UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
Schedule
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed
by
the Registrant x
Filed
by
a Party other than the Registrant o
Check
the
appropriate box:
o
Preliminary
Proxy Statement
o
Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
x
Definitive
Proxy Statement
o
Definitive
Additional Materials
o
Soliciting
Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12
CODA
OCTOPUS GROUP, INC.
(Name
of
registrant as specified in its charter)
(Name
of
person(s) filing proxy statement, if other than the registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x
No
fee
required
o
Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
(1)
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2)
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3)
Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11
(set
forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined):
(4)
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5)
Total
fee paid:
o
Fee
paid
previously with preliminary materials.
o
Check
box
if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify
the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule
and the date of its filing.
(1)
Amount Previously Paid:
(2)
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3)
Filing Party:
(4)
Date Filed:
June
10,
2008
To
Our
Stockholders:
On
behalf
of the Board of Directors, I cordially invite you to attend the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders of Coda Octopus Group, Inc. The Annual Meeting will be held
at
9:00 a.m., on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at the offices of Sichenzia Ross Friedman
Ference LLP.
Please
vote on all the matters listed in the enclosed Notice of Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, each of which is more fully described in the enclosed Proxy
Statement. The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each of these
proposals.
All
holders of common stock and the holders of Series A Preferred Stock are invited
to attend the Annual Meeting in person. If, however, you do not expect to be
present at the Annual Meeting and wish your shares to be voted, you should
complete, sign and date the enclosed form of proxy and return it by mail in
the
enclosed envelope, in accordance with the instructions on the proxy card or
other voting instructions included with the proxy materials.
I
appreciate your interest and support of Coda Octopus and urge you to vote your
shares either in person or by granting your proxy as promptly as
possible.
Sincerely,
Jason
Reid
Chief
Executive Officer
Paul
Nussbaum
Chairman
of the Board of Directors
Coda
Octopus Group, Inc.
164
West
25th
Street,
6th
Floor,
New York, NY 10001
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TIME
AND
DATE: 9:00 AM, Eastern Daylight Time, on Tuesday, July 1, 2008
PLACE:
The offices of Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP, 61 Broadway, 32nd
Floor,
New York, New York 10006.
ITEMS
OF
BUSINESS:
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1.
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To
elect three directors for a term of one
year.
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2.
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To
approve the Coda Octopus Group, Inc. 2008 Employees, Directors, Officers
and Consultants Stock Option and Stock Award Plan, which provides,
among
other things, for the awarding of up to 2,500,000 shares of common
stock
and/or options to purchase 2,500,000 shares of common
stock.
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3.
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To
increase the Company’s authorized share capital to 150,000,000 shares of
common stock.
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4.
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To
ratify the appointment of RBSM LLP as the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31,
2008.
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To
transact other business as may properly come before the annual meeting and
any
adjournment or postponement thereof.
RECORD
DATE: You may vote if you were a holder of common stock of record on June 2,
2008. In addition, you may vote if you are a holder of Series A Preferred Stock
as of that date. The terms of the Series A Preferred Stock entitle the holders
thereof to 100 votes for each share of Series A Preferred Stock on all matters
that the holders of the common stock are entitled to vote.
PROXY
VOTING: It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the annual
meeting. You can vote your shares by completing and returning your proxy card.
You can revoke a proxy at any time prior to its exercise at the annual meeting
by following the instructions in the accompanying Proxy Statement.
BY
ORDER
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Richard
Lewis
Secretary
Coda Octopus Group, Inc.
164
West
25th
Street,
6th
Floor,
New York, NY 10001
Phone:
(212) 924 3442
This
Proxy Statement is furnished to the stockholders of Coda Octopus Group, Inc.,
a
Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Coda Octopus”), in connection with the
solicitation by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) of
proxies for use in voting at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
“Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday July 1, 2008 at
9:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, at the offices of Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference
LLP, 61 Broadway, 32 nd
Floor,
New York, New York 10006. The shares of the Company’s common stock, par value
$0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), present at the Annual Meeting or represented
by proxies, properly marked, dated and executed and not revoked, will be voted
at the Annual Meeting. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying annual report
for the year ended October 31, 2007 are being mailed to the Company’s
stockholders on or about June 10, 2008.
Any
proxy
given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it
at
any time before it is exercised by delivering to the Company, to the attention
of Corporate Secretary, a written notice of revocation or by executing a
later-dated proxy by telephone or mail, or by attending the Annual Meeting
and
voting in person.
Solicitation
and Voting Procedures
This
solicitation of proxies is being made by the Company by mail; and the Company
will bear all attendant costs. These costs include the expense of preparing
and
mailing proxy materials for the Annual Meeting and any reimbursements paid
to
brokerage firms and others for their expenses incurred in forwarding the
solicitation materials regarding the Annual Meeting to the beneficial owners
of
Common Stock. The Company may conduct further solicitations personally, by
telephone or by facsimile through its officers, directors and employees, none
of
whom will receive additional compensation for assisting with the
solicitation.
The
close
of business on Monday, June 2, 2008 has been fixed as the record date (the
“Record Date”) for determining the holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to
notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the close of business on
the
Record Date, the Company had 48,399,896 shares outstanding, all of which are
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders are entitled to one vote
for each share of Common Stock held by them. In addition, there were issued
and
outstanding 6,287 shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitling the holders
thereof to 628,700 votes. Under the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock,
the
holders thereof may vote together as a class with the holders of common
stock.
Holders
of record of Common Stock can vote by mail or by attending the Annual Meeting
and voting by ballot. To vote by mail, holders should mark, date and sign the
enclosed proxy card and return it in the envelope provided.
Beneficial
holders of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock as of the Record Date
will
receive voting instructions from their bank, broker or other holder of
record.
Voting
by
mail will not limit the right of a stockholder of record as of the Record Date
to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If a stockholder’s shares are held in
the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, such stockholder must
obtain a proxy, executed in his, her or its favor, from the holder of record
to
be able to vote at the Annual Meeting. All shares for which a proxy has been
duly executed and delivered and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting.
If a stockholder of record signs and returns a proxy card but does not give
voting instructions, the shares represented by that proxy will be voted as
recommended by the Board of Directors.
The
presence at the Annual Meeting of a majority of the voting power of the
outstanding common stock, either in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting.
A
plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting will be required for the
election of each candidate to the Board of Directors. This means that the
director nominee with the most votes for a particular slot is elected for that
slot. Only votes voted “for” or “withheld” affect the outcome. Abstentions are
not counted for the purposes of the election of directors.
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power present at the Annual Meeting
will be required for the approval of all other matters submitted to the vote
of
the Company’s stockholders. Abstentions are counted as present at the Annual
Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum and have the effect of a vote
“against” any matter as to which they are specified, other than the election of
directors. Broker non-votes are not considered shares present and will not
affect the outcome of the vote. A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker holding
shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because
the
broker does not have discretionary voting power for that particular item and
has
not received instructions from the beneficial owner.
Stockholders
Sharing the Same Address
We
may
send only one copy of the Proxy Statement to stockholders who share the same
last name and address, unless they have notified the Company that they want
to
continue to receive multiple copies. This practice, known as “householding,” is
designed to reduce duplicate mailings and printings and postage costs. However,
if any stockholder residing at such address wishes to receive a separate Annual
Report or Proxy Statement in the future, he or she may contact the Corporate
Secretary at the address listed above.
References
to fiscal Years
The
Company’s fiscal year ends on October 31 of each calendar year. Each reference
to a fiscal year refers to the fiscal year ending in the calendar year indicated
(e.g., fiscal 2007 refers to the fiscal year ended October 31,
2007).
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Introduction
The
Company has in place a comprehensive corporate governance framework. The Company
has adopted a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines and a Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics and charters for various committees of the Board of
Directors, the full texts of which are available in print to any stockholder
upon request to the Corporate Secretary.
The
Board
of Directors has affirmatively determined that a majority of the members of
the
Board of Directors are “independent” and that the Compensation Committee is
comprised entirely of independent directors.
Director
Independence
The
Board
of Directors uses the following categorical standards in determining the
“independence” of its directors:
1.
During the past two years, the Company shall not have employed the director,
or,
except in a non-officer capacity, any of the director’s immediate family
members;
2.
During the past three years the director shall not have received, and shall
not
have an immediate family member who has received, during any twelve-month period
within the last three years, more than $100,000 in direct compensation from
the
Company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms
of
deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not
contingent in any way on continued service);
3.
(a) Neither the director nor any of his or her immediate family members shall
be
a current partner of a firm that is the Company’s internal or external auditor,
(b) the director shall not be a current employee of such firm, (c) the director
shall not have an immediate family member who is a current employee of such
firm
who participates in the firm’s audit, assurance or tax compliance (but not tax
planning) practice, and (d) neither the director nor any of his or her immediate
family members shall have been, within the last three years, a partner or
employee of such firm and personally worked on the Company’s audit within that
time;
4.
Neither the director, nor any of his or her immediate family members, shall
be,
or shall have been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer
of another company where any of the Company’s present executive officers at the
same time serves on that company’s compensation (or equivalent)
committee;
5.
The director shall not be a current employee and shall not have an immediate
family member who is a current executive officer of a company that has made
payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services
in
an amount which, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater
of
(a) $1 million or (b) 2% of the consolidated gross revenues of such other
company;
6.
During the past five years, the director shall not have had a personal services
contract with the Company, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, any other executive officer or any affiliate of the
Company;
7.
The director shall not be an executive officer of a tax exempt organization
to
which the Company has made contributions in any of the last three fiscal years
that have exceeded the greater of (a) $1 million or (b) 2% of the consolidated
gross revenues of such tax exempt organization; and
8.
The director shall not, either directly or indirectly as a partner, stockholder
or officer of another company, own more than five percent of any class of equity
securities of the Company.
The
Board
of Directors has determined that each of Paul Nussbaum and Rodney Peacock is
“independent” in accordance with the above specified standards.
Board
of Directors and Committees
The
Board
of Directors held five meetings in fiscal 2007. In fiscal 2007, each of the
Company’s directors attended or participated in each of (i) the total number of
meetings of the Board of Directors held during the period in which each such
director served as a director and (ii) the total number of meetings held by
all
committees of the Board of Directors during the period in which each such
director served on such committee.
The
Board
of Directors has established an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee, and
a
Compensation Committee.
Audit
Committee
The
Audit
Committee’s purpose is:
| |
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being
directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight
of
the independent auditor, which shall report directly to the Audit
Committee, including resolution of disagreements between management
and
auditors regarding financial reporting for the purpose of preparing
or
issuing an audit report or related
work;
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to
oversee management’s preparation of the Company’s financial statements and
management’s conduct regarding the accounting and financial reporting
processes;
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to
oversee management’s maintenance of internal controls and procedures for
financial reporting;
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to
oversee the Company’s compliance with applicable legal and regulatory
requirements, including without limitation, those requirements relating
to
financial controls and reporting;
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to
oversee the independent auditor’s qualifications and
independence;
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to
oversee the performance of the independent auditors, including the
annual
independent audit of the Company’s financial
statements;
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to
prepare the report required by the rules of the SEC to be included
in the
Company’s proxy statement; and
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to
discharge such duties and responsibilities as may be required of
the Audit
Committee by the provisions of applicable law or rule or regulation
of the
American Stock Exchange and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
The
members of the Audit Committee are Paul Nussbaum, who serves as Chairman and
Rodney Peacock, each of whom is an “independent director” under the standards of
Item 7(d)(3)(iv) of Schedule 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. Mr Nussbaum is our “audit committee financial expert” as defined by
Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We believe that the composition
of our Audit Committee meets the requirements for independence under the current
requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and SEC rules and regulations.
We
believe that the functioning of the Audit Committee complies with the applicable
requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as SEC rules and
regulations.
The
Audit
Committee operates under a written Audit Committee charter adopted by the Board
of Directors. The Audit Committee held two meetings during fiscal
2007.
Compensation
Committee
The
Compensation Committee, which is made up of Messrs Nussbaum and Peacock, is
responsible for, among other things, reviewing and evaluating all compensation
arrangements for the executive officers of the Company and administrating the
Company’s 2004 Employees, Directors, Officers and Consultants Stock Option and
Stock Award Plan (the “2004 Plan”), as well as the Company’s 2006 Employees,
Directors, Officers and Consultants Stock Option and Stock Award Plan (the
“2006
Plan”) .
The
Compensation
Committee
approved the restrictions contained in the definitive agreements relating to
the
issuance of the convertible secured loan note by us on February 21, 2008, which
limits the amount of options which may be awarded during the term and the price
at which such options may be issued.
The
Compensation Committee held one meeting during fiscal 2007. The Compensation
Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of the
Compensation Committee are “independent.”
Nominating
Committee
The
Nominating Committee is responsible for overseeing nominations to the Board
of
Directors, including: (i) developing the criteria and qualifications for
membership on the Board of Directors, (ii) recommending candidates to fill
new
or vacant positions on the Board of Directors, and (iii) conducting appropriate
inquiries into backgrounds of potential candidates. The Nominating Committee
currently consists of Messrs. Reid and Nussbaum (who is independent). The
Nominating Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board
of
Directors. The Nominating Committee will consider director candidates
recommended by the Company’s stockholders. Stockholders may recommend director
candidates by contacting the Chairman of the Board. The Nominating Committee
considers candidates suggested by its members, other directors, senior
management and stockholders in anticipation of upcoming elections and actual
or
expected board vacancies. All candidates, including those recommended by
stockholders, are evaluated on the same basis in light of the entirety of their
credentials and the need of the Board of Directors and the Company. Of
particular importance are the candidate’s integrity and judgment, professional
achievements and experience relevant to the Company’s business and strategic
challenges, his or her potential contribution to the diversity of the Board
of
Directors and his or her willingness to devote adequate time to fulfill duties
as a director. The Nominating Committee did not hold any meetings in fiscal
2007.
Director
Communications
Interested
parties may express their concerns to the Company’s non-management directors by
contacting the Chairman of the Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary,
Coda
Octopus Group, Inc., 164 West 25 th
Street,
6 th
Floor,
New York, NY 10001. The Corporate Secretary will relay all such correspondence
to the Chairman of the Board of Directors who will relay such correspondence
to
the entire Board of Directors.
Non-Employee
Director Compensation
Each
person who is a non-employee director of the Company received a grant of shares
of common stock and options to purchase common stock. New non-employee directors
receive an automatic grant of options on the date that they become a
director.
All
such
grants of options and restricted stock to non-employee directors are subject
to
certain terms and conditions (including, without limitation, a term of five
years for options and limitations on exercisability of options following
cessation of service with the Company as a director) described in the 2004
Plan
and the 2006 Plan. The exercise price for options granted to non-employee
directors under the 2004 Plan was $1.00 and under the 2006 Plan ranges from
$1.00-$1.50.
PROPOSAL
NO. 1:
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
There
are
currently three directors on the Board of Directors. Each director holds office
until such director’s successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until
his or her earlier resignation or removal.
A
total
of three directors have been nominated for re-election at the Annual Meeting
to
serve for a term of one year until the annual meeting of stockholders to be
held
in fiscal 2009, and their successors are duly elected and qualified until the
earlier of their resignation or removal. A plurality of the votes cast at the
Annual Meeting shall elect each director. Stockholders may not vote for more
than three persons, which is the number of nominees identified
herein.
The
nominees are Jason Reid, Rodney Peacock, and Paul Nussbaum, each of whom is
an
incumbent director and has consented to be named in this proxy statement and
to
serve if elected. Certain information about the nominees is furnished
below.
Jason
Reid
has
served since June, 2004 as a director, President and Chief Executive Officer
of
Coda Octopus Group, Inc. Mr. Reid has been affiliated with Coda Octopus Products
Ltd., the current key operating subsidiary, since 1994, initially as a founder
and independent director and, since 2002, as Managing Director. Mr. Reid is
a
director of the Company’s subsidiaries, Coda Octopus Products Ltd., Coda Octopus
Omnitech AS (Norway), Coda Octopus Products, Inc., Innalogic, Inc., Port
Security Group, Inc. and Martech Systems (Weymouth) Limited. He is also a
director of Fairwater Holdings Ltd. and Fairwater Technology Group Ltd, a
principal stockholder of the Company. He was a founding partner, in 1984, of
Weight Management Group Ltd, a $20m Scottish company which competes directly
with Weight Watchers International, Inc., and which is market leader in
Scotland. From 1992-2004, he was Managing Director of Weight Management Group
Ltd, acquiring, in 2001, Green Meadow Foods Ltd, which distributed controlled
dietary foods throughout Scotland to the major retail trade. In 2003, he oversaw
the successful national UK launch of a new magazine title, published by Weight
Management Group Ltd. He became a non-executive director of both companies
when
he assumed the role of President and CEO of Coda Octopus Group, Inc. in 2004.
Between 1993 and 2004 he was also chairman of a software development company
in
Scotland, Softworks Business Systems Solutions Ltd., producing commercial
software for public companies, including Bulthaup and Manchester Ship Canal,
part of Peel Holdings plc. In 1997, he was a Director of William Grant Mining
Ltd. In the past, he also served as a director of Slimmer Clubs
Ltd.
Rodney
Peacock
has
served as a Director of Coda Octopus Group, Inc. since January 2005. He has
been
Managing Director of Axiom Marketing & Management Ltd, a consultancy firm,
since November 1997. From 1990 to 1997, he served as Joint Managing Director
of
the Brand Development Company and from 1985-90, Managing Director of NPL, an
Addison Group Subsidiary. He was, from 1981-85, head of the Marketing Group
of
Arthur Young Consultancy and from 1976-81 General Manager, Retail Products
Division of Tate & Lyle. From 1970-76, he served as Brand Group Manager of
United Biscuits and from 1964 to 1970, Research Chemist of Ilford Films. Mr.
Peacock received his BSc (Hons) in Physics and Chemistry from London
University.
Paul
Nussbaum
has
served since January 2005 as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Coda Octopus
Group, Inc. in a non-executive capacity. He is the chairman of the Waramaug
Partners Group, a private real estate and special situations equity firm. He
is
the former Chairman Emeritus of Wyndham International, Inc., (NYSE:WYN),
successor to Patriot American Hospitality, Inc. From 1991 to 1999 he served
as
Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer for the Patriot American Group
of Companies, including Patriot American Hospitality, Inc., a paired share
real
estate investment trust which owned the Wyndham, Grand Bay, Malmaison,
Summerfield Suites, and Clubhouse Inn proprietary hotel brands. From 1979 to
1991, Mr. Nussbaum served as chairman of the real estate practice group of
Schulte Roth & Zabel, a law firm in New York. From 1971 to 1979, he was an
associate and later a partner in the Dreyer & Traub law firm in New York.
Mr. Nussbaum earned his B.A. degree from the State University of New York at
Buffalo and his J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
It
is the
intention of the persons named as proxies in the accompanying proxy, unless
instructed otherwise, to vote for the persons nominated by the Board of
Directors. If any nominee should become unavailable to serve, the proxy may
be
voted for the election of such substitute nominee as may be designated by the
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any
of
the nominees will be unable to serve if elected.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES
NAMED ABOVE
.
The
current directors and executive officers of the Company are as
follows:
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Name
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Age
|
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Position(s)
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Jason
Reid
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42
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President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
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Paul
Nussbaum
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60
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Chairman
of the Board of Directors
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Rodney
Peacock
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61
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Director
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Jody
E. Frank
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55
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Chief
Financial Officer
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Blair
Cunningham
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38
|
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Chief
Technology Officer
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Anthony
Davis
|
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41
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President
US Operations
|
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Frank
B. Moore
|
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72
|
|
Senior
Vice President, Government Relations
|
|
Geoff
Turner
|
|
54
|
|
President
European Operations
|
|
Angus
Lugsdin
|
|
31
|
|
Senior
Vice President, Market Development
|
Blair
Cunningham
has
served as Chief Technology Officer of Coda Octopus Group, Inc. since 2005 and
Technical Manager of Coda Octopus Products Ltd between July 2004 and July 2005.
Mr. Cunningham is also a Director of the Company’s subsidiaries, Martech and
Coda Octopus (UK) Holdings Limited. From March 1992 to present he has served
as
a Director of Softworks Business Systems Solutions Ltd, an Aberdeen, Scotland
based software company which developed turnkey software solutions for large
public companies. From 1990-92, Mr. Cunningham was an Analyst/Programmer with
Weight Management Group Ltd, Aberdeen. Mr. Cunningham received an HND in
Computer Science in 1989 from Moray College of Further Education, Elgin,
Scotland.
Anthony
Davis
has
served, initially as Chief Commercial Officer of Coda Octopus Group, Inc. since
July 2005 and, since November 1, 2007, as President US Operations. Previously,
he served as Business Development Manager of Coda Octopus Products Ltd from
2002-04, prior to which he was a Sales Manager between 1998 and 2002. Mr. Davis
is also a Director of the Company’s subsidiaries, Martech and Coda Octopus (UK)
Holdings Limited. He was a Project Manager from 1996 to 1998 at Cable &
Wireless Marine, Chelmsford, England and Survey Manager in Abu Dhabi for NPCC
from 1994 to 1996. He served as a Project Geophysicist in Singapore for Ocean
Science International from 1992 to 1994, as an Offshore Geophysicist for NESA
in
Delft from 1990-91 and as a Logging Engineer for Schlumberger in Aberdeen from
1987 to 1990. He earned his BSc Geology & Geophysics at Edinburgh University
in 1987.
Frank
B. Moore
has
served as Senior Vice President, Government Relations of Coda Octopus Group,
Inc. since May 2006. Mr. Moore is also a Director of our key subsidiary, Colmek.
Since December, 2001, Mr. Moore has served as Chairman of Ulysses Financial,
a
company engaged in private equity financing. Between January 1977 and January
1981, Mr. Moore served as Assistant to the President of the United States.
His
chief responsibility was the Administration’s relations with Congress. Mr. Moore
reported directly to the President and also worked on international matters
such
as the Panama Canal Treaty and the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (S.A.L.T.
II). Prior to his position in the White House, Mr. Moore served as Assistant,
and later as Chief of Staff, to the Governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter. Between
July, 1982 and September, 1998, Mr. Moore was Vice President for Government
Affairs and Public Policy for Waste Management. Mr. Moore earned his BBA from
the University of Georgia and completed the Advanced Management Program at
Harvard Business School.
Geoff
Turner
has
served initially as Senior Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions of Coda
Octopus Group, Inc. since May 2006, and, since November 1, 2007, as President
European Operations. Previously, he served as a consultant from November 2005
to
April 2006 through his consultancy company Taktos Limited. Mr. Turner is also
a
Director of the Company’s subsidiaries, Martech and Coda Octopus (UK) Holdings
Limited. He has been involved in the IT industry for over 30 years, in both
technical and commercial roles. He spent the 13 years up to 1999 with GE
Information Services (& International Network Services), the then global
market leader in Electronic Commerce, where he was Director of Business
Development for Europe, Middle East and Africa. During this time, in addition
to
his business development roles he held posts as Software Products Director,
and
in global channel sales management. Since leaving GE in 1999, Mr. Turner has
been involved as a stockholder and a consultant through Taktos Limited in a
number of businesses ranging from financial services businesses to a provider
of
supply chain management software.
Angus
Lugsdin ,
who has
been with us since 2002, has recently been appointed as Senior Vice President
of
Market Development. Prior to this, Mr. Lugsdin was Vice President of Market
Development from November 2006. He has held a number of positions with us
including Sales Manager of Octopus Marine (which was acquired by us in 2002)
from July 1999 to May 2002, Sales Manager of Coda Octopus Inc from May 2002
to
June 2004 and Strategic Development Executive from July to October 2006. He
earned his BSC in Marine Geography from University of Wales in
1998.
Relationships
among Directors or Executive Officers
There
are
no familial relationships among any of the directors or executive officers
of
the Company.
The
following table sets forth information as of June 2, 2008 regarding the
beneficial ownership of our Common Stock, based on information provided by
(i)
each of our executive officers and directors; (ii) all executive officers and
directors as a group; and (iii) each person who is known by us to beneficially
own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock. The percentage
ownership in this table is based on 48,409,927 shares issued and outstanding
as
of June 2, 2008.
Unless
otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner is in care of the
Company, 164 West 25 th
Street,
6 th
Floor,
New York, NY 10001. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons
named in the following table have sole voting and investment power with respect
to all shares of Common Stock that they beneficially own.
|
Name
and Address of Beneficial Owner (1)
|
|
Amount and Nature Of Beneficial
Ownership of
Common Stock (2)
|
|
Percent of
Common Stock
|
|
|
Jason
Reid (3)
|
|
|
23,736,877
|
|
|
49.0
|
%
|
|
Paul
Nussbaum (4)
|
|
|
708,295
|
|
|
1.5
|
%
|
|
Rodney
Peacock (5)
|
|
|
517,064
|
|
|
1.1
|
%
|
|
Blair
Cunningham (6)
|
|
|
490,159
|
|
|
1.0
|
%
|
|
Anthony
Davis (7)
|
|
|
390,159
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Frank
B. Moore (8)
|
|
|
215,159
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Geoff
Turner (9)
|
|
|
190,159
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Jody
Frank (10)
|
|
|
187,908
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Angus
Lugsdin (12)
|
|
|
237,587
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vision
Opportunity Master Fund Limited (11 )
317
Madison Avenue, Suite 1220
New
York, NY 10017
|
|
|
5,157,472
|
|
|
9.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (nine
persons):
|
|
|
26,673,367
|
|
|
55.1
|
%
|
*
Less than 1%.
(1)
Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all individual and entities
listed below is c/o Coda Octopus Group, Inc. 164 West 25th Street, 6th Floor,
New York NY10001.
(2)
The number of shares indicated includes (i) shares issuable upon the
exercise of outstanding stock options or warrants held by each individual or
group to the extent such options and warrants are exercisable within sixty
days
of February 15, 2008 and (ii) shares of restricted stock, including restricted
stock awards issuable within 60 days of February 15, 2008.
(3)
Includes the following: (i) 400,000 shares issuable upon exercise of
options (ii) 19,523,251 shares and 2,746,418 shares issuable upon exercise
of
warrants held by Fairwater Technology Group Ltd., of which Mr. Reid may be
deemed to be a control person, and (iii) 280,720 shares and 50,000 shares
issuable upon exercise of warrants held by Softworks Business Systems Solutions
Limited, of which Mr. Reid may be deemed to be a control person; includes
511,266 shares held by Mr. Jason Reid, and (iv) includes 172,540 held by Mr.
Reid’s wife and (v) includes 23,364 shares earned during the quarter ended
October 31, 2007 that have not been issued to date.
(4)
Includes 275,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options and 60,000
shares issuable upon the exercise of two five year warrants and 7,009 shares
earned during the quarter ended October 31, 2007 that have not been issued
to
date.
(5)
Includes 250,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options and 4,673
shares earned during the quarter ended October 31, 2007 that have not been
issued to date.
(6)
Includes 200,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options and 50,000
shares held by Softworks Limited of which Mr. Cunningham is a director and
11,682 shares earned during the quarter ended October 31, 2007 that have not
been issued to date.
(7)
Includes 150,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options and 11,682
shares earned during the quarter ended October 31, 2007 that have not been
issued to date.
(8)
Includes 150,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options and 11,682
shares earned during the quarter ended October 31, 2007 that have not been
issued to date.
(9)
Includes 150,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options and 11,682
shares earned during the quarter ended October 31, 2007 that have not been
issued to date.
(10)
Consist of 175,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options, 1,226 shares
issued in quarter ended July 31, 2007 and 11,682 shares earned during the
quarter ended October 31, 2007 that have not been issued to date. Does not
include 350,000 shares issuable upon options, 175,000 of which will vest in
March 2008, and the balance of which will vest in March 2009.
(11)
Includes 746,572 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants. Does not
include 8,453,428 additional shares issuable upon exercise of warrants that
it
is not permitted to exercise under the terms of the warrants. The warrants
contain a provision that limits exercise of the warrants to the extent that
its
ownership percentage would exceed 9.9% of our issued and outstanding common
stock of the Company. Adam Benowitz, portfolio manager, has investment and
dispositive power of the shares held by this entity.
(12)
Includes 100,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options and 11,682 shares
earned during the quarter ended October 31, 2007 that have not been issued
to
date.
ITEM
10. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The
Summary Compensation Table shows certain compensation information for services
rendered for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2007 and 2006 by our executive
officers. The following information includes the dollar value of base salaries,
bonus awards, stock options grants and certain other compensation, if any,
whether paid or deferred. Conversion rates were used for 2007 and 2006 of
$1.9840 and $1.8097 to GBP 1 Pound, respectively.
|
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
|
|
Bonus
|
|
Restricted
Stock Awards
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
All Other
Compensation
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
(2)
|
|
($)
(3)
|
|
($)
|
|
|
Jason
Reid
President
& Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
2007
2006
|
|
|
350,000
250,000
|
|
|
-0-
-0-
|
|
|
100,000
100,000
|
(5)(6)
|
|
-0-
-0-
|
|
|
50,385
12,667
|
|
|
400,385
362,667
|
|
|
Blair
Cunningham (1)
Chief
Technology Officer
|
|
|
2007
2006
|
|
|
175,000
144,072
|
|
|
-0-
-0-
|
|
|
50,000
43,750
|
|
|
-0-
-0-
|
|
|
18,866
20,249
|
|
|
243,866
208,071
|
|
|
Anthony
Davis (1)
President
US Operations
|
|
|
2007
2006
|
|
|
175,000
163,796
|
|
|
-0-
-0-
|
|
|
50,000
43,750
|
|
|
-0-
-0-
|
|
|
11,962
10,858
|
|
|
236,962
218,404
|
|
|
Jody
Frank
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
|
2007
2006
|
|
|
104,808
-0-
|
(4)
|
|
-0-
-0-
|
|
|
12,908
-0-
|
(9)
|
|
281,243
-0-
|
|
|
1,750
-0-
|
|
|
400,709
-0-
|
|
(1)
A
portion of these amounts were paid in UK Pounds (the conversion rate used in
this table for these amounts is stated above).
(2)
Amount represents the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance
with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “ Share-Based
Payment”
(“SFAS
123R”). Information regarding the assumptions made in the valuation reported and
material terms of each grant are incorporated herein by reference from “Note 4
Capital Stock” to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year Ended
October 31, 2006.
(3)
All
other compensation consisted of car allowances, re-location expenses, disability
payments, health insurance, pension benefits and/or pay for vacation not
taken.
(4)
Jody
Frank is getting paid at the annual rate of $350,000. However, he started
his employment with the Company in July 2007, hence the values shown are
pro-rated for this period.
(5)
Comprising 80,317 shares valued at $100,000.
(6)
Comprising 140,000 shares valued at $100,000.
(7)
Comprising 40,159 shares valued at $50,000.
(8)
Comprising 50,000 shares values at $43,750.
(9)
Comprising 12,908 shares valued at $14,400.
(10)
Comprising 237,500 options issued at $1.30, and vesting 34% immediately, 33%
in
2008 and 33% in 2009.
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END 2007*
Option
Awards
|
Name
(a)
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
(b)
|
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
(c)
|
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
(e)
|
|
Option
Expiration
Date
(f)
|
|
|
Jason
Reid
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
May
2010
|
|
|
Blair
Cunningham
Chief
Technology Officer
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
May
2010
|
|
|
Anthony
Davis
President
US Operations
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
May
2010
|
|
|
Geoff
Turner
President
European Operations
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
November 2010
|
|
|
Frank
Moore
Senior
VP
Government
Relations
|
|
|
100,500
|
|
|
49,500
|
** |
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
May
2011
|
|
|
Angus
Lugsdin
Senior
VP Market Development
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
May
2010
|
|
*
In
accordance with the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission,
certain columns relating to information that is not applicable have been omitted
from this table.
**
Options vest May 1, 2008.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
*
(During
Last Completed Fiscal Year)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name (a)
|
|
|
Fees
Earned
or
Paid
in
Cash
($)
(b)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
(c)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
(d)
(4)
|
|
|
Total
($)
(j)
|
|
|
Paul
Nussbaum
|
|
$
|
30,000
|
(2)
|
$
|
30,000
|
(5)
|
$
|
109,573
|
(4a)
|
$
|
169,573
|
|
|
Rodney
Peacock
|
|
$
|
20,000
|
(3)
|
$
|
20,000
|
(6)
|
$
|
73,049
|
(4b)
|
$
|
113,049
|
|
*
In
accordance with the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission,
certain columns relating to information that is not applicable have been omitted
from this table.
|
(2)
|
Consists
of an annual retainer in the amount of $45,000 and $3,750 per board
meeting attended. Half of these amounts is payable in the Company’s
Stock.
|
|
(3)
|
Consists
of an annual retainer in the amount of $25,000 and $3,750 per board
meeting attended. Half of these amounts is payable in the Company’s
Stock.
|
|
(4a)
|
Comprising
75,000 options valued based on date of issue using Black Scholes
method
and booked into our accounts as an
expense.
|
|
(4b)
|
Comprising
50,000 options valued based on date of issue using Black Scholes
method
and booked into our accounts as an
expense.
|
|
(5)
|
Consist
of 24,095 shares.
|
|
|
Consist
of 15,532 shares.
|
Compensation
of Directors
Pursuant
to Agreements dated January 26, 2005 with our non-employee directors, Paul
Nussbaum and Rodney Peacock, each receives a fee of $2,500 per board and
committee meeting attended (which amount was increased to $3,750 per meeting
starting November 1, 2006) and are reimbursed for expenses incurred in
connection with attending board and committee meetings. Our board chairman
receives an annual retainer of $40,000 and Mr. Peacock receives an annual
retainer of $20,000. Messrs. Nussbaum and Peacock received 100,000 shares and
150,000 shares, respectively, on January 26, 2005. On May 1, 2005, each director
also received five-year options to purchase 200,000 shares of our common stock,
exercisable at $1.00 per share, and vesting 34% immediately, and 33% on the
first and second anniversaries of the award. Messrs. Nussbaum and Peacock will
receive options to purchase 75,000 shares and 50,000 shares, respectively,
at
the first board meeting in each fiscal year, at an exercise price to be
established by the Board. Each director is also entitled while serving as a
director and for a period of three years thereafter, to participate in directors
and officers liability insurance and to indemnification of all costs and
expenses, including cost of legal counsel, selected and retained by the
director, in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which the
director may be a party by reason of the director, acting in such capacity.
All
options, granted but not vested to Messrs. Nussbaum and Peacock unless exercised
terminate at such time as the individual is no longer serving as a
director.
The
Compensation Committee awarded the following increases on November 1, 2006
(i)
fees for each board and committee meeting to $3,750. Mr. Nussbaum was also
awarded an increase on annual retainer of $5,000 making his current annual
retainer $45,000 and similarly Mr. Peacock was awarded an increase on his annual
retainer of $5,000 making his current annual retainer of $25,000. Both Mr.
Nussbaum and Mr. Peacock’s payments made under the retainers are half cash and
half common stock. unt is payable in the Company’s stock.
Employment
Agreements
Jason
Reid
On
April
1, 2005, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Jason Reid.
The
Agreement commenced on April 1, 2005 and has an indefinite term until terminated
pursuant to said Agreement. Mr. Reid agreed to serve as President and Chief
Executive Officer. Pursuant to said Agreement, we are paying Mr. Reid a base
annual salary of $250,000 from April 1, 2005 through October 31, 2006.
Thereafter, Mr. Reid shall be entitled to receive an annual cash and stock
incentive bonus for each fiscal year based upon a level of accomplishment of
management and performance objectives as established by the Compensation
Committee subject to a minimum bonus of $50,000 for the preceding year on the
basis that the Employment Agreement is renewed after each one year term. At
its
meeting held in October 2006 and in accordance with its remit the Compensation
Committee approved an increase in the base annual salary to $350,000 effective
November 1, 2006. The bonus stipulated for 2005-06 was waived.
At
the
end of each quarter during the contract, Mr. Reid shall be entitled to receive
a
restricted stock grant of $25,000 paid in common stock. The value shall be
calculated using the average closing price for each trading day in that quarter
unless in the opinion of the Compensation Committee the market for the Company’s
common stock lacks sufficient liquidity to establish a market price in which
event the value for the common stock for that quarter will be $1.00 per share.
Mr. Reid is entitled to 40 business days vacation for each calendar year,
reimbursement for business expenses, entitled to directors and officers
liability insurance during his employment with the Company and for a period
of
three years after termination, is entitled to receive up to $15,000 for
relocation expenses to New York and up to $850 per month in lieu of specific
reimbursement expenses for use of a personal vehicle and indemnification to
the
maximum extent permitted by law against all costs and expenses incurred by
him,
including cost of his legal counsel. Mr. Reid is also entitled to participate
in
all Company life, health and disability insurance, pension, deferred
compensation and incentive plans, options and awards, performance bonuses and
other benefits extended by the Company as a matter of policy to its executive
employees. He shall also be entitled, at the Company’s cost, to the benefit of a
disability insurance policy or plan during his employment.
For
the
current fiscal year, the Compensation Committee decided that whilst Mr.
Reid’s remuneration package would remain the same, the breakdown would be
changed as follows: Basic Pay (cash $375,000 instead of $350,000) and stock
$75,000 instead of $100,000. Mr. Reid’s employment contract is deemed amended in
these respects.
Anthony
Davis
On
July
1, 2005, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Anthony Davis.
The Agreement commenced on July 1, 2005 and has an indefinite term until
terminated pursuant to said Agreement. Mr. Davis agreed to serve as Senior
Vice-President, Commercial Division (now President of US Operations). Pursuant
to said Agreement, we are paying Mr. Davis a base annual salary of approximately
$150,000, which is subject to increase at the discretion of the Compensation
Committee. In addition, Mr. Davis is entitled to receive an annual cash and
stock incentive bonus for each fiscal year based upon a level of accomplishment
of management and performance objectives as established by the Compensation
Committee. At its meeting held in October 2006 and in accordance with its remit
the Compensation Committee approved an increase in the base annual salary to
$175,000 effective November 1, 2006.
Mr.
Davis
is entitled to receive 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for services
performed through October 31, 2006 and thereafter $50,000 of common stock
annually, paid quarterly. Mr. Davis is entitled to 35 business days vacation
for
each calendar year, reimbursed for business expenses, entitled to directors
and
officers liability insurance during his employment with the Company and for
a
period of three years after termination, shall receive a mutually agreed upon
amount of relocation expenses to New York and either provided with a vehicle
or
up to $5,000 per annum in lieu of specific reimbursement expenses for use of
a
personal vehicle and indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by law
against all costs and expenses incurred by him, including cost of his legal
counsel. Mr. Davis is also entitled to participate in all Company life, health
and disability insurance, pension, deferred compensation and incentive plans,
options and awards, performance bonuses and other benefits extended by the
Company as a matter of policy to its executive employees. He shall also be
entitled, at the Company’s cost, to the benefit of a disability insurance policy
or plan during his employment.
Blair
Cunningham
On
July
1, 2005, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Blair Cunningham.
The Agreement commenced on July 1, 2005 and has an indefinite term until
terminated pursuant to said Agreement. Mr. Cunningham agreed to serve as Senior
Vice-President, Products Division (now Chief Technology Officer). Pursuant
to
said Agreement, we are paying Mr. Cunningham a base annual salary of
approximately $150,000, which is subject to increase at the discretion of the
Compensation Committee. Mr. Cunningham shall be entitled to receive an annual
cash and stock incentive bonus for each fiscal year based upon a level of
accomplishment of management and performance objectives as established by the
Compensation Committee. At its meeting held in October 2006 and in accordance
with its remit the Compensation Committee approved an increase in the base
annual salary to $175,000, effective November 1, 2006.
Mr.
Cunningham is entitled to receive 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock
for services performed through October 31, 2006 and thereafter $50,000 of common
stock annually, paid quarterly. Mr. Cunningham is entitled to 40 business days
vacation for each calendar year, reimbursed for business expenses, entitled
to
directors and officers liability insurance during his employment with the
Company and for a period of three years after termination, shall receive a
mutually agreed upon amount of relocation expenses to New York and either
provided with a vehicle or up to $5,000 per annum in lieu of specific
reimbursement expenses for use of a personal vehicle and indemnification to
the
maximum extent permitted by law against all costs and expenses incurred by
him,
including cost of his legal counsel. Mr. Cunningham is also entitled to
participate in all Company life, health and disability insurance, pension,
deferred compensation and incentive plans, options and awards, performance
bonuses and other benefits extended by the Company as a matter of policy to
its
executive employees. He shall also be entitled, at the Company’s cost, to the
benefit of a disability insurance policy or plan during his
employment.
Frank
B. Moore
On
May 1,
2006, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Frank B. Moore.
The
Agreement commenced on May 1, 2006 and has an indefinite term until terminated
pursuant to said Agreement. Mr. Moore agreed to serve as Senor Vice-President,
Government Relations. Pursuant to said Agreement, we are paying Mr. Moore a
base
annual salary of approximately $150,000, which is subject to increase at the
discretion of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Moore shall be entitled to receive
an annual cash and stock incentive bonus for each fiscal year based upon a
level
of accomplishment of management and performance objectives as established by
the
Compensation Committee. At its meeting held in October 2006 and in accordance
with its remit the Compensation Committee approved an increase in the base
annual salary to $175,000 effective November 1, 2006.
Mr.
Moore
is entitled to receive 25,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for services
performed through October 31, 2006 and thereafter $50,000 of common stock
annually, paid quarterly. Mr. Moore is entitled to 30 business days vacation
for
each calendar year, reimbursed for business expenses, entitled to directors
and
officers liability insurance during his employment with the Company and for
a
period of three years after termination, shall be provided with either a vehicle
or paid up to $5,000 per annum in lieu of specific reimbursement expenses for
use of a personal vehicle and indemnification to the maximum extent permitted
by
law against all costs and expenses incurred by him, including cost of his legal
counsel. Mr. Moore is also entitled to participate in all Company life, health
and disability insurance, pension, deferred compensation and incentive plans,
options and awards, performance bonuses and other benefits extended by the
Company as a matter of policy to its executive employees. He shall also be
entitled, at the Company’s cost, to the benefit of a disability insurance policy
or plan during his employment.
Angus
Lugsdin
On
July 1
2005, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Mr. Angus Lugsdin.
The Agreement commenced on July 1, 2005 and has an indefinite term until
terminated pursuant to said Agreement. Mr. Lugsdin, at the date of the
employment agreed to serve as Vice President, Strategic Business Development.
Since then Mr. Lugsdin has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Market
Development and the said employment agreement is deemed amended from November
1,
2007. Pursuant to said Agreement, we are paying Mr. Lugsdin a base annual salary
of approximately $175,000, which is subject to increase at the discretion of
the
Compensation Committee. Other terms relating to his compensation package are:
entitlement to (i) receive $50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock issued
quarterly following Board approval; (ii) a minimum of 30 business days vacation
for each calendar year; (iii) Reimbursement against submission of proper
receipts for business expenses; (iv) directors and officers liability insurance
during his employment with the Company and for a period of three years after
termination, and indemnification to the maximum extent permitted by law against
all costs and expenses incurred by him, including cost of his legal counsel;
(vi) participate in all Company life, health and disability insurance, pension,
deferred compensation and incentive plans, options and awards, performance
bonuses and other benefits extended by the Company as a matter of policy to
its
executive employees; (vi) at the Company’s cost, to the benefit of a disability
insurance policy or plan during his employment; (vii) to receive annual cash
and
stock incentive bonus for each fiscal year based upon a level of accomplishment
of management and performance objectives as established by the Compensation
Committee.
Geoff
Turner
On
November 1, 2006, the Company entered into a one year Consulting Agreement
with
Taktos Ltd., a United Kingdom corporation owned by Geoff Turner. The Agreement
requires Taktos Ltd. to provide the services of Geoff Turner during the term
of
the Agreement to provide the following services:
|
(a)
|
assist
the Company’s Management with the analysis and effective and optimal
implementation of its business plan;
|
|
(b)
|
oversee
the Company’s European operations and performance of the
Group;
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|
(c)
|
explore
acquisitions, strategic alliances, partnering opportunities and other
cooperative ventures within and without its industry
focus;
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|
(d)
|
evaluate
possible acquisitions and strategic strategies and partnering candidates,
including the evaluation of targets and the structuring of related
transactions; and
|
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(e)
|
advise
and consult with executive officers with respect to any of the above
described matters.
|
The
Company is paying approximately $178,000 per annum to the consultant for
providing the services of Mr. Turner. Consultant is also entitled to
reimbursement of travel and other expenses. Pursuant to a separate option
agreement with Mr. Turner who serves as an executive officer, the Company has
granted him five year options to purchase 150,000 shares of common stock with
34% having vested on November 1, 2005 and with 33% vesting on each of November
1, 2006 and 2007. He is also entitled to directors and officers liability
insurance during his tenure as an executive officer with the Company and for
a
period of three years after termination. The Compensation Committee approved
in
October 2006 the renewal of this contract and approved an increase in the
compensation package paid for the services of Mr. Turner and with effect from
November 1, 2006 we are paying Taktos Limited $178,000 for his
services.
Jody
Frank
Effective
July 16, 2007, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Jody Frank
to act as our Chief Financial Officer. The Agreement has an indefinite term
until terminated pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. During the first two
years of the Agreement, either party may only terminate the Employment Agreement
for cause. Mr. Frank agreed to serve as Chief Financial Officer. Pursuant to
said Agreement, we will be paying Mr. Frank a base annual salary of
approximately $350,000, which is subject to increase at the discretion of the
Compensation Committee. Mr. Frank will also be entitled to receive an annual
cash and stock incentive bonus for each fiscal year based upon a level of
accomplishment of management and performance objectives as established by the
Compensation Committee.
During
the term of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Frank is also entitled to receive
annually $50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for services rendered,
distributed quarterly. Mr. Frank is entitled to 30 days vacation for each
calendar year, reimbursement for business expenses, and directors and officers
liability insurance during his employment with the Company and for a period
of
three years after termination. The Company will also reimburse Mr. Frank for
up
to $5,000 per annum in lieu of specific reimbursement expenses for use of a
personal vehicle. In addition, Mr. Frank is also entitled to participate in
all
Company life, health and disability insurance, pension, deferred compensation
and incentive plans, options and awards, performance bonuses and other benefits
extended by the Company as a matter of policy to its executive employees. He
is
also entitled, at the Company’s cost, to the benefit of a disability insurance
policy or plan during his employment.
In
respect of all the foregoing officers named, the Compensation Committee decided
not to grant any increases in the level of compensation for the fiscal year
2007-8. The Compensation Committee also decided not to grant any more stock
to
these employees on a quarterly basis (as is provided in their contracts) but
to
grant options instead. Each of their employment contracts is deemed amended
in
this respect.
Termination
Provisions in Employment Agreements
With
the
exception of the employment agreement between the Company and Mr. Jody Frank,
under which neither party may terminate the agreement without cause for the
first two years, the Company may terminate any Executive’s employment at any
time upon 90 days prior written notice, if such termination is for cause as
defined in the Agreement. Executive may terminate his or her Employment
Agreement without good reason upon giving the Company 90 days written notice
or
at the Company’s sole discretion, it may substitute 90 days salary in lieu of
notice. Executive may also terminate his or her Employment Agreement upon
written notice to the Company for good reason as defined in the Agreement.
His
or her Employment Agreement shall also terminate upon his or her death or,
upon
30 days prior written notice of his or her disability, which lasts for a period
of at least 90 days. In the event Executive’s employment is terminated for cause
or without good reason, Executive shall be entitled to the following (“Minimum
Termination Pay and Benefits”):
|
|
·
|
the
unpaid portion of his or her base salary;
|
|
|
·
|
reimbursement
for out-of-pocket expenses;
|
|
|
·
|
continued
insurance benefits to the extent required by law;
|
|
|
·
|
payment
of any vested but unpaid rights as required by any bonus or incentive
pay
or stock plan or any other employee benefit plan; and
|
|
|
·
|
any
unpaid bonus or incentive compensation that was approved (except
in the
case of termination for cause).
|
In
the
event his or her termination is by the Company without cause or by Executive
for
good reason, he or she shall be entitled to the Minimum Termination Pay and
Benefits in addition to the following:
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|
·
|
a
lump sum payment equal to one times the sum of (x) the Executive’s then
current Base Salary and (y) the greater of (A) the average of the
Executive’s bonuses (taking into account a payment of no bonus or a
payment of a bonus of $0) with respect to the preceding three fiscal
years
(or the period of the Executive’s employment if shorter), (B) the
Executive’s bonus with respect to the preceding fiscal year and (C) in the
event that such termination of employment occurs before the first
anniversary of the Commencement Date, the Executive’s annualized projected
bonus for such year (the “Severance Payment”). The Severance Payment shall
be paid to the Executive within 60 days following the Date of
Termination;
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·
|
continued
payment by Coda Octopus for life, health and disability insurance
coverage
and salary and other benefits for the Executive and the Executive’s spouse
and dependents for one year following the Date of Termination to
the same
extent that Coda Octopus paid for such coverage immediately prior
to the
termination of the Executive’s employment and subject to the eligibility
requirements and other terms and conditions of such insurance coverage,
provided that if any such insurance coverage shall become unavailable
during the one year period, Coda Octopus thereafter shall be obliged
only
to pay to the Executive an amount which, after reduction for income
and
employment taxes, is equal to the employer premiums for such insurance
for
the remainder of such severance period; and
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|
|
·
|
vesting
as of the Date of Termination in any unvested portion of any stock
option,
restricted stock and any other long term incentive award previously
issued
to the Executive by Coda Octopus. Each such stock option must be
exercised
by the Executive within 180 days after the Date of Termination or
the date
of the remaining option term, if
earlier.
|
Termination
Following Change in Control
If
during
the employment period and within 12 months following a change in control as
defined in the Employment Agreement, Coda Octopus (or its successor) terminates
the Executive’s employment without cause or the Executive terminates his or her
employment for Good Reason, or the Executive, by notice given during the 90
day
period commencing on the three-month anniversary of the date of the Change
in
Control (the “Notice Period”), terminates his or her employment for any reason,
which termination shall be effective on the last day of the Notice Period,
the
Executive shall be entitled to receive the same termination pay and benefits
as
if he or she were terminated by the Company without cause or by the Executive
for good reason, plus a Tax Gross-up Payment. In the event that any termination
payment or any insurance benefits, accelerated vesting, pro-rated bonus or
other
benefit payable to the Executive (under the Employment Agreement or otherwise),
constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G (as it may be
amended or replaced) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”) and are subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 (as it may be
amended or replaced) of the Code (“the Excise Tax”), then Coda Octopus shall pay
to the Executive an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Amount”) such that the net
benefits retained by the Executive after the deduction of the Excise Tax
(including interest and penalties) and any federal, or local income and
employment taxes (including interest and penalties) upon the Gross-Up Amount
shall be equal to the benefits that would have been delivered hereunder had
the
Excise Tax not been applicable and the Gross-Up Amount not been
paid.
Termination
Provisions of Consulting Agreement Geoff Turner
Consulting
Agreement with Taktos Limited under which the services of Mr. Turner are
provided stipulates that the agreement continues unless terminated by either
party giving 3 months notice in writing.
Stock
Option Plans
2004
Plan
In
October 2004, the Board approved and on June 27, 2006, the stockholders ratified
the Company’s 2004 Employees, Directors, Officers and Consultants Stock Option
and Stock Award Plan (the “2004 Plan”), which provides for, among other things,
the award of up to 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock.
Pursuant
to the 2004 Plan, officers, employees, directors and consultants of the Company
and certain of its subsidiaries are eligible to receive awards of stock options
and restricted stock. Options granted under the 2004 Plan may be ISOs or
non-qualified stock options (“NQSOs”). Restricted stock may be granted in
addition to or in lieu of any other award made under the 2004 Plan.
The
maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved for the grant of awards under
the 2004 Plan is 2,500,000. Such share reserves are subject to further
adjustment in the event of specified changes to the capital structure of the
Company. The shares may be made available either from the Company’s authorized
but unissued capital stock or from capital stock reacquired by the
Company.
The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors administers the 2004 Plan.
The
Compensation Committee may interpret the plan and may at any time adopt such
rules and regulations for the plan as it deems advisable, including the
delegation of certain of its authority. It has delegated authority to the
Company’s management for determining the type of awards, when and to which
executives awards will be granted, the number of shares covered by each award
and the terms, provisions and kind of consideration payable (if any), with
respect to awards. In determining the persons to whom awards shall be granted
and the number of shares covered by each award, the Company’s management takes
into account the duties of the respective persons, their present and potential
contributions to the success of the Company and such other factors as it deems
relevant.
The
Compensation Committee may provide for the payment of the option price in cash,
by delivery of common stock having a fair market value equal to such option
price, by delivery of options or warrants having an intrinsic value equal to
such option price or by a combination thereof or by any other method. Options
granted under the 2004 Plan will become exercisable at such times and under
such
conditions as the Compensation Committee shall determine.
The
Board
of Directors may at any time and from time to time suspend, amend, modify or
terminate the 2004 Plan; provided, however, that, to the extent required by
any
other law, regulation or stock exchange rule, no such change shall be effective
without the requisite approval of the Company’s stockholders. In addition, no
such change may adversely affect an award previously granted, except with the
written consent of the grantee.
The
Company has issued all the options allowable under the 2004 Plan and all of
said
options are Non-qualified options as stockholder approval of the 2004 Plan
was
not obtained within one year of Board approval, as required under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2006
Plan
On
March
2, 2006, the Board approved and on June 27, 2006, the stockholders ratified
the
Company’s 2006 Employees, Directors, Officers and Consultants Stock Option and
Stock Award Plan (the “2006 Plan”), which provides for, among other things, the
award of up to 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock.
Pursuant
to the 2006 Plan, officers, employees, directors and consultants of the Company
and certain of its subsidiaries are eligible to receive awards of stock options
and restricted stock. Options granted under the 2006 Plan may be ISOs or
non-qualified stock options (“NQSOs”). Restricted stock may be granted in
addition to or in lieu of any other award made under the 2006 Plan.
The
maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved for the grant of awards under
the 2006 Plan is 2,500,000. Such share reserves are subject to further
adjustment in the event of specified changes to the capital structure of the
Company. The shares may be made available either from the Company’s authorized
but unissued capital stock or from capital stock reacquired by the
Company.
The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors administers the 2006 Plan.
The
Compensation Committee may interpret the plan and may at any time adopt such
rules and regulations for the plan as it deems advisable, including the
delegation of certain of its authority. It has delegated authority to the
Company’s management for determining the type of awards, when and to which
executives awards will be granted, the number of shares covered by each award
and the terms, provisions and kind of consideration payable (if any), with
respect to awards. In determining the persons to whom awards shall be granted
and the number of shares covered by each award, the Company’s management takes
into account the duties of the respective persons, their present and potential
contributions to the success of the Company and such other factors as it deems
relevant.
An
option
may be granted on such terms and conditions as the Compensation Committee may
approve, and generally may be exercised for a period of up to ten years from
the
date of grant. Generally, ISOs will be granted with an exercise price at the
minimum equal to the “Fair Market Value” on the date of grant. In the case of
ISOs, certain limitations will apply with respect to the aggregate value of
option shares which can become exercisable for the first time during any one
calendar year, and certain additional limitations will apply to ISOs granted
to
“Ten Percent Stockholders” of the Company (as defined in the 2006 Plan). The
Compensation Committee may provide for the payment of the option price in cash,
by delivery of common stock having a fair market value equal to such option
price, by delivery of options or warrants having an intrinsic value equal to
such option price or by a combination thereof or by any other method. Options
granted under the 2006 Plan will become exercisable at such times and under
such
conditions as the Compensation Committee shall determine.
The
Board
of Directors may at any time and from time to time suspend, amend, modify or
terminate the 2006 Plan; provided, however, that, to the extent required by
any
other law, regulation or stock exchange rule, no such change shall be effective
without the requisite approval of the Company’s stockholders. In addition, no
such change may adversely affect an award previously granted, except with the
written consent of the grantee.
As
of
October 31, 2007, we had granted non-qualified options to purchase an aggregate
of 4,535,900 shares of its common stock at exercise prices ranging from $1.00
per share to $1.80 per share, of which 3,484,100 have vested.
New
Stock Option Plan
Under
the
Subscription Agreement entered into between the Company and The Royal Bank
of
Scotland, plc on February 21, 2008, there are certain restrictions on the
adoption of new Stock Option Plans by the Company. In particular, until the
redemption of the notes, the Company may only adopt new stock option plans
on
substantially similar terms to its existing stock option plan 2006 and it may
not issue stock options at a price which is less than $1.05.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Under
the
Exchange Act, our directors, our executive officers, and any persons holding
more than 10% of our common stock are required to report their ownership of
the
common stock and any changes in that ownership to the Securities and Exchange
Commission. To our knowledge, based solely on our review of the copies of such
reports received or written representations from certain reporting persons
that
no other reports were required, we believe that during our fiscal year ended
October 31, 2007 all reporting persons timely filed all such
reports.
Reports
of the Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
follow.
Report
of the Compensation Committee
Philosophy
The
compensation philosophy of the Company is to develop and implement policies
that
will attract and retain executive officers who bring valuable experience and
skills to the Company and motivate them to contribute to the Company’s long-term
success. By maintaining competitive compensation levels, the Company is able
to
attract and retain those individuals who are instrumental in helping it achieve
its business objectives, thereby increasing long-term stockholder
value.
The
Compensation Committee believes that the development of compensation policies
and the review of compensation programs is an evolving process that must take
into account significant corporate developments and market dynamics. To that
end, the Compensation Committee met once during fiscal 2007 to, among other
things, (i) develop a comprehensive list of parameters for use in evaluating
the
performance of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, (ii) discuss, review
and approve bonuses and awards of stock options and restricted stock to
executive officers and (iii) review the base salaries of all executive
officers.
In
fiscal
2008, the Compensation Committee intends to continue to reassess the Company’s
existing compensation policies and to review outstanding executive officer
pay
packages and agreements.
Evaluation
of Executive Performance
When
assessing executive performance, the Compensation Committee does not rely solely
on predetermined formulas. Rather, the Compensation Committee considered each
executive’s overall contributions to the Company’s long-term and short-term
goals. The Compensation Committee, working with senior management of the
Company, has compiled the following list of parameters (listed in no particular
order) for the Compensation Committee to use as it evaluates the performance
of
the Chief Executive Officer:
•
earnings per share;
•
stockholder value;
•
core business growth, revenue growth, revenue
diversification;
•
free cash flow;
•
the strength of the Company’s balance sheet;
•
intellectual property exploitation;
•
legal and regulatory compliance;
•
the extent to which budgetary objectives are met;
•
the development of a strategic vision and a strategic
plan;
•
organizational transparency;
•
increasing revenues, earnings;
•
improving operating margins and successful cost reduction
efforts;
•
expanding the number of geographic markets served;
•
rolling out new products and programs;
•
developing new products; and
•
developing leadership talent.
The
Compensation Committee considers the need for the management of the Company
to
balance short-term goals, such as generating earnings per share, with longer
terms goals, such as fostering the Company’s entrepreneurial investments and
maintaining a strong balance sheet. The success of the effort to balance these
often-competing objectives and their benefits to the Company cannot always
be
quantified, but the Compensation Committee believes that these efforts are
critical to the Company’s on-going success.
Structure
of Compensation Programs
The
Company’s compensation programs provide executives with incentives to advance
both the short-term and long-term interests of the Company. Accordingly, the
Company’s compensation programs of both cash-based and equity-based compensation
consist of base salary, quarterly cash bonuses, annual cash bonuses, stock
options and restricted stock. In addition to reviewing the individual components
of the compensation program, the Compensation Committee also reviews the
totality of the compensation packages.
Base
Salaries and Bonuses
Salaries
and bonuses for the Company’s executive officers are determined primarily on the
basis of each executive officer’s responsibility, the general salary practices
of technology-based companies and each officer’s individual qualifications and
experience.
Bonuses
for the Company’s executive officers are based on various financial and
non-financial results of the Company. By providing an annual bonus, the
Compensation Committee believes that it also provides management with incentives
to also focus on long-term goals and not merely quarter-to-quarter
objectives.
Stock
Option and Restricted Stock Grants
Stock
options and shares of restricted stock are awarded to executive officers and
other employees. Stock options provide value to the executive only when the
Company’s stock price exceeds the stock option exercise price. Accordingly, the
Compensation Committee believes that the appreciation of stock value underlying
stock options provides a strong incentive for recipients of awards to manage
the
Company in accordance with the interests of the Company’s stockholders. Grants
of restricted stock further a sense of stock ownership by executive officers
and
better align their interests with those of the stockholders. The Compensation
Committee determines the number of options or restricted stock to be granted
based on the executive’s level of responsibility, prior performance, and other
compensation.
THE
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Paul
Nussbaum Rodney Peacock
Report
of the Audit Committee
The
primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors
in
its general oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process. The Audit
Committee’s function is more fully described in its charter. The Committee
reviews the charter on an annual basis. The Board of Directors has also
determined that Paul Nussbaum qualifies as an “audit committee financial
expert.”
Management
is responsible for the preparation, presentation, and integrity of the Company’s
financial statements, accounting and financial reporting principles, internal
controls, and procedures designed to ensure compliance with accounting
standards, applicable laws, and regulations. The Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm, RBSM LLP, is responsible for performing
independent audits of (i) the consolidated financial statements and expressing
an opinion on the conformity of those financial statements with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles, (ii) management’s assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and (iii) the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.
THE
AUDIT
COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Paul
Nussbaum Rodney Peacock
PROPOSAL
NO. 2:
APPROVAL
OF THE 2008 EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND CONSULTANTS
STOCK
OPTION AND STOCK AWARD PLAN
At
the
Annual Meeting, the Company's stockholders are being asked to approve the 2008
Employees, Directors, Officers and Consultants Stock Option and Stock Award
Plan
(the "2008 Incentive Plan") and to authorize 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock
for issuance thereunder. The following is a summary of the principal features
of
the 2008 Incentive Plan. The summary, however, does not purport to be a complete
description of all the provisions of the 2008 Incentive Plan and is qualified
by
the terms of the actual plan a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
General
The
2008
Incentive Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on March 26, 2008. The
Board of Directors has initially reserved 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock
for
issuance under the 2008 Incentive Plan. Under the Plan, options may be granted
which are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options ("ISOs") under Section
422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") or which are not
("Non-ISOs") intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options
thereunder.
The
2008
Incentive Plan and the right of participants to make purchases thereunder are
intended to qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423
of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The 2008 Incentive
Plan is not a qualified deferred compensation plan under Section 401(a) of
the
Internal Revenue Code and is not subject to the provisions of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA").
Purpose
The
primary purpose of the 2008 Incentive Plan is to attract and retain the best
available personnel for the Company in order to promote the success of the
Company's business and to facilitate the ownership of the Company's stock by
employees. In the event that the 2008 Incentive Plan is not adopted the Company
may have considerable difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified
personnel, officers, directors and consultants.
Administration
The
2008
Incentive Plan, when approved, will be administered by the Company's Board
of
Directors, as the Board of Directors may be composed from time to time. All
questions of interpretation of the 2008 Incentive Plan are determined by the
Board, and its decisions are final and binding upon all participants. Any
determination by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors at any
meeting, or by written consent in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed to have
been made by the whole Board of Directors.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Board of Directors may at any time, or from time to time,
appoint a committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors, and delegate
to
the Committee the authority of the Board of Directors to administer the Plan.
Upon such appointment and delegation, the Committee shall have all the powers,
privileges and duties of the Board of Directors, and shall be substituted for
the Board of Directors, in the administration of the Plan, subject to certain
limitations.
Members
of the Board of Directors who are eligible employees are permitted to
participate in the 2008 Incentive Plan and may vote on any matter affecting
the
administration of the 2008 Incentive Plan or the grant of any option pursuant
to
it. In the event that any member of the Board of Directors is at any time not
a
"disinterested person" to the extent that such member is the recipient of a
grant under the 2008 Incentive Plan, then such grant under the Plan shall not
be
administered by said member of the Board of Directors, and may only by
administered by a Committee all the members of which are disinterested persons,
as so defined or by the remaining members of the Board of Directors who are
not
recipients of the grant in question.
Eligibility
Under
the
2008 Incentive Plan, options may be granted to key employees, officers,
directors or consultants of the Company and its affiliates, as provided in
the
2008 Incentive Plan.
Terms
of Options
The
term
of each Option granted under the 2008 Incentive Plan shall be contained in
a
stock option agreement between the Optionee and the Company and such terms
shall
be determined by the Board of Directors consistent with the provisions of the
2008 Incentive Plan, including the following :
(a)
Purchase Price. The purchase price of the Common Shares subject to each ISO
shall not be less than the fair market value (as set forth in the 2008 Incentive
Plan), or in the case of the grant of an ISO to a Principal Stockholder, not
less that 110% of fair market value of such Common Shares at the time such
Option is granted. The purchase price of the Common Shares subject to each
Non-ISO shall be determined at the time such Option is granted.
(b)
Vesting. The dates on which each Option (or portion thereof) shall be
exercisable and the conditions precedent to such exercise, if any, shall be
fixed by the Board of Directors, in its discretion, at the time such Option
is
granted.
(c)
Expiration. The expiration of each Option shall be fixed by the Board of
Directors, in its discretion, at the time such Option is granted; however,
unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors at the time such Option
is
granted, an Option shall be exercisable for five (5) years after the date on
which it was granted (the "Grant Date"). Each Option shall be subject to earlier
termination as expressly provided in the 2008 Incentive Plan or as determined
by
the Board of Directors, in its discretion, at the time such Option is
granted.
(d)
Transferability. No Option shall be transferable, except by will or the laws
of
descent and distribution, and, during the lifetime of the Optionee, Options
may
be exercised by the Optionee only. No Option granted under the Plan shall be
subject to execution, attachment or other process.
(e)
Option Adjustments. The aggregate number and class of shares as to which Options
may be granted under the Plan, the number and class of shares covered by each
outstanding Option and the exercise price per share thereof (but not the total
price), and all such Options, shall each be proportionately adjusted for any
increase decrease in the number of issued Common Shares resulting from split-up
spin-off or consolidation of shares or any like Capital adjustment or the
payment of any stock dividend.
(f)
Termination, Modification and Amendment. The 2008 Incentive Plan (but not
Options previously granted under the Plan) shall terminate ten (10) years from
the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors, and no Option shall be
granted after termination of the Plan. Subject to certain restrictions, the
Plan
may at any time be terminated and from time to time be modified or amended
by
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares
of
the capital stock of the Company present, or represented, and entitled to vote
at a meeting duly held in accordance with the applicable laws of the State
of
Delaware.
Federal
Income Tax Aspects of the 2008 Incentive Plan
THE
FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UPON
THE
PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE PURCHASE OF SHARES UNDER THE
2008 INCENTIVE PLAN. THIS SUMMARY DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND DOES
NOT
ADDRESS THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO TAXPAYERS WITH SPECIAL TAX
STATUS. IN ADDITION, THIS SUMMARY DOES NOT DISCUSS THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME
TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE PARTICIPANT
MAY RESIDE, AND DOES NOT DISCUSS ESTATE, GIFT OR OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OTHER
THAN INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES. THE COMPANY ADVISES EACH PARTICIPANT TO CONSULT
HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PARTICIPATION
IN
THE 2008 INCENTIVE PLAN AND FOR REFERENCE TO APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE
CODE.
The
2008
Incentive Plan and the right of participants to make purchases thereunder are
intended to qualify under the provisions of Sections 421, 422 and 423 of the
Code. Under these provisions, no income will be recognized by a participant
prior to disposition of shares acquired under the 2008 Incentive
Plan.
If
the
shares are sold or otherwise disposed of (including by way of gift) more than
two years after the first day of the offering period during which shares were
purchased (the "Offering Date"), a participant will recognize as ordinary income
at the time of such disposition the lesser of (a) the excess of the fair market
value of the shares at the time of such disposition over the purchase price
of
the shares or (b) 15% of the fair market value of the shares on the first day
of
the offering period. Any further gain or loss upon such disposition will be
treated as long-term capital gain or loss. If the shares are sold for a sale
price less than the purchase price, there is no ordinary income and the
participant has a capital loss for the difference.
If
the
shares are sold or otherwise disposed of (including by way of gift) before
the
expiration of the two-year holding period described above, the excess of the
fair market value of the shares on the purchase date over the purchase price
will be treated as ordinary income to the participant. This excess will
constitute ordinary income in the year of sale or other disposition even if
no
gain is realized on the sale or a gift of the shares is made. The balance of
any
gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss and will be treated as
long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held more than one
year.
In
the
case of a participant who is subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act,
the
purchase date for purposes of calculating such participant's compensation income
and beginning of the capital gain holding period may be deferred for up to
six
months under certain circumstances. Such individuals should consult with their
personal tax advisors prior to buying or selling shares under the 2008 Incentive
Plan.
The
ordinary income reported under the rules described above, added to the actual
purchase price of the shares, determines the tax basis of the shares for the
purpose of determining capital gain or loss on a sale or exchange of the
shares.
The
Company is entitled to a deduction for amounts taxed as ordinary income to
a
participant only to the extent that ordinary income must be reported upon
disposition of shares by the participant before the expiration of the two-year
holding period described above.
Restrictions
on Resale
Certain
officers and directors of the Company may be deemed to be "affiliates" of the
Company as that term is defined under the Securities Act. The Common Stock
acquired under the 2008 Incentive Plan by an affiliate may be reoffered or
resold only pursuant to an effective registration statement or pursuant to
Rule
144 under the Securities Act or another exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.
Required
Vote
The
approval of the 2008 Incentive Plan and the reservation of 2,500,000 shares
for
issuance requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
shares of the Company's Common Stock present at the Annual Meeting in person
or
by proxy and entitled to vote and constituting at least a majority of the
required quorum.
The
proxy
holders intend to vote the shares represented by proxies to approve the 2008
Incentive Plan.
RECOMMENDATION
OF THE BOARD:
THE
BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE 2008 INCENTIVE
PLAN.
PROPOSAL
NO. 3:
APPROVAL
OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES
TO
150,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.
At
the
Annual Meeting, the Company's stockholders are being asked to approve an
amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to increase the number
of shares of common stock it is authorized to issue to 150,000,000. The
Company’s certificate of incorporation currently authorizes the issuance of
105,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 5,000,000 shares are classified
as
preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 100,000,000 shares are
classified as common stock, par value $0.001 per share. The purpose of the
amendment to the Company’s charter is to increase the authorized shares of
capital stock to 155,000,000, of which 5,000,000 shares are classified as
preferred stock, and 150,000,000 shares are classified as common stock. On
March
26, 2008, the Board of Directors adopted a resolution authorizing the amendment,
subject to stockholder approval.
Adoption
of this proposal would permit the Board of Directors, without further approval
of the stockholders (except as may be required by applicable law or stock
exchange listing requirements), to issue additional shares of common stock
from
time to time as the Board of Directors may determine, for such consideration
as
the Board of Directors establishes. In addition to providing the Company with
the ability to issue shares under its equity compensation, employee benefit
and
stockholder investment plans, the availability of additional shares of common
stock would provide flexibility in structuring possible acquisitions of other
businesses, enable the Company to raise additional equity capital if and when
needed, and enable the Board of Directors, in its discretion, to declare stock
splits or stock dividends in the future. The additional shares of common stock
would enable us to act quickly in response to opportunities that may arise
for
these types of transactions, without the necessity of obtaining further
stockholder approval, except as may be required by applicable law or stock
exchange listing requirements. The Company has no present plans, arrangements,
or understandings with respect to possible acquisitions or financings requiring
the availability of additional authorized common stock. However, we review
and
evaluate potential capital-raising activities, strategic transactions and other
fundamental corporate transactions on an on-going basis to determine if such
transactions would be in the best interests of us and our stockholders, and
any
such transaction could involve the issuance of some or all of our authorized
but
unissued common stock.
The
amendment may be viewed as having the possible effect of diluting the stock
ownership of current stockholders to the extent that some or all of the
additional authorized shares of common stock are issued in the future. In
addition, the ability to issue additional shares of common stock could
discourage, under certain circumstances, an unsolicited attempt by another
person or entity to acquire control of the Company. Although the Board of
Directors has no present intention of doing so, the Company’s authorized but
unissued common stock could be issued in one or more transactions which would
make a takeover of the Company more difficult or costly. Notwithstanding the
above, the proposed charter amendment will ensure that the Company continues
to
have additional shares available for future issuance from time to time as
approved by the Board of Directors for any proper corporate purpose, including
those referenced above.
Effective
Date of the Charter Amendment
If
the
charter amendment is adopted by the required vote of stockholders, the charter
amendment will become effective when the Articles of Amendment to the Company’s
charter are filed with and accepted for record by the Secretary of State of
the
State of Delaware. The Company anticipates that this filing will be made
promptly following the Annual Meeting, or as soon as practicable
thereafter.
RECOMMENDATION
OF THE BOARD:
THE
BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION
PROPOSAL
NO. 4:
RATIFICATION
OF RBSM LLP AS
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED
PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2008
General
The
Audit
Committee has appointed RBSM LLP (formerly Russell Bedford Stefanou Mirchandani
LLP), as the independent registered public accounting firm of Coda Octopus
Group, Inc. for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2008. A member of RBSM LLP
will be at the annual meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement
and answer appropriate questions. If the stockholders fail to ratify RBSM LLP
as
the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee will
reconsider its selection.
Fees
Audit
Fees. The aggregate fees billed by RBSM LLP for professional services rendered
for the audit of the Company's annual financial statements for the last two
fiscal years and for the reviews of the financial statements included in the
Company's Quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB during the last two fiscal years
2007
and 2006 were $268,992 and $92,314, respectively.
Audit-Related
Fees. The aggregate fees billed by RBSM LLP for professional services rendered
in connection with the audits of acquired businesses, the review of and consent
to the filing of registration statements, and assistance in responding to
comment letters issued by the Securities & Exchange Commission during the
last two fiscal years 2007 and 2006 were $134,562 and $0,
respectively.
Tax
Fees.
The aggregate fees billed by the Company's principal accountants for tax
compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
OTHER
MATTERS
The
Board
of Directors knows of no other business that will be presented at the Annual
Meeting. If any other business is properly brought before the Annual Meeting,
it
is intended that proxies granted will be voted in respect thereof in accordance
with the judgments of the persons voting the proxies.
It
is
important that the proxies be returned promptly and that your shares be
represented. Stockholders are urged to fill in, sign and promptly return the
accompanying form in the enclosed envelope.
BY
ORDER
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
June
10,
2008
EXHIBIT
A
CODA
OCTOPUS GROUP, INC.
2008
INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN
SECTION
1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.
The
purpose of the Coda Octopus Group, Inc. 2008 Employees, Directors and Officers
Consultants Stock Option and Stock Award Plan (“Plan”) is to maintain the
ability of Coda Octopus Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
its subsidiaries to attract and retain highly qualified and experienced
directors, officers, employees and consultants and to give directors, officers,
employees and consultants a continued proprietary interest in the success of
the
Company and its subsidiaries. In addition, the Plan is intended to encourage
ownership of common stock, $.001 par value (“Common Stock”), of the Company by
the employees, directors, officers, and consultants of the Company and of its
Affiliates (as defined below) and to provide increased incentive for such
persons to render services and to exert maximum effort for the success of the
Company business. The Plan provides eligible employees, directors, officers,
consultants and affiliates the opportunity to participate in the enhancement
of
shareholder value by the grants of options, stock appreciation rights, awards
of
restricted stock, bonuses and/or fees payable in unrestricted stock, or any
combination thereof. In addition, the Company expects that the Plan will further
strengthen the identification of the directors, officers, employees and
consultants with the stockholders. Certain options to be granted under this
Plan
are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options (“ISOs”) pursuant to Section
422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), while other
options granted under this Plan will be nonqualified options which are not
intended to qualify as ISOs (“Nonqualified Options”), either or both as provided
in the agreements evidencing the options as provided in Section 6 hereof.
Employees, consultants and directors who participate or become eligible to
participate in this Plan from time to time are referred to collectively herein
as “Participants.” As used in this Plan, the term “Affiliates” means any “parent
corporation” of the Company and any “subsidiary corporation” of the Company
within the meaning of Code Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively.
SECTION
2. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.
(a)
Composition
of Committee.
The
Plan
shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) or
a committee of the Board. When acting in such capacity the Board is herein
referred to as the “Committee,” which shall also designate the Chairman of the
Committee. If the Company is governed by Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), no director shall serve as a
member of the Committee unless he or she is a “disinterested person” within the
meaning of such Rule 16b-3.
(b)
Committee
Action.
The
Committee shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it may determine.
A majority of its members shall constitute a quorum, and all determinations
of
the Committee shall be made by not less than a majority of its members. Any
decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by a majority of the
members shall be fully as effective as if it had been made by a majority vote
of
its members at a meeting duly called and held. The Committee may designate
the
Secretary of the Company or other Company employees to assist the Committee
in
the administration of the Plan, and may grant authority to such persons to
execute award agreements or other documents on behalf of the Committee and
the
Company. Any duly constituted committee of the Board satisfying the
qualifications of this Section 2 may be appointed as the
Committee.
(c)
Committee
Expenses.
All
expenses and liabilities incurred by the Committee in the administration of
the
Plan shall be borne by the Company. The Committee may employ attorneys,
consultants, accountants or other persons.
SECTION
3. STOCK RESERVED FOR THE PLAN.
Subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 6(m) hereof, the aggregate number of Shares
that may be optioned or issued under the Plan is 2,500,000. The Shares subject
to the Plan shall consist of authorized but unissued Shares and such number
of
shares shall be and is hereby reserved for sale for such purpose. Any of such
Shares which may remain unsold and which are not subject to outstanding options
at the termination of the Plan shall cease to be reserved for the purpose of
the
Plan, but until termination of the Plan or the termination of the last of the
options granted under the Plan, whichever last occurs, the Company shall at
all
times reserve a sufficient number of shares to meet the requirements of the
Plan. Should any option expire or be canceled prior to its exercise in full,
the
Shares theretofore subject to such option may again be made subject to an option
under the Plan.
Immediately
upon the grant of any option or award, the number of Shares that may be issued
or optioned under the Plan will be increased. The increase shall be an amount
such that immediately after such increase the total number of Shares issuable
under the Plan and reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options
will equal not more than 20% of the total number of issued and outstanding
Shares. Such increase in the number of Shares subject to the Plan shall occur
without the necessity of any further corporate action of any kind or
character.
SECTION
4. ELIGIBILITY.
The
Participants shall include directors, employees, including officers, of the
Company and its divisions and subsidiaries, and consultants and attorneys who
provide bona
fide
services
to the Company. Participants are eligible to be granted options, restricted
stock, unrestricted stock and other awards under this Plan and to have their
bonuses and/or consulting fees payable in restricted stock, unrestricted stock
and other awards. A Participant who has been granted an option hereunder may
be
granted an additional option or options, if the Committee shall so
determine.
SECTION
5. GRANT OF OPTIONS.
(a)
Discretion.
The
Committee shall have sole and absolute discretionary authority (i) to determine,
authorize, and designate those persons pursuant to this Plan who are to receive
options, restricted Shares or non-restricted Shares under the Plan, (ii) to
determine the number of Shares to be covered by such grant or such options
and
the terms thereof, (iii) to determine the type of Shares granted: restricted
Shares, unrestricted Shares or a combination of both, and (iv) to determine
the
type of option granted: ISO, nonqualified option or a combination of both
determinations as evidenced by a written option agreement. Subject to the
express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have discretionary authority
to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan,
to
interpret the Plan, to prescribe and amend the terms of the option agreements
(which need not be identical) and to make all other determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
(b)
Stockholder
Approval.
All
ISOs
granted under this Plan are subject to, and may not be exercised before, the
approval of this Plan by the stockholders prior to the first anniversary date
of
the Board meeting held to approve the Plan, by the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company present, or
represented by proxy, and entitled to vote thereat, or by written consent in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, provided that if such
approval by the stockholders of the Company is not forthcoming, all options
and
stock awards previously granted under this Plan other than ISOs shall be valid
in all respects.
(c)
Limitation
on Incentive Stock Options.
The
aggregate fair market value (determined in accordance with Section 6(b) of
this
Plan at the time the option is granted) of the Common Stock with respect to
which ISOs may be exercisable for the first time by any Participant during
any
calendar year under all such plans of the Company and its Affiliates shall
not
exceed $1,000,000.
SECTION
6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
Each
option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an agreement, in a form
approved by the Committee, which shall be subject to the following express
terms
and conditions and to such other terms and conditions as the Committee may
deem
appropriate.
(a)
Option
Period.
The
Committee shall promptly notify the Participant of the option grant and a
written agreement shall promptly be executed and delivered by and on behalf
of
the Company and the Participant, provided that the option grant shall expire
if
a written agreement is not signed by said Participant (or his agent or attorney)
and returned to the Company within 60 days from date of receipt by the
Participant of such agreement. The date of grant shall be the date the option
is
actually granted by the Committee, even though the written agreement may be
executed and delivered by the Company and the Participant after that date.
Each
option agreement shall specify the period for which the option thereunder is
granted (which in no event shall exceed ten years from the date of grant) and
shall provide that the option shall expire at the end of such period. If the
original term of an option is less than ten years from the date of grant, the
option may be amended prior to its expiration, with the approval of the
Committee and the Participant, to extend the term so that the term as amended
is
not more than ten years from the date of grant. However, in the case of an
ISO
granted to an individual who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more
than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
of
the Company or its Affiliate (“Ten Percent Stockholder”), such period shall not
exceed five years from the date of grant.
(b)
Option
Price.
The
purchase price of each Share subject to each option granted pursuant to the
Plan
shall be determined by the Committee at the time the option is granted and,
in
the case of ISOs, shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a
Share on the date the option is granted, as determined by the Committee. In
the
case of an ISO granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, the option price shall
not
be less than 110% of the fair market value of a Share on the date the option
is
granted. The purchase price of each Share subject to a Nonqualified Option
under
this Plan shall be determined by the Committee prior to granting the option.
The
Committee shall set the purchase price for each Share subject to a Nonqualified
Option at either the fair market value of each Share on the date the option
is
granted, or at such other price as the Committee in its sole discretion shall
determine.
At
the
time a determination of the fair market value of a Share is required to be
made
hereunder, the determination of its fair market value shall be made by the
Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate.
(c)
Exercise
Period.
The
Committee may provide in the option agreement that an option may be exercised
in
whole, immediately, or is to be exercisable in increments. In addition, the
Committee may provide that the exercise of all or part of an option is subject
to specified performance by the Participant. However, no portion of any option
may be exercisable by a Participant prior to the approval of the Plan by the
stockholders of the Company.
(d)
Procedure
for Exercise.
Options
shall be exercised by the delivery of written notice to the Secretary of the
Company setting forth the number of shares with respect to which the option
is
being exercised. Such notice shall be accompanied by cash or cashier’s check,
bank draft, postal or express money order payable to the order of the Company,
or at the option of the Committee, in Common Stock theretofore owned by such
Participant (or any combination of cash and Common Stock). Notice may also
be
delivered by fax or telecopy provided that the purchase price of such shares
is
delivered to the Company via wire transfer on the same day the fax is received
by the Company. The notice shall specify the address to which the certificates
for such shares are to be mailed. A Participant shall be deemed to be a
stockholder with respect to Shares covered by an option on the date the Company
receives such written notice and such option payment. As promptly as practicable
after receipt of such written notification and payment, the Company shall
deliver to the Participant certificates for the number of shares with respect
to
which such option has been so exercised, issued in the Participant’s name or
such other name as Participant directs; provided, however, that such delivery
shall be deemed effected for all purposes when a stock transfer agent of the
Company shall have deposited such certificates in the United States mail,
addressed to the Participant at the address specified pursuant to this Section
6(d).
(e)
Termination
of Employment.
If
an
executive officer to whom an option is granted ceases to be employed by the
Company for any reason other than death or disability, any option which is
exercisable on the date of such termination of employment may be exercised
during a period beginning on such date and ending at the time set forth in
the
option agreement; provided, however, that if a Participant’s employment is
terminated because of the Participant’s theft or embezzlement from the Company,
disclosure of trade secrets of the Company or the commission of a willful,
felonious act while in the employment of the Company (such reasons shall
hereinafter be collectively referred to as “for cause”), then any option or
unexercised portion thereof granted to said Participant shall expire upon such
termination of employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no ISO may be
exercised later than three months after an employee’s termination of employment
for any reason other than death or disability.
(f)
Disability
or Death of Participant
.
In
the
event of the determination of disability or death of a Participant under the
Plan while he or she is employed by the Company, the options previously granted
to him may be exercised (to the extent he or she would have been entitled to
do
so at the date of the determination of disability or death) at any time and
from
time to time, within a period beginning on the date of such determination of
disability or death and ending at the time set forth in the option agreement,
by
the former employee, the guardian of his estate, the executor or administrator
of his estate or by the person or persons to whom his rights under the option
shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution, but in no event
may
the option be exercised after its expiration under the terms of the option
agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no ISO may be exercised later than
one
year after the determination of disability or death. A Participant shall be
deemed to be disabled if, in the opinion of a physician selected by the
Committee, he or she is incapable of performing services for the Company of
the
kind he or she was performing at the time the disability occurred by reason
of
any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected
to result in death or to be of long, continued and indefinite duration. The
date
of determination of disability for purposes hereof shall be the date of such
determination by such physician.
(g)
Assignability.
An
option
shall not be assignable or otherwise transferable except by will or by the
laws
of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order
as defined in the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act, as amended, or the rules thereunder. During the lifetime of a Participant,
an option shall be exercisable only by the Participant.
(h)
Incentive
Stock Options.
Each
option agreement may contain such terms and provisions as the Committee may
determine to be necessary or desirable in order to qualify an option designated
as an incentive stock option.
(i)
Restricted
Stock Awards.
Awards
of
restricted stock under this Plan shall be subject to all the applicable
provisions of this Plan, including the following terms and conditions, and
to
such other terms and conditions not inconsistent therewith, as the Committee
shall determine:
(A)
Awards of restricted stock may be in addition to or in lieu of option
grants. Awards may be conditioned on the attainment of particular performance
goals based on criteria established by the Committee at the time of each award
of restricted stock. During a period set forth in the agreement (the
“Restriction Period”), the recipient shall not be permitted to sell, transfer,
pledge, or otherwise encumber the shares of restricted stock; except that such
shares may be used, if the agreement permits, to pay the option price pursuant
to any option granted under this Plan, provided an equal number of shares
delivered to the Participant shall carry the same restrictions as the shares
so
used. Shares of restricted stock shall become free of all restrictions if during
the Restriction Period, (i) the recipient dies, (ii) the recipient’s
directorship, employment, or consultancy terminates by reason of permanent
disability, as determined by the Committee, (iii) the recipient retires after
attaining both 59 1/2 years of age and five years of continuous service with
the
Company and/or a division or subsidiary, or (iv) if provided in the agreement,
there is a “change in control” of the Company (as defined in such agreement).
The Committee may require medical evidence of permanent disability, including
medical examinations by physicians selected by it. Unless and to the extent
otherwise provided in the agreement, shares of restricted stock shall be
forfeited and revert to the Company upon the recipient’s termination of
directorship, employment or consultancy during the Restriction Period for any
reason other than death, permanent disability, as determined by the Committee,
retirement after attaining both 59 1/2 years of age and five years of continuous
service with the Company and/or a subsidiary or division, or, to the extent
provided in the agreement, a “change in control” of the Company (as defined in
such agreement), except to the extent the Committee, in its sole discretion,
finds that such forfeiture might not be in the best interests of the Company
and, therefore, waives all or part of the application of this provision to
the
restricted stock held by such recipient. Certificates for restricted stock
shall
be registered in the name of the recipient but shall be imprinted with the
appropriate legend and returned to the Company by the recipient, together with
a
stock power endorsed in blank by the recipient. The recipient shall be entitled
to vote shares of restricted stock and shall be entitled to all dividends paid
thereon, except that dividends paid in Common Stock or other property shall
also
be subject to the same restrictions.
(B)
Restricted Stock shall become free of the foregoing restrictions upon
expiration of the applicable Restriction Period and the Company shall then
deliver to the recipient Common Stock certificates evidencing such stock.
Restricted stock and any Common Stock received upon the expiration of the
restriction period shall be subject to such other transfer restrictions and/or
legend requirements as are specified in the applicable agreement.
(j)
Bonuses and Past Salaries and Fees Payable in Unrestricted
Stock.
(A)
In lieu of cash bonuses otherwise payable under the Company’s or
applicable division’s or subsidiary’s compensation practices to employees and
consultants eligible to participate in this Plan, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may determine that such bonuses shall be payable in restricted
or
unrestricted Common Stock or partly in Common Stock and partly in cash. Such
bonuses shall be in consideration of services previously performed and as an
incentive toward future services and shall consist of shares of unrestricted
Common Stock subject to such terms as the Committee may determine in its sole
discretion. The number of shares of unrestricted Common Stock payable in lieu
of
a bonus otherwise payable shall be determined by dividing such bonus amount
by
the fair market value of one share of Common Stock on the date the bonus is
payable, with fair market value determined as of such date in accordance with
Section 6(b). In the event restricted Common Stock is issued in lieu of a bonus,
a discount to fair market value may be taken at the discretion of the
Committee.
(B)
In lieu of salaries and fees otherwise payable by the Company’s to
employees, attorneys and consultants eligible to participate in this Plan that
were incurred for services rendered during 2004, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may determine that such unpaid salaries and fees shall be payable
in
restricted or unrestricted Common Stock or partly in Common Stock and partly
in
cash. Such awards shall be in consideration of services previously performed
and
as an incentive toward future services and shall consist of shares of
unrestricted Common Stock subject to such terms as the Committee may determine
in its sole discretion. The number of shares of unrestricted Common Stock
payable in lieu of salaries and fees otherwise payable shall be determined
by
dividing each calendar month’s of unpaid salary or fee amount by the average
trading value of the Common Stock for the calendar month during which the
subject services were provided. In the event restricted Common Stock is issued
in lieu of salary, a discount to fair market value may be taken at the
discretion of the Committee.
(k)
No
Rights as Stockholder.
No
Participant shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to shares
covered by an option until the option is exercised by the written notice and
accompanied by payment as provided in clause (d) above.
(l)
Extraordinary
Corporate Transactions.
The
existence of outstanding options shall not affect in any way the right or power
of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments,
recapitalizations, reorganizations, exchanges, or other changes in the Company’s
capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the
Company, or any issuance of Common Stock or other securities or subscription
rights thereto, or any issuance of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior
preference stock ahead of or affecting the Common Stock or the rights thereof,
or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of
all
or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding,
whether of a similar character or otherwise. If the Company recapitalizes or
otherwise changes its capital structure, or merges, consolidates, sells all
of
its assets or dissolves (each of the foregoing a “Fundamental Change”), then
thereafter upon any exercise of an option theretofore granted the Participant
shall be entitled to purchase under such option, in lieu of the number of Shares
as to which option shall then be exercisable, the number and class of Shares
and
other securities to which the Participant would have been entitled pursuant
to
the terms of the Fundamental Change if, immediately prior to such Fundamental
Change, the Participant had been the holder of record of the number of Shares
as
to which such option is then exercisable. If (i) the Company shall not be the
surviving entity in any merger or consolidation (or survives only as a
subsidiary of another entity), (ii) the Company sells all or substantially
all
of its assets to any other person or entity (other than a wholly-owned
subsidiary), (iii) any person or entity (including a “group” as contemplated by
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) acquires or gains ownership or control
of
(including, without limitation, power to vote) more than 50% of the outstanding
Shares, (iv) the Company is to be dissolved and liquidated, or (v) as a result
of or in connection with a contested election of directors, the persons who
were
directors of the Company before such election shall cease to constitute a
majority of the Board (each such event in clauses (i) through (v) above is
referred to herein as a “Corporate Change”), the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may accelerate the time at which all or a portion of a Participant’s
options may be exercised for a limited period of time before or after a
specified date.
(m)
Changes
in Company’s Capital Structure.
If
the
outstanding Shares or other securities of the Company, or both, for which the
option is then exercisable shall at any time be changed or exchanged by
declaration of a stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares,
recapitalization, or reorganization, the number and kind of Shares or other
securities which are subject to the Plan or subject to any options theretofore
granted, and the option prices, shall be appropriately and equitably adjusted
so
as to maintain the proportionate number of shares or other securities without
changing the aggregate option price.
(n)
Acceleration
of Options.
Except
as
hereinbefore expressly provided, (i) the issuance by the Company of Shares
or
any class of securities convertible into Shares of any class, for cash,
property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights
or
warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations
of
the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, (ii) the payment
of a dividend in property other than Common Stock or (iii) the occurrence of
any
similar transaction, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not
affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to,
the
number of Shares subject to options theretofore granted or the purchase price
per share, unless the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, that
an
adjustment is necessary to provide equitable treatment to Participant.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, the Committee
may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the time at which any option may be
exercised, including, but not limited to, upon the occurrence of the events
specified in this Section 6, and is authorized at any time (with the consent
of
the Participant) to purchase options pursuant to Section 7.
SECTION
7. RELINQUISHMENT OF OPTIONS.
(a)
The Committee, in granting options hereunder, shall have discretion to
determine whether or not options shall include a right of relinquishment as
hereinafter provided by this Section 7. The Committee shall also have discretion
to determine whether an option agreement evidencing an option initially granted
by the Committee without a right of relinquishment shall be amended or
supplemented to include such a right of relinquishment. Neither the Committee
nor the Company shall be under any obligation or incur any liability to any
person by reason of the Committee’s refusal to grant or include a right of
relinquishment in any option granted hereunder or in any option agreement
evidencing the same. Subject to the Committee’s determination in any case that
the grant by it of a right of relinquishment is consistent with Section 1
hereof, any option granted under this Plan, and the option agreement evidencing
such option, may provide:
(i)
That the Participant, or his or her heirs or other legal representatives
to the extent entitled to exercise the option under the terms thereof, in lieu
of purchasing the entire number of shares subject to purchase thereunder, shall
have the right to relinquish all or any part of the then unexercised portion
of
the option (to the extent then exercisable) for a number of Shares to be
determined in accordance with the following provisions of this clause
(i):
(A)
The written notice of exercise of such right of relinquishment shall
state the percentage of the total number of Shares issuable pursuant to such
relinquishment (as defined below) that the Participant elects to
receive;
(B)
The number of Shares, if any, issuable pursuant to such relinquishment
shall be the number of such shares, rounded to the next greater number of full
shares, as shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the
Appreciated Value by (ii) the purchase price for each of the Shares specified
in
such option; (x) the total current market value of the Shares covered by the
option or the portion thereof to be relinquished over (y) the total purchase
price for such shares specified in such option;
(ii)
That such right of relinquishment may be exercised only upon receipt by
the Company of a written notice of such relinquishment which shall be dated
the
date of election to make such relinquishment; and that, for the purposes of
this
Plan, such date of election shall be deemed to be the date when such notice
is
sent by registered or certified mail, or when receipt is acknowledged by the
Company, if mailed by other than registered or certified mail or if delivered
by
hand or by any telegraphic communications equipment of the sender or otherwise
delivered, provided, that, in the event the method just described for
determining such date of election shall not be or remain consistent with the
provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations
adopted by the Commission thereunder, as presently existing or as may be
hereafter amended, which regulations exempt from the operation of Section 16(b)
of the Exchange Act in whole or in part any such relinquishment transaction,
then such date of election shall be determined by such other method consistent
with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder
as the Committee shall in its discretion select and apply;
(iii)
That the “current market value” of a share of Common Stock on a
particular date shall be deemed to be its fair market value on that date as
determined in accordance with Paragraph 6(b); and
(iv)
That the option, or any portion thereof, may be relinquished only to the
extent that (A) it is exercisable on the date written notice of relinquishment
is received by the Company, and
(B)
the
holder of such option pays, or makes provision satisfactory to the Company
for
the payment of, any taxes which the Company is obligated to collect with respect
to such relinquishment.
(b)
The Committee shall have sole discretion to consent to or disapprove, and
neither the Committee nor the Company shall be under any liability by reason
of
the Committee’s disapproval of, any election by a holder of an option to
relinquish such option in whole or in part as provided in Paragraph 7(a), except
that no such consent to or approval of a relinquishment shall be required under
the following circumstances. Each Participant who is subject to the short-swing
profits recapture provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (“Covered
Participant”) shall not be entitled to receive Shares when options are
relinquished during any window period commencing on the third business day
following the Company’s release of a quarterly or annual summary statement of
sales and earnings and ending on the twelfth business day following such release
(“Window Period”). A Covered Participant shall be entitled to receive Shares
upon the relinquishment of options outside a Window Period.
(c)
The Committee, in granting options hereunder, shall have discretion to
determine the terms upon which such options shall be relinquishable, subject
to
the applicable provisions of this Plan, and including such provisions as are
deemed advisable to permit the exemption from the operation from Section 16(b)
of the Exchange Act of any such relinquishment transaction, and options
outstanding, and option agreements evidencing such options, may be amended,
if
necessary, to permit such exemption. If an option is relinquished, such option
shall be deemed to have been exercised to the extent of the number of Shares
covered by the option or part thereof which is relinquished, and no further
options may be granted covering such Shares.
(d)
Neither any option nor any right to relinquish the same to the Company as
contemplated by this Paragraph 7 shall be assignable or otherwise transferable
except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a
qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended, or the rules
thereunder.
(e)
Except as provided in Section 7(f) below, no right of relinquishment may
be exercised within the first six months after the initial award of any Option
containing, or the amendment or supplementation of any existing option agreement
adding, the right relinquishment.
(f)
No right of relinquishment may be exercised after the initial award of
any option containing, or the amendment or supplementation of any existing
option agreement adding the right of relinquishment, unless such right of
relinquishment is effective upon the Participant’s death, disability or
termination of his relationship with the Company for a reason other than “for
cause.”
SECTION
8. AMENDMENTS OR TERMINATION.
The
Board
may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment or alteration shall
be made which would impair the rights of any Participant, without his consent,
under any option theretofore granted, or which, without the approval of the
stockholders, would: (i) except as is provided in Section 6(k) of the Plan,
increase the total number of shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan
(except pursuant to Section 3 of the Plan), (ii) change the class of persons
eligible to participate in the Plan as provided in Section 4 of the Plan, (iii)
extend the applicable maximum option period provided for in Section 6(a) of
the
Plan, (iv) extend the expiration date of this Plan set forth in Section 15
of
the Plan, (v) except as provided in Section 6(k) of the Plan, decrease the
option price of any option granted under the Plan or (vi) withdraw the
administration of the Plan from the Committee.
SECTION
9. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
The
Plan,
the grant and exercise of options thereunder, and the obligation of the Company
to sell and deliver shares under such options, shall be subject to all
applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations and to such approvals
by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required. The Company shall
not be required to issue or deliver any certificates for Shares prior to the
completion of any registration or qualification of such shares under any federal
or state law or issuance of any ruling or regulation of any government body
which the Company shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary
or
advisable. Any adjustments provided for in subparagraphs 6(j), (k) and (i)
shall
be subject to any shareholder action required by Delaware corporate
law.
SECTION
10. PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.
Unless
the options and Shares covered by this Plan have been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Company has determined that such
registration is unnecessary, each person acquiring or exercising an option
under
this Plan may be required by the Company to give a representation in writing
that he or she is acquiring such option or such shares for his own account
for
investment and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the
distribution of any part thereof.
SECTION
11. TAXES.
(a)
The Company may, but is not obligated to, make such provisions as it may
deem appropriate for the withholding of any taxes which it determines is
required in connection with any options granted under this Plan.
(b)
Notwithstanding the terms of Paragraph 11 (a), any Participant may pay
all or any portion of the taxes required to be withheld by the Company or paid
by him or her in connection with the exercise of a Nonqualified Option by
electing to have the Company withhold Shares, or by delivering previously owned
Shares, having a fair market value, determined in accordance with Paragraph
6(b), equal to the amount required to be withheld or paid. A Participant must
make the foregoing election on or before the date that the amount of tax to
be
withheld is determined (“Tax Date”). All such elections are irrevocable and
subject to disapproval by the Committee. Elections by Covered Participants
are
subject to the following additional restrictions: (i) such election may not
be
made within six months of the grant of an option, provided that this limitation
shall not apply in the event of death or disability, and (ii) such election
must
be made either six months or more prior to the Tax Date or in a Window Period.
Where the Tax Date in respect of an option is deferred until six months after
exercise and the Covered Participant elects share withholding, the full amount
of Shares will be issued or transferred to him upon exercise of the option,
but
he or she shall be unconditionally obligated to tender back to the Company
the
number of shares necessary to discharge the Company’s withholding obligation or
his estimated tax obligation on the Tax Date.
SECTION
12. REPLACEMENT OF OPTIONS.
The
Committee from time to time may permit a Participant under the Plan to surrender
for cancellation any unexercised outstanding option and receive from the Company
in exchange an option for such number of Shares as may be designated by the
Committee. The Committee may, with the consent of the person entitled to
exercise any outstanding option, amend such option, including reducing the
exercise price of any option to not less than the fair market value of the
Common Stock at the time of the amendment and extending the term
thereof.
SECTION
13. NO RIGHT TO COMPANY EMPLOYMENT.
Nothing
in this Plan or as a result of any option granted pursuant to this Plan shall
confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company
or
interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate any
Participant's employment at any time. The option agreements may, but is not
obligated, contain such provisions as the Committee may approve with reference
to the effect of approved leaves of absence.
SECTION
14. LIABILITY OF COMPANY.
The
Company and any Affiliate which is in existence or hereafter comes into
existence shall not be liable to a Participant or other persons as
to:
(a)
The
Non-Issuance of Shares.
The
non-issuance or sale of Shares as to which the Company has been unable to obtain
from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority deemed by the
Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance of any Shares
hereunder; and
(b)
Tax
Consequences
.
Any
tax
consequence expected, but not realized, by any Participant or other person
due
to the exercise of any option granted hereunder.
SECTION
15. EFFECTIVENESS AND EXPIRATION OF PLAN.
The
Plan
shall be effective on the date the Board adopts the Plan. If the stockholders
of
the Company fail to approve the Plan within twelve months of the date the Board
approved the Plan, the Plan shall terminate and all options previously granted
under the Plan shall become void and of no effect. The Plan shall expire ten
years after the date the Board approves the Plan and thereafter no option shall
be granted pursuant to the Plan.
SECTION
16. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN.
Neither
the adoption by the Board nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders
of
the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on
the
power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem
desirable, including without limitation, the granting of restricted stock or
stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either
generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
SECTION
17. GOVERNING LAW.
This
Plan
and any agreements hereunder shall be interpreted and construed in accordance
with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without reference to choice
of
law principals and applicable federal law.
SECTION
18. CASHLESS EXERCISE.
The
Committee also may allow cashless exercises as permitted under Federal Reserve
Board’s Regulation T, subject to applicable securities law restrictions or by
any other means which the Committee determines to be consistent with the Plan’s
purpose and applicable law.
SECTION
19. PROCEEDS FROM EXERCISE
The
proceeds from such exercise of options under the Plan shall be added to the
general funds of the Company and shall be used for general corporate
purposes.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, and as conclusive evidence of the adoption of the foregoing
by
directors of the Company, Coda Octopus Group, Inc., has caused these presents
to
be duly executed in its name and behalf by its proper officers thereunto duly
authorized as of this [ ] 2008.
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By:
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Jason Reid
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Its:
President
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By:
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Richard Lewis
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