EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1566610
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 1566610_10-K_2024_0001493152-24-012416.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
Through June 13, 2023, we operated three distinct lines of business through separate wholly owned subsidiaries: Verb Direct, LLC, a sales Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) platform for the direct sales industry; Verb Acquisition Co., LLC, which was a sales SaaS platform for the Life Sciences industry and sports teams; and verbMarketplace, LLC, which is a multi-vendor, multi-presenter, livestream social shopping platform known as MARKET.live that combines ecommerce and entertainment.
We determined that by focusing all of our resources solely on the development and operation of MARKET.live, our livestream shopping platform, over time we could generate greater shareholder value than through the continued operation of our SaaS business platforms. Accordingly, after an extensive seven-month process, managed by a prominent M&A advisory firm, to identify a buyer willing to pay the highest price on the most favorable terms for the assets of the SaaS business on June 13, 2023 we disposed of all of the operating SaaS assets of Verb Direct, LLC and Verb Acquisition Co., LLC pursuant to an asset purchase agreement for aggregate consideration of $6.5 million, $4.75 million of which was paid in cash by the buyer at the closing of the transaction. Additional payments in the aggregate of $1.75 million will be paid by the buyer if certain profitability and revenue targets are met within each of the two-year periods following the closing date as set forth more particularly in the asset purchase agreement. During the seven-month period of the sales process, virtually all of our resources were dedicated to facilitating the sale process and all operating budgets were suspended, including sales and marketing budgets for MARKET.live, in order to preserve cash and minimize reliance on the capital markets until the asset sale process was complete.
Our MARKET.live Business
The Company’s MARKET.live platform is a multi-vendor, multi-presenter, livestream social shopping destination the leverages the current convergence of ecommerce and entertainment, where hundreds of retailers, brands, creators and influencers can monetize their base of fans and followers across social media channels. Brands, retailers and creators that join MARKET.live have the ability to broadcast livestream shopping events simultaneously on numerous social media channels, including TikTok, as well as on MARKET.live, reaching exponentially larger audiences. The Company’s recent technological integrations with META, created a seamless, native, friction-free checkout process for Facebook and Instagram users to purchase MARKET.live vendors’ products within each of those popular apps. This integration allows Facebook and Instagram users to browse products featured in MARKET.live shoppable videos, place products in a native shopping cart and checkout - all without leaving Facebook or Instagram.
On September 5, 2023, the Company completed development work on a new MARKET.live capability that facilitated a deeper integration into the TikTok social media platform, which could expose MARKET.live shoppable programming to tens of millions of potential viewers/purchasers. This new capability allows shoppers watching a MARKET.live stream on TikTok to stay on that site and check out through that site, eliminating the friction or reluctance of TikTok users to leave their TikTok feed in order to complete their purchase on MARKET.live. Our technology integration allows the purchase data to flow back through MARKET.live and to the individual vendors and stores on MARKET.live seamlessly for fulfillment of the orders.
On March 27, 2024, the Company announced that it expanded its strategic relationship with TikTok and entered into a formal partnership with TikTok Shop pursuant to which MARKET.live became a service provider for TikTok Shop and officially designated as a TikTok Shop Partner (TSP) . Under the terms of the partnership, TikTok Shop refers consumer brands, retailers, influencers and affiliates leads to Market.live for a menu of MARKET.live paid services that include, among other things, assistance in onboarding to TikTok and establishing a TikTok store, hosting training sessions and webinars for prospective TikTok Shop sellers, studio space rental in both the West Coast and East Coast MARKET.live studios, content creation and production services, and TikTok Shop maintenance and enhancements for existing TikTok clients’ stores. The partnership also contemplates TikTok Shop sponsored studio rentals, as well as a paid-for “day pass” for use of MARKET.live studio services by TikTok creators, influencers and affiliates. MARKET.live is expected to generate revenue through fees, including monthly recurring fees, paid directly to MARKET.live by the brands, retailers, influencers and affiliates referred to MARKET.live by TikTok. In addition, it is contemplated that MARKET.live will receive a percentage of monthly revenue generated through the TikTok stores MARKET.live establishes for the brands, retailers, influencers and affiliates that TikTok Shop refers to MARKET.live.
The partnership also contemplates the use of MARKET.live studios as TikTok “Sample Centers” where TikTok creators will have access to product samples for use in their TikTok Shop videos produced at MARKET.live studios. In addition to the compensation referenced above, TikTok will compensate MARKET.live directly for the attainment of certain pre-established performance goals and objectives agreed to between the parties.
The Company’s recent drop ship and affiliate programs are currently being revised to incorporate the benefits and implications of the recent META integrations as well as the new TikTok partnership. The Company is actively engaged in completing development on integrations into additional large social media platforms, as well as developing partnerships and strategic alliances that it believes will help foster the growth of the Company’s business.
Our Market
Revenue Generation
A description of our principal revenue generating activities is as follows:
1. MARKET.live generates revenue through several sources as follows:
a. All sales run through our ecommerce facility on MARKET.live from which we deduct a platform fee that ranges from 10% to 20% of gross sales, with an average of approximately 15%, depending upon the pricing package the vendors select as well as the product category and profit margins associated with such categories. The revenue is derived from sales generated during livestream events, from sales realized through views of previously recorded live events available in each vendor’s store, as well as from sales of product and merchandise displayed in the vendors’ online stores, all of which are shoppable 24/7.
b. Produced events. MARKET.live offers fee-based services that range from full production of livestream events, to providing professional hosts and event consulting.
c. Drop Ship and Creator programs. MARKET.live is expected to generate recurring fee revenue from soon to be launched new drop ship programs for entrepreneurs and its Creator program.
d. The Company’s recently launched TikTok stores and affiliate programs.
e. The MARKET.live site is designed to incorporate sponsorships and other advertising based on typical industry rates.
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct product. Performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the goods that will be transferred that are both capable of being distinct and are distinct in the context of the contract, whereby the transfer of the goods is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. Performance obligations include establishing and maintaining customer online stores, providing access to the Company’s e-commerce platform and customer service support.
The Company’s revenue is mainly commission fees derived from contractually committed gross revenue processed by customers on the Company’s e-commerce platform as well as subscription-based fees and other fees and commissions for services rendered by the Company to clients referred to the Company by TikTok. Customers do not have the contractual right to take possession of the Company’s software. Revenue is recognized in an amount that reflects the consideration that the Company expects to ultimately receive in exchange for those promised goods, net of expected discounts for sales promotions and customary allowances.
Revenue is recognized on a net basis from maintaining e-commerce platforms and online orders, as the Company is engaged primarily in an agency relationship with its customers and earns defined amounts based on the individual contractual terms for the customer and the Company does not take possession of the customers’ inventory or any credit risks relating to the products sold.
Sales taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net basis and, therefore, are excluded from net sales in the consolidated statements of operations.
Intellectual Property
Our policy is to protect our technology through, among other things, a combination of patents, trade secrets and copyrights. We primarily rely upon trade secrets and copyrighted proprietary software, code, and know-how to protect our interactive video technology platform and associated applications. We have taken security measures to protect our trade secrets and proprietary know-how, to the extent possible. Our means of protecting our proprietary rights may not prove to be adequate and our competitors may independently develop technology or products that are similar to ours or that compete with ours. Trade secret and copyright laws afford only limited protection for our technology and products. The laws of many countries do not protect our proprietary rights to as great an extent as do the laws of the United States. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. Third parties may also design around our proprietary rights, which may render our protected technology and products less valuable, if the design around is favorably received in the marketplace.
We control access to our proprietary technology by entering into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and contractors, and confidentiality agreements with third parties. Despite our precautions, we cannot assure you that our technology platform and products do not infringe patents held by others or that they will not in the future. Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets, to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others, or to defend against claims of infringement, invalidity, misappropriation, or other claims.
Dependence on Key Customers
Based on our current business and anticipated future activities as described in this Annual Report, we do not have any customers that represent more than 10% of our 2023 revenue.
Government Regulation
Our software and services are subject to certain legal, regulatory and other requirements. These laws are complex and evolving. Various U.S. federal and state laws govern many of our business activities, including, without limitation, the processing of payments and handling of consumer information. Despite our significant efforts to comply with all applicable requirements, there can be no guarantee that our efforts will be sufficient or that existing laws, rules or other requirements will not be interpreted, revised, augmented or rewritten in a way that adversely affects our regulated business activities, which comprise a significant majority of our overall business. For additional information related to these risk-related issues, refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” within this Annual Report.
Human Capital Management
As of March 28, 2024, we had 20 full-time statutory employees, three part-time employees, and three independent contractors. We engage independent contractors on an as-needed basis to provide specific expertise in areas of software design, development and coding, content creation, audio and video editing, video production services, and other business functions, including marketing and accounting. None of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We have had no labor-related work stoppages and believe our relationship with our employees, both full-time and part-time, consultants, and independent contractors, is satisfactory.
We believe our people are at the heart of our success and our customers’ success. We endeavor to not only attract and retain talented employees, but also to provide a challenging and rewarding environment to motivate and develop our valuable human capital. We look to our talented employees to lead and foster various initiatives that support our company culture including those related to diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition, we rely heavily on our talented team to execute our growth plans and achieve our long-term strategic objectives.
We provide competitive compensation and benefits for our employees. Our compensation packages may include base salary, commission or annual performance-based bonuses, and share-based compensation. We also offer general employee medical, dental, and vision insurance, health savings and flexible spending accounts, mental health resources, paid time off, paid family leave, life and disability insurance, and a 401(k) plan. These programs and our overall compensation packages seek to attract and retain talented employees.
Our Historical Background
Verb Technology Company, Inc. was incorporated in 2012 in the state of Nevada.
On April 12, 2019, we acquired Sound Concepts Inc. pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger. As a result of the merger, Sound Concepts merged with and into our wholly owned subsidiary, NF Acquisition Company, LLC. Upon completion of the merger, NF Acquisition Company, LLC changed its name to Verb Direct, LLC (“Verb Direct”).
On September 4, 2020, Verb Acquisition Co., LLC (“Verb Acquisition”), a subsidiary of Verb Technology, entered into a membership interest purchase agreement with Ascend Certification, LLC, dba SoloFire.
On October 18, 2021, we established verbMarketplace, LLC (“Market LLC”), a Nevada limited liability company. Market LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary established for our MARKET.live platform.
On June 13, 2023, the Company disposed of all of its operating SaaS assets of Verb Direct and Verb Acquisition, (referred to collectively as the “SaaS Assets”) pursuant to an asset purchase agreement in consideration of the sum of $6.5 million, $4.75 million of which was paid in cash by the buyer at the closing of the transaction. Additional payments in the aggregate of $1.75 million will be paid by the buyer if certain profitability and revenue targets are met within each of the two-year periods following the closing date as set forth more particularly in the asset purchase agreement. The sale of the SaaS Assets was undertaken to allow the Company to focus its resources on its burgeoning MARKET.live business unit which it expects over time will create greater shareholder value.
Our common stock and common stock purchase warrants trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols “VERB” and “VERBW,” respectively. Our Internet website address is https://www.verb.tech.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Our short and long-term success is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors that are difficult to predict or beyond our control. As a result, investing in the Company’s common stock involves substantial risk. The Company’s stockholders should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, in addition to the other information contained in or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report, as well as the other information we file with the SEC from time to time. The risks described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also impair our business operations and financial results. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. Our filings with the SEC also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks or uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including the risks we face described below, as well as other variables that could affect our operating results. Past financial performance should not be considered to be a reliable indicator of future performance, and investors should not use historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods.
Risks Related to Our Business
We have incurred significant net losses and cannot assure you that we will achieve or maintain profitable operations.
We have incurred recurring losses since our inception in 2012. Our net loss was $22.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, and $37.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. To date, we have funded our operations through cash collected from sales of our products and services, offerings of our equity securities, and debt financing. We have devoted substantially all of our resources to the design, development and commercialization of our products, the scaling of our technology and infrastructure, and our marketing and sales efforts. We may continue to incur significant losses in the future for a number of reasons, including unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays, and other unknown events.
To implement our business strategy and achieve consistent profitability, we need to, among other things, continue to reduce operating expenses, increase sales of our products and the gross profit associated with those sales, continue to reduce research and development expenses, and increase our marketing and sales efforts to drive an increase in the number of customers and clients utilizing our services. These expenditures may make it more difficult to achieve and maintain profitability. In addition, our efforts to grow our business may be more expensive than we expect, and we may not be able to generate sufficient revenue to offset operating expenses. If we are forced to reduce our expenses beyond our planned cost reduction initiatives, our growth strategy could be compromised. To offset our anticipated operating expenses, we will need to generate and sustain significant revenue levels in future periods in order to become profitable, and even if we do, we may not be able to maintain or increase our level of profitability.
Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will achieve sustainable operating profits as we continue to reduce operating expenses, restructure our balance sheet, further develop our marketing efforts, and otherwise implement our growth initiatives. Any failure to achieve and maintain profitability would have a materially adverse effect on our ability to implement our business plan, our results and operations, and our financial condition, and could cause the value of our common stock, to decline, resulting in a significant or complete loss of your investment.
Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report may raise substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern.
Our independent registered public accounting firm may raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. A “going concern” opinion indicates that the financial statements have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets, or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result if we do not continue as a going concern. Therefore, you should not rely on our consolidated balance sheet as an indication of the amount of proceeds that would be available to satisfy claims of creditors, and potentially be available for distribution to stockholders, in the event of liquidation. The presence of the going concern note to our financial statements may have an adverse impact on the relationships we are developing and plan to develop with third parties as we continue the commercialization of our products and could make it challenging and difficult for us to raise additional financing, all of which could have a material adverse impact on our business and prospects and result in a significant or complete loss of your investment.
If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to operate our business and pay our debt obligations as they become due, we may need to seek to borrow additional funds, dispose of our assets, or reduce or delay capital expenditures. There can be no assurance that we will ever be profitable or that debt or equity financing will be available to us in the amounts, on terms, and at times deemed acceptable to us, if at all. The issuance of additional equity securities by us would result in a significant dilution in the equity interests of our current stockholders. Obtaining commercial loans, assuming those loans would be available, would increase our liabilities and future cash commitments. If we are unable to obtain financing in the amounts and on terms deemed acceptable to us, we may be unable to continue our business, as planned, and as a result may be required to scale back or cease operations for our business, the results of which would be that our stockholders would lose some or all of their investment. Our audited consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classifications of liabilities that may result should we be unable to continue as a going concern. For additional information, please refer to the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Going Concern and Management’s Plan,” as well as Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements included within this Annual Report.
Public health threats, natural disasters and other events beyond our control, have had and may continue to have a significant negative impact on our business, sales, results of operations and financial condition.
Public health threats and other highly communicable diseases and outbreaks could adversely impact our operations, the operations of our customers, suppliers, distributors and other business partners, as well as the healthcare system in general. Our business operations are subject to interruption by natural disasters, fire, power shortages, pandemics and other events beyond our control. Although we maintain crisis management and disaster response plans, such events could make it difficult or impossible for us to deliver our services to our customers and could decrease demand for our services.
Additionally, our liquidity could be negatively impacted if these conditions continue for a significant period of time and we may be required to pursue additional sources of financing to obtain working capital, maintain appropriate inventory levels, and meet our financial obligations. Capital and credit markets have been disrupted by the crisis and our ability to obtain any required financing is not guaranteed and largely dependent upon evolving market conditions and other factors. Depending on the continued impact of the crisis, further actions may be required to improve our cash position and capital structure.
The extent to which public health threats, natural disasters or catastrophic events, ultimately impacts our business, sales, results of operations and financial condition will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including, but not limited to, the duration and spread of the outbreak, its severity, the actions to contain the virus or treat its impact, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.
Our ability to grow and compete in the future will be adversely affected if adequate capital is not available to us or not available on terms favorable to us.
We have limited capital resources. We have financed our operations entirely through equity investments by founders and other investors and the incurrence of debt, and we expect to continue to finance our operations in the same manner in the foreseeable future. Our ability to continue our normal and planned operations, to grow our business, and to compete in our industry will depend on the availability of adequate capital. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain additional funding from those or other sources when or in the amounts needed, on acceptable terms, or at all. If we raise capital through the sale of equity, or securities convertible into equity, it would result in dilution to our then-existing stockholders, which could be significant depending on the price at which we may be able to sell our securities. If we raise additional capital through the incurrence of additional indebtedness, we would likely become subject to further covenants restricting our business activities, and holders of debt instruments may have rights and privileges senior to those of our then-existing stockholders. In addition, servicing the interest and principal repayment obligations under debt facilities could divert funds that would otherwise be available to support development of new programs and marketing to current and potential new clients. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we could be forced to delay, reduce, or eliminate development of new programs or future marketing efforts, or reduce or discontinue our operations. Any of these events could significantly harm our business, financial condition, and prospects.
Our indebtedness, and the agreements governing such indebtedness, subject us to required debt service payments, as well as financial restrictions and operating covenants, any of which may reduce our financial flexibility and affect our ability to operate our business.
From time to time, we have financed our liquidity needs in part from borrowings made under various credit agreements. As of December 31, 2023, the aggregate outstanding balance of our notes payable was $2.9 million. As of March 28, 2024, the balance of our notes payable is $1.2 million.
The agreements underlying these transactions contain certain financial restrictions, operating covenants, and debt service requirements. Our failure to comply with obligations under these agreements, or inability to make required debt service payments, could result in an event of default under the agreements. A default, if not cured or waived, could permit a lender to accelerate payment of the loan, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, financial condition, and liquidity. Further, if our debt is accelerated, we cannot be certain that funds will be available to pay the debt or that we will have the ability to refinance the debt on terms satisfactory to us or at all. If we are unable to repay or refinance the accelerated debt, we could become insolvent and seek to file for bankruptcy protection, which would have a material adverse impact on our financial condition.
In addition, the covenants in our credit agreements could limit our ability to engage in transactions that would be in our best interest, or otherwise respond to changing business and economic conditions, and may therefore have a material impact on our business. For example, our borrowings will require debt service payments, which could require us to divert funds identified for other purposes to such debt service payments. Further, if we cannot generate sufficient cash flow from operations to service our debt, we may need to refinance the debt, dispose of its assets, or reduce or delay expenditures. Alternatively, we may be required to issue equity to obtain necessary funds, which would be dilutive to our stockholders. We do not know whether we would be able to take any of these actions on a timely basis or at all.
Our current or future level of indebtedness could affect our operations in several ways, including the following:
● the covenants contained in current or future agreements governing outstanding indebtedness may limit our ability to borrow additional funds, refinance debt, dispose of assets, and make certain investments;
● debt covenants may also affect our flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, changes in the economy and in our industry;
● a high level of debt would increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
● a significant level of debt may place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that are less leveraged and, therefore, may be able to take advantage of opportunities that our indebtedness would prevent us from pursuing; and
● a high level of debt may impair our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, debt service requirements, acquisitions, or other purposes.
For additional information refer to the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources,” as well as Note 1 in the section entitled “Going Concern and Management’s Plan” to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
The success of our business is dependent upon our ability to maintain and expand our customer base and our ability to convince our customers to increase the use of our services and/or platform. If we are unable to expand our customer base and/or the use of our services and/or platform by our customers declines, our business will be harmed.
Our ability to expand and generate revenue depends, in part, on our ability to maintain and expand our relationships with existing customers and convince them to increase their use of our platform. If our customers do not increase their use of our platform, then our revenue may not grow and our results of operations may be harmed. It is difficult to predict customers’ usage levels accurately and the loss of customers or reductions in their usage levels may have a negative impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. If a significant number of customers cease using, or reduce their usage of, our platform, then we may be required to spend significantly more on sales and marketing than we currently plan to spend in order to maintain or increase revenue. These additional expenditures could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Most of our customers do not have long-term contractual financial commitments to us and, therefore, most of our customers could reduce or cease their use of our platform at any time without penalty or termination charges.
The market in which we operate is intensely competitive and, if we do not compete effectively, our operating results could be harmed.
The market for livestream shopping platforms is intensely competitive and rapidly changing, barriers to entry are relatively low, and many of our competitors, have greater name recognition, longer operating histories, and larger marketing budgets, as well as substantially greater financial, technical, and other resources, than we do. In addition, many of our potential competitors have established marketing relationships and access to larger customer bases, and have major distribution agreements with consultants, system integrators, and resellers. As a result, our competitors may be able to respond more effectively than we can to new or changing opportunities, technologies, standards, customer requirements, competitive pressures, or challenges within the financial markets. Furthermore, because of these advantages, even if our products and services are more effective than the products and services that our competitors offer, potential customers might accept competitive products and services in lieu of purchasing our products and services. If we do not compete effectively against our current and future competitors, our operating results could be harmed.
We may not be able to increase the number of our strategic relationships or grow the revenues received from our current strategic relationships.
We have entered into certain strategic relationships with other individuals and enterprises and are actively seeking additional strategic relationships. There can be no assurance, however, that these strategic relationships will result in material revenues for us or that we will be able to generate any other meaningful strategic relationships. If we are not able to increase the number of our strategic relationships or grow the revenues received from our current strategic relationships, our operating results could be harmed.
We may not be able to develop enhancements and new features to our existing service or acceptable new services that keep pace with technological developments.
If we are unable to develop enhancements to, and new features for, our platform that keep pace with rapid technological developments, our business will be harmed. The success of enhancements, new features, and services depends on several factors, including the timely completion, introduction, and market acceptance of the feature or edition. Failure in this regard may significantly impair our revenue growth or harm our reputation. We may not be successful in either developing these modifications and enhancements or in timely bringing them to market at a competitive price or at all. Furthermore, uncertainties about the timing and nature of new network platforms or technologies, or modifications to existing platforms or technologies, could increase our research and development expenses. Any failure of our service to operate effectively with future network platforms and technologies could reduce the demand for our service, result in customer dissatisfaction, and harm our business.
Our ability to deliver our services is dependent on third party Internet providers.
The Internet’s infrastructure is comprised of many different networks and services that, by design, are highly fragmented and distributed. This infrastructure is run by a series of independent, third-party organizations that work together to provide the infrastructure and supporting services of the Internet under the governance of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Numbers and Names (“ICANN”) and the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (“IANA”), which is now related to ICANN.
The Internet has experienced, and will continue to experience, a variety of outages and other delays due to damages to portions of its infrastructure, denial-of-service attacks, or related cyber incidents. These scenarios are not under our control and could reduce the availability of the Internet to us or our customers for delivery of our services. Any resulting interruptions in our services or the ability of our customers to access our services could result in a loss of potential or existing customers and harm our business.
Security breaches and other disruptions could compromise our information and expose us to liability, which would cause our business and reputation to suffer.
In the ordinary course of our business, we collect and store sensitive data, including intellectual property, our proprietary business information, proprietary business information of our customers, including, credit card and payment information, and personally identifiable information of our customers and employees. The secure processing, maintenance, and transmission of this information is critical to our operations and business strategy.
In addition, we are subject to numerous federal, state, provincial and foreign laws regarding privacy and protection of data. Some jurisdictions have enacted laws requiring companies to notify individuals of data security breaches involving certain types of personal data and our agreements with certain customers require us to notify them in the event of a security incident. Evolving regulations regarding personal data and personal information, including the General Data Protection Regulation, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”), and the recently passed California Privacy Rights Act, which amends the CCPA and has many provisions that became effective on January 1, 2023, especially relating to classification of IP addresses, machine identification, location data and other information, may limit or inhibit our ability to operate or expand our business. Such laws and regulations require or may require us or our customers to implement privacy and security policies, permit consumers to access, correct or delete personal information stored or maintained by us or our customers, inform individuals of security incidents that affect their personal information, and, in some cases, obtain consent to use personal information for specified purposes.
We believe that we take reasonable steps to protect the security, integrity and confidentiality of the information we collect, use, store, and disclose, and we take steps to strengthen our security protocols and infrastructure, however, our information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or breached due to employee error, malfeasance, or other disruptions. We also could be negatively impacted by software bugs or other technical malfunctions, as well as employee error or malfeasance. Advanced cyber-attacks can be multi-staged, unfold over time, and utilize a range of attack vectors with military-grade cyber weapons and proven techniques, such as spear phishing and social engineering, leaving organizations and users at high risk of being compromised. Any such access, disclosure, or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, regulatory penalties, a disruption of our operations, damage to our reputation, a loss of confidence in our business, early termination of our contracts and other business losses, indemnification of our customers, liability for stolen assets or information, increased cybersecurity protection and insurance costs, financial penalties, litigation, regulatory investigations and other significant liabilities, any of which could materially harm our business any of which could adversely affect our business, revenues, and competitive position.
Our success depends, in part, on the capacity, reliability, and security of our information technology hardware and software infrastructure, as well as our ability to adapt and expand our infrastructure.
The capacity, reliability, and security of our information technology hardware and software infrastructure are important to the operation of our current business, which would suffer in the event of system failures. Likewise, our ability to expand and update our information technology infrastructure in response to our growth and changing needs is important to the continued implementation of our new service offering initiatives. Our inability to expand or upgrade our technology infrastructure could have adverse consequences, including the delayed provision of services or implementation of new service offerings, and the diversion of development resources. We rely on third parties for various aspects of our hardware and software infrastructure. Third parties may experience errors or disruptions that could adversely impact us and over which we may have limited control. Interruption and/or failure of any of these systems could disrupt our operations and damage our reputation, thus adversely impacting our ability to provide our products and services, retain our current users, and attract new users. In addition, our information technology hardware and software infrastructure may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, misuse, computer viruses, or other events that could have a security impact. If one or more of such events occur, our customer and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our information technology hardware and software infrastructure, or otherwise, could be compromised, which could result in significant losses or reputational damage. We may be required to expend significant additional resources to modify our protective measures or to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures, and we may be subject to litigation and financial losses, any of which could substantially harm our business and our results of operations.
We are dependent on third parties to, among other things, maintain our servers, provide the bandwidth necessary to transmit content, and utilize the content derived therefrom for the potential generation of revenues.
We depend on third-party service providers, suppliers, and licensors to supply some of the services, hardware, software, and operational support necessary to provide some of our products and services. Some of these third parties do not have a long operating history or may not be able to continue to supply the equipment and services we desire in the future. If demand exceeds these vendors’ capacity, or if these vendors experience operating or financial difficulties or are otherwise unable to provide the equipment or services we need in a timely manner, at our specifications and at reasonable prices, our ability to provide some products and services might be materially adversely affected, or the need to procure or develop alternative sources of the affected materials or services might delay our ability to serve our users. These events could materially and adversely affect our ability to retain and attract users, and have a material negative impact on our operations, business, financial results, and financial condition.
We may not be able to find suitable software developers at an acceptable cost or at all.
We currently rely on certain key suppliers and vendors in the coding and maintenance of our software. We will continue to require such expertise in the future. Due to the current demand for skilled software developers, we run the risk of not being able to find or retain suitable and qualified personnel at an acceptable price, or at all. These risks may be greater now than in the past due to current general labor shortages in the United States. Without these developers, we may not be able to further develop and maintain our software, which is the most important aspect of our business development.
The success of our business is highly correlated to general economic conditions.
Demand for our products and services is highly correlated with general economic conditions, as a substantial portion of our revenue is derived from discretionary spending by individuals, which typically declines during times of economic instability. Declines in economic conditions in the United States or in other countries in which we operate and may operate in the future may adversely impact our financial results. Because such declines in demand are difficult to predict, we or our industry may have increased excess capacity as a result. An increase in excess capacity may result in declines in prices for our products and services. Our ability to grow or maintain our business may be adversely affected by sustained economic weakness and uncertainty, including the effect of wavering consumer confidence, high unemployment, and other factors. The inability to grow or maintain our business would adversely affect our business, financial conditions, and results of operations, and thereby an investment in our common stock.
Our failure to adequately protect our intellectual property rights could diminish the value of our products, weaken our competitive position and reduce our revenue, and infringement claims asserted against us or by us, could have a material adverse effect.
We regard the protection of our intellectual property, which includes patents, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks and domain names, as critical to our success. We strive to protect our intellectual property rights by relying on federal, state and common law rights, as well as contractual restrictions. We enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and contractors, and confidentiality agreements with parties with whom we conduct business in order to limit access to, and disclosure and use of, our proprietary information. However, these contractual arrangements and the other steps we have taken to protect our intellectual property may not prevent the misappropriation of our proprietary information or deter independent development of similar technologies by others.
We have registered domain names and trademarks in the United States and have pursued additional registrations both in and outside the United States. Effective trade secret, copyright, trademark, domain name and patent protection is expensive to develop and maintain, both in terms of initial and ongoing registration requirements and the costs of defending our rights. Notwithstanding our efforts, third parties may independently develop technology that is not covered by our patents, or that is similar to, or competes with, our technology. In addition, our intellectual property may be infringed or misappropriated by third parties, particularly in foreign countries where the laws and governmental authorities may not protect our proprietary rights as effectively as those in the United States. We may be required to protect our intellectual property in an increasing number of jurisdictions, a process that is expensive and may not be successful or which we may not pursue in every location.
Monitoring unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly. Our efforts to protect our proprietary rights may not be adequate to prevent misappropriation of our intellectual property. Further, we may not be able to detect unauthorized use of, or take appropriate steps to enforce, our intellectual property rights. In addition, our competitors may independently develop similar technology. The laws in the United States and elsewhere change rapidly, and any future changes could adversely affect us and our intellectual property. Our failure to meaningfully protect our intellectual property could result in competitors offering services that incorporate our most technologically advanced features, which could seriously reduce demand for our products. In addition, we may in the future need to initiate infringement claims or litigation. Litigation, whether we are a plaintiff or a defendant, can be expensive, time-consuming and may divert the efforts of our technical staff and managerial personnel, which could harm our business, whether or not such litigation results in a determination that is unfavorable to us. In addition, litigation is inherently uncertain, and thus we may not be able to stop its competitors from infringing upon our intellectual property rights.
Natural disasters and other events beyond our control could materially adversely affect us.
Natural disasters or other catastrophic events may cause damage or disruption to our operations, international commerce and the global economy, and thus could have a strong negative effect on us. Our business operations are subject to interruption by natural disasters, fire, power shortages, pandemics and other events beyond our control. Although we maintain crisis management and disaster response plans, such events could make it difficult or impossible for us to deliver our services to our customers and could decrease demand for our services.
Our future success depends on our key executive officers and our ability to attract, retain, and motivate qualified personnel.
Our future success largely depends upon the continued services of our executive officers and management team, especially our Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of our board of directors, and President, Mr. Rory J. Cutaia. If one or more of our executive officers are unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to replace them readily, if at all. Additionally, we may incur additional expenses to recruit and retain new executive officers. If any of our executive officers joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose some or all of our customers. Finally, we do not maintain “key person” life insurance on any of our executive officers. Because of these factors, the loss of the services of any of these key persons could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations, and thereby an investment in our stock.
Our continuing ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel will also be critical to our success because we will need to hire and retain additional personnel as our business grows. There can be no assurance that we will be able to attract or retain highly qualified personnel. We face significant competition for skilled personnel in our industries. This competition may make it more difficult and expensive to attract, hire, and retain qualified managers and employees. Because of these factors, we may not be able to effectively manage or grow our business, which could adversely affect our financial condition or business. As a result, the value of your investment could be significantly reduced or completely lost.
Risks Related to an Investment in Our Securities
If we are not able to comply with the applicable continued listing requirements or standards of The NASDAQ Capital Market, The NASDAQ Capital Market could delist and adversely affect the market price and liquidity of our common stock.
Our common stock is currently traded on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “VERB”. We have in the past been, and may in the future be, unable to comply with certain of the listing standards that we are required to meet to maintain the listing of our common stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market. If we fail to meet any of the continued listing standards of The NASDAQ Capital Market, our common stock will be delisted from The NASDAQ Capital Market.
These continued listing standards include specifically enumerated criteria, such as a $1.00 minimum closing bid price and a requirement that we maintain stockholders’ equity of at least $2,500,000. On November 2, 2023, we received a letter from The NASDAQ Stock Market advising that the Company did not meet the minimum $1.00 per share bid price requirement for continued inclusion on The NASDAQ Capital Market pursuant to NASDAQ Marketplace Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). To demonstrate compliance with this requirement, the closing bid price of our common stock needs to be at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days before April 30, 2024. In order to satisfy this requirement, the Company intends to continue actively monitoring the bid price for its common stock between now and April 30, 2024 and will consider available options to resolve the deficiency and regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement, including, but not limited to, seeking an additional six-month extension from The NASDAQ Capital Market to do so.
While we intend to regain compliance with the minimum bid price rule, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain continued compliance with this rule or the other listing requirements of The NASDAQ Capital Market. If we were unable to meet these requirements, we would receive another delisting notice from the Nasdaq Capital Market for failure to comply with one or more of the continued listing requirements. If our common stock were to be delisted from The NASDAQ Capital Market, trading of our common stock most likely will be conducted in the over-the-counter market on an electronic bulletin board established for unlisted securities such as the OTC Markets or in the “pink sheets.” Such a downgrading in our listing market may limit our ability to make a market in our common stock and which may impact purchases or sales of our securities.
Raising additional capital, including through future sales and issuances of our common stock, warrants or the exercise of rights to purchase common stock pursuant to our equity incentive plan could result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our stockholders, could cause our share price to fall and could restrict our operations.
We expect we will need significant additional capital in the future to continue our planned operations, including any potential acquisitions, hiring new personnel and continuing activities as an operating public company. To the extent we seek additional capital through a combination of public and private equity offerings and debt financings, our stockholders may experience substantial dilution. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our existing stockholders may be diluted, and the terms may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our stockholders. Debt and receivables financings may be coupled with an equity component, such as warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, which could also result in dilution of our existing stockholders’ ownership. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed payment obligations and could also result in certain restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. A failure to obtain adequate funds may cause us to curtail certain operational activities, including sales and marketing, in order to reduce costs and sustain the business, and would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
In addition, we have granted options to purchase shares of our common stock pursuant to our equity incentive plans and have registered 16,000,000 shares of common stock underlying options and shares granted pursuant to our equity incentive plans. Sales of shares issued upon exercise of options granted under our equity compensation plans may result in material dilution to our existing stockholders, which could cause our price of our common stock to fall.
Our issuance of additional shares of preferred stock could adversely affect the market value of our common stock, dilute the voting power of common stockholders and delay or prevent a change of control.
Our board of directors have the authority to cause us to issue, without any further vote or action by the stockholders, shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to designate the number of shares constituting any series, and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption, redemption price or prices and liquidation preferences of such series.
The issuance of shares of preferred stock with dividend or conversion rights, liquidation preferences or other economic terms favorable to the holders of preferred stock could adversely affect the market price for our common stock by making an investment in the common stock less attractive. For example, investors in the common stock may not wish to purchase common stock at a price above the conversion price of a series of convertible preferred stock because the holders of the preferred stock would effectively be entitled to purchase common stock at the lower conversion price causing economic dilution to the holders of common stock.
Further, the issuance of shares of preferred stock with voting rights may adversely affect the voting power of the holders of our other classes of voting stock either by diluting the voting power of our other classes of voting stock if they vote together as a single class, or by giving the holders of any such preferred stock the right to block an action on which they have a separate class vote even if the action were approved by the holders of our other classes of voting stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock may also have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company without further action by the stockholders, even where stockholders are offered a premium for their shares.
The market price of our common stock has been, and may continue to be, subject to substantial volatility.
The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including;
● volatility in the trading markets generally and in our particular market segment;
● limited trading of our common stock;
● actual or anticipated fluctuations in our results of operations;
● the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in those projections, or our failure to meet those projections;
● announcements regarding our business or the business of our customers or competitors;
● changes in accounting standards, policies, guidelines, interpretations, or principles;
● actual or anticipated developments in our business or our competitors’ businesses or the competitive landscape generally;
● developments or disputes concerning our intellectual property or our offerings, 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 change in our board of directors or management;
● sales of shares of our common stock by us or by our stockholders;
● lawsuits threatened or filed against us; and
● other events or factors, including those resulting from war, incidents of terrorism, pandemics (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) or responses to these events.
Statements of, or changes in, opinions, ratings, or earnings estimates made by brokerage firms or industry analysts relating to the markets in which we operate or expect to operate could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock. In addition, the stock market as a whole, as well as our particular market segment, has from time-to-time experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, which may affect the market price for the securities of many companies, and which often have appeared unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. Any of these factors could negatively affect our stockholders’ ability to sell their shares of common stock at the time and price they desire.
A decline in the price of our common stock could affect our ability to raise further working capital, which could adversely impact our ability to continue operations.
A prolonged decline in the price of our common stock could result in a reduction in the liquidity of our common stock and a reduction in our ability to raise capital. We may attempt to acquire a significant portion of the funds we need in order to conduct our planned operations through the sale of equity securities; thus, a decline in the price of our common stock could be detrimental to our liquidity and our operations because the decline may adversely affect investors’ desire to invest in our securities. If we are unable to raise the funds we require for all of our planned operations, we may be forced to reallocate funds from other planned uses and may suffer a significant negative effect on our business plan and operations, including our ability to develop new products or services and continue our current operations. As a result, our business may suffer, and we may be forced to reduce or discontinue operations. We also might not be able to meet our financial obligations if we cannot raise enough funds through the sale of our common stock and we may be forced to reduce or discontinue operations.
Because we do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our shares of common stock in the near future, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless and until they sell them.
We intend to retain a significant portion of any future earnings to finance the development, operation and expansion of our business. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the near future. The declaration, payment, and amount of any future dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, and will depend upon, among other things, the results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition, operating and capital requirements, and other factors as our board of directors considers relevant. There is no assurance that future dividends will be paid, and, if dividends are paid, there is no assurance with respect to the amount of any such dividend. Unless our board of directors determines to pay dividends, our stockholders will be required to look to appreciation of our common stock to realize a gain on their investment. There can be no assurance that this appreciation will occur.
Our common stock has been categorized as “penny stock,” which may make it more difficult for investors to sell their shares of common stock due to suitability requirements.
The SEC has adopted regulations which generally define a “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price (as defined) less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. Our securities are covered by the penny stock rules, which impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell to persons other than established customers and “accredited investors”. The term “accredited investor” refers generally to institutions with assets in excess of $5,000,000 or individuals with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000 or $300,000 jointly with their spouse. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document in a form prepared by the SEC that provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. The bid and offer quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information, must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to effecting the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’s confirmation. In addition, the penny stock rules require that prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from these rules, the broker-dealer must make 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. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for the stock that is subject to these penny stock rules. Consequently, these penny stock rules may affect the ability of broker-dealers to trade our securities. We believe that the penny stock rules discourage investor interest in and limit the marketability of our common stock.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. has adopted sales practice requirements that historically may have limited a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our common stock, which could depress the price of our common stock.
In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted rules that require that, in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives, and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low-priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. Thus, the FINRA requirements historically has made it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our common stock, which could limit your ability to buy and sell our common stock, have an adverse effect on the market for our shares, and thereby depress our price per share of common stock.
The elimination of monetary liability against our directors, officers, and employees under Nevada law and the existence of indemnification rights for our obligations to our directors, officers, and employees may result in substantial expenditures by us and may discourage lawsuits against our directors, officers, and employees.
Our articles of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions permitting us to eliminate the personal liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for damages for the breach of a fiduciary duty as a director or officer to the extent provided by Nevada law. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and officers to provide such indemnification rights. We may also have contractual indemnification obligations under any future employment agreements with our officers. The foregoing indemnification obligations could result in us incurring substantial expenditures to cover the cost of settlement or damage awards against directors and officers, which we may be unable to recoup. These provisions and the resulting costs may also discourage us from bringing a lawsuit against directors and officers for breaches of their fiduciary duties and may similarly discourage the filing of derivative litigation by our stockholders against our directors and officers even though such actions, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders.
Anti-takeover effects of certain provisions of Nevada state law hinder a potential takeover of us.
Nevada has a business combination law that prohibits certain business combinations between Nevada corporations and “interested stockholders” for three years after an “interested stockholder” first becomes an “interested stockholder,” unless the corporation’s board of directors approves the combination in advance. For purposes of Nevada law, an “interested stockholder” is any person who is (i) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of ten percent or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation or (ii) an affiliate or associate of the corporation and at any time within the three previous years was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of ten percent or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of the corporation. The definition of the term “business combination” is sufficiently broad to cover virtually any kind of transaction that would allow a potential acquirer to use the corporation’s assets to finance the acquisition or otherwise to benefit its own interests rather than the interests of the corporation and its other stockholders.
The potential effect of Nevada’s business combination law is to discourage parties interested in taking control of us from doing so if these parties cannot obtain the approval of our board of directors. Both of these provisions could limit the price investors would be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.
Our bylaws contain an exclusive forum provision, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.
Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the state and federal courts in the State of Nevada shall be the exclusive forum for any litigation relating to our internal affairs, including, without limitation: (a) any derivative action brought on behalf of us, (b) any action asserting a claim for breach of fiduciary duty to us or our stockholders by any current or former officer, director, employee, or agent of us, or (c) any action against us or any current or former officer, director, employee, or agent of us arising pursuant to any provision of the Nevada Revised Statutes, the articles of incorporation, or the bylaws.
For the avoidance of doubt, the exclusive forum provision described above does not apply to any claims arising under the Securities Act or Exchange Act. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, and Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
The choice of forum provision in our bylaws may limit our stockholders’ ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that they find favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers, employees and agents even though an action, if successful, might benefit our stockholders. The applicable courts may also reach different judgments or results than would other courts, including courts where a stockholder considering an action may be located or would otherwise choose to bring the action, and such judgments or results may be more favorable to us than to our stockholders. With respect to the provision making the state and federal courts in the State of Nevada the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions, stockholders who do bring a claim in the state and federal courts in the State of Nevada could face additional litigation costs in pursuing any such claim, particularly if they do not reside in or near Nevada. Finally, if a court were to find this provision of our bylaws inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could have a material adverse effect on us.
If we fail to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately or timely report our financial condition or results of operations, which may adversely affect our business.
As a public company, we have significant requirements for enhanced financial reporting and internal controls, and must maintain internal controls over financial reporting to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The process of designing, implementing and maintaining effective internal controls is a continuous effort that require us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and the economic and regulatory environments. In this regard, we continue to dedicate internal resources, potentially engage outside consultants, implement a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing whether such controls are functioning as documented, and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to maintain appropriate disclose controls or internal controls and procedures over financial reporting, it could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations on a timely basis, result in material misstatements in our consolidated financial statements and adversely affect our operating results.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our corporate headquarters are located at 3024 Sierra Juniper Court, Las Vegas, Nevada 89138. We believe that our facility is sufficient to meet our current needs and that suitable additional space will be available as and when needed.
We operate livestream studios at 10621 Calle Lee, Suite 153, Los Alamitos, California 90720.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
For a discussion of our legal proceedings, refer to Note 16 “Commitments and Contingencies,” in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements of this Annual Report.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Our common stock trades on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VERB.”
Holders of Common Stock
As of March 28, 2024, there were approximately 81 holders of record of our common stock. These holders of record include depositories that hold shares of stock for brokerage firms which, in turn, hold shares of stock for numerous beneficial owners.
Dividends
We have never declared or paid dividends. We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future, but currently intend to retain any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. The payment of dividends, if any, on our common stock will rest solely within the discretion of our board of directors and will depend, among other things, upon our earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, and other relevant factors. Pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement we entered into on January 12, 2022 with three institutional investors, which we disclosed on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 13, 2022, we were prohibited from declaring or paying a cash dividend or distribution on any of our common stock. On January 26, 2023, the Company repaid in full all of the outstanding obligations associated with the securities purchase agreement at which time the prohibition against the declaration or paying of a dividend was extinguished.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
During our fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, all sales of equity securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, were previously reported in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and the other financial information that are included elsewhere in this Annual Report. This discussion includes forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations, and intentions. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties such as our plans, estimates, and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements below. Factors that could cause or contribute to those differences in our actual results include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and those discussed elsewhere within this Annual Report, particularly in the section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and the Item entitled “Risk Factors.”
Overview
Through June 13, 2023 of the year ended December 31, 2023, we operated three distinct lines of business through separate wholly owned subsidiaries. Verb Direct, LLC, a sales Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) platform for the direct sales industry; Verb Acquisition Co., LLC, which was a sales SaaS platform for the Life Sciences industry and sports teams; and verbMarketplace, LLC, which is a multi-vendor, multi-presenter, livestream social shopping platform known as MARKET.live that combines ecommerce and entertainment.
We determined that by focusing all of our resources solely on the development and operation of MARKET.live, our livestream shopping platform, over time we could generate greater shareholder value than we could through the continued operation of our SaaS business platforms. Accordingly, after an extensive, thorough seven-month process to identify a buyer willing to pay the highest price on the most favorable terms for the assets of the SaaS business, managed by a prominent M&A advisory firm, on June 13, 2023 we disposed of all of the operating SaaS assets of Verb Direct, LLC and Verb Acquisition Co., LLC pursuant to an asset purchase agreement in consideration of the sum of $6.5 million, $4.75 million of which was paid in cash by the buyer at the closing of the transaction.
Additional payments in the aggregate of $1.75 million will be paid by the buyer if certain profitability and revenue targets are met within each of the two-year periods following the closing date as set forth more particularly in the asset purchase agreement. During the seven-month period of the sales process, virtually all of our resources were dedicated to facilitating the sale process and all operating budgets were suspended, including sales and marketing budgets for MARKET.live, in order to preserve cash and minimize reliance on the capital markets until the asset sale process was complete.
Our MARKET.live Business
The Company’s MARKET.live platform is a multi-vendor, multi-presenter, livestream social shopping destination the leverages the current convergence of ecommerce and entertainment, where hundreds of retailers, brands, creators and influencers can monetize their base of fans and followers across social media channels. Brands, retailers and creators that join MARKET.live have the ability to broadcast livestream shopping events simultaneously on numerous social media channels, including TikTok, as well as on MARKET.live, reaching exponentially larger audiences. The Company’s recent technological integrations with META, created a seamless, native, friction-free checkout process for Facebook and Instagram users to purchase MARKET.live vendors’ products within each of those popular apps. This integration allows Facebook and Instagram users to browse products featured in MARKET.live shoppable videos, place products in a native shopping cart and checkout - all without leaving Facebook or Instagram.
On September 5, 2023, the Company completed development work on a new MARKET.live capability that facilitated a deeper integration into the TikTok social media platform, which could expose MARKET.live shoppable programming to tens of millions of potential viewers/purchasers. This new capability allows shoppers watching a MARKET.live stream on TikTok to stay on that site and check out through that site, eliminating the friction or reluctance of TikTok users to leave their TikTok feed in order to complete their purchase on MARKET.live. Our technology integration allows the purchase data to flow back through MARKET.live and to the individual vendors and stores on MARKET.live seamlessly for fulfillment of the orders.
On March 27, 2024, the Company announced that it expanded its strategic relationship with TikTok and entered into a formal partnership with TikTok Shop pursuant to which MARKET.live became a service provider for TikTok Shop and officially designated as a TikTok Shop Partner (TSP) . Under the terms of the partnership, TikTok Shop refers consumer brands, retailers, influencers and affiliates leads to Market.live for a menu of MARKET.live paid services that include, among other things, assistance in onboarding to TikTok and establishing a TikTok store, hosting training sessions and webinars for prospective TikTok Shop sellers, studio space rental in both the West Coast and East Coast MARKET.live studios, content creation and production services, and TikTok Shop maintenance and enhancements for existing TikTok clients’ stores. The partnership also contemplates TikTok Shop sponsored studio rentals, as well as a paid-for “day pass” for use of MARKET.live studio services by TikTok creators, influencers and affiliates. MARKET.live is expected to generate revenue through fees, including monthly recurring fees, paid directly to MARKET.live by the brands, retailers, influencers and affiliates referred to MARKET.live by TikTok. In addition, it is contemplated that MARKET.live will receive a percentage of monthly revenue generated through the TikTok stores MARKET.live establishes for the brands, retailers, influencers and affiliates that TikTok Shop refers to MARKET.live.
The partnership also contemplates the use of MARKET.live studios as TikTok “Sample Centers” where TikTok creators will have access to product samples for use in their TikTok Shop videos produced at MARKET.live studios. In addition to the compensation referenced above, TikTok will compensate MARKET.live directly for the attainment of certain pre-established performance goals and objectives agreed-to between the parties.
The Company’s recent drop ship and affiliate programs are currently being revised to incorporate the benefits and implications of the recent META integrations as well as the new TikTok partnership. The Company is actively engaged in completing development on integrations into additional large social media platforms, as well as developing partnerships and strategic alliances that it believes will help foster the growth of the Company’s business.
Revenue Generation
A description of our principal revenue generating activities is as follows:
MARKET.live generates revenue through several sources as follows:
a. All sales run through our ecommerce facility on MARKET.live from which we deduct a platform fee that ranges from 10% to 20% of gross sales, with an average of approximately 15%, depending upon the pricing package the vendors select as well as the product category and profit margins associated with such categories. The revenue is derived from sales generated during livestream events, from sales realized through views of previously recorded live events available in each vendor’s store, as well as from sales of product and merchandise displayed in the vendors’ online stores, all of which are shoppable 24/7.
b. Produced events. MARKET.live offers fee-based services that range from full production of livestream events, to providing professional hosts and event consulting.
c. Drop Ship and Creator programs. MARKET.live is expected to generate recurring fee revenue from soon to be launched new drop ship programs for entrepreneurs and its Creator program.
d. The Company’s recently launched TikTok store and affiliate program.
e. The MARKET.live site is designed to incorporate sponsorships and other advertising based on typical industry rates.
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct product. Performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the goods that will be transferred that are both capable of being distinct and are distinct in the context of the contract, whereby the transfer of the goods is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. Performance obligations include establishing and maintaining customer online stores, providing access to the Company’s e-commerce platform and customer service support.
The Company’s revenue is mainly commission fees derived from contractually committed gross revenue processed by customers on the Company’s e-commerce platform as well as subscription-based fees and other fees and commissions for services rendered by the Company to clients referred to the Company by TikTok. Customers do not have the contractual right to take possession of the Company’s software. Revenue is recognized in an amount that reflects the consideration that the Company expects to ultimately receive in exchange for those promised goods, net of expected discounts for sales promotions and customary allowances.
Revenue is recognized on a net basis from maintaining e-commerce platforms and online orders, as the Company is engaged primarily in an agency relationship with its customers and earns defined amounts based on the individual contractual terms for the customer and the Company does not take possession of the customers’ inventory or any credit risks relating to the products sold.
Sales taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net basis and, therefore, are excluded from net sales in the consolidated statements of operations.
Economic Disruption
Our business is dependent in part on general economic conditions. Many jurisdictions in which our customers are located and our products are sold have experienced and could continue to experience unfavorable general economic conditions, such as inflation, increased interest rates and recessionary concerns, which could negatively affect demand for our products. Under difficult economic conditions, customers may seek to cease spending on our current products or fail to adopt our new products. We cannot predict the timing or impact of an economic slowdown, or the timing or strength of any economic recovery. These and other economic factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Recent Developments
Nasdaq Deficiency Notices
August 18, 2023 Notice
 On August 18, 2023, the Company received a notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”) indicating that it did not meet the minimum of $2.5 million in stockholders’ equity required by NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) (the “Listing Rule”) for continued listing, or the alternatives of market value of listed securities or net income from continuing operations. The notice was based upon the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2023, which reported that the Company’s total stockholders’ equity as of June 30, 2023 was ($1.818 million).On October 9, 2023, the Company submitted a plan to regain compliance with the Listing Rule and was given an extension until February 14, 2024 to evidence compliance through a public filing.
On February 5, 2024, the Company reported in a Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Form 8-K Filing”) that based on its unaudited balance sheet as of December 31, 2023, it believed it had regained compliance with the stockholders’ equity requirement of NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) for continued listing. On February 5, 2024, the Company was informed that based upon the Form 8-K Filing, the Staff determined that the Company is in compliance with Listing Rule 550(b)(1).
November 2, 2023 Notice
On November 2, 2023, we received a letter from The NASDAQ Stock Market advising that the Company did not meet the minimum $1.00 per share bid price requirement for continued inclusion on The NASDAQ Capital Market pursuant to NASDAQ Marketplace Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). To demonstrate compliance with this requirement, the closing bid price of our common stock needs to be at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days before April 30, 2024. In order to satisfy this requirement, the Company intends to continue actively monitoring the bid price for its common stock between now and April 30, 2024, and will consider available options to resolve the deficiency and regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement, including, but not limited to seeking a six-month extension from The NASDAQ Stock Market in which to regain compliance.
Series C Preferred Stock Offering
On December 29, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Streeterville Capital, LLC (the “Streeterville Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company sold 3,000 shares of the Company’s newly designated non-convertible Series C Preferred Stock for proceeds of $3.0 million. The Series C Preferred Stock receives a 10% stated annual dividend, has no voting rights and has a face value of $1,300 per share. The sale of the Series C Preferred Stock was consummated on December 29, 2023.
ATM Offerings
On December 15, 2023, the Company entered into an At-the-Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Ascendiant Sales Agreement”) with Ascendiant Capital Markets, LLC, as sales agent, to sell, from time to time, shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $960 thousand, through an “at the market” offering pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-264038), as supplemented by a prospectus supplement. On March 19, 2024, the Ascendiant Sales Agreement was amended to increase the amount available from $960 thousand to approximately $6.3 million. On March 29, 2024, the Ascendiant Sales Agreement was amended to increase the amount available from approximately $6.3 million to approximately $9.0 million. From December 15, 2023 to March 27, 2024, the Company issued 19,870,562 shares of its common stock and received $6.1 million of aggregate net proceeds in “at the market” offerings under the Ascendiant Sales Agreement.
On December 15, 2023, the Company terminated its At-The Market Issuance Sales Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2021, by and between the Company and Truist Securities, Inc. (the “Truist Sales Agreement”). During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued and sold an aggregate of 8,784,214 shares of common stock for aggregate net proceeds of $2.6 million under the Truist Sales Agreement.
Public Offering of Common Stock - Regulation A
Subsequent to December 31, 2023, the Company entered into subscription agreements with certain institutional investors, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the investors 27,397,258 shares of its Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share of the Company at a price of $0.24 per share for gross proceeds to the Company of $6.6 million.
The Shares to be issued in the offering were offered at-the-market under Nasdaq rules and pursuant to the Company’s Form 1-A, initially filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on February 14, 2024 and qualified on March 11, 2024.
Debt Financing
On October 11, 2023, the Company entered into a note purchase agreement with Streeterville Capital, LLC, pursuant to which the Company sold a promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $1.0 million (the “Note”). The Note bears interest at 9.0% per annum compounded daily. The maturity date of the Note is 18 months from the date of its issuance. In connection with the sale of the Note, verbMarketplace, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Guaranty, dated October 11, 2023, pursuant to which it guaranteed the obligations of the Company under the Note in exchange for receiving a portion of the proceeds.
Issuance of common shares as payment on notes payable
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued 7,301,903 shares of its common stock pursuant to an exchange agreement in exchange for a reduction of $5.1 million on the outstanding balance of the November Notes.
Subsequent to December 31 2023, the Company issued 11,484,403 shares of its common stock in exchange for a reduction of $1.7 million on the outstanding balance of the November Notes. On March 18, 2024, the November Notes were paid in full.
Repayment of note payable - related party
On October 12, 2023, the Company repaid all of the outstanding principal and accrued interest amounting to $0.9 million from a December 2015 related party note issued by Mr. Cutaia.
Results of Operations
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2023 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022
The following is a comparison of the results of our operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31,
Change
Revenue $ 63 $ 8 $ 55
Costs and expenses
Cost of revenue, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
Depreciation and amortization 2,331 1,108 1,223
General and administrative 11,508 17,771 (6,263 )
Total costs and expenses 13,858 18,882 (5,024 )
Operating loss from continuing operations (13,795 ) (18,874 ) 5,079
Other income (expense)
Interest expense (1,193 ) (1,410 )
Financing costs (1,239 ) - (1,239 )
Other income, net 1,162 1,393 (231 )
Change in fair value of derivative liability 2,933 (2,712 )
Total other income (expense), net (1,049 ) 2,916 (3,965 )
Net loss from continuing operations $ (14,844 ) $ (15,958 ) $ 1,114
Revenue
Our primary focus is on the growth of our MARKET.live business. Currently, the business is generating minimal revenues.
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization expense was $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase of $1.2 million in depreciation and amortization expense is primarily due to the full-year amortization of software development costs as compared to a partial year of amortization in 2022. Amortization of software development costs began in July 2022.
General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $11.5 million, as compared to $17.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease of $6.3 million or 35%, in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to decreased personnel expense associated with headcount reduction.
Other Income (Expense), net
Other income (expense), net, for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $(1.0) million, which was primarily attributable to interest expense of $(1.2) million and financing costs of $(1.2) million both offset by other income and the change in fair value of derivative liability totaling $1.4 million.
Use of Non-GAAP Measures - Modified EBITDA
In addition to our results under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we present Modified EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance. However, Modified EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, income from operations or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. We define Modified EBITDA as net income (loss), plus depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, interest expense, financing costs, change in fair value of derivative liability, other (income) expense, MARKET.live startup costs, loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, and other non-recurring charges.
Management considers our core operating performance to be that which our managers can affect in any particular period through their management of the resources that impact our underlying revenue and profit generating operations that period. Non-GAAP adjustments to our results prepared in accordance with GAAP are itemized below. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating Modified EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of Modified EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.
Years Ended December 31,
Net loss $ (21,994 ) $ (37,437 )
Adjustments
Depreciation and amortization 2,331 1,108
Share-based compensation 2,503 4,455
Interest expense 1,193 1,410
Financing costs 1,239 -
Other income, net (1,162 ) (1,393 )
Change in fair value of derivative liability (221 ) (2,933 )
MARKET.live non-recurring startup costs* -
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax 7,150 21,479
Other non-recurring
Total EBITDA adjustments 13,618 25,054
Modified EBITDA $ (8,376 ) $ (12,383 )
* Includes general and administrative and R&D expenses that are directly related to the launch of our MARKET.live platform and are not expected to be recurring in future periods.
The $4.0 million or 32% increase in Modified EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, resulted from a decrease in operating expenses.
We present Modified EBITDA because we believe it assists investors and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. In addition, we use Modified EBITDA in developing our internal budgets, forecasts and strategic plan; in analyzing the effectiveness of our business strategies in evaluating potential acquisitions; and in making compensation decisions and in communications with our board of directors concerning our financial performance. Modified EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, which includes, among others, the following:
● Modified EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
● Modified EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
● Modified EBITDA does not reflect future interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debts; and
● Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Modified EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Going Concern and Management’s Plan
We have incurred operating losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, we incurred a net loss from continuing operations of $14.8 million and used cash in operating activities from continuing operations of $8.7 million. As of December 31, 2023, the aforementioned factors raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date these financial statements were issued. Our continuation as a going concern is dependent on our ability to obtain additional financing until we can generate sufficient cash flows from operations to meet our obligations. We intend to continue to seek additional debt or equity financing, as well as certain strategic opportunities to continue our operations.
Equity financing:
On January 24, 2023, we entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Aegis Capital Corp. (“Aegis”) as underwriter (the “Underwriter”), relating to the offering, issuance and sale of 901,275 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $8.00 per share. The net proceeds to us were approximately $6.6 million, after deducting discounts, commissions and estimated offering expenses. Aegis acted as the sole underwriter for the offering and received 6% of the gross proceeds as commission for the offering. They were also reimbursed by us for certain expenses, in an amount of up to $75 thousand, including legal fees. As a result of this transaction, certain warrants which previously had an exercise price of $13.60 per share, had the exercise price reduced to $8.00 per share.
During September 2023, the Company restarted its at-the-market (“ATM”) issuance sales agreements with Truist Securities, Inc. (“Truist”) pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-252167). For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company has issued 8,784,214 shares of the Company’s common stock since the restart of this agreement, resulting in net proceeds of $2.6 million. The agreement with Truist was terminated on December 15, 2023.
During December 2023, the Company entered into an agreement with Ascendiant Capital Markets LLC to sell shares of its common stock pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-264038). For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company has issued 687,304 shares of the Company’s common stock under this agreement, resulting in net proceeds of $0.1 million.
Subsequent to December 31, 2023, the Company issued 19,183,258 shares of the Company’s common stock under this agreement, resulting in net proceeds of $6.0 million.
On December 29, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with Streeterville Capital, LLC (“Streeterville”), pursuant to which the Company sold and Streeterville purchased 3,000 shares of the Company’s newly designated non-convertible Series C Preferred Stock (the “Series C Shares”) for a total purchase price of $3.0 million. The Shares have a 10% stated annual dividend, no voting rights and has a face value of $1,300 per share. The sale of the Series C Shares was consummated on December 29, 2023.
Subsequent to December 31, 2023, the Company entered into subscription agreements with certain institutional investors, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the investors 27,397,258 shares of its Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share of the Company at a price of $0.24 per share for gross proceeds to the Company of $6.6 million. No warrants were issued in connection with the transaction and no banker fees or expenses were incurred.
The Shares to be issued in the offering were offered at-the-market under Nasdaq rules and pursuant to the Company’s Form 1-A, initially filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on February 14, 2024 and qualified on March 11, 2024.
Debt financing:
On November 7, 2022, we entered into a note purchase agreement (the “November Note Purchase Agreement”) and promissory note with Streeterville providing for the sale and issuance of an unsecured, non-convertible promissory in the original principal amount of $5.5 million, which has an original issue discount of $0.5 million, resulting in gross proceeds to us of approximately $5.0 million (the “November Note,” and such financing, the “November Note Offering”). The November Note matures eighteen months following the date of issuance. Commencing six months from the date of issuance, we are required to make monthly cash redemption payments in an amount not to exceed $0.6 million. The November Note may be repaid in whole or in part prior to the maturity date for a 10% premium. The November Note requires us to use 20% of the gross proceeds raised from future equity or debt financings, or the sale of any subsidiary or material asset, to prepay the November Note, subject to a cap on the aggregate prepayment amount. Until all obligations under the November Note have been paid in full, we are not permitted to grant a security interest in any of its assets, or to issue securities convertible into shares of common stock, subject in each case to certain exceptions. Our wholly owned subsidiary verbMarketplace, LLC entered into a guaranty, dated November 7, 2022, in connection with the November Note Offering, pursuant to which it guaranteed the obligations on our behalf under the November Note in exchange for receiving a portion of the loan proceeds. At a special meeting of stockholders on April 10, 2023, our shareholders approved for purposes of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635, the issuance of shares of common stock in partial or full satisfaction of the November Note. However, there is no current agreement or understanding with the November Note holder with respect to repayment of the November Note through the issuance of shares of common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company paid $375 thousand and issued 7,301,903 shares of its common stock to Streeterville pursuant to an exchange agreement in exchange for a reduction of $5.1 million on the outstanding balance of the November Notes. Subsequent to December 31 2023, the Company issued 11,484,403 shares of its common stock in exchange for a reduction of $1.7 million on the outstanding balance of the November Notes. On March 18, 2024, the November Notes were paid in full.
On October 11, 2023, the Company entered into a note purchase agreement with Streeterville pursuant to which Streeterville purchased a promissory note (the “Note”) in the aggregate principal amount of $1.0 million (the “Note Offering”). The Note bears interest at 9.0% per annum compounded daily. The maturity date of the Note is 18 months from the date of its issuance. In connection with the Note Offering, verbMarketplace, LLC, entered into a Guaranty, dated October 11, 2023, pursuant to which it guaranteed the obligations of the Company under the Note in exchange for receiving a portion of the proceeds. On October 12, 2023, the Company repaid all of the outstanding principal and accrued interest of a related party note payable amounting to $879 thousand.
As of March 28, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $14.2 million and notes payable of approximately $1.2 million. We believe that our enhanced cash position coupled with our substantially reduced current operating costs means our operations are fully funded for at least the next 14 months, and possibly longer subject to revenue generation during that period. As a result, we have alleviated substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
For additional information, refer to Note 1, “Description of Business,” and Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Supplemental Disclosures,” to the consolidated financial statements, and the section titled “Risk Factors,” within this Annual Report.
Overview
As of December 31, 2023, we had cash of $4.4 million.
The following is a summary of our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Years Ended December 31,
Cash used in operating activities - continuing operations $ (8,742 ) $ (13,683 )
Cash used in operating activities - discontinued operations (1,855 ) (5,723 )
Cash used in investing activities - continuing operations (306 ) (4,747 )
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued operations 4,750 (1 )
Cash provided by financing activities - continuing operations 10,692 29,723
Cash used in financing activities - discontinued operations (2,615 ) (4,077 )
Increase in cash $ 1,924 $ 1,492
Cash Flows - Operating
For the year ended December 31, 2023, our cash used in operating activities from continuing operations amounted to $8.7 million, compared to cash used in operating activities from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 of $13.7 million. We generated $5.0 million of additional cash from operations primarily due to cost savings in personnel expenses and reduced general and administrative expenses.
Cash Flows - Investing
For the year ended December 31, 2023, our cash provided by investing activities amounted to $4.4 million, primarily due to $4.8 million of proceeds received from the sale of SaaS assets slightly offset by our investment in capitalized software development costs related to MARKET.Live.
Cash Flows - Financing
For the year ended December 31, 2023, our cash provided by financing activities for continuing operations amounted to $10.7 million, primarily due to $9.2 million of net proceeds from the issuance of shares of our common stock, $3.0 million of net proceeds from the issuance of shares of our Series C Preferred Stock and $1.0 million of net proceeds from a promissory note, all offset by the repayment of convertible notes of $(1.3) million, repayment of related party notes payable of $(0.8) million and repayment of our November Notes of $(0.4) million.
Notes Payable
We have the following outstanding notes payable as of December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Note Issuance Date Maturity Date Interest Rate Original Borrowing Balance at December 31, 2023
Note payable (A) May 15, 2020 May 15, 2050 3.75 % $ 137
Promissory note payable (B) November 7, 2022 May 7, 2024 9.0 % 5,470 1,179
Promissory note payable (C) October 11, 2023 April 11, 2025 9.0 % 1,005 1,005
Debt discount
(99 )
Debt issuance costs
(73 )
Total notes payable
2,149
Non-current
(362 )
Current
$ 1,787
(A) On May 15, 2020, we executed an unsecured loan with the SBA under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program in the amount of $0.15 million. Installment payments, including principal and interest, began on October 26, 2022. As of December 31, 2023, the outstanding balance of the note amounted to $0.14 million.
(B) On November 7, 2022, we entered into the November Note Offering, which provided for the sale and issuance of an aggregate original principal amount of $5.5 million in November Notes.
We received $5.0 million in gross proceeds from the sale of the November Notes. The November Notes bear interest of 9.0% per annum, have an original issue discount of 8.6%, and mature 18 months from the closing date.
In connection with the November Note Offering, we incurred $0.3 million of debt issuance costs. The debt issuance costs and the debt discount of $0.5 million are being amortized over the term of the November Notes using the effective interest rate method. As of December 31, 2023, the amount of unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs was $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2023, the outstanding balance of the Notes amounted to $1.7 million. Subsequent to December 31 2023, the Company issued 11,484,403 shares of its common stock in exchange for a reduction of $1.7 million on the outstanding balance of the November Notes. On March 18, 2024, the November Notes were paid in full.
(C) On October 11, 2023, we entered into a note purchase agreement with Streeterville pursuant to which they purchased a Note in the aggregate principal amount of $1.0 million.
We received $1.0 million in gross proceeds from the sale of the Note. The Note bears interest at 9.0% per annum compounded daily. The maturity date of the note is 18 months from the date of its issuance.
As of December 31, 2023, the outstanding balance of the Note amount to $1.0 million.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which require that we make certain assumptions and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net revenue and expenses during each reporting period.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Management bases these estimates and assumptions upon historical experience, existing and known circumstances, and other factors that management believes to be reasonable. In addition, the Company has considered the potential impact of the pandemic, as well as certain macroeconomic factors, including inflation, rising interest rates, and recessionary concerns, on its business and operations.
Significant estimates include assumptions made for assumptions made in valuing assets acquired in business combinations, impairment testing of goodwill and other long-lived assets, the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, assumptions used in valuing derivative liabilities, assumptions used in valuing share-based compensation, and accruals for contingent liabilities. Some of those assumptions can be subjective and complex, and therefore, actual results could differ materially from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Board’s (“FASB”) ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). ASC 606 creates a five-step model that requires entities to exercise judgment when considering the terms of contract(s), which includes (1) identifying the contract(s) or agreement(s) with a customer, (2) identifying our performance obligations in the contract or agreement, (3) determining the transaction price, (4) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations, and (5) recognizing revenue as each performance obligation is satisfied.
A description of our principal revenue generating activities is as follows:
MARKET.live generates revenue through several sources as follows:
a. All sales run through our ecommerce facility on MARKET.live from which we deduct a platform fee that ranges from 10% to 20% of gross sales, with an average of approximately 15%, depending upon the pricing package the vendors select as well as the product category and profit margins associated with such categories. The revenue is derived from sales generated during livestream events, from sales realized through views of previously recorded live events available in each vendor’s store, as well as from sales of product and merchandise displayed in the vendors’ online stores, all of which are shoppable 24/7.
b. Produced events. MARKET.live offers fee-based services that range from full production of livestream events, to providing professional hosts and event consulting.
c. Drop Ship and Creator programs. MARKET.live is expected to generate recurring fee revenue from soon to be launched new drop ship programs for entrepreneurs and its Creator program.
d. The Company’s recently launched TikTok stores and affiliate programs.
e. The MARKET.live site is designed to incorporate sponsorships and other advertising based on typical industry rates.
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct product. Performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the goods that will be transferred that are both capable of being distinct and are distinct in the context of the contract, whereby the transfer of the goods is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. Performance obligations include establishing and maintaining customer online stores, providing access to the Company’s e-commerce platform and customer service support.
The Company’s revenue is mainly commission fees derived from contractually committed gross revenue processed by customers on the Company’s e-commerce platform. Customers do not have the contractual right to take possession of the Company’s software. Revenue is recognized in an amount that reflects the consideration that the Company expects to ultimately receive in exchange for those promised goods, net of expected discounts for sales promotions and customary allowances.
Revenue is recognized on a net basis from maintaining e-commerce platforms and online orders, as the Company is engaged primarily in an agency relationship with its customers and earns defined amounts based on the individual contractual terms for the customer and the Company does not take possession of the customers’ inventory or any credit risks relating to the products sold.
Sales taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net basis and, therefore, are excluded from net sales in the consolidated statements of operations.
Derivative Financial Instruments
We evaluate our financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the consolidated statements of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative instrument liabilities are classified in the consolidated balance sheets as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement of the derivative instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date.
We use Level 2 inputs for our valuation methodology for the derivative liabilities as their fair values were determined by using a Binomial pricing model. Our derivative liabilities are adjusted to reflect fair value at each period end, with any increase or decrease in the fair value being recorded in results of operations as adjustments to fair value of derivatives.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company issues stock options and warrants, shares of common stock and restricted stock units as share-based compensation to employees and non-employees. The Company accounts for its share-based compensation in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. Share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period. The fair value of restricted stock units is determined based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of our common stock and is recognized as expense over the service period. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. Recognition of compensation expense for non-employees is in the same period and manner as if the Company had paid cash for services.
Goodwill
In accordance with FASB ASC 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other, we review goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually or whenever events or circumstances indicate a potential impairment. Our impairment testing is performed annually at December 31 (our fiscal year end). Impairment of goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets is determined by comparing the fair value of our reporting units to the carrying value of the underlying net assets in the reporting units. If the fair value of a reporting unit is determined to be less than the carrying value of its net assets, goodwill is deemed impaired and an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying value of goodwill exceeds the difference between the fair value of the reporting unit and the fair value of its other assets and liabilities.
Our annual impairment analysis includes a qualitative assessment to determine if it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test. In performing a qualitative assessment, we reviewed events and circumstances that could affect the significant inputs used to determine if the fair value is less than the carrying value of goodwill. As a result of this qualitative assessment, we determined that a triggering event had occurred to necessitate performing the quantitative impairment test. After performing the quantitative impairment test in accordance with ASC 350-20-35-3C, we determined that goodwill was impaired by $10.2 million and was recognized as impairment loss during the year ended December 31, 2022.
On June 13, 2023, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell all of the operating assets and liabilities of the SaaS business to SW Sales for $6.5 million, including $4.75 million of cash paid upon closing. The operations of the SaaS business have been presented within discontinued operations. Upon completion of the sale of assets to SW Sales, in which the buyer assumed all liabilities related to the SaaS business, the Company recorded an impairment of $5.4 million within loss from discontinued operations as the carrying amount of the net assets exceeded the sale price, less selling costs.
Intangible Assets
We have certain intangible assets that were initially recorded at their fair value at the time of acquisition. The finite-lived intangible assets consist of developed technology and customer contracts. Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of domain names. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful life of five years.
We review all finite lived intangible assets for impairment when circumstances indicate that their carrying values may not be recoverable. If the carrying value of an asset group is not recoverable, we recognize an impairment loss for the excess carrying value over the fair value in our consolidated statements of operations. In addition to the goodwill impairment loss that was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized an additional impairment loss of $1.8 million on its intangible assets that is primarily attributable to the Sound Concepts acquisition in 2019.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
For a summary of our recent accounting policies, please refer to Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Supplemental Disclosures, of the Notes to Financial Statements.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Reference is made to the financial statements, which begin on page of this Annual Report.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
We carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d- 15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2023. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2023.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Internal control over financial reporting is a process, including policies and procedures, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Our management assessed our internal control over financial reporting using the criteria in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Our system of internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Based on the results of our evaluation, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023 to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the three months ended December 31, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
Management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control systems are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, no evaluation of internal control over financial reporting can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been or will be detected.
These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement
During the three months ended December 31, 2023, no director or officer of the Company adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Directors and Executive Officers
Our directors and executive officers, their ages, positions held, and duration of such, are as follows:
Name
Position Held with Our Company
Age
Date First Elected or Appointed
Rory J. Cutaia
Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary, Treasurer and Director
October 16, 2014
Bill J. Rivard
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
June 13, 2023
James P. Geiskopf
Lead Director
October 16, 2014
Kenneth S. Cragun
Director
September 10, 2018
Edmund C. Moy
Director
October 21, 2022
Business Experience
The following is a brief account of the education and business experience of directors and executive officers during at least the past five years, indicating their principal occupation during the period, the name and principal business of the organization by which they were employed, and certain of their other directorships:
Rory J. Cutaia, Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Secretary
Rory J. Cutaia has served as our Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Secretary, since December 2012 upon the formation of Cutaia Media Group, LLC, in which roles he has continued to serve through our October 2014 acquisition of bBooth USA to the present, and served as our Treasurer from December 2012 to January 2022. Mr. Cutaia founded CMG in 2012 and bBooth, Inc. in 2014. In May 2014, CMG and bBooth, Inc. merged and became known as bBoothUSA, which entity was acquired in October 2014 by GSD, our predecessor. Prior to that, from October 2006 to August 2011, he was a partner and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Corinthian Capital Group, Inc. (“Corinthian”), a private equity fund based in New York City that invested in middle-market, U.S. based companies. During his tenure at Corinthian, from June 2008 to October 2011, Mr. Cutaia was the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Allied Fiber, Inc., a company engaged in the construction of a nation-wide fiber-optic network, and from June 2007 to August 2011, Mr. Cutaia was the Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors of GreenFields Coal Company, a company engaged in the deployment of technology to recycle coal waste and clean-up coal waste sites. Before joining Corinthian, from January 2000 to October 2006, he founded and was the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Telx Group, Inc. (“Telx”), a company engaged in the telecom carrier inter-connection, co-location, and data center business, which he sold in 2006. Before founding Telx, he was a practicing lawyer with Shea & Gould, a prominent New York City law firm. Mr. Cutaia obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from the Fordham University School of Law in 1985 and his Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, in business management from the New York Institute of Technology in 1982.
We believe that Mr. Cutaia is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his education and business experience described above, including over 23 years of board of director experience, as well as his knowledge of our current operations.
Bill J. Rivard, Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Bill J. Rivard was appointed Interim Chief Financial Officer effective June 13, 2023. He had served as Corporate Controller of the Company since November 2021 where he worked closely with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer in all accounting and finance matters. Mr. Rivard maintains an active CPA certification and has more than 30 years of experience serving various corporate accounting and finance management roles in companies including Minnesota Brewing Company, Innuity, Clean Energy (NASDAQ: CLNE), and most recently, Palace Entertainment where he served as Director of Financial Reporting from March 2011 to April 2019 and then was promoted to Executive Director of Finance in April 2019, serving in this capacity until March 2020. Mr. Rivard began his technical accounting and financial reporting experience at the accounting firm McGladrey & Pullen LLP (now, RSM US LLP) where he served as an auditor, as well as the Securities and Exchange Commission where he served as a staff accountant. Mr. Rivard earned his Bachelor’s of Accountancy at the University of North Dakota in 1992.
James P. Geiskopf, Lead Director
James P. Geiskopf has served as one of our directors since the formation of bBooth USA, in which role he has continued to serve through our October 2014 acquisition of bBooth USA by GSD to the present. He also serves as our Lead Independent Director, as the Chairperson of the Compensation Committee, and as a member of the Audit Committee, Governance and Nominating Committee and Risk Committee. Mr. Geiskopf has 32 years of experience leading companies in the services industry. From 1975 to 1986, Mr. Geiskopf served as the Chief Financial Officer of Budget Rent a Car of Fairfield California and from 1986 to 2007, he served as its President and Chief Executive Officer. In 2007, he sold the franchise. Mr. Geiskopf served on the Board of Directors of Suisun Valley Bank from 1986 to 1993 and also served on the Board of Directors of Napa Valley Bancorp from 1991 to 1993, which was sold to a larger institution in 1993. Since 2014, Mr. Geiskopf has served on the board of directors of MetaWorks Platforms, Inc. (formerly Currency Works, Inc.) (OTCQB: MWRK), a public company that trades on the OTCQB. From June 2013 to March 2017, Mr. Geiskopf served as a director of Electronic Cigarettes International Group, Ltd. (“ECIG”), a Nevada corporation, an OTC listed company. ECIG filed a voluntary petition for relief under the provisions of Chapter 7 of Title 11 of the United States Code on March 16, 2017.
We believe Mr. Geiskopf is qualified to serve on our Board because of his significant business experience including building, operating, and selling companies, serving on the boards of directors for several banks, and serving as a director and officer of several public companies. In these roles he acquired substantial business management, strategic, operational, human resource, financial, disclosure, compliance, and corporate governance skills.
Kenneth S. Cragun, Director
Kenneth S. Cragun was appointed as one of our directors in September 2018, and also serves as the Chairperson of the Audit Committee, and as a member of the Compensation Committee, Governance and Nominating Committee and Risk Committee. Mr. Cragun was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of BitNile Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: NILE) on August 19, 2020. Prior to his appointment as Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Cragun served as Chief Accounting Officer of BitNile Holdings, Inc. since October 1, 2018. Mr. Cragun has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Ault Disruptive Technologies Corporation, an NYSE listed special-purpose acquisition company (NYSE American: ADRT), since its incorporation in February 2021. Mr. Cragun has been the Senior Vice President of Finance or Chief Financial Officer of Alzamend Neuro, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALZN), an early clinical-stage entity seeking to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s Disease, since October of 2018. He served as a Chief Financial Officer Partner at Hardesty, LLC, a national executive services firm since October 2016. His assignments at Hardesty, LLC included serving as Chief Financial Officer of CorVel Corporation, a $1.1 billion market cap publicly traded company (NASDAQ: CRVL). Mr. Cragun is a three-time finalist for the Orange County Business Journal’s “CFO of the Year - Public Companies” and has more than 30 years of experience, primarily in the technology industry. He served as Chief Financial Officer of two Nasdaq-listed companies: Local Corporation, from April 2009 to September 2016, which operated a U.S. top 100 website “Local.com” and, in June 2015, filed a voluntary petition seeking relief under the provisions of Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code, and Modtech Holdings, Inc., from June 2006 to March 2009. Mr. Cragun serves on the board of directors of The Singing Machine Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: MICS). Mr. Cragun earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Colorado State University-Pueblo. Mr. Cragun began his professional career at Deloitte.
We believe Mr. Cragun is qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive experience with fast-growth businesses and building teams in more than 20 countries. Mr. Cragun has also led multiple financing transactions, including IPOs, PIPEs, convertible debt offerings, term loans and lines of credit. We believe his experiences provide additional breadth and depth to our Board.
Edmund C. Moy, Director
Edmund C. Moy was appointed as one of our directors effective October 21, 2022. From 2001 through 2006, Mr. Moy served as special assistant to the President of the United States at The White House, after which he was appointed as director of the United States Mint at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, a position he held until 2011. Mr. Moy began his career as a sales and marketing executive with Blue Cross Blue Shield United of Wisconsin, was appointed head of the regulatory agency Office of Prepaid Health Care, and was then selected to head the Office of Managed Care at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Thereafter, he became an exclusive advisor to private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe. Mr. Moy currently serves as a director and member of the audit committee of MetaWorks Platforms, Inc. (formerly Currency Works, Inc.), audit committee of Parsec Capital Acquisitions Corp. (PCXCU:NASDAQ), and as an advisory board member of Draganfly Inc. (DPRO:NASDAQ). He also advises and consults with several privately held companies, is an exclusive provider of autographs to Numismatic Guaranty Corp., and serves on the Board of Regents for Trinity International University. His prior board service includes privately held Emerald Health Network and L&L Energy, Inc. (LLEN:NASDAQ). He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics, International Relations, and Political Science in 1979 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
We believe that Mr. Moy is qualified to serve on our Board because he has extensive and unique leadership experience in Washington D.C., where he is recognized for his leadership roles in the Executive Branch of the government of the United States, as well as the experience gained from serving on the boards of several public companies.
Family Relationships
To our management’s knowledge, there are neither any family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers nor have any of our directors been involved in a legal proceeding that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act.
Corporate Governance
Agreements with Directors
None of our directors or director nominees were selected pursuant to any arrangement or understanding, other than with our directors acting within their capacity as such.
Meetings of the Board and its Committees
Our Board has a standing Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Governance and Nominating Committee, and a Risk and Disclosure Committee. Our Board met 13 times, including telephonic meetings, during fiscal year 2023. All Board members attended 100% of our Board meetings with the exception of Ms. Hammerschmidt, a former Board member, who attended 90% of the meetings held during her term. All Board members attended 100% of the meetings held by committees of our Board on which they served during that period.
It is our policy that all of our directors are required to make a concerted and conscientious effort to attend our annual meeting of stockholders in each year during which that director serves as a member of our Board. All of our directors attended our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders.
Audit Committee and Audit Committee Financial Expert
On June 10, 2021, our Board amended and restated the Audit Committee charter that governs the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee charter can be found online at https://www.verb.tech in the “Governance” section under the “Investor Relations” tab.
The Audit Committee charter requires that each member of the committee meet the independence requirements of Nasdaq, and requires the Audit Committee to have at least one member that qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert.” Currently, Messrs. Geiskopf, Moy, and Cragun (Chairman) serve on the Audit Committee and each meets the independence requirements of Nasdaq. In addition, Mr. Cragun qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” under applicable SEC regulations.
In addition to the enumerated responsibilities of the Audit Committee in the charter, the primary function of the committee is to assist our Board in its general oversight of our accounting and financial reporting processes, audits of our financial statements, and internal control and audit functions.
Compensation Committee
On August 14, 2018, our Board approved and adopted a charter to govern the Compensation Committee, which was amended and restated on June 10, 2021. Currently, Messrs. Geiskopf (Chairman), Cragun, and Moy serve as members of the Compensation Committee and each meets the independence requirements of Nasdaq and the SEC, qualifies as a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and qualifies as an outside director within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In addition to the enumerated responsibilities of the Compensation Committee in the Compensation Committee charter, the primary function of the Compensation Committee is to oversee the compensation of our executives, produce an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in our proxy statement, if and when required by applicable laws or regulations, and advise our Board on the adoption of policies that govern our compensation programs. The Compensation Committee has the authority to form and delegate any of its responsibilities, along with the authority to take action in relation to such responsibilities, to one or more subcommittees or to one or more designated members of the Compensation Committee, as the Compensation Committee may deem appropriate in its sole discretion. For the development of our compensation program, the Compensation Committee retained Compensation Advisory Partners LLC, or CAP, during the year ended December 31, 2023. CAP provided the Committee with advisory services only with respect to executive and Board compensation. CAP reviewed the compensation paid to our executive officers and Board and compared our compensation with certain companies CAP identified as peer companies. The Committee’s recommendation and the Board’s approval of the 2023 compensation program was based on various factors, including, among others, recommendations made by CAP. The Compensation Committee charter may be found online at https://www.verb.tech in the “Governance” section under the “Investor Relations” tab.
Governance and Nominating Committee
On August 14, 2018, our Board approved and adopted a charter to govern the Governance and Nominating Committee, which was amended and restated on June 10, 2021. Currently, Messrs. Geiskopf, Cragun, and Moy (Chairman) serve as members of the Governance and Nominating Committee and each meets the independence requirements of Nasdaq and the SEC. The Governance and Nominating Committee charter requires that each member of the Governance and Nominating Committee meet the independence requirements of Nasdaq and the SEC. In addition to the enumerated responsibilities of the Governance and Nominating Committee in the Governance and Nominating Committee charter, the primary function of the Governance and Nominating Committee is to determine the slate of director nominees for election to the Board, to identify and recommend candidates to fill vacancies occurring between annual stockholder meetings, to review our policies and programs that relate to matters of corporate responsibility, including public issues of significance to us and our stockholders, and any other related matters required by federal securities laws. The charter of the Governance and Nominating Committee may be found online at https://www.verb.tech in the “Governance” section under the “Investor Relations” tab.
Risk and Disclosure Committee
In June 2021, our Board approved and adopted the Risk and Disclosure Committee charter. The charter of the Risk and Disclosure Committee may be found online at https://www.verb.tech in the “Governance” section under the “Investor Relations” tab.
The Risk and Disclosure Committee charter requires that each member of the committee meet the independence requirements of Nasdaq. Currently, Messrs. Geiskopf, Cragun (Chairman), and Moy serve as members of the Risk and Disclosure Committee and each meets the independence requirements of Nasdaq and the SEC. The Risk and Disclosure Committee charter requires that each member of the Risk and Disclosure Committee meet the independence requirements of Nasdaq.
In addition to the enumerated responsibilities of the Risk and Disclosure Committee in the charter, the primary function of the committee is to assist our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer in fulfilling their responsibility for oversight of the accuracy and timeliness of the disclosures made by us.
Nominations Process and Criteria
As of the filing of this Annual Report, we had not effected any material changes to the procedures by which our stockholders may recommend nominees to our Board. Our Board does not have a formal policy with regard to the consideration of any director candidates recommended by our stockholders. Our Board has determined that it is in the best position to evaluate our requirements, as well as the qualifications of each candidate when it considers a nominee for a position on our Board. Accordingly, we do not currently have any specific or minimum criteria for the election of nominees to our Board and we do not have any specific process or procedure for evaluating such nominees. Our Board assesses all candidates, whether submitted by management or stockholders, and makes recommendations for election or appointment.
In recommending director nominees for appointment to our board of directors, our nominating and corporate governance committee also actively considers diversity characteristics, including diversity of professional experience, race, ethnicity, gender, age, education, cultural background and personal background. However, we have not adopted a formal policy regarding the consideration of specific diversity characteristic, and instead prefer to rely on the judgment of our highly qualified committee in recommending candidates with the most appropriate mix of experiences, skills and expertise.
Director Independence
Our Board is currently composed of four members. We have determined that the following three directors qualify as independent: James P. Geiskopf, Kenneth S. Cragun, and Edmund C Moy. We determined that Mr. Cutaia, our Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, is not independent. We evaluated independence in accordance with the rules of Nasdaq and the SEC. Messrs. Geiskopf, Moy and Cragun also serve on our Audit, Compensation, Governance and Nominating, and Risk and Disclosure Committees. The Board evaluates the independence of each nominee for election as a director of our Company in accordance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules.
Stockholder Communications with the Board
Stockholders and other parties interested in communicating directly with our Board, a committee thereof, or any individual director, may do so by sending a written communication to the attention of the intended recipient(s) in care of the Corporate Secretary, Verb Technology Company, Inc., 3024 Sierra Juniper Court, Las Vegas, Nevada 89138. The Corporate Secretary will forward all appropriate communications to the Chairman of our Audit Committee.
Investment in Human Capital
We believe our people are at the heart of our success and our customers’ success. We endeavor to not only attract and retain talented employees, but also to provide a challenging and rewarding environment to motivate and develop our valuable human capital. We look to our talented employees to lead and foster various initiatives that support our company culture including those related to diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition, we rely heavily on our talented team to execute our growth plans and achieve our long-term strategic objectives.
Orientation and Continuing Education
We have an informal process to orient and educate new directors to the Board regarding their role on the Board, our committees and our directors, as well as the nature and operations of our business. This process provides for an orientation with key members of the management staff, and further provides access to materials necessary to inform them of the information required to carry out their responsibilities as a Board member. This information includes the most recent board approved budget, the most recent annual report, copies of the audited financial statements and copies of the interim quarterly financial statements.
The Board does not provide continuing education for our directors. Each director is responsible to maintain the skills and knowledge necessary to meet his or her obligations as a director.
Assessments
The board intends that individual director assessments be conducted by other directors, taking into account each director’s contributions at board meetings, service on committees, experience base, and their general ability to contribute to one or more of our major needs. We conducted our first director assessment in December 2021.
In December 2022, the Board implemented individual director assessments. The director assessments involve each director performing a self-assessment, as well as each director individually assessing other members of the Board, taking into account each director’s contributions at Board meetings, service on committees, experience level, and their general ability to contribute to one or more of our major growth areas.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
As of the date of this Annual Report, no member of the Compensation Committee is serving, and during the past year no member of the Compensation Committee has served, as an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. None of our executive officers currently serves, or during the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee (or other committee serving a similar purpose) of any entity that has an executive officer serving on our Board or Compensation Committee. In addition, none of the Compensation Committee members had any relationship, or participated in any transaction, with our Company during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 that requires disclosure under SEC rules. We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors, including each member of the Compensation Committee.
Code of Ethics
In 2014, our Board approved and adopted a code of ethics and business conduct for directors, senior officers, and employees, or code of ethics, that applies to all of our directors, officers, and employees, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer. The code of ethics addresses such individuals’ conduct with respect to, among other things, conflicts of interests; compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations; full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure by us; competition and fair dealing; corporate opportunities; confidentiality; protection and proper use of our assets; and reporting suspected illegal or unethical behavior. The code of ethics is available on our website at https://www.verb.tech in the “Governance” section under the “Investor Relations” tab.
Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
Board Leadership Structure
We currently combine the positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer into one position. We believe that this structure is appropriate at this time and is a leadership model that has served our stockholders well since our inception. We believe that this combined model has certain advantages over other leadership structures. This combined role allows Mr. Cutaia to drive execution of our strategic plans and facilitates effective communication between management and our Board to bring key issues to its attention, and to see that our Board’s guidance and decisions are implemented effectively by management. Further, our Board has designated Mr. Geiskopf as its Lead Director. Our Board believes that Mr. Geiskopf’s strong leadership and qualifications, including his prior experience as a chief executive officer and chief financial officer and his tenure on our Board, among other factors, contribute to his ability to fulfill the role of Lead Director effectively.
Role of the Board in Risk Oversight
Our Board is responsible for the oversight of our operational risk management process. Our Board has delegated authority for addressing certain risks, and accessing the steps management has taken to monitor, control, and report such risks to our Audit Committee. Such risks include risks relating to execution of our growth strategy, the effects of the economy and general financial condition and outlook, our ability to expand our client base, communication with investors, certain actions of our competitors, the protection of our intellectual property, sufficiency of our capital, security of information systems and data, integration of new information systems, credit risk, product liability, and costs of reliance on external advisors. Our Audit Committee then reports such risks as appropriate to our Board, which then initiates discussions with appropriate members of our senior management if, after discussion of such risks, our Board determines that such risks raise questions or concerns about the status of operational risks then facing us.
Our Board relies on our Compensation Committee to address significant risk exposures that we may face with respect to compensation, including risks relating to retention of key employees, protection of partner relationships, management succession, and benefit costs, and, when appropriate, reports these risks to the full Board.
Change-of-Control Arrangements
We do not know of any arrangements, which may, at a subsequent date, result in a change-of-control.
Other Board Committees
Other than our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Governance and Nominating Committee, and Risk and Disclosure Committee, we have no committees of our board of directors. We do not have any defined policy or procedure requirements for our stockholders to submit recommendations or nominations for directors.
Board Diversity Matrix
In accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, the following table reflects our Board diversity matrix as of March 28, 2024:
Total Number of Directors
Female Male Non-
Binary
Did Not Disclose Gender
Part I: Gender Identity
Directors - - -
Part II: Demographic Background
African American or Black - - - -
Alaskan Native or Native American - - - -
Asian - - -
Hispanic or Latinx - - - -
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander - - - -
White - - -
Two or More Races or Ethnicities - - - -
LGBTQ+ - - - -
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background - - - -
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
Except as set forth below, during the last ten years, none of our directors and executive officers have been involved in any of the following events:
1. any bankruptcy petition filed by or against such person or any business of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time;
2. any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);
3. being subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining him from or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities or to be associated with any person practicing in banking or securities activities;
4. being found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action, the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a Federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated;
5. being subject of, or a party to, any Federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of any Federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation, any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies, or any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or
6. being subject of or party to any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization, any registered entity or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.
On June 23, 2015, Local Corporation, a Delaware corporation, filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code. Mr. Cragun, a Director of the Company, was chief financial officer of Local Corporation at the time of filing.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The table and discussion below present compensation information for our executive officers as of December 31, 2023, which we refer to as our “named executive officers” (in thousands):
● Rory J. Cutaia, our Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Secretary; and
● Bill J. Rivard, our interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; and
● Salman H. Khan, our former Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
Name and Principal Position Year Salary ($) Bonus ($) Stock Awards(1) ($) Option Awards(2) ($) All Other Compensation ($) Total ($)
Rory J. Cutaia(3) 459 (5) - 31 (5) 486 (6) - 976 (10)
480 (5) - (7) 563 (8) 15 (9) - 1,058 (10)
Bill J. Rivard(4) 192 (5) 3 (11) 111 (12) - -
- - - - - -
Salman H. Khan(13) 107 (5) - 16 (5) - -
245 (5) 31 (14) 342 (15) 27 (16) -
(1) For valuation purposes, the dollar amount shown is calculated based on the market price of our common stock on the grant dates. The number of shares granted, the grant date, and the market price of such shares for each named executive officer is set forth below.
(2) For valuation assumptions on stock option awards, refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Supplemental Disclosures,” in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 of this Annual Report. The disclosed amounts reflect the fair value of the stock option awards that were granted during fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 718.
(3) Mr. Cutaia was appointed as Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer on October 16, 2014.
(4) Mr. Rivard was appointed as interim Chief Financial Officer on June 13, 2023.
(5) On November 17, 2022, certain executive officers and directors agreed to accept a 25% reduction in cash compensation over a four-month period commencing December 1, 2022 in exchange for equity award grants. The cost reduction plan was extended in March 2023 to April 2023 resulting in the issuance of 27,590, 10,135, and 14,076 restricted stock units to Mr. Cutaia, Mr. Rivard, and Mr. Khan, respectively.
(6) On June 21, 2023, the Company granted 360,300 incentive stock options and 148,648 non-qualified stock options with a fair value of $0.955 per option.
(7) Due to the Company’s cost savings plan, Mr. Cutaia was not paid his annual incentive target bonus of $490 for 2022.
(8) Represents an annual incentive bonus of 10,111 restricted stock units with a fair market value of $47.60 per restricted stock unit. Represents 9,281 restricted stock units with a fair market value of $8.80 per restricted stock unit associated with the 25% reduction in cash compensation.
(9) Represents the return of 2,949 vested restricted stock units with a fair market value of $6.60 per restricted stock unit that were replaced by a grant of 5,897 stock options with an exercise price of $8.80 per share and a fair market value of $34.
(10) As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Mr. Cutaia had accrued but unpaid compensation equal to $648 and $764, respectively.
(11) Represents a discretionary bonus of $3 paid in December 2023.
(12) Represents a grant of 136,986 restricted stock units on September 28, 2023 with a fair market value of $0.73 per restricted stock unit.
(13) Mr. Khan was appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on March 30, 2022. In connection with this appointment as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, the Company has agreed to provide Mr. Khan the following compensation: (1) annual base salary of $250 and (2) 7,516 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock granted, 1,879 of which shall vest on March 30, 2023, 1,879 of which shall vest on March 30, 2024, 1,879 of which shall vest on March 30, 2025, and 1,879 of which shall vest on March 30, 2026. Mr. Khan was also eligible to receive an annual performance bonus of up to 50% of his base salary. Mr. Khan resigned as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company effective June 13, 2023.
(14) Due to the Company’s cost savings plan, Mr. Khan was not paid his annual incentive target bonus of $125 for 2022. A one-time incentive bonus of $31 was paid in 681 shares of common stock with a fair market value of $45.20 per share.
(15) Represents an annual incentive bonus of 7,516 restricted stock units with a fair market value of $39.92 per restricted stock unit. Represents 4,735 restricted stock units with a fair market value of $8.80 per restricted stock unit associated with the 25% reduction in cash compensation.
(16) Represents a grant of 2,500 stock options.
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
The following is a discussion of the material information that we believe is necessary to understand the information disclosed in the foregoing Summary Compensation Table.
Rory J. Cutaia
On December 20, 2019, we entered into an executive employment agreement with Mr. Cutaia. The employment agreement is for a four-year term and can be extended for additional one-year periods. The employment agreement was extended on January 1, 2024 for an additional four-year term. In addition to certain payments due to Mr. Cutaia upon termination of employment, the employment agreement contains customary non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality provisions. Mr. Cutaia is entitled to an annual base salary of $490, which shall not be subject to reduction during the initial term, but will be subject to annual reviews and increases, if and as approved in the sole discretion of our board of directors, after it has received and reviewed advice from the Compensation Committee (who may or may not utilize the services of its outside compensation consultants, as it shall determine under the circumstances). In addition, Mr. Cutaia is eligible to receive performance-based cash and/or stock bonuses upon attainment of performance targets established by our board of directors in its sole discretion, after it has received and reviewed advice from the Compensation Committee (who may or may not utilize the services of its outside compensation consultants, as it shall determine under the circumstances). We must make annual equity grants to Mr. Cutaia as determined by our board of directors in its sole discretion, after it has received and reviewed advice from the Compensation Committee (who may or may not utilize the services of its outside compensation consultants, as it shall determine under the circumstances). Finally, Mr. Cutaia is eligible for certain other benefits, such as health, vision, and dental insurance, life insurance, and 401(k) matching.
Mr. Cutaia earned total cash compensation for his services to us in the amount of $459 and $480 for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The lower amount in fiscal 2023 includes a 25% reduction in the cash compensation component over a four-month period starting December 1, 2022.
On June 21, 2023, we granted Mr. Cutaia restricted stock units with an aggregate fair market value of $31, payable in 27,590 shares of our common stock. The restricted stock units vested on the grant date. The price per share as reported by The Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $1.11 and was used to calculate fair market value.
On June 21, 2023 we granted Mr. Cutaia stock options with an aggregate fair market value of $486, valued using the Black-Scholes option methodology, payable in 508,948 shares of our common stock. The stock options are subject to a four-year vesting period, with 25% of the award vesting on each of the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries from the grant date. The fair value per option of $0.955 was valued using the Black-Scholes option methodology.
On January 20, 2022, we granted Mr. Cutaia restricted stock units with an aggregate fair market value of $481, payable in 10,111 shares of our common stock. The restricted stock units are subject to a four-year vesting period, with 25% of the award vesting on each of the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries from the grant date. The price per share as reported by The Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $47.60 and was used to calculate fair market value.
On November 17, 2022, we granted Mr. Cutaia restricted stock units with an aggregate fair market value of $82, payable in 9,281 shares of our common stock. The restricted stock units vested at the end of each month over a four-month period. The price per share as reported by The Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $8.80 and was used to calculate fair market value.
On November 17, 2022, Mr. Cutaia returned 2,949 shares that had been issued to him during the year. In exchange for those shares, we granted Mr. Cutaia 5,897 stock options with an exercise price of $8.80 per share. The options vested on grant.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Mr. Cutaia had accrued but unpaid compensation equal to $648 and $764, respectively.
Bill J. Rivard
Mr. Rivard was appointed as interim Chief Financial Officer on June 13, 2023. Mr. Rivard earned total cash compensation for his services to us in the amount of $195 for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.
In fiscal 2023, Mr. Rivard received a one-time incentive bonus of $3 which was paid in cash.
On June 21, 2023, we granted Mr. Rivard restricted stock units with an aggregate fair market value of $11, payable in 10,135 shares of our common stock. The restricted stock units vested on the grant date. The price per share as reported by The Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $1.11 and was used to calculate fair market value.
On September 28, 2023, we granted Mr. Rivard restricted stock units with an aggregate fair market value of $100, payable in 136,986 shares of our common stock. The restricted stock units are subject to a four-year vesting period, with 25% of the award vesting on the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries from the grant date. The price per share as reported by The Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $0.73 and was used to calculate fair market value.
Salman H. Khan
Mr. Khan was appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on March 30, 2022. Mr. Khan earned total cash compensation for his services to us in the amount of $107 and $245 for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The lower amount includes a 25% reduction in the cash compensation component over a four-month period starting December 1, 2022. Mr. Khan resigned as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company effective June 13, 2023.
On June 21, 2023, we granted Mr. Khan restricted stock units with an aggregate fair market value of $16, payable in 14,076 shares of our common stock. The restricted stock units vested on the grant date. The price per share as reported by The Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $1.11 and was used to calculate fair market value.
In fiscal 2022, Mr. Khan received a one-time incentive bonus of $31, which was paid in 681 shares of common stock with a fair market value of $45.20 per share.
On March 30, 2022, we granted Mr. Khan restricted stock units with an aggregate fair market value of $300, payable in 7,516 shares of our common stock. The restricted stock units are subject to a four-year vesting period, with 25% of the award vesting on the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries from the grant date. The price per share as reported by The Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $39.92 and was used to calculate fair market value.
On May 15, 2022, we granted Mr. Khan 2,500 stock options that vest annually over four years. The options have an exercise price of $12.00 per share and an aggregate fair market value of $27.
On November 17, 2022, we granted Mr. Khan restricted stock units with an aggregate fair market value of $42, payable in 4,735 shares of our common stock. The restricted stock units vested at the end of each month over a four-month period. The price per share as reported by The Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $8.80 and was used to calculate fair market value.
Omnibus Incentive Plan
On November 11, 2019, our board of directors approved our 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or Incentive Plan, and on December 20, 2019, our stockholders approved and adopted the Incentive Plan. The material terms of the Incentive Plan are summarized below.
On September 2, 2020, our board of directors approved an additional 200,000 shares of our common stock to be authorized for awards granted under the Incentive Plan, and on October 16, 2020, our stockholders approved the additional 200,000 shares of our common stock to be authorized for awards granted under the Incentive Plan.
On February 17, 2023, our board of directors approved an additional 15,000,000 shares of common stock to be authorized under the Incentive Plan, and on April 10, 2023, our stockholders approved the additional 15,000,000 shares of our common stock to be authorized for awards granted under the Incentive Plan.
General
The purpose of the Incentive Plan is to enhance stockholder value by linking the compensation of our officers, directors, key employees, and consultants to increases in the price of our common stock and the achievement of other performance objections and to encourage ownership in our company by key personnel whose long-term employment is considered essential to our continued progress and success. The Incentive Plan is also intended to assist us in recruiting new employees and to motivate, retain, and encourage such employees and directors to act in our stockholders’ interest and share in our success.
Term
The Incentive Plan became effective upon approval by our stockholders on December 20, 2019 and will continue in effect from that date until it is terminated in accordance with its terms.
Administration
The Incentive Plan may be administered by our board of directors, a committee designated by it, and/or their respective delegates. Currently, our Compensation Committee administers the Incentive Plan. The administrator has the power to determine the directors, employees, and consultants who may participate in the Incentive Plan and the amounts and other terms and conditions of awards to be granted under the Incentive Plan. All questions of interpretation and administration with respect to the Incentive Plan will be determined by the administrator. The administrator also will have the complete authority to adopt, amend, rescind, and enforce rules and regulations pertaining to the administration of the Incentive Plan; to correct administrative errors; to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Incentive Plan and any award granted under the Incentive Plan; and to authorize any person to execute, on behalf of us, all agreements and documents previously approved by the administrator, among other items.
Eligibility
Any of our directors, employees, or consultants, or any directors, employees, or consultants of any of our affiliates (except that with respect to incentive stock options, only employees of us or any of our subsidiaries are eligible), are eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan.
Available Shares
On February 17, 2023, our board of directors approved an additional 15,000,000 shares of common stock to be authorized under the Incentive Plan, and on April 10, 2023, our stockholders approved the additional 15,000,000 shares of our common stock to be authorized for awards granted under the Incentive Plan. Shares subject to awards that have been canceled, expired, settled in cash, or not issued or forfeited for any reason (in whole or in part), will not reduce the aggregate number of shares that may be subject to or delivered under awards granted under the Incentive Plan and will be available for future awards granted under the Incentive Plan. As of March 28, 2024, subject to the adjustment provisions included in the Incentive Plan, a total of 12,802,279 shares of our common stock are available for future issuances under the Incentive Plan.
Types of Awards
We may grant the following types of awards under the Incentive Plan: stock awards; options; stock appreciation rights; stock units; or other stock-based awards.
Stock Awards. The Incentive Plan authorizes the grant of stock awards to eligible participants. The administrator determines (i) the number of shares subject to the stock award or a formula for determining such number, (ii) the purchase price of the shares, if any, (iii) the means of payment for the shares, (iv) the performance criteria, if any, and the level of achievement versus these criteria, (v) the grant, issuance, vesting, and/or forfeiture of the shares, (vi) restrictions on transferability, and such other terms and conditions determined by the administrator.
Options. The Incentive Plan authorizes the grant of non-qualified and/or incentive options to eligible participants, which options give the participant the right, after satisfaction of any vesting conditions and prior to the expiration or termination of the option, to purchase shares of our common stock at a fixed price. The administrator determines the exercise price for each share subject to an option granted under the Incentive Plan, which exercise price cannot be less than the fair market value (as defined in the Incentive Plan) of our common stock on the grant date. The administrator also determines the number of shares subject to each option, the time or times when each option becomes exercisable, and the term of each option (which cannot exceed ten (10) years from the grant date).
Stock Appreciation Rights. The Incentive Plan authorizes the grant of stock appreciation rights to eligible participants, which stock appreciation rights give the participant the right, after satisfaction of any vesting conditions and prior to the expiration or termination of the stock appreciation right, to receive in cash or shares of our common stock the excess of the fair market value (as defined in the Incentive Plan) of our common stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the stock appreciation right. All stock appreciation rights under the Incentive Plan shall be granted subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to options granted under the Incentive Plan. Stock appreciation rights may be granted to awardees either alone or in addition to or in tandem with other awards granted under the Incentive Plan and may, but need not, relate to a specific option granted under the Incentive Plan.
Stock Unit Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. In addition to the award types described above, the administrator may grant any other type of award payable by delivery of our common stock in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the administrator determines in its sole discretion, subject to the terms of the Incentive Plan. Such awards may be made in addition to or in conjunction with other awards under the Incentive Plan. Such awards may include unrestricted shares of our common stock, which may be awarded, without limitation (except as provided in the Incentive Plan), as a bonus, in payment of director fees, in lieu of cash compensation, in exchange for cancellation of a compensation right, or upon the attainment of performance goals or otherwise, or rights to acquire shares of our common stock from us.
Award Limits
Subject to the terms of the Incentive Plan, the aggregate number of shares that may be subject to all incentive stock options granted under the Incentive Plan cannot exceed the total aggregate number of shares that may be subject to or delivered under awards under the Incentive Plan. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Incentive Plan to the contrary, the aggregate amount of all awards granted to any non-employee director during any single calendar year shall not exceed 200,000 shares.
New Plan Benefits
The amount of future grants under the Incentive Plan is not determinable, as awards under the Incentive Plan will be granted at the sole discretion of the administrator. We cannot determine at this time either the persons who will receive awards under the Incentive Plan or the amount or types of any such awards.
Transferability
Unless determined otherwise by the administrator, an award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by beneficiary designation, will, or by the laws of descent or distribution, including but not limited to any attempted assignment or transfer in connection with the settlement of marital property or other rights incident to a divorce or dissolution, and any such attempted sale, assignment, or transfer shall be of no effect prior to the date an award is vested and settled.
Termination of Employment or Board Membership
At the grant date, the administrator is authorized to determine the effect a termination from membership on the board of directors by a non-employee director for any reason or a termination of employment (as defined in the Incentive Plan) due to disability (as defined in the Incentive Plan), retirement (as defined in the Incentive Plan), death, or otherwise (including termination for cause (as defined in the Incentive Plan)) will have on any award. Unless otherwise provided in the award agreement:
● Upon termination from membership on our board of directors by a non-employee director for any reason other than disability or death, any option or stock appreciation right held by such director that (i) has not vested and is not exercisable as of the termination effective date will be subject to immediate cancellation and forfeiture or (ii) is vested and exercisable as of the termination effective date shall remain exercisable for one year thereafter, or the remaining term of the option or stock appreciation right, if less. Any unvested stock award, stock unit award, or other stock-based award held by a non-employee director at the time of termination from membership on our board of directors for a reason other than disability or death will immediately be cancelled and forfeited.
● Upon termination from membership on our board of directors by a non-employee director due to disability or death will result in full vesting of any outstanding option or stock appreciation rights and vesting of a prorated portion of any stock award, stock unit award, or other stock-based award based upon the full months of the applicable performance period, vesting period, or other period of restriction elapsed as of the end of the month in which the termination from membership on our board of directors by a non-employee director due to disability or death occurs over the total number of months in such period. Any option or stock appreciation right that vests upon disability or death will remain exercisable for one year thereafter, or the remaining term of the option or stock appreciation right, if less. In the case of any stock award, stock unit award, or other stock-based award that vests on the basis of attainment of performance criteria (as defined in the Incentive Plan), the pro rata vested amount will be based upon the target award.
● Upon termination of employment due to disability or death, any option or stock appreciation right held by an employee will, if not already fully vested, become fully vested and exercisable as of the effective date of such termination of employment due to disability or death, or, in either case, the remaining term of the option or stock appreciation right, if less. Termination of employment due to disability or death shall result in vesting of a prorated portion of any stock award, stock unit award, or other stock-based award based upon the full months of the applicable performance period, vesting period, or other period of restriction elapsed as of the end of the month in which the termination of employment due to disability or death occurs over the total number of months in such period. In the case of any stock award, stock unit award, or other stock-based award that vests on the basis of attainment of performance criteria, the pro-rata vested amount will be based upon the target award.
● Any option or stock appreciation right held by an awardee at retirement that occurs at least one year after the grant date of the option or stock appreciation right will remain outstanding for the remaining term of the option or stock appreciation right and continue to vest; any stock award, stock unit award, or other stock based award held by an awardee at retirement that occurs at least one year after the grant date of the award shall also continue to vest and remain outstanding for the remainder of the term of the award.
● Any other termination of employment shall result in immediate cancellation and forfeiture of all outstanding awards that have not vested as of the effective date of such termination of employment, and any vested and exercisable options and stock appreciation rights held at the time of such termination of such termination of employment shall remain exercisable for 90 days thereafter or the remaining term of the option or stock appreciation right, if less. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all outstanding and unexercised options and stock appreciation rights will be immediately cancelled in the event of a termination of employment for cause.
Change of Control
In the event of a change of control (as defined in the Incentive Plan), unless other determined by the administrator as of the grant date of a particular award, the following acceleration, exercisability, and valuation provisions apply:
● On the date that a change of control occurs, all options and stock appreciation rights awarded under the Incentive Plan not previously exercisable and vested will, if not assumed, or substituted with a new award, by the successor to us, become fully exercisable and vested, and if the successor to us assumes such options or stock appreciation rights or substitutes other awards for such awards, such awards (or their substitutes) shall become fully exercisable and vested if the participant’s employment is terminated (other than a termination for cause) within two years following the change of control.
● Except as may be provided in an individual severance or employment agreement (or severance plan) to which an awardee is a party, in the event of an awardee’s termination of employment within two years after a change of control for any reason other than because of the awardee’s death, retirement, disability, or termination for cause, each option and stock appreciation right held by the awardee (or a transferee) that is vested following such termination of employment will remain exercisable until the earlier of the third anniversary of such termination of employment (or any later date until which it would have remained exercisable under such circumstances by its terms) or the expiration of its original term. In the event of an awardee’s termination of employment more than two years after a change of control, or within two years after a change of control because of the awardee’s death, retirement, disability, or termination for cause, the regular provisions of the Incentive Plan regarding employment termination (described above) will govern (as applicable).
● On the date that a change of control occurs, the restrictions and conditions applicable to any or all stock awards, stock unit awards, and other stock-based awards that are not assumed, or substituted with a new award, by the successor to us will lapse and such awards will become fully vested. Unless otherwise provided in an award agreement at the grant date, upon the occurrence of a change of control without assumption or substitution of the awards by the successor, any performance-based award will be deemed fully earned at the target amount as of the date on which the change of control occurs. All stock awards, stock unit awards, and other stock-based awards shall be settled or paid within 30 days of vesting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the change of control would not qualify as a permissible date of distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, and the regulations thereunder, the awardee shall be entitled to receive the award from us on the date that would have applied, absent this provision. If the successor to us does assume (or substitute with a new award) any stock awards, stock unit awards, and other stock-based awards, all such awards shall become fully vested if the participant’s employment is terminated (other than a termination for cause) within two years following the change of control, and any performance based award will be deemed fully earned at the target amount effective as of the termination of employment.
● The administrator, in its discretion, may determine that, upon the occurrence of a change of control of us, each option and stock appreciation right outstanding will terminate within a specified number of days after notice to the participant, and/or that each participant receives, with respect to each share subject to such option or stock appreciation right, an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of such share immediately prior to the occurrence of such change of control over the exercise price per share of such option and/or stock appreciation right; such amount to be payable in cash, in one or more kinds of stock or property (including the stock or property, if any, payable in the transaction), or in a combination thereof, as the administrator, in its discretion, determines and, if there is no excess value, the administrator may, in its discretion, cancel such awards.
● An option, stock appreciation right, stock award, stock unit award, or other stock-based award will be considered assumed or substituted for if, following the change of control, the award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each share subject to the option, stock appreciation right, stock award, stock unit award, or other stock-based award immediately prior to the change of control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the transaction constituting a change of control by holders of shares for each share held on the effective date of such 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 transaction constituting a change of control is not solely shares of common stock of the successor company, the administrator may, with the consent of the successor company, provide that the consideration to be received upon the exercise or vesting of an option, stock appreciation right, stock award, stock unit award, or other stock-based award, for each share subject thereto, will be solely shares of common stock of the successor company with a fair market value substantially equal to the per-share consideration received by holders of shares in the transaction constituting a change of control. The determination of whether fair market value is substantially equal shall be made by the administrator in its sole discretion and its determination will be conclusive and binding.
Tax and Accounting Considerations
Among the factors it considers when making executive compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee considers the anticipated tax and accounting impact to us (and to our executive officers) of various payments, equity awards and other benefits.
The Compensation Committee considers the impact of the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the Code, as amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the TCJA. That section generally limits the deductibility of compensation paid by a publicly held company to “covered employees” for a taxable year to $1.0 million. Effective for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2018, “covered employees” generally include our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other highly compensated executive officers. Effective for taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 2018, an exception to this deduction limit applied to “performance-based compensation,” such as cash incentive and stock option awards, that satisfied certain criteria. This exception to the Section 162(m) deduction limit for “performance-based compensation” was repealed by the TCJA. Thus, except for certain “performance-based compensation” payable pursuant to written contracts that were in effect on November 2, 2017 and that are not modified in any material respect on or after that date, effective for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2018 our tax deduction with regard to compensation of “covered employees” is limited to $1.0 million per taxable year with respect to each executive officer. With respect to cash and equity awards that were in effect on November 2, 2017, and that are not modified in any material respect on or after that date, the Committee is mindful of the benefit to us and our stockholders of the full deductibility of compensation and have taken steps so that both the cash incentive and stock option awards that we granted may qualify for deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code. However, awards that we granted that were intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” may not necessarily qualify for such status under Section 162(m) of the Code. With respect to cash incentive and equity awards that we may grant in the future, we do not anticipate that the $1.0 million deduction limitation set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code will have a material impact on our results of operations.
The Compensation Committee also considers the impact of Section 409A of the Code, and in general, our executive plans and programs are designed to comply with the requirements of that section so as to avoid possible adverse tax consequences that may result from noncompliance.
We account for equity awards in accordance with the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification, or FASB ASC, Topic 718, Stock Compensation.
Our change-of-control and severance Agreements do not allow for excise tax gross up payments.
Amendment and Termination
The administrator may amend, alter, or discontinue the Incentive Plan or any award agreement, but any such amendment is subject to the approval of our stockholders in the manner and to the extent required by applicable law. In addition, without limiting the foregoing, unless approved by our stockholders and subject to the terms of the Incentive Plan, no such amendment shall be made that would (i) increase the maximum aggregate number of shares that may be subject to awards granted under the Incentive Plan, (ii) reduce the minimum exercise price for options or stock appreciation rights granted under the Incentive Plan, or (iii) reduce the exercise price of outstanding options or stock appreciation rights, as prohibited by the terms of the Incentive Plan without stockholder approval.
No amendment, suspension, or termination of the Incentive Plan will impair the rights of any participant with respect to an outstanding award, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the participant and the administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the participant and us, except that no such agreement will be required if the administrator determines in its sole discretion that such amendment either (i) is required or advisable in order for us, the Incentive Plan, or the award to satisfy any applicable law or to meet the requirements of any accounting standard or (ii) is not reasonably likely to diminish the benefits provided under such award significantly, or that any such diminution has been adequately compensated, except that this exception shall not apply following a change of control. Termination of the Incentive Plan will not affect the administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to awards granted under the Incentive Plan prior to the date of such termination.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth, for each named executive officer, certain information concerning outstanding restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2023. Market value was determined using the closing price of our common stock on December 29, 2023, which was $0.17.
Name Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
(#)
Market value (in thousands) of shares of units of stock that have not vested
($)
Vest date
Rory J. Cutaia 2,949 July 29, 2024(1)
3,972 January 4, 2025(1)
7,584 January 20, 2026(1)
Bill J. Rivard(2) 136,986 September 28, 2027(1)
Salman H. Khan(3) - - -
(1)
25% vesting on the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries from the grant date.
(2)
Mr. Rivard was appointed as interim Chief Financial Officer on June 13, 2023.
(3)
Mr. Khan resigned as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company effective June 13, 2023.
The following table sets forth, for each Named Executive Officer, certain information concerning outstanding option awards as of December 31, 2023:
Name Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options (exercisable) (#)
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options (unexercisable) (#)
Option
Exercise
price ($)
Option expiration
date
Rory J. Cutaia - 174.00 January 8, 2024 (2)
5,897 - 8.80 November 16, 2027 (2)
- 360,300 1.11 June 20, 2028 (1)
- 148,648 1.11 June 20, 2028 (1)
Bill J. Rivard(3) 1,875 1,875 72.00 November 16, 2026 (1)
Salman H. Khan(3) - - - -
(1)
25% vesting on the first, second, third, and fourth anniversaries from the grant date.
(2)
All options have fully vested.
(3)
Mr. Rivard was appointed as interim Chief Financial Officer on June 13, 2023.
(4)
Mr. Khan resigned as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company effective June 13, 2023.
Resignation, Retirement, Other Termination, or Change-of-Control Arrangements
Other than as disclosed below, we have no contract, agreement, plan, or arrangement, whether written or unwritten, that provides for payments to our directors or executive officers at, following, or in connection with the resignation, retirement, or other termination of our directors or executive officers, or a change of control of our company or a change in our directors’ or executive officers’ responsibilities following a change of control.
Rory J. Cutaia
Pursuant to Mr. Cutaia’s employment agreement dated December 20, 2019, Mr. Cutaia is entitled to the following severance package in the event he is “terminated without cause,” “terminated for good reason,” or “terminated upon permanent disability”: (i) monthly payments of $35,833 or such sum equal to his monthly base compensation at the time of the termination, whichever is higher, for a period of 36 months from the date of such termination and (ii) reimbursement for COBRA health insurance costs for 18 months from the date of such termination and, thereafter, reimbursement for health insurance costs for Mr. Cutaia and his family during the immediately subsequent 18-month period. In addition, all of Mr. Cutaia’s then-unvested restricted stock awards or other awards will immediately vest, without restriction, and any unearned and unpaid bonus compensation, expense reimbursement, and all accrued vacation, personal, and sick days, and related items shall be deemed earned, vested, and paid immediately. For purposes of the employment agreement, “terminated without cause” means if Mr. Cutaia were to be terminated for any reason other than a discharge for cause or due to Mr. Cutaia’s death or permanent disability. For purposes of the employment agreement, “terminated for good reason” means the voluntary termination of the employment agreement by Mr. Cutaia if any of the following were to occur without his prior written consent, which consent cannot be unreasonably withheld considering our then-current financial condition, and, in each case, which continues uncured for 30 days following receipt by us of Mr. Cutaia’s written notice: (i) there is a material reduction by us in (A) Mr. Cutaia’s annual base salary then in effect or (B) the annual target bonus, as set forth in the employment agreement, or the maximum additional amount up to which Mr. Cutaia is eligible pursuant to the employment agreement; (ii) we reduce Mr. Cutaia’s job title and position such that Mr. Cutaia (A) is no longer our Chief Executive Officer; (B) is no longer our Chairman of the Board; or (C) is involuntarily removed from our board of directors; or (iii) Mr. Cutaia is required to relocate to an office location outside of Orange County, California, or outside of a 30-mile radius of Newport Beach, California. For purposes of the employment agreement, “terminated upon permanent disability” means if Mr. Cutaia were to be terminated because he is then unable to perform his duties due to a physical or mental condition for (i) a period of 120 consecutive days or (ii) an aggregate of 180 days in any 12-month period.
Director Compensation Table
The table below summarizes the compensation paid to our non-employee directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Name(1) Fees earned
or paid in cash
($)
Stock awards
($)
Total
($)
James P. Geiskopf 166 (2)
Kenneth S. Cragun 78 (3)
Edmund C. Moy(5) - 146 (4)
(1) Rory J. Cutaia, our Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Secretary during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, is not included in this table as he was an employee, and, thus, received no compensation for his services as a director. The compensation received by Mr. Cutaia as an employee is disclosed in the section entitled “Executive Compensation - Summary Compensation Table” appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report.
(2) Represents a grant of stock options on June 21, 2023, totaling 162,883 shares of our common stock valued at $0.955 per option, which was valued using the Black-Scholes option methodology. The stock options expire in five years and vest on the first anniversary of the grant date. On January 20, 2023, a grant of 3,236 stock options, which vested on the grant date, with an exercise price of $9.20 per share were issued to replace forfeited restricted stock units.
(3) Represents a grant of stock options on June 21, 2023, totaling 81,441 shares of our common stock valued at $0.955 per option, which was valued using the Black-Scholes option methodology. The stock options expire in five years and vest on the first anniversary of the grant date. On January 20, 2023, a grant of 1,618 stock options, which vested on the grant date, with an exercise price of $9.20 per share were issued to replace forfeited restricted stock units.
(4) Represents a grant of stock options on June 21, 2023, totaling 81,441 shares of our common stock valued at $0.955 per option, which was valued using the Black-Scholes option methodology. The stock options expire in five years and vest on the first anniversary of the grant date. On September 28, 2023, a grant of 102,740 stock options, which vested on the grant date, with an exercise price of $0.73 per share were issued. The value per option of $0.661 was valued using the Black-Scholes option methodology.
(5) Mr. Moy was elected to serve on the board of directors on October 21, 2022.
Narrative Disclosure to Director Compensation Table
The annual board fee payable in cash for our Lead Director is $175 and for the other independent directors is $75. In addition, we intend to provide a restricted stock unit or stock options based on recommendations from our independent compensation consultant. Our directors are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of our board of directors. Our board of directors may award special remuneration to any director undertaking any special services on their behalf other than services ordinarily required of a director.
James P. Geiskopf
Mr. Geiskopf earned total cash compensation for his services to us in the amount of $175 and $175 for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
On June 21, 2023, the Company granted Mr. Geiskopf 162,883 stock options, which expire in five years and vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, with an exercise price of $1.11 per share. The fair value per option of $0.955 was calculated using the Black-Scholes option methodology.
On June 21, 2023, we granted Mr. Geiskopf restricted stock units with an aggregate fair market value of $11, payable in 9,854 shares of our common stock. The restricted stock units vested on the grant date. The price per share as reported by The Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $1.11 and was used to calculate fair market value.
On January 20, 2023, the Company granted Mr. Geiskopf 3,236 stock options, which vested on the grant date, with an exercise price of $9.20 per share and were issued to replace forfeited restricted stock units that were issued on January 20, 2022.
On January 20, 2022, the Company granted Mr. Geiskopf restricted stock units with an aggregate fair market value of $154, payable in 3,236 shares of its common stock. The restricted stock units vest on the first anniversary of the grant date. The price per share as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $47.60 and was used to calculate fair market value.
On November 17, 2022, the Company granted Mr. Geiskopf 3,315 stock options shares of its common stock as part of the Company’s Cost Savings Plan where executive officers and directors agreed to accept a 25% reduction in cash compensation over a four-month period. The restricted stock units vested at the end of each month over a four-month period. The price per share as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $8.80 and was used to calculate fair market value.
On November 17, 2022, Mr. Geiskopf returned to the Company 2,542 shares of common stock that were previously issued on January 4, 2021 as part of a restricted stock unit grant that had vested. In exchange, Mr. Geiskopf was issued 5,083 stock options with an exercise price of $8.80 per share. The stock options vested on the grant date.
Kenneth S. Cragun
Mr. Cragun earned total cash compensation for his services to us in the amount of $75 and $72 for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
On June 21, 2023, the Company granted Mr. Cragun 81,441 stock options, which expire in five years and vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, with an exercise price of $1.11 per share. The fair value per option of $0.955 was calculated using the Black-Scholes option methodology.
On January 20, 2023, the Company granted Mr. Cragun 1,618 stock options, which vested on grant, with an exercise price of $9.20 per share, to replace forfeited 1,618 restricted stock units that were issued on January 20, 2022.
On January 20, 2022, the Company granted Mr. Cragun restricted stock units totaling $77 payable in 1,618 shares of its common stock. The restricted stock units vest on the first anniversary from the grant date. The price per share as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $47.60 and was used to calculate fair market value.
On November 17, 2022, the Company granted Mr. Cragun 1,421 stock options as part of the Company’s Cost Savings Plan where executive officers and directors agreed to accept a 25% reduction in cash compensation over a four-month period. The stock options vested at the end of each month over a four-month period. The price per share as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $8.80.
On November 17, 2022, Mr. Cragun returned to the Company 1,271 shares of common stock that were previously issued on January 4, 2021 as part of a restricted stock unit grant that had vested. In exchange, Mr. Cragun was issued 2,542 stock options with an exercise price of $8.80 per share. The stock options vested on grant date.
Edmund C. Moy
Mr. Moy was elected to the board on October 21, 2022 and earned total cash compensation for his services to us in the amount of $0 and $0 for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
On September 28, 2023, the Company granted Mr. Moy 102,740 stock options, which vested on January 2, 2024, with an exercise price of $0.73 per share. The fair value per option of $0.661 was determined using the Black-Scholes option methodology.
On June 21, 2023, the Company granted Mr. Moy 81,441 stock options, which expire in five years and vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, with an exercise price of $1.11 per share. The fair value per option of $0.955 was determined using the Black-Scholes option methodology.
On November 17, 2022, the Company granted Mr. Moy 1,421 stock options as part of the Company’s Cost Savings Plan where executive officers and directors agreed to accept a 25% reduction in cash compensation over a four-month period. The stock options vested at the end of each month over a four-month period. The price per share as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market on the day of issuance was $8.80.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth, for each non-employee director, certain information concerning outstanding option awards as of December 31, 2023:
Name Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
(exercisable)
(#)
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
(unexercisable)
(#)
Option
exercise
price
($)
Option expiration
Date
James P. Geiskopf 5,083 - 8.80 November 16, 2027(1)
3,236 - 9.20 January 19, 2028(1)
- 162,883 1.11 June 20, 2028(2)
Kenneth S. Cragun 2,542 - 8.80 November 16, 2027(1)
1,421 - 8.80 November 16, 2027(1)
1,618 - 9.20 January 19, 2028(1)
- 81,441 1.11 June 20, 2028(2)
Edmund C. Moy 1,421 - 8.80 November 16, 2027(1)
- 81,441 1.11 June 20, 2028(2)
- 102,740 0.73 September 27, 2028(3)
(1)
All options have fully vested.
(2)
Vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date.
(3)
Vested on January 2, 2024

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth, as of March 28, 2024, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock by (i) each of our current directors and director nominees, (ii) each of our named executive officers, (iii) our directors, director nominees and named executive officers as a group, and (iv) each stockholder known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our outstanding common stock.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC, which generally includes voting or investment power over securities. Except in cases where community property laws apply or as indicated in the footnotes to this table, we believe, based on the information furnished to us, that each stockholder identified in the table possesses sole voting and investment power over all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by the stockholder. Shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of convertible notes, exercise of options or warrants, or settlement of restricted stock units, or that may become issuable within 60 days of March 28, 2024, are considered outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the convertible notes, options, warrants or restricted stock units for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
Title of Class
Amount and Nature
of
Beneficial Ownership(2)
Percent
of
Class(3)
Rory J. Cutaia
Common
$ 182,778 (4)
* %
Kenneth S. Cragun
Common
9,467 (6)
*
Bill J. Rivard
Common
15,419 (7)
*
Edmund C. Moy
Common
104,161 (8)
*
Salman H. Khan
Common
21,059 (9)
*
All directors and executive officers as a group
Common
$ 353,918
* %
* Less than 1%.
(1) Messrs. Cutaia, Geiskopf, Cragun, and Moy are current directors. Messrs. Cutaia, Rivard and Khan are our Named Executive Officers and Messrs. Cutaia and Rivard are our only current executive officers.
(2)
Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table below is: c/o Verb Technology Company, Inc., 3024 Sierra Juniper Court, Las Vegas, Nevada 89138.
(3) Percentage of common stock is based on 79,300,788 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 28, 2024.
(4)
Consists of (i) 169,411 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Cutaia, (ii) 6,006 shares of common stock held by Cutaia Media Group Holdings, LLC (an entity over which Mr. Cutaia has dispositive and voting authority), (iii) 1,351 shares of common stock held by Mr. Cutaia’s spouse (as to which shares, he disclaims beneficial ownership), (iv) 113 shares of common stock held jointly by Mr. Cutaia and his spouse, and (v) 5,897 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 28, 2024. This amount excludes 9,991 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units and 508,948 shares of common stock underlying stock options that will not vest within 60 days of March 28, 2024.
(5)
Consists of (i) 33,640 shares of common stock held directly, (ii) 134 shares of common stock held by Mr. Geiskopf’s children, and (iii) 8,319 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 28, 2024. This amount excludes 162,883 shares of common stock underlying stock options that will not vest within 60 days of March 28, 2024.
(6) Consists of (i) 3,886 shares of common stock held directly, and (ii) 5,581 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 28, 2024. This amount excludes 81,441 shares of common stock underlying stock options that will not vest within 60 days of March 28, 2024.
(7) Consists of (i) 13,544 shares of common stock held directly and (ii) 1,875 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 28, 2024. This amount excludes 136,986 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units that will not vest within 60 days of March 28, 2024.
(8) Consists of 104,161 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 28, 2024. This amount excludes 81,441 shares of common stock underlying stock options that will not vest within 60 days of March 28, 2024.
(9) Consists of 21,059 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Khan. Mr. Khan resigned as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company effective June 13, 2023.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table summarizes certain information regarding our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2023:
Plan category Number of
securities to be
issued upon
exercise
of outstanding
restricted stock
awards,
options, warrants
and rights
(a)
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
restricted stock
awards, options,
warrants and
rights (b)
Number of
securities
remaining
available for
future issuance
under equity compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 2,239,831 $ 1.09 12,787,279
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders $ 174.00 236,326
Total 2,240,248 $ 1.12 13,023,605

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
General
Other than the transactions discussed below, and the executive compensation arrangements described in the section titled “Executive Compensation,” since January 1, 2022, in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeded or will exceed the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at the year-end for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and in which any director, executive officer, holder of more than 5% of our common stock, or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest (any such transaction, a “related party transaction”).
Policies and Procedures for Approval of Related Party Transactions
If we contemplate entering into any transaction with a related party, regardless of the amount involved, the terms of such transaction are required to be presented to our Board for approval in advance of the transaction. Any director, officer or employee who becomes aware of a transaction or relationship that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest is required to disclose the matter promptly to our Board. Our Board must then either approve or reject the transaction and may only approve the transaction if it determines, based on all of the information presented, that the related party transaction is not inconsistent with the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Related Party Transactions
Unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts in this section are in thousands except per share amounts and par values. All historical share and per-share amounts reflected throughout this section have been adjusted to reflect a reverse stock split implemented on April 18, 2023.
Notes Payable to Related Parties
The Company has the following outstanding notes payable to related parties on December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Note Issuance Date Maturity Date Interest Rate Original Borrowing Largest Aggregate Amount Outstanding Since
January 1, 2022
Amount Outstanding as of
December 31,
Interest Paid Since
January 1,
Interest Paid Since
January 1,
Note 1(1) December 1, 2015 April 1, 2023 12.0 % $ 1,249 $ 879 $ - $ 154 $ 154
Note 2(2) April 4, 2016 June 4, 2021 12.0 % -
Total notes payable - related parties $ 927 $ - $ 162 $ 162
(1) On December 1, 2015, we issued a convertible note payable to Mr. Cutaia in the principal amount of $1,249 to consolidate all loans and advances made by Mr. Cutaia to us as of that date. The note bears interest at a rate of 12% per annum, is secured by our assets, and initially matured on February 8, 2021. 30% of the original principal amount of the note, or $375, was converted to common stock in 2018, while the remaining balance of $825 was not initially convertible.
In February 2021, Mr. Cutaia and the Company amended the note to extend the maturity date from February 8, 2021 to February 8, 2023. In exchange for the extension, the Company issued Mr. Cutaia warrants to purchase 3,473 shares of common stock with a grant date fair value of $287. The warrants were fully vested upon issuance, are exercisable at $104.40 per share, and have a term of three years. There were no other changes to the original terms of the note.
On May 19, 2021, our Board approved an amendment to the note to allow for conversion of the note at any time at the discretion of the holder at a fixed conversion price of $41.20, which was the closing price of the common stock on the amendment date. On May 12, 2022, the maturity date of the note was extended to April 1, 2023. On October 12, 2023, the Company repaid all of the outstanding principal and accrued interest amounting to $879.
As of December 31, 2023, the outstanding balance of the note was $0.
(2) On April 4, 2016, we issued a convertible note to Mr. Cutaia, in the principal amount of $343 to consolidate all loans and advances made by Mr. Cutaia to us during the period December 2015 through March 2016. The note bears interest at a rate of 12% per annum, is secured by our assets, and initially matured on June 4, 2021. 30% of the original principal amount of the note, or $103, was converted to common stock in 2018, while the remaining balance of $240 was not initially convertible.
On May 19, 2021, our Board approved an amendment to the note to allow for conversion of the note at any time at the discretion of the holder at a fixed conversion price of $41.20, which was the closing price of the common stock on the amendment date. On the same date, $200 of the principal amount of the note was converted into 4,855 shares of common stock at the fixed conversion price. On September 20, 2023, the Company repaid all of the outstanding principal and accrued interest amounting to $48.
As of December 31, 2023, the outstanding balance of the note was $0.
Series B Preferred Stock
On February 17, 2023, the Company entered into a Subscription and Investment Representation Agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) with Rory J. Cutaia, its Chief Executive Officer, who is an accredited investor (the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell one (1) share of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), to the Purchaser for $5,000.00 in cash. The sale closed on February 17, 2023. On April 20, 2023, the Company redeemed the Series B Preferred Stock for $5,000 in cash.
The Certificate of Designation provides that the holder of the Series B Preferred Stock will have 700,000,000 votes and will vote together with the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock as a single class exclusively with respect to any proposal to amend the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended, to effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock and to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock of the Company. The Series B Preferred Stock will be voted, without action by the holder, on any such proposal in the same proportion, both For and Against, as shares of the common stock are voted. The Series B Preferred Stock otherwise has no voting rights except as otherwise required by the Nevada Revised Statutes.
The Series B Preferred Stock is not convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or series of stock or other securities of the Company. The Series B Preferred Stock has no rights with respect to any distribution of assets of the Company, including upon a liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, merger, acquisition, sale, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. The holder of the Series B Preferred Stock will not be entitled to receive dividends of any kind.
The outstanding share of Series B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed in whole, but not in part, at any time (i) if such redemption is ordered by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion or (ii) automatically upon the effectiveness of the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation implementing a reverse stock split and the increase in authorized shares of common stock of the Company.
Director Independence
The Board evaluates the independence of each nominee for election as a director of our Company in accordance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Pursuant to these rules, a majority of our Board must be “independent directors” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, and all directors who sit on our Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Compensation Committee must also be independent directors.
Our Board is currently composed of four members. We have determined that the following three directors qualify as independent: James P. Geiskopf, Kenneth S. Cragun, and Edmund C Moy. We determined that Mr. Cutaia, our Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, is not independent.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Audit Fees
The following table sets forth the fees billed to us for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 for professional services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firms, Grassi & Co., CPAs, P.C. (“Grassi”) and Weinberg & Company, P.A. (“Weinberg”) (in thousands):
Fees
Grassi Weinberg Grassi Weinberg
Audit Fees $ 257 $ 168 $ - $ 213
Audit-Related Fees
-
Tax Fees
-
All Other Fees - -
Total Fees $ 339 $ 233 $
-
$ 294
For purposes of the preceding table, the professional fees are classified as follows:
● Audit Fees - These are fees performed for the audit of our annual financial statements and the required review of our quarterly financial statements and other procedures performed by the independent auditors to form an opinion on our financial statements.
● Audit-Related Fees - These are fees for expenses by the independent auditors that are associated with the audit, but don’t fall within the above-described category. Fees for auditor consents for registration filings are included within this category.
● Tax Fees - These are fees for all professional services performed by professional staff in our independent auditor’s tax group, except those services related to the audit of our financial statements.
● All Other Fees - These are fees for other permissible work, such as due diligence related to acquisitions and dispositions, audits related to acquisitions, attestation services that are not required by statute or regulation, and for other permissible work performed that does not meet the above-described categories.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures to oversee the external audit process and pre-approves all services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. Prior to the addition of Mr. Cragun as a member of the Audit Committee, the entire Board, consisting of Mr. Cutaia and Mr. Geiskopf acted as our Audit Committee and were responsible for pre-approving all services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. All of the above services and fees were reviewed and approved by our Board or Audit Committee, as applicable, before the respective services were rendered.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) Financial Statements
Reference is made to the financial statements attached beginning on page of this Annual Report.
Page
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms (PCAOB ID NO: 572 and 606)
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules
None.
(a)(3) Exhibits
Reference is made to the exhibits listed on the Index to Exhibits.