr. Lai, a non-independent director, with an independent director within one year following the listing, who will qualify as an audit committee financial expert under SEC rules and as a financially sophisticated audit committee member under the Nasdaq Capital Market rules.

 

Board Leadership Structure and Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

 

We have not separated the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lai has served as our Chairman of the Board of Directors since April 2021 and Chief Executive Officer since June 2013. We believe that combining the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer allows for focused leadership of our organization which benefits us in our relationships with investors, customers, suppliers, employees and other constituencies. We believe that consolidating the leadership of the Company under Mr. Lai is the appropriate leadership structure for our Company and that any risks inherent in that structure are balanced by the oversight of our other independent directors on our Board. However, no single leadership model is right for all companies and at all times. The Board recognizes that depending on the circumstances, other leadership models, such as the appointment of a lead independent director, might be appropriate. Accordingly, the Board may periodically review its leadership structure. In addition, following the completion of the offering, the Board will hold executive sessions in which only independent directors are present.

 

Our Board is generally responsible for the oversight of corporate risk in its review and deliberations relating to our activities. Our principal source of risk falls into two categories, financial and product commercialization. The audit committee oversees management of financial risks; our Board regularly reviews information regarding our cash position, liquidity and operations, as well as the risks associated with each. The Board regularly reviews plans, results and potential risks related to our business. The Board is also expected to oversee risk management as it relates to our compensation plans, policies and practices for all employees including executives and directors, particularly whether our compensation programs may create incentives for our employees to take excessive or inappropriate risks which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

Audit Committee

 

We have established an audit committee (“Audit Committee”), which consists of two independent directors, Douglas Branch and Michael Lenner and one non-independent director, Sam Lai. Mr. Branch is the chair of the Audit Committee. The Company shall replace Mr. Lai, a non-independent director, with an independent director within one year following the listing, who will qualify as an “audit committee financial expert.” Our Audit Committee adopted a written charter, a copy of which is posted on the Corporate Governance section of our website, at www.hourloop.com.

 

Our Audit Committee is authorized to:

 

  approve and retain the independent auditors to conduct the annual audit of our financial statements;

  review the proposed scope and results of the audit;

 

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  review and pre-approve audit and non-audit fees and services;

  review accounting and financial controls with the independent auditors and our financial and accounting staff;

  review and approve transactions between us and our directors, officers and affiliates;

  recognize and prevent prohibited non-audit services;

  establish procedures for complaints received by us regarding accounting matters; and

  oversee internal audit functions, if any.

 

Compensation Committee

 

Because we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market, we will not be required to, and do not currently expect to, have a compensation committee.

 

If and when we are no longer a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market, we will be required to establish a compensation committee. We anticipate that such a compensation committee would consist of three directors who will be “independent” under the rules of the SEC, subject to the permitted “phase-in” period pursuant to the rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

This compensation committee would:

 

  review and determine the compensation arrangements for management;

  establish and review general compensation policies with the objective to attract and retain superior talent, to reward individual performance and to achieve our financial goals;

  administer our incentive compensation and benefit plans and purchase plans;

  oversee the evaluation of the Board of Directors and management; and

  review the independence of any compensation advisers.

 

Upon formation of a compensation committee, we would expect to adopt a compensation committee charter defining the committee’s primary duties in a manner consistent with the rules of the SEC and Nasdaq Capital Market standards.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

Because we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market, we will not be required to, and do not currently expect to, have a nominating and corporate governance committee.

 

If and when we are no longer a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market, we will be required to establish a nominating and corporate governance committee. We anticipate that such a nominating and corporate governance committee would consist of three directors who will be “independent” under the rules of the SEC, subject to the permitted “phase-in” period pursuant to the rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

The functions of the nominating and corporate governance committee, among other things, would include:

 

  identifying individuals qualified to become board members and recommending director;

  nominees and board members for committee membership;

  developing and recommending to our board corporate governance guidelines;

  review and determine the compensation arrangements for directors; and

  overseeing the evaluation of our board of directors and its committees and management.

 

Upon formation of a nominating and corporate governance committee, we would expect to adopt a nominating and corporate governance committee charter defining the committee’s primary duties in a manner consistent with the rules of the SEC and the Nasdaq Capital Market standards.

 

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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

Because we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market, we will not be required to, and do not currently expect to, have a compensation committee at the completion of this offering. None of our executive officers serve on the board of directors or compensation committee of a company that has an executive officer that serves on our board or compensation committee. No member of our board is an executive officer of a company in which one of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of that company.

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that applies to all of its directors, officers (including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and any person performing similar functions) and employees. The Code of Ethics and Business Conduct is available on our website at www.hourloop.com.

 

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that our officers and directors will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”).

 

Our certificate of incorporation also permit us to maintain insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We have purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.

 

These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

 

We believe that these provisions and the insurance are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following summary compensation table provides information regarding the compensation paid during our fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 to our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Senior Vice President. We refer to these individuals as our “named executive officers”, or “NEOs”.

 

Name and Position  Year   Salary ($)   Bonus ($)   Stock
Awards
($)
   Option
Awards
($)
   Non-
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
   Non-
qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
   All
Other
Compensation
($)
   Total
($)
 
Sam Lai (1)  2020   $99,230    713,000    0   $0    0    0   $3,237(3)  $815,467 
Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
  2019   $76,923    0    0   $0    0    0   $5,070(3)  $81,993 
                                             
Maggie Yu (2)  2020   $30,000    713,000    0   $0    0    0   $3,237(3)  $746,237 
Senior Vice President  2019   $31,153    0    0   $0    0    0   $5,531(3)  $36,684 

 

(1) Sam Lai has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company since June 2013.

(2) Maggie Yu has served as the Senior Vice President of the Company since June 2013.

(3)

For Mr. Lai and Mrs. Yu includes the following perquisites and benefits:

 

Healthcare Allowance: For 2020, $269.75 per month ($3,237) per year for Mr. Lai and $269.75 per month ($3,237) per year for Mrs. Yu and for 2019, $422.55 per month ($5,070) per year for Mr. Lai and $460.97 per month ($5,531) per year for Mrs. Yu.

 

Employment Agreements

 

On May 27, 2021, the Company entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with each of Mr. Lai and Ms. Yu. Mr. Lai’s agreement provides that he will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Ms. Yu’s agreement provides that she will serve as the Senior Vice President of the Company. On June 14, 2021, the Company entered into an Executive Employment Agreement with Mr. Ratan, which provides that he will serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

 

Each of the employment agreements has a three-year term, which automatically extends for additional terms of one year each unless either the Company or the applicable executive provides notice to the other party of their desire to not so renew term. Each of the employment agreements are “at will,” meaning that either the executive or the Company may terminate the executive’s employment at any time and for any reason, subject to certain payments and other actions as set forth below.

 

Mr. Lai’s agreement provides for an annual base salary of $500,000, Ms. Yu’s agreement provides for an annual base salary of $450,000 and Mr. Ratan’s agreement provides for an annual base salary of $200,000. Each of base salaries may be subject to annual adjustments as determined in the discretion of the Board. Pursuant to their agreements, on December 31, 2021, each of Mr. Lai and Ms. Yu are also entitled to receive a guaranteed bonus of $50,000 and on December 31, 2022, Mr. Ratan is entitled to receive a guaranteed bonus of $10,000, in each case subject to the applicable agreement being in effect at that time.

 

Mr. Lai’s agreement provides that, for the Company’s 2021 fiscal year, (1) if the net profits of the Company for the 2021 fiscal year equals at least 175% of the net profits of the Company for the 2020 fiscal year, excluding any costs of the Company related to the IPO, in each case as determined by the Board, Mr. Lai is entitled to receive a bonus of 50% of the base salary as in effect as of the last business day of the 2021 fiscal year; and (2) if the net profits of the Company for the 2021 fiscal year equals at least 200% of the net profits of the Company for the 2020 fiscal year, excluding any costs of the Company related to the IPO, in each case as determined by the Board, Mr. Lai is entitled to receive an additional bonus of 50% of the Base Salary as in effect as of the last business day of the 2021 fiscal year.

 

Ms. Yu’s agreement provides that, for the Company’s 2021 fiscal year, (1) if Ms. Yu successfully launches the Company’s Vendor Acquisition Team, as determined by the Board, Ms. Yu will be entitled to receive a bonus of 50% of the base salary as in effect as of the last business day of the 2021 fiscal year; and (2) if Ms. Yu acquires 50 or more new vendors for the Company, as determined by the Board, Ms. Yu will be entitled to receive a bonus of 50% of the base salary as in effect as of the last business day of the 2021 fiscal year.

 

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Each of Mr. Lai’s and Ms. Yu’s agreements provide that if at the Company’s request the executive attends any trade shows, events, or meetings which are independent of the executive’s responsibility under the applicable agreement, the Company will pay the executive $1,000 in cash per full day for such attendance or $500 in cash for a half day.

 

Each of Mr. Lai’s and Ms. Yu’s agreements provide that at the end of each calendar quarter during the term, the Company will issue to the applicable executive a number of shares of common stock having a fair market value of $3,000 as of such date (with any partial quarter being pro-rated). The market value of the shares is determined as follows: (a) if the common stock is then listed for trading on the OTC Markets or a United States national securities exchange (as applicable, the “Trading Market”), the daily volume weighted average closing price of the common stock during the 20 trading day period immediately prior to the calculation date, (b) if the common stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on a Trading Market, and if prices for the common stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets Group, Inc., the most recent bid price per share of the common stock so reported, or (c) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of common stock as is determined in good faith by the Board, without the involvement of the executive if the executive is then serving on the Board, after taking into consideration factors it deems appropriate. A “Trading Day” is any day on which the Trading Market is generally open for business and on which the common stock is then traded.

 

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the shares issuable to Mr. Lai and Ms. Yu with respect to the period from the execution of their agreements to December 31, 2021 will be determined, and will be issued, on January 3, 2022, based on the market value as determined on December 31, 2021.

 

Each of the three employment agreements provides that, on the last business day prior to the commencement of the Company’s first firm-commitment underwritten initial public offering of common stock pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act (the “IPO”), which condition will be satisfied by this offering, and subject to the applicable agreement not having expired or having been terminated as of such time, the Company will issue to the applicable executive an option to acquire shares of common stock. For Mr. Lai and Ms. Yu, this will be an option to acquire 25,000 shares of common stock, and for Mr. Ratan it will be an option to acquire 15,000 shares of common stock. These options will vest in four equal annual installments, subject to earlier acceleration and forfeiture as set forth below and in the applicable employment agreement and in the option agreement, if and when signed. The exercise price per share will be equal to the offering price per share of common stock in the IPO.

 

Mr. Lai’s and Ms. Yu’s agreements each provide that they will be entitled to fringe benefits consistent with the practices of the Company, and to the extent the Company provides similar benefits to the Company’s executive officers; that the Company will reimburse each of them for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business, entertainment and travel expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties; that they are entitled to a number of vacation days as generally provided to other executive officers of the Company from time to time; and that they are each, together with their spouses and legal dependents, entitled to participate equally in the health, dental and other benefit plans, which are available to senior managers of the Company.

 

Mr. Ratan’s agreement provides that he is entitled to fringe benefits as determined by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

If Mr. Ratan’s agreement is terminated, either by him or by the Company, for any reason, or is terminated due to his death or total disability, then the Company will pay to Mr. Ratan (or his estate in the event of his death) any unpaid base salary and benefits then owed or accrued and any unreimbursed expenses for which the Company has agreed to reimburse Mr. Ratan, through the date of such termination; and any unvested portion of any equity granted to Mr. Ratan will be forfeited as of the termination date.

 

Mr. Lai’s and Ms. Yu’s agreements provide for different results and payments on termination, based on whether the applicable agreement was terminated by the Company with or without “Cause”, or by the applicable executive with or without “Good Reason”.

 

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For purposes of their agreements, “Cause” means any of the following:

 

a violation of any material written rule or policy of the Company for which violation any employee may be terminated pursuant to the written policies of the Company reasonably applicable to an executive employee;
misconduct by the executive to the material detriment of the Company;
the executive’s conviction (by a court of competent jurisdiction, not subject to further appeal) of, or pleading guilty to, a felony;
the executive’s gross negligence in the performance of their duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in the applicable agreement; or
the executive’s material failure to perform their duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in the agreement (other than any such failure resulting from the their incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such failure subsequent to the executive being delivered a notice of termination without Cause by the Company or delivering a notice of termination for Good Reason to the Company), in either case after written notice from the Board (in the case of Mr. Lai) or from the Chief Executive Officer (in the case of Ms. Yu), which specifies the nature of such material failure and the executive’s failure to cure such material failure within 10 days following receipt of such notice.

 

For purposes of their agreements, “Good Reason” means any of the following:

 

a material diminution by the Company of compensation and benefits (taken as a whole) provided to the executive;
a reduction in base salary or target or maximum bonus, other than as part of an across-the-board reduction in salaries of management personnel;
the relocation of the executive’s principal executive office to a location more than 50 miles further from the executive’s principal executive office immediately prior to such relocation; or
a material breach by the Company of any of the terms and conditions of the applicable employment agreement which the Company fails to correct within 10 days after the Company receives written notice from the executive of such violation.

 

In the event that the Company terminates the applicable agreement for “Cause”, or the applicable executive terminates their agreement without “Good Reason”, then the Company will pay to the applicable executive any unpaid base salary and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses, will issue to the applicable executive the shares as described above (i.e., the $3,000 of value of shares per calendar quarter) which have accrued as of such date; and any unvested portion of any equity granted to the applicable executive will be forfeited.

 

In the event that the Company terminates the applicable agreement without “Cause”, or the applicable executive terminates their agreement for “Good Reason”, in addition to the payments and issuances above, the Company will pay to the applicable executive, in one lump sum, an amount equal to the base salary that they would have been paid for the remainder of the initial 3-year term (if such termination occurs during that initial term) or the one year renewal term (if such termination occurs during a renewal term), as applicable, and any equity grant already made to the executive shall, to the extent not already vested, be deemed automatically vested.

 

Pursuant to their agreements, in the event of Mr. Lai’s or Ms. Yu’s death or total disability, the applicable agreement will terminate on the date of death or total disability and the Company will shall pay to the applicable executive (or their estate) any unpaid base salary and benefits then owed or accrued and any unreimbursed expenses for which the Company has agreed to reimburse the applicable executive, plus a pro-rata bonus for the year of termination based on the executive’s target bonus for such year and the portion of such year in which the executive was employed through the date of such termination; and any unvested portion of any equity granted to the applicable executive will be forfeited as of the termination date.

 

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If it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to either Mr. Lai or Ms. Yu under their respective agreements would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), such that the payment would be subject to an excise tax under section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), the Company will pay to the applicable executive an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount of the Gross-Up Payment retained by the applicable executive after the payment of any Excise Tax and any federal, state and local income and employment tax on the Gross-Up Payment, will be equal to the Excise Tax due on the payment and any interest and penalties in respect of such Excise Tax. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, the applicable executive will be deemed to pay federal income tax and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of the applicable executive’s residence (or, if greater, the state and locality in which the applicable executive is required to file a nonresident income tax return with respect to the payment) in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes that may be obtained from the deduction of such state and local taxes.

 

As a result of the uncertainty in the application of sections 4999 and 280G of the Code, it is possible that the Gross-Up Payments either will have been made which should not have been made, or will not have been made which should have been made, by the Company (an “Excess Gross-Up Payment” or a “Gross-Up Underpayment,” respectively). If it is established pursuant to (A) a final determination of a court for which all appeals have been taken and finally resolved or the time for all appeals has expired, or (B) an Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) proceeding which has been finally and conclusively resolved, that an Excess Gross-Up Payment has been made, such Excess Gross-Up Payment shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to the executive made on the date the executive received the Excess Gross-Up Payment and the executive shall repay the Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Company either (i) on demand, if the executive is in possession of the Excess Gross-Up Payment or (ii) upon the refund of such Excess Gross-Up Payment to the executive from the IRS, if the IRS is in possession of such Excess Gross-Up Payment, together with interest on the Excess Gross-Up Payment at (X) 120% of the applicable federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code) compounded semi-annually for any period during which the executive held such Excess Gross-Up Payment and (Y) the interest rate paid to the executive by the IRS in respect of any period during which the IRS held such Excess Gross-Up Payment. If a Gross-Up Underpayment occurs as determined under one or more of the following circumstances: (I) such determination is made by the Company (which shall include the position taken by the Company, together with its consolidated group, on its federal income tax return) or is made by the IRS, (II) such determination is made by a court, or (III) such determination is made upon the resolution to the executive’s satisfaction of the Dispute, then the Company shall pay an amount equal to the Gross-Up Underpayment to the executive within ten calendar days of such determination or resolution, together with interest on such amount at 120% of the applicable federal rate compounded semi-annually from the date such amount should have been paid to the executive pursuant to the terms of his or her employment agreement or otherwise, but for the operation of Section 4(c) of the employment agreements, until the date of payment.

 

Each of the three employment agreements also contains a non-solicitation provision, wherein the executive agrees that, during the term of their agreement and for 3 years thereafter, the executive will not, directly or indirectly solicit or discuss with any employee of Company the employment of such Company employee by any other commercial enterprise other than Company, nor recruit, attempt to recruit, hire or attempt to hire any such Company employee on behalf of any commercial enterprise other than Company, provided that this provision will not prohibit the applicable executive from undertaking a general recruitment advertisement provided that it is not targeted towards any person identified above, or from hiring, employing or engaging any such person who responds to that general recruitment advertisement.

 

Each of the three employment agreements also provides that, during the term, the applicable executive will be entitled to indemnification and insurance coverage for officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other liabilities arising out of the executive’s position with the Company in any capacity, in an amount not less than the highest amount available to any other executive, and that such coverage and protections, with respect to the various liabilities as to which the executive has been customarily indemnified prior to termination of employment, will continue for at least six years following the end of the applicable term.

 

Each of the three employment agreements contains customary representations and warranties by the parties, a provision for resolution of disputes by arbitration, customary confidentiality provisions, customary provisions relating to the Company’s ownership of intellectual property created by the applicable executive, and other customary miscellaneous provisions.

 

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Director Agreements

 

On June 1, 2021, the Company entered into Director Agreements with each of Mr. Lenner and Mr. Branch in connection with their services as directors of the Company.

 

Pursuant to their respective agreements, each of Mr. Lenner and Mr. Branch agreed as a Director of the Company and to be available to perform the duties consistent with such position pursuant to the Certificate and Bylaws of the Company, and any additional codes, guidelines or policies of the Company that may be effective now or in the future. Each of the agreements continues in effect until the earliest of (a) such time as the applicable Director resigns or is removed from office and (b) the death of the director.

 

Each agreement provides that, during the term of the applicable agreement, in exchange for their services, the Company shall issue to the applicable director a number of shares of common stock having a fair market value of $3,000 as of such date (with any partial quarter being pro-rated). The market value of the shares is determined in the same manner as for the executive’s employment agreements as discussed above. Also as in the executive employment agreements, the shares issuable with respect to the period from the execution of their agreements to December 31, 2021 will be determined, and will be issued, on January 3, 2022, based on the market value as determined on December 31, 2021.

 

Each of the director’s agreements provide that if at the Company’s request the director attends any trade shows, events, or meetings which are independent of the director’s responsibility under the applicable agreement, the Company will pay the director $1,000 in cash per full day for such attendance or $500 in cash for a half day.

 

The director agreements provide that, during the applicable term, the Company will reimburse the applicable director for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in attending any in-person meetings, provided that the director complies with the generally applicable policies, practices and procedures of the Company for submission of expense reports, receipts or similar documentation of such expenses. Any reimbursements for allocated expenses (as compared to out-of-pocket expenses of the director in excess of $500.00) must be approved in advance by the Company.

 

Each of the director agreements contains customary confidentiality provisions, customary provisions relating to the Company’s ownership of intellectual property created by the applicable director, customary representations and warranties by the parties and other customary miscellaneous provisions.

 

Elements of Compensation

 

Mr. Lai and Ms. Yu were provided with the following primary elements of compensation in 2020 and 2019:

 

Base Salary

 

Mr. Lai and Ms. Yu received a fixed base salary in an amount determined by the Board of Directors based on a number of factors, including:

 

  The nature, responsibilities and duties of the officer’s position;
     
  The officer’s expertise, demonstrated leadership ability and prior performance;
     
  The officer’s salary history and total compensation, including annual cash bonuses and long-term incentive compensation; and
     
  The competitiveness of the market for the officer’s services.

 

Mr. Lai and Ms. Yu base salary for 2020 and 2019 is listed in “—Summary Compensation Table.”

 

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Stock Awards

 

We did not grant any stock awards to our directors or executive officers in fiscal years 2020 and 2019.

 

Stock Option Grants

 

We did not grant any stock options to our directors or executive officers in fiscal years 2020 and 2019.

 

Other Benefits

 

In fiscal year 2020 and 2019, Mr. Lai and Ms. Yu were reimbursed healthcare expenses. The amounts paid to Mr. Lai and Ms. Yu in 2020 and 2019 in respect of these benefits is reflected above in the “—Summary Compensation Table” section under the “All Other Compensation” heading.

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Overview

 

The Board of Directors and shareholders holding a majority of the Company’s voting capital approved and adopted the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) on June 27, 2021. The 2021 Plan authorizes the issuance of up to an aggregate maximum of 1,500 ,000 shares of the common stock, subject to adjustment as described in the 2021 Plan. The 2021 Plan shall be administered by the Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board or another committee (“Administrator”). The Administrator, in its discretion, selects the individuals to whom awards may be granted, the time or times at which such awards are granted, and the terms of such awards. The 2021 Plan authorizes the Company to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share unit, cash awards, other awards, and performance-based awards. Awards may be granted to the Company’s officers, employees, directors and consultants.

 

The purpose of 2021 Plan is to promote the success of the Company and to increase stockholder value by providing an additional means through the grant of awards to attract, motivate, retain and reward selected employees and other eligible persons. The Board may, at any time, terminate or, from time to time, amend, modify or suspend this 2021 Plan, in whole or in part. To the extent then required by applicable law or any applicable stock exchange or required under the Internal Revenue Code to preserve the intended tax consequences of the 2021 Plan, or deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, the 2021 Plan and any amendment to the 2021 Plan shall be subject to stockholder approval. Unless earlier terminated by the Board, the 2021 Plan will terminate ten years from the date of adoption.

 

Authorized Shares

 

A total of [2,000,000] shares of the Company’s common stock are authorized for issuance pursuant to the 2021 Plan. Subject to adjustment as provided in the 2021 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued under the 2021 Plan will be cumulatively increased on January 1, 2022 and on each subsequent January 1, by a number of shares equal to the smaller of (i) 3% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31, or (ii) an amount determined by the Board.

 

Additionally, if any award issued pursuant to the 2021 Plan expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, is surrendered pursuant to an exchange program, as provided in the 2021 Plan, or, with respect to restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance units or performance shares, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to the failure to vest, the unpurchased shares (or for awards other than stock options or stock appreciation rights the forfeited or repurchased shares) which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the 2021 Plan (unless the 2021 Plan has terminated). With respect to stock appreciation rights, only shares actually issued pursuant to a stock appreciation right will cease to be available under the 2021 Plan; all remaining shares under stock appreciation rights will remain available for future grant or sale under the 2021 Plan (unless the 2021 Plan has terminated). Shares that have actually been issued under the 2021 Plan under any award will not be returned to the 2021 Plan and will not become available for future distribution under the 2021 Plan; provided, however, that if shares issued pursuant to awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares or performance units are repurchased by the Company or are forfeited to the Company due to the failure to vest, such shares will become available for future grant under the 2021 Plan. Shares used to pay the exercise price of an award or to satisfy the tax withholdings related to an award will become available for future grant or sale under the 2021 Plan. To the extent an award under the 2021 Plan is paid out in cash rather than shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment as provided in the 2021 Plan, the maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options will equal the aggregate share number stated above, plus, to the extent allowable under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder, any shares that become available for issuance under the 2021 Plan in accordance with the foregoing.

 

Plan Administration

 

The Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board will administer the 2021 Plan. In addition, if the Company determines it is desirable to qualify transactions under the 2021 Plan as exempt under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, such transactions will be structured with the intent that they satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3. Subject to the provisions of the 2021 Plan, the administrator has the power to administer the 2021 Plan and make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the 2021 Plan, including the power to determine the fair market value of the Company’s common stock, select the service providers to whom awards may be granted, determine the number of shares covered by each award, approve forms of award agreements for use under the 2021 Plan, determine the terms and conditions of awards (including the exercise price, the time or times at which the awards may be exercised, any vesting acceleration or waiver or forfeiture restrictions and any restriction or limitation regarding any award or the shares relating thereto), construe and interpret the terms of the 2021 Plan and awards granted under it, prescribe, amend and rescind rules relating to the 2021 Plan, including creating sub-plans and modify or amend each award, including the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of awards (provided that no option or stock appreciation right will be extended past its original maximum term), and to allow a participant to defer the receipt of payment of cash or the delivery of shares that would otherwise be due to such participant under an award. The administrator also has the authority to allow participants the opportunity to transfer outstanding awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the administrator and to institute an exchange program by which outstanding awards may be surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type which may have a higher or lower exercise price or different terms, awards of a different type or cash, or by which the exercise price of an outstanding award is increased or reduced. The administrator’s decisions, interpretations and other actions are final and binding on all participants.

 

Eligibility

 

Awards under the 2021 Plan, other than incentive stock options, may be granted to employees (including officers) of the Company or a subsidiary, members of the Company’s Board, or consultants engaged to render bona fide services to the Company or a subsidiary. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of the Company or a subsidiary.

 

Stock Options

 

Stock options may be granted under the 2021 Plan. The exercise price of options granted under the 2021 Plan generally must at least be equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The term of each option will be as stated in the applicable award agreement; provided, however, that the term may be no more than 10 years from the date of grant. The administrator will determine the methods of payment of the exercise price of an option, which may include cash, shares or other property acceptable to the administrator, as well as other types of consideration permitted by applicable law. After the termination of service of an employee, director or consultant, they may exercise their option for the period of time stated in their option agreement. In the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, if termination is due to death or disability, the option will remain exercisable for 12 months. In all other cases, in the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, the option will remain exercisable for three months following the termination of service. An option may not be exercised later than the expiration of its term. Subject to the provisions of the 2021 Plan, the administrator determines the other terms of options.

 

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Stock Appreciation Rights

 

Stock appreciation rights may be granted under the 2021 Plan. Stock appreciation rights allow the recipient to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of the Company’s common stock between the exercise date and the date of grant. Stock appreciation rights may not have a term exceeding 10 years. After the termination of service of an employee, director or consultant, they may exercise their stock appreciation right for the period of time stated in their stock appreciation right agreement. In the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, if termination is due to death or disability, the stock appreciation rights will remain exercisable for 12 months. In all other cases, in the absence of a specified time in an award agreement, the stock appreciation rights will remain exercisable for three months following the termination of service. However, in no event may a stock appreciation right be exercised later than the expiration of its term. Subject to the provisions of the 2021 Plan, the administrator determines the other terms of stock appreciation rights, including when such rights become exercisable and whether to pay any increased appreciation in cash or with shares of the Company’s common stock, or a combination thereof, except that the per share exercise price for the shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right will be no less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant.

 

Restricted Stock

 

Restricted stock may be granted under the 2021 Plan. Restricted stock awards are grants of shares of the Company’s common stock that vest in accordance with terms and conditions established by the administrator. The administrator will determine the number of shares of restricted stock granted to any employee, director or consultant and, subject to the provisions of the 2021 Plan, will determine the terms and conditions of such awards. The administrator may impose whatever conditions to vesting it determines to be appropriate (for example, the administrator may set restrictions based on the achievement of specific performance goals or continued service to the Company); provided, however, that the administrator, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed. Recipients of restricted stock awards generally will have voting and dividend rights with respect to such shares upon grant without regard to vesting, unless the administrator provides otherwise. Shares of restricted stock that do not vest are subject to the Company’s right of repurchase or forfeiture.

 

Restricted Stock Units

 

RSUs may be granted under the 2021 Plan. RSUs are bookkeeping entries representing an amount equal to the fair market value of one share of the Company’s common stock. Subject to the provisions of the 2021 Plan, the administrator determines the terms and conditions of RSUs, including the vesting criteria and the form and timing of payment. The administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit or individual goals (including continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities laws or any other basis determined by the administrator in its discretion. The administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned RSUs in the form of cash, in shares of the Company’s common stock or in some combination thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the administrator, in its sole discretion, may accelerate the time at which any vesting requirements will be deemed satisfied.

 

Performance Units and Performance Shares

 

Performance units and performance shares may be granted under the 2021 Plan. Performance units and performance shares are awards that will result in a payment to a participant only if performance goals established by the administrator are achieved or the awards otherwise vest. The administrator will establish performance objectives or other vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or the value of performance units and performance shares to be paid out to participants. The administrator may set performance objectives based on the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit or individual goals (including continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities laws or any other basis determined by the administrator in its discretion. After the grant of a performance unit or performance share, the administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance criteria or other vesting provisions for such performance units or performance shares. Performance units shall have an initial dollar value established by the administrator on or prior to the grant date. Performance shares shall have an initial value equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned performance units or performance shares in the form of cash, in shares or in some combination thereof.

 

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Non-Employee Directors

 

The 2021 Plan provides that all non-employee directors will be eligible to receive all types of awards (except for incentive stock options) under the 2021 Plan. The 2021 Plan includes a maximum limit of $750,000 of equity awards that may be granted to a non-employee director in any fiscal year, increased to $1,500,000 in connection with his or her initial service. For purposes of this limitation, the value of equity awards is based on the grant date fair value (determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States). Any equity awards granted to a person for their services as an employee, or for their services as a consultant (other than as a non-employee director), will not count for purposes of the limitation. The maximum limit does not reflect the intended size of any potential compensation or equity awards to the Company’s non-employee directors.

 

Non-transferability of Awards

 

Unless the administrator provides otherwise, the 2021 Plan generally does not allow for the transfer of awards and only the recipient of an award may exercise an award during their lifetime. If the administrator makes an award transferrable, such award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the administrator deems appropriate.

 

Certain Adjustments

 

In the event of certain changes in the Company’s capitalization, to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits available under the 2021 Plan, the administrator will adjust the number and class of shares that may be delivered under the 2021 Plan or the number, and price of shares covered by each outstanding award and the numerical share limits set forth in the 2021 Plan.

 

Dissolution or Liquidation

 

In the event of the Company’s proposed liquidation or dissolution, the administrator will notify participants as soon as practicable and all awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed transaction.

 

Merger or Change in Control

 

The 2021 Plan provides that in the event of the Company’s merger with or into another corporation or entity or a “change in control” (as defined in the 2021 Plan), each outstanding award will be treated as the administrator determines, including, without limitation, that (i) awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; (ii) upon written notice to a participant, that the participant’s awards will terminate upon or immediately prior to the consummation of such merger or change in control; (iii) outstanding awards will vest and become exercisable, realizable or payable, or restrictions applicable to an award will lapse, in whole or in part, prior to or upon consummation of such merger or change in control and, to the extent the administrator determines, terminate upon or immediately prior to the effectiveness of such merger or change in control; (iv) (A) the termination of an award in exchange for an amount of cash or property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such award or realization of the participant’s rights as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction the administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such award or realization of the participant’s rights, then such award may be terminated by the Company without payment) or (B) the replacement of such award with other rights or property selected by the administrator in its sole discretion; or (v) any combination of the foregoing. The administrator will not be obligated to treat all awards, all awards a participant holds, or all awards of the same type, similarly. In the event that awards (or portion thereof) are not assumed or substituted for in the event of a merger or change in control, the participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of their outstanding options and stock appreciation rights, including shares as to which such awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on restricted stock and RSUs will lapse and, with respect to awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions met, in all cases, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable award agreement or other written agreement between the participant and the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries or parents, as applicable. If an option or stock appreciation right is not assumed or substituted in the event of a merger or change in control, the administrator will notify the participant in writing or electronically that the option or stock appreciation right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the administrator in its sole discretion and the vested option or stock appreciation right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

 

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For awards granted to an outside director, the outside director will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of their outstanding options and stock appreciation rights, all restrictions on restricted stock and RSUs will lapse and, for awards with performance-based vesting, unless specifically provided for in the award agreement, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions met.

 

Clawback

 

Awards will be subject to any Company 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 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable laws. The administrator also may specify in an award agreement that the participant’s rights, payments or benefits with respect to an award will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events. The Board may require a participant to forfeit, return or reimburse the Company all or a portion of the award or shares issued under the award, any amounts paid under the award and any payments or proceeds paid or provided upon disposition of the shares issued under the award in order to comply with such clawback policy or applicable laws.

 

Amendment and Termination

 

The administrator has the authority to amend, suspend or terminate the 2021 Plan provided such action does not impair the existing rights of any participant. The 2021 Plan automatically will terminate on June 27, 2031, unless it is terminated sooner.

 

Executive Compensation Philosophy

 

Our Board of Directors determines the compensation given to our executive officers in their sole determination. Our Board of Directors reserves the right to pay our executives or any future executives a salary, and/or issue them shares of common stock issued in consideration for services rendered and/or to award incentive bonuses which are linked to our performance, as well as to the individual executive officer’s performance. This package may also include long-term stock based compensation to certain executives, which is intended to align the performance of our executives with our long-term business strategies. Additionally, while our Board of Directors has not granted any performance base stock options to date, the Board of Directors reserves the right to grant such options in the future, if the Board in its sole determination believes such grants would be in the best interests of the Company.

 

Incentive Bonus

 

The Board of Directors may grant incentive bonuses to our executive officers and/or future executive officers in its sole discretion, if the Board of Directors believes such bonuses are in the Company’s best interest, after analyzing our current business objectives and growth, if any, and the amount of revenue we are able to generate each month, which revenue is a direct result of the actions and ability of such executives.

 

Long-Term, Stock Based Compensation

 

In order to attract, retain and motivate executive talent necessary to support the Company’s long-term business strategy we may award our executives and any future executives with long-term, stock-based compensation in the future, at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth the number of shares of and percent of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned as of July 29, 2021 by all directors, our named executive officers, our directors and executive officers as a group, and persons or groups known by us to own beneficially 5% or more of our common stock, immediately prior to this Offering, and immediately after the closing of this offering, as adjusted to reflect the sale of [●] shares of our common stock in this Offering, which assumes the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock.

 

The business address of each of the beneficial owners listed below is c/o Hour Loop, Inc., 8201 164th Ave NE #200, Redmond, WA 98052-7615.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner 

Pre-Closing

Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership

   Pre-Closing Percentage
of Class (1)
  

Post-Closing

Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership

   Post-Closing Percentage
of Class (1)
 
Named Executive Officers and Directors                    
Sam Lai, CEO   5,000,000    50%   5,000,000    [●]%
                     
Maggie Yu, Senior Vice President   5,000,000    50%   5,000,000    [●]%
                     
Douglas Branch   -    -%   -    [●]%
                     
Michael Lenner   -    -%   -    [●]%
                     
Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (4 persons)   10,000,000    100%   10,000,000    [●]%
                     
5% Shareholders                    
None                    

 

* less than 1%.

 

(1) The pre-closing percentages in the table have been calculated on the basis of treating as outstanding for a particular person, all shares of our capital stock outstanding on July 29, 2021. The post-closing percentages in the table have been calculated on the basis of treating as outstanding for a particular personal, all shares of our capital stock outstanding on July 29, 2021, plus the assumed sale of [●] shares of our common stock in this Offering, which assumes the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock. On July 29, 2021, there were 10,000,000 shares of our common stock outstanding. To calculate a stockholder’s percentage of beneficial ownership, we include in the numerator and denominator the common stock outstanding and all shares of our common stock issuable to that person in the event of the exercise of outstanding options and other derivative securities owned by that person which are exercisable within 60 days of July 29, 2021. Common stock options and derivative securities held by other stockholders are disregarded in this calculation. Therefore, the denominator used in calculating beneficial ownership among our stockholders may differ. Unless we have indicated otherwise, each person named in the table has sole voting power and sole investment power for the shares listed opposite such person’s name.

 

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Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2020, regarding our compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance:

 

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

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions

 

Under Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K, a related person transaction is any actual or proposed transaction, arrangement or relationship or series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, including those involving indebtedness not in the ordinary course of business, to which we or our subsidiaries were or are a party, or in which we or our subsidiaries were or are a participant, in which the amount involved exceeded or exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years and in which any of our directors, nominees for director, executive officers, beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities (a “significant shareholder”), or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

 

We recognize that transactions between us and any of our directors or executives or with a third party in which one of our officers, directors or significant shareholders has an interest can present potential or actual conflicts of interest and create the appearance that our decisions are based on considerations other than the best interests of our Company and stockholders.

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is charged with responsibility for reviewing, approving and overseeing any transaction between the Company and any related person (as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K), including the propriety and ethical implications of any such transactions, as reported or disclosed to the Audit Committee by the independent auditors, employees, officers, members of the Board of Directors or otherwise, and to determine whether the terms of the transaction are not less favorable to us than could be obtained from an unaffiliated party.

 

From time to time we engage in transactions with related parties. The following is a summary of the related party transactions during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 requiring disclosure pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K.

 

Affiliated Loans

 

On January 1, 2021, the Company and Sam Lai, its Chief Executive Officer, entered into a promissory note in the total principal amount of $597,537 (the “Lai Note”). The Lai Note memorializes loans in the aggregate amount of $597,537 that Mr. Lai previously advanced to the Company and its subsidiaries to fund their operations. The Lai Note bears no interest, and the Company may prepay all or any portion of the principal amount outstanding of the Lai Note at any time without penalty. The Lai Note matures on December 31, 2021. As of July 29, 2021, the principal balance of the Lai Note was $597,537.

 

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On January 1, 2021, the Company and Maggie Yu, its Senior Vice President, entered into a promissory note in the total principal amount of $597,537 (the “Yu Note”). The Yu Note memorializes loans in the aggregate amount of $597,537 that Mr. Yu previously advanced to the Company and its subsidiaries to fund their operations. The Yu Note bears no interest, and the Company may prepay all or any portion of the principal amount outstanding of the Yu Note at any time without penalty. The Yu Note matures on December 31, 2021. As of July 29, 2021, the principal balance of the Yu Note was $597,537.

 

Director Independence

 

We intend to apply to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. In order to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we are required to comply with the Nasdaq Capital Market standards.

 

Controlled Company and Director Independence

 

The “controlled company” exception to the rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market provide that a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company, a “controlled company,” need not comply with certain requirements of Nasdaq Capital Market corporate governance rules. As stated above, Sam Lai, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Maggie Yu, Senior Vice President of the Company, who are husband and wife, beneficially owns 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, representing 100.00% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding common stock. As a result, the Company is a “controlled company” under the Nasdaq Capital Market corporate governance standards. As a controlled company, Hour Loop, Inc. does not have to comply with certain corporate governance requirements under the Nasdaq Capital Market rules, including the following:

 

  A majority of the Company’s Board of Directors to consist of “independent directors” as defined by the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market;
     
  The compensation of the Company’s executive officers to be determined, or recommended to the Board of Directors for determination, by independent directors constituting a majority of the independent directors of the Board in a vote in which only independent directors participate or by a Compensation Committee comprised solely of independent directors; and
     
  That director nominees to be selected, or recommended to the Board of Directors for selection, by independent directors constituting a majority of the independent directors of the Board in a vote in which only independent directors participate or by a nomination committee comprised solely of independent directors.

 

The Company intends to avail itself of each of these exemptions. More specifically, a majority of the Company’s board of directors will not consist of independent directors and the Company will not have a compensation committee or a nominating and corporate governance committee. Therefore, for as long as the Company remains a “controlled company,” the Company will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of these corporate governance requirements. If at any time the Company ceases to be a “controlled company” under the rules of Nasdaq Capital Market, the Company’s Board of Directors will take all action necessary to comply with the corporate governance rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, including establishing certain committees composed entirely of independent directors, subject to a permitted “phase-in” period.

 

Notwithstanding the Company’s status as a controlled company, the Company will remain subject to the corporate governance standard of the Nasdaq Capital Market that requires the Company to have an audit committee with at least three independent directors as well as composed entirely of independent directors. As a result, the Company must have at least one independent director on our audit committee at the time of listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, at least two independent directors within 90 days of listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and at least three independent directors within one year of listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, where at least one of the independent directors qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under SEC rules and as a financially sophisticated audit committee member under the Nasdaq Capital Market rules.

 

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The Company’s Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that two of its four directors, including Sam Lai and Maggie Yu are non-independent directors of the Company and two of its four directors, including Douglas Branch and Michael Lenner are independent directors of the Company. The Company’s audit committee consists of the three directors, including Douglas Branch, Michael Lenner and Sam Lai. Mr. Branch is the chair of the audit committee. The Company shall replace Mr. Lai , a non-independent director, with an independent director within one year following the listing, who will qualify as an audit committee financial expert under SEC rules and as a financially sophisticated audit committee member under the Nasdaq Capital Market rules.

 

UNDERWRITING

 

EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (the “Representative”) is acting as the lead managing underwriter and as representative of the underwriters. We have entered into an underwriting agreement dated July 29, 2021 with the Representative. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to each underwriter named below, and each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of shares of common stock listed next to its name in the following table:

 

    Number of
Shares of
Common Stock
 
EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC    [●] 
      
      
      
      
      
Total     
    [●] 

 

The underwriters are committed to purchase all of the shares of common stock offered by us other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below, if it purchases any shares of common stock. The obligations of the underwriters may be terminated upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the underwriting agreement. Furthermore, pursuant to the underwriting agreement, the underwriters’ obligations are subject to customary conditions, representations and warranties contained in the underwriting agreement, such as receipt by the underwriters of officers’ certificates and legal opinions.

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.

 

The underwriters are offering the shares of common stock, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel and other conditions specified in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

 

Over-Allotment Option

 

We have granted the underwriters an over-allotment option. This option, which is exercisable for up to 45 days after the date of this prospectus, permits the underwriters to purchase up to an aggregate of [●] additional shares of common stock (equal to 15% of the common stock sold in the offering), at the public offering price per share, less underwriting discounts and commissions, solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If this option is exercised in full, the total price to the public will be $57,000,000 and the total net proceeds, before expenses, to us will be $53,475,000.

 

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Discounts

 

The following table shows the per share of common stock and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

 

       Total 
   Per Share   Without
Option
   With
Option
 
Public offering price  $[●]   $[●]   $[●] 
Underwriting discounts and commissions (7%)  $[●]   $[●]   $[●] 
Non-accountable expense allowance (0.5%)  $[●]   $[●]   $[●] 
Proceeds, before expenses, to us  $[●]   $[●]   $[●] 

 

The underwriters propose to offer the shares of common stock offered by us to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. In addition, the underwriters may offer some of the shares of common stock to other securities dealers at such price less a concession of $[●] per share of common stock. If all of the shares of common stock offered by us are not sold at the public offering price, the Representative may change the offering price and other selling terms by means of a supplement to this prospectus.

 

We have also agreed to pay the following expenses of the Representative relating to the offering: (a) all filing fees and communication expenses associated with the review of this offering by FINRA; (b) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to background checks of our officers and directors; (c) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration or qualification of the securities under the “blue sky” securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions as Representative may reasonably designate (including, without limitation, all filing and registration fees, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Company’s “blue sky” counsel, which will be Representative’s counsel (in an amount not to exceed $10,000)) unless such filings are not required in connection with the Company’s proposed listing on a national exchange, if applicable; and (d) maximum of $150,000 for fees and expenses including “road show” (in an amount not to exceed $10,000), diligence (in an amount not to exceed $10,000), and reasonable legal fees and disbursements for Representative’s counsel (in an amount not to exceed $130,000). Additionally, one-half percent (0.50%) of the gross proceeds of the Offering shall be provided to Representative for non-accountable expenses.

 

We estimate that the total expenses of the offering, including registration, filing and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and the nonaccountable expense reimbursement which is based on the amount raised, will be approximately $769,666 all of which are payable by us. This figure includes expense reimbursements we have agreed to pay the Representative for reimbursement of its expenses related to the offering up to a maximum aggregate expense allowance of $130,000, for which we have paid a $30,000 advance, which will be returned to us to the extent not offset by actual expenses.

 

Discretionary Accounts

 

The underwriters do not intend to confirm sales of the securities offered hereby to any accounts over which they have discretionary authority.

 

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Lock-Up Agreements

 

Pursuant to “lock-up” agreements, we, our executive officers and directors, and certain existing shareholders holding at least 5% of our outstanding shares, have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, without the prior written consent of the Representative not to directly or indirectly, for a period of six (6) months after the offering is completed (the “Lock-Up Period”), (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; (ii) file or caused to be filed any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; (iii) complete any offering of debt securities of the Company, other than entering into a line of credit with a traditional bank or (iv) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of capital stock of the Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of capital stock of the Company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything therein to the contrary, the Company may issue shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of its capital stock to officers, directors, employees, consultants, or advisors of the Company as well as strategic investors during the Lock-Up Period so long as the capital stock or securities exercisable or exchangeable for shares of its capital stock are restricted during the Lock-Up Period in accordance with Rule 144 or other contractual arrangement

 

Representative’s Warrants

 

We have agreed to issue to the Representative warrants to purchase up to a total of [●] shares of common stock (5% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering, excluding the over-allotment option). The warrants will be exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the four-year period commencing one year from the effective date of the offering, which period shall not extend further than five years from the effective date of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G). The warrants are exercisable at a per share price equal to 125% of the public offering price per share in the offering. The warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of FINRA. The underwriter (or permitted assignees under Rule 5110(g)(1)) will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or hypothecate these warrants or the securities underlying these warrants, nor will they engage in any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the warrants or the underlying securities for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus.

 

The exercise price and number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation.

 

Right of First Refusal

 

Following the closing of this offering, provided that the shares are sold in accordance with the terms of the underwriting agreement, the Representative shall have an irrevocable right of first refusal (the “Right of First Refusal”), for a period of twelve (12) months after the date this offering is completed, to act as sole investment banker, sole book-runner, and/or sole placement agent, at the Representative’s sole discretion, for each and every future public and private equity and debt offering, including all equity linked financings (each, a “Subject Transaction”), during such twelve (12) month period, of the Company, or any successor to or any current or future subsidiary of the Company, on terms and conditions customary to the Representative for such Subject Transactions. The Representative shall have the sole right to determine whether or not any other broker dealer shall have the right to participate in the Subject Transactions and the economic terms of such participation. For the avoidance of any doubt, the Company shall not retain, engage or solicit any additional investment banker, book-runner, financial advisor, underwriter and/or placement agent in a Subject Transaction without the express written consent of the Representative. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this right of first refusal shall not apply to self-directed offerings in which the Company does not employ the services of an investment banker, finder or financial advisor to which the Company pays commissions.

 

Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Shares

 

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters or selling group members. The Representative may agree to allocate a number of shares of common stock and warrants to the underwriter and selling group members for sale to its online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriter and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on these websites is not part of, nor incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved or endorsed by us, and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

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Determination of the Initial Public Offering Price

 

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our securities. The initial public offering price was determined through negotiations between us and the Representative. In addition to prevailing market conditions, the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price included the following:

 

  the information included in this prospectus and otherwise available to the Representative;

 

  the valuation multiples of publicly traded companies that the Representative believes to be comparable to us;

 

  our financial information;

 

  our prospects and the history and the prospects of the industry in which we compete;

 

  an assessment of our management, its past and present operations, and the prospects for, and timing of, our future revenues;

 

  the present state of our development and prevailing market conditions; and

 

  the above factors in relation to market values and various valuation measures of other companies engaged in activities similar to ours.

 

An active trading market for our common stock may not develop. It is also possible that, after the offering, the shares will not trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.

 

Stabilization

 

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate-covering transactions, penalty bids and purchases to cover positions created by short sales.

 

  Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase securities so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum and are engaged in for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while the offering is in progress.

 

  Over-allotment transactions involve sales by the underwriters of securities in excess of the number of securities the underwriters are obligated to purchase. This creates a syndicate short position which may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of securities over-allotted by the underwriter is not greater than the number of securities that they may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of securities involved is greater than the number of securities in the over-allotment option. The underwriter may close out any short position by exercising its over-allotment option and/or purchasing securities in the open market.

 

  Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of the securities to close out the short position, the underwriter will consider, among other things, the price of securities available for purchase in the open market as compared with the price at which they may purchase securities through exercise of the over-allotment option. If the underwriter sells more securities than could be covered by exercise of the over-allotment option and, therefore, have a naked short position, the position can be closed out only by buying securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriter is concerned that after pricing there could be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

 

  Penalty bids permit the Representative to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by that syndicate member are purchased in stabilizing or syndicate covering transactions to cover syndicate short positions.

 

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These stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our securities or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our securities. As a result, the price of our securities in the open market may be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of these transactions. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our securities. These transactions may be affected on the Nasdaq Capital Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

Passive Market Making

 

In connection with this offering, underwriter and selling group members may engage in passive market making transactions in our securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of the shares and extending through the completion of the distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, then that bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.

 

Certain Relationships

 

The underwriters and their affiliates have provided, or may in the future provide, various investment banking, commercial banking, financial advisory, brokerage or other services to us and our affiliates for which services they have received, and may in the future receive, customary fees and expense reimbursement.

 

The underwriters and their affiliates may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of its business for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursements of expenses. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own accounts and for the accounts of their customers and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of our Company. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

Offer Restrictions Outside the United States

 

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

 

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Australia

 

This prospectus is not a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act, has not been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act. Accordingly, (i) the offer of the securities under this prospectus is only made to persons to whom it is lawful to offer the securities without disclosure under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act under one or more exemptions set out in section 708 of the Australian Corporations Act, (ii) this prospectus is made available in Australia only to those persons as set forth in clause (i) above, and (iii) the offeree must be sent a notice stating in substance that by accepting this offer, the offeree represents that the offeree is such a person as set forth in clause (i) above, and, unless permitted under the Australian Corporations Act, agrees not to sell or offer for sale within Australia any of the securities sold to the offeree within 12 months after its transfer to the offeree under this prospectus.

 

Canada

 

The securities may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

 

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

 

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriter is not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

 

China

 

The information in this document does not constitute a public offer of the securities, whether by way of sale or subscription, in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) (excluding, for purposes of this paragraph, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan). The securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in the PRC to legal or natural persons other than directly to “qualified domestic institutional investors.”

 

European Economic Area — Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands

 

The information in this document has been prepared on the basis that all offers of securities will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Directive 2003/71/EC (“Prospectus Directive”), as implemented in Member States of the European Economic Area (each, a “Relevant Member State”), from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of securities.

 

An offer to the public of securities has not been made, and may not be made, in a Relevant Member State except pursuant to one of the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive as implemented in that Relevant Member State:

 

  to legal entities that are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

 

  to any legal entity that has two or more of (i) an average of at least 250 employees during its last fiscal year; (ii) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 (as shown on its last annual unconsolidated or consolidated financial statements) and (iii) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000 (as shown on its last annual unconsolidated or consolidated financial statements);

 

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  to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of our Company or any underwriter for any such offer; or

 

  in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of securities shall result in a requirement for the publication by our Company of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

France

 

This document is not being distributed in the context of a public offering of financial securities (offre au public de titres financiers) in France within the meaning of Article L.411-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monétaire et financier) and Articles 211-1, et seq. of the General Regulation of the French Autorité des marchés financiers (“AMF”). The securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France.

 

This document and any other offering material relating to the securities have not been, and will not be, submitted to the AMF for approval in France and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in France.

 

Such offers, sales and distributions have been and shall only be made in France to (i) qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-1 to D.411-3, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation and/or (ii) a restricted number of non-qualified investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs non-qualifiés) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-4, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation.

 

Pursuant to Article 211-3 of the General Regulation of the AMF, investors in France are informed that the securities cannot be distributed (directly or indirectly) to the public by the investors otherwise than in accordance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 to L.621-8-3 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.

 

Ireland

 

The information in this document does not constitute a prospectus under any Irish laws or regulations and this document has not been filed with or approved by any Irish regulatory authority as the information has not been prepared in the context of a public offering of securities in Ireland within the meaning of the Irish Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005 (the “Prospectus Regulations”). The securities have not been offered or sold, and will not be offered, sold or delivered directly or indirectly in Ireland by way of a public offering, except to (i) qualified investors as defined in Regulation 2(l) of the Prospectus Regulations and (ii) fewer than 100 natural or legal persons who are not qualified investors.

 

Israel

 

The securities offered by this prospectus have not been approved or disapproved by the Israeli Securities Authority (the “ISA”), nor have such securities been registered for sale in Israel. The shares may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Israel, absent the publication of a prospectus. The ISA has not issued permits, approvals or licenses in connection with the offering or publishing the prospectus; nor has it authenticated the details included herein, confirmed their reliability or completeness, or rendered an opinion as to the quality of the securities being offered. Any resale in Israel, directly or indirectly, to the public of the securities offered by this prospectus is subject to restrictions on transferability and must be effected only in compliance with the Israeli securities laws and regulations.

 

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Italy

 

The offering of the securities in the Republic of Italy has not been authorized by the Italian Securities and Exchange Commission (Commissione Nazionale per le Societá e la Borsa, “CONSOB”) pursuant to the Italian securities legislation and, accordingly, no offering material relating to the securities may be distributed in Italy and such securities may not be offered or sold in Italy in a public offer within the meaning of Article 1.1(t) of Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998 (“Decree No. 58”), other than:

 

  to Italian qualified investors, as defined in Article 100 of Decree No. 58 by reference to Article 34-ter of CONSOB Regulation no. 11971 of 14 May 1999 (“Regulation no. 11971”) as amended (“Qualified Investors”); and

 

  in other circumstances that are exempt from the rules on public offer pursuant to Article 100 of Decree No. 58 and Article 34-ter of Regulation No. 11971 as amended.

 

Any offer, sale or delivery of the securities or distribution of any offer document relating to the securities in Italy (excluding placements where a Qualified Investor solicits an offer from the issuer) under the paragraphs above must be:

 

  made by investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993 (as amended), Decree No. 58, CONSOB Regulation No. 16190 of 29 October 2007 and any other applicable laws; and

 

  in compliance with all relevant Italian securities, tax and exchange controls and any other applicable laws.

 

Any subsequent distribution of the securities in Italy must be made in compliance with the public offer and prospectus requirement rules provided under Decree No. 58 and the Regulation No. 11971 as amended unless an exception from those rules applies. Failure to comply with such rules may result in the sale of such securities being declared null and void and in the liability of the entity transferring the securities for any damages suffered by the investors.

 

Japan

 

The securities have not been and will not be registered under Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948), as amended (the “FIEL”), pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements applicable to a private placement of securities to Qualified Institutional Investors (as defined in and in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 3 of the FIEL and the regulations promulgated thereunder). Accordingly, the securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan other than Qualified Institutional Investors. Any Qualified Institutional Investor who acquires securities may not resell them to any person in Japan that is not a Qualified Institutional Investor, and acquisition by any such person of securities is conditional upon the execution of an agreement to that effect.

 

Portugal

 

This document is not being distributed in the context of a public offer of financial securities (oferta pública de valores mobiliários) in Portugal, within the meaning of Article 109 of the Portuguese Securities Code (Código dos Valores Mobiliários). The securities have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal. This document and any other offering material relating to the securities have not been, and will not be, submitted to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários) for approval in Portugal and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to qualify as a public offer under the Portuguese Securities Code. Such offers, sales and distributions of securities in Portugal are limited to persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Portuguese Securities Code). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.

 

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Sweden

 

This document has not been, and will not be, registered with or approved by Finansinspektionen (the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority). Accordingly, this document may not be made available, nor may the securities be offered for sale in Sweden, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to require a prospectus under the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act (1991:980) (Sw. lag (1991:980) om handel med finansiella instrument). Any offering of securities in Sweden is limited to persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Financial Instruments Trading Act). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.

 

Switzerland

 

The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering material relating to the securities may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

 

Neither this document nor any other offering material relating to the securities have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority.

 

This document is personal to the recipient only and not for general circulation in Switzerland.

 

United Arab Emirates

 

Neither this document nor the securities have been approved, disapproved or passed on in any way by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates, nor have we received authorization or licensing from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates to market or sell the securities within the United Arab Emirates. This document does not constitute and may not be used for the purpose of an offer or invitation. No services relating to the securities, including the receipt of applications and/or the allotment or redemption of such shares, may be rendered within the United Arab Emirates by our Company.

 

No offer or invitation to subscribe for securities is valid or permitted in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

 

United Kingdom

 

Neither the information in this document nor any other document relating to the offer has been delivered for approval to the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom and no prospectus (within the meaning of section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (“FSMA”)) has been published or is intended to be published in respect of the securities. This document is issued on a confidential basis to “qualified investors” (within the meaning of section 86(7) of FSMA) in the United Kingdom, and the securities may not be offered or sold in the United Kingdom by means of this document, any accompanying letter or any other document, except in circumstances which do not require the publication of a prospectus pursuant to section 86(1) FSMA. This document should not be distributed, published or reproduced, in whole or in part, nor may its contents be disclosed by recipients to any other person in the United Kingdom.

 

Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) received in connection with the issue or sale of the securities has only been communicated or caused to be communicated and will only be communicated or caused to be communicated in the United Kingdom in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply to our company.

 

In the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed at, persons (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) (investment professionals) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005 (“FPO”), (ii) who fall within the categories of persons referred to in Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the FPO or (iii) to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (together “relevant persons”). The investments to which this document relates are available only to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

The following description of our capital stock is based upon our certificate of incorporation, as amended, our bylaws and applicable provisions of law, in each case as currently in effect. This discussion does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our bylaws, as amended, copies of which are filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Authorized Capital Stock

 

As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized capital stock consists of (i) 300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. At July 29, 2021, we had 10,000,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and no preferred stock issued and outstanding.

 

As of July 29, 2021 there were 2 holders of record of our common stock.

 

Common Stock

 

Each share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote, either in person or by proxy, at meetings of shareholders. The holders are not permitted to vote their shares cumulatively. Accordingly, the shareholders of our common stock who hold, in the aggregate, more than fifty percent of the total voting rights can elect all of our directors and, in such event, the holders of the remaining minority shares will not be able to elect any of such directors. The vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote thereon is sufficient to authorize, affirm, ratify or consent to such act or action, except as otherwise provided by law.

 

Holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available. We have not paid any dividends on common stock since our inception, and we presently anticipate that all earnings, if any, will be retained for development of our business. Any future disposition of dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other things, our future earnings, operating and financial condition, capital requirements, and other factors. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights or other subscription rights, conversion rights, redemption or sinking fund provisions. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to shareholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities. There are not any provisions in our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws that would prevent or delay change in our control.

 

Preferred Stock

 

The board of directors shall have the authority to authorize the issuance of the preferred stock from time to time in one or more classes or series, and to state in the resolution or resolutions from time to time adopted providing for the issuance thereof the following:

 

  (a) the number of shares of any series and the designation to distinguish the shares of such series from the shares of all other series;
     
  (b) the voting powers, if any, and whether such voting powers are full or limited in such series;
     
  (c) the redemption provisions, if any, applicable to such series, including the redemption price or prices to be paid;

 

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  (d) whether dividends, if any, will be cumulative or noncumulative, the dividend rate of such series, and the dates and preferences of dividends on such series;
     
  (e) the rights of such series upon the voluntary or involuntary dissolution of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation;
     
  (f) the provisions, if any, pursuant to which the shares of such series are convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock, or any other security, of the Corporation or any other corporation or other entity, and the rates or other determinants of conversion or exchange applicable thereto;
     
  (g) the right, if any, to subscribe for or to purchase any securities of the Corporation or any other corporation or other entity;
     
  (h) the provisions, if any, of a sinking fund applicable to such series; and
     
  (i) any other relative, participating, optional, or other special powers, preferences or rights and qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof.

 

The shares of each class or series of the preferred stock may vary from the shares of any other class or series thereof in any respect. The Board of Directors may increase the number of shares of the preferred stock designated for any existing class or series by a resolution adding to such class or series authorized and unissued shares of the preferred stock not designated for any existing class or series of the preferred stock and the shares so subtracted shall become authorized, unissued and undesignated shares of the preferred stock.

 

Exclusive Forum Provision

 

Section 21 of our certificate of incorporation and Section 7.4 of our bylaws provide that “[u]nless the corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be a state or federal court located in the county in which the principal office of the corporation in the State of Delaware is established, in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange of 1934, as amended, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction.”

 

This choice of forum provision may limit a bondholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees. Alternatively, a court could find these provisions of our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in respect of one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, which may require us to incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

 

Fee Shifting Provision

 

Section 7.4 of our bylaws provides that “[i]f any action is brought by any party against another party, relating to or arising out of these Bylaws, or the enforcement hereof, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the prosecution or defense of such action.”

 

In the event you initiate or assert a claims against us, in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions contained in our amended and restated bylaws, and you do not, in a judgment prevail, you will be obligated to reimburse us for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with such claim, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses and costs of appeal, if any.

 

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THE FEE SHIFTING PROVISION CONTAINED IN THE BYLAWS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE DEEMED A WAIVER BY ANY HOLDER OF WORTHY COMMUNITY BONDS OF THE COMPANY’S COMPLIANCE WITH THE U.S. FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER. THE FEE SHIFTING PROVISION CONTAINED IN THE BYLAWS DO NOT APPLY TO CLAIMS BROUGHT UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT AND SECURITIES ACT.

 

Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation, as Amended, and Our Bylaws

 

Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws could make it more difficult to acquire us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, open market purchases, removal of incumbent directors and otherwise. These provisions, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with us. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover or acquisition proposals because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

 

Removal of Directors. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that directors may be removed prior to the expiration of their terms by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote.

 

Vacancies. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide the exclusive right of our board of directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors or the resignation, death, or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our board of directors

 

Preferred Stock. Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our board of directors in their sole discretion. Our board of directors may, without stockholder approval, issue series of preferred stock with dividends, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock.

 

Amendment of Bylaws. The certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that the bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors.

 

Limitation of Liability. The certificate of incorporation provides for the limitation of liability of, and providing indemnification to, our directors and officers;

 

Special Stockholders Meeting. The certificate of incorporation provides that a special meeting of the stockholders may only be called by a majority of the board of directors.

 

Nominations of Directors. The bylaws provide for advance notice procedures that stockholders must comply with in order to nominate candidates to our board of directors or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting, which may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company

 

Transfer Agent

 

The transfer agent and registrar, for our common stock is [●].

 

The transfer agent and registrar’s address is [●]. The transfer agent’s telephone [●].

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Anthony L.G., PLLC, 625 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 600, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401. Pryor Cashman LLP, New York, New York is acting as counsel to the underwriters.

 

EXPERTS

 

Our balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and the related statement of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 included in this registration statement and prospectus have been audited by TPS Thayer, LLC, independent registered public accounting firm, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and have been so included in reliance upon the report of such firm given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITOR

 

On April 1, 2021, we appointed TPS Thayer, LLC as our independent registered public accounting firm. TPS Thayer, LLC audited our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 which have been included in this prospectus and registration statement and TPS Thayer, LLC has been engaged as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Prior to engaging TPS Thayer, LLC as our independent registered public accounting firm, we did not have an independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements.

 

DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION’S POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES

 

Our directors and officers are indemnified as provided by Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws. We have agreed to indemnify each of our directors and certain officers against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the provisions described above, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than our payment of expenses incurred or paid by our director, officer or controlling person in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC the registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act for the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information in the registration statement and the exhibits filed with it, portions of which have been omitted as permitted by SEC rules and regulations. For further information concerning us and the securities offered by this prospectus, we refer to the registration statement and to the exhibits filed with it. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the content of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete. In each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contracts and/or other documents filed as exhibits to the registration statement.

 

The registration statement on Form S-1, of which this prospectus forms a part, including exhibits, is available at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with, or furnish to, the SEC at its public reference facilities:

 

  Public Reference Room Office
  100 F Street, N.E.
  Room 1580
  Washington, D.C. 20549

 

You may also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Callers in the United States can also call (202) 551-8090 for further information on the operations of the public reference facilities.

 

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HOUR LOOP, INC.

 

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm   F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 (Audited)   F-3
Consolidated Statement of Operations, Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (Audited)   F-4
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity, Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (Audited)   F-5
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, Fiscal Years Ended May 31, 2020 and 2019 (Audited)   F-6
Notes to Audited Financial Statements   F-7
     
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, as of March 31, 2021 and 2020 (Unaudited)   F-
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (Unaudited)   F-18
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (Unaudited)   F-19
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (Unaudited)   F-20
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)   F-21

 

F-1
 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

 

Hour Loop, Inc

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Hour Loop, Inc (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Letter

Description automatically generated

TPS Thayer, LLC 

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021

 

Sugar Land, Texas

 

July 29, 2021

 

F-2
 

 

HOUR LOOP, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND 2019

 

   2020   2019 
ASSETS          
Current assets          
Cash and cash equivalents  $4,968,064   $838,963 
Accounts receivable, net   216,707    127,216 
Inventory, net   4,361,889    3,622,450 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   201,022    24,008 
Total current assets   9,747,682    4,612,637 
           
Right-of-use lease assets   99,452    109,714 
           
TOTAL ASSETS  $9,847,134   $4,722,351 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Current liabilities          
Accounts payable  $3,204,256   $2,776,041 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   1,342,008    758,513 
Current portion of long-term liabilities   20,958    138,335 
Due to related parties   1,195,074    49,895 
Current operating lease liabilities   57,525    64,360 
Total current liabilities   5,819,821    3,787,144 
           
Long-term liabilities   6,054    580,027 
Total liabilities   5,825,875    4,367,171 
           
Commitments and contingencies   -    - 
           
Stockholders’ equity          
Preferred stock: $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding   -    - 
Common stock: $0.0001 par value, 300,000,000 shares authorized, 10,000,000 shares issued and outstanding   1,000    1,000 
Additional paid-in capital   3,821    3,821 
Retained earnings   4,019,619    348,849 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (3,181)   1,510 
Total stockholders’ equity   4,021,259    355,180 
           
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  $9,847,134   $4,722,351 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

F-3
 

 

HOUR LOOP, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND 2019

 

   2020   2019 
         
Revenues  $38,655,264   $26,564,693 
Cost of revenues    (16,639,491 )     (14,135,029 )
           
Gross profit    22,015,773      12,429,664  
           
Operating expenses          
Selling and marketing   15,156,086    11,494,352 
General and administrative    3,172,839      1,327,053  
Total operating expenses    18,328,925      12,821,405  
           
Income (loss) from operations   3,686,848    (391,741)
           
Other income (expenses)          
Other income   31,060    22,871 
Interest expense   (43,269)   (51,794)
Other expense   (2,971)   (3,919)
Total other income, net   (15,180)   (32,842)
           
Income (loss) before income taxes   3,671,668    (424,583)
Provision for income taxes   -    - 
           
Net income (loss)   3,671,668    (424,583)
           
Other comprehensive income (loss)          
Foreign currency translation adjustments   (4,691)   1,510 
           
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)  $3,666,977   $(423,073)
           
Basic and diluted income (loss) per common share  $0.37   $(0.04)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding   10,000,000    10,000,000 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

F-4
 

 

HOUR LOOP, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND 2019

 

                           Accumulated     
   Common   Common   Preferred   Preferred   Additional       Other   Total 
   Stock   Stock   Stock   Stock   Paid-In   Retained   Comprehensive   Stockholders’ 
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Capital   Earnings   Income (loss)   Equity 
                                 
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2018   10,000,000   $1,000    -   $-   $-   $773,432   $-   $774,432 
                                         
Contribution   -    -    -    -    3,821    -    -    3,821 
                                         
Currency translation adjustments   -    -    -    -    -    -    1,510    1,510 
                                         
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    (424,583)   -    (424,583)
                                         
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2019   10,000,000    1,000    -    -    3,821    348,849    1,510    355,180 
                                         
Distribution                            (898)        (898)
                                         
Currency translation adjustments   -    -    -    -    -    -    (4,691)   (4,691)
                                         
Net income   -    -    -    -    -    3,671,668    -    3,671,668 
                                         
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2020   10,000,000   $1,000    -   $-   $3,821   $4,019,619   $(3,181)  $4,021,259 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

F-5
 

 

HOUR LOOP, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND 2019

 

   2020   2019 
         
Cash flows from operating activities          
Net income (loss)  $3,671,668   $(424,583)
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:          
Noncash lease expenses   76,426    91,764 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   (89,491)   (123,899)
Inventory   (739,439)   (535,534)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (175,820)   411,578 
Accounts payable   428,215    166,107 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   572,398    33,752 
Operating lease liabilities   (72,949)   (137,118)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   3,671,008    (517,933)
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Net advances from related parties   1,145,230    49,996 
Capital contribution   -    3,821 
Distribution to stockholders   (898)   - 
Proceeds from short term borrowing   20,958    - 
Proceeds from long term borrowing   6,054    - 
Net change in line of credit   (718,362)   455,196 
Net cash provided by financing activities   452,982    509,013 
           
Effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates   5,111    4,473 
           
Net change in cash and cash equivalents   4,129,101    (4,447)
           
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year   838,963    843,410 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year  $4,968,064   $838,963 
           
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:          
Cash paid for interest  $15,273   $51,794 
Cash paid for income tax  $-   $- 
Noncash investing and financing activities:          
Right-of-use of assets and operating lease liabilities recognized  $66,432   $201,478 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

F-6
 

 

HOUR LOOP, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND 2019

 

NOTE 1 – NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Hour Loop, Inc. (“Hour Loop” or the “Company”) is a rapidly growing technology-enabled consumer products company that uses machine learning and data analytics to design, develop, market and sell products. Hour Loop predominantly operates through online retail channels such as Amazon, Walmart, and Hourloop.com. The Company, as an Internet marketplace seller, is selling products in multiple categories, including home/garden décor, toys, kitchenware, apparels, and electronics. The Company has only one segment, which is online retails (E-Commerce).

 

The Company was incorporated on January 13, 2015 under laws of the state of Washington. On April 7, 2021, the Company was converted from a Washington corporation to a Delaware corporation.

 

In 2019, Hour Loop, Inc. formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Flywheel e-commerce Co., Ltd. (“Flywheel”) to provide business operating consulting services, exclusively to Hour Loop, Inc.

 

Reorganization – On June 30, 2021, the Company completed a corporate reorganization to convert its status from a S corporation (10,000,000 common shares issued and outstanding) to a C corporation (10,000,000 common shares issued and outstanding) with an effective date of July 27, 2021. The reorganization did not change the ownership of the Company and the two shareholders Sam Lai and Maggie Yu each continue to own 50% of the Company. The discussion and presentation of the financial statements herein assumes the completion of the Reorganization had become effective as of the beginning of the first period presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

Consistent with Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 1362, the retained earnings as of July 27, 2021 will be distributed to the S corporation shareholders. The amount of this distribution will be available at the time of issuance of July 2021 financial statements.

 

Basis of Presentation – The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of the Company have been prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”).

 

Principles of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Hour Loop and Flywheel. All material inter-company accounts and transactions were eliminated in consolidation.

 

Foreign Currency and Currency Translation – The assets and liabilities of Flywheel, having a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at year-end, with resulting translation gains or losses included within other comprehensive income or loss. Revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at average monthly rates of exchange in effect during each year. All of the Company’s foreign operations use their local currency as their functional currency. Currency gains or losses resulting from transactions executed in currencies other than the functional currency are included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statement of operations and other comprehensive income.

 

F-7
 

 

The Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange risk through its foreign subsidiary in Taiwan, which reports its earnings in Taiwan dollars. The Company translates the foreign assets and liabilities at exchange rates in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date, and translates the revenues and expenses using average rates during the year. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and the consolidated statements of operations. The Company does not hedge foreign currency translation risk in the net assets and income reported from these sources.

 

The relevant exchange rates are listed below:

 

   For the fiscal years ended December 31, 
   2020   2019 
         
Period ended NTD: USD exchange rate   28.430    29.930 
Period Average NTD: USD exchange rate   29.483    30.861 

 

Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Significant estimated include, but not limited to, estimates associated with the collectability of accounts receivable and inventory valuation.

 

COVID-19 Pandemic – In March 2020, the World Health Organization recognized the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic. This COVID-19 outbreak has severely restricted the level of economic activity around the world. In response to this COVID-19 outbreak, the governments of many countries, states, cities, and other geographic regions have taken preventative or protective actions, such as imposing restrictions on travel and business operations and advising or requiring individuals to limit or forego their time outside of their homes. The Company’s services, operating results and financial performance could be adversely affected by the overall impacts of the pandemic. Management has determined that there is no material uncertainty that casts substantial doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. It is expected that COVID-19 might have some impact, though it is not anticipated to be significant.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents – The Company considers all highly liquid financial instruments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value.

 

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Accounts receivable are stated at historical cost less allowance for doubtful accounts. On a periodic basis, management evaluates its accounts receivable and determines whether to provide an allowance or if any accounts should be written off based on a past history of write-offs, collections and current credit conditions. A receivable is considered past due if the Company has not received payments based on agreed-upon terms. The Company generally does not require any security or collateral to support its receivables. The collection is primarily through Amazon and collection period is usually less than 7 days. The Company performs on-going evaluations of its customers and maintains an allowance for bad and doubtful receivables. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company did not deem it necessary to have an allowance for bad debt or doubtful accounts.

 

F-8
 

 

Inventory and Cost of Goods Sold – The Company’s inventory consists almost entirely of finished goods. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is principally determined on a first-in first-out basis. The Company’s costs include the amounts it pays manufacturers for product, tariffs and duties associated with transporting product across national borders, and freight costs associated with transporting the product from its manufacturers to its warehouses, as applicable. The merchandise with terms of FOB shipping point from vendors was recorded as the inventory-in-transit when inventory left the shipping dock of the vendors but not yet reached the receiving dock of the Company. Management continually evaluates its estimates and judgments including those related to merchandise inventory. Management bases its estimates and judgments on experience and other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management tracks inventory data from multiple inventory data sources to make estimates of inventory value and unit costs. The company currently doesn’t do a physical inventory count. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions or if a physical inventory count was conducted.

The “Cost of goods sold” line item in the consolidated statements of operations is principally inventory sold to customers during the reporting period. The Company had inventory allowance balances of $431,312 and $625,814 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

Property and Equipment – Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated or amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset using the straight-line method. The Company elected to expense any individual property and equipment items under $2,500. Thus, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, property and equipment has no balance.

 

Fair Value Measurement – Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, long term liabilities, due to related parties and other current liabilities approximate fair value because of the immediate or short term maturity of these financial instruments.

 

Revenue Recognition – The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC Topic 606”). The Company adopted ASC Topic 606 as of January 1, 2019. The standard did not affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, or cash flows. There were no changes to the timing of revenue recognition as a result of the adoption.

 

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which provided a five-step model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers as follows:

 

Identify the contract with a customer.
Identify the performance obligations in the contract.
Determine the transaction price.
Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
Recognize revenue when or as performance obligations are satisfied.

 

F-9
 

 

The Company derives its revenue from the sale of consumer products. The Company sells its products directly to consumers through online retail channels. The Company considers customer order confirmations to be a contract with the customer. Customer confirmations are executed at the time an order is placed through third-party online channels. For all of the Company’s sales and distribution channels, revenue is recognized when control of the product is transferred to the customer (i.e., when the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied), which typically occurs at shipment date. As a result, the Company has a present and unconditional right to payment and record the amount due from the customer in accounts receivable.

 

The Company evaluated principal versus agent considerations to determine whether it is appropriate to record platform fees paid to Amazon as an expense or as a reduction of revenue. Platform fees are recorded as sales and distribution expenses and are not recorded as a reduction of revenue because the Company owns and controls all the goods before they are transferred to the customer. The Company can, at any time, direct Amazon, similarly, other third-party logistics providers (“Logistics Providers”), to return the Company’s inventories to any location specified by the Company. It is the Company’s responsibility to make any returns made by customers directly to Logistic Providers and the Company retains the back-end inventory risk. Further, the Company is subject to credit risk (i.e., credit card chargebacks), establishes prices of its products, can determine who fulfills the goods to the customer (Amazon or the Company) and can limit quantities or stop selling the goods at any time. The customer can return the products within 30 days after the products are delivered and estimated sales returns are calculated based on the expected returns. The sales return rate were 5.9% and 5.6% for years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Based on these considerations, the Company is the principal in this arrangement.

 

Performance Obligations. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good to the customer and is the unit of account in ASC Topic 606. A contract’s transaction price is recognized as revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied. Each of the Company’s contracts have a single distinct performance obligation, which is the promise to transfer individual goods. For consumer product sales, the Company has elected to treat shipping and handling as fulfillment activities, and not a separate performance obligation. The Company has shipping and handling cost $7,159,519 and $5,856,417 for 2020 and 2019, respectively. Accordingly, the Company recognizes revenue for its single performance obligation related to product sales at the time control of the merchandise passes to the customer, which is generally at the time of shipment. The Company bills customers for charges for shipping and handling on certain sales and such charges are recorded as part of net revenue.

 

For each contract, the Company considers the promise to transfer products to be the only identified performance obligation. In determining the transaction price, the Company evaluates whether the price is subject to refund or adjustment to determine the net consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. The Company’s revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are recognized at a point in time.

 

Income Taxes – Prior to 2021, the Company, with the stockholder’s consent, has elected to be taxed as an “S corporation” under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and comparable state income tax law. As an S corporation, the Company is generally not subject to corporate income taxes, and the Company’s net income or loss is reported on the individual tax return of the stockholder of the Company. Therefore, no provision or liability for income taxes is reflected in the financial statements. The Company also complied with state tax code, including California franchise tax.

 

Management has evaluated its tax positions and has concluded that the Company had taken no uncertain tax positions that could require adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements to comply with provisions set forth in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) section 740, Income Taxes.

 

F-10
 

 

Presentation of Sales Taxes – Governmental authorities impose sales tax on all of the Company’s sales to nonexempt customers. The Company collects sales tax from customers and remits the entire amount to the governmental authorities. The Company’s accounting policy is to exclude the tax collected and remitted from revenues and cost of revenues.

 

The Company makes an assessment of sales tax payable including any related interest and penalties and accrues these estimated on the financial statements. Pursuant to the Wayfair decision, each state enforced sales tax collection at different dates. The company collects and remits sales tax in accordance with the state regulations. The company estimates that as of December 31, 2020, it owed $673,334 in sales taxes along with penalties and interest.

 

Concentrations of Risks – Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and accounts receivable. The Company maintains cash with various domestic and foreign financial institutions of high credit quality. The Company performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of all of the aforementioned institutions.

 

The Company’s accounts receivables are derived from sales contracts with a large number of customers. The Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses on customer accounts when deemed necessary. Significant customers are those which represent more than 10% of the Company’s total net revenue or gross accounts receivable balance at the balance sheet date. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had no customer that accounted for 10% or more of total net revenues. In addition, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company has no customer that accounted for 10% or more of gross accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, all of its accounts receivable is held by the Company’s sales platform agent, Amazon, which collects money on the Company’s behalf from its customers. Therefore, the Company’s accounts receivable are comprised of receivables due from Amazon and the reimbursement from Amazon to the Company usually takes 15 to 20 days.

 

The Company’s business is reliant on one key vendor which currently provides the Company with its sales platform, logistics and fulfillment operations, including certain warehousing for the Company’s net goods, and invoicing and collection of its revenue from the Company’s end customers. In 2019, approximately 100% of the Company’s revenue was through or with the Amazon sales platform and in 2020, 100% of its net revenue was through or with the Amazon sales platform.

 

Selling and Marketing – Selling and marketing are expensed as incurred in accordance with ASC 720-35. Among this, advertising and promotion costs were $1,475,223 and $1,061,313 for years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The rest of the selling and marketing expenses is the platform fees to Amazon.

 

General and Administrative – General and administrative are expensed as incurred in accordance with ASC 720-35.

 

Commitments and Contingencies – Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties, and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred.

 

F-11
 

 

Related Parties – The Company accounts for related party transactions in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 850 (Related Party Disclosures). A party is considered to be related to the Company if the party directly or indirectly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. Related parties also include principal owners of the Company, its management, members of the immediate families of principal owners of the Company and its management and other parties with which the Company may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests. A party which can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties or if it has an ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that one or more of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests is also a related party.

 

Earnings per Share – The Company computes basic earnings per common share using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. For period in which the Company reports net losses, diluted net loss per share attributable to stockholders is the same as basic net loss per share attributable to stockholders, because potentially dilutive common shares are not assumed to have been issued if their effect is anti-dilutive.

 

NOTE 2 – RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issues Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) to amend the authoritative literature in the ASC. There have been several ASUs to date that amend the original text of the ASCs. Other than those discussed below, the Company believes those ASUs issued to date either (i) provide supplemental guidance, (ii) are technical corrections, (iii) are not applicable to the Company or (iv) are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company.

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial instruments. The amendments in this ASU replace the incurred loss model for recognition of credit losses with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses over the life of the loan and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to calculate credit loss estimates. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, which provides a one-year deferral of the effective dates of ASU No. 2016-13. Accordingly, the guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 for public companies. The Company is an Emerging Growth Company (EGC) and currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on the financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which aims to make leasing activities more transparent and comparable and requires substantially all leases be recognized by lessees on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset (ROU) and corresponding lease liability, including leases currently accounted for as operating leases. Leases of mineral reserves and related land leases have been exempted from the standard. The Company, for reporting purposes, adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases, effective January 1, 2019. The Company elected the “package of practical expedients” within the standard which permits us not to reassess prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. The Company made an accounting policy election to not separate lease and non-lease components for all leases. The adoption of this standard resulted in the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities of $99,452 and $57,525 for 2020 and $ 109,714 and $64,360 for 2019, respectively.

 

F-12
 

 

NOTE 3 – Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents is comprised of the following as of December 31:

 

   2020   2019 
         
Checking account  $4,966,471   $ 837,961  
Savings account and Cash   1,593     1,002  
Total  $4,968,064   $838,963 

 

NOTE 4 – Inventory

 

Inventory was comprised of the following as of December 31:

 

   2020   2019 
         
Inventory  $4,172,856   $4,081,732 
Inventory-In-Transit  $620,346   $166,532 
Allowance   (431,312)   (625,814)
Total  $4,361,890   $3,622,450 

 

NOTE 5 – Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities were comprised of the following as of December 31:

 

   2020   2019 
         
Sales Tax Payable  $673,334   $651,454 
Accrued Expenses   668,674    107,059 
Total  $1,342,008   $758,513 

 

NOTE 6 – Debts

 

Line of Credit

 

On June 19, 2019, the Company signed a line of credit agreement in the amount of $785,000 with Bank of America (the “Lender”) and the agreement matures on June 18, 2024 and bears interest at a rate of 8.11 % per annum.

 

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the outstanding balances under a line of credit from Bank of America were $-0- and $718,362, respectively. Also, the Company accrued deferred interest expense $27,996 as of December 31, 2020.

 

PPP Loan

 

On April 7, 2020, the Company issued a Promissory Note (the “Note”) in the amount of $27,012 under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) to JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Lender”). The PPP, established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which was enacted March 27, 2020, provides for loans to qualifying businesses for amounts up to 2.5 times of the average monthly payroll expenses of the qualifying business. The Note matures on April 7, 2022 and bears interest at a rate of 0.98% per annum, payable monthly commencing October 5, 2020, following an initial deferral period as specified under the PPP loan. The Note may be prepaid at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (the “Flexibility Act”), signed on June 5, 2020, amended certain provisions of the PPP, including the deferral period and repayment terms. The Flexibility Act extends the deferral period of payments of PPP loan principal, interest, and fees to the date when the SBA makes a final decision on the borrower’s application for forgiveness, or 10 months after the last day of the covered period if a borrower has not applied for forgiveness (whichever is earlier). This extension applies regardless of the terms of the PPP and does not require an amendment of the PPP. As such, the Company has not made any payments on the Note during 2020.

 

The current and the long-term portions of the Paycheck Protection Program loan balance at December 31, 2020 were $20,958 and $6,054, respectively.

 

F-13
 

 

NOTE 7 – Related Party Transactions

 

From time to time, the Company receives advances from its stockholders to fund its operations. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had payables to its stockholders in the amounts of $1,195,074 and $49,895, respectively. These related party payables are non-interest-bearing and due upon demand.

 

NOTE 8 – Leases

 

The Company adopted as of January 1, 2019 ASC Topic 842, Leases, which allows the Company to apply the transition provision at the Company’s adoption date instead of at the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. Therefore, the Company recognized and measured leases existing at January 1, 2019 but without retrospective application. In addition, the Company elected the optional practical expedient permitted under the transition guidance which allows the Company to carry forward the historical accounting treatment for existing leases upon adoption. No impact was recorded to the beginning retained earnings for ASC Topic 842. The Company had three operating leases (Hour Loop had Xiamen warehouse lease and Seattle warehouse lease, and Flywheel had office lease in Taiwan as of September 1, 2020). Hour Loop also subleased a Seattle warehouse to third-party in October 2019. The Company had sublease income $36,456 and $10,678 for 2020 and 2019, respectively. The leased assets in Hour Loop and Flywheel are presented as right-of-use assets. The following table outlines the details:

 

   Hour Loop   Flywheel 
   January 2019   September 2020 
Initial lease term  to January 2022   to September 2022 
         
Initial recognition of right-of-use assets  $201,478   $66,432 
Weighted-average remaining lease term at December 31, 2020   1.1    1.7 
Weighted-average discount rate at December 31, 2020    8.11%   8.11%

 

F-14
 

 

The table below reconciles the fixed component of the undiscounted cash flows for each of the first five years and the total remaining years to the operating lease liabilities recorded in the statements of financial position as of December 31, 2020:

 

For the Year Ending  Consolidated 
December 31,  Amount 
     
2021  $59,796 
2022   - 
2023   - 
2024   - 
2025 and thereafter   - 
Total minimum lease payments   59,796 
Less: effect of discounting   (2,271)
Present value of the future minimum     
lease payment   57,525 
Less: current operating lease liabilities   (57,525)
      
Total long-term operating lease liabilities  $- 

 

NOTE 9 – Revenue

 

Revenue was comprised of the following for years ended December 31:

 

   2020   2019 
         
Revenue  $41,092,944   $28,140,119 
Sales return   (2,437,680)   (1,575,426)
Total  $38,655,264   $26,564,693 

 

NOTE 10 – General and Administrative

 

General and administrative were comprised of the following for years ended December 31:

 

    2020     2019  
             
Storage & Rental Fee   $ 235,222     $ 175,861  
Outside Service     158,631       550,498  
Payrolls     2,336,724       214,001  
Sales Taxes     92,579       194,551  
Other G&A Exp     349,683       192,143  
Total   $ 3,172,839     $ 1,327,053  

 

NOTE 11 – Stockholders’ Equity

 

Preferred Stock

 

The authorized capital stock of the Company was 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with $0.0001 par value per share as of December 31, 2020. The Company did not have any preferred shares outstanding as of December 31, 2020 or 2019. The holders of the preferred stock in preference, are entitled to receive dividends, if and when declared by the Board of Directors.

 

F-15
 

 

Common Stock

 

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019 the authorized capital stock of the Company was 300,000,000 shares of common stock with $0.0001 par value per share and there were 10,000,000 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

NOTE 12 – Commitments and Contingencies

 

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had no material or significant commitments outstanding.

 

From time-to-time, the Company is subject to various litigation and other claims in the normal course of business. The Company establishes liabilities in connection with legal actions that management deems to be probable and estimable. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had no pending legal proceeds outstanding. No amounts have been accrued in the financial statements with respect to any matters.

 

NOTE 13 – Subsequent Events

 

PPP Loan

  

Under the terms of the PPP loan, up to the entire amount of principal and accrued interest may be forgiven to the extent PPP loan proceeds are used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act and applicable implementing guidance issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration under the PPP loan. On May 6, 2021, the entire amount of principal and accrued interest on the Note was forgiven.

 

Affiliated Loans

 

On January 1, 2021, the Company and Sam Lai, its Chief Executive Officer, entered into a promissory note in the total principal amount of $597,537 (the “Lai Note”). The Lai Note memorializes loans in the aggregate amount of $597,537 that Mr. Lai previously advanced to the Company and its subsidiaries to fund their operations. The Lai Note bears no interest, and the Company may prepay all or any portion of the principal amount outstanding of the Lai Note at any time without penalty. The Lai Note matures on December 31, 2021. As of July 29, 2021, the principal balance of the Lai Note was $597,537.

 

On January 1, 2021, the Company and Maggie Yu, its Senior Vice President, entered into a promissory note in the total principal amount of $597,537 (the “Yu Note”). The Yu Note memorializes loans in the aggregate amount of $597,537 that Mr. Yu previously advanced to the Company and its subsidiaries to fund their operations. The Yu Note bears no interest, and the Company may prepay all or any portion of the principal amount outstanding of the Yu Note at any time without penalty. The Yu Note matures on December 31, 2021. As of July 29, 2021, the principal balance of the Yu Note was $597,537.

 

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through July 28, 2021 the date the financial statements were available to be issued. Except as noted above, no other matters were identified affecting the accompanying financial statements or related disclosures.

 

F-16
 

 

HOUR LOOP, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2021 AND 2020

 

   March 31,   December 31, 
   2021   2020 
ASSETS          
Current assets          
Cash and cash equivalents  $3,768,381   $4,968,064 
Accounts receivable, net   311,207    216,707 
Inventory, net   7,333,841    4,361,889 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   263,352    201,022 
Total current assets   11,676,781    9,747,682 
           
Right-of-use lease assets   82,110    99,452 
           
TOTAL ASSETS  $11,758,891   $9,847,134 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Current liabilities          
Accounts payable  $4,892,492   $3,204,256 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   767,069    1,342,008 
Current portion of long-term liabilities   25,480    20,958 
Due to related parties   1,149,197    1,195,074 
Current operating lease liabilities   34,390    57,525 
Total current liabilities   6,868,628    5,819,821 
           
Long-term liabilities   1,532    6,054 
Total liabilities   6,870,160    5,825,875 
           
Commitments and contingencies   -    - 
           
Stockholders’ equity          
Preferred stock: $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding   -    - 
Common stock: $0.0001 par value, 300,000,000 shares authorized, 10,000,000 shares issued and outstanding   1,000    1,000 
Additional paid-in capital   6,621    3,821 
Retained earnings   4,885,513    4,019,619 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (4,403)   (3,181)
Total stockholders’ equity   4,888,731    4,021,259 
           
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  $11,758,891   $9,847,134 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

F-17
 

 

HOUR LOOP, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2021 AND 2020

 

   Three Months   Three Months 
   Ended   Ended 
   March 31,   March 31, 
   2021   2020 
         
Revenues  $9,322,913   $4,261,863 
Cost of revenues    (4,094,552 )     (2,498,723 )
           
Gross profit    5,228,361      1,763,140  
           
Operating expenses          
Selling and marketing   3,827,194    1,896,804 
General and administrative    536,809      306,565  
Total operating expenses    4,364,003      2,203,369  
           
Income (loss) from operations   864,358    (440,229)
           
Other income (expenses)          
Other expense   (870)   (1,500)
Interest expense   -    (14,307)
Other income   2,406    5,432 
Total other income, net   1,536    (10,375)
           
Income (loss) before income taxes   865,894    (450,604)
Provision for income taxes   -    - 
           
Net income (loss)   865,894    (450,604)
           
Other comprehensive income (loss)          
Foreign currency translation adjustments   (1,222)   (374)
           
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)  $864,672   $(450,978)
           
Basic and diluted income (loss) per common share  $0.09   $(0.05)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding   10,000,000    10,000,000 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

F-18
 

 

HOUR LOOP, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2021 AND 2020

 

                           Accumulated     
   Common   Common   Preferred   Preferred   Additional       Other   Total 
   Stock   Stock   Stock   Stock   Paid-In   Retained   Comprehensive   Stockholders’ 
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Capital   Earnings   Income (loss)   Equity 
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2019   10,000,000    1,000    -    -    3,821    348,849    1,510    355,180 
                                         
Distribution                            (8,000)        (8,000)
                                         
Currency translation adjustments   -    -    -    -    -    -    (374)   (374)
                                         
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    (450,604)   -    (450,604)
                                         
BALANCE AT MAR 31, 2020   10,000,000   $1,000    -   $-   $3,821   $  (109,755)  $1,136   $(103,798)

 

                           Accumulated     
   Common   Common   Preferred   Preferred   Additional       Other   Total 
   Stock   Stock   Stock   Stock   Paid-In   Retained   Comprehensive   Stockholders’ 
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Capital   Earnings   Income (loss)   Equity 
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2020   10,000,000    1,000    -    -    3,821    4,019,619    (3,181)   4,021,259 
                                         
Contribution                       2,800    -         2,800 
                                         
Currency translation adjustments   -    -    -    -    -    -    (1,222)   (1,222)
                                         
Net income   -    -    -    -    -    865,894    -    865,894 
                                         
BALANCE AT MAR 31, 2021   10,000,000   $1,000    -   $-   $6,621   $  4,885,513   $(4,403)  $4,888,731 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

F-19
 

 

HOUR LOOP, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 2021 AND 2020

 

   Three Months   Three Months 
   Ended   Ended 
   March 31,   March 31, 
   2021   2020 
         
Cash flows from operating activities          
Net income (loss)  $865,894   $(450,604)
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:          
Noncash lease expenses   17,274    25,811 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   (94,500)   35,606 
Inventory   (2,971,952)   167,388 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (86,413)   (22,152)
Accounts payable   1,688,236    78,864 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   (575,357)   (168,762)
Operating lease liabilities   853    (17,538)
Net cash used in operating activities   (1,155,965)   (351,387)
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Net advances from related parties   (45,877)   3,326 
Capital contribution   2,800    - 
Distribution to stockholders   -    (8,000)
Net change in line of credit   -    (33,581)
Net cash used in financing activities   (43,077)   (38,255)
           
Effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates   (641)   (940)
           
Net change in cash and cash equivalents   (1,199,683)   (390,582)
           
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year   4,968,064    838,963 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year  $3,768,381   $448,381 
           
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:          
Cash paid for interest  $-   $14,307 
Cash paid for income tax  $-   $- 
Noncash investing and financing activities:          
Right-of-use of assets and operating lease liabilities recognized  $-   $- 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

F-20
 

 

HOUR LOOP, Inc.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2021 AND 2020

 

NOTE 1 – NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Hour Loop, Inc. (“Hour Loop” or the “Company”) is a rapidly growing technology-enabled consumer products company that uses machine learning and data analytics to design, develop, market and sell products. Hour Loop predominantly operates through online retail channels such as Amazon, Walmart, and Hourloop.com. The Company, as an Internet marketplace seller, is selling products in multiple categories, including home/garden décor, toys, kitchenware, apparels, and electronics. The Company has only one segment, which is online retails (E-Commerce).

 

The Company was incorporated on January 13, 2015 under laws of the state of Washington. On April 7, 2021, the Company was converted from a Washington corporation to a Delaware corporation.

 

In 2019, Hour Loop, Inc. formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Flywheel e-commerce Co., Ltd. (“Flywheel”) to provide business operating consulting services, exclusively to Hour Loop, Inc.

 

Reorganization – On June 30, 2021, the Company completed a corporate reorganization to convert its status from a S corporation (10,000,000 common shares issued and outstanding) to a C corporation (10,000,000 common shares issued and outstanding) with an effective date of July 27 2021. The reorganization did not change the ownership of the Company and the two shareholders Sam Lai and Maggie Yu each continue to own 50% of the Company. The discussion and presentation of the financial statements herein assumes the completion of the Reorganization had become effective as of the beginning of the first period presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

Consistent with Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 1362, the retained earnings as of July 27, 2021 will be distributed to the S corporation shareholders. The amount of this distribution will be available at the time of issuance of July 2021 financial statements.

 

Basis of Presentation – The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of the Company have been prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”).

 

Principles of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Hour Loop and Flywheel. All material inter-company accounts and transactions were eliminated in consolidation.

 

Foreign Currency and Currency Translation – The assets and liabilities of Flywheel, having a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at year-end, with resulting translation gains or losses included within other comprehensive income or loss. Revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at average monthly rates of exchange in effect during each year. All of the Company’s foreign operations use their local currency as their functional currency. Currency gains or losses resulting from transactions executed in currencies other than the functional currency are included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statement of operations and other comprehensive income.

 

F-21
 

 

The Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange risk through its foreign subsidiary in Taiwan, which reports its earnings in Taiwan dollars. The Company translates the foreign assets and liabilities at exchange rates in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date, and translates the revenues and expenses using average rates during the year. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and the consolidated statements of operations. The Company does not hedge foreign currency translation risk in the net assets and income reported from these sources.

 

The relevant exchange rates are listed below:

 

   For the fiscal period ended March 31, 
   2021   2020 
         
Period eneded NTD: USD exchange rate   28.485    30.175 
Period Average NTD: USD exchange rate   28.319    30.063 

 

Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Significant estimated include, but not limited to, estimates associated with the collectability of accounts receivable and inventory valuation.

 

COVID-19 Pandemic – In March 2020, the World Health Organization recognized the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic. This COVID-19 outbreak has severely restricted the level of economic activity around the world. In response to this COVID-19 outbreak, the governments of many countries, states, cities, and other geographic regions have taken preventative or protective actions, such as imposing restrictions on travel and business operations and advising or requiring individuals to limit or forego their time outside of their homes. The Company’s services, operating results and financial performance could be adversely affected by the overall impacts of the pandemic. Management has determined that there is no material uncertainty that casts substantial doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. It is expected that COVID-19 might have some impact, though it is not anticipated to be significant.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents – The Company considers all highly liquid financial instruments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value.

 

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Accounts receivable are stated at historical cost less allowance for doubtful accounts. On a periodic basis, management evaluates its accounts receivable and determines whether to provide an allowance or if any accounts should be written off based on a past history of write-offs, collections and current credit conditions. A receivable is considered past due if the Company has not received payments based on agreed-upon terms. The Company generally does not require any security or collateral to support its receivables. The collection is primarily through Amazon and collection period is usually less than 7 days. The Company performs on-going evaluations of its customers and maintains an allowance for bad and doubtful receivables. As of March 31, 2021 and  December 31, 2020, the Company did not deem it necessary to have an allowance for bad debt or doubtful accounts.

 

F-22
 

 

Inventory and Cost of Goods Sold – The Company’s inventory consists almost entirely of finished goods. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is principally determined on a first-in first-out basis. The Company’s costs include the amounts it pays manufacturers for product, tariffs and duties associated with transporting product across national borders, and freight costs associated with transporting the product from its manufacturers to its warehouses, as applicable. The merchandise with terms of FOB shipping point from vendors was recorded as the inventory-in-transit when inventory left the shipping dock of the vendors but not yet reached the receiving dock of the Company. Management continually evaluates its estimates and judgments including those related to merchandise inventory. Management bases its estimates and judgments on experience and other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management tracks inventory data from multiple inventory data sources to make estimates of inventory value and unit costs. The company currently doesn’t do a physical inventory count. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions or if a physical inventory count was conducted.

 

The “Cost of goods sold” line item in the consolidated statements of operations is principally inventory sold to customers during the reporting period. The Company had inventory allowance balances of $178,407 and $787,355 as of March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

Property and Equipment – Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated or amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset using the straight-line method. The Company elected to expense any individual property and equipment items under $2,500. Thus, as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, property and equipment had no balance.

 

Fair Value Measurement – Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, long term liabilities, due to related parties and other current liabilities approximate fair value because of the immediate or short term maturity of these financial instruments.

 

Revenue Recognition – The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC Topic 606”). The Company adopted ASC Topic 606 as of January 1, 2019. The standard did not affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, or cash flows. There were no changes to the timing of revenue recognition as a result of the adoption.

 

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which provided a five-step model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers as follows:

 

Identify the contract with a customer.
Identify the performance obligations in the contract.
Determine the transaction price.
Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
Recognize revenue when or as performance obligations are satisfied.

 

The Company derives its revenue from the sale of consumer products. The Company sells its products directly to consumers through online retail channels. The Company considers customer order confirmations to be a contract with the customer. Customer confirmations are executed at the time an order is placed through third-party online channels. For all of the Company’s sales and distribution channels, revenue is recognized when control of the product is transferred to the customer (i.e., when the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied), which typically occurs at shipment date. As a result, the Company has a present and unconditional right to payment and record the amount due from the customer in accounts receivable.

 

F-23
 

 

The Company evaluated principal versus agent considerations to determine whether it is appropriate to record platform fees paid to Amazon as an expense or as a reduction of revenue. Platform fees are recorded as sales and distribution expenses and are not recorded as a reduction of revenue because the Company owns and controls all the goods before they are transferred to the customer. The Company can, at any time, direct Amazon, similarly, other third-party logistics providers (“Logistics Providers”), to return the Company’s inventories to any location specified by the Company. It is the Company’s responsibility to make any returns made by customers directly to Logistic Providers and the Company retains the back-end inventory risk. Further, the Company is subject to credit risk (i.e., credit card chargebacks), establishes prices of its products, can determine who fulfills the goods to the customer (Amazon or the Company) and can limit quantities or stop selling the goods at any time. The customer can return the products within 30 days after the products are delivered and estimated sales returns are calculated based on the expected returns. Based on these considerations, the Company is the principal in this arrangement.

 

Performance Obligations. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good to the customer and is the unit of account in ASC Topic 606. A contract’s transaction price is recognized as revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied. Each of the Company’s contracts have a single distinct performance obligation, which is the promise to transfer individual goods. For consumer product sales, the Company has elected to treat shipping and handling as fulfillment activities, and not a separate performance obligation. The Company had shipping and handling costs $1,805,596 and $985,014 for the periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Accordingly, the Company recognizes revenue for its single performance obligation related to product sales at the time control of the merchandise passes to the customer, which is generally at the time of shipment. The Company bills customers for charges for shipping and handling on certain sales and such charges are recorded as part of net revenue.

 

For each contract, the Company considers the promise to transfer products to be the only identified performance obligation. In determining the transaction price, the Company evaluates whether the price is subject to refund or adjustment to determine the net consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. The Company’s revenues for the periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are recognized at a point in time.

 

Income Taxes – Prior to 2021, the Company, with the stockholder’s consent, has elected to be taxed as an “S corporation” under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and comparable state income tax law. As an S corporation, the Company is generally not subject to corporate income taxes, and the Company’s net income or loss is reported on the individual tax return of the stockholder of the Company. Therefore, no provision or liability for income taxes is reflected in the financial statements. The Company also complied with state tax code, including California franchise tax.

 

Management has evaluated its tax positions and has concluded that the Company had taken no uncertain tax positions that could require adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements to comply with provisions set forth in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) section 740, Income Taxes.

 

Presentation of Sales Taxes – Governmental authorities impose sales tax on all of the Company’s sales to nonexempt customers. The Company collects sales tax from customers and remits the entire amount to the governmental authorities. The Company’s accounting policy is to exclude the tax collected and remitted from revenues and cost of revenues.

 

F-24
 

 

The Company makes an assessment of sales tax payable including any related interest and penalties and accrues these estimated on the financial statements. Pursuant to the Wayfair decision, each state enforced sales tax collection at different dates. The company collects and remits sales tax in accordance with the state regulations. The company estimates that as of March 31, 2021, it owed $634,842 in sales taxes along with penalties and interest.

 

Concentrations of Risks – Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and accounts receivable. The Company maintains cash with various domestic and foreign financial institutions of high credit quality. The Company performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of all of the aforementioned institutions.

 

The Company’s accounts receivables are derived from sales contracts with a large number of customers. The Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses on customer accounts when deemed necessary. Significant customers are those which represent more than 10% of the Company’s total net revenue or gross accounts receivable balance at the balance sheet date. During the periods ended March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had no customer that accounted for 10% or more of total net revenues. In addition, as of March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company has no customer that accounted for 10% or more of gross accounts receivable. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, all of its accounts receivable is held by the Company’s sales platform agent, Amazon, which collects money on the Company’s behalf from its customers. Therefore, the Company’s accounts receivable are comprised of receivables due from Amazon and the reimbursement from Amazon to the Company usually takes 15 to 20 days.

 

The Company’s business is reliant on one key vendor which currently provides the Company with its sales platform, logistics and fulfillment operations, including certain warehousing for the Company’s net goods, and invoicing and collection of its revenue from the Company’s end customers. In the first quarter of 2020, approximately 100% of the Company’s revenue was through or with the Amazon sales platform and in 2021, 100% of its net revenue was through or with the Amazon sales platform.

 

Selling and Marketing – Selling and marketing are expensed as incurred in accordance with ASC 720-35. Among this, advertising and promotion costs were $337,162 and $151,938 for the first quarter of 2021 and 2020, respectively. The rest of the selling and marketing expenses is the platform fees to Amazon.

 

General and Administrative – General and administrative are expensed as incurred in accordance with ASC 720-35.

 

Commitments and Contingencies – Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties, and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred.

 

Related Parties – The Company accounts for related party transactions in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 850 (Related Party Disclosures). A party is considered to be related to the Company if the party directly or indirectly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. Related parties also include principal owners of the Company, its management, members of the immediate families of principal owners of the Company and its management and other parties with which the Company may deal if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests. A party which can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties or if it has an ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and can significantly influence the other to an extent that one or more of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests is also a related party.

 

F-25
 

 

Earnings per Share – The Company computes basic earnings per common share using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. For period in which the Company reports net losses, diluted net loss per share attributable to stockholders is the same as basic net loss per share attributable to stockholders, because potentially dilutive common shares are not assumed to have been issued if their effect is anti-dilutive.

 

NOTE 2 – RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issues Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) to amend the authoritative literature in the ASC. There have been several ASUs to date that amend the original text of the ASCs. Other than those discussed below, the Company believes those ASUs issued to date either (i) provide supplemental guidance, (ii) are technical corrections, (iii) are not applicable to the Company or (iv) are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company.

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial instruments. The amendments in this ASU replace the incurred loss model for recognition of credit losses with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses over the life of the loan and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to calculate credit loss estimates. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, which provides a one-year deferral of the effective dates of ASU No. 2016-13. Accordingly, the guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 for public companies. The Company is an Emerging Growth Company (EGC) and currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on the financial statements and related disclosures.

 

NOTE 3 – Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, cash and cash equivalents consisted of the following:

 

   March 31,   December 31, 
   2021   2020 
         
Checking account  $3,767,555   $4,966,471 
Savings account and Cash   826    1,593 
Total  $3,768,381   $4,968,064 

 

F-26
 

 

NOTE 4 – Inventory

 

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, inventory consisted of the following:

 

   March 31,   December 31, 
   2021   2020 
         
Inventory  $6,759,143   $4,172,856 
Inventory-In-Transit  $753,105   $620,346 
Allowance   (178,407)   (431,312)
Total  $7,333,841   $4,361,890 

 

NOTE 5 – Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

 

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:

 

   March 31,   December 31, 
   2021   2020 
         
Sales Tax Payable  $634,842   $673,334 
Accrued Expenses   132,227    668,674 
Total  $767,069   $1,342,008 

 

NOTE 6 – Debts

 

Line of Credit

 

On June 19, 2019, the Company signed a line of credit agreement in the amount of $785,000 with Bank of America (the “Lender”) and the agreement matures on June 18, 2024 and bears interest at a rate of 8.11 % per annum.

 

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the outstanding balances under a line of credit from Bank of America were $-0- and $-0-, respectively. Also, the Company has deferred interest payable $27,996 as of March 31, 2021.

 

PPP Loan

 

On April 7, 2020, the Company issued a Promissory Note (the “Note”) in the amount of $27,012 under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) to JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Lender”). The PPP, established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which was enacted March 27, 2020, provides for loans to qualifying businesses for amounts up to 2.5 times of the average monthly payroll expenses of the qualifying business. The Note matures on April 7, 2022 and bears interest at a rate of 0.98% per annum, payable monthly commencing October 5, 2020, following an initial deferral period as specified under the PPP loan. The Note may be prepaid at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (the “Flexibility Act”), signed on June 5, 2020, amended certain provisions of the PPP, including the deferral period and repayment terms. The Flexibility Act extends the deferral period of payments of PPP loan principal, interest, and fees to the date when the SBA makes a final decision on the borrower’s application for forgiveness, or 10 months after the last day of the covered period if a borrower has not applied for forgiveness (whichever is earlier). This extension applies regardless of the terms of the PPP and does not require an amendment of the PPP. As such, the Company has not made any payments on the Note during 2020.

 

The current and the long-term portions of the Paycheck Protection Program loan balance at March 31, 2021 were $25,480 and $1,532, respectively. The current and the long-term portions of the Paycheck Protection Program loan balance at December 31, 2020 were $20,958 and $6,054, respectively.

 

NOTE 7 – Related Party Transactions

 

From time to time, the Company receives advances from its stockholders to fund its operations. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had payables to its stockholders in the amounts of $1,149,197 and $1,195,074, respectively. These related party payables are non-interest-bearing and due upon demand.

 

F-27
 

 

NOTE 8 – Leases

 

The Company adopted as of January 1, 2019 ASC Topic 842, Leases, which allows the Company to apply the transition provision at the Company’s adoption date instead of at the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. Therefore, the Company recognized and measured leases existing at January 1, 2019 but without retrospective application. In addition, the Company elected the optional practical expedient permitted under the transition guidance which allows the Company to carry forward the historical accounting treatment for existing leases upon adoption. No impact was recorded to the beginning retained earnings for ASC Topic 842. The Company had three operating leases (Hour Loop had Xiamen warehouse lease and Seattle warehouse lease, and Flywheel had office lease in Taiwan as of September 1, 2020). Hour Loop also subleased a Seattle warehouse to a third-party in October 2019. The Company had sublease income of $24,536 for the period ended March 31, 2020. The leased assets in Hour Loop and Flywheel are presented as right-of-use assets.

 

NOTE 9 – Revenue

 

Revenue was comprised of the following for three months ended March 31:

 

   Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended 
   March 31, 2021   March 31, 2020 
         
Revenue  $10,075,521   $4,700,422 
Sales return   (752,608)   (438,559)
Total  $9,322,913   $4,261,863 

 

NOTE 10 – General and Administrative

 

General and administrative were comprised of the following for three months ended March 31:

 

    Three Months Ended     Three Months Ended  
    March 31, 2021     March 31, 2020  
             
Storage & Rental Fee   $ 29,450     $ 31,231  
Outside Service     51,917       9,996  
Payrolls     296,538       142,604  
Sales Taxes     5,661       40,292  
Other G&A Exp     153,243       82,442  
Total   $ 536,809     $ 306,565  

 

NOTE 11 – Stockholders’ Equity

 

Preferred Stock

 

The authorized capital stock of the Company was 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with $0.0001 par value per share as of March 31, 2021. The Company did not have any preferred shares outstanding as of March 31, 2021 or 2020. The holders of the preferred stock in preference, are entitled to receive dividends, if and when declared by the Board of Directors.

 

F-28
 

 

Common Stock

 

As of March 31, 2021 and 2020 the authorized capital stock of the Company was 300,000,000 shares of common stock with $0.0001 par value per share and there were 10,000,000 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

NOTE 12 – Commitments and Contingencies

 

As of March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no material or significant commitments outstanding.

 

From time-to-time, the Company is subject to various litigation and other claims in the normal course of business. The Company establishes liabilities in connection with legal actions that management deems to be probable and estimable. As of March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no pending legal proceeds outstanding. No amounts have been accrued in the financial statements with respect to any matters.

 

NOTE 13 – Subsequent Event

 

PPP Loan

   

Under the terms of the PPP loan, up to the entire amount of principal and accrued interest may be forgiven to the extent PPP loan proceeds are used for qualifying expenses as described in the CARES Act and applicable implementing guidance issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration under the PPP loan. On May 6, 2021, the entire amount of principal and accrued interest on the Note was forgiven

 

F-29
 

 

[    ] Shares of Common Stock

 

 

HOUR LOOP, INC.

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

EF HUTTON

 

division of Benchmark Investments, LLC

 

__________, 2021

 

Through and including __________, 2021 (the 25th day after the date of this offering), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.

 

 
 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

The following table sets forth all expenses to be paid by the registrant, other than estimated underwriting discounts and commissions, in connection with our public offering. All amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee, the Nasdaq Capital Market listing fee and the FINRA filing fee:

 

Type  Amount 
SEC Registration Fee  $6,666 
FINRA Filing Fee   8,000 
Nasdaq Capital Market   50,000 
Legal Fees and Expenses   230,000 
Accounting Fees and Expenses   400,000 
Transfer agent and registrar’s fees and expenses   10,000 
Printing and engraving expenses   15,000 
Non-Accountable Expense Allowance   287,500 
Miscellaneous expense   50,000 
Total Expenses  $1,057,166 

 

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that all of our directors, officers, employees and agents shall be entitled to be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). Section 145 of the DGCL concerning indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents is set forth below.

 

Section 145. Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents; insurance.

 

  (a) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
     
  (b) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

II-1
 

 

  (c) To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
     
  (d) Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
     
  (e) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former officers and directors or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
     
  (f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.
     
  (g) A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.
     
  (h) For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

 

II-2
 

 

  (i) For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.
     
  (j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
     
  (k) The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any by law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).

 

Our certificate of incorporation also permit us to maintain insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We have purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.

 

These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

 

Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our certificate of incorporation affecting indemnification rights, whether by our board of directors, stockholders or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

 

The registrant also intends to enter into indemnification agreements with its future directors and executive officers. The registrant has purchased directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. The registrant believes that this insurance is necessary to attract and retain qualified directors and officers.

 

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

 

II-3
 

 

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

 

The following is a summary of transactions by us since our inception in January 2014 involving sales of our securities that were not registered under the Securities Act.

 

In connection with our original formation as a Washington corporation on January 13, 2015, we issued 500 shares of common stock, no par value per share, to each of Sam Lai, our Chief Executive Officer, and Maggie Yu, our Senior Vice President (for an aggregate of 1,000 shares of common stock) for services rendered.

 

In connection with our conversion from a Washington corporation to a Delaware corporation on April 7, 2021, we issued 5,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, to each of Sam Lai, our Chief Executive Officer, and Maggie Yu, our Senior Vice President (for an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of common stock).

 

The above issuances/sales were made pursuant to an exemption from registration as set forth in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

  (a) Exhibits. The list of exhibits preceding the signature page of this registration statement is incorporated herein by reference.
  (b) Financial Statements. See page F-1 for an index to the financial statements and schedules included in the registration statement.

 

Item 17. Undertakings

 

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

 

  (a) Rule 415 Offering. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
     
  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
     
  (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
     
  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.
     
  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

II-4
 

 

  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
     
  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
     
  (i) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that it will:
     
  a. for determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, treat the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant under Rule 424(b)(1), or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 as part of this registration statement as of the time the Commission declared it effective.
     
  b. for determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, treat each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus as a new registration statement for the securities offered in the registration statement, and that offering of the securities at that time as the initial bona fide offering of those securities.

 

II-5
 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

No.

  Exhibit
1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement **
3.1   Certificate of Incorporation of Hour Loop, Inc. filed with the Washington Secretary of State on January 13, 2015*
3.2   Certificate of Conversion of Hour Loop, Inc. filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on April 7, 2021*
3.3   Certificate of Incorporation of Hour Loop, Inc. filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on April 7, 2021*
3.4   Bylaws*
4.1   Specimen Common Stock Certificate**
4.2   Form of Representative’s Warrant**
5.1   Opinion of Anthony L.G., PLLC**
10.1   Employment Agreement, dated May 27, 2021, by and between Hour Loop, Inc. and Sam Lai *†
10.2   Employment Agreement, dated May 27, 2021, by and between Hour Loop, Inc. and Maggie Yu *†
10.3   Employment Agreement, dated June 14, 2021, by and between Hour Loop, Inc. and Rahul Ratan *†
10.4   Director Agreement, dated June 21, 2021, by and between Hour Loop, Inc. and Michael Lenner *†
10.5   Director Agreement, dated June 21, 2021, by and between Hour Loop, Inc. and Douglas Branch*†
10.6   Hour Loop, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan *†
10.7   Amazon Services Business Solutions Agreement between Amazon.com, Inc. and Hour Loop, Inc.*
10.8   Changes to Amazon Services Business Solutions Agreement effective November 7, 2020 between Amazon.com, Inc. and Hour Loop, Inc.*
14.1   Code of Ethics**
21.1   List of Subsidiaries*
23.1   Consent of TPS Thayer, LLC*
23.2   Consent of Anthony L.G., PLLC (included on Exhibit 5.1)**
24.1   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page)*

 

* Filed herewith

** To be filed by amendment

† Includes management contracts and compensation plans and arrangements

 

II-6
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Redmond, State of Washington, on _________, 2021.

 

  HOUR LOOP, INC.
     
  By:  
    Sam Lai
   

Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer)

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

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

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities held on _______, 2021.

 

Name   Position   Date
         
    Chief Executive Officer and Director    
Sam Lai   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
    Chief Financial Officer    
Rahul Ratan   (Principal Financial Officer)    
         
    Senior Vice President and Director    
Sau Kuen (Maggie) Yu        
         
    Director    
Douglas Branch        
         
    Director    
Michael Lenner        

 

II-7

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.3

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.4

 

BYLAWS OF

Hour Loop, Inc.

a Delaware corporation

 

Adopted April 7, 2021

 

1. Offices. Hour Loop, Inc. (the “Corporation”) may have an office or offices, and keep the books and records of the Corporation, except as may otherwise be required by applicable law, at such other place or places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

2. Meetings of Stockholders.

 

  2.1. Annual Meetings. The annual meetings of stockholders for the election of directors and for such other business as may be stated in the notice of the meeting shall be held at such time and date and place as the Board, by resolution, shall determine and as set forth in the notice of the meeting and shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware. If the date of the annual meeting shall fall upon a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day.
     
  2.2. Deferred Meeting for Election of Directors, etc. If the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of other business is not held within the time specified in Section 2.1, the Board shall call a special meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of other business as soon thereafter as convenient.
     
  2.3. Other Special Meetings. A special meeting of stockholders (other than a special meeting for the election of directors), unless otherwise prescribed by statute, may only be called by the Board and may be called at any time by the Board. At any special meeting of stockholders, only such business may be transacted as is related to the purpose(s) of such meeting set forth in the notice thereof given pursuant to Section 2.5 or in any waiver of notice thereof given pursuant to Section 2.6.
     
  2.4. Fixing Record Date. For the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix, in advance, a date as of the record date for any such determination of stockholders. Such date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. If no such record date is fixed:
       
    (a) The record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if no notice is given or if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held;
       
    (b) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent is expressed;
       
    (c) The record date for determining stockholders for any purpose other than those specified in Sections 2.4(a) and Section 2.4(b) shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

 
 

 

When a determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of stockholders has been made as provided in this Section 2.4, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless the Board fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

  2.5. Notice of Meetings of Stockholders; Location. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.4 and Section 2.6, whenever under any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law (as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time, and including any successor provision thereto, the “DGCL”), the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be amended, supplemented and/or restated from time to time, the “Certificate”) or these Bylaws, stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, written notice shall be given stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called. Except as otherwise provided by any provision of the DGCL, a copy of the notice of any meeting shall be given, personally or by mail, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting, to each stockholder entitled to notice of, or to vote at, such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States Mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent of the Corporation that the notice required by this Section 2.5 has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken and, at the adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting originally called. If, however, the adjournment is for more than 60 days or if, after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. The Board may designate the place of meeting for any meeting of Stockholders. If no designation is made by the Board, the place of meeting shall be the principal executive offices of the Corporation. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by the DGCL
     
  2.6. Waivers of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given to the stockholders under any provision of the DGCL, or the Certificate or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by a stockholder entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
     
  2.7. Quorum of Stockholders; Adjournment; Postponement. The holders of a majority of the voting power, present, in person or represented by proxy, shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at such meeting, except where otherwise provided by any provision of the DGCL. When a quorum is once present to organize a meeting of stockholders, it is not broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any stockholders. The Chairman, or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy at any meeting of stockholders, including an adjournment meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Any previously scheduled meeting of stockholders may be postponed, and any previously scheduled special meeting of Stockholders may be canceled, by the Board upon public notice given prior to the time previously scheduled for such meeting of stockholders.

 

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  2.8. Voting; Proxies.

 

    (a) Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate, every stockholder of record shall be entitled at every meeting of stockholders to one vote for each share of capital stock standing in his name on the record of stockholders determined in accordance with Section 2.4. If the Certificate provides for more or less than one vote for any share on any matter, every reference in these Bylaws or any provision of the DGCL, to a majority or other proportion of stock shall refer to such majority or other proportion of the votes of such stock. The provisions of the DGCL shall apply in determining whether any shares of capital stock may be voted and the persons, if any entitled to vote such shares, but the Corporation shall be protected in treating the persons in whose names shares of capital stock stand on the record of stockholders as owners thereof for all purposes.
       
    (b) In any uncontested election of directors, each person receiving a majority of the votes cast shall be deemed elected. For purposes of this paragraph, a ‘majority of the votes cast’ shall mean that the number of votes cast ‘for’ a director must exceed the number of votes cast ‘against’ that director (with ‘abstentions’ and ‘broker non-votes’ not counted as a vote cast with respect to that director). In any contested election of directors, the persons receiving a plurality of the votes cast, up to the number of directors to be elected in such election, shall be deemed elected. The Board may, but need not, establish policies and procedures regarding the nomination, election and resignation of directors, which policies and procedures may: (i) include a condition to nomination by the Board for election or re-election as a director that an individual agree to tender, if elected or re-elected, an irrevocable offer of resignation conditioned on: (A) failing to receive the required vote for re-election at the next meeting at which such person would face re-election and (B) acceptance of the resignation by the Board, (ii) require: (A) if one exists, the Corporation’s nominating and governance committee or other committee designated by the Board (the “Nominating and Governance Committee”) to make a recommendation to the Board on whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken and (B) the Board to act on the Nominating and Governance Committee’s recommendation and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind it within 90 days, to the extent practicable, from the date of the certification of the election results. A “contested election” is one in which: (i) the Secretary receives a notice that a Stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board in compliance with the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in Section and (ii) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or before the 10th day before the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders. An “uncontested election” is any election other than a contested election. All elections of directors shall be by written ballot unless otherwise provided in the Certificate.
       
    (c) As to each matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders (other than the election of directors), except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate or by these Bylaws, such matter shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast on such matter.
       
    (d) In voting on any other question on which a vote by ballot is required by law, the voting shall be by ballot. Each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting or by his proxy and shall state the number of shares voted. Every stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person(s) to act for him by proxy. Any proxy to be used at a meeting of stockholders must be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation or his or her representative at the principal executive offices of the Corporation at or before the time of the meeting. The validity and enforceability of any proxy shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL. The Chairman shall fix and announce at the meeting the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting.

 

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  2.9. Nomination of Directors. Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible for election as directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (a) by or at the direction of the Board or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors at a meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2.10

 

  2.10. Notices of Business or Nominations for Director.

 

    (a) For director nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder, a stockholder’s notice must include the following information and/or documents, as applicable: (A) the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of the beneficial owner of stock of the Corporation, if any, on whose behalf such nomination or proposal of other business is made (such beneficial owner, the “Beneficial Owner”); (B) representations that, as of the date of delivery of such notice, such stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation and is entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at such meeting to propose and vote for such nomination and any such other business; (C) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director (a “Stockholder Nominee”): (1) all information relating to such Stockholder Nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended from time to time, the “Exchange Act”) or any successor provision thereto, including such Stockholder Nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected and to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement and form of proxy if the Corporation so determines, (2) a statement whether such Stockholder Nominee, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such Stockholder Nominee’s election or re-election, an irrevocable offer of resignation effective upon such Stockholder Nominee’s failure to receive the required vote for re-election at the next meeting at which such Stockholder Nominee would face re-election and upon acceptance of such resignation by the Board; and (3) such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Corporation; (D) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting: (1) a brief description of such business, (2) the text of the proposal (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, if such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the text of the proposed amendment) and (3) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; and (E) in all cases: (1) the name of each individual, firm, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other entity (including any successor thereto, a “Person”) with whom the stockholder, any Beneficial Owner, any Stockholder Nominee and the respective affiliates and associates (as defined under Regulation 12B under the Exchange Act or any successor provision thereto) of such stockholder, Beneficial Owner and/or Stockholder Nominee (each of the foregoing, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Stockholder, Beneficial Owner and/or Stockholder Nominee, a “Stockholder Group Member”) either is acting in concert with respect to the Corporation or has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy given to such Person in response to a public proxy solicitation made generally by such Person to all holders of common stock of the Corporation) or disposing of any capital stock of the Corporation or to cooperate in obtaining, changing or influencing the control of the Corporation (except independent financial, legal and other advisors acting in the ordinary course of their respective businesses) (each Person described in this clause (1), including each Stockholder Group Member, a “Covered Person”), and a description, and, if in writing, a copy, of each such agreement, arrangement or understanding, (2) a list of the class, series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are beneficially owned or owned of record by each Covered Person, together with documentary evidence of such record or beneficial ownership, (3) a list of all derivative securities (as defined in Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act or any successor provision thereto) and other derivatives or similar arrangements to which any Covered Person is a counterparty and relating to any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, a description of all economic terms of all such derivative securities and other derivatives or similar arrangements and copies of all agreements and other documents relating to each of such derivative securities and other derivatives or similar arrangements, (4) a list of all transactions by any Covered Person involving any shares of capital stock of the Corporation or any derivative securities (as defined under Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act or any successor provision thereto) or other derivatives or similar arrangements related to any shares of capital stock of the Corporation entered into or consummated within 60 days prior to the date of such notice, (5) details of all other material interests of each Covered Person in such nomination or proposal or shares of capital stock of the Corporation (including any rights to dividends or performance-related fees based on any increase or decrease in the value of such shares of capital stock) and (6) a representation as to whether any Covered Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to, in the case of a nomination or nominations, at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock reasonably believed by the Covered Person to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by the stockholder and, in the case of a proposal, holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to elect any Stockholder Nominee or approve such proposal (such representation, the “Solicitation Representation”).

 

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    (b) A notice delivered by or on behalf of any Stockholder under this Section 2.10 shall be deemed to be not in compliance with this Section 2.10 and not be effective if: (x) such notice does not include all of the information, documents and representations required under this Section 2.10, (y) after delivery of such notice, any information or document required to be included in such notice changes or is amended, modified or supplemented, as applicable, prior to the date of the relevant meeting and such information and/or document is not delivered to the Corporation by way of a further written notice as promptly as practicable following the event causing such change in information or amendment, modification or supplement, as applicable, and in any case where such event occurs within 45 days of the date of the relevant meeting, within five business days after such event or (z) any Covered Person does not act in accordance with the representation set forth in the Solicitation Representation; provided, however, that the Board shall have the authority to waive any such non-compliance if the Board determines that such action is appropriate in the exercise of its fiduciary duties.
       
    (c) Notwithstanding Section 2.10(b), in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased effective at the next annual meeting and there is no Public Announcement (as defined below) specifying the size of the increased Board made by the Corporation at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.10 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such Public Announcement is first made by the Corporation and such notice otherwise complies with the requirements of this Section 2.10. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days, or delayed by more than 90 days, from such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by a stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and the 10th day following the day on which the Public Announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the Public Announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a Stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 2.10.
       
    (d) “Public Announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, Section 14 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any document delivered to all Stockholders (including any quarterly income statement).

 

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  2.11. Selection and Duties of Inspectors at Meeting of Stockholders. The Board, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, may appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If inspectors are not so appointed, the person presiding at such meeting may and, on the request of any stockholder entitled to vote thereat shall, appoint one or more inspectors. In case any person appointed fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the Board in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the person presiding thereat. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspector(s) shall determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, determine the result, and shall do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On the request of the person presiding at the meeting or any stockholder entitled to vote thereat, the inspector(s) shall make a report in writing of any challenge, question or matter determined by him or them and execute a certificate of any fact found by him or them. Any report or certificate made by the inspector(s) shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated and of the vote as certified by him or them.
     
  2.12. Organization. At every meeting of stockholders, the Chief Executive Officer or, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, a President or a Vice President, and in case more than one Vice President shall be present, that Vice President designated by the Board (or in the absence of any such designation, the most senior Vice President, based on age, present) shall act as chairman of the meeting. In case none of the officers above designated to act as chairman or secretary of the meeting, respectively, shall be present, a chairman or a secretary of the meeting, as the case may be, may be chosen by a majority of the voting power present at such meeting, which includes the voting power which is present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting.
     
  2.13. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of stockholders shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting, but the order of business to be followed at any meeting at which a quorum is present may be changed by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting by the holders of shares of capital stock present, in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting.
     
  2.14. Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate or these Bylaws, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the stockholders holding at least a majority of the voting power, except that if a different proportion of voting power is required for such action at a meeting, then that proportion of written consents is required. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the date the earliest dated consent is delivered to the Corporation, a written consent or consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation in the manner prescribed herein. An electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder or proxyholder, or by a person or persons authorized to act for a stockholder or proxyholder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purposes of this Section 2.14 to the extent permitted by law. Any such consent shall be delivered in accordance with the DGCL. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing or electronic transmission and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders or members to take the action were delivered to the Corporation as provided by law.

 

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  2.15. Copies, Etc. Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing

 

3. Directors.

 

  3.1. Number and Term. Except as provided by any provision of the DGCL, the number of directors shall initially be one (1) or such other number of persons as the majority of the full Board, by resolution, may from time to time determine. The directors shall, except for filling vacancies (whether resulting from an increase in the number of directors, resignations, removals or otherwise), be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders and each director shall be elected to serve until his successor is elected and qualifies. Directors need not be stockholders. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. The members of the Board may elect a chairman of the Board (the “Chairman”) by a vote of a majority vote of all directors (which may include the vote of the person so elected).
     
  3.2. Resignations. Any director, member of a committee or other officer may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein and, if no time be specified, at the time of its receipt by the Chief Executive Officer or Secretary. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
     
  3.3. Vacancies. Except as may otherwise be provided in connection with rights to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, which may be granted to the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, if the position of any director becomes vacant (whether resulting from an increase in the number of directors, resignations, removals or otherwise), the remaining directors in office, though less than a quorum, by a majority vote, may appoint any qualified person to fill such vacancy, who shall hold office for the unexpired term and until his successor shall be duly chosen.
     
  3.4. Removal. Other than with respect to any director(s) who are named by a class of preferred stock of the Corporation, which may be removed and replaced either for or without cause at any time solely by the holders of such class of preferred stock, any director(s) may be removed by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote, at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose and the vacancies thus created may be filled, at the meeting held for the purpose of removal, by the majority affirmative vote of the holders of all of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote.

 

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  3.5. Increase or Decrease of Number. The number of directors may be increased or decreased only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors, though less than a quorum. Any newly created directorships may be filled in the same manner as a vacancy.
     
  3.6. Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, except as otherwise provided by applicable law or by the Certificate. If any such provision is made in the Certificate, the powers and duties imposed upon the Board by applicable law shall be exercised or performed to such extent and by such person or persons as shall be provided in the Certificate. The Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Corporation except such as are by law, or by the Certificate of the Corporation or by these Bylaws, conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders.
     
  3.7. Conference Call. Members of the Board or any committee designated by such Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of telephone conference or similar communication equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and participation pursuant to this Section 3.7 shall constitute presence at such meeting.
     
  3.8. Committees. The Board may, by resolution(s) passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one (1) or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member or such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any such meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending these Bylaws of the Corporation and, unless the resolution, these Bylaws or the Certificate expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock.
     
  3.9. Meetings. Meetings of the Board, regular or special, may be held at any place within or without the State of Delaware.

 

    (a) On the day when, and at the place where, the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors is held, and as soon as practicable thereafter, the Board may hold its annual meeting, without notice of such meeting, for the purposes or organization, election of officers and transaction of other business. The annual meeting of the Board may be held at any other time and place specified in a notice given as provided in this Section 3.9 for special meetings of the Board or in a waiver of notice thereof.

 

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    (b) Regular meetings of the directors may be held without notice at such place and time as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the directors.
       
    (c) Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chief Executive Officer or by the Secretary on the written request of any two or more directors on at least ten (10) days’ notice to each director and shall be held at such place(s) as may be determined by the directors, or as shall be stated in the call of the meeting.
       
    (d) Anything in these Bylaws or in any resolution adopted by the Board to the contrary notwithstanding, notice of any meeting of the Board need not be given to any director who submits a signed waiver of such notice, whether before or after such meeting, or who attends such meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to him.

 

  3.10. Quorum. A majority of the directors in office from time to time shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is obtained and no further notice thereof need be given, other than by announcement at the meeting which shall be so adjourned.
     
  3.11. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or paid a stated salary or paid other compensation as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed compensation for attending committee meetings.
     
  3.12. Action Without Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if a written consent thereto is signed by all members of the Board, or of such committee, as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
     
  3.13. Telephone Meeting. Any one or more members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of a telephone conference or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
     
  3.14. Annual Report. As soon as practicable after the close of each fiscal year, a report of the business and affairs of the Corporation to the shareholders shall be made under the direction of the Board, unless the Board determines, in its reasonable discretion, that such a report is not reasonably required.

 

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4. Officers.

 

  4.1. Officers. The Board may elect or appoint a Chief Executive Officer and such other officers as it may determine. The Board may designate one or more Vice Presidents as Executive Vice Presidents and may use descriptive words or phrases to designate the standing, seniority or area of special competence of the Vice Presidents elected or appointed by it. Each officer shall hold his office until his successor is elected and qualified or until his earlier death, resignation or removal in the manner provided in Section 4.2. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. The Board may require any officer to give a bond or other security for the faithful performance of his duties, in such amount and with such sureties as the Board may determine. All officers as between themselves and the Corporation shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation as may be provided in these Bylaws or as the Board may from time to time determine.
     
  4.2. Removal of Officers. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board may be removed by the Board with or without cause. The removal of an officer without cause shall be without prejudice to his contract rights, if any. The election or appointment of an officer shall not of itself create contract rights.
     
  4.3. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by notifying the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary in writing. Such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice or at such later time as is therein specified and, unless otherwise specified, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. The resignation of an officer shall be without prejudice to the contract rights of the Corporation, if any.
     
  4.4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws for the regular election or appointment to such office.
     
  4.5. Compensation. Salaries or other compensation of the officers may be fixed from time to time by the Board. No officer shall be prevented from receiving a salary or other compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director.
     
  4.6. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general supervision and direction of the business and affairs of the Corporation, subject to control of the Board, and shall report directly to the Board, and shall have supervisory responsibility over officers operating and discharging their responsibilities. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform all such other duties which are commonly incident to the capacity of Chief Executive Officer or which are delegated to him or her by the Board.
     
  4.7. President. The President shall have general supervision and direction of the business and affairs of the Corporation as directed by the Chief Executive Officer. The President shall, if present, preside at all meetings of the stockholders. He may, with the Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer, sign certificates for shares of the Corporation. He may sign and execute, in the name of the Corporation, deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts and other instruments, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be required by law otherwise to be signed or executed, and, in general, he shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board. If there is no President, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform the President’s functions.

 

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  4.8. Principal Financial Officer. The Principal Financial Officer shall perform all the powers and duties of the office of the principal financial officer and in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Corporation. The Principal Financial Officer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as he may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board may from time to time determine. If there is no Principal Financial Officer, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform the Principal Financial Officer’s functions.
     
  4.9. Executive Vice Presidents. At the request of the President or, in his absence, at the request of the Board, the Executive Vice Presidents shall (in such order as may be designated by the Board or, in the absence of any such designation, in order of seniority based on age) perform all of the duties of the President and, so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all restrictions upon the President. Any Executive Vice President may also, with the Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer, sign certificates for shares of the Corporation, may sign and execute in the name of the Corporation deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments authorized by the Board, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be required by law otherwise to be signed or executed, and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board or the President.
     
  4.10. Secretary. The Secretary, if present, shall act as Secretary of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board and shall keep the minutes thereof in the proper book(s) to be provided for that purpose; he shall see that all notices required to be given by the Corporation are duly given and served; he may, with the Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President, sign certificates for shares of the Corporation; he shall be custodian of the seal of the Corporation, if any, and may seal with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof, if any, all certificates for shares of capital stock of the Corporation and all documents; he shall have charge of the stock ledger and also of the other books, records and papers of the Corporation relating to its organization and management as a Corporation and shall see that the reports, statements and other documents required by law are properly kept and filed; and shall, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. If there is no Secretary, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform the Secretary’s functions.
     
  4.11. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds, securities and notes of the Corporation; receive and give receipts for monies due and payable to the Corporation from any sources whatsoever; deposit all such monies in the name of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be selected in accordance with these Bylaws; against proper vouchers, cause such funds to be disbursed by checks or drafts on the authorized depositories of the Corporation signed in such manner as shall be determined in accordance with any provisions of these Bylaws, and be responsible for the accuracy of the amounts of all monies to disbursed; regularly enter or cause to be entered in books to be kept by him or under his direction full and adequate account of all monies received or paid by him for the account of the Corporation; have the right to require, from time to time, reports or statements giving such information as he may desire with respect to any and all financial transactions of the Corporation from the officers or agents transacting the same; render to the Chief Executive Officer or the Board, whenever the Chief Executive Officer or the Board, respectively, shall require him so to do, an account of the financial conditions of the Corporation and of all his transactions as Treasurer; exhibit at all reasonable times his books of account and other records to any of the directors upon application at the office of the Corporation where such books and records are kept; and, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board; and he may sign with the Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President certificates for shares of the capital stock of the Corporation. If there is no Treasurer, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform the Treasurer’s functions.

 

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  4.12. Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Secretary or by the Treasurer, respectively, or by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers may, with the Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President, sign certificates for shares of the Corporation.
     
  4.13. Additional Matters. The Chief Executive Officer, the President and the Principal Financial Officer of the Corporation shall have the authority to designate employees of the Corporation to have the title of Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Controller or Assistant Secretary. Any employee so designated shall have the powers and duties determined by the officer making such designation. The persons upon whom such titles are conferred shall not be deemed officers of the Corporation unless elected by the Board.

 

5. Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, etc.

 

  5.1. Execution of Contracts. The Board may authorize any officer, employee or agent, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to enter into any contract or execute and satisfy any instrument, and any such authority may be general or confined to specific instances, or otherwise limited.
     
  5.2. Loans. The Chief Executive Officer or any other officer, employee or agent authorized by these Bylaws or by the Board may effect loans and advances at any time for the Corporation from any bank, trust company or other institutions or from any firm, corporation or individual and for such loans and advances may make, execute and deliver promissory notes, bonds or other certificates or evidence of indebtedness of the Corporation and, when authorized by the Board to do so, may pledge and hypothecate or transfer any securities or the property of the Corporation as security for any such loans or advances. Such authority conferred by the Board may be general or confined to specific instances or otherwise limited.
     
  5.3. Checks, Drafts, etc. All checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money out of the funds of the Corporation and all notes or other evidence of indebtedness of the Corporation shall be signed on behalf of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board.
     
  5.4. Deposits. The funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the order of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board may select or as may be selected by an officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to whom such power may from time to time be delegated by the Board.

 

6. Stocks and Dividends.

 

  6.1. Certificates Representing Shares. The shares of the Corporation shall not be certificated unless required by law.

 

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  6.2. Transfer of Shares. Transfers of shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation by the holder thereof or by his duly authorized attorney appointed by a power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or a transfer agent of the Corporation and on surrender of any certificate(s) representing such shares of capital stock, if they exist, properly endorsed for transfer and upon payment of all necessary transfer taxes and such other instruments of transfer as requested by the Corporation. A person in whose name shares of capital stock shall stand on the books of the Corporation shall be deemed the owner thereof to receive dividends, to vote as such owner and for all other purposes as respects the Corporation, its stockholders and creditors for any purpose, except to render the transferee liable for the debts of the Corporation to the extent provided by law, until such transfer shall have been entered on the books of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.
     
  6.3. Registered Stockholders and Addresses of Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its records as the owner of shares of capital stock to receive dividends and to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares of capital stock on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by applicable law. Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary or transfer agent of the Corporation an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be given to such person, and, if any stockholder fails to designate such address, corporate notices may be given to such person by mail directed to such person at such person’s post office address, if any, as the same appears on the stock record books of the Corporation or at such person’s last known post office address or as otherwise provided by applicable law.
     
  6.4. Transfer and Registry Agents. The Corporation may from time to time maintain one or more transfer offices or agents and registry offices or agents at such place(s) as may be determined from time to time by the Board.
     
  6.5. Lost, Destroyed, Stolen and Mutilated Certificates. The holder of any shares shall immediately notify the Corporation of any loss, destruction, theft or mutilation of the certificate representing such shares and the Corporation may issue a new certificate to replace the certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated. The Board may, in its discretion, as a condition to the issue of any such new certificate, require the owner of the lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate, or his legal representatives, to make proof satisfactory to the Board of such loss, destruction, theft or mutilation and to advertise such fact in such manner as the Board may require, and to give the Corporation and its transfer agents and registrars, or such of them as the Board may require, a bond in such form, in such sums and with such surety or sureties as the Board may direct, to indemnify the Corporation and its transfer agents and registrars against any claim that may be made against any of them on account of the continued existence of any such certificate so alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated and against any expense in connection with such claim.
     
  6.6. Regulations. The Board may make rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these Bylaws or with the Certificate, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates representing shares of its capital stock.

 

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  6.7. Restriction on Transfer of Stock. A written restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of capital stock of the Corporation, if permitted by the provisions of the DGCL, and noted conspicuously on the certificate representing such capital stock, if such certificate exists, may be enforced against the holder of the restricted capital stock of any successor or transferee of the holder including an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of the holder. Unless noted conspicuously on the certificate representing such capital stock, a restriction, even though permitted by the provisions of the DGCL, as the same may be amended and supplements, shall be ineffective except against a person with actual knowledge of the restriction. A restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of capital stock of the Corporation may be imposed either by the Certificate or by an agreement among any number of stockholders or among such stockholders and the Corporation. No restriction so imposed shall be binding with respect to capital stock issued prior to the adoption of the restriction unless the holders of such capital stock are parties to an agreement or voted in favor of the restriction. Except to the extent that the Corporation has obtained an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Corporation that transfer restrictions are not required under applicable securities laws, or has otherwise satisfied itself that such transfer restrictions are not required, any certificates representing shares of the Corporation shall bear a legend on the face of the certificate, or on the reverse of the certificate if a reference to the legend is contained on the face, which reads substantially as follows:
     
    THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND NO INTEREST MAY BE SOLD, DISTRIBUTED, ASSIGNED, OFFERED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS (A) THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS COVERING ANY SUCH TRANSACTION INVOLVING SAID SECURITIES, (B) THIS CORPORATION RECEIVES AN OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE HOLDER OF THESE SECURITIES SATISFACTORY TO THIS CORPORATION STATING THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, OR (C) THIS CORPORATION OTHERWISE SATISFIES ITSELF THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION.
     
  6.8. Dividends, Surplus, etc. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate and of law, the Board:

 

  (a) may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions on the outstanding shares of capital stock in such amounts and at such time to times as, in its discretion, the conditions of the affairs of the Corporation shall render advisable;
     
  (b) may use and apply, in its discretion, any of the surplus of the Corporation in purchasing or acquiring any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, or purchase warrants therefor, in accordance with law, or any of its bonds, debentures, notes, scrip or other securities or evidence of indebtedness; and
     
  (c) may set aside from time to time out of such surplus or net profits such sum(s) as, in its discretion, it may think proper, as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends or for the purpose of maintaining or increasing the property or business of the Corporation, or for any other purpose it may think conducive to the best interests of the Corporation.

 

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7. Miscellaneous.

 

  7.1. Seal. The Board shall have the power by resolution to adopt, make and use a corporate seal and to alter the form of such seal from time to time.
     
  7.2. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined, and may be changed, by resolution of the Board.
     
  7.3. Books and Records. The Corporation shall: (1) Keep as permanent records minutes of all meetings of its stockholders and the Board, a record of all actions taken by the stockholders or the Board without a meeting, and a record of all actions taken by a committee of the Board exercising the authority of the Board on behalf of the Corporation; (2) Maintain appropriate accounting records; (3) Maintain a record of its stockholders, in a form that permits preparation of a list of the names and addresses of all stockholders, in alphabetical order by class of shares showing the number and class of shares held by each; provided, however, such record may be maintained by an agent of the Corporation; (4) Maintain its records in written form or in another form capable of conversion into written form within a reasonable time; and (5) Keep a copy of the following records (subject to any provision of the DGCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board: (a) the Certificate as currently in effect; (b) these Bylaws and all amendments thereto as currently in effect; (c) the minutes of all meetings of stockholders and records of all action taken by stockholders; (d) the Corporation’s financial statements for the past three years; (e) all written communications to stockholders generally within the past three years; (f) a list of the names and business addresses of the current Directors and officers; and (g) the most recent annual report delivered to the Delaware Secretary of State.
     
  7.4. Forum Selection; Attorneys’ Fees. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) an action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be a state or federal court located within the state of Delaware, in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. If any action is brought by any party against another party, relating to or arising out of these Bylaws, or the enforcement hereof, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the prosecution or defense of such action. For purposes of these Bylaws, the term “attorneys’ fees” or “attorneys’ fees and costs” shall mean the fees and expenses of counsel to the Corporation and any other parties asserting a claim as set forth in the initial paragraph of this Section 7.4, which may include printing, photocopying, duplicating and other expenses, air freight charges, and fees billed for law clerks, paralegals and other persons not admitted to the bar but performing services under the supervision of an attorney, and the costs and fees incurred in connection with the enforcement or collection of any judgment obtained in any such proceeding. The provisions of this Section 7.4 shall survive the entry of any judgment, and shall not merge, or be deemed to have merged, into any judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction.

 

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  7.5. Subject to Law and Certificate of Incorporation. All powers, duties and responsibilities provided for in these Bylaws, whether or not explicitly so qualified, are qualified by the provisions of the Certificate and applicable law.
     
  7.6. Facsimile Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used at any time unless otherwise restricted by the Board or a committee thereof.
     
  7.7. Time Periods. In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
     
  7.8. Electronic Transmission. For purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

8. Indemnification. The Corporation shall have the rights and obligations related to indemnification as set forth in the Certificate.

 

9. Amendments. These Bylaws may be altered or repealed and Bylaws may be made at any annual meeting of the stockholders or at any special meeting thereof, if notice of the proposed alteration or repeal of Bylaw or Bylaws to be made be contained in the notice of such special meeting, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board at any regular meeting of the Board, or at any special meeting of the Board, if notice of the proposed alteration or repeal, or Bylaw or Bylaws to be made, be contained in the notice of such meeting, or by a written consent in lieu of a meeting as set forth herein.

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

Executive Employment Agreement

 

(Sam Lai)

 

Dated as of May 27, 2021

 

This Executive Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”) is entered into by and between Hour Loop, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Sam Lai (the “Executive”). The Company and Executive may collective be referred to as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party”.

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Executive desires to serve in such capacities on behalf of the Company, in each case subject to the terms and conditions herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

  1. Employment.

 

  (a) Term. The term of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”) shall begin as of the Effective Date and shall end on the earlier of (i) the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date and (ii) the time of the termination of the Executive’s employment in accordance with Section 2(g)(i). The Initial Term and any Renewal Term (as defined below) shall automatically be extended for one or more additional terms of one (1) year each (each a “Renewal Term” and together with the Initial Term, the “Term”), unless either the Company or Executive provides notice to the other Party of their desire to not so renew the Initial Term or Renewal Term (as applicable) at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the then-current Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable. Executive’s employment with the Company shall be “at will,” meaning that either Executive or the Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time and for any reason, subject to Section 3. Any contrary representations that may have been made to Executive are superseded by this Agreement.
     
  (b) Duties. The Company hereby appoints Executive, and Executive shall serve, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall report to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). The Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with Executive’s position with the Company. In addition, the Executive shall perform all other duties and accept all other responsibilities incident to such position as may reasonably assigned to Executive by the Board.

 

  2. Compensation and Other Benefits. As compensation for the services to be rendered hereunder, during the Term the Company shall pay to the Executive the salary and bonuses, and shall provide the benefits, as set forth in this Section 2.

 

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  (a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary of $500,000 (the “Base Salary”), payable as set forth herein, commencing on the Effective Date. The Base Salary may be subject to annual adjustments, as determined in the discretion of the Board. The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll processes.
     
  (b) Share Grants.

 

  (i) Subject to the provisions of Section 2(b)(ii), at the end of each calendar quarter during the Term, the Company shall issue and deliver to Executive, on the last business day of such calendar quarter, a number of shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) having a fair market value of $3,000 as of such date (the “Shares”) and the number of Shares to be issued will be calculated by dividing $3,000 by the VWAP (as defined below) as of the last day of the preceding calendar quarter. The compensation payable to Executive pursuant to this Section 2(b)(i) for any partial calendar quarter shall be pro-rated.
     
  (ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2(b)(i), the Shares issuable with respect to the period from the Effective Date to December 31, 2021 shall be determined, and shall be issued, on January 3, 2022, based on the VWAP as determined on December 31, 2021.
     
  (iii) The Shares issued to Executive shall be fully-assessable and shall be free and clear of adverse claims, encumbrances and other restrictions except for restrictions on transferability imposed under or by virtue of the U.S. securities laws and any “lock-up” agreement that Company may require its officers and directors to sign in connection with any financing or public offering.
     
  (iv) The Shares issued to Executive shall be considered “restricted securities” as defined in SEC Rule 144 and may not be sold or resold until such time, and to the extent that, such shares have been included in an effective registration statement filed with the SEC under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or otherwise qualify and may be sold under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act or under SEC Rule 144.
     
  (v) “VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed for trading on the OTC Markets or a United States national securities exchange (as applicable, the “Trading Market”), the daily volume weighted average closing price of the Common Stock during the 20 Trading Day (as defined below) period immediately prior to the calculation date, as reported by Bloomberg L.P. or other reputable source (based on a trading day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on a Trading Market, and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (c) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as is determined in good faith by the Board of the Company, without the involvement of Executive if Executive is then serving on the Board, after taking into consideration factors it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, recent sale and offer prices of the capital stock of the Company in private transactions negotiated at arm’s length. For purposes herein, “Trading Day” shall mean any day on which the Trading Market is generally open for business and on which the Common Stock is then traded.

 

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  (vi) If, at any time prior to the determination of the VWAP, there shall be any merger, consolidation, or an exchange of shares, recapitalization or reorganization pursuant to a merger or consolidation, or other similar event, as a result of which shares of Common Stock shall be changed into the same or a different number of shares of another class or classes of stock or securities of the Company or another entity, or in case of any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets or more than 50% of the total outstanding shares of the Company other than in connection with a plan of complete liquidation of the Company, then Executive shall thereafter have the right to receive, if otherwise applicable hereunder, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified herein and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock, such replacement stock, securities or assets, with equitable adjustments being made thereto with respect to the VWAP, as determined by the Company and Executive, and in the event that the shares of Common Stock shall be changed into the same or a different number of shares of another class or classes of stock or securities of the Company or another entity any references herein to the Common Stock, whether standing alone or as a part of another defined term, shall be deemed a reference to such replacement stock or securities.

 

  (c) Potential Option Grant.

 

  (i) On the last business day prior to the commencement of the Company’s first firm-commitment underwritten initial public offering of Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) occurring after the Effective Date (the “IPO”), with such commencement date to be determined by the Board, and subject to this Agreement and the Term not having expired or having been earlier terminated as of such time, the Company shall issue to Executive an option (the “Option”) to acquire 25,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to an option agreement in form and substance as agreed to by the Company and Executive (the “Option Agreement”), which is expected to be issued pursuant to the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, or any replacement thereof. If the Option is issued, the Option Agreement shall provide that the options will vest in four equal annual installments, subject to earlier acceleration and forfeiture as set forth herein and in the Option Agreement, and that the exercise price per share will be equal to the offering price per share of Common Stock in the IPO, but, for the avoidance of doubt, such shares of Common Stock shall be unregistered shares of Common Stock. The determination of the timing, terms and conditions of the IPO, and whether to undertake an IPO, shall be subject to the determination of the Board in its sole discretion and Executive acknowledges that the Company shall not be obligated to undertake the IPO.

 

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  (ii) The shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Option shall be considered “restricted securities” as defined in SEC Rule 144 and may not be sold or resold until such time, and to the extent that, such shares have been included in an effective registration statement filed with the SEC under Section 5 of the Securities Act or otherwise qualify and may be sold under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act or under SEC Rule 144.

 

  (d) Events. If at the Company’s request the Executive attends any trade shows, events, or meetings which are independent of Executive’s responsibility hereunder, the Company shall pay Executive the sum of $1,000 in cash per full day for such attendance or $500 in cash for a half day, with travel and preparation time being included in the determination of the portion of a day spent.
     
  (e) Bonuses. Subject to this Agreement, the Term and Executive’s employment by the Company being in effect as of the applicable date of the accruing of bonuses as set forth below, the Company shall pay to Executive bonuses as follows:

 

  (i) On December 31, 2021, Executive shall be entitled to receive a guaranteed bonus of $50,000.
     
  (ii) On December 31, 2022, Executive shall be entitled to receive a guaranteed bonus of $100,000.
     
  (iii) For the Company’s 2021 fiscal year, (1) if the net profits of the Company for the 2021 fiscal year equals at least 175% of the net profits of the Company for the 2020 fiscal year, excluding any costs of the Company related to the IPO, in each case as determined by the Board, Executive shall be entitled to receive a bonus of 50% of the Base Salary as in effect as of the last business day of the 2021 fiscal year; and (2) if the net profits of the Company for the 2021 fiscal year equals at least 200% of the net profits of the Company for the 2020 fiscal year, excluding any costs of the Company related to the IPO, in each case as determined by the Board, Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional bonus of 50% of the Base Salary as in effect as of the last business day of the 2021 fiscal year.
     
  (iv) For fiscal years following the Company’s 2021 fiscal year, the bonus targets future bonus plans shall be determined by the Board and communicated to Executive, and shall be memorialized in writing by an addendum to this Agreement executed by Executive and an authorized officer of the Company.

 

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  (v) In addition to the bonuses as set forth herein, the Executive shall be entitled to be paid discretionary annual bonuses as determined by the Board.

 

  (f) Equity Grants. In addition to the Shares to be granted pursuant to Section 2(b), and the Option, if applicable, pursuant to Section 2(c), the Executive shall be entitled to receive grants of Common Stock or options, warrants or other rights to receive Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company in amounts and form as determined by the Board.
     
  (g) Fringe Benefits. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits consistent with the practices of the Company, and to the extent the Company provides similar benefits to the Company’s executive officers. In addition to such fringe benefits, the Company will also provide the following fringe benefits to the Executive:

 

  (i) Business Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business, entertainment and travel expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies and procedures.
     
  (ii) Vacation. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to a number of vacation days as generally provided to other executive officers of the Company from time to time.
     
  (iii) Health/Life/Disability Insurance. During the Term, the Executive and Executive’s spouse and legal dependents, if any, shall be entitled to participate equally in the health, dental and other benefit plans, which are available to senior managers of the Company.

 

  3. Termination.

 

  (a) Definition of Cause. For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean:

 

  (i) a violation of any material written rule or policy of the Company for which violation any employee may be terminated pursuant to the written policies of the Company reasonably applicable to an executive employee;
     
  (ii) misconduct by the Executive to the material detriment of the Company;
     
  (iii) the Executive’s conviction (by a court of competent jurisdiction, not subject to further appeal) of, or pleading guilty to, a felony;
     
  (iv) the Executive’s gross negligence in the performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement; or
     
  (v) the Executive’s material failure to perform Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such failure subsequent to the Executive being delivered a notice of termination without Cause by the Company or delivering a notice of termination for Good Reason to the Company), in either case after written notice from the Board to the Executive of the specific nature of such material failure and the Executive’s failure to cure such material failure within 10 days following receipt of such notice.

 

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  (b) Definition of Good Reason. For purposes hereof, “Good Reason” shall mean:

 

  (i) a material diminution by the Company of compensation and benefits (taken as a whole) provided to the Executive;
     
  (ii) a reduction in Base Salary or target or maximum bonus, other than as part of an across-the-board reduction in salaries of management personnel;
     
  (iii) the relocation of the Executive’s principal executive office to a location more than 50 miles further from the Executive’s principal executive office immediately prior to such relocation; or
     
  (iv) a material breach by the Company of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which the Company fails to correct within 10 days after the Company receives written notice from Executive of such violation.

 

  (c) Termination by the Company. The Company may terminate the Term and Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or without Cause, which shall be determined by the Board, subject to the terms and conditions herein.

 

  (i) For Cause. In the event that the Company terminates the Term or Executive’s employment hereunder with Cause, then in such event, subject to Section 3(f), (1) the Company shall pay to Executive any unpaid Base Salary and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses, pursuant to the terms of Section 2(g)(i), incurred by the Executive in each case through the termination date, and shall issue to Executive the Shares as accrued through such termination date pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b), and each of which shall be paid or issued, as applicable, within 10 days following the termination date; (2) any unvested portion of any equity granted to Executive hereunder as set forth in Section 2(c), Section 2(f) or under any other agreements with the Company (collectively, the “Equity Grants”) shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties; and (3) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 15.
     
  (ii) Without Cause. In the event that the Company terminates the Term or Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause, then in such event, subject to Section 3(f), (1) the Company shall pay to Executive any unpaid Base Salary and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses, pursuant to the terms of Section 2(g)(i), incurred by the Executive in each case through the termination date, and shall issue to Executive the Shares as accrued through such termination date pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b), and each of which shall be paid or issued, as applicable, within 10 days following the termination date; (2) the Company shall pay to Executive, in one lump sum, an amount equal to the Base Salary that would have been paid to Executive for the remainder of the Initial Term (if such termination occurs during the Initial Term) or Renewal Term (if such termination occurs during a Renewal Term), as applicable, which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (3) any Equity Grant already made to Executive shall, to the extent not already vested, be deemed automatically vested; and (4) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 15.

 

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  (d) Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate the Term and resign from Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or without Good Reason.

 

  (i) With Good Reason. In the event that Executive terminates the Term or resigns from Executive’s employment hereunder with Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive the amounts, and Executive shall, subject to Section 3(f), be entitled to such benefits (including without limitation any vesting of unvested shares under any Equity Grant), that would have been payable to Executive or which Executive would have received had the Term and Executive’s employment been terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 3(c)(ii).
     
  (ii) Without Good Reason. In the event that Executive terminates the Term or resigns from Executive’s employment hereunder without Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive the amounts, and Executive shall be entitled, subject to Section 3(f), to such benefits (including without limitation any vesting of unvested shares under any Equity Grant), that would have been payable to Executive or which Executive would have received had the Term and Executive’s employment been terminated by the Company with Cause pursuant to Section 3(c)(i).

 

  (e) Termination by Death or Disability. In the event of the Executive’s death or total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) during the Term, the Term and Executive’s employment shall terminate on the date of death or total disability. In the event of such termination, the Company shall pay to the Executive (or the Executive’s estate) (1) any unpaid Base Salary and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses, pursuant to the terms of Section 2(g)(i), incurred by the Executive in each case through the date of such death or total disability, (2) accrued but unpaid bonus and benefits (then owed or accrued and owed in the future), a pro-rata bonus for the year of termination based on the Executive’s target bonus for such year and the portion of such year in which the Executive was employed; (3) any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties; and (4) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 15.

 

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  (f) Conflict. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions herein and those in any other agreement or contract between the Company and the Executive with respect to any Equity Grants granted to Executive, the terms and conditions of such other agreement or contract shall control.

 

  4. Payments.

 

  (a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise (a “Payment”), whether or not in connection with a Change of Control (as defined below), would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), such that the Payment would be subject to an excise tax under section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount of the Gross-Up Payment retained by the Executive after the payment of any Excise Tax and any federal, state and local income and employment tax on the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Excise Tax due on the Payment and any interest and penalties in respect of such Excise Tax. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income tax and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of Executive’s residence (or, if greater, the state and locality in which Executive is required to file a nonresident income tax return with respect to the Payment) in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes that may be obtained from the deduction of such state and local taxes.
     
  (b) All determinations made pursuant to Section 4(a) shall be made by the Company which shall provide its determination and any supporting calculations (the “Determination”) to the Executive within thirty days of the date of the Executive’s termination or any other date selected by the Executive or the Company. Within ten calendar days of the delivery of the Determination to the Executive, the Executive shall have the right to dispute the Determination (the “Dispute”). The existence of any Dispute shall not in any way affect the Executive’s right to receive the Gross-Up Payments in accordance with the Determination. If there is no dispute, the Determination by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Executive, subject to the application of Section 4(c). Within ten days after the Company’s determination, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Gross-Up Payment, if any. If the Company determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it will, at the same time as it makes such Determination, furnish Executive with an opinion that the Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on Executive’s federal, state, local income or other tax return. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive of and from any and all claims, damages and expenses resulting from or relating to its determinations pursuant to this Section 4(b), except for claims, damages or expenses resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Company.

 

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  (c) As a result of the uncertainty in the application of sections 4999 and 280G of the Code, it is possible that the Gross-Up Payments either will have been made which should not have been made, or will not have been made which should have been made, by the Company (an “Excess Gross-Up Payment” or a “Gross-Up Underpayment,” respectively). If it is established pursuant to (A) a final determination of a court for which all appeals have been taken and finally resolved or the time for all appeals has expired, or (B) an Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) proceeding which has been finally and conclusively resolved, that an Excess Gross-Up Payment has been made, such Excess Gross-Up Payment shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to the Executive made on the date the Executive received the Excess Gross-Up Payment and the Executive shall repay the Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Company either (i) on demand, if the Executive is in possession of the Excess Gross-Up Payment or (ii) upon the refund of such Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Executive from the IRS, if the IRS is in possession of such Excess Gross-Up Payment, together with interest on the Excess Gross-Up Payment at (X) 120% of the applicable federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code) compounded semi-annually for any period during which the Executive held such Excess Gross-Up Payment and (Y) the interest rate paid to the Executive by the IRS in respect of any period during which the IRS held such Excess Gross-Up Payment. If a Gross-Up Underpayment occurs as determined under one or more of the following circumstances: (I) such determination is made by the Company (which shall include the position taken by the Company, together with its consolidated group, on its federal income tax return) or is made by the IRS, (II) such determination is made by a court, or (III) such determination is made upon the resolution to the Executive’s satisfaction of the Dispute, then the Company shall pay an amount equal to the Gross-Up Underpayment to the Executive within ten calendar days of such determination or resolution, together with interest on such amount at 120% of the applicable federal rate compounded semi-annually from the date such amount should have been paid to the Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but for the operation of this Section 4(c), until the date of payment.
     
  (d) A “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Date, (i) the beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company is acquired by any “person” as defined in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company), (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation where the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate 50% or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, or (iii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned directly or indirectly by shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the sale or disposition, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition.

 

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  5. Post-Termination Assistance. Upon the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to fully cooperate in all matters relating to the winding up or pending work on behalf of the Company and the orderly transfer of work to other employees of the Company following any termination of the Executives’ employment. The Executive further agrees that Executive will provide, upon reasonable notice, such information and assistance to the Company as may reasonably be requested by the Company in connection with any audit, governmental investigation, litigation, or other dispute in which the Company is or may become a party and as to which the Executive has knowledge; provided, however, that (i) the Company agrees to reimburse the Executive for any related out-of-pocket expenses, including travel expenses, and (ii) any such assistance may not unreasonably interfere with Executive’s then current employment.
     
  6. No Mitigation or Set Off. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced, regardless of whether the Executive obtains other employment. The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or others; provided, however, the Company shall have the right to offset the amount of any funds loaned or advanced to the Executive and not repaid against any severance obligations the Company may have to the Executive hereunder.
     
  7. Confidentiality

 

  (a) Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean all Company Work Product (as hereinafter defined) and all non-public written, electronic, and oral information or materials of Company communicated to or otherwise obtained by Executive in connection with this Agreement, which is related to the products, business and activities of Company, its Affiliates (as defined below), and subsidiaries, and their respective customers, clients, suppliers, and other entities with which such party does business, including: (i) all costing, pricing, technology, software, documentation, research, techniques, procedures, processes, discoveries, inventions, methodologies, data, tools, templates, know how, intellectual property and all other proprietary information of Company; (ii) the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) any other information identified as confidential in writing by Company. Confidential Information shall not include information that: (a) was lawfully known by Executive without an obligation of confidentiality before its receipt from Company; (b) is independently developed by Executive without reliance on or use of Confidential Information; (c) is or becomes publicly available without a breach by Executive of this Agreement; or (d) is disclosed to Executive by a third party which is not required to maintain its confidentiality. An “Affiliate” of a Party shall mean any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Party at any time during the Term for so long as such control exists.

 

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  (b) Company Ownership. Company shall retain all right, title, and interest to the Confidential Information, including all copies thereof and all rights to patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights inherent therein and appurtenant thereto. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Company hereby grants Executive a non-exclusive, non-transferable, license during the Term to use any Confidential Information solely to the extent that such Confidential Information is necessary for the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. Executive shall not, by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise, acquire any proprietary rights whatsoever in Confidential Information, which shall be the sole and exclusive property and confidential information of Company. No identifying marks, copyright or proprietary right notices may be deleted from any copy of Confidential Information. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the rights of Company from performing similar services for, or delivering the same or similar deliverable to, third parties using the Confidential Information and/or using the same personnel to provide any such services or deliverables.
     
  (c) Confidentiality Obligations. Executive agrees to hold the Confidential Information in confidence and not to copy, reproduce, sell, assign, license, market, transfer, give or otherwise disclose such Confidential Information to any person or entity or to use the Confidential Information for any purposes whatsoever, without the express written permission of Company, other than disclosure to Executive’s, partners, principals, directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and agents on a “need-to-know” basis as reasonably required for the performance of Executive’s obligations hereunder or as otherwise agreed to herein. Executive shall be responsible to Company for any violation of this Section 7 by Executive’s employees, subcontractors, and agents. Executive shall maintain the Confidential Information with the same degree of care, but no less than a reasonable degree of care, as Executive employs concerning its own information of like kind and character.
     
  (d) Required Disclosure. If Executive is requested to disclose any of the Confidential Information as part of an administrative or judicial proceeding, Executive shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, promptly notify Company of that request and cooperate with Company, at Company’s expense, in seeking a protective order or similar confidential treatment for the Confidential Information. If no protective order or other confidential treatment is obtained, Executive shall disclose only that portion of Confidential Information which is legally required and will exercise all reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information which is required to be disclosed.

 

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  (e) Enforcement. Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information is unique and valuable, and that remedies at law will be inadequate to protect Company from any actual or threatened breach of this Section 7 by Executive and that any such breach would cause irreparable and continuing injury to Company. Therefore, Executive agrees that Company shall be entitled to seek equitable relief with respect to the enforcement of this Section 7 without any requirement to post a bond, including, without limitation, injunction and specific performance, without proof of actual damages or exhausting other remedies, in addition to all other remedies available to Company at law or in equity. For greater clarity, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 7, in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights, remedies or damages available at law or in equity, Company shall be entitled to a permanent injunction or other like remedy in order to prevent or restrain any such breach or threatened breach by Executive, and Executive agrees that an interim injunction may be granted against Executive immediately on the commencement of any action, claim, suit or proceeding by Company to enforce the provisions of this Section 7, and Executive further irrevocably consents to the granting of any such interim or permanent injunction or any like remedy. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce the terms of this Section 7, Executive, if it is determined to be at fault, shall pay Company’s reasonable legal fees and expenses on a substantial indemnity basis.
     
  (f) Related Duties. Executive shall: (i) promptly deliver to Company upon Company’s request all materials in Executive’s possession which contain Confidential Information; (ii) use its best efforts to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of the Confidential Information; (iii) notify Company in writing immediately upon discovery of any such unauthorized use or disclosure; and (iv) cooperate in every reasonable way to regain possession of any Confidential Information and to prevent further unauthorized use and disclosure thereof.
     
  (g) Legal Exceptions. Further notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, Executive may disclose confidential information as may be expressly required by law, governmental rule, regulation, executive order, court order, or in connection with a dispute between the Parties; provided that prior to making any such disclosure, subject to applicable law, Executive shall use its best efforts to: (i) provide Company with at least fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice setting forth with specificity the reason(s) for such disclosure, supporting documentation therefor, and the circumstances giving rise thereto; and (ii) limit the scope and duration of such disclosure to the strictest possible extent.
     
  (h) Limitation. Except as specifically set forth herein, no licenses or rights under any patent, copyright, trademark, or trade secret are granted by Company to Executive hereunder, or are to be implied by this Agreement. Except for the restrictions on use and disclosure of Confidential Information imposed in this Agreement, no obligation of any kind is assumed or implied against either Party or their Affiliates by virtue of meetings or conversations between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter stated above or with respect to the exchange of Confidential Information. Each Party further acknowledges that this Agreement and any meetings and communications of the Parties and their affiliates relating to the same subject matter shall not: (i) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract with the other Party to engage in any research, development or other work; (ii) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract involving a buyer-seller relationship, joint venture, teaming or partnership relationship between the Parties and their affiliates; or (iii) constitute a representation, warranty, assurance, guarantee or inducement with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any Confidential Information or the non-infringement of the rights of third persons.

 

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  8. Intellectual Property Rights.

 

  (a) Disclosure of Work Product. As used in this Agreement, the term “Work Product” means any invention, whether or not patentable, know-how, designs, mask works, trademarks, formulae, processes, manufacturing techniques, trade secrets, ideas, artwork, software or any copyrightable or patentable works. Executive agrees to disclose promptly in writing to Company, or any person designated by Company, all Work Product that is solely or jointly conceived, made, reduced to practice, or learned by Executive in the course of any work performed for Company (“Company Work Product”). Executive agrees (a) to use Executive’s best efforts to maintain such Company Work Product in trust and strict confidence; (b) not to use Company Work Product in any manner or for any purpose not expressly set forth in this Agreement; and (c) not to disclose any such Company Work Product to any third party without first obtaining Company’s express written consent on a case-by-case basis.
     
  (b) Ownership of Company Work Product. Executive agrees that any and all Company Work Product conceived, written, created or first reduced to practice in the performance of work under this Agreement shall be deemed “work for hire” under applicable law and shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company.
     
  (c) Assignment of Company Work Product. Executive irrevocably assigns to Company all right, title and interest worldwide in and to the Company Work Product and all applicable intellectual property rights related to the Company Work Product, including without limitation, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, moral rights, contract and licensing rights (the “Proprietary Rights”). Except as set forth below, Executive retains no rights to use the Company Work Product and agrees not to challenge the validity of Company’s ownership in the Company Work Product. Executive hereby grants to Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, fully paid-up, royalty-free, irrevocable and world-wide right, with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees, to reproduce, make derivative works of, publicly perform, and display in any form or medium whether now known or later developed, distribute, make, use and sell any and all Executive owned or controlled Work Product or technology that Executive uses to complete the services and which is necessary for Company to use or exploit the Company Work Product.

 

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  (d) Assistance. Executive agrees to cooperate with Company or its designee(s), both during and after the Term, in the procurement and maintenance of Company’s rights in Company Work Product and to execute, when requested, any other documents deemed necessary by Company to carry out the purpose of this Agreement. Executive will assist Company in every proper way to obtain, and from time to time enforce, United States and foreign Proprietary Rights relating to Company Work Product in any and all countries. Executive’s obligation to assist Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Company Work Product in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of this Agreement, but Company shall compensate Executive at a reasonable rate to be mutually agreed upon after such termination for the time actually spent by Executive at Company’s request on such assistance.
     
  (e) Execution of Documents. In the event Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to secure Executive’s signature on any document requested by Company pursuant to this Section 8 within seven (7) days of the Company’s initial request to Executive, Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as its agent and attorney in fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for and on its behalf solely to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 8 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Executive. Executive hereby waives and quitclaims to Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, which Executive now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assignable hereunder to Company.
     
  (f) Executive Representations and Warranties. Executive hereby represents and warrants that: (i) Company Work Product will be an original work of Executive or all applicable third parties will have executed assignments of rights reasonably acceptable to Company; (ii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party; (iii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will be subject to any restrictions or to any mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests, encumbrances or encroachments; (iv) Executive will not grant, directly or indirectly, any rights or interest whatsoever in the Company Work Product to any third party; (v) Executive has full right and power to enter into and perform Executive’s obligations under this Agreement without the consent of any third party; (vi) Executive will use best efforts to prevent injury to any person (including employees of Company) or damage to property (including Company’s property) during the Term; and (vii) should Company permit Executive to use any of Company’s equipment, tools, or facilities during the Term, such permission shall be gratuitous and Executive shall be responsible for any injury to any person (including death) or damage to property (including Company’s property) arising out of use of such equipment, tools or facilities.

 

  9. Non-Solicitation

 

  (a) Existing Business Interests. The Parties acknowledge that the Company is engaged in the various business as disclosed to the Executive (together with such other activities as may be engaged in from time to time, the “Existing Business”). As part of this Existing Business, Company has developed and continues to develop Confidential Information regarding the operation of such business. In addition, Company has developed and continues to develop substantial relationships with existing and prospective clients, accounts, suppliers and others, as well as goodwill associated with these relationships and business. These relationships are a substantial business asset owned by, and proprietary to, Company and are integral to Company’s Existing Business and continued operation.

 

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  (b) Developing Business Interests. The Company also is engaged in expanding its business by developing new business concepts and services (the “Developing Business”). As part of this Developing Business, the Company has developed and continues to develop Confidential Information related thereto, valuable relationships with prospective and existing clients, accounts, suppliers and others, and continues to create goodwill associated with these relationships and business. The Developing Business is a substantial business asset owned by, and proprietary to, the Company.
     
  (c) Other Legitimate Business Interests. In addition to the Existing Business and the Developing Business, Company has other legitimate business interests which are necessary to protect through the provisions of this Section 9, which Executive acknowledges include, but are not limited to the following (collectively the “Other Legitimate Business Interests”):

 

  (i) The Company has expended considerable resources in developing relationships with its suppliers, clients and customers;
     
  (ii) The Company has expended considerable resources to recruit and hire vendors and/or employees who could perform services for Company;
     
  (iii) Executive may, through the contractual relationship set forth herein, develop a substantial relationship with Company’s existing or potential clients, including but not limited to being the sole or primary contact between Company and its clients and principals; and
     
  (iv) The relationship between Company and its clients and principals will depend on the quality and quantity of the services Executive performs for Company.

 

  (d) Acknowledgement of Company’s Right to Protection of Business Interests. Executive acknowledges and agrees that Company desires, is entitled to, and deserves, protection of its legitimate business interests associated with the Existing Business, the Developing Business and the Other Legitimate Business Interests. Accordingly, Executive agrees to the restrictions set forth in this Section 9 as reasonable under the circumstances.
     
  (e) No-Solicitation. In recognition and consideration of Company’s Existing Business, Developing Business and Other Legitimate Business Interests, subject to applicable law, Executive agrees that, for the Term and for a period of three (3) years thereafter, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly solicit or discuss with any employee of Company the employment of such Company employee by any other commercial enterprise other than Company, nor recruit, attempt to recruit, hire or attempt to hire any such Company employee on behalf of any commercial enterprise other than Company. Nothing in this Section 9(e) shall prohibit Executive from undertaking a general recruitment advertisement provided that the foregoing is not targeted towards any person identified above, or from hiring, employing or engaging any such person who responds to such general recruitment advertisement.

 

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  (f) Remedies for Breach of Restrictions.

 

  (i) Executive admits and agrees that Executive’s breach of the provisions of this Section 9 would result in irreparable harm to Company. Accordingly, in the event of Executive’s breach or threatened breach of such restrictions, Executive agrees that Company shall be entitled to an injunction restraining such breach or threatened breach without the necessity of posting a bond or other security. Further, in the event of Executive’s breach, the duration of the restrictions contained in this Section 9 shall be extended for the entire time that the breach existed so that Company is provided with the full time period provided herein.
     
  (ii) In addition to injunctive relief, Company shall be entitled to any other remedy available in law or equity by reason of Executive’s breach or threatened breach of the restrictions contained in this Section 9.
     
  (iii) If the Company retains an attorney to enforce the provisions of this Section 9, the Company shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs so incurred from Executive, both prior to filing a lawsuit, during the lawsuit and on appeal.

 

  (g) Blue Pencil. Executive has carefully read and considered the provisions of this Section 9 and, having done so, agrees that the restrictions set forth in such Section 9 are fair and reasonable and are reasonably required for the protection of the legitimate business interests of the Company. In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any of the foregoing restrictions are unenforceable, the Parties hereto agree that it is their desire that such court substitute an enforceable restriction in place of any restriction deemed unenforceable, and that the substitute restriction be deemed incorporated herein and enforceable against Executive. It is the intent of the Parties hereto that the court, in so determining any such enforceable substitute restriction, recognize that it is their intent that the foregoing restrictions be imposed and maintained to the greatest extent possible.

 

  10. Representations and Warranties Relating to Securities. Any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company that may be issued or granted to the Executive hereunder or pursuant to any other agreement between the Company and the Executive in connection with the transactions contemplated herein may be referred to as the “Securities”, and Executive represents and warrants to the Company as set forth in this Section 10 with respect to the Securities and Executive’s receipt thereof, as of the Effective Date and as of the date of any issuance or granting of any Securities.

 

  (a) Executive is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (an “Accredited Investor”).

 

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  (b) Executive hereby represent that the Securities awarded pursuant to this Agreement are being acquired for Executive’s own account and not for sale or with a view to distribution thereof. Executive acknowledges and agrees that any sale or distribution of Securities which have vested may be made only pursuant to either (a) a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act, which registration statement has become effective and is current with regard to the shares being sold, or (b) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act that is confirmed in a favorable written opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, prior to any such sale or distribution. Executive hereby consents to such action as the Board or the Company deems necessary or appropriate from time to time to prevent a violation of, or to perfect an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act or to implement the provisions of this Agreement, including but not limited to placing restrictive legends on certificates evidencing shares of Securities (whether or not the Restrictions applicable thereto have lapsed) and delivering stop transfer instructions to the Company’s stock transfer agent.
     
  (c) Executive understands that the Securities is being offered and sold to Executive in reliance upon specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and Executive’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Executive set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Executive to acquire the Securities.
     
  (d) Executive has been furnished with all documents and materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and information that Executive requested and deemed material to making an informed investment decision regarding its acquisition of the Securities. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to review such documents and materials and the information contained therein. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its management. Executive understands that such discussions, as well as any written information provided by the Company, were intended to describe the aspects of the Company’s business and prospects which the Company believes to be material, but were not necessarily a thorough or exhaustive description and the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to the completeness of such information and makes no representation or warranty of any kind with respect to any information provided by any entity other than the Company. Some of such information may include projections as to the future performance of the Company, which projections may not be realized, may be based on assumptions which may not be correct and may be subject to numerous factors beyond the Company’s control. Additionally, Executive understands and represents that Executive is acquiring the Securities notwithstanding the fact that the Company may disclose in the future certain material information that the Executive has not received. Executive has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Executive has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to Executive’s investment in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive, either personally, or together with Executive’s advisors has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities, is able to bear the risks of an investment in the Securities and understands the risks of, and other considerations relating to, a purchase of the Securities. The Executive and Executive’s advisors have had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company concerning the Securities. Executive’s financial condition is such that Executive is able to bear the risk of holding the Securities that Executive may acquire pursuant to this Agreement for an indefinite period of time, and the risk of loss of Executive’s entire investment in the Company. Executive has investigated the acquisition of the Securities to the extent Executive deemed necessary or desirable and the Company has provided Executive with any reasonable assistance Executive has requested in connection therewith. No representations or warranties have been made to Executive by the Company, or any representative of the Company, or any securities broker/dealer, other than as set forth in this Agreement.

 

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  (e) Executive also acknowledges and agrees that an investment in the Securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk of loss of the entire investment in the Company and there is no assurance that a public market for the Securities will ever develop and that, as a result, Executive may not be able to liquidate Executive’s investment in the Securities should a need arise to do so. Executive is not dependent for liquidity on any of the amounts Executive is investing in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive understands that the representations and warranties herein are to be relied upon by the Company as a basis for the exemptions from registration and qualification of the issuance and sale of the Securities under the federal and state securities laws and for other purposes.
     
  (f) Executive understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities.
     
  (g) Executive understands that until such time as the Securities have been registered under the Securities Act or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 144A under the Securities Act or Regulation S without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold, the Securities may bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of the certificates for such Securities):

 

“NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER), IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144, RULE 144A OR REGULATION S UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.”

 

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  (h) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by Executive. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of Executive, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Executive enforceable in accordance with its terms.
     
  (i) Executive is an individual resident of the state set forth in the notices provision for Executive herein.

 

  11. Effect of Waiver. The waiver by either Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach hereof. No waiver shall be valid unless in writing.
     
  12. Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by either Party without the express prior written consent of the other Party hereto, except that Company may transfer, assign or delegate to any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company any of Company’s rights, obligations or duties hereunder. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the successors and permitted assigns of the Parties.
     
  13. No Third-Party Rights. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement is intended solely for the benefit of the Parties hereto and is not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favor of, any person or entity other than the Parties hereto.
     
  14. Entire Agreement; Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement and any option agreement or other agreement entered into between the Company and Executive with respect to the issuance of any equity securities of the Company or other equity awards relating to the Company set forth the entire agreement of the Parties hereto and shall supersede any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning the Executive’s employment by the Company. This Agreement may be changed only by a written document signed by the Executive and the Company.
     
  15. Survival. The provisions of Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, Section 6, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9 and Section 13 through Section 25, inclusive, shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement, and provided that any expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not excuse a Party from compliance with, or fulfillment of, any obligations or conditions which arose prior to such expiration or termination.

 

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  16. Severability. If any one or more of the provisions, or portions of any provision, of the Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or parts hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
     
  17. Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

  (a) All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined, and this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of such state, without giving effect to the choice of law provisions of such state.
     
  (b) Subject to Section 18, each Party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning this Agreement shall be commenced in the state and federal courts sitting in KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON (the “Selected Courts”). Each Party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Selected Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of the rights of a Party under this Agreement), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such Selected Courts, or such Selected Courts are improper or inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each Party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such Party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law.
     
  (c) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 17(c).

 

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  (d) Subject to the provisions of Section 20(b), if any Party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing Party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other Party for its attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

  18. Arbitration. Any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Executive’s employment by the Company, including, but not limited to, common law and statutory claims for discrimination, wrongful discharge, and unpaid wages, shall be resolved by arbitration in Redmond, Washington pursuant to then-prevailing National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration shall be conducted by three arbitrators, with one arbitrator selected by each Party and the third arbitrator selected by the two arbitrators so selected by the Parties. The arbitrators shall be bound to follow the applicable Agreement provisions in adjudicating the dispute. It is agreed by both Parties that the arbitrators’ decision is final, and that no Party may take any action, judicial or administrative, to overturn such decision. The judgment rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in the Selected Courts. Subject to the provisions of Section 20(b), each Party will pay its own expenses of arbitration and the expenses of the arbitrators will be equally shared provided that, if in the opinion of the arbitrators any claim, defense, or argument raised in the arbitration was unreasonable, the arbitrators may assess all or part of the expenses of the other Party (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and of the arbitrators as the arbitrators deem appropriate. The arbitrators may not award either Party punitive or consequential damages.
     
  19. Indemnification. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to indemnification and insurance coverage for officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other liabilities arising out of the Executive’s position with the Company in any capacity, in an amount not less than the highest amount available to any other executive, and such coverage and protections, with respect to the various liabilities as to which the Executive has been customarily indemnified prior to termination of employment, shall continue for at least six years following the end of the Term. Any indemnification agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the termination of this Agreement.
     
  20. Expenses.

 

  (a) Other than as specifically set forth herein, each of the Parties will bear their own respective expenses, including legal, accounting and professional fees, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.

 

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  (b) It is the intent of the Company that, following a Change of Control, the Executive shall not be required to incur any expenses associated with the enforcement of Executive’s rights under this Agreement by arbitration, litigation or other legal action because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Executive hereunder. Accordingly, the Company shall pay the Executive on demand the amount necessary to reimburse the Executive in full for all expenses (including all attorneys’ fees and legal expenses) incurred by the Executive in enforcing any of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, or in defending any action by the Company against the Executive in respect of such obligations or the obligations of the Executive under this Agreement, if such action is commenced on or following a Change of Control. The Company shall pay such expenses to the Executive upon demand in connection with any action described in the preceding sentence which is commenced prior to a Change of Control if the Executive substantially prevails on at least one material issue in dispute.

 

  21. Notices.

 

  (a) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other Party, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by email with return receipt requested and received or nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as either Party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. All notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered by hand, if personally delivered, (ii) when delivered by courier or overnight mail, if delivered by commercial courier service or overnight mail, and (iii) on receipt of confirmed delivery, if sent by email.

 

If to the Company:

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

Attn: Board of Directors and Secretary

8201 164th AVE NE STE 200

Redmond, WA 98052-7615

 

With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

 

Anthony L.G., PLLC

Attn: John Cacomanolis

625 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 600

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Email: JCacomanolis@anthonypllc.com

 

If to Executive, to the address and email address on file for the Executive in the books and records of the Company.

 

  22. Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

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  23. Counsel. The Parties acknowledge and agree that Anthony L.G., PLLC (“Counsel”) has acted as legal counsel to the Company, and that Counsel has prepared this Agreement at the request of the Company, and that Counsel is not legal counsel to Executive individually. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that they are aware of, and have consented to, the Counsel acting as legal counsel to the Company and preparing this Agreement, and that Counsel has advised each of the Parties to retain separate counsel to review the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered in connection herewith, and each Party has either waived such right freely or has otherwise sought such additional counsel as it has deemed necessary. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that Counsel does not owe any duties to Executive in Executive’s individual capacity in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein. Each of the Parties hereby waives any conflict of interest which may apply with respect to Counsel’s actions as set forth herein, and the Parties confirm that the Parties have previously negotiated the material terms of the agreements as set forth herein.
     
  24. Rule of Construction. The general rule of construction for interpreting a contract, which provides that the provisions of a contract should be construed against the Party preparing the contract, is waived by the Parties hereto. Each Party acknowledges that such Party was represented by separate legal counsel in this matter who participated in the preparation of this Agreement or such Party had the opportunity to retain counsel to participate in the preparation of this Agreement but elected not to do so.
     
  25. Execution in Counterparts, Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. The signature of any Party which is transmitted by any reliable electronic means such as, but not limited to, a photocopy, electronically scanned or facsimile machine, for purposes hereof, is to be considered as an original signature, and the document transmitted is to be considered to have the same binding effect as an original signature or an original document.

 

[Signatures appear on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

  Hour Loop, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Sau Kuen Yu
  Name: Sau Kuen Yu
  Title: Senior Vice President

 

  Executive: Sam Lai
     
  By: /s/ Sam Lai
  Name: Sam Lai

 

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Exhibit 10.2

 

Executive Employment Agreement

 

(Sau Kuen Yu)

 

Dated as of May 27, 2021

 

This Executive Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”) is entered into by and between Hour Loop, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Sau Kuen Yu (the “Executive”). The Company and Executive may collective be referred to as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party”.

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as the Senior Vice President of the Company and the Executive desires to serve in such capacities on behalf of the Company, in each case subject to the terms and conditions herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Employment.

 

(a)Term. The term of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”) shall begin as of the Effective Date and shall end on the earlier of (i) the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date and (ii) the time of the termination of the Executive’s employment in accordance with Section 2(g)(i). The Initial Term and any Renewal Term (as defined below) shall automatically be extended for one or more additional terms of one (1) year each (each a “Renewal Term” and together with the Initial Term, the “Term”), unless either the Company or Executive provides notice to the other Party of their desire to not so renew the Initial Term or Renewal Term (as applicable) at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the then-current Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable. Executive’s employment with the Company shall be “at will,” meaning that either Executive or the Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time and for any reason, subject to Section 3. Any contrary representations that may have been made to Executive are superseded by this Agreement.

 

(b)Duties. The Company hereby appoints Executive, and Executive shall serve, as the Senior Vice President of the Company and shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and such other persons as determined by the Chief Executive Officer (as applicable, “Supervisor”). The Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with Executive’s position with the Company. In addition, the Executive shall perform all other duties and accept all other responsibilities incident to such position as may reasonably assigned to Executive by Supervisor.

 

2.Compensation and Other Benefits. As compensation for the services to be rendered hereunder, during the Term the Company shall pay to the Executive the salary and bonuses, and shall provide the benefits, as set forth in this Section 2.

 

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(a)Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary of $450,000 (the “Base Salary”), payable as set forth herein, commencing on the Effective Date. The Base Salary may be subject to annual adjustments, as determined in the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll processes.

 

(b)Share Grants.

 

(i)Subject to the provisions of Section 2(b)(ii), at the end of each calendar quarter during the Term, the Company shall issue and deliver to Executive, on the last business day of such calendar quarter, a number of shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) having a fair market value of $3,000 as of such date (the “Shares”) and the number of Shares to be issued will be calculated by dividing $3,000 by the VWAP (as defined below) as of the last day of the preceding calendar quarter. The compensation payable to Executive pursuant to this Section 2(b)(i) for any partial calendar quarter shall be pro-rated.

 

(ii)Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2(b)(i), the Shares issuable with respect to the period from the Effective Date to December 31, 2021 shall be determined, and shall be issued, on January 3, 2022, based on the VWAP as determined on December 31, 2021.

 

(iii)The Shares issued to Executive shall be fully-assessable and shall be free and clear of adverse claims, encumbrances and other restrictions except for restrictions on transferability imposed under or by virtue of the U.S. securities laws and any “lock-up” agreement that Company may require its officers and directors to sign in connection with any financing or public offering.

 

(iv)The Shares issued to Executive shall be considered “restricted securities” as defined in SEC Rule 144 and may not be sold or resold until such time, and to the extent that, such shares have been included in an effective registration statement filed with the SEC under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or otherwise qualify and may be sold under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act or under SEC Rule 144.

 

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(v)“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed for trading on the OTC Markets or a United States national securities exchange (as applicable, the “Trading Market”), the daily volume weighted average closing price of the Common Stock during the 20 Trading Day (as defined below) period immediately prior to the calculation date, as reported by Bloomberg L.P. or other reputable source (based on a trading day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on a Trading Market, and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (c) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as is determined in good faith by the Board of the Company, without the involvement of Executive if Executive is then serving on the Board, after taking into consideration factors it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, recent sale and offer prices of the capital stock of the Company in private transactions negotiated at arm’s length. For purposes herein, “Trading Day” shall mean any day on which the Trading Market is generally open for business and on which the Common Stock is then traded.

 

(vi)If, at any time prior to the determination of the VWAP, there shall be any merger, consolidation, or an exchange of shares, recapitalization or reorganization pursuant to a merger or consolidation, or other similar event, as a result of which shares of Common Stock shall be changed into the same or a different number of shares of another class or classes of stock or securities of the Company or another entity, or in case of any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets or more than 50% of the total outstanding shares of the Company other than in connection with a plan of complete liquidation of the Company, then Executive shall thereafter have the right to receive, if otherwise applicable hereunder, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified herein and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock, such replacement stock, securities or assets, with equitable adjustments being made thereto with respect to the VWAP, as determined by the Company and Executive, and in the event that the shares of Common Stock shall be changed into the same or a different number of shares of another class or classes of stock or securities of the Company or another entity any references herein to the Common Stock, whether standing alone or as a part of another defined term, shall be deemed a reference to such replacement stock or securities.

 

(c)Potential Option Grant.

 

(i)On the last business day prior to the commencement of the Company’s first firm-commitment underwritten initial public offering of Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) occurring after the Effective Date (the “IPO”), with such commencement date to be determined by the Board, and subject to this Agreement and the Term not having expired or having been earlier terminated as of such time, the Company shall issue to Executive an option (the “Option”) to acquire 25,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to an option agreement in form and substance as agreed to by the Company and Executive (the “Option Agreement”), which is expected to be issued pursuant to the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, or any replacement thereof. If the Option is issued, the Option Agreement shall provide that the options will vest in four equal annual installments, subject to earlier acceleration and forfeiture as set forth herein and in the Option Agreement, and that the exercise price per share will be equal to the offering price per share of Common Stock in the IPO, but, for the avoidance of doubt, such shares of Common Stock shall be unregistered shares of Common Stock. The determination of the timing, terms and conditions of the IPO, and whether to undertake an IPO, shall be subject to the determination of the Board in its sole discretion and Executive acknowledges that the Company shall not be obligated to undertake the IPO.

 

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(ii)The shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Option shall be considered “restricted securities” as defined in SEC Rule 144 and may not be sold or resold until such time, and to the extent that, such shares have been included in an effective registration statement filed with the SEC under Section 5 of the Securities Act or otherwise qualify and may be sold under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act or under SEC Rule 144.

 

(d)Events. If at the Company’s request the Executive attends any trade shows, events, or meetings which are independent of Executive’s responsibility hereunder, the Company shall pay Executive the sum of $1,000 in cash per full day for such attendance or $500 in cash for a half day, with travel and preparation time being included in the determination of the portion of a day spent.

 

(e)Bonuses. Subject to this Agreement, the Term and Executive’s employment by the Company being in effect as of the applicable date of the accruing of bonuses as set forth below, the Company shall pay to Executive bonuses as follows:

 

(i)On December 31, 2021, Executive shall be entitled to receive a guaranteed bonus of $50,000.

 

(ii)On December 31, 2022, Executive shall be entitled to receive a guaranteed bonus of $100,000.

 

(iii)If, in the Company’s 2021 fiscal year, (1) Executive successfully launches the Company’s Vendor Acquisition Team, as determined by the Board, Executive shall be entitled to receive a bonus of 50% of the Base Salary as in effect as of the last business day of the 2021 fiscal year; and (2) Executive acquires 50 or more new vendors for the Company, as determined by the Board, Executive shall be entitled to receive a bonus of 50% of the Base Salary as in effect as of the last business day of the 2021 fiscal year.

 

(iv)For fiscal years following the Company’s 2021 fiscal year, the bonus targets future bonus plans shall be determined by the Board and communicated to Executive, and shall be memorialized in writing by an addendum to this Agreement executed by Executive and an authorized officer of the Company.

 

(v)In addition to the bonuses as set forth herein, the Executive shall be entitled to be paid discretionary annual bonuses as determined by the Board.

 

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(f)Equity Grants. In addition to the Shares to be granted pursuant to Section 2(b) and the Option, if applicable, pursuant to Section 2(c), the Executive shall be entitled to receive grants of Common Stock or options, warrants or other rights to receive Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company in amounts and form as determined by the Board.

 

(g)Fringe Benefits. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits consistent with the practices of the Company, and to the extent the Company provides similar benefits to the Company’s executive officers. In addition to such fringe benefits, the Company will also provide the following fringe benefits to the Executive:

 

(i)Business Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business, entertainment and travel expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies and procedures.

 

(ii)Vacation. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to a number of vacation days as generally provided to other executive officers of the Company from time to time.

 

(iii)Health/Life/Disability Insurance. During the Term, the Executive and Executive’s spouse and legal dependents, if any, shall be entitled to participate equally in the health, dental and other benefit plans, which are available to senior managers of the Company.

 

3.Termination.

 

(a)Definition of Cause. For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean:

 

(i)a violation of any material written rule or policy of the Company for which violation any employee may be terminated pursuant to the written policies of the Company reasonably applicable to an executive employee;

 

(ii)misconduct by the Executive to the material detriment of the Company;

 

(iii)the Executive’s conviction (by a court of competent jurisdiction, not subject to further appeal) of, or pleading guilty to, a felony;

 

(iv)the Executive’s gross negligence in the performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement; or

 

(v)the Executive’s material failure to perform Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such failure subsequent to the Executive being delivered a notice of termination without Cause by the Company or delivering a notice of termination for Good Reason to the Company), in either case after written notice from Supervisor to the Executive of the specific nature of such material failure and the Executive’s failure to cure such material failure within 10 days following receipt of such notice.

 

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(b)Definition of Good Reason. For purposes hereof, “Good Reason” shall mean:

 

(i)a material diminution by the Company of compensation and benefits (taken as a whole) provided to the Executive;

 

(ii)a reduction in Base Salary or target or maximum bonus, other than as part of an across-the-board reduction in salaries of management personnel;

 

(iii)the relocation of the Executive’s principal executive office to a location more than 50 miles further from the Executive’s principal executive office immediately prior to such relocation; or

 

(iv)a material breach by the Company of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which the Company fails to correct within 10 days after the Company receives written notice from Executive of such violation.

 

(c)Termination by the Company. The Company may terminate the Term and Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or without Cause, which shall be determined by the Supervisor, subject to the terms and conditions herein.

 

(i)For Cause. In the event that the Company terminates the Term or Executive’s employment hereunder with Cause, then in such event, subject to Section 3(f), (1) the Company shall pay to Executive any unpaid Base Salary and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses, pursuant to the terms of Section 2(g)(i), incurred by the Executive in each case through the termination date, and shall issue to Executive the Shares as accrued through such termination date pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b), and each of which shall be paid or issued, as applicable, within 10 days following the termination date; (2) any unvested portion of any equity granted to Executive hereunder as set forth in Section 2(c), Section 2(f) or under any other agreements with the Company (collectively, the “Equity Grants”) shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties; and (3) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 15.

 

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(ii)Without Cause. In the event that the Company terminates the Term or Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause, then in such event, subject to Section 3(f), (1) the Company shall pay to Executive any unpaid Base Salary and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses, pursuant to the terms of Section 2(g)(i), incurred by the Executive in each case through the termination date, and shall issue to Executive the Shares as accrued through such termination date pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b), and each of which shall be paid or issued, as applicable, within 10 days following the termination date; (2) the Company shall pay to Executive, in one lump sum, an amount equal to the Base Salary that would have been paid to Executive for the remainder of the Initial Term (if such termination occurs during the Initial Term) or Renewal Term (if such termination occurs during a Renewal Term), as applicable, which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (3) any Equity Grant already made to Executive shall, to the extent not already vested, be deemed automatically vested; and (4) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 15.

 

(d)Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate the Term and resign from Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or without Good Reason.

 

(i)With Good Reason. In the event that Executive terminates the Term or resigns from Executive’s employment hereunder with Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive the amounts, and Executive shall, subject to Section 3(f), be entitled to such benefits (including without limitation any vesting of unvested shares under any Equity Grant), that would have been payable to Executive or which Executive would have received had the Term and Executive’s employment been terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 3(c)(ii).

 

(ii)Without Good Reason. In the event that Executive terminates the Term or resigns from Executive’s employment hereunder without Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive the amounts, and Executive shall be entitled, subject to Section 3(f), to such benefits (including without limitation any vesting of unvested shares under any Equity Grant), that would have been payable to Executive or which Executive would have received had the Term and Executive’s employment been terminated by the Company with Cause pursuant to Section 3(c)(i).

 

(e)Termination by Death or Disability. In the event of the Executive’s death or total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) during the Term, the Term and Executive’s employment shall terminate on the date of death or total disability. In the event of such termination, the Company shall pay to the Executive (or the Executive’s estate) (1) any unpaid Base Salary and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses, pursuant to the terms of Section 2(g)(i), incurred by the Executive in each case through the date of such death or total disability, (2) accrued but unpaid bonus and benefits (then owed or accrued and owed in the future), a pro-rata bonus for the year of termination based on the Executive’s target bonus for such year and the portion of such year in which the Executive was employed; (3) any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties; and (4) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 15.

 

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(f)Conflict. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions herein and those in any other agreement or contract between the Company and the Executive with respect to any Equity Grants granted to Executive, the terms and conditions of such other agreement or contract shall control.

 

4.Payments.

 

(a)Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise (a “Payment”), whether or not in connection with a Change of Control (as defined below), would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), such that the Payment would be subject to an excise tax under section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount of the Gross-Up Payment retained by the Executive after the payment of any Excise Tax and any federal, state and local income and employment tax on the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Excise Tax due on the Payment and any interest and penalties in respect of such Excise Tax. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income tax and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of Executive’s residence (or, if greater, the state and locality in which Executive is required to file a nonresident income tax return with respect to the Payment) in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes that may be obtained from the deduction of such state and local taxes.

 

(b)All determinations made pursuant to Section 4(a) shall be made by the Company which shall provide its determination and any supporting calculations (the “Determination”) to the Executive within thirty days of the date of the Executive’s termination or any other date selected by the Executive or the Company. Within ten calendar days of the delivery of the Determination to the Executive, the Executive shall have the right to dispute the Determination (the “Dispute”). The existence of any Dispute shall not in any way affect the Executive’s right to receive the Gross-Up Payments in accordance with the Determination. If there is no dispute, the Determination by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Executive, subject to the application of Section 4(c). Within ten days after the Company’s determination, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Gross-Up Payment, if any. If the Company determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it will, at the same time as it makes such Determination, furnish Executive with an opinion that the Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on Executive’s federal, state, local income or other tax return. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive of and from any and all claims, damages and expenses resulting from or relating to its determinations pursuant to this Section 4(b), except for claims, damages or expenses resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Company.

 

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(c)As a result of the uncertainty in the application of sections 4999 and 280G of the Code, it is possible that the Gross-Up Payments either will have been made which should not have been made, or will not have been made which should have been made, by the Company (an “Excess Gross-Up Payment” or a “Gross-Up Underpayment,” respectively). If it is established pursuant to (A) a final determination of a court for which all appeals have been taken and finally resolved or the time for all appeals has expired, or (B) an Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) proceeding which has been finally and conclusively resolved, that an Excess Gross-Up Payment has been made, such Excess Gross-Up Payment shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to the Executive made on the date the Executive received the Excess Gross-Up Payment and the Executive shall repay the Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Company either (i) on demand, if the Executive is in possession of the Excess Gross-Up Payment or (ii) upon the refund of such Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Executive from the IRS, if the IRS is in possession of such Excess Gross-Up Payment, together with interest on the Excess Gross-Up Payment at (X) 120% of the applicable federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code) compounded semi-annually for any period during which the Executive held such Excess Gross-Up Payment and (Y) the interest rate paid to the Executive by the IRS in respect of any period during which the IRS held such Excess Gross-Up Payment. If a Gross-Up Underpayment occurs as determined under one or more of the following circumstances: (I) such determination is made by the Company (which shall include the position taken by the Company, together with its consolidated group, on its federal income tax return) or is made by the IRS, (II) such determination is made by a court, or (III) such determination is made upon the resolution to the Executive’s satisfaction of the Dispute, then the Company shall pay an amount equal to the Gross-Up Underpayment to the Executive within ten calendar days of such determination or resolution, together with interest on such amount at 120% of the applicable federal rate compounded semi-annually from the date such amount should have been paid to the Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but for the operation of this Section 4(c), until the date of payment.

 

(d)A “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Date, (i) the beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company is acquired by any “person” as defined in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company), (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation where the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate 50% or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, or (iii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned directly or indirectly by shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the sale or disposition, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition.

 

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5.Post-Termination Assistance. Upon the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to fully cooperate in all matters relating to the winding up or pending work on behalf of the Company and the orderly transfer of work to other employees of the Company following any termination of the Executives’ employment. The Executive further agrees that Executive will provide, upon reasonable notice, such information and assistance to the Company as may reasonably be requested by the Company in connection with any audit, governmental investigation, litigation, or other dispute in which the Company is or may become a party and as to which the Executive has knowledge; provided, however, that (i) the Company agrees to reimburse the Executive for any related out-of-pocket expenses, including travel expenses, and (ii) any such assistance may not unreasonably interfere with Executive’s then current employment.

 

6.No Mitigation or Set Off. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced, regardless of whether the Executive obtains other employment. The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or others; provided, however, the Company shall have the right to offset the amount of any funds loaned or advanced to the Executive and not repaid against any severance obligations the Company may have to the Executive hereunder.

 

7.Confidentiality

 

(a)Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean all Company Work Product (as hereinafter defined) and all non-public written, electronic, and oral information or materials of Company communicated to or otherwise obtained by Executive in connection with this Agreement, which is related to the products, business and activities of Company, its Affiliates (as defined below), and subsidiaries, and their respective customers, clients, suppliers, and other entities with which such party does business, including: (i) all costing, pricing, technology, software, documentation, research, techniques, procedures, processes, discoveries, inventions, methodologies, data, tools, templates, know how, intellectual property and all other proprietary information of Company; (ii) the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) any other information identified as confidential in writing by Company. Confidential Information shall not include information that: (a) was lawfully known by Executive without an obligation of confidentiality before its receipt from Company; (b) is independently developed by Executive without reliance on or use of Confidential Information; (c) is or becomes publicly available without a breach by Executive of this Agreement; or (d) is disclosed to Executive by a third party which is not required to maintain its confidentiality. An “Affiliate” of a Party shall mean any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Party at any time during the Term for so long as such control exists.

 

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(b)Company Ownership. Company shall retain all right, title, and interest to the Confidential Information, including all copies thereof and all rights to patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights inherent therein and appurtenant thereto. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Company hereby grants Executive a non-exclusive, non-transferable, license during the Term to use any Confidential Information solely to the extent that such Confidential Information is necessary for the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. Executive shall not, by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise, acquire any proprietary rights whatsoever in Confidential Information, which shall be the sole and exclusive property and confidential information of Company. No identifying marks, copyright or proprietary right notices may be deleted from any copy of Confidential Information. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the rights of Company from performing similar services for, or delivering the same or similar deliverable to, third parties using the Confidential Information and/or using the same personnel to provide any such services or deliverables.

 

(c)Confidentiality Obligations. Executive agrees to hold the Confidential Information in confidence and not to copy, reproduce, sell, assign, license, market, transfer, give or otherwise disclose such Confidential Information to any person or entity or to use the Confidential Information for any purposes whatsoever, without the express written permission of Company, other than disclosure to Executive’s, partners, principals, directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and agents on a “need-to-know” basis as reasonably required for the performance of Executive’s obligations hereunder or as otherwise agreed to herein. Executive shall be responsible to Company for any violation of this Section 7 by Executive’s employees, subcontractors, and agents. Executive shall maintain the Confidential Information with the same degree of care, but no less than a reasonable degree of care, as Executive employs concerning its own information of like kind and character.

 

(d)Required Disclosure. If Executive is requested to disclose any of the Confidential Information as part of an administrative or judicial proceeding, Executive shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, promptly notify Company of that request and cooperate with Company, at Company’s expense, in seeking a protective order or similar confidential treatment for the Confidential Information. If no protective order or other confidential treatment is obtained, Executive shall disclose only that portion of Confidential Information which is legally required and will exercise all reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information which is required to be disclosed.

 

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(e)Enforcement. Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information is unique and valuable, and that remedies at law will be inadequate to protect Company from any actual or threatened breach of this Section 7 by Executive and that any such breach would cause irreparable and continuing injury to Company. Therefore, Executive agrees that Company shall be entitled to seek equitable relief with respect to the enforcement of this Section 7 without any requirement to post a bond, including, without limitation, injunction and specific performance, without proof of actual damages or exhausting other remedies, in addition to all other remedies available to Company at law or in equity. For greater clarity, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 7, in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights, remedies or damages available at law or in equity, Company shall be entitled to a permanent injunction or other like remedy in order to prevent or restrain any such breach or threatened breach by Executive, and Executive agrees that an interim injunction may be granted against Executive immediately on the commencement of any action, claim, suit or proceeding by Company to enforce the provisions of this Section 7, and Executive further irrevocably consents to the granting of any such interim or permanent injunction or any like remedy. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce the terms of this Section 7, Executive, if it is determined to be at fault, shall pay Company’s reasonable legal fees and expenses on a substantial indemnity basis.

 

(f)Related Duties. Executive shall: (i) promptly deliver to Company upon Company’s request all materials in Executive’s possession which contain Confidential Information; (ii) use its best efforts to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of the Confidential Information; (iii) notify Company in writing immediately upon discovery of any such unauthorized use or disclosure; and (iv) cooperate in every reasonable way to regain possession of any Confidential Information and to prevent further unauthorized use and disclosure thereof.

 

(g)Legal Exceptions. Further notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, Executive may disclose confidential information as may be expressly required by law, governmental rule, regulation, executive order, court order, or in connection with a dispute between the Parties; provided that prior to making any such disclosure, subject to applicable law, Executive shall use its best efforts to: (i) provide Company with at least fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice setting forth with specificity the reason(s) for such disclosure, supporting documentation therefor, and the circumstances giving rise thereto; and (ii) limit the scope and duration of such disclosure to the strictest possible extent.

 

(h)Limitation. Except as specifically set forth herein, no licenses or rights under any patent, copyright, trademark, or trade secret are granted by Company to Executive hereunder, or are to be implied by this Agreement. Except for the restrictions on use and disclosure of Confidential Information imposed in this Agreement, no obligation of any kind is assumed or implied against either Party or their Affiliates by virtue of meetings or conversations between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter stated above or with respect to the exchange of Confidential Information. Each Party further acknowledges that this Agreement and any meetings and communications of the Parties and their affiliates relating to the same subject matter shall not: (i) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract with the other Party to engage in any research, development or other work; (ii) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract involving a buyer-seller relationship, joint venture, teaming or partnership relationship between the Parties and their affiliates; or (iii) constitute a representation, warranty, assurance, guarantee or inducement with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any Confidential Information or the non-infringement of the rights of third persons.

 

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8.Intellectual Property Rights.

 

(a)Disclosure of Work Product. As used in this Agreement, the term “Work Product” means any invention, whether or not patentable, know-how, designs, mask works, trademarks, formulae, processes, manufacturing techniques, trade secrets, ideas, artwork, software or any copyrightable or patentable works. Executive agrees to disclose promptly in writing to Company, or any person designated by Company, all Work Product that is solely or jointly conceived, made, reduced to practice, or learned by Executive in the course of any work performed for Company (“Company Work Product”). Executive agrees (a) to use Executive’s best efforts to maintain such Company Work Product in trust and strict confidence; (b) not to use Company Work Product in any manner or for any purpose not expressly set forth in this Agreement; and (c) not to disclose any such Company Work Product to any third party without first obtaining Company’s express written consent on a case-by-case basis.

 

(b)Ownership of Company Work Product. Executive agrees that any and all Company Work Product conceived, written, created or first reduced to practice in the performance of work under this Agreement shall be deemed “work for hire” under applicable law and shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company.

 

(c)Assignment of Company Work Product. Executive irrevocably assigns to Company all right, title and interest worldwide in and to the Company Work Product and all applicable intellectual property rights related to the Company Work Product, including without limitation, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, moral rights, contract and licensing rights (the “Proprietary Rights”). Except as set forth below, Executive retains no rights to use the Company Work Product and agrees not to challenge the validity of Company’s ownership in the Company Work Product. Executive hereby grants to Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, fully paid-up, royalty-free, irrevocable and world-wide right, with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees, to reproduce, make derivative works of, publicly perform, and display in any form or medium whether now known or later developed, distribute, make, use and sell any and all Executive owned or controlled Work Product or technology that Executive uses to complete the services and which is necessary for Company to use or exploit the Company Work Product.

 

(d)Assistance. Executive agrees to cooperate with Company or its designee(s), both during and after the Term, in the procurement and maintenance of Company’s rights in Company Work Product and to execute, when requested, any other documents deemed necessary by Company to carry out the purpose of this Agreement. Executive will assist Company in every proper way to obtain, and from time to time enforce, United States and foreign Proprietary Rights relating to Company Work Product in any and all countries. Executive’s obligation to assist Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Company Work Product in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of this Agreement, but Company shall compensate Executive at a reasonable rate to be mutually agreed upon after such termination for the time actually spent by Executive at Company’s request on such assistance.

 

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(e)Execution of Documents. In the event Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to secure Executive’s signature on any document requested by Company pursuant to this Section 8 within seven (7) days of the Company’s initial request to Executive, Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as its agent and attorney in fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for and on its behalf solely to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 8 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Executive. Executive hereby waives and quitclaims to Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, which Executive now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assignable hereunder to Company.

 

(f)Executive Representations and Warranties. Executive hereby represents and warrants that: (i) Company Work Product will be an original work of Executive or all applicable third parties will have executed assignments of rights reasonably acceptable to Company; (ii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party; (iii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will be subject to any restrictions or to any mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests, encumbrances or encroachments; (iv) Executive will not grant, directly or indirectly, any rights or interest whatsoever in the Company Work Product to any third party; (v) Executive has full right and power to enter into and perform Executive’s obligations under this Agreement without the consent of any third party; (vi) Executive will use best efforts to prevent injury to any person (including employees of Company) or damage to property (including Company’s property) during the Term; and (vii) should Company permit Executive to use any of Company’s equipment, tools, or facilities during the Term, such permission shall be gratuitous and Executive shall be responsible for any injury to any person (including death) or damage to property (including Company’s property) arising out of use of such equipment, tools or facilities.

 

9.Non-Solicitation

 

(a)Existing Business Interests. The Parties acknowledge that the Company is engaged in the various business as disclosed to the Executive (together with such other activities as may be engaged in from time to time, the “Existing Business”). As part of this Existing Business, Company has developed and continues to develop Confidential Information regarding the operation of such business. In addition, Company has developed and continues to develop substantial relationships with existing and prospective clients, accounts, suppliers and others, as well as goodwill associated with these relationships and business. These relationships are a substantial business asset owned by, and proprietary to, Company and are integral to Company’s Existing Business and continued operation.

 

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(b)Developing Business Interests. The Company also is engaged in expanding its business by developing new business concepts and services (the “Developing Business”). As part of this Developing Business, the Company has developed and continues to develop Confidential Information related thereto, valuable relationships with prospective and existing clients, accounts, suppliers and others, and continues to create goodwill associated with these relationships and business. The Developing Business is a substantial business asset owned by, and proprietary to, the Company.

 

(c)Other Legitimate Business Interests. In addition to the Existing Business and the Developing Business, Company has other legitimate business interests which are necessary to protect through the provisions of this Section 9, which Executive acknowledges include, but are not limited to the following (collectively the “Other Legitimate Business Interests”):

 

(i)The Company has expended considerable resources in developing relationships with its suppliers, clients and customers;

 

(ii)The Company has expended considerable resources to recruit and hire vendors and/or employees who could perform services for Company;

 

(iii)Executive may, through the contractual relationship set forth herein, develop a substantial relationship with Company’s existing or potential clients, including but not limited to being the sole or primary contact between Company and its clients and principals; and

 

(iv)The relationship between Company and its clients and principals will depend on the quality and quantity of the services Executive performs for Company.

 

(d)Acknowledgement of Company’s Right to Protection of Business Interests. Executive acknowledges and agrees that Company desires, is entitled to, and deserves, protection of its legitimate business interests associated with the Existing Business, the Developing Business and the Other Legitimate Business Interests. Accordingly, Executive agrees to the restrictions set forth in this Section 9 as reasonable under the circumstances.

 

(e)No-Solicitation. In recognition and consideration of Company’s Existing Business, Developing Business and Other Legitimate Business Interests, subject to applicable law, Executive agrees that, for the Term and for a period of three (3) years thereafter, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly solicit or discuss with any employee of Company the employment of such Company employee by any other commercial enterprise other than Company, nor recruit, attempt to recruit, hire or attempt to hire any such Company employee on behalf of any commercial enterprise other than Company. Nothing in this Section 9(e) shall prohibit Executive from undertaking a general recruitment advertisement provided that the foregoing is not targeted towards any person identified above, or from hiring, employing or engaging any such person who responds to such general recruitment advertisement.

 

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(f)Remedies for Breach of Restrictions.

 

(i)Executive admits and agrees that Executive’s breach of the provisions of this Section 9 would result in irreparable harm to Company. Accordingly, in the event of Executive’s breach or threatened breach of such restrictions, Executive agrees that Company shall be entitled to an injunction restraining such breach or threatened breach without the necessity of posting a bond or other security. Further, in the event of Executive’s breach, the duration of the restrictions contained in this Section 9 shall be extended for the entire time that the breach existed so that Company is provided with the full time period provided herein.

 

(ii)In addition to injunctive relief, Company shall be entitled to any other remedy available in law or equity by reason of Executive’s breach or threatened breach of the restrictions contained in this Section 9.

 

(iii)If the Company retains an attorney to enforce the provisions of this Section 9, the Company shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs so incurred from Executive, both prior to filing a lawsuit, during the lawsuit and on appeal.

 

(g)Blue Pencil. Executive has carefully read and considered the provisions of this Section 9 and, having done so, agrees that the restrictions set forth in such Section 9 are fair and reasonable and are reasonably required for the protection of the legitimate business interests of the Company. In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any of the foregoing restrictions are unenforceable, the Parties hereto agree that it is their desire that such court substitute an enforceable restriction in place of any restriction deemed unenforceable, and that the substitute restriction be deemed incorporated herein and enforceable against Executive. It is the intent of the Parties hereto that the court, in so determining any such enforceable substitute restriction, recognize that it is their intent that the foregoing restrictions be imposed and maintained to the greatest extent possible.

 

10.Representations and Warranties Relating to Securities. Any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company that may be issued or granted to the Executive hereunder or pursuant to any other agreement between the Company and the Executive in connection with the transactions contemplated herein may be referred to as the “Securities”, and Executive represents and warrants to the Company as set forth in this Section 10 with respect to the Securities and Executive’s receipt thereof, as of the Effective Date and as of the date of any issuance or granting of any Securities.

 

(a)Executive is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (an “Accredited Investor”).

 

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(b)Executive hereby represent that the Securities awarded pursuant to this Agreement are being acquired for Executive’s own account and not for sale or with a view to distribution thereof. Executive acknowledges and agrees that any sale or distribution of Securities which have vested may be made only pursuant to either (a) a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act, which registration statement has become effective and is current with regard to the shares being sold, or (b) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act that is confirmed in a favorable written opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, prior to any such sale or distribution. Executive hereby consents to such action as the Board or the Company deems necessary or appropriate from time to time to prevent a violation of, or to perfect an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act or to implement the provisions of this Agreement, including but not limited to placing restrictive legends on certificates evidencing shares of Securities (whether or not the Restrictions applicable thereto have lapsed) and delivering stop transfer instructions to the Company’s stock transfer agent.

 

(c)Executive understands that the Securities is being offered and sold to Executive in reliance upon specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and Executive’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Executive set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Executive to acquire the Securities.

 

(d)Executive has been furnished with all documents and materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and information that Executive requested and deemed material to making an informed investment decision regarding its acquisition of the Securities. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to review such documents and materials and the information contained therein. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its management. Executive understands that such discussions, as well as any written information provided by the Company, were intended to describe the aspects of the Company’s business and prospects which the Company believes to be material, but were not necessarily a thorough or exhaustive description and the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to the completeness of such information and makes no representation or warranty of any kind with respect to any information provided by any entity other than the Company. Some of such information may include projections as to the future performance of the Company, which projections may not be realized, may be based on assumptions which may not be correct and may be subject to numerous factors beyond the Company’s control. Additionally, Executive understands and represents that Executive is acquiring the Securities notwithstanding the fact that the Company may disclose in the future certain material information that the Executive has not received. Executive has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Executive has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to Executive’s investment in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive, either personally, or together with Executive’s advisors has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities, is able to bear the risks of an investment in the Securities and understands the risks of, and other considerations relating to, a purchase of the Securities. The Executive and Executive’s advisors have had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company concerning the Securities. Executive’s financial condition is such that Executive is able to bear the risk of holding the Securities that Executive may acquire pursuant to this Agreement for an indefinite period of time, and the risk of loss of Executive’s entire investment in the Company. Executive has investigated the acquisition of the Securities to the extent Executive deemed necessary or desirable and the Company has provided Executive with any reasonable assistance Executive has requested in connection therewith. No representations or warranties have been made to Executive by the Company, or any representative of the Company, or any securities broker/dealer, other than as set forth in this Agreement.

 

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(e)Executive also acknowledges and agrees that an investment in the Securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk of loss of the entire investment in the Company and there is no assurance that a public market for the Securities will ever develop and that, as a result, Executive may not be able to liquidate Executive’s investment in the Securities should a need arise to do so. Executive is not dependent for liquidity on any of the amounts Executive is investing in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive understands that the representations and warranties herein are to be relied upon by the Company as a basis for the exemptions from registration and qualification of the issuance and sale of the Securities under the federal and state securities laws and for other purposes.

 

(f)Executive understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities.

 

(g)Executive understands that until such time as the Securities have been registered under the Securities Act or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 144A under the Securities Act or Regulation S without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold, the Securities may bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of the certificates for such Securities):

 

“NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER), IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144, RULE 144A OR REGULATION S UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.”

 

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(h)This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by Executive. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of Executive, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Executive enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(i)Executive is an individual resident of the state set forth in the notices provision for Executive herein.

 

11.Effect of Waiver. The waiver by either Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach hereof. No waiver shall be valid unless in writing.

 

12.Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by either Party without the express prior written consent of the other Party hereto, except that Company may transfer, assign or delegate to any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company any of Company’s rights, obligations or duties hereunder. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the successors and permitted assigns of the Parties.

 

13.No Third-Party Rights. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement is intended solely for the benefit of the Parties hereto and is not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favor of, any person or entity other than the Parties hereto.

 

14.Entire Agreement; Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement and any option agreement or other agreement entered into between the Company and Executive with respect to the issuance of any equity securities of the Company or other equity awards relating to the Company set forth the entire agreement of the Parties hereto and shall supersede any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning the Executive’s employment by the Company. This Agreement may be changed only by a written document signed by the Executive and the Company.

 

15.Survival. The provisions of Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, Section 6, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9 and Section 13 through Section 25, inclusive, shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement, and provided that any expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not excuse a Party from compliance with, or fulfillment of, any obligations or conditions which arose prior to such expiration or termination.

 

16.Severability. If any one or more of the provisions, or portions of any provision, of the Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or parts hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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17.Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined, and this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of such state, without giving effect to the choice of law provisions of such state.

 

(b)Subject to Section 18, each Party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning this Agreement shall be commenced in the state and federal courts sitting in KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON (the “Selected Courts”). Each Party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Selected Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of the rights of a Party under this Agreement), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such Selected Courts, or such Selected Courts are improper or inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each Party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such Party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

 

(c)TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 17(c).

 

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(d)Subject to the provisions of Section 20(b), if any Party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing Party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other Party for its attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

18.Arbitration. Any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Executive’s employment by the Company, including, but not limited to, common law and statutory claims for discrimination, wrongful discharge, and unpaid wages, shall be resolved by arbitration in Redmond, Washington pursuant to then-prevailing National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration shall be conducted by three arbitrators, with one arbitrator selected by each Party and the third arbitrator selected by the two arbitrators so selected by the Parties. The arbitrators shall be bound to follow the applicable Agreement provisions in adjudicating the dispute. It is agreed by both Parties that the arbitrators’ decision is final, and that no Party may take any action, judicial or administrative, to overturn such decision. The judgment rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in the Selected Courts. Subject to the provisions of Section 20(b), each Party will pay its own expenses of arbitration and the expenses of the arbitrators will be equally shared provided that, if in the opinion of the arbitrators any claim, defense, or argument raised in the arbitration was unreasonable, the arbitrators may assess all or part of the expenses of the other Party (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and of the arbitrators as the arbitrators deem appropriate. The arbitrators may not award either Party punitive or consequential damages.

 

19.Indemnification. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to indemnification and insurance coverage for officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other liabilities arising out of the Executive’s position with the Company in any capacity, in an amount not less than the highest amount available to any other executive, and such coverage and protections, with respect to the various liabilities as to which the Executive has been customarily indemnified prior to termination of employment, shall continue for at least six years following the end of the Term. Any indemnification agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the termination of this Agreement.

 

20.Expenses.

 

(a)Other than as specifically set forth herein, each of the Parties will bear their own respective expenses, including legal, accounting and professional fees, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.

 

(b)It is the intent of the Company that, following a Change of Control, the Executive shall not be required to incur any expenses associated with the enforcement of Executive’s rights under this Agreement by arbitration, litigation or other legal action because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Executive hereunder. Accordingly, the Company shall pay the Executive on demand the amount necessary to reimburse the Executive in full for all expenses (including all attorneys’ fees and legal expenses) incurred by the Executive in enforcing any of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, or in defending any action by the Company against the Executive in respect of such obligations or the obligations of the Executive under this Agreement, if such action is commenced on or following a Change of Control. The Company shall pay such expenses to the Executive upon demand in connection with any action described in the preceding sentence which is commenced prior to a Change of Control if the Executive substantially prevails on at least one material issue in dispute.

 

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21.Notices.

 

(a)All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other Party, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by email with return receipt requested and received or nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as either Party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. All notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered by hand, if personally delivered, (ii) when delivered by courier or overnight mail, if delivered by commercial courier service or overnight mail, and (iii) on receipt of confirmed delivery, if sent by email.

 

If to the Company:

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

8201 164th AVE NE STE 200

Redmond, WA 98052-7615

Email: samlai@hourloop.com

 

With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

 

Anthony L.G., PLLC

Attn: John Cacomanolis

625 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 600

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Email: JCacomanolis@anthonypllc.com

 

If to Executive, to the address and email address on file for the Executive in the books and records of the Company.

 

22.Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

23.Counsel. The Parties acknowledge and agree that Anthony L.G., PLLC (“Counsel”) has acted as legal counsel to the Company, and that Counsel has prepared this Agreement at the request of the Company, and that Counsel is not legal counsel to Executive individually. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that they are aware of, and have consented to, the Counsel acting as legal counsel to the Company and preparing this Agreement, and that Counsel has advised each of the Parties to retain separate counsel to review the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered in connection herewith, and each Party has either waived such right freely or has otherwise sought such additional counsel as it has deemed necessary. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that Counsel does not owe any duties to Executive in Executive’s individual capacity in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein. Each of the Parties hereby waives any conflict of interest which may apply with respect to Counsel’s actions as set forth herein, and the Parties confirm that the Parties have previously negotiated the material terms of the agreements as set forth herein.

 

24.Rule of Construction. The general rule of construction for interpreting a contract, which provides that the provisions of a contract should be construed against the Party preparing the contract, is waived by the Parties hereto. Each Party acknowledges that such Party was represented by separate legal counsel in this matter who participated in the preparation of this Agreement or such Party had the opportunity to retain counsel to participate in the preparation of this Agreement but elected not to do so.

 

25.Execution in Counterparts, Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. The signature of any Party which is transmitted by any reliable electronic means such as, but not limited to, a photocopy, electronically scanned or facsimile machine, for purposes hereof, is to be considered as an original signature, and the document transmitted is to be considered to have the same binding effect as an original signature or an original document.

 

[Signatures appear on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

  Hour Loop, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Sam Lai
  Name: Sam Lai
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Executive: Sau Kuen Yu
     
  By: /s/ Sau Kuen Yu
  Name: Sau Kuen Yu

 

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Exhibit 10.3

 

Executive Employment Agreement

 

(Rahul Ratan)

 

Dated as of June 14, 2021

 

This Executive Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”) is entered into by and between Hour Loop, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Rahul Ratan (the “Executive”). The Company and Executive may collective be referred to as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party”.

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Executive desires to serve in such capacities on behalf of the Company, in each case subject to the terms and conditions herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Employment.

 

(a)Term. The term of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”) shall begin as of the Effective Date and shall end on the earlier of (i) the third (3rd) anniversary of the Effective Date and (ii) the time of the termination of the Executive’s employment in accordance with Section 3. The Initial Term and any Renewal Term (as defined below) shall automatically be extended for one or more additional terms of one (1) year each (each a “Renewal Term” and together with the Initial Term, the “Term”), unless either the Company or Executive provides notice to the other Party of their desire to not so renew the Initial Term or Renewal Term (as applicable) at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the then-current Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable. Executive’s employment with the Company shall be “at will,” meaning that either Executive or the Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time and for any reason, subject to Section 3. Any contrary representations that may have been made to Executive are superseded by this Agreement.

 

(b)Duties. The Company hereby appoints Executive, and Executive shall serve, as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and such other persons as determined by the Chief Executive Officer (as applicable, “Supervisor”). The Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with Executive’s position with the Company. In addition, the Executive shall perform all other duties and accept all other responsibilities incident to such position as may reasonably assigned to Executive by Supervisor.

 

2.Compensation and Other Benefits. As compensation for the services to be rendered hereunder, during the Term the Company shall pay to the Executive the salary and bonuses, and shall provide the benefits, as set forth in this Section 2.

 

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(a)Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary of $200,000 (the “Base Salary”), payable as set forth herein, commencing on the Effective Date. The Base Salary may be subject to adjustments at any time, as determined in the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) based on Executive’s performance reviews. The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll processes.

 

(b)Potential Option Grant.

 

(i)On the last business day prior to the commencement of the Company’s first firm-commitment underwritten initial public offering of Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) occurring after the Effective Date (the “IPO”), with such commencement date to be determined by the Board, and subject to this Agreement and the Term not having expired or having been earlier terminated as of such time, the Company shall issue to Executive an option (the “Option”) to acquire 15,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) pursuant to an option agreement in form and substance as agreed to by the Company and Executive (the “Option Agreement”), which is expected to be issued pursuant to the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, or any replacement thereof. If the Option is issued, the Option Agreement shall provide that the options will vest in four equal annual installments, subject to earlier acceleration and forfeiture as set forth herein and in the Option Agreement, and that the exercise price per share will be equal to the offering price per share of Common Stock in the IPO, but, for the avoidance of doubt, such shares of Common Stock shall be unregistered shares of Common Stock. The determination of the timing, terms and conditions of the IPO, and whether to undertake an IPO, shall be subject to the determination of the Board in its sole discretion and Executive acknowledges that the Company shall not be obligated to undertake the IPO.

 

(ii)The shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Option shall be considered “restricted securities” as defined in SEC Rule 144 and may not be sold or resold until such time, and to the extent that, such shares have been included in an effective registration statement filed with the SEC under Section 5 of the Securities Act or otherwise qualify and may be sold under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act or under SEC Rule 144.

 

(c)Bonus. The Executive shall be entitled to be paid discretionary annual bonuses as determined by the Board.

 

(d)Equity Grants. In addition to the Option, if granted, the Executive shall be entitled to receive grants of Common Stock or options, warrants or other rights to receive Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company in amounts and form as determined by the Board.

 

(e)Fringe Benefits. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits and reimbursement of expenses as determined by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

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3.Termination.

 

(a)Termination by the Company or Executive. Either the Company or Executive may terminate this Agreement, the Term and Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or reason.

 

(b)Effects of Termination. In the event that the Company or Executive terminates this Agreement, the Term and Executive’s employment hereunder, then in such event, subject to Section 3(d), (1) the Company shall pay to Executive any unpaid Base Salary and benefits then owed or accrued and any unreimbursed expenses for which the Company has agreed to reimburse Executive pursuant to Section 2(e), in each case accrued or incurred by the Executive through the date of such termination, each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (2) any unvested portion of any equity granted to Executive hereunder as set forth in Section 2(d) or under the Option Agreement or any other agreements with the Company (collectively, the “Equity Grants”) shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties; and (3) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 14.

 

(c)Termination by Death or Disability. In the event of the Executive’s death or total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) during the Term, the Term and Executive’s employment shall terminate on the date of death or total disability. In the event of such termination, the Company shall pay to the Executive (or the Executive’s estate) (1) any unpaid Base Salary and benefits then owed or accrued and any unreimbursed expenses for which the Company has agreed to reimburse Executive pursuant to Section 2(e), in each case accrued or incurred by the Executive in each case through the date of such death or total disability, (2) any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties; and (3) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 14.

 

(d)Conflict. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions herein and those in any other agreement or contract between the Company and the Executive with respect to any Equity Grants granted to Executive, the terms and conditions of such other agreement or contract shall control.

 

4.Post-Termination Assistance. Upon the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to fully cooperate in all matters relating to the winding up or pending work on behalf of the Company and the orderly transfer of work to other employees of the Company following any termination of the Executives’ employment. The Executive further agrees that Executive will provide, upon reasonable notice, such information and assistance to the Company as may reasonably be requested by the Company in connection with any audit, governmental investigation, litigation, or other dispute in which the Company is or may become a party and as to which the Executive has knowledge; provided, however, that (i) the Company agrees to reimburse the Executive for any related out-of-pocket expenses, including travel expenses, and (ii) any such assistance may not unreasonably interfere with Executive’s then current employment.

 

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5.No Mitigation or Set Off. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced, regardless of whether the Executive obtains other employment. The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or others; provided, however, the Company shall have the right to offset the amount of any funds loaned or advanced to the Executive and not repaid against any severance obligations the Company may have to the Executive hereunder.

 

6.Confidentiality
   
(a)Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean all Company Work Product (as hereinafter defined) and all non-public written, electronic, and oral information or materials of Company communicated to or otherwise obtained by Executive in connection with this Agreement, which is related to the products, business and activities of Company, its Affiliates (as defined below), and subsidiaries, and their respective customers, clients, suppliers, and other entities with which such party does business, including: (i) all costing, pricing, technology, software, documentation, research, techniques, procedures, processes, discoveries, inventions, methodologies, data, tools, templates, know how, intellectual property and all other proprietary information of Company; (ii) the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) any other information identified as confidential in writing by Company. Confidential Information shall not include information that: (a) was lawfully known by Executive without an obligation of confidentiality before its receipt from Company; (b) is independently developed by Executive without reliance on or use of Confidential Information; (c) is or becomes publicly available without a breach by Executive of this Agreement; or (d) is disclosed to Executive by a third party which is not required to maintain its confidentiality. An “Affiliate” of a Party shall mean any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Party at any time during the Term for so long as such control exists.

 

(b)Company Ownership. Company shall retain all right, title, and interest to the Confidential Information, including all copies thereof and all rights to patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights inherent therein and appurtenant thereto. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Company hereby grants Executive a non-exclusive, non-transferable, license during the Term to use any Confidential Information solely to the extent that such Confidential Information is necessary for the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. Executive shall not, by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise, acquire any proprietary rights whatsoever in Confidential Information, which shall be the sole and exclusive property and confidential information of Company. No identifying marks, copyright or proprietary right notices may be deleted from any copy of Confidential Information. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the rights of Company from performing similar services for, or delivering the same or similar deliverable to, third parties using the Confidential Information and/or using the same personnel to provide any such services or deliverables.

 

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(c)Confidentiality Obligations. Executive agrees to hold the Confidential Information in confidence and not to copy, reproduce, sell, assign, license, market, transfer, give or otherwise disclose such Confidential Information to any person or entity or to use the Confidential Information for any purposes whatsoever, without the express written permission of Company, other than disclosure to Executive’s, partners, principals, directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and agents on a “need-to-know” basis as reasonably required for the performance of Executive’s obligations hereunder or as otherwise agreed to herein. Executive shall be responsible to Company for any violation of this Section 6 by Executive’s employees, subcontractors, and agents. Executive shall maintain the Confidential Information with the same degree of care, but no less than a reasonable degree of care, as Executive employs concerning its own information of like kind and character.

 

(d)Required Disclosure. If Executive is requested to disclose any of the Confidential Information as part of an administrative or judicial proceeding, Executive shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, promptly notify Company of that request and cooperate with Company, at Company’s expense, in seeking a protective order or similar confidential treatment for the Confidential Information. If no protective order or other confidential treatment is obtained, Executive shall disclose only that portion of Confidential Information which is legally required and will exercise all reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information which is required to be disclosed.

 

(e)Enforcement. Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information is unique and valuable, and that remedies at law will be inadequate to protect Company from any actual or threatened breach of this Section 6 by Executive and that any such breach would cause irreparable and continuing injury to Company. Therefore, Executive agrees that Company shall be entitled to seek equitable relief with respect to the enforcement of this Section 6 without any requirement to post a bond, including, without limitation, injunction and specific performance, without proof of actual damages or exhausting other remedies, in addition to all other remedies available to Company at law or in equity. For greater clarity, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 6, in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights, remedies or damages available at law or in equity, Company shall be entitled to a permanent injunction or other like remedy in order to prevent or restrain any such breach or threatened breach by Executive, and Executive agrees that an interim injunction may be granted against Executive immediately on the commencement of any action, claim, suit or proceeding by Company to enforce the provisions of this Section 6, and Executive further irrevocably consents to the granting of any such interim or permanent injunction or any like remedy. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce the terms of this Section 6, Executive, if it is determined to be at fault, shall pay Company’s reasonable legal fees and expenses on a substantial indemnity basis.

 

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(f)Related Duties. Executive shall: (i) promptly deliver to Company upon Company’s request all materials in Executive’s possession which contain Confidential Information; (ii) use its best efforts to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of the Confidential Information; (iii) notify Company in writing immediately upon discovery of any such unauthorized use or disclosure; and (iv) cooperate in every reasonable way to regain possession of any Confidential Information and to prevent further unauthorized use and disclosure thereof.

 

(g)Legal Exceptions. Further notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6, Executive may disclose confidential information as may be expressly required by law, governmental rule, regulation, executive order, court order, or in connection with a dispute between the Parties; provided that prior to making any such disclosure, subject to applicable law, Executive shall use its best efforts to: (i) provide Company with at least fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice setting forth with specificity the reason(s) for such disclosure, supporting documentation therefor, and the circumstances giving rise thereto; and (ii) limit the scope and duration of such disclosure to the strictest possible extent.

 

(h)Limitation. Except as specifically set forth herein, no licenses or rights under any patent, copyright, trademark, or trade secret are granted by Company to Executive hereunder, or are to be implied by this Agreement. Except for the restrictions on use and disclosure of Confidential Information imposed in this Agreement, no obligation of any kind is assumed or implied against either Party or their Affiliates by virtue of meetings or conversations between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter stated above or with respect to the exchange of Confidential Information. Each Party further acknowledges that this Agreement and any meetings and communications of the Parties and their affiliates relating to the same subject matter shall not: (i) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract with the other Party to engage in any research, development or other work; (ii) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract involving a buyer-seller relationship, joint venture, teaming or partnership relationship between the Parties and their affiliates; or (iii) constitute a representation, warranty, assurance, guarantee or inducement with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any Confidential Information or the non-infringement of the rights of third persons.

 

7.Intellectual Property Rights.

 

(a)Disclosure of Work Product. As used in this Agreement, the term “Work Product” means any invention, whether or not patentable, know-how, designs, mask works, trademarks, formulae, processes, manufacturing techniques, trade secrets, ideas, artwork, software or any copyrightable or patentable works. Executive agrees to disclose promptly in writing to Company, or any person designated by Company, all Work Product that is solely or jointly conceived, made, reduced to practice, or learned by Executive in the course of any work performed for Company (“Company Work Product”). Executive agrees (a) to use Executive’s best efforts to maintain such Company Work Product in trust and strict confidence; (b) not to use Company Work Product in any manner or for any purpose not expressly set forth in this Agreement; and (c) not to disclose any such Company Work Product to any third party without first obtaining Company’s express written consent on a case-by-case basis.

 

(b)Ownership of Company Work Product. Executive agrees that any and all Company Work Product conceived, written, created or first reduced to practice in the performance of work under this Agreement shall be deemed “work for hire” under applicable law and shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company.

 

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(c)Assignment of Company Work Product. Executive irrevocably assigns to Company all right, title and interest worldwide in and to the Company Work Product and all applicable intellectual property rights related to the Company Work Product, including without limitation, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, moral rights, contract and licensing rights (the “Proprietary Rights”). Except as set forth below, Executive retains no rights to use the Company Work Product and agrees not to challenge the validity of Company’s ownership in the Company Work Product. Executive hereby grants to Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, fully paid-up, royalty-free, irrevocable and world-wide right, with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees, to reproduce, make derivative works of, publicly perform, and display in any form or medium whether now known or later developed, distribute, make, use and sell any and all Executive owned or controlled Work Product or technology that Executive uses to complete the services and which is necessary for Company to use or exploit the Company Work Product.

 

(d)Assistance. Executive agrees to cooperate with Company or its designee(s), both during and after the Term, in the procurement and maintenance of Company’s rights in Company Work Product and to execute, when requested, any other documents deemed necessary by Company to carry out the purpose of this Agreement. Executive will assist Company in every proper way to obtain, and from time to time enforce, United States and foreign Proprietary Rights relating to Company Work Product in any and all countries. Executive’s obligation to assist Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Company Work Product in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of this Agreement, but Company shall compensate Executive at a reasonable rate to be mutually agreed upon after such termination for the time actually spent by Executive at Company’s request on such assistance.

 

(e)Execution of Documents. In the event Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to secure Executive’s signature on any document requested by Company pursuant to this Section 7 within seven (7) days of the Company’s initial request to Executive, Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as its agent and attorney in fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for and on its behalf solely to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 7 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Executive. Executive hereby waives and quitclaims to Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, which Executive now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assignable hereunder to Company.

 

(f)Executive Representations and Warranties. Executive hereby represents and warrants that: (i) Company Work Product will be an original work of Executive or all applicable third parties will have executed assignments of rights reasonably acceptable to Company; (ii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party; (iii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will be subject to any restrictions or to any mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests, encumbrances or encroachments; (iv) Executive will not grant, directly or indirectly, any rights or interest whatsoever in the Company Work Product to any third party; (v) Executive has full right and power to enter into and perform Executive’s obligations under this Agreement without the consent of any third party; (vi) Executive will use best efforts to prevent injury to any person (including employees of Company) or damage to property (including Company’s property) during the Term; and (vii) should Company permit Executive to use any of Company’s equipment, tools, or facilities during the Term, such permission shall be gratuitous and Executive shall be responsible for any injury to any person (including death) or damage to property (including Company’s property) arising out of use of such equipment, tools or facilities.

 

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8.Non-Solicitation

 

(a)Existing Business Interests. The Parties acknowledge that the Company is engaged in the various business as disclosed to the Executive (together with such other activities as may be engaged in from time to time, the “Existing Business”). As part of this Existing Business, Company has developed and continues to develop Confidential Information regarding the operation of such business. In addition, Company has developed and continues to develop substantial relationships with existing and prospective clients, accounts, suppliers and others, as well as goodwill associated with these relationships and business. These relationships are a substantial business asset owned by, and proprietary to, Company and are integral to Company’s Existing Business and continued operation.

 

(b)Developing Business Interests. The Company also is engaged in expanding its business by developing new business concepts and services (the “Developing Business”). As part of this Developing Business, the Company has developed and continues to develop Confidential Information related thereto, valuable relationships with prospective and existing clients, accounts, suppliers and others, and continues to create goodwill associated with these relationships and business. The Developing Business is a substantial business asset owned by, and proprietary to, the Company.

 

(c)Other Legitimate Business Interests. In addition to the Existing Business and the Developing Business, Company has other legitimate business interests which are necessary to protect through the provisions of this Section 8, which Executive acknowledges include, but are not limited to the following (collectively the “Other Legitimate Business Interests”):

 

(i)The Company has expended considerable resources in developing relationships with its suppliers, clients and customers;

 

(ii)The Company has expended considerable resources to recruit and hire vendors and/or employees who could perform services for Company;

 

(iii)Executive may, through the contractual relationship set forth herein, develop a substantial relationship with Company’s existing or potential clients, including but not limited to being the sole or primary contact between Company and its clients and principals; and

 

(iv)The relationship between Company and its clients and principals will depend on the quality and quantity of the services Executive performs for Company.

 

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(d)Acknowledgement of Company’s Right to Protection of Business Interests. Executive acknowledges and agrees that Company desires, is entitled to, and deserves, protection of its legitimate business interests associated with the Existing Business, the Developing Business and the Other Legitimate Business Interests. Accordingly, Executive agrees to the restrictions set forth in this Section 8 as reasonable under the circumstances.

 

(e)No-Solicitation. In recognition and consideration of Company’s Existing Business, Developing Business and Other Legitimate Business Interests, subject to applicable law, Executive agrees that, for the Term and for a period of three (3) years thereafter, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly solicit or discuss with any employee of Company the employment of such Company employee by any other commercial enterprise other than Company, nor recruit, attempt to recruit, hire or attempt to hire any such Company employee on behalf of any commercial enterprise other than Company. Nothing in this Section 8(e) shall prohibit Executive from undertaking a general recruitment advertisement provided that the foregoing is not targeted towards any person identified above, or from hiring, employing or engaging any such person who responds to such general recruitment advertisement.

 

(f)Remedies for Breach of Restrictions.

 

(i)Executive admits and agrees that Executive’s breach of the provisions of this Section 8 would result in irreparable harm to Company. Accordingly, in the event of Executive’s breach or threatened breach of such restrictions, Executive agrees that Company shall be entitled to an injunction restraining such breach or threatened breach without the necessity of posting a bond or other security. Further, in the event of Executive’s breach, the duration of the restrictions contained in this Section 8 shall be extended for the entire time that the breach existed so that Company is provided with the full time period provided herein.

 

(ii)In addition to injunctive relief, Company shall be entitled to any other remedy available in law or equity by reason of Executive’s breach or threatened breach of the restrictions contained in this Section 8.

 

(iii)If the Company retains an attorney to enforce the provisions of this Section 8, the Company shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs so incurred from Executive, both prior to filing a lawsuit, during the lawsuit and on appeal.

 

(g)Blue Pencil. Executive has carefully read and considered the provisions of this Section 8 and, having done so, agrees that the restrictions set forth in such Section 8 are fair and reasonable and are reasonably required for the protection of the legitimate business interests of the Company. In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any of the foregoing restrictions are unenforceable, the Parties hereto agree that it is their desire that such court substitute an enforceable restriction in place of any restriction deemed unenforceable, and that the substitute restriction be deemed incorporated herein and enforceable against Executive. It is the intent of the Parties hereto that the court, in so determining any such enforceable substitute restriction, recognize that it is their intent that the foregoing restrictions be imposed and maintained to the greatest extent possible.

 

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9.Representations and Warranties Relating to Securities. The Option and any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company that may be issued or granted to the Executive hereunder or pursuant to the Option Agreement or any other agreement between the Company and the Executive in connection with the transactions contemplated herein may be referred to as the “Securities”, and Executive represents and warrants to the Company as set forth in this Section 9 with respect to the Securities and Executive’s receipt thereof, as of the Effective Date and as of the date of any issuance or granting of any Securities.

 

(a)Executive is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (an “Accredited Investor”).

 

(b)Executive hereby represent that the Securities awarded pursuant to this Agreement are being acquired for Executive’s own account and not for sale or with a view to distribution thereof. Executive acknowledges and agrees that any sale or distribution of Securities which have vested may be made only pursuant to either (a) a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act, which registration statement has become effective and is current with regard to the shares being sold, or (b) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act that is confirmed in a favorable written opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, prior to any such sale or distribution. Executive hereby consents to such action as the Board or the Company deems necessary or appropriate from time to time to prevent a violation of, or to perfect an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act or to implement the provisions of this Agreement, including but not limited to placing restrictive legends on certificates evidencing shares of Securities (whether or not the Restrictions applicable thereto have lapsed) and delivering stop transfer instructions to the Company’s stock transfer agent.

 

(c)Executive understands that the Securities is being offered and sold to Executive in reliance upon specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and Executive’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Executive set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Executive to acquire the Securities.

 

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(d)Executive has been furnished with all documents and materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and information that Executive requested and deemed material to making an informed investment decision regarding its acquisition of the Securities. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to review such documents and materials and the information contained therein. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its management. Executive understands that such discussions, as well as any written information provided by the Company, were intended to describe the aspects of the Company’s business and prospects which the Company believes to be material, but were not necessarily a thorough or exhaustive description and the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to the completeness of such information and makes no representation or warranty of any kind with respect to any information provided by any entity other than the Company. Some of such information may include projections as to the future performance of the Company, which projections may not be realized, may be based on assumptions which may not be correct and may be subject to numerous factors beyond the Company’s control. Additionally, Executive understands and represents that Executive is acquiring the Securities notwithstanding the fact that the Company may disclose in the future certain material information that the Executive has not received. Executive has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Executive has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to Executive’s investment in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive, either personally, or together with Executive’s advisors has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities, is able to bear the risks of an investment in the Securities and understands the risks of, and other considerations relating to, a purchase of the Securities. The Executive and Executive’s advisors have had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company concerning the Securities. Executive’s financial condition is such that Executive is able to bear the risk of holding the Securities that Executive may acquire pursuant to this Agreement for an indefinite period of time, and the risk of loss of Executive’s entire investment in the Company. Executive has investigated the acquisition of the Securities to the extent Executive deemed necessary or desirable and the Company has provided Executive with any reasonable assistance Executive has requested in connection therewith. No representations or warranties have been made to Executive by the Company, or any representative of the Company, or any securities broker/dealer, other than as set forth in this Agreement.

 

(e)Executive also acknowledges and agrees that an investment in the Securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk of loss of the entire investment in the Company and there is no assurance that a public market for the Securities will ever develop and that, as a result, Executive may not be able to liquidate Executive’s investment in the Securities should a need arise to do so. Executive is not dependent for liquidity on any of the amounts Executive is investing in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive understands that the representations and warranties herein are to be relied upon by the Company as a basis for the exemptions from registration and qualification of the issuance and sale of the Securities under the federal and state securities laws and for other purposes.

 

(f)Executive understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities.

 

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(g)Executive understands that until such time as the Securities have been registered under the Securities Act or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 144A under the Securities Act or Regulation S without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold, the Securities may bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of the certificates for such Securities):

 

“NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER), IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144, RULE 144A OR REGULATION S UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.”

 

(h)This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by Executive. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of Executive, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Executive enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(i)Executive is an individual resident of the state set forth in the notices provision for Executive herein.

 

10.Effect of Waiver. The waiver by either Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach hereof. No waiver shall be valid unless in writing.

 

11.Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by either Party without the express prior written consent of the other Party hereto, except that Company may transfer, assign or delegate to any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company any of Company’s rights, obligations or duties hereunder. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the successors and permitted assigns of the Parties.

 

12.No Third-Party Rights. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement is intended solely for the benefit of the Parties hereto and is not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favor of, any person or entity other than the Parties hereto.

 

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13.Entire Agreement; Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement, the Option Agreement if and when issued, and any option agreement or other agreement entered into between the Company and Executive with respect to the issuance of any equity securities of the Company or other equity awards relating to the Company set forth the entire agreement of the Parties hereto and shall supersede any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning the Executive’s employment by the Company. This Agreement may be changed only by a written document signed by the Executive and the Company.

 

14.Survival. The provisions of Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, Section 6, Section 7, Section 8 and Section 12 through Section 24, inclusive, shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement, and provided that any expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not excuse a Party from compliance with, or fulfillment of, any obligations or conditions which arose prior to such expiration or termination.

 

15.Severability. If any one or more of the provisions, or portions of any provision, of the Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or parts hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

16.Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined, and this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of such state, without giving effect to the choice of law provisions of such state.

 

(b)Subject to Section 17, each Party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning this Agreement shall be commenced in the state and federal courts sitting in KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON (the “Selected Courts”). Each Party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Selected Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of the rights of a Party under this Agreement), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such Selected Courts, or such Selected Courts are improper or inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each Party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such Party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

 

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(c)TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 16(c).

 

(d)If any Party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing Party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other Party for its attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

17.Arbitration. Any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Executive’s employment by the Company, including, but not limited to, common law and statutory claims for discrimination, wrongful discharge, and unpaid wages, shall be resolved by arbitration in Redmond, Washington pursuant to then-prevailing National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration shall be conducted by three arbitrators, with one arbitrator selected by each Party and the third arbitrator selected by the two arbitrators so selected by the Parties. The arbitrators shall be bound to follow the applicable Agreement provisions in adjudicating the dispute. It is agreed by both Parties that the arbitrators’ decision is final, and that no Party may take any action, judicial or administrative, to overturn such decision. The judgment rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in the Selected Courts. Each Party will pay its own expenses of arbitration and the expenses of the arbitrators will be equally shared provided that, if in the opinion of the arbitrators any claim, defense, or argument raised in the arbitration was unreasonable, the arbitrators may assess all or part of the expenses of the other Party (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and of the arbitrators as the arbitrators deem appropriate. The arbitrators may not award either Party punitive or consequential damages.

 

18.Indemnification. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to indemnification and insurance coverage for officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other liabilities arising out of the Executive’s position with the Company in any capacity, in an amount not less than the highest amount available to any other executive, and such coverage and protections, with respect to the various liabilities as to which the Executive has been customarily indemnified prior to termination of employment, shall continue for at least six years following the end of the Term. Any indemnification agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the termination of this Agreement.

 

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19.Expenses. Other than as specifically set forth herein, each of the Parties will bear their own respective expenses, including legal, accounting and professional fees, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.

 

20.Notices.

 

(a)All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other Party, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by email with return receipt requested and received or nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as either Party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. All notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered by hand, if personally delivered, (ii) when delivered by courier or overnight mail, if delivered by commercial courier service or overnight mail, and (iii) on receipt of confirmed delivery, if sent by email.

 

If to the Company:

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

8201 164th AVE NE STE 200

Redmond, WA 98052-7615

Email: samlai@hourloop.com

 

With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

 

Anthony L.G., PLLC

Attn: John Cacomanolis

625 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 600

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Email: JCacomanolis@anthonypllc.com

 

If to Executive, to the address and email address on file for the Executive in the books and records of the Company.

 

21.Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

22.Counsel. The Parties acknowledge and agree that Anthony L.G., PLLC (“Counsel”) has acted as legal counsel to the Company, and that Counsel has prepared this Agreement at the request of the Company, and that Counsel is not legal counsel to Executive individually. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that they are aware of, and have consented to, the Counsel acting as legal counsel to the Company and preparing this Agreement, and that Counsel has advised each of the Parties to retain separate counsel to review the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered in connection herewith, and each Party has either waived such right freely or has otherwise sought such additional counsel as it has deemed necessary. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that Counsel does not owe any duties to Executive in Executive’s individual capacity in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein. Each of the Parties hereby waives any conflict of interest which may apply with respect to Counsel’s actions as set forth herein, and the Parties confirm that the Parties have previously negotiated the material terms of the agreements as set forth herein.

 

23.Rule of Construction. The general rule of construction for interpreting a contract, which provides that the provisions of a contract should be construed against the Party preparing the contract, is waived by the Parties hereto. Each Party acknowledges that such Party was represented by separate legal counsel in this matter who participated in the preparation of this Agreement or such Party had the opportunity to retain counsel to participate in the preparation of this Agreement but elected not to do so.

 

24.Execution in Counterparts, Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. The signature of any Party which is transmitted by any reliable electronic means such as, but not limited to, a photocopy, electronically scanned or facsimile machine, for purposes hereof, is to be considered as an original signature, and the document transmitted is to be considered to have the same binding effect as an original signature or an original document.

 

[Signatures appear on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

  Hour Loop, Inc.
   
  By: /s/ Sam Lai
  Name: Sam Lai
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Executive: Rahul Ratan
     
  By: /s/ Rahul Ratan
  Name: Rahul Ratan

 

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Exhibit 10.4

 

DIRECTOR AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of June 1, 2021

 

This Director Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated and made effective as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Hour Loop, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Michael Lenner (“Director”). The Company and Director may be referred to herein individually as a “Party” or collectively as the “Parties”.

 

WHEREAS, the Company has appointed the Director to the Board of Directors of Company (the “Board”) on the Effective Date and now desires to enter into an agreement with the Director with respect to Director’s continuing service as a director of Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Director is willing to continue serving as a director of Company upon the terms and conditions set forth herein and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged. the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Defined Terms. Wherever the following terms are used in this Agreement, they shall have the meanings ascribed to them below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Other capitalized terms in this Agreement are defined in the text hereof.

 

(a)“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Company.

 

(b)“Person” means any natural person, corporation, company, partnership (including both general and limited partnerships), limited liability company, sole proprietorship, association, joint stock company, firm, trust, trustee, joint venture, unincorporated organization, executor, administrator, legal representative or other legal entity, including any governmental authority, entity or instrumentality.

 

2.Duties.

 

(a)Director agrees to serve as an Director of the Company and to be available to perform the duties consistent with such position pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, and any additional codes, guidelines or policies of the Company that may be effective now or in the future (collectively, the “Governance Documents”) and the laws of the state of Delaware. The Company acknowledges that Director currently holds other positions (“Other Employment”) and agrees that Director may maintain such positions, provided that such Other Employment shall not materially interfere with Director’s obligations under this Agreement. Director confirms that Director expects Director will be able to devote sufficient time and attention to the Company as is necessary to fulfill Director’s responsibilities as a Director of the Company and that Director expects the Other Employment will not in any way impact Director’s independence, and if Director determines that is no longer the case, Director will promptly notify the Company. Such time and attention shall include, without limitation, participation in telephonic and/or in-person meetings of the Board; provided, that Director is given reasonable advance notice of such meetings and they are scheduled at times when Director is available. Director also represents that the Other Employment shall not materially and unreasonably interfere with Director’s obligations under this Agreement. Subject to the forgoing, Director will use Director’s best efforts to promote the interests of Company and its stockholders.

 

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(b)Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Director confirms that Director is independent (as such term has been construed under Delaware law with respect to directors of Delaware corporations and the OTC Markets, the NASDAQ Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange). Director also confirms that, to Director’s knowledge, (a) Director does not possess material business, close personal relationships or other affiliations, or any history of any such material business, close personal relationships or other affiliations, with the Company’s significant equity or debt holders or any of their respective corporate affiliates that would cause Director to be unable to (i) exercise independent judgment based on the best interests of the Company or (ii) make decisions and carry out Director’s responsibilities as a Director of the Company, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Governance Documents and applicable law, and (b) Director has no existing relationship or affiliation of any kind with any entity Director knows to be a competitor of the Company.

 

(c)By execution of this Agreement, Director accepts Director’s appointment or election as an independent Director of the Company, and agrees to serve in such capacity, subject to the terms of this Agreement, until Director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until Director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. The Parties acknowledge and agree that Director is being engaged to serve as an independent Director of the Company only and is not being engaged to serve, and shall not serve, the Company in any other capacity.

 

(d)Director’s status during the Term (as defined below) shall be that of an independent contractor and not, for any purpose, that of an employee or agent with authority to bind the Company in any respect. All payments and other consideration made or provided to the Director hereunder shall be made or provided without withholding or deduction of any kind, and the Director shall assume sole responsibility for discharging all tax or other obligations associated therewith.

 

3.Term. The term of this Agreement shall continue until the earliest of (a) such time as Director resigns or is removed in accordance with the Governance Documents, and (b) the death of the Director (the “Term”).

 

4.Compensation. For all services to be rendered by Director hereunder, and so long as Director remains a Director of the Company, the Company shall, during the Term, pay to Director the compensation and reimbursement of expenses as set forth in this Section 4.

 

(a)Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), at the end of each calendar quarter during the Term, the Company shall issue and deliver to Director, on the last business day of such calendar quarter, a number of shares of Common Stock having a fair market value of $3,000 as of such date (the “Shares”) and the number of Shares to be issued will be calculated by dividing $3,000 by the VWAP (as defined below) as of the last day of the preceding calendar quarter. The compensation payable to Director pursuant to this Section 4(a) for any partial calendar quarter shall be pro-rated. In addition, if at the Company’s request the Director attends any trade shows, events, or meetings which are independent of Director’s responsibility hereunder, the Company shall pay Director the sum of $1,000 in cash per full day for such attendance or $500 in cash for a half day, with travel and preparation time being included in the determination of the portion of a day spent.

 

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(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4(a), the Shares issuable with respect to the period from the Effective Date to December 31, 2021 shall be determined, and shall be issued, on January 3, 2022, based on the VWAP as determined on December 31, 2021.

 

(c)The Shares issued to Director shall be fully-assessable and shall be free and clear of adverse claims, encumbrances and other restrictions except for restrictions on transferability imposed under or by virtue of the U.S. securities laws and any “lock-up” agreement that Company may require its officers and directors to sign in connection with any financing or public offering.

 

(d)The Shares issued to Director shall be considered “restricted securities” as defined in SEC Rule 144 and may not be sold or resold until such time, and to the extent that, such shares have been included in an effective registration statement filed with the SEC under Section 5 of the Securities Act or otherwise qualify and may be sold under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act or under SEC Rule 144.

 

(e)During the Term, Company shall reimburse Director for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Director in attending any in-person meetings, provided that Director complies with the generally applicable policies, practices and procedures of the Company for submission of expense reports, receipts or similar documentation of such expenses. Any reimbursements for allocated expenses (as compared to out-of-pocket expenses of the Director in excess of $500.00) must be approved in advance by the Company.

 

(f)“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed for trading on the OTC Markets or a United States national securities exchange (as applicable, the “Trading Market”), the daily volume weighted average closing price of the Common Stock during the 20 Trading Day (as defined below) period immediately prior to the calculation date, as reported by Bloomberg L.P. or other reputable source (based on a trading day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on a Trading Market, and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (c) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as is determined in good faith by the Board of the Company, without the involvement of the Director, after taking into consideration factors it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, recent sale and offer prices of the capital stock of the Company in private transactions negotiated at arm’s length. For purposes herein, “Trading Day” shall mean any day on which the Trading Market is generally open for business and on which the Common Stock is then traded.

 

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(g)If, at any time prior to the determination of the VWAP, there shall be any merger, consolidation, or an exchange of shares, recapitalization or reorganization pursuant to a merger or consolidation, or other similar event, as a result of which shares of Common Stock shall be changed into the same or a different number of shares of another class or classes of stock or securities of the Company or another entity, or in case of any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets or more than 50% of the total outstanding shares of the Company other than in connection with a plan of complete liquidation of the Company, then the Director shall thereafter have the right to receive, if otherwise applicable hereunder, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified herein and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock, such replacement stock, securities or assets, with equitable adjustments being made thereto with respect to the VWAP, as determined by the Company and the Director, and in the event that the shares of Common Stock shall be changed into the same or a different number of shares of another class or classes of stock or securities of the Company or another entity any references herein to the Common Stock, whether standing alone or as a part of another defined term, shall be deemed a reference to such replacement stock or securities.

 

5.Ownership & Protection of Company Property.

 

(a)Ownership; Results of Services. Company shall own, and Director hereby assigns and agrees to fully disclose and convey to Company, all of Director’s right, title and interests, of every kind and character and in perpetuity, in and to the results of Director’s services to Company as contemplated hereunder, including all tangible and intangible property, material, information. ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, generated, developed, or made by Director, individually or in conjunction with others, during the period of Director’s services to Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on Company’s premises or otherwise) which predominately relate to the Company’s business, technologies, operations, products or services as opposed to the business, technologies, operations, products or services of Walt Disney Co or any other entity for which Director is at such time providing services as an officer, director, employee or contractor, including, subject to such limitation, (1) all rights and interests of Director in any invention, patent or patent rights, trademark and other intellectual property, (2) printed or digitally generated or stored files, notes, memoranda, correspondence, lists, documents and other corporate instruments and records, (3) information relating to or including any Confidential Information (as defined below), and (4) all writings or materials of any type, whether printed or in digital format or otherwise, embodying any of the foregoing property, material or information.

 

(b)Work for Hire; Assignments. The services performed by Director for Company shall constitute “work for hire” and the results of such services or work shall be owned by Company. Director agrees to execute and deliver to Company such assignments or other instruments as Company may require from time to time to evidence Company’s ownership of the results, work product and proceeds of all such services and work performed by Director hereunder.

 

(c)Return of Company Property. Upon any termination of this Agreement or cessation of Director’s services to Company, Director shall immediately return to Company all property (including both tangible and intangible property) that is considered the property of Company, including keys, records, employee badges, entry cards, records, notes, data, models, memoranda, and other documents, equipment or information or data (including Confidential Information) that are in the possession, custody or control of Director (or any person acting with or at the behest of Director), whether in physical, electronic or digital form, or otherwise, and whether or not such property was conceived, developed, generated or made by Director or by others. Under no circumstances shall Director be entitled to replicate or reproduce, or retain copies of, any of the property of Company following termination, resignation or cessation of Director’s services to Company as contemplated under this Agreement.

 

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(d)Certification. Director shall, upon any termination, resignation or cessation of Director’s services to Company, certify to Company in writing that Director has returned to Company all property of Company as required hereunder and that no copies, replicas or reproductions of any such property have been retained by Director or by any other Person acting with or at the behest of Director or to whom or which such materials may have been disclosed or delivered by Director at any time.

 

6.Confidentiality.

 

(a)Confidential Information. Each Party acknowledges and agrees that, as a result of and during the services provided by Director as a member of the Board, Director will acquire, develop or participate in developing, or otherwise have access to non-public information, data and other matters that are considered highly confidential to Company and that are the property of Company or are licensed by Company from other Persons, including all of the following (collectively, the “Confidential Information”):

 

(i)inventions, ideas, discoveries, methods and methodologies, processes, products, product designs, technical information, know-how, copyrights and works of authorship, drawings, schematics, and supplier, client and customer lists, prices and costs;

 

(ii)information technology, systems, processes, designs, platforms and software, including code, algorithms and other components of any software

 

(iii)studies, analyses, strategic and tactical plans, marketing plans and surveys, maps, photographs and other media and image recordings, and point-of-services locations and information

 

(iv)corporate, business, financial, accounting, legal and regulatory information, data and records generated maintained by or for Company (including drafts, reproductions and copies thereof), including organizational charts, stockholder lists, meetings, minutes and resolutions, personnel files and personal privacy data, contracts, agreements, notes, debentures, security instruments, finance and financing instruments and documents, real and personal property leases, licenses and other commercial transaction documents and records; and

 

(v)information considered a “trade secret” under the (U.S.) Defend Trade Secrets Act (Pub. L. No. 114-153, 130 Stat. 376, codified in Title 18, United States Code).

 

(b)Material Non-Public Information. For purposes of this Agreement, and except as provided below, “Material Non-Public Information” shall mean any information obtained by the Director hereunder, whether otherwise constituting Confidential Information or not, with respect to which there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider such information important or valuable in making any of his, her or its investment decisions or recommendations to others with respect to the Company or any of its equity securities or debt, or any derivatives thereof, or information that is reasonably certain to have a substantial effect on the price of the Company’s securities or debt, or any derivatives thereof, whether positive or negative.

 

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(c)Restrictions.

 

(i)During the Term and for a period of five (5) years thereafter the Director agrees to use the Confidential Information only for the purpose of fulfilling Director’s obligations hereunder (the “Purpose”) and shall use reasonable care not to disclose Confidential Information to any non-affiliated third party, such care to be at least equal to the care exercised by Director as to Director’s own Confidential Information, which standard of care shall not be less than the current industry standard in effect as of the date of such receipt. Director agrees that it shall make disclosure of any such Confidential Information only to employees (including temporary and leased employees subject to a confidentiality obligation), officers, directors, attorneys and wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, “Representatives”), to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary for the Purpose. Director shall appropriately notify such Representatives that the disclosure is made in confidence and shall be kept in confidence in accordance with this Agreement. Director shall be responsible for the failure of Director’s representatives or agents to comply with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(ii)In addition, Director agrees that, for as long as any information, including Confidential Information, continues to meet the definition of Confidential Information as set forth herein, Director shall not (1) buy or sell any securities or derivative securities of or related to the Company, or any interest therein or (2) undertake any actions or activities that would reasonably be expected to result in a violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the rules and regulations thereunder, or of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including, without limitation, Section 10(b) thereunder, or the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.

 

(iii)Without the prior consent of the Company, the Director shall not remove any proprietary, copyright, trade secret or other protective legend from the Confidential Information.

 

(iv)Director acknowledges that the Confidential Information disclosed hereunder may constitute “Technical Data” and may be subject to the export laws and regulations of the United States. Director agrees it will not knowingly export, directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information or any direct product incorporating any Confidential Information, whether or not otherwise permitted under this Agreement, to any countries, agencies, groups or companies prohibited by the United States Government unless proper authorization is obtained.

 

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(v)Nothing herein shall be construed as granting to Director or Director’s affiliates any right or license to use or practice any of the information defined herein as Confidential Information and which is subject to this Agreement as well as any trade secrets, know-how, copyrights, inventions, patents or other intellectual property rights now or hereafter owned or controlled by the of the Company. Except as allowed by applicable law, Director shall not use any tradename, service mark or trademark of the of the Company or refer to the of the Company in any promotional or sales activity or materials without first obtaining the prior written consent of the Company.

 

(d)Exceptions. The obligations imposed in this Agreement shall not apply to any information that:

 

(i)was already in the possession of Director at the time of disclosure without restrictions on its use or is independently developed by Director after the effective date of this Agreement, provided that the person or persons developing same have not used any information received from the Company in such development, or is rightfully obtained from a source other than from the Company;

 

(ii)is in the public domain at the time of disclosure or subsequently becomes available to the general public through no fault of Director;

 

(iii)is obtained by Director from a third person who is under no obligation of confidence to the Company;

 

(iv)is disclosed without restriction by the Company; or

 

(v)is disclosed pursuant to the order of a court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction or a government agency, provided that Director shall notify the Company prior to such disclosure and shall cooperate with the Company in the event the Company elects to legally contest, request confidential treatment, or otherwise avoid such disclosure.

 

(e)Return of Confidential Information. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason or upon request by the Company made at any time, all Confidential Information, together with any copies of same as may be authorized herein, shall be returned to the Company, or destroyed and certified as such by an officer of Director. Director may retain one copy of all written Confidential Information for Director’s files for reference in the event of a dispute hereunder.

 

(f)Ownership of Confidential Information. As between the Company and Director, the Confidential Information and any Derivative thereof (as defined below), whether created by the Company or the Director, will remain the property of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, “Derivative” shall mean: (i) for copyrightable or copyrighted material, any translation, abridgement, revision or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted, and which constitutes a derivative work under the Copyright laws of the United States; (ii) for patentable or patented material, any improvement thereon; and (iii) for material which is protected by trade secret, any new material derived from such existing trade secret material, including new material which may be protected by copyright, patent and/or trade secret.

 

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(g)Request for Confidential Information Pursuant to Court or Other Proceeding. If Director is requested or required (by oral questions, deposition, interrogatories, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar non-criminal process) to disclose any Confidential Information supplied to Director under this Agreement, the Director will provide the Company with prompt written notice of such request(s) so that the Company may, at the Company’s option, (a) seek an appropriate protective order; (b) consult with the Director on the advisability of taking steps to resist or narrow such request or requirement; or (c) waive in writing the Director’s compliance with the provisions of this Agreement for the sole purpose of complying with the request. If, in the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a written waiver hereunder, the Director is nonetheless, in the reasonable opinion of Director’s counsel, compelled to disclose Confidential Information to any governmental tribunal or else stand liable for contempt or suffer other censure or penalty, the Director will cooperate with the Company at the Company’s expense in any attempt that the Company may make to obtain an order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be provided by such tribunal for all or designated portions of such Confidential Information disclosed by the Company.

 

(h)No License. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as granting any right or license to the Director or any other Person, by implication or otherwise, with respect to any Confidential Information, except for the limited purposes set forth above.

 

(i)Notice. In accordance with the (U.S.) Defend Trade Secrets Act, Company hereby provides to Director the following notice of immunity protection available thereunder:

 

“An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.”

 

7.Director’s Representations and Warranties. Director represents to the Company that Director’s execution and performance of this Agreement shall not be in violation of any agreement or obligation (whether or not written) that Director may have with or to any person or entity, including without limitation, any prior or current employer. The Director hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement (and any other agreement or obligation referred to herein) shall be an obligation solely of the Company, and the Director shall have no recourse whatsoever against any stockholder of Company or any of any of its affiliate or subsidiary companies with respect to any matter arising under this Agreement.

 

8.Representation and Warranties of Director Related to the Shares. The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 8 are made on the Effective Date and thereafter shall be deemed re-made and re-given by Director to the Company on and as of each date that any Shares are issued to Director hereunder.

 

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(a)Director is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act.

 

(b)Director hereby represents that the Shares awarded pursuant to this Agreement are being acquired for Director’s own account and not for sale or with a view to distribution thereof. Director acknowledges and agrees that any sale or distribution of shares of Shares may be made only pursuant to either (a) a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act, which registration statement has become effective and is current with regard to the shares being sold, or (b) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act that is confirmed in a favorable written opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, prior to any such sale or distribution.

 

(c)Director has been furnished with all documents and materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and information that Director requested and deemed material to making an informed investment decision regarding Director’s acquisition of the Shares. Director has been afforded the opportunity to review such documents and materials and the information contained therein. Director has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its management. Director has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Director has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to Director’s investment in the Shares. Director has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Shares and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Director, either personally, or together with Director’s advisors has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares, is able to bear the risks of an investment in the Shares and understands the risks of, and other considerations relating to, a purchase of the Shares.

 

(d)Director acknowledges and agrees that an investment in the Shares is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk of loss of the entire investment in the Company and there is no assurance that a public market for the Shares will ever develop and that, as a result, Director may not be able to liquidate Director’s investment in the Shares should a need arise to do so.

 

(e)Director understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Shares. Director understands that until such time as the Shares has been registered under the Securities Act or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 144A under the Securities Act or Regulation S without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold, the Shares may bear a customary restrictive legend and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of the certificates for such Shares.

 

9.Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)Governing Law. This Agreement, including the validity, substance, interpretation and enforcement thereof, shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of laws or choice of laws principles.

 

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(b)Consent to Jurisdiction; Choice of Forum. Company and Director each hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Washington and the Federal Courts of the United States, in each case located in King County, Washington for all purposes in connection with any action, proceeding or dispute that arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action or proceeding instituted by either of them under or relating to this Agreement shall be commenced and prosecuted exclusively and finally in such courts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or the Securities Act or any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction.

 

(c)Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9(c).

 

10.Notices. All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing. Notices may be served by certified or registered mail, postage paid with return receipt requested; by private courier, prepaid; by other reliable form of electronic communication; or personally. Mailed notices shall be deemed delivered five (5) days after mailing, properly addressed. Couriered notices shall be deemed delivered on the date that the courier warrants that delivery will occur. Electronic communication notices shall be deemed delivered when receipt is either confirmed by confirming transmission equipment or acknowledged by the addressee or its office. Personal delivery shall be effective when accomplished. Any Party may change its address by giving notice, in writing, stating its new address, to the other Party. Subject to the forgoing, notices shall be sent as to the Company to its principal executive officers, and to the Director at the address of record for the Director in the books and records of the Company.

 

11.General Provisions.

 

(a)Amendment, Waiver & Termination. No amendment, modification, supplement, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by each Party. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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(b)Remedies. Each Party agrees that the obligations contained in this Agreement are necessary and reasonable in order to protect the Confidential Information and the other agreements of the Parties as set forth herein, and acknowledges that any breach by a Party of the terms hereunder will result in irreparable and continuing damages to the other Party for which there will be no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, each Party agrees that, in addition to any other remedies available at law, each Party shall be entitled to obtain an injunction or other equitable relief, including, without limitation, specific performance, without proof of actual damages or exhausting other remedies, in addition to all other remedies available to the Parties at law or in equity, against a threatened or continuing breach of this Agreement by the Director without the necessity of proving actual damages.

 

(c)Integration; Entirety. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding between the Parties and supersedes and merges all previous written and oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof between the Parties.

 

(d)Severability. In the event that any provision contained in this Agreement (including any provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. In connection therewith, and to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including each portion of this Agreement containing any provision held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable that is not itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the Parties in the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

(e)Assignment. Neither Party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other.

 

(f)Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute the same agreement. The Parties’ exchange and delivery of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile transmission, portable document format (.pdf) or other electronic format shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

[Signatures appear on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

  Hour Loop, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Sam Lai
  Name: Sam Lai
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Michael Lenner
     
  By: /s/ Michael Lenner
  Name: Michael Lenner

 

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Exhibit 10.5

 

DIRECTOR AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of June 1, 2021

 

This Director Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated and made effective as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Hour Loop, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Douglas Branch (“Director”). The Company and Director may be referred to herein individually as a “Party” or collectively as the “Parties”.

 

WHEREAS, the Company has appointed the Director to the Board of Directors of Company (the “Board”) on the Effective Date and now desires to enter into an agreement with the Director with respect to Director’s continuing service as a director of Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Director is willing to continue serving as a director of Company upon the terms and conditions set forth herein and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged. the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.Defined Terms. Wherever the following terms are used in this Agreement, they shall have the meanings ascribed to them below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Other capitalized terms in this Agreement are defined in the text hereof.

 

(a)“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Company.

 

(b)“Person” means any natural person, corporation, company, partnership (including both general and limited partnerships), limited liability company, sole proprietorship, association, joint stock company, firm, trust, trustee, joint venture, unincorporated organization, executor, administrator, legal representative or other legal entity, including any governmental authority, entity or instrumentality.

 

2.Duties.

 

(a)Director agrees to serve as an Director of the Company and to be available to perform the duties consistent with such position pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, and any additional codes, guidelines or policies of the Company that may be effective now or in the future (collectively, the “Governance Documents”) and the laws of the state of Delaware. The Company acknowledges that Director currently holds other positions (“Other Employment”) and agrees that Director may maintain such positions, provided that such Other Employment shall not materially interfere with Director’s obligations under this Agreement. Director confirms that Director expects Director will be able to devote sufficient time and attention to the Company as is necessary to fulfill Director’s responsibilities as a Director of the Company and that Director expects the Other Employment will not in any way impact Director’s independence, and if Director determines that is no longer the case, Director will promptly notify the Company. Such time and attention shall include, without limitation, participation in telephonic and/or in-person meetings of the Board; provided, that Director is given reasonable advance notice of such meetings and they are scheduled at times when Director is available. Director also represents that the Other Employment shall not materially and unreasonably interfere with Director’s obligations under this Agreement. Subject to the forgoing, Director will use Director’s best efforts to promote the interests of Company and its stockholders.

 

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(b)Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Director confirms that Director is independent (as such term has been construed under Delaware law with respect to directors of Delaware corporations and the OTC Markets, the NASDAQ Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange). Director also confirms that, to Director’s knowledge, (a) Director does not possess material business, close personal relationships or other affiliations, or any history of any such material business, close personal relationships or other affiliations, with the Company’s significant equity or debt holders or any of their respective corporate affiliates that would cause Director to be unable to (i) exercise independent judgment based on the best interests of the Company or (ii) make decisions and carry out Director’s responsibilities as a Director of the Company, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Governance Documents and applicable law, and (b) Director has no existing relationship or affiliation of any kind with any entity Director knows to be a competitor of the Company.

 

(c)By execution of this Agreement, Director accepts Director’s appointment or election as an independent Director of the Company, and agrees to serve in such capacity, subject to the terms of this Agreement, until Director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until Director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. The Parties acknowledge and agree that Director is being engaged to serve as an independent Director of the Company only and is not being engaged to serve, and shall not serve, the Company in any other capacity.

 

(d)Director’s status during the Term (as defined below) shall be that of an independent contractor and not, for any purpose, that of an employee or agent with authority to bind the Company in any respect. All payments and other consideration made or provided to the Director hereunder shall be made or provided without withholding or deduction of any kind, and the Director shall assume sole responsibility for discharging all tax or other obligations associated therewith.

 

3.Term. The term of this Agreement shall continue until the earliest of (a) such time as Director resigns or is removed in accordance with the Governance Documents, and (b) the death of the Director (the “Term”).

 

4.Compensation. For all services to be rendered by Director hereunder, and so long as Director remains a Director of the Company, the Company shall, during the Term, pay to Director the compensation and reimbursement of expenses as set forth in this Section 4.

 

(a)Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), at the end of each calendar quarter during the Term, the Company shall issue and deliver to Director, on the last business day of such calendar quarter, a number of shares of Common Stock having a fair market value of $3,000 as of such date (the “Shares”) and the number of Shares to be issued will be calculated by dividing $3,000 by the VWAP (as defined below) as of the last day of the preceding calendar quarter. The compensation payable to Director pursuant to this Section 4(a) for any partial calendar quarter shall be pro-rated. In addition, if at the Company’s request the Director attends any trade shows, events, or meetings which are independent of Director’s responsibility hereunder, the Company shall pay Director the sum of $1,000 in cash per full day for such attendance or $500 in cash for a half day, with travel and preparation time being included in the determination of the portion of a day spent.

 

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(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4(a), the Shares issuable with respect to the period from the Effective Date to December 31, 2021 shall be determined, and shall be issued, on January 3, 2022, based on the VWAP as determined on December 31, 2021.

 

(c)The Shares issued to Director shall be fully-assessable and shall be free and clear of adverse claims, encumbrances and other restrictions except for restrictions on transferability imposed under or by virtue of the U.S. securities laws and any “lock-up” agreement that Company may require its officers and directors to sign in connection with any financing or public offering.

 

(d)The Shares issued to Director shall be considered “restricted securities” as defined in SEC Rule 144 and may not be sold or resold until such time, and to the extent that, such shares have been included in an effective registration statement filed with the SEC under Section 5 of the Securities Act or otherwise qualify and may be sold under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act or under SEC Rule 144.

 

(e)During the Term, Company shall reimburse Director for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Director in attending any in-person meetings, provided that Director complies with the generally applicable policies, practices and procedures of the Company for submission of expense reports, receipts or similar documentation of such expenses. Any reimbursements for allocated expenses (as compared to out-of-pocket expenses of the Director in excess of $500.00) must be approved in advance by the Company.

 

(f)“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed for trading on the OTC Markets or a United States national securities exchange (as applicable, the “Trading Market”), the daily volume weighted average closing price of the Common Stock during the 20 Trading Day (as defined below) period immediately prior to the calculation date, as reported by Bloomberg L.P. or other reputable source (based on a trading day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on a Trading Market, and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (c) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as is determined in good faith by the Board of the Company, without the involvement of the Director, after taking into consideration factors it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, recent sale and offer prices of the capital stock of the Company in private transactions negotiated at arm’s length. For purposes herein, “Trading Day” shall mean any day on which the Trading Market is generally open for business and on which the Common Stock is then traded.

 

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(g)If, at any time prior to the determination of the VWAP, there shall be any merger, consolidation, or an exchange of shares, recapitalization or reorganization pursuant to a merger or consolidation, or other similar event, as a result of which shares of Common Stock shall be changed into the same or a different number of shares of another class or classes of stock or securities of the Company or another entity, or in case of any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets or more than 50% of the total outstanding shares of the Company other than in connection with a plan of complete liquidation of the Company, then the Director shall thereafter have the right to receive, if otherwise applicable hereunder, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified herein and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock, such replacement stock, securities or assets, with equitable adjustments being made thereto with respect to the VWAP, as determined by the Company and the Director, and in the event that the shares of Common Stock shall be changed into the same or a different number of shares of another class or classes of stock or securities of the Company or another entity any references herein to the Common Stock, whether standing alone or as a part of another defined term, shall be deemed a reference to such replacement stock or securities.

 

5.Ownership & Protection of Company Property.

 

(a)Ownership; Results of Services. Company shall own, and Director hereby assigns and agrees to fully disclose and convey to Company, all of Director’s right, title and interests, of every kind and character and in perpetuity, in and to the results of Director’s services to Company as contemplated hereunder, including all tangible and intangible property, material, information. ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, generated, developed, or made by Director, individually or in conjunction with others, during the period of Director’s services to Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on Company’s premises or otherwise) which ) which predominately relate to the Company’s business, technologies, operations, products or services as opposed to the business, technologies, operations, products or services of any other entity for which Director is at such time providing services as an officer, director, employee or contractor, including, subject to such limitation, (1) all rights and interests of Director in any invention, patent or patent rights, trademark and other intellectual property, (2) printed or digitally generated or stored files, notes, memoranda, correspondence, lists, documents and other corporate instruments and records, (3) information relating to or including any Confidential Information (as defined below), and (4) all writings or materials of any type, whether printed or in digital format or otherwise, embodying any of the foregoing property, material or information.

 

(b)Work for Hire; Assignments. The services performed by Director for Company shall constitute “work for hire” and the results of such services or work shall be owned by Company. Director agrees to execute and deliver to Company such assignments or other instruments as Company may require from time to time to evidence Company’s ownership of the results, work product and proceeds of all such services and work performed by Director hereunder.

 

(c)Return of Company Property. Upon any termination of this Agreement or cessation of Director’s services to Company, Director shall immediately return to Company all property (including both tangible and intangible property) that is considered the property of Company, including keys, records, employee badges, entry cards, records, notes, data, models, memoranda, and other documents, equipment or information or data (including Confidential Information) that are in the possession, custody or control of Director (or any person acting with or at the behest of Director), whether in physical, electronic or digital form, or otherwise, and whether or not such property was conceived, developed, generated or made by Director or by others. Under no circumstances shall Director be entitled to replicate or reproduce, or retain copies of, any of the property of Company following termination, resignation or cessation of Director’s services to Company as contemplated under this Agreement.

 

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(d)Certification. Director shall, upon any termination, resignation or cessation of Director’s services to Company, certify to Company in writing that Director has returned to Company all property of Company as required hereunder and that no copies, replicas or reproductions of any such property have been retained by Director or by any other Person acting with or at the behest of Director or to whom or which such materials may have been disclosed or delivered by Director at any time.

 

6.Confidentiality.

 

(a)Confidential Information. Each Party acknowledges and agrees that, as a result of and during the services provided by Director as a member of the Board, Director will acquire, develop or participate in developing, or otherwise have access to non-public information, data and other matters that are considered highly confidential to Company and that are the property of Company or are licensed by Company from other Persons, including all of the following (collectively, the “Confidential Information”):

 

(i)inventions, ideas, discoveries, methods and methodologies, processes, products, product designs, technical information, know-how, copyrights and works of authorship, drawings, schematics, and supplier, client and customer lists, prices and costs;

 

(ii)information technology, systems, processes, designs, platforms and software, including code, algorithms and other components of any software

 

(iii)studies, analyses, strategic and tactical plans, marketing plans and surveys, maps, photographs and other media and image recordings, and point-of-services locations and information

 

(iv)corporate, business, financial, accounting, legal and regulatory information, data and records generated maintained by or for Company (including drafts, reproductions and copies thereof), including organizational charts, stockholder lists, meetings, minutes and resolutions, personnel files and personal privacy data, contracts, agreements, notes, debentures, security instruments, finance and financing instruments and documents, real and personal property leases, licenses and other commercial transaction documents and records; and

 

(v)information considered a “trade secret” under the (U.S.) Defend Trade Secrets Act (Pub. L. No. 114-153, 130 Stat. 376, codified in Title 18, United States Code).

 

(b)Material Non-Public Information. For purposes of this Agreement, and except as provided below, “Material Non-Public Information” shall mean any information obtained by the Director hereunder, whether otherwise constituting Confidential Information or not, with respect to which there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider such information important or valuable in making any of his, her or its investment decisions or recommendations to others with respect to the Company or any of its equity securities or debt, or any derivatives thereof, or information that is reasonably certain to have a substantial effect on the price of the Company’s securities or debt, or any derivatives thereof, whether positive or negative.

 

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(c)Restrictions.

 

(i)During the Term and for a period of five (5) years thereafter the Director agrees to use the Confidential Information only for the purpose of fulfilling Director’s obligations hereunder (the “Purpose”) and shall use reasonable care not to disclose Confidential Information to any non-affiliated third party, such care to be at least equal to the care exercised by Director as to Director’s own Confidential Information, which standard of care shall not be less than the current industry standard in effect as of the date of such receipt. Director agrees that it shall make disclosure of any such Confidential Information only to employees (including temporary and leased employees subject to a confidentiality obligation), officers, directors, attorneys and wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, “Representatives”), to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary for the Purpose. Director shall appropriately notify such Representatives that the disclosure is made in confidence and shall be kept in confidence in accordance with this Agreement. Director shall be responsible for the failure of Director’s representatives or agents to comply with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(ii)In addition, Director agrees that, for as long as any information, including Confidential Information, continues to meet the definition of Confidential Information as set forth herein, Director shall not (1) buy or sell any securities or derivative securities of or related to the Company, or any interest therein or (2) undertake any actions or activities that would reasonably be expected to result in a violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the rules and regulations thereunder, or of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including, without limitation, Section 10(b) thereunder, or the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.

 

(iii)Without the prior consent of the Company, the Director shall not remove any proprietary, copyright, trade secret or other protective legend from the Confidential Information.

 

(iv)Director acknowledges that the Confidential Information disclosed hereunder may constitute “Technical Data” and may be subject to the export laws and regulations of the United States. Director agrees it will not knowingly export, directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information or any direct product incorporating any Confidential Information, whether or not otherwise permitted under this Agreement, to any countries, agencies, groups or companies prohibited by the United States Government unless proper authorization is obtained.

 

(v)Nothing herein shall be construed as granting to Director or Director’s affiliates any right or license to use or practice any of the information defined herein as Confidential Information and which is subject to this Agreement as well as any trade secrets, know-how, copyrights, inventions, patents or other intellectual property rights now or hereafter owned or controlled by the of the Company. Except as allowed by applicable law, Director shall not use any tradename, service mark or trademark of the of the Company or refer to the of the Company in any promotional or sales activity or materials without first obtaining the prior written consent of the Company.

 

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(d)Exceptions. The obligations imposed in this Agreement shall not apply to any information that:

 

(i)was already in the possession of Director at the time of disclosure without restrictions on its use or is independently developed by Director after the effective date of this Agreement, provided that the person or persons developing same have not used any information received from the Company in such development, or is rightfully obtained from a source other than from the Company;

 

(ii)is in the public domain at the time of disclosure or subsequently becomes available to the general public through no fault of Director;

 

(iii)is obtained by Director from a third person who is under no obligation of confidence to the Company;

 

(iv)is disclosed without restriction by the Company; or

 

(v)is disclosed pursuant to the order of a court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction or a government agency, provided that Director shall notify the Company prior to such disclosure and shall cooperate with the Company in the event the Company elects to legally contest, request confidential treatment, or otherwise avoid such disclosure.

 

(e)Return of Confidential Information. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason or upon request by the Company made at any time, all Confidential Information, together with any copies of same as may be authorized herein, shall be returned to the Company, or destroyed and certified as such by an officer of Director. Director may retain one copy of all written Confidential Information for Director’s files for reference in the event of a dispute hereunder.

 

(f)Ownership of Confidential Information. As between the Company and Director, the Confidential Information and any Derivative thereof (as defined below), whether created by the Company or the Director, will remain the property of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, “Derivative” shall mean: (i) for copyrightable or copyrighted material, any translation, abridgement, revision or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted, and which constitutes a derivative work under the Copyright laws of the United States; (ii) for patentable or patented material, any improvement thereon; and (iii) for material which is protected by trade secret, any new material derived from such existing trade secret material, including new material which may be protected by copyright, patent and/or trade secret.

 

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(g)Request for Confidential Information Pursuant to Court or Other Proceeding. If Director is requested or required (by oral questions, deposition, interrogatories, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar non-criminal process) to disclose any Confidential Information supplied to Director under this Agreement, the Director will provide the Company with prompt written notice of such request(s) so that the Company may, at the Company’s option, (a) seek an appropriate protective order; (b) consult with the Director on the advisability of taking steps to resist or narrow such request or requirement; or (c) waive in writing the Director’s compliance with the provisions of this Agreement for the sole purpose of complying with the request. If, in the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a written waiver hereunder, the Director is nonetheless, in the reasonable opinion of Director’s counsel, compelled to disclose Confidential Information to any governmental tribunal or else stand liable for contempt or suffer other censure or penalty, the Director will cooperate with the Company at the Company’s expense in any attempt that the Company may make to obtain an order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be provided by such tribunal for all or designated portions of such Confidential Information disclosed by the Company.

 

(h)No License. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as granting any right or license to the Director or any other Person, by implication or otherwise, with respect to any Confidential Information, except for the limited purposes set forth above.

 

(i)Notice. In accordance with the (U.S.) Defend Trade Secrets Act, Company hereby provides to Director the following notice of immunity protection available thereunder:

 

“An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.”

 

7.Director’s Representations and Warranties. Director represents to the Company that Director’s execution and performance of this Agreement shall not be in violation of any agreement or obligation (whether or not written) that Director may have with or to any person or entity, including without limitation, any prior or current employer. The Director hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement (and any other agreement or obligation referred to herein) shall be an obligation solely of the Company, and the Director shall have no recourse whatsoever against any stockholder of Company or any of any of its affiliate or subsidiary companies with respect to any matter arising under this Agreement.

 

8.Representation and Warranties of Director Related to the Shares. The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 8 are made on the Effective Date and thereafter shall be deemed re-made and re-given by Director to the Company on and as of each date that any Shares are issued to Director hereunder.

 

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(a)Director is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act.

 

(b)Director hereby represents that the Shares awarded pursuant to this Agreement are being acquired for Director’s own account and not for sale or with a view to distribution thereof. Director acknowledges and agrees that any sale or distribution of shares of Shares may be made only pursuant to either (a) a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act, which registration statement has become effective and is current with regard to the shares being sold, or (b) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act that is confirmed in a favorable written opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, prior to any such sale or distribution.

 

(c)Director has been furnished with all documents and materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and information that Director requested and deemed material to making an informed investment decision regarding Director’s acquisition of the Shares. Director has been afforded the opportunity to review such documents and materials and the information contained therein. Director has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its management. Director has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Director has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to Director’s investment in the Shares. Director has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Shares and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Director, either personally, or together with Director’s advisors has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares, is able to bear the risks of an investment in the Shares and understands the risks of, and other considerations relating to, a purchase of the Shares.

 

(d)Director acknowledges and agrees that an investment in the Shares is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk of loss of the entire investment in the Company and there is no assurance that a public market for the Shares will ever develop and that, as a result, Director may not be able to liquidate Director’s investment in the Shares should a need arise to do so.

 

(e)Director understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Shares. Director understands that until such time as the Shares has been registered under the Securities Act or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 144A under the Securities Act or Regulation S without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold, the Shares may bear a customary restrictive legend and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of the certificates for such Shares.

 

9.Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)Governing Law. This Agreement, including the validity, substance, interpretation and enforcement thereof, shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of laws or choice of laws principles.

 

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(b)Consent to Jurisdiction; Choice of Forum. Company and Director each hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Washington and the Federal Courts of the United States, in each case located in King County, Washington for all purposes in connection with any action, proceeding or dispute that arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action or proceeding instituted by either of them under or relating to this Agreement shall be commenced and prosecuted exclusively and finally in such courts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or the Securities Act or any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction.

 

(c)Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9(c).

 

10.Notices. All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing. Notices may be served by certified or registered mail, postage paid with return receipt requested; by private courier, prepaid; by other reliable form of electronic communication; or personally. Mailed notices shall be deemed delivered five (5) days after mailing, properly addressed. Couriered notices shall be deemed delivered on the date that the courier warrants that delivery will occur. Electronic communication notices shall be deemed delivered when receipt is either confirmed by confirming transmission equipment or acknowledged by the addressee or its office. Personal delivery shall be effective when accomplished. Any Party may change its address by giving notice, in writing, stating its new address, to the other Party. Subject to the forgoing, notices shall be sent as to the Company to its principal executive officers, and to the Director at the address of record for the Director in the books and records of the Company.

 

11.General Provisions.

 

(a)Amendment, Waiver & Termination. No amendment, modification, supplement, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by each Party. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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(b)Remedies. Each Party agrees that the obligations contained in this Agreement are necessary and reasonable in order to protect the Confidential Information and the other agreements of the Parties as set forth herein, and acknowledges that any breach by a Party of the terms hereunder will result in irreparable and continuing damages to the other Party for which there will be no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, each Party agrees that, in addition to any other remedies available at law, each Party shall be entitled to obtain an injunction or other equitable relief, including, without limitation, specific performance, without proof of actual damages or exhausting other remedies, in addition to all other remedies available to the Parties at law or in equity, against a threatened or continuing breach of this Agreement by the Director without the necessity of proving actual damages.

 

(c)Integration; Entirety. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding between the Parties and supersedes and merges all previous written and oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof between the Parties.

 

(d)Severability. In the event that any provision contained in this Agreement (including any provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. In connection therewith, and to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including each portion of this Agreement containing any provision held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable that is not itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the Parties in the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

(e)Assignment. Neither Party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other.

 

(f)Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute the same agreement. The Parties’ exchange and delivery of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile transmission, portable document format (.pdf) or other electronic format shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

[Signatures appear on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

  Hour Loop, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Sam Lai
  Name: Sam Lai
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Douglas Branch
     
  By: /s/ Douglas Branch
  Name: Douglas Branch

 

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Exhibit 10.6

 

 

 

 

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

 

 

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Table of Contents

 

Article I. Purposes and Definitions 1
Section 1.01 Purposes of this Plan; Structure. 1
Section 1.02 Definitions. 1
Section 1.03 Additional Interpretations. 7
Article II. Stock Subject to this Plan; Administration. 7
Section 2.01 Stock Subject to this Plan. 7
Section 2.02 Administration of this Plan. 8
Section 2.03 Eligibility. 9
Section 2.04 Indemnification. 10
Article III. Awards. 10
Section 3.01 Stock Options. 10
Section 3.02 Stock Appreciation Rights. 13
Section 3.03 Restricted Stock. 14
Section 3.04 Restricted Stock Units. 15
Section 3.05 Performance Units and Performance Shares. 16
Section 3.06 Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. 19
Section 3.07 Form of Award Agreements. 21
Article IV. Additional Provisions Applicable to this Plan and Awards 21
Section 4.01 Outside Director Limitations. 21
Section 4.02 Compliance With Code Section 409A. 21
Section 4.03 Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between Locations. 21
Section 4.04 Limited Transferability of Awards. 22
Section 4.05 Adjustments; Dissolution, Merger, Etc. 22
Section 4.06 Tax Withholding. 24
Section 4.07 Compliance with Securities Laws. 25
Section 4.08 Tax Withholding. 25
Section 4.09 No Effect on Employment or Service. 26
Section 4.10 Repurchase Rights. 26
Section 4.11 Fractional Shares. 26
Section 4.12 Forfeiture Events. 26
Section 4.13 Date of Grant. 27
Section 4.14 Term of Plan. 27
Section 4.15 Amendment and Termination of this Plan. 27
Section 4.16 Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. 27
Section 4.17 Inability to Obtain Authority. 28
Section 4.18 Shareholder Approval. 28
Section 4.19 Retirement and Welfare Plans. 28
Section 4.20 Beneficiary Designation. 28
Section 4.21 Severability. 28
Section 4.22 No Constraint on Corporate Action. 29
Section 4.23 Unfunded Obligation. 29
Section 4.24 Choice of Law. 29

 

Exhibits    
     
Exhibit A   Form of Award Agreement for Options
     
Exhibit B   Form of Award Agreement for Stock Appreciation Rights
     
Exhibit C   Form of Award Agreement for Restricted Stock
     
Exhibit D   Form of Award Agreement for Restricted Stock Units

 

(i)
 

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Article I. Purposes and Definitions

 

Section 1.01 Purposes of this Plan; Structure.

 

(a)The purposes of this Plan are (i) to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, (ii) to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants, and (ii) to promote the success of the Company’s business.

 

(b)This Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards, Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.

 

Section 1.02 Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions will apply:

 

(a)“Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering this Plan, in accordance with Section 2.02.

 

(b)“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with such Person.

 

(c)“Applicable Laws” means the legal and regulatory requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards, including but not limited to the related issuance of shares of Common Stock, including but not limited to under U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any non-U.S. country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under this Plan.

 

(d)“Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units or Performance Shares, or Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award granted under this Plan.

 

(e)“Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under this Plan, which Award Agreement shall be is subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.

 

(f)“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(g)“Cash-Based Award” means an Award denominated in cash and granted pursuant to Section 3.06.

 

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(h)“Cause” means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or its Affiliates applicable to an Award, any of the following: (i) the Participant’s theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit, or falsification of documents or records of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (ii) the Participant’s material failure to abide by the Company’s or any Affiliate’s code of conduct or other policies (including, without limitation, policies relating to confidentiality and reasonable workplace conduct); (iii) the Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset or corporate opportunity of the Company or any of its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the Participant’s improper use or disclosure of the Company’s or any of its Affiliate’s confidential or proprietary information); (iv) any intentional act by the Participant which has a material detrimental effect on the Company’s or any of its Affiliate’s reputation or business; (v) the Participant’s repeated failure to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from the Company or any of its Affiliates, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure; (vi) any material breach by the Participant of any employment, service, non-disclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation or other similar agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement; or (vii) the Participant’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which impairs the Participant’s ability to perform his or her duties with the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

(i)“Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events, subject to the provisions of Section 1.03:

 

(i)Change in Ownership of the Company. A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 1.02(i)(i), the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control. Further, if the shareholders of the Company immediately before such change in ownership continue to retain immediately after the change in ownership, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company’s voting stock immediately prior to the change in ownership, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company or of the ultimate parent entity of the Company, such event shall not be considered a Change in Control under this Section 1.02(i)(i). For this purpose, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities.

 

(ii)Change in Effective Control of the Company. A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of this Section 1.02(i)(ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control.

 

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(iii)Change in Ownership of a Substantial Portion of the Company’s Assets. A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 1.02(i)(iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets: (A) a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the Company’s shareholders immediately after the transfer, or (B) a transfer of assets by the Company to: (1) a shareholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock, (2) an entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, (3) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or (4) an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in clause (B)(3) of this Section 1.02(i)(iii). For purposes of this Section 1.02(i)(iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

 

(j)“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and reference to a specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

 

(k)“Committee” means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board, or by a duly authorized committee of the Board, in accordance with Section 2.02.

 

(l)“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.

 

(m)“Company” means Hour Loop, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.

 

(n)“Consultant” means any natural person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary to render bona fide services to such entity, provided the services (i) are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction, and (ii) do not directly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities, in each case, within the meaning of Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act, and provided further, that a Consultant will include only those persons to whom the issuance of Shares may be registered under Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

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(o)“Control” of a Person means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.” Controlled”, “Controlling” and “under common Control with” have correlative meanings. Without limiting the foregoing a Person (the “Controlled Person”) shall be deemed Controlled by (a) any other Person (the “10% Owner”) (i) owning beneficially, as meant in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, securities entitling such Person to cast 10% or more of the votes for election of directors or equivalent governing authority of the Controlled Person or (ii) entitled to be allocated or receive 10% or more of the profits, losses, or distributions of the Controlled Person; (b) an officer, director, general partner, partner (other than a limited partner), manager, or member (other than a member having no management authority that is not a 10% Owner ) of the Controlled Person; or (c) a spouse, parent, lineal descendant, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, or brother-in-law of an Affiliate of the Controlled Person or a trust for the benefit of an Affiliate of the Controlled Person or of which an Affiliate of the Controlled Person is a trustee.

 

(p)“Director” means a member of the Board.

 

(q)“Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Code Section 22(e)(3), provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.

 

(r)“Dividend Equivalent Right” means the right of a Participant, granted at the discretion of the Administrator or as otherwise provided by this Plan, to receive a credit for the account of such Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one Share for each Share represented by an Award held by such Participant.

 

(s)“Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, provided that neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

 

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

 

(u)“Exchange Program” means a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), awards of a different type, and/or cash, (ii) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator, and/or (iii) the exercise price of an outstanding Award is reduced or increased. The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole discretion.

 

(v)“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

 

(i)If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system (other than an over-the counter market, which will not be considered an established stock exchange of national market system for the purposes of this definition), including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such stock (or, if no closing sales price was reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such closing sales price was reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

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(ii)If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the day of determination (or, if no bids and asks were reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such bids and asks were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

(iii)In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.

 

(w)“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.

 

(x)“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms qualifies and is otherwise intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Code Section 422 and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(y)“Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

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

 

(aa)“Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to this Plan.

 

(bb)“Outside Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.

 

(cc)“Other Stock-Based Award” means an Award denominated in Shares and granted pursuant to Section 3.06.

 

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

 

(ee)“Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.

 

(ff)“Performance Award” means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.

 

(gg)“Performance Award Formula” means, for any Performance Award, a formula or table established by the Administrator pursuant to Section 3.05 which provides the basis for computing the value of a Performance Award at one or more levels of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal(s) measured as of the end of the applicable Performance Period.

 

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(hh)“Performance Share” means an Award denominated in Shares which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine pursuant to Section 3.05.

 

(ii)“Performance Unit” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of the foregoing pursuant to Section 3.05.

 

(jj)“Period of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.

 

(kk)“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership (including a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government, domestic or foreign, or political subdivision thereof, or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

(ll)“Plan” means this 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

(mm)“Restricted Stock” means Shares issued pursuant to an Award of Restricted Stock under Section 3.03, or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.
   
(nn)“Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share, granted pursuant to Section 3.04. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.

 

(oo)“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to this Plan.

 

(pp)“Section 16(b)” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

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

 

(ss)“Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 4.05.

 

(tt)“Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award, granted alone or in connection with an Option, that pursuant to Section 3.02 is designated as a Stock Appreciation Right.

 

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

 

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Section 1.03 Additional Interpretations. For purposes of Section 1.02(i), persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and any proposed or final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated thereunder from time to time. Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

 

Article II. Stock Subject to this Plan; Administration.

 

Section 2.01 Stock Subject to this Plan.

 

(a)Subject to the provisions of Section 2.01(a) and Section 4.05, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to Awards and sold under this Plan is 1,500,000 Shares. The Shares may be authorized but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

 

(b)Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.05, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Shares that may be issued under this Plan as set forth in Section 2.01(a) shall be cumulatively increased on January 1, 2022 and on each subsequent January 1 of each year thereafter, by a number of shares (the “Annual Increase”) equal to the smaller of (a) three percent (3%) of the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31, or (b) an amount determined by the Board.

 

(c)If an Award expires or becomes un-exercisable without having been exercised in full, is surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program, or, with respect to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units or Performance Shares, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to the failure to vest, the unpurchased Shares (or for Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights the forfeited or repurchased Shares) which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under this Plan (unless this Plan has terminated). With respect to Stock Appreciation Rights, only Shares actually issued pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right will cease to be available under this Plan; all remaining Shares under Stock Appreciation Rights will remain available for future grant or sale under this Plan (unless this Plan has terminated). Shares that have actually been issued under this Plan under any Award will not be returned to this Plan and will not become available for future distribution under this Plan; provided, however, that if Shares issued pursuant to Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units are repurchased by the Company or are forfeited to the Company due to the failure to vest, such Shares will become available for future grant under this Plan. Shares used to pay the exercise price of an Award or to satisfy the tax withholdings related to an Award will become available for future grant or sale under this Plan. To the extent an Award under this Plan is paid out in cash rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of Shares available for issuance under this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.05, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will equal the aggregate Share number stated in Section 2.01(a), plus, to the extent allowable under Code Section 422 and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, any Shares that become available for issuance under this Plan pursuant to Section 2.01(c) and Section 2.01(d).

 

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

 

Section 2.02 Administration of this Plan.

 

(a)Procedure.

 

(i)Multiple Administrative Bodies. Different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers may administer this Plan.

 

(ii)Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.

 

(iii)Other Administration. Other than as provided above, this Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which Committee will be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.

 

(b)Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of this Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:

 

(i)to determine the Fair Market Value;

 

(ii)to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;

 

(iii)to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(iv)to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under this Plan;

 

(v)to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, of any Award granted hereunder, with such terms and conditions including, but not being limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator will determine;

 

(vi)to determine whether an Award will be settled in Shares, cash, other property or in any combination thereof;

 

(vii)to institute and determine the terms and conditions of an Exchange Program;

 

(viii)to construe and interpret the terms of this Plan and Awards granted pursuant to this Plan;

 

(ix)to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to this Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable non-U.S. laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable non-U.S. laws;

 

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(x)to modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 4.15(c)), including but not limited to the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of Awards; provided, however, that in no case will an Option or Stock Appreciation Right be extended beyond its original maximum term;

 

(xi)to allow Participants to satisfy tax withholding obligations in a manner prescribed in Section 4.05(d);

 

(xii)to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;

 

(xiii)to allow a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that otherwise would be due to such Participant under an Award;

 

(xiv)to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to this Plan, or to adopt sub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, this Plan, including, without limitation, as the Administrator deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose residents may be granted Awards;

 

(xv)to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to this Plan or any Award as the Administrator may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan or applicable law; and

 

(xvi)to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering this Plan.

 

(c)Option or Stock Appreciation Right Repricing. The Administrator shall have the authority, without additional approval by the shareholders of the Company, to approve a program providing for either (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights having exercise prices per share greater than the then Fair Market Value of a Share (“Underwater Awards”) and the grant in substitution therefor of new Options or Stock Appreciation Rights covering the same or a different number of shares but with an exercise price per share equal to the Fair Market Value per share on the new grant date or payments in cash, or (b) the amendment of outstanding Underwater Awards to reduce the exercise price thereof to the Fair Market Value per share on the date of amendment.

 

(d)Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards and will be given the maximum deference permitted by Applicable Laws

 

Section 2.03 Eligibility. Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units may be granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.

 

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Section 2.04 Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or the Administrator or as officers or employees of the Company or any of its Affiliates, to the extent permitted by applicable law, members of the Board or the Administrator and any officers or employees of the Company or any of its Affiliates to whom authority to act for the Board, the Administrator or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with this Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.

 

Article III. Awards.

 

Section 3.01 Stock Options.

 

(a)Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Options in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

(b)Option Agreement. Each Award of an Option will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Option, the number of Shares subject to the Option, the exercise restrictions, if any, applicable to the Option, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

(c)Limitations. Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. Notwithstanding such designation, however, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), such Options will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 3.01(c), Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, the Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted, and the calculation will be performed in accordance with Code Section 422 and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(d)Term of Option. The term of each Option will be stated in the Award Agreement. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the term will be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.

 

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(e)Option Exercise Price and Consideration.

 

(i)Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option will be determined by the Administrator, subject to the following:

 

(1)In the case of an Incentive Stock Option:

 

(A)granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share (or the fair market value per Share as determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv)(A)) on the date of grant;

 

(B)granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in paragraph (1) immediately above, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant;

 

(2)In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant (or the fair market value per Share as determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv)(A)).

 

(3)Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.01(e), Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Code Section 424(a).

 

(ii)Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator will fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any conditions that must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised.

 

(iii)Form of Consideration. The Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of grant. Such consideration may consist entirely of: (1) cash; (2) check; (3) promissory note, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws; (4) other Shares, provided that such Shares have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such Option will be exercised and provided further that accepting such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences to the Company, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion; (5) consideration received by the Company under a broker assisted (or other) cashless exercise program (whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company in connection with this Plan; (6) by net exercise; (7) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws; or (8) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. In making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the Administrator will consider if acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the Company.

 

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(f)Exercise of Option.

 

(i)Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder. Any Option granted hereunder will be exercisable according to the terms of this Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) notice of exercise (in such form as the Administrator may specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with applicable tax withholding). Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Award Agreement and this Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant or, if requested by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 4.05. Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of this Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

 

(ii)Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the Participant’s termination as the result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for three (3) months following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to this Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to this Plan.

 

(iii)Disability of Participant. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to this Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to this Plan.

 

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(iv)Death of Participant. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised following the Participant’s death within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death (but in no event may the option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement), by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following Participant’s death. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if at the time of death Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will immediately revert to this Plan. If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to this Plan. .

 

Section 3.02 Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(a)Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.

 

(b)Number of Shares. The Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Shares subject to any Award of Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(c)Exercise Price and Other Terms. The per Share exercise price for the Shares that will determine the amount of the payment to be received upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right as set forth in Section 3.02(f) will be determined by the Administrator and will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Otherwise, the Administrator, subject to the provisions of this Plan, will have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan. Stock Appreciation Rights which have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award Agreement, specifying the number of Stock Appreciation Rights to be exercised and the date on which such Stock Appreciation Rights were awarded and vested.

 

(d)Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

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(e)Expiration of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under this Plan will expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 3.01(d) relating to the maximum term and Section 3.01(f) relating to exercise also will apply to Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(f)Payment of Stock Appreciation Right Amount. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying (i) the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; and (ii) the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. At the discretion of the Administrator, the payment upon Stock Appreciation Right exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.

 

(g)Deemed Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights. If, on the date on which a Stock Appreciation Rights would otherwise terminate or expire, the Stock Appreciation Right by its terms remains exercisable immediately prior to such termination or expiration and, if so exercised, would result in a payment to the holder of such Stock Appreciation Right, then any portion of such Stock Appreciation Right which has not previously been exercised shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion.

 

Section 3.03 Restricted Stock.

 

(a)Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

(b)Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Company as escrow agent will hold Shares of Restricted Stock until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed.

 

(c)Transferability. Except as provided in this Section 3.03 or as the Administrator determines, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.

 

(d)Other Restrictions. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate.

 

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(e)Removal of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.03, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under this Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction or at such other time as the Administrator may determine. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.

 

(f)Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.

 

(g)Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares, unless the Administrator provides otherwise. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.

 

(h)Return of Restricted Stock to Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under this Plan.

 

Section 3.04 Restricted Stock Units.

 

(a)Grant. Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and from time to time as determined by the Administrator. After the Administrator determines that it will grant Restricted Stock Units under this Plan, it will advise the Participant in an Award Agreement of the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, including the number of Restricted Stock Units.

 

(b)Vesting Criteria and Other Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the Participant. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities laws, or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.

 

(c)Earning Restricted Stock Units. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as determined by the Administrator or as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout.

 

(d)Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may settle earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination of both.

 

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(e)Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to Shares represented by Restricted Stock Units until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Administrator, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Restricted Stock Unit Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid by crediting the Participant with a cash amount or with additional whole Restricted Stock Units as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock, as determined by the Administrator. The number of additional Restricted Stock Units (rounded to the nearest whole number), if any, to be credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of Shares represented by the Restricted Stock Units previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per Share on such date. Such cash amount or additional Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same time as the Restricted Stock Units originally subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in Shares or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.05, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the Shares issuable upon settlement of the Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same vesting conditions as are applicable to the Award.

 

(f)Cancellation. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited to the Company.

 

Section 3.05 Performance Units and Performance Shares.

 

(a)Issuance. Performance Awards may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time, as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. The Administrator will have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units and Performance Shares granted to each Participant.

 

(b)Value of Performance Units/Shares. Each Performance Unit will have an initial value that is established by the Administrator on or before the date of grant. Each Performance Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.

 

(c)Performance Objectives and Other Terms. The Administrator will set performance objectives or other vesting provisions (including, without limitation, continued status as a Service Provider) in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of Performance Units/Shares that will be paid out to the Service Providers. The time period during which the performance objectives or other vesting provisions must be met will be called the “Performance Period.” Each Performance Awards will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Performance Period, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

 

(d)Performance Targets and Goals. The Administrator may set performance objectives based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities laws, or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion (“Performance Goals”). Performance Goals shall be established by the Administrator on the basis of targets to be attained (“Performance Targets”) with respect to one or more measures of business or financial performance (each, a “Performance Measure”), subject to the following:

 

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(i)Performance Measures. Performance Measures shall be calculated in accordance with the Company’s financial statements, or, if such measures are not reported in the Company’s financial statements, they shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, a method used generally in the Company’s industry, or in accordance with a methodology established by the Administrator prior to the grant of the Performance Award. As specified by the Administrator, Performance Measures may be calculated with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries consolidated therewith for financial reporting purposes, one or more Subsidiaries or such division or other business unit of any of them selected by the Administrator. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator prior to the grant of the Performance Award, the Performance Measures applicable to the Performance Award shall be calculated prior to the accrual of expense for any Performance Award for the same Performance Period and excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) on the Performance Measures of any change in accounting standards or any unusual or infrequently occurring event or transaction, as determined by the Administrator, occurring after the establishment of the Performance Goals applicable to the Performance Award. Each such adjustment, if any, shall be made solely for the purpose of providing a consistent basis from period to period for the calculation of Performance Measures in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Participant’s rights with respect to a Performance Award. Performance Measures may be based upon one or more of the following, as determined by the Administrator: (1) revenue; (2) sales; (3) expenses; (4) operating income; (5) gross margin; (6) operating margin; (7) earnings before any one or more of: stock-based compensation expense, interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (8) pre-tax profit; (9) net operating income; (10) net income; (11) economic value added; (12) free cash flow; (13) operating cash flow; (14) balance of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities; (15) stock price; (16) earnings per share; (17) return on shareholder equity; (18) return on capital; (19) return on assets; (20) return on investment; (21) total shareholder return; (22) employee satisfaction; (23) employee retention; (24) market share; (25) customer satisfaction; (26) product development; (27) research and development expenses; (28) completion of an identified special project; and (29) completion of a joint venture or other corporate transaction.

 

(ii)Performance Targets. Performance Targets may include a minimum, maximum, target level and intermediate levels of performance, with the final value of a Performance Award determined under the applicable Performance Award Formula by the Performance Target level attained during the applicable Performance Period. A Performance Target may be stated as an absolute value, an increase or decrease in a value, or as a value determined relative to an index, budget or other standard selected by the Administrator.

 

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(e)Earning of Performance Units/Shares. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Shares will be entitled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance objectives or other vesting provisions have been achieved. After the grant of a Performance Unit/Share, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such Performance Unit/Share.

 

(f)Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Shares. Payment of earned Performance Units or Performance Shares will be made as soon as practicable after the expiration of the applicable Performance Period. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Shares in the form of cash, in Shares (which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period) or in a combination thereof.

 

(g)Cancellation of Performance Units/Shares. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned or unvested Performance Units or Performance Shares will be forfeited to the Company, and again will be available for grant under this Plan.

 

(h)Qualified Performance-Based Awards. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units granted to officers and Employees of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company (within the meaning of Code Section 424) may be granted with the intent that the award satisfy the “Performance-Based Exception” (any such award intended to satisfy the Performance-Based Exception, a “Qualified Performance-Based Award”). The grant, vesting, or payment of a Qualified Performance-Based Awards may depend on the degree of achievement of one or more performance goals relative to a pre-established targeted level or levels using one or more performance targets as determined by the Administrator (on an absolute or relative (including, without limitation, relative to the performance of one or more other companies or upon comparisons of any of the indicators of performance relative to one or more other companies) basis, any of which may also be expressed as a growth or decline measure relative to an amount or performance for a prior date or period) for the Company on a consolidated basis or for one or more of the Company’s Subsidiaries, segments, divisions, or business or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing. The performance period applicable to any Performance Units or Performance Shares may not be less than three (3) months nor more than ten (10) years. To satisfy the Performance-Based Exception, the performance measure(s) applicable to the Qualified Performance-Based Award and specific performance formula, goal or goals (“targets”), including must be established and approved by the Administrator during the first ninety (90) days of the applicable Performance Period (and, in the case of Performance Periods of less than one year, in no event after 25% or more of the Performance Period has elapsed) and while performance relating to such target(s) remains substantially uncertain within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

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(i)Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to Shares represented by Performance Share Awards until the date of the issuance of such Shares, if any (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Administrator, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Performance Share Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date the Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date on which the Performance Shares are settled or the date on which they are forfeited. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be credited to the Participant either in cash or in the form of additional whole Performance Shares as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock, as determined by the Administrator. The number of additional Performance Shares (rounded to the nearest whole number), if any, to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on the dividend payment date with respect to the number of Shares represented by the Performance Shares previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per Share on such date. Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be accumulated and paid to the extent that the related Performance Shares become nonforfeitable. Settlement of Dividend Equivalent Rights may be made in cash, Shares, or a combination thereof as determined by the Administrator, and may be paid on the same basis as settlement of the related Performance Share as provided in Section 3.05(e). Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be paid with respect to Performance Units. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in Shares or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.05, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Performance Share Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the Shares issuable upon settlement of the Performance Share Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Performance Goals as are applicable to the Award.

 

Section 3.06 Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Administrator shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of this Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions.

 

(a)Grant of Cash-Based Awards. Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash-Based Awards to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms and conditions, including the achievement of performance criteria, as the Administrator may determine.

 

(b)Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards. The Administrator may grant other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted securities, stock-equivalent units, stock appreciation units, securities or debentures convertible into common stock or other forms determined by the Administrator) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine. Other Stock-Based Awards may be made available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock-Based Awards may involve the transfer of actual Shares to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of a Share and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.

 

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(c)Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards. Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a monetary payment amount or payment range as determined by the Administrator. Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of Shares or units based on such Shares, as determined by the Administrator. The Administrator may require the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 3.05, as shall be established by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. If the Administrator exercises its discretion to establish performance criteria, the final value of Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards that will be paid to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance criteria are met. The establishment of performance criteria with respect to the grant or vesting of any Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award intended to result in Performance-Based Compensation shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those applicable to Performance Awards set forth in Section 3.05.

 

(d)Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Payment or settlement, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award or an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash, Shares or other securities or any combination thereof as the Administrator determines. The determination and certification of the final value with respect to any Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award intended to result in Performance-Based Compensation shall comply with the requirements applicable to Performance Awards set forth in Section 3.05. To the extent applicable, payment or settlement with respect to each Cash-Based Award and Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

(e)Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting rights with respect to Shares represented by Other Stock-Based Awards until the date of the issuance of such Shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), if any, in settlement of such Award. However, the Administrator, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Other Stock-Based Award that the Participant shall be entitled to Dividend Equivalent Rights with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock during the period beginning on the date such Award is granted and ending, with respect to each share subject to the Award, on the earlier of the date the Award is settled or the date on which it is terminated. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights, if any, shall be paid in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 3.04(e). Dividend Equivalent Rights shall not be granted with respect to Cash-Based Awards. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in Shares or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.05, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Other Stock-Based Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the Shares issuable upon settlement of such Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same vesting conditions and performance criteria, if any, as are applicable to the Award.

 

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(f)Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. Prior to the payment or settlement of a Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award, the Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Administrator may impose such additional restrictions on any Shares issued in settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded, or under any state securities laws or foreign law applicable to such Shares.

 

Section 3.07 Form of Award Agreements. A form of Award Agreement for a grant of Options is attached hereto as Exhibit A, a form of Award Agreement for a grant of Stock Appreciation Rights is attached hereto as Exhibit B, a form of Award Agreement for a grant of Restricted Stock is attached hereto as Exhibit C; and a form of Award Agreement for a grant of Restricted Stock Units is attached hereto as Exhibit D, provided that the Administrator shall have the discretion to modify such forms and to replace such forms with any other agreement as determined by the Administrator. In the event of a conflict between the terms of any Award Agreement and the provisions in the body of this Plan, the terms of the Award Agreement shall control.

 

Article IV. Additional Provisions Applicable to this Plan and Awards

 

Section 4.01 Outside Director Limitations. No Outside Director may be granted, in any Fiscal Year, Awards with a grant date fair value (computed as of the date of grant in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) of more than $300,000. Any Awards granted to an individual while he or she was an Employee, or while he or she was a Consultant but not an Outside Director, will not count for purposes of the limitations under this Section 4.01.

 

Section 4.02 Compliance With Code Section 409A. Awards will be designed and operated in such a manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Code Section 409A such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Code Section 409A, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. This Plan and each Award Agreement under this Plan is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A and will be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. To the extent that an Award or payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Code Section 409A the Award will be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of Code Section 409A, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Code Section 409A. In no event will the Company have any obligation under the terms of this Plan to reimburse a Participant for any taxes or other costs that may be imposed on Participant as a result of Section 409A.

 

Section 4.03 Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between Locations. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, vesting of Awards granted hereunder will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence. A Participant will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parent, or any Subsidiary. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed three (3) months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then six (6) months following the first (1st) day of such leave, any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

 

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Section 4.04 Limited Transferability of Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, or otherwise transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate.

 

Section 4.05 Adjustments; Dissolution, Merger, Etc.

 

(a)Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan, will adjust the number and class of shares of stock that may be delivered under this Plan and/or the number, class, and price of shares of stock covered by each outstanding Award, and the numerical Share limits of Section 2.01.

 

(b)Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.

 

(c)Change in Control.

 

(i)In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or other entity or a Change in Control, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Administrator determines (subject to the provisions of the following paragraph) without a Participant’s consent, including, without limitation, that (i) Awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an Affiliate thereof) with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; (ii) upon written notice to a Participant, that the Participant’s Awards will terminate upon or immediately prior to the consummation of such merger or Change in Control; (iii) outstanding Awards will vest and become exercisable, realizable, or payable, or restrictions applicable to an Award will lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon consummation of such merger or Change in Control, and, to the extent the Administrator determines, terminate upon or immediately prior to the effectiveness of such merger or Change in Control; (iv) (A) the termination of an Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment), or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion; or (v) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 4.05(c), the Administrator will not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, similarly.

 

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(ii)In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award (or portion thereof), the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, including Shares as to which such Awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other terms and conditions met, in all cases, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable. In addition, if an Option or Stock Appreciation Right is not assumed or substituted in the event of a merger or Change in Control, the Administrator will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

 

(iii)For the purposes of this Section 4.05(c) and Section 4.05(d), an Award will be considered assumed if, following the merger or Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the merger or Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the merger or Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of a Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Unit, or Performance Share, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the merger or Change in Control.

 

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(iv)Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.05(c) to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent, in all cases, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.

 

(v)Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.05(c) to the contrary, and unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, if an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out under an Award Agreement is subject to Code Section 409A and if the change in control definition contained in the Award Agreement does not comply with the definition of “change of control” for purposes of a distribution under Code Section 409A, then any payment of an amount that is otherwise accelerated under this Section 4.05(c) will be delayed until the earliest time that such payment would be permissible under Code Section 409A without triggering any penalties applicable under Code Section 409A.

 

(vi)The Administrator may, without affecting the number of Shares reserved or available hereunder, authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with Section 409A and any other applicable provisions of the Code.

 

(d)Outside Director Awards. In the event of a Change in Control, with respect to Awards granted to an Outside Director, the Outside Directors will fully vest in and have the right to exercise Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights as to all of the Shares underlying such Award, including those Shares which would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other terms and conditions met, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable.

 

Section 4.06 Tax Withholding.

 

(a)Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof) or such earlier time as any tax withholding obligation is due, the Company will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such Award (or exercise thereof).

 

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(b)Withholding Arrangements. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by such methods as the Administrator shall determine, including, without limitation, (i) paying cash, (ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine if such amount would not have adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, (iii) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine, in each case, provided the delivery of such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, (iv) selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant through such means as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld, or (v) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. The amount of the withholding requirement will be deemed to include any amount which the Administrator agrees may be withheld at the time the election is made, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state or local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant with respect to the Award on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined or such greater amount as the Administrator may determine if such amount would not have adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion. The fair market value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.

 

Section 4.07 Compliance with Securities Laws. The grant of Awards and the issuance of Shares pursuant to any Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, no Award may be exercised or shares issued pursuant to an Award unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of such exercise or issuance be in effect with respect to the shares issuable pursuant to the Award, or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable pursuant to the Award may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares under this Plan shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to issuance of any Stock, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.

 

Section 4.08 Tax Withholding.

 

(a)Tax Withholding in General. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under this Plan, or to require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, to make adequate provision for, the federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including social insurance), if any, required by law to be withheld by the Company or any of its Affiliates with respect to an Award or the Shares acquired pursuant thereto. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver Shares, to release Shares from an escrow established pursuant to an Award Agreement, or to make any payment in cash under this Plan until the Company or its Affiliate’s, as applicable, withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Participant.

 

25
 

 

(b)Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the Shares issuable to a Participant upon the exercise or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole Shares having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Administrator, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of any the Company or its Affiliates, as applicable. The Fair Market Value of any Shares withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates. The Administrator may require a Participant to direct a broker, upon the vesting, exercise or settlement of an Award, to sell a portion of the shares subject to the Award determined by the Administrator in its discretion to be sufficient to cover the tax withholding obligations of the Company or its Affiliates, as applicable, and to remit an amount equal to such tax withholding obligations to the Company or its Affiliates, as applicable ,in cash.

 

Section 4.09 No Effect on Employment or Service. Neither this Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider with the Company or its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable, nor will they interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the right of the Company and its Subsidiaries or Parents, as applicable to terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.

 

Section 4.10 Repurchase Rights. Shares issued under this Plan may be subject to one or more repurchase options, or other conditions and restrictions as determined by the Administrator in its discretion at the time the Award is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of Shares hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing Shares acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.

 

Section 4.11 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.

 

Section 4.12 Forfeiture Events.

 

(a)All Awards under this Plan will be subject to recoupment under 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 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other Applicable Laws. In addition, the Administrator may impose such other clawback, recovery or recoupment provisions in an Award Agreement as the Administrator determines necessary or appropriate, including but not limited to a reacquisition right regarding previously acquired Shares or other cash or property. Unless this Section 4.12 is specifically mentioned and waived in an Award Agreement or other document, no recovery of compensation under a clawback policy or otherwise will be an event that triggers or contributes to any right of a Participant to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or similar term) under any agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary or Parent of the Company.

 

26
 

 

(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, if the Participant’s service to the Company or any of its Affiliates as a Service Provider is terminated for Cause, then any Award which has no vested as of such time in accordance with its terms shall automatically be forfeited and cancelled and shall cease to vest, be exercisable or otherwise provide any benefit to Participant.

 

(c)The Administrator may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence additional of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but will not be limited to, termination of such Participant’s status as Service Provider for Cause or any specified action or inaction by a Participant, whether before or after such termination of service, that would constitute Cause for termination of such Participant’s status as a Service Provider.

 

Section 4.13 Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

 

Section 4.14 Term of Plan. This Plan will become effective upon its adoption by the Board. It will continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years from the date adopted by the Board, unless terminated earlier under Section 4.15.

 

Section 4.15 Amendment and Termination of this Plan.

 

(a)Amendment and Termination. The Administrator may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate this Plan.

 

(b)Shareholder Approval. The Company will obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.

 

(c)Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of this Plan will impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of this Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under this Plan prior to the date of such termination.

 

Section 4.16 Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

 

(a)Legal Compliance. Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

 

27
 

 

(b)Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.

 

Section 4.17 Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction or to complete or comply with the requirements of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any state, federal or non-U.S. law or under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the stock exchange on which Shares of the same class are then listed, or any other governmental or regulatory body, which authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary or advisable for the issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance will not have been obtained.

 

Section 4.18 Shareholder Approval. This Plan will be presented for approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date this Plan is adopted by the Board. Such shareholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws. No Option granted under this Plan may be treated as an Incentive Stock Option if this Plan is not approved by shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date this Plan is adopted by the Board.

 

Section 4.19 Retirement and Welfare Plans. Neither Awards made under this Plan nor Shares or cash paid pursuant to such Awards may be included as “compensation” for purposes of computing the benefits payable to any Participant under the Company’s or any of its Affiliates’ retirement plans (both qualified and non-qualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a Participant’s benefit.

 

Section 4.20 Beneficiary Designation. Subject to local laws and procedures, each Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any benefit under this Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participant’s death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. If a married Participant designates a beneficiary other than the Participant’s spouse, the effectiveness of such designation may be subject to the consent of the Participant’s spouse. If a Participant dies without an effective designation of a beneficiary who is living at the time of the Participant’s death, the Company will pay any remaining unpaid benefits to the Participant’s legal representative.

 

Section 4.21 Severability. If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

28
 

 

Section 4.22 No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or any of its Affiliate’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or (b) limit the right or power of the Company any of its Affiliates to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.

 

Section 4.23 Unfunded Obligation. Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to this Plan shall be considered unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Administrator, the Company or any of its Affiliates and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of the Company or any of its Affiliates. The Participants shall have no claim against the Company or any of its Affiliates for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to this Plan.

 

Section 4.24 Choice of Law. Except to the extent governed by applicable federal law, the validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of law rules.

 

***

 

29
 

 

Exhibit A

Form of Option Award Agreement

 

 

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

Option Award Agreement

 

This grant of an Award to purchase Shares (“Grant”) is made as of [_______________] (the “Effective Date”) by Hour Loop, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) under the Hour Loop, Inc. 2021Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), to [__________________] (the “Participant”). Under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Option is treated as [an incentive option][a non-qualified option].

 

By signing this cover sheet, you hereby accept the Option (as defined below) and agree to all of the terms and conditions described herein and in this Plan.

 

Participant Name: _____________________________

 

Signature: ____________________________

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

 

By: ___________________________

 

Name: _________________________

 

Title: __________________________

 

This is not a stock certificate or a negotiable instrument. This grant of Option is a

voluntary, revocable grant from the Company and Participant hereby acknowledges

that the Company has no obligation to make additional grants in the future.

 

UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR SIGNED AGREEMENT, A BOOKKEEPING

ENTRY WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE COMPANY’S BOOKS AND RECORDS

TO EVIDENCE THE OPTIONS GRANTED TO YOU.

 

***

 

A-1
 

 

1.Grant. As of the Effective Date, the Company grants to the Participant an option (the “Option”) to purchase on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth all or any part of an aggregate of [________________] shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, (the “Option Shares”), at the purchase price of $[____________] per share (the “Option Price”). The Participant shall have the cumulative right to exercise the Option, and the Option is only exercisable, with respect to the following number of Option Shares on or after the following dates:

 

Date  

Number of Options Vested and Shares Which

May be Acquired

     
     

 

The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the date on which the Participant may purchase Option Shares.

 

2.Term. The Option granted hereunder shall expire in all events at 5:00 p.m., Eastern time on [______________], unless sooner terminated as provided in in this Section 2.

 

3.Change in Accounting Treatment. If the Administrator finds that a change in the financial accounting treatment for options granted under this Plan adversely affects the Company or, in the determination of the Administrator, may adversely affect the Company in the foreseeable future, the Administrator may, in its discretion, set an accelerated termination date for the Option. In such event, the Administrator may take whatever other action, including acceleration of any exercise provisions, it deems necessary.

 

4.Blackout Periods. The Administrator reserves the right to suspend or limit the Participant’s rights to exercise and sell Shares acquired through the exercise of Options to comply with Applicable Requirements and any Company’s insider trading policy, any Applicable Law, or at any other times that it deems appropriate.

 

5.Transfers. Except as otherwise provided herein or in any separate provisions applicable to this Option, the Option is transferable by the Participant only by will or pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution in the event of the Participant’s death, in which event the Option may be exercised by the heirs or legal representatives of the Participant as set forth in this Plan. Any attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions hereof or the levy of any execution, attachment or similar process upon the Option shall be null and void and without effect. Any exercise of the Option by a Person other than the Participant shall be accompanied by appropriate proofs of the right of such person to exercise the Option.

 

A-2
 

 

6.Adjustments on Changes in Common Stock. In the event that, prior to the delivery by the Company of all of the Option Shares in respect of which the Option is granted, there shall be an increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock of the Company as a result of a subdivision or consolidation of Shares or other capital adjustment, or the payment of a stock dividend or other increase or decrease in such Shares, effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, the remaining number of Option Shares still subject to the Option and the Option Price therefor shall be adjusted in a manner determined by the Administrator so that the adjusted number of Option Shares and the adjusted Option Price shall be the substantial equivalent of the remaining number of Option Shares still subject to the Option and the Option Price thereof prior to such change. For purposes of this Section 7 no adjustment shall be made as a result of the issuance of Common Stock upon the conversion of other securities of the Company which are convertible into Shares.

 

7.Legal Requirements. If the listing, registration or qualification of the Option Shares upon any securities exchange or under any federal or state law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary as a condition of or in connection with the purchase of such Option Shares, the Company shall not be obligated to issue or deliver the certificates representing the Option Shares as to which the Option has been exercised unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained. If registration is considered unnecessary by the Company or its counsel, the Company may cause a legend to be placed on the Option Shares being issued calling attention to the fact that they have been acquired for investment and have not been registered.

 

8.Administration. The Option has been granted pursuant to, and is subject to the terms and provisions of, this Plan. All questions of interpretation and application of this Plan and the Option shall be determined by the Administrator, and such determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. The Option shall not be treated as an incentive stock option (as such term is defined in section 422(b) of the Code) for federal income tax purposes unless expressly indicated as same hereupon.

 

9.Severability. Should a court of competent jurisdiction deem any of the provisions in this Agreement to be unenforceable in any respect, it is the intention of the parties to this Agreement that this Agreement be deemed, without further action on the part of the parties hereto, modified, amended and limited to the extent necessary to render the same valid and enforceable. It is further the parties’ intent that all provisions not deemed to be overbroad shall be given their full force and effect. You acknowledge that you are freely, knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Agreement after having an opportunity for consultation with your own independent counsel.

 

10.Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company shall be addressed to the Administrator at its principal executive office, and any notice to be given to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the address then appearing on the personnel or other records of the Company, or at such other address as either party hereafter may designate in writing to the other. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been duly given when deposited in the United States mail, addressed as aforesaid, registered or certified mail, and with proper postage and registration or certification fees prepaid.

 

11.Reservation of Right to Terminate. Nothing herein contained shall affect the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the Participant in its applicable capacity as a Service Provider at any time for any reason whatsoever.

 

12.Choice of Law; Jurisdiction. This Grant shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflicts of law rule or principle that might require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE INSTITUTED SOLELY IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES LOCATED IN DELAWARE, AND EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.

 

13.Taxes. You agree to comply with the appropriate procedures established by the Company, from time to time, to provide for payment or withholding of such income or other taxes as may be required by law to be paid or withheld in connection with the Options and exercise thereof.

 

***

 

A-3
 

 

Exhibit B

Form of Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement

 

 

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement

 

Number of SARs   Grant Date   Vesting Schedule
         
         

 

Exercise Price: $_______________ per share of Common Stock

 

Hour Loop, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby grants to [_________] (the “Participant”, also referred to as “you”) Stock Appreciation Rights (the “SAR”), pursuant to the terms of the attached Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement and the Hour Loop, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

By signing this cover sheet, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the attached Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement and this Plan.

 

Participant: _____________________________

 

Signature: ____________________________

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

 

By: ___________________________

 

Name: _________________________

 

Title: __________________________

 

This is not a stock certificate or a negotiable instrument. This grant of SAR is a

voluntary, revocable grant from the Company and Participant hereby acknowledges that the

Company has no obligation to make additional grants in the future.

 

UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR SIGNED AGREEMENT, A BOOKKEEPING ENTRY

WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE COMPANY’S BOOKS AND RECORDS

TO EVIDENCE THE SAR GRANTED TO YOU.

 

B-1
 

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

 

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AWARD AGREEMENT

1.SAR/Nontransferability. This Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) evidences the grant to you on the Grant Date set forth on the cover page of this Agreement the Stock Appreciation Right as set forth therein (the “SAR”) under the Hour Loop, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). These SARs represent the right to receive, upon exercise thereof, an amount in cash as set forth in this Plan. This SAR will NOT be credited with dividends to the extent dividends are paid on the Common Stock of the Company. Your SAR may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor may the SAR be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any capitalized, but undefined, term used in this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to it in this Plan.

 

2.The Plan. The SAR is issued in accordance with and is subject to and conditioned upon all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and this Plan as amended from time to time; provided, however, that no future amendment or termination of this Plan shall, without your consent, alter or impair any of your rights or obligations under this Plan, all of which are incorporated by reference in this Agreement as if fully set forth herein.

 

3.Cash Value Determination upon Vesting and Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the SARs covered by this grant shall vest on the vesting date set forth on the cover page of this Agreement, provided the Participant is a Service Provider of the Company on the Date of Vesting. The payment of the value of the SARs shall be made no later than ten (10) days following exercise. The payment of amounts with respect to the SARs is subject to the provisions of this Plan and to interpretations, regulations and determinations concerning this Plan as established from time to time by the Administrator in accordance with the provisions of this Plan, including, but not limited to, provisions relating to (i) rights and obligations with respect to withholding taxes, (ii) capital or other changes of the Company and (iii) other requirements of applicable law.

 

4.No Shareholder Rights. SARs are not Shares. Neither the Participant, nor any Person entitled to exercise the Participant’s rights in the event of the Participant’s death, shall have any of the rights and privileges of a holder of Shares.

 

5.Severability. Should a court of competent jurisdiction deem any of the provisions in this Agreement to be unenforceable in any respect, it is the intention of the parties to this Agreement that this Agreement be deemed, without further action on the part of the parties hereto, modified, amended and limited to the extent necessary to render the same valid and enforceable. It is further the parties’ intent that all provisions not deemed to be overbroad shall be given their full force and effect. You acknowledge that you are freely, knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Agreement after having an opportunity for consultation with your own independent counsel.

 

6.Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company shall be addressed to the Administrator at its principal executive office, and any notice to be given to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the address then appearing on the personnel or other records of the Company, or at such other address as either party hereafter may designate in writing to the other. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been duly given when deposited in the United States mail, addressed as aforesaid, registered or certified mail, and with proper postage and registration or certification fees prepaid.

 

B-2
 

 

7.Reservation of Right to Terminate. Nothing herein contained shall affect the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the Participant in its applicable capacity as a Service Provider at any time for any reason whatsoever.

 

8.Choice of Law; Jurisdiction. This Grant shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflicts of law rule or principle that might require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE INSTITUTED SOLELY IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES LOCATED IN DELAWARE AND EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.

 

9.Taxes. You agree to comply with the appropriate procedures established by the Company, from time to time, to provide for payment or withholding of such income or other taxes as may be required by law to be paid or withheld in connection with the SARs.

 

***

 

B-3
 

 

Exhibit C

 

Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement

 

 

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

Restricted Stock Award Agreement

 

Number of Shares   Grant Date   Vesting Schedule
         
         

 

Hour Loop, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby grants to [_________] (the “Participant”, also referred to as “you”) shares of Restricted Stock (the “Shares”), pursuant to the terms of the attached Restricted Stock Award Agreement and the Hour Loop, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

By signing this cover sheet, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the attached Restricted Stock Award Agreement and this Plan.

 

Participant: _____________________________

 

Signature: ____________________________

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

 

By: ___________________________

 

Name: _________________________

 

Title: __________________________

 

This is not a stock certificate or a negotiable instrument. This grant of Shares is a

voluntary, revocable grant from the Company and Participant hereby acknowledges that the

Company has no obligation to make additional grants in the future.

 

UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR SIGNED AGREEMENT, A BOOKKEEPING ENTRY

WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE COMPANY’S BOOKS AND RECORDS

TO EVIDENCE THE SHARES GRANTED TO YOU.

 

C-1
 

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

 

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

 

1.Award. This Restricted Stock Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) evidences the grant to Participant on the Grant Date set forth on the cover page of this Agreement the shares of Restricted Stock as set forth therein (the “Shares”) under the Hour Loop, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Any capitalized, but undefined, term used in this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to it in this Plan.

 

2.Non-Transferability of the Shares. Your Shares may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor may the Shares be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Except as may be required by federal income tax withholding provisions or by the tax laws of any state, your interests (and the interests of your beneficiaries, if any) under this Agreement are not subject to the claims of your creditors and may not be voluntarily or involuntarily sold, transferred, alienated, assigned, pledged, anticipated, or encumbered. Any attempt to sell, transfer, alienate, assign, pledge, anticipate, encumber, charge or otherwise dispose of any right to benefits payable hereunder shall be void. Your rights to your Shares are no greater than that of other general, unsecured creditors of the Company.

 

3.Vesting. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Shares covered by this grant shall vest on the vesting date set forth on the cover page of this Agreement, provided the Participant is a Service Provider of the Company or a member of the Company Group on the Date of Vesting.

 

4.Delivery of Shares.

 

(a)Vesting. Shares that vest (together with any payment due pursuant to the terms herein in respect of such Shares) shall be delivered to Participant (or the person to whom ownership rights may have passed by will or the laws of descent and distribution), on or as soon as administratively practicable after, the date of such vesting.

 

(b)

Certain Limitations. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, delivery of Shares, if any, by reason of Participant’s termination of employment shall be delayed until the six (6) month anniversary of the date of Participant’s termination of employment to the extent necessary to comply with Code Section 409A(a)(B)(i), and the determination of whether or not there has been a termination of Participant’s employment with the Company shall be made by the Administrator consistent with the definition of “separation from service” (as that phrase is used for purposes of Code Section 409A, and as set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)).

 

5.Withholding Taxes. Participant shall be responsible to pay to the Company the amount of withholding taxes as determined by the Company with respect to the date the Shares are delivered. If Participant does not arrange for payment of the applicable withholding taxes by providing such amount to the Company in cash prior to the date established by the Company as the deadline for such payment, Participant shall be treated as having elected to relinquish to the Company a portion of the Shares that would otherwise have been transferred to Participant having a fair market value, based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the business day immediately preceding the date of delivery of the Shares, equal to the amount of such applicable withholding taxes, in lieu of paying such amount to the Company in cash. Participant authorizes the Company to withhold in accordance with applicable law from any compensation payable to him or her any taxes required to be withheld for federal, state or local law in connection with this Agreement.

 

C-2
 

 

6.Legal Requirements. If the listing, registration or qualification of Shares deliverable in respect of an Shares upon any securities exchange or under any federal or state law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary as a condition of or in connection with the issuance of such Shares, the Company shall not be obligated to issue or deliver such Shares unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained. If registration is considered unnecessary by the Company or its counsel, the Company may cause a legend to be placed on any Shares being issued calling attention to the fact that they have been acquired for investment and have not been registered. The Administrator may from time to time impose any other conditions on the Shares it deems necessary or advisable to ensure that Shares are issued and resold in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

7.Severability. Should a court of competent jurisdiction deem any of the provisions in this Agreement to be unenforceable in any respect, it is the intention of the parties to this Agreement that this Agreement be deemed, without further action on the part of the parties hereto, modified, amended and limited to the extent necessary to render the same valid and enforceable. It is further the parties’ intent that all provisions not deemed to be overbroad shall be given their full force and effect. You acknowledge that you are freely, knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Agreement after having an opportunity for consultation with your own independent counsel.

 

8.Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company shall be addressed to the Administrator at its principal executive office, and any notice to be given to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the address then appearing on the personnel or other records of the Company, or at such other address as either party hereafter may designate in writing to the other. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been duly given when deposited in the United States mail, addressed as aforesaid, registered or certified mail, and with proper postage and registration or certification fees prepaid.

 

9.Reservation of Right to Terminate. Nothing herein contained shall affect the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the Participant in its applicable capacity as a Service Provider at any time for any reason whatsoever.

 

10.Choice of Law; Jurisdiction. This Grant shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflicts of law rule or principle that might require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE INSTITUTED SOLELY IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES LOCATED IN DELAWARE AND EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.

 

11.Taxes. You agree to comply with the appropriate procedures established by the Company, from time to time, to provide for payment or withholding of such income or other taxes as may be required by law to be paid or withheld in connection with the Restricted Stock.

 

***

 

C-3
 

 

Exhibit D

 

Form of Restricted Unit Award Agreement

 

 

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

Restricted Unit Award Agreement

 

Number of

Restricted Stock

Units

  Grant Date   Vesting Schedule/Performance Period/Performance Vesting Requirements
         
         

 

Hour Loop, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby grants to [_________] (the “Participant”, also referred to as “you”) the Restricted Stock Units (the “Restricted Stock Units” or “RSUs”), pursuant to the terms of the attached Restricted Unit Award Agreement and the Hour Loop, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

 

By signing this cover sheet, you agree to all of the terms and conditions described in the attached Restricted Unit Award Agreement and this Plan.

 

Participant: _____________________________

 

Signature: ____________________________

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

 

By: ___________________________

 

Name: _________________________

 

Title: __________________________

 

This is not a stock certificate or a negotiable instrument. This grant of RSUs is a

voluntary, revocable grant from the Company and Participant hereby acknowledges that the

Company has no obligation to make additional grants in the future.

 

UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR SIGNED AGREEMENT, A BOOKKEEPING ENTRY

WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE COMPANY’S BOOKS AND RECORDS

TO EVIDENCE THE RSUs GRANTED TO YOU.

 

D-1
 

 

Hour Loop, Inc.

 

RESTRICTED UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

 

1.Award. This Restricted Unit Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) evidences the grant to Participant on the Grant Date set forth on the cover page of this Agreement the Restricted Stock Units as set forth therein (the “Restricted Stock Units” or “RSUs”) under the Hour Loop, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). As used herein, the term “Restricted Stock Unit” or “RSU” shall mean a non-voting unit of measurement which is deemed for bookkeeping purposes to be equivalent to one outstanding Share solely for purposes of this Plan and this Agreement. The Restricted Stock Units shall be used solely as a device for the determination of the payment to eventually be made to the Participant if such Restricted Stock Units vest pursuant to this Award Agreement. The Restricted Stock Units shall not be treated as property or as a trust fund of any kind. Any capitalized, but undefined, term used in this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to it in this Plan.

 

2.Non-Transferability of the RSUs. Your RSUs may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor may the RSUs be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Except as may be required by federal income tax withholding provisions or by the tax laws of any state, your interests (and the interests of your beneficiaries, if any) under this Agreement are not subject to the claims of your creditors and may not be voluntarily or involuntarily sold, transferred, alienated, assigned, pledged, anticipated, or encumbered. Any attempt to sell, transfer, alienate, assign, pledge, anticipate, encumber, charge or otherwise dispose of any right to benefits payable hereunder shall be void. Your rights to your RSUs are no greater than that of other general, unsecured creditors of the Company.

 

3.Vesting. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the RSUs covered by this grant shall vest on the vesting date set forth on the cover page of this Agreement and subject to the satisfaction or attainment of the performance criteria set forth therein, if any, provided the Participant is employed by the Company on the date of vesting. The Administrator may not accelerate vesting of Restricted Stock Units for any reason.

 

4.Dividends. Participant shall not be entitled to any cash, securities or property that would have been paid or distributed as dividends with respect to the RSUs subject to this Agreement prior to the date the RSUs are delivered to Participant; provided, however, that the Company shall keep a hypothetical account in which any such items shall be recorded, and shall pay to Participant the amount of such dividends (in cash or in kind as determined by the Company) on the same date that the RSUs to which such payments or distributions relate are required to be delivered under this Agreement.

 

5.Timing and Manner of Payment on RSUs.

 

(a)On or as soon as administratively practical following the vesting event pursuant to this Agreement (and in all events not later than two and one-half (2½) months after such vesting event), the Company shall deliver to the Participant a number of Shares (either by delivering one or more certificates for such Shares or by entering such Shares in book entry form, as determined by the Company in its discretion) equal to the number of Shares subject to the RSU that vest on the Vesting Date, less any withholding or expenses as set forth herein, or may settle the RSU in cash or other payment as provided in this Plan, as determined by the Administrator. The Company’s obligation to deliver Shares or otherwise make payment with respect to vested RSUs is subject to the condition precedent that the Participant or other person entitled under this Plan to receive any Shares or payment with respect to the vested RSUs deliver to the Company any representations or other documents or assurances required pursuant to this Plan. The Participant shall have no further rights with respect to any RSUs that are paid or that terminate pursuant to this Agreement or this Plan.

 

D-2
 

 

(b)Certain Limitations. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, delivery of Shares or other payment, if any, with respect to RSUs by reason of Participant’s termination of employment shall be delayed until the six (6) month anniversary of the date of Participant’s termination of employment to the extent necessary to comply with Code Section 409A(a)(B)(i), and the determination of whether or not there has been a termination of Participant’s employment with the Company shall be made by the Administrator consistent with the definition of “separation from service” (as that phrase is used for purposes of Code Section 409A, and as set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)).

 

6.Rights of Participant. Participant shall have none of the rights of a shareholder at any time prior to the delivery of any Shares pursuant to the RSUs subject to this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in this Plan or herein.

 

7.Withholding Taxes. Participant shall be responsible to pay to the Company the amount of withholding taxes as determined by the Company with respect to the date the RSUs are settled. If Participant does not arrange for payment of the applicable withholding taxes by providing such amount to the Company in cash prior to the date established by the Company as the deadline for such payment, Participant shall be treated as having elected to relinquish to the Company a portion of the Shares that would otherwise have been transferred to Participant having a fair market value, based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the business day immediately preceding the date of delivery of the Shares, equal to the amount of such applicable withholding taxes, in lieu of paying such amount to the Company in cash, or an amount in cash if the RSU is settled in cash. Participant authorizes the Company to withhold in accordance with applicable law from any compensation payable to him or her any taxes required to be withheld for federal, state or local law in connection with this Agreement.

 

8.Legal Requirements. If the listing, registration or qualification of Shares deliverable in respect of an RSU upon any Securities Exchange or any Applicable Requirement, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary as a condition of or in connection with the issuance of such Shares, the Company shall not be obligated to issue or deliver such Shares unless and until such Applicable Requirements shall have been effected or obtained. If registration is considered unnecessary by the Company or its counsel, the Company may cause a legend to be placed on any Shares being issued calling attention to the fact that they have been acquired for investment and have not been registered. The Administrator may from time to time impose any other conditions on the Shares it deems necessary or advisable to ensure that Shares are issued and resold in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

9.Severability. Should a court of competent jurisdiction deem any of the provisions in this Agreement to be unenforceable in any respect, it is the intention of the parties to this Agreement that this Agreement be deemed, without further action on the part of the parties hereto, modified, amended and limited to the extent necessary to render the same valid and enforceable. It is further the parties’ intent that all provisions not deemed to be overbroad shall be given their full force and effect. You acknowledge that you are freely, knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Agreement after having an opportunity for consultation with your own independent counsel.

 

D-3
 

 

10.Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company shall be addressed to the Administrator at its principal executive office, and any notice to be given to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the address then appearing on the personnel or other records of the Company, or at such other address as either party hereafter may designate in writing to the other. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been duly given when deposited in the United States mail, addressed as aforesaid, registered or certified mail, and with proper postage and registration or certification fees prepaid.

 

11.Reservation of Right to Terminate. Nothing herein contained shall affect the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the Participant in its applicable capacity as a Service Provider at any time for any reason whatsoever.

 

12.Choice of Law; Jurisdiction. This Grant shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflicts of law rule or principle that might require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE INSTITUTED SOLELY IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES LOCATED IN DELAWARE AND EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.

 

13.Taxes. You agree to comply with the appropriate procedures established by the Company, from time to time, to provide for payment or withholding of such income or other taxes as may be required by law to be paid or withheld in connection with the RSUs.

 

***

 

D-4

 

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

  

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

  

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.8

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 21.1

 

List of Subsidiaries of

Hour Loop, Inc.

 

Entity Name   Place of Organization
     
Flywheel Consulting Limited *   Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

 

* 100% owned subsidiary of Hour Loop, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 23.1

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Hour Loop, Inc.

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated July 29, 2021 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Hour Loop, Inc., for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, and the related statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows and the related notes and schedules (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”) for each of the two years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Hour Loop, Inc. and the related Prospectus of Hour Loop, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

   

Letter

Description automatically generated

TPS Thayer, LLC 

Sugar Land, Texas

 

July 29, 2021