PROPOSAL NO. 2: INCREASING THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THE 2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN TO 52,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
Overview
Effective September 15, 2023, the Company adopted, after receiving Stockholder approval at the Company’s 2023 annual general and special meeting of shareholders on July 27, 2023 (the “Meeting”), the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2023 Equity Incentive Plan”) that enables the grant of stock options and restricted stock units.
The 2023 Equity Incentive Plan replaced the stock option plan approved by the Board on May 22, 2018 (the “Stock Option Plan”) and the Amended and Restated Share Unit Plan (as defined below) (together the “Prior Plans”). The Prior Plans continue to govern awards previously granted under them being, 417,922 stock options only that remain outstanding under the Stock Option Plan as of the Record Date.
On April 23, 2025, the Stockholders approved to increase the number of authorized shares issuable under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan from 22,000,000 shares to 32,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Plan Amendment 1”).
The current number of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan is 32,000,000. After certain RSU issuances in 2025, there remain only 5,657,319 shares of Company common stock available for issuance under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan as of the date of this Proxy Statement. Without increasing the number of shares available for issuance under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, once the current reserve of shares is exhausted, we will not be able to continue to offer competitive levels of equity compensation to attract and retain qualified personnel to continue supporting our growth. As a result, the Company may need to make significant changes to its compensation practices that would limit its flexibility to provide competitive compensation. Changes may include increased use of cash which, in addition to impacting its ability to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified personnel for positions of substantial responsibility with the Company, may negatively impact the business by reducing the cash available to reinvest into the business.
Given the limited number of remaining shares authorized to be issued under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, the Board of Directors believes it is in the best interest of the Company to increase the number of authorized shares under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan by 20,000,000 shares, from 32,000,000 shares to 52,000,000 shares of Common Stock, so that the Board of Directors may continue to utilize the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan to further align the interests of eligible participants with those of the Company’s Stockholders by providing long-term incentive compensation opportunities tied to the performance of the Common Stock.
At the Meeting, Stockholders will be asked to approve an increase in the number of authorized shares issuable under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan from 32,000,000 shares to 52,000,000 shares of Common Stock. On April 29, 2026, the Board adopted Amendment No. 2 to the Plan (“Plan Amendment 2”) to increase the number of authorized shares issuable under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan from 32,000,000 shares to 52,000,000 shares of Common Stock.
The Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company to increase the number of authorized shares issuable under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan from 32,000,000 shares to 52,000,000 shares of Common Stock and is asking the Stockholders to approve such increase. If approved by the Stockholders, the Plan Amendment 2 will become effective on the date it is approved and if not approved by the Stockholders, the number of shares of Common Stock under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan will continue to be capped at 32,000,000.
Registration with the SEC
If Plan Amendment 2 is approved by the Stockholders, we intend to file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the issuance of the additional 20,000,000 shares of Common Stock authorized under Plan Amendment 2, with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act as soon as practicable after approval of Plan Amendment 2 by our Stockholders.
Summary Description of the Amendment
The sole aspect of the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan to be amended by the proposed amendment is to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan by 20,000,000 shares. No other provisions of the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan are modified, amended, revised, or otherwise changed by this proposed amendment. The specific terms of the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, such as who is eligible to receive awards under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, the terms of awards, such as vesting periods, the exercise price of any options, and any expiration of these awards, as well as the tax consequences of the awards which may be made under the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, are set forth in the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, as approved by the Company’s stockholders on June 10, 2025 and filed with the SEC on April 23, 2025 as Appendix A to the proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders.