[PRER14A] Allied Gaming & Entertainment Inc. Preliminary Revised Proxy Statement
- None.
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☒ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ | Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2) |
☐ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
☒ | No fee required. | ||
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | ||
☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a- 6(i)(1) and 0-11. | ||
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1. | To elect three Class B directors to serve until the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly qualified and elected or until their earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal (Proposal 1); |
2. | To elect three Class C directors to serve until the 2028 annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly qualified and elected or until their earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal (Proposal 2); |
3. | To approve, in a non-binding advisory vote, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (“Fiscal Year 2023”) as disclosed in the accompanying proxy statement (Proposal 3); |
4. | To approve, in a non-binding advisory vote, the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (Proposal 4); |
5. | To ratify the appointment of ZH CPA, LLC to act as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (Proposal 5); and |
6. | To ratify the appointment of ZH CPA, LLC to act as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 (Proposal 6). |
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/s/ Yinghua Chen | |||
Yinghua Chen | |||
Chief Executive Officer | |||
June [•], 2025 | |||
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Page | |||
Questions and Answers About These Proxy Materials and Voting | 1 | ||
Background of the Solicitation | 10 | ||
Board of Directors | 13 | ||
Proposal 1 Election of Class B Directors | 14 | ||
Proposal 2 Election of Class C Directors | 15 | ||
Proposal 3 Non-Binding Advisory Vote to Approve the Compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers for Fiscal Year 2023 | 16 | ||
Proposal 4 Non-Binding Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes to Approve the Compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers | 17 | ||
Proposal 5 Ratification of the Appointment of ZH CPA, LLC to Act as the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024 | 18 | ||
Proposal 6 Ratification of the Appointment of ZH CPA, LLC to Act as the Company’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2025 | 20 | ||
Principal Accountant Fees and Services | 21 | ||
Current Directors, Director Nominees and Executive Officers | 22 | ||
Information Regarding the Board of Directors and Corporate Governance | 29 | ||
Delinquent Section 16(A) Reports | 33 | ||
Executive and Director Compensation | 34 | ||
Pay Versus Performance | 38 | ||
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Management and Directors | 42 | ||
Certain Transactions | 44 | ||
Director Nominations and Stockholders Proposals for the 2026 Annual Meeting | 44 | ||
Stockholder Proposals for Inclusion in the Proxy Materials for the 2026 Annual Meeting | 46 | ||
Householding of Materials | 46 | ||
Appendix A | A-1 | ||
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1. | To elect three Class B directors to serve until the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly qualified and elected or until their earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal (Proposal 1); |
2. | To elect three Class C directors to serve until the 2028 annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly qualified and elected or until their earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal (Proposal 2); |
3. | To approve, in a non-binding advisory vote, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers for Fiscal Year 2023 as disclosed in the accompanying proxy statement (Proposal 3); |
4. | To approve, in a non-binding advisory vote, the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (Proposal 4); |
5. | To ratify the appointment of ZH CPA, LLC to act as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (Proposal 5); and |
6. | To ratify the appointment of ZH CPA, LLC to act as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 (Proposal 6). |
1. | “FOR” the election of each of the Company’s three Class B director nominees named in this proxy statement to serve on the Board as a Class B director for a term that will expire at our 2027 annual meeting of stockholders (Proposal 1); |
2. | “FOR” the election of each of the Company’s three Class C director nominees named in this proxy statement to serve on the Board as a Class C director for a term that will expire at our 2028 annual meeting of stockholders (Proposal 2); |
3. | “FOR” the approval, in a non-binding advisory vote, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers for Fiscal Year 2023 (Proposal 3); |
4. | “3 YEARS” regarding the approval, in a non-binding advisory vote, of the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (Proposal 4); |
5. | “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of ZH CPA, LLC to act as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (Proposal 5); and |
6. | “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of ZH CPA, LLC to act as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 (Proposal 6). |
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• | VOTE BY INTERNET. |
• | VOTE BY MAIL. To vote by mail using the proxy card, simply complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to c/o First Coast Results, Inc., 200 Business Park Circle, Suite 112, Saint Augustine, FL 32095. If you return your signed proxy card before the Annual Meeting, we will vote your shares as you direct. |
• | VOTE BY PHONE. To vote by phone, use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. eastern time on [•], 2025. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions. |
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• | You may submit another properly completed proxy card with a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy). |
• | You may grant a subsequent proxy through the Internet. |
• | You may send a timely written notice that you are revoking your proxy to our Secretary at our principal executive offices at 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500, New York, NY 10151. |
• | You may attend the virtual Annual Meeting and vote online by following the instructions posted at [•]. Simply attending the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting virtually, we recommend that you also submit your proxy or voting instructions or vote through the Internet so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting. |
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Director Nominee/Director | Class | Expiration of Term of Director | ||||
Yangyang Li | Class A | 2026 | ||||
Jingsheng (Jason) Lu | Class B | 2024* | ||||
Mao Sun | Class B | 2024* | ||||
Guanzhou (Jerry) Qin | Class B | 2024* | ||||
Yushi Guo | Class C | 2025 | ||||
Yuanfei Qu** | Class C | 2025 | ||||
Chi Zhao | Class C | 2025 | ||||
* | Serving until the Annual Meeting to be held on [•]. |
** | Mr. Yuanfei Qu will not stand for reelection at the Annual Meeting as a Class C Director and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has recommended and the Board has elected Mr. Roy Anderson as a Class C Director Nominee at the Annual Meeting. |
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Name of Nominee | Position(s) with the Company | Year First Became a Director | Year Proposed Term Will Expire | ||||||
Jingsheng (Jason) Lu | Director | 2021 | 2027 | ||||||
Guanzhou (Jerry) Qin | Director | 2021 | 2027 | ||||||
Mao Sun | Director | 2024 | 2027 | ||||||
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Name of Nominee | Position(s) with the Company | Year First Became a Director | Year Proposed Term Will Expire | ||||||
Roy Anderson | Chief Financial Officer | — | 2028 | ||||||
Yushi Guo | Director | 2022 | 2028 | ||||||
Chi Zhao | Director | 2024 | 2028 | ||||||
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1. | inadequate internal controls over the timely preparation and filing of the consolidated financial statements, inadequate controls over the accounting for complex financial instruments (such as warrants), and untimely annual closing of the books; |
2. | inadequate controls and procedures as they relate to completeness of information reported by certain third parties that process transactions related to specific revenue streams; |
3. | inadequate segregation of duties resulting from limited accounting staff and resources; |
4. | inadequate information technology general controls as it relates to user access and change management; and |
5. | inadequate review of schedules utilized to record depreciation/amortization and stock-based compensation schedules. |
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Marcum | ZH CPA, LLC | |||||||||||
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, | For the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2022 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
Audit Fees(1) | $168,075 | $325,000 | $205,000 | $198,000 | ||||||||
Audit-Related Fees(2) | 47,000 | 80,000 | 35,000 | 30,000 | ||||||||
Tax Fees(3) | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
All Other Fees(4) | — | 20,000 | 30,000 | — | ||||||||
Total Fees | $215,075 | $425,000 | $270,000 | $228,000 | ||||||||
(1) | Audit Fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our consolidated annual financial statements and review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. |
(2) | Audit-Related Fees consist principally of assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements but not reported under the caption Audit Fees above. These services include attest services that are not required by statute or regulation and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. The Audit Committee approved 100% of the services described herein. |
(3) | Tax Fees typically consist of fees for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning. |
(4) | All Other Fees typically consist of fees for permitted non-audit products and services provided. |
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Name | Director Class | Positions and Offices Held | Director Since | Director Term Expires | Age | ||||||||||
Yangyang Li | Class A | President, Director, Chairman | 2021 | 2026 | 46 | ||||||||||
Mao Sun | Class B | Director | 2024 | 2024* | 49 | ||||||||||
Jingsheng (Jason) Lu | Class B | Director | 2021 | 2024* | 46 | ||||||||||
Guanzhou (Jerry) Qin | Class B | Director | 2021 | 2024* | 46 | ||||||||||
Yushi Guo | Class C | Director | 2022 | 2025 | 53 | ||||||||||
Yuanfei Qu | Class C | Director | 2022 | 2025 | 46 | ||||||||||
Chi Zhao | Class C | Director | 2024 | 2025 | 38 | ||||||||||
Roy Anderson | — | Chief Financial Officer | — | — | 66 | ||||||||||
* | Serving until the Annual Meeting to be held on [•]. |
Name of Director and/or Nominee | Principal Occupation, Business Experience For the Past Five Years and Directorships of Public Companies | ||
CLASS A DIRECTOR | |||
Yangyang Li | Yangyang Li is a seasoned entrepreneur and executive leader with over two decades of experience founding, leading, and advising publicly listed companies across media, technology, advertisement, Saas and international business. Known for his visionary leadership and cross-border operational expertise, Mr. Li brings strategic insight and deep capital markets experience to the Company’s Board and executive team. | ||
Mr. Li began his career in international trade and commercial aerospace, serving in 2001 as Assistant President of China Great Wall Industry Corporation. In 2003, he founded Business Media China Group (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: BMC) and served as its CEO, leading it to a market capitalization exceeding RMB 5 billion by 2005. He later served as Chairman of Elephant Media Group in 2008. | |||
Since 2014, Mr. Li has held the position of Chairman of the Board at World Business Services Union and Choi Shun Investment, overseeing investment strategy and multinational business development across Asia and Europe. From June 2020 to September 2022, Mr. Li served as Chairman and Executive Director, and later as Non-Executive Chairman, of Ourgame International Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong-listed entertainment company. | |||
Mr. Li has served as President of the Company since April 2024, a director since 2021, and as Chairman of the Board since December 2021. Under his leadership, the Company has expanded its global footprint and accelerated its transformation into a diversified experiential entertainment platform. | |||
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Name of Director and/or Nominee | Principal Occupation, Business Experience For the Past Five Years and Directorships of Public Companies | ||
Mr. Li holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of International Business & Economics in Beijing, China. | |||
The Board believes Mr. Li’s extensive leadership experience with global public companies and his entrepreneurial track record make him exceptionally well-qualified to continue serving as a member of our Board, guiding the Company’s long-term strategy and growth. | |||
CLASS B DIRECTORS AND DIRECTOR NOMINEES | |||
Mao Sun | Mao Sun has served as a member of our Board of Directors since July 2024, bringing over two decades of leadership experience in finance, corporate governance, and strategic advisory to the Company. | ||
Mr. Sun previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Hero Innovation Group Inc., a publicly traded Canadian company, from June 2020 to February 2023. He was subsequently appointed Chief Executive Officer from February 2023 to April 2024, and also served as a member of the company’s board of directors from February 2023 to December 2024. Since 2020, Mr. Sun has also held the role of Chief Financial Officer at Nickel North Exploration Corp. A seasoned financial professional, Mr. Sun is a founding partner of Mao & Ying LLP, a private accounting and consulting firm he established in 2009, which specializes in tax, assurance, and management consulting services. Prior to that, he served as Audit Manager at KPMG in Vancouver from 2004 to 2009, where he managed audit engagements for a range of public and private companies. | |||
Mr. Sun has extensive public board experience. He served as an independent director of SouthGobi Resources Ltd., a dual-listed company on the Hong Kong Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange, from December 2015 to June 2024. He also held directorships at Wildsky Resources Inc. (2017–2020) and Yalian Steel Corporation (2012–2013). | |||
Mr. Sun holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs, specializing in International Finance and Business, from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Nanjing University in China. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in Canada and British Columbia, and a member of the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors. The Board believes Mr. Sun’s extensive experience in corporate finance, executive management, and public company governance make him a valuable contributor and well-qualified to continue serving as a member of our Board. | |||
Jingsheng (Jason) Lu | Jingsheng Lu has served as a director of the Company since 2021 and brings deep expertise in entertainment, gaming, corporate finance, strategic management, and cross-border M&A to the Board in public companies. He holds CPA certificates in US, Canada and China. | ||
Mr. Lu currently serves as the Chairman, Executive Director, and Chief Financial Officer of Ourgame, a prominent digital entertainment company. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Ourgame from May 1, 2021, to February 17, 2025, and was an Independent Director of Ourgame from June 2020 to April 2021, demonstrating a consistent track record of leadership across key roles within the organization. | |||
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Name of Director and/or Nominee | Principal Occupation, Business Experience For the Past Five Years and Directorships of Public Companies | ||
Earlier in his career, Mr. Lu held multiple senior executive and board positions at leading public and private companies in China’s media and entertainment sector. He served as a Director of Zhejiang Xiangyuan Culture Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Stock Exchange: 600576), a publicly listed cultural enterprise, where he also led the strategic merger and acquisition of Xtone Animation Co., Ltd., serving as Co-CEO of Xtone from 2015 to 2017. He was also Chief Financial Officer of Beijing International Advertising & Communication Group from 2018 to 2019. | |||
Mr. Lu began his career in public accounting, spending over nine years as a Senior Audit Manager at Deloitte, where he managed audit engagements for multinational clients across various sectors. | |||
Mr. Lu holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. He is a non-practicing Certified Public Accountant in China (since 2007), a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) (since 2009), and a Chartered Professional Accountant of Canada (since 2024). | |||
The Board believes that Mr. Lu’s extensive leadership experience, combined with his strong financial and audit background, makes him a highly valuable contributor and well-qualified to continue serving as a member of our Board. | |||
Guanzhou (Jerry) Qin | Guanzhou (Jerry) Qin is an accomplished finance executive with over two decades of leadership experience spanning Fortune 500 corporations, public companies, global technology firms, and high-growth startups. He brings to the Board deep expertise in financial strategy, operational management, and cross-border business execution across both developed and emerging markets. | ||
Mr. Qin has served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since 2021. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Novlead Inc., a role he has held since November 2021. Prior to that, he was Finance Director of the Content Business at Tencent Holdings (0700.HK) from February 2020 to November 2021, where he oversaw financial operations in one of China’s most dynamic digital entertainment divisions. From September 2018 to February 2020, he served as Head of Finance at Aibee Inc., a leading artificial intelligence startup, contributing to its rapid growth and operational scale-up. | |||
Earlier in his career, Mr. Qin held senior regional finance leadership roles as Senior Finance Director of Asia-Pacific at TripAdvisor (Nasdaq: TRIP) and Glu Mobile (Nasdaq: GLUU) from 2012 to 2018. He also held key finance roles at Johnson & Johnson China and Motorola China, serving as Financial Controller from 2003 to 2009. He began his career as a consultant at Andersen/PwC, where he built a solid foundation in financial auditing and advisory services. | |||
Mr. Qin holds an International MBA jointly awarded by Peking University and Fordham University, and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. He is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) of Australia. | |||
The Board believes that Mr. Qin’s blend of financial leadership in multinational corporations, hands-on startup experience, and deep technical knowledge in accounting and finance make him a highly valuable contributor and well-qualified to continue serving as a member of our Board. | |||
CLASS C DIRECTORS AND DIRECTOR NOMINEES | |||
Yushi Guo | Yushi Guo is a proven entrepreneur, management and human resources consultant, and board advisor with over two decades of experience advising leadership teams across industries. | ||
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Name of Director and/or Nominee | Principal Occupation, Business Experience For the Past Five Years and Directorships of Public Companies | ||
Earlier in his career, Mr. Guo held senior consulting roles at top-tier global firms. He served as Client Partner at Korn Ferry International from 2009 to 2011, and as a consultant at Gallup Consulting from 2003 to 2009, where he worked with Fortune 500 clients on leadership effectiveness, organizational development, and performance strategy. | |||
Mr. Guo is the Founder and CEO of PanoSoar Management Technology Co., Ltd., a company dedicated to developing digital platforms that empower small and medium-sized enterprises through technological innovation. In 2011, he founded Beijing Panorfinity Consulting Co., Ltd., a boutique consulting firm specializing in management consulting, board advisory, and executive search for growth-stage and established companies. | |||
Mr. Guo holds multiple advanced degrees: a Master of Business Administration from Emory University, a Master of Science in Leisure Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and both a Master of Science in Ecology and Bachelor of Science from Beijing Forestry University. | |||
Mr. Guo has served as a director of the Company since 2022. From November 2021 to July 2024, he served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Ourgame International Holdings Limited, where he provided strategic oversight and board-level advisory during a pivotal phase of transformation. | |||
The Board believes that Mr. Guo’s extensive background in management consulting, boardroom strategy, and entrepreneurial innovation makes him well-qualified to continue serving as a member of our Board, contributing to the Company’s long-term success. | |||
Yuanfei (Cliff) Qu | Yuanfei (Cliff) Qu is a seasoned investment executive and cross-border business strategist with over 20 years of experience in portfolio management, and emerging technology across Asia. He has served as a director of the Company since 2022 and is not standing for re-election at the upcoming Annual Meeting. | ||
From July 2020 to March 2023, Mr. Qu was Vice President of Ourgame International Holdings Limited, leading new investments and portfolio oversight. In 2020, he founded Sansokuu Limited (Japan) to develop unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) markets across Asia, following earlier ventures in civil-use UAV services and pilot training in partnership with AOPA-China. | |||
Mr. Qu previously founded Beijing Sansokuu Consulting in 2009, providing strategic advisory services across sectors including TMT, consumer services, and finance. From 2004, he led notable transactions at Macro Link Group Ltd, including acquisitions of Tonghua Grape Wine (SH: 600365) and New Silkroad (HK: 00472). | |||
He holds a Bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of International Business and Economics and a Master of Commerce in Finance and Banking from the University of Sydney. | |||
The Board thanks Mr. Qu for his valuable contributions and strategic insight during his tenure. | |||
Roy Anderson | Roy L. Anderson is an accomplished financial executive and audit expert with deep experience advising and leading high-growth companies across the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) sectors. With a proven track record in both public company finance and global advisory services, he brings strategic financial acumen, regulatory expertise, and operational insight to the Company’s leadership and governance. | ||
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Name of Director and/or Nominee | Principal Occupation, Business Experience For the Past Five Years and Directorships of Public Companies | ||
Mr. Anderson has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since October 2021 and is a Class C director nominee. In his role as CFO, he has played a pivotal role in guiding the Company’s financial strategy, supporting its global expansion, and ensuring strong financial governance and reporting standards. | |||
Prior to joining AGAE, Mr. Anderson was a Partner at Mazars USA, a global accounting and advisory firm operating in over 90 countries. As a senior leader in Mazars’ Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) Practice, Mr. Anderson advised a diverse portfolio of companies—from startups to multinational enterprises with revenues exceeding $500 million—across sectors including online media, entertainment, gaming, SaaS, eCommerce, digital marketing, cybersecurity, and AI-driven platforms. | |||
He also served as a key member of Mazars’ SEC Practice Group, where he advised public companies on complex regulatory and financial reporting matters. Over the course of his career, Mr. Anderson has been a featured speaker at prominent TMT industry conferences and regularly led educational sessions on advanced accounting topics such as revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, and business combinations. | |||
Mr. Anderson is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Long Island University’s School of Professional Accountancy. | |||
The Board believes that Mr. Anderson’s extensive background in finance, auditing, and public company advisory makes him exceptionally well-qualified to serve as a director on our Board and a continued financial leader of the Company. | |||
Chi Zhao | Chi Zhao is a Harvard graduate, a seasoned professional in public affairs, philanthropy, and stakeholder engagement, with broad experience across government, venture capital, international organizations, and media. | ||
Previously, she served as Investor Relations Director at Unity Ventures and as an Independent Consultant for Shareholder Management at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Her earlier roles include Business Engagement Officer at APEC, Senior Account Manager at Bluefocus Digital, and Reporter and Assistant News Producer at CGTN. | |||
She is currently the Secretary General of the Philanthropists Circle of China, a leadership role she has held since 2018, where she facilitates strategic giving and cross-sector partnerships. | |||
Ms. Zhao holds a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, where she has also served as a Research Fellow since 2023, and a Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Kentucky University. | |||
Ms. Zhao has served as a director of the Company since 2024. The Board values Ms. Zhao’s international background and her experience in public engagement, strategic communications, and philanthropic leadership. The Board believes that Ms. Zhao’s background and experience is of value to the Board and makes her well-qualified to continue to serve as a member of our Board. | |||
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Name | Position(s) | Age | ||||
Yangyang Li | President | 46 | ||||
Yinghua Chen | Chief Executive Officer | 45 | ||||
Roy L. Anderson | Chief Financial Officer | 66 | ||||
Yangyang Li President | Mr. Li’s biography is included above under the section titled “Current Directors, Director Nominees, and Executive Officers—Our Board of Directors.” | ||
Yinghua Chen Chief Executive Officer | Yinghua Chen served as director from 2020 until April 2024 and as President from February 2022 to April 2024. Currently Ms. Chen serves as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since September 2022. Prior to this, Ms. Chen served as the Company’s Chief Investment Officer from November 2021 until September 2022 and Board Secretary from February 2022 until September 2022. Ms. Chen is a Co-Founder of Aupera Technologies, a leading video AI technology company, where she is responsible for corporate financing, business development, and strategic partnership. Ms. Chen has successfully secured multiple funding rounds for Aupera, including investment from Silicon Valley giant Advanced Micro Devices (Nasdaq: AMD). | ||
Prior to this, she served as the Executive Vice President of Anthill Resources, a natural resources investment company in Canada, where she oversaw business operations and investment activities. Ms. Chen is also the former Managing Director of China for The Cavendish Group, a UK B2B media and public relations company. In that role, Ms. Chen built up subscriber networks for over ten vertical industry media products and managed the Group’s strategic relationship with the Boyao Forum for Asia. Ms. Chen was also part of the founding team of The Balloch Group, a boutique investment banking firm, later acquired by Canaccord Genuity, where she specialized in financial, pharmaceutical, resources and medial industry transactions. Ms. Chen holds an EMBA from the University of Paris I: Panthéon-Sorbonne and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of International Business and Economics. | |||
Roy L. Anderson Chief Financial Officer | Mr. Anderson’s biography is included above under the section titled “Current Directors, Director Nominees, and Executive Officers—Our Board of Directors.” | ||
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• | reviewing and discussing with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, and recommending to the board whether the audited financial statements should be included in our Form 10-K; |
• | discussing with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our financial statements; |
• | discussing with management major risk assessment and risk management policies; |
• | monitoring the independence of our independent auditor; |
• | verifying the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law; |
• | reviewing and approving all related-party transactions; |
• | inquiring and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations; |
• | pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditor, including the fees and terms of the services to be performed; |
• | appointing or replacing the independent auditor; |
• | determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work; |
• | establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies; and |
• | approving reimbursement of expenses incurred by our management team in identifying potential target businesses. |
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• | reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating the Company’s Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer’s based on such evaluation; |
• | reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers; |
• | reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans; |
• | implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans; |
• | assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements; |
• | approving all special perquisites, special cash payments, and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our executive officers and employees; |
• | if required, producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and |
• | reviewing, evaluating, and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors. |
• | should have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in business, education or public service; |
• | should possess the requisite intelligence, education and experience to make a significant contribution to the board of directors and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and |
• | should have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of the stockholders. |
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Name and principal position | Year (b) | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards ($)(1) | Option Awards ($) | Nonequity incentive plan compensation ($) | Nonqualified deferred compensation earnings ($) (h) | All other compensation ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||||
Yinghua Chen(2) Chief Executive Officer | 2024 | 300,000 | — | 1,279,200(3) | — | — | — | — | 1,579,200 | ||||||||||||||||||
2023 | 302,159(4) | 100,000(5) | — | — | — | — | 19,448(6) | 421,607 | |||||||||||||||||||
2022 | 244,110(7) | — | — | — | — | — | 4,851(8) | 248,961 | |||||||||||||||||||
Roy Anderson Chief Financial Officer, Secretary | 2024 | 285,000 | — | 31,200(3) | — | — | — | — | 316,200 | ||||||||||||||||||
2023 | 285,000 | 10,000(5) | — | — | — | — | — | 295,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
2022 | 285,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 285,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
Yangyang Li President | 2024 | 266,667(9) | — | 31,200(3) | — | — | — | 10,000(10) | 307,867 | ||||||||||||||||||
2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Lyle Berman(11) Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions Former Interim Chief Executive Officer | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
2023 | 118,750(12) | — | — | 28,175(13) | — | — | — | 146,925 | |||||||||||||||||||
2022 | 210,458(14) | — | — | — | — | — | 5,685(15) | 216,143 | |||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock unit awards granted on February 22, 2024, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, as discussed in Note 15 – Stockholders’ Equity of our notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. The grant date fair value of each restricted stock unit award is measured based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, which was $1.04. |
(2) | Represents Ms. Chen’s base salary that was payable in Canadian dollars for the period of February 2022 to April 2023. The reported amount was converted into U.S. dollars based on the exchange rate on each payment date. |
(3) | The restricted stock unit awards were granted on February 22, 2024, and vest as follows: (i) 25% percent of each award vested immediately upon grant and (ii) the remaining shares under each award vest in three equal successive installments upon the named executive officer’s completion of each six-month period of service over the 18-month period measured from the date of grant. |
(4) | Represents Ms. Chen’s base salary that was paid in Canadian dollars for the period of January 2023 to April 2023 and in U.S. dollars for the period from May 2023 through December 2023. The reported amounts paid in Canadian dollars were converted into U.S. dollars based on the exchange rate on each payment date. |
(5) | Represents a one-time cash bonus awarded to Ms. Chen and Mr. Anderson. In January 2024, the Compensation Committee determined that Ms. Chen and Mr. Anderson would be awarded a one-time cash bonus of $100,000 and $10,000, respectively, based on individual performance and in light of the Company’s improved financial performance in 2023 as compared to 2022, primarily due to the implementation of various operating efficiencies and the positive impact of various strategic transactions announced or completed in 2023. |
(6) | Represents a lump sum payment of accrued and unused vacation time due to a change in the treatment of paid time off. |
(7) | Ms. Chen’s salary for 2022 includes her salary at $275,000 established upon her appointment as President and Secretary of the Company and $300,000 upon her appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. |
(8) | Represents compensation earned for service on the Board of Directors. |
(9) | Reflects the base salary paid to Mr. Li in 2024 beginning on his hire date on April 30, 2024. |
(10) | Represents compensation received as a director of the Company. |
(11) | Mr. Berman was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company on February 18, 2022. On September 6, 2022, his position was changed to Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions. On October 15, 2023, his employment with the Company was terminated. Mr. Berman served as a member of the Board from 2017 to 2023. |
(12) | Represents Mr. Berman’s salary as Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions until his termination on October 15, 2023. |
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(13) | Represents the incremental fair value computed in accordance with FASB Topic 718 resulting from the accelerated vesting of the stock option granted to Mr. Berman in 2021 in connection with his termination of employment. |
(14) | Mr. Berman’s salary includes his salary at $300,000 established upon his appointment as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company and $150,000 following his appointment as Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions. |
(15) | Represents compensation earned for service on the Board of Directors prior to February 18, 2022. |
Name (a) | Number of securities underlying unexercised options exercisable (#)(b) | Number of Securities underlying unexercised options unexercisable (#)(c) | Equity Incentive plan awards: Number of Securities underlying unexercised unearned options unexercisable (#)(c) | Option exercise price ($)(e) | Option expiration date (f) | Number of shares of units of stock that have not vested (#)(g) | Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested ($)(h) | Equity Incentive plan awards: Number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested (#)(i) | Equity Incentive plan awards: Market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested ($)(j)(1) | ||||||||||||||||||
Yinghua Chen | 30,000 | 10,000(2) | — | 2.11 | 7/01/2030 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
37,500 | 37,500(3) | — | 2.21 | 11/11/2031 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 922,500 | 977,850 | |||||||||||||||||||
Lyle Berman | 50,000(4) | — | — | 2.21 | 10/15/2024 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Based on a closing price of $1.06 per share of common stock of the Company as reported on the last trading day of the 2023 fiscal year, December 29, 2023. |
(2) | Represents a stock option granted on July 1, 2020 in connection with service as a member of the Board of Directors. The option vests in 4 equal annual installments on each of July 1, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. |
(3) | Represents a stock option granted on November 11, 2021 in connection with Ms. Chen’s employment as the Company’s Chief Investment Officer. The option vests in 4 equal annual installments on each of November 11, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. |
(4) | Represents a stock option granted on November 11, 2021 in connection with Mr. Berman’s employment as President. The option was to vest in 4 equal annual installments on each of November 11, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. However, in connection with his termination of employment on October 15, 2023, the option became fully vested. |
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Name (a) | Number of securities underlying unexercised options exercisable (#)(b) | Number of Securities underlying unexercised options unexercisable (#)(c) | Equity Incentive plan awards: Number of Securities underlying unexercised unearned options unexercisable (#)(c) | Option exercise price ($)(e) | Option expiration date (f) | Number of shares of units of stock that have not vested (#)(g) | Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested ($)(h) | Equity Incentive plan awards: Number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested (#)(i) | Equity Incentive plan awards: Market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested ($)(j)(1) | ||||||||||||||||||
Yinghua Chen | 40,000(2) | — | — | 2.11 | 11/11/2031 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
56,250(3) | 18,750(3) | — | 2.21 | 11/11/2031 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
615,000(4) | — | — | 487,695(4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Roy Anderson | — | — | — | — | — | 15,000(4) | — | — | 11,895(4) | ||||||||||||||||||
Yangyang Li | 30,000(5) | 10,000(5) | — | 2.48 | 5/6/2031 | 15,000(4) | — | — | 11,895(4) | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Based on a closing price of $0.7930 per share of common stock of the Company as reported on the last trading day of the 2024 fiscal year, December 31, 2024. |
(2) | Represents a stock option granted to Ms. Chen on July 1, 2020 in connection with service as a member of the Board of Directors. The option vests in 4 equal annual installments on each of July 1, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. |
(3) | Represents a stock option granted on November 11, 2021 in connection with Ms. Chen’s employment as the Company’s Chief Investment Officer. The option vests in four equal annual installments on each of November 11, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. |
(4) | Represents restricted stock awards granted on granted on February 22, 2024, which vest as follows: (i) 25% of each award vested immediately upon grant and (ii) the remaining shares under each award vest in three equal successive installments upon the named executive officer’s completion of each six-month period of service over the 18-month period measured from the date of grant. |
(5) | Represents a stock option granted on May 6, 2021 in connection with service as a member of the Board of Directors. The option vests in four equal annual installments on each of May 6, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. |
Director Compensation Table | ||||||||||||
Name (a) | Fees earned or paid in cash ($)(b) | Stock Awards ($)(c) | All other compensation ($)(g) | Total ($)(h) | ||||||||
Yangyang Li | 37,500 | — | — | 37,500 | ||||||||
Joseph Lahti(1) | 30,000 | — | — | 30,000 | ||||||||
Jingsheng (Jason) Lu | 30,000 | — | — | 30,000 | ||||||||
Guanzhou (Jerry) Qin | 35,000 | — | — | 35,000 | ||||||||
Yushi Guo | 37,500 | — | — | 37,500 | ||||||||
Adam Pliska(2) | 25,000 | — | 80,000(3) | 105,000 | ||||||||
Yuanfei Qu | 30,000 | — | — | 30,000 | ||||||||
Benjamin Oehler(4) | 32,500(5) | — | — | 32,500 | ||||||||
Bradley Berman(6) | 17,688(7) | — | — | 17,688 | ||||||||
(1) | Mr. Lahti resigned his position as a member of the Board on July 1, 2024. |
(2) | Mr. Pliska resigned his position as a member of the Board on April 30, 2024. |
(3) | In February 2022, Mr. Pliska entered into a consulting arrangement with the Company pursuant to which he agreed to provide certain business and strategic advice to the Company. Mr. Pliska received a consulting fee in the amount of $80,000 for Fiscal Year 2023. |
(4) | Mr. Oehler served as a member of the Board until the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders. |
(5) | Mr. Oehler received $22,500 for his service as a director on the Board from January 2023 to June 2023. In July 2023, Mr. Oehler received a one-time payment of $10,000 from the Board in appreciation for his service. |
(6) | Mr. Berman received $17,668 for his service as a director on the Board from January 2023 to July 2023. |
(7) | Mr. Berman resigned his position as a member of the Board on July 19, 2023. |
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Director Compensation Table | ||||||||||||
Name (a) | Fees earned or paid in cash ($) (b) | Stock Awards ($) (c)(1)(2) | All other compensation ($) (g) | Total ($) (h) | ||||||||
Zongmin Ding(3) | 3,763 | — | — | 3,763 | ||||||||
Yushi Guo | 30,000 | 31,200 | — | 61,200 | ||||||||
Joseph Lahti(4) | 10,000 | 20,800 | — | 30,800 | ||||||||
Jingsheng (Jason) Lu | 20,000 | 20,800 | — | 40,800 | ||||||||
Adam Pliska(5) | 6,667 | 20,800 | 80,000(6) | 107,467 | ||||||||
Guanzhou (Jerry) Qin | 30,000 | 31,200 | — | 61,200 | ||||||||
Yuanfei Qu | 20,000 | 20,800 | — | 40,800 | ||||||||
Mao Sun(7) | 10,000 | — | — | 10,000 | ||||||||
Chi Zhao(8) | 20,000 | — | — | 20,000 | ||||||||
(1) | Amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted on February 22, 2024, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, as discussed in Note 15 – Stockholders’ Equity of our notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. The grant date fair value of each restricted stock award is measured based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, which was $1.04. |
(2) | The restricted stock unit awards were granted to certain directors on February 22, 2024, and vest as follows: (i) 25% vested immediately upon grant and (ii) the remaining shares vesting in three equal successive installments upon the reporting person’s completion of each six-month period of service over the 18-month period measured from the date of grant. |
(3) | The Board appointed Mr. Ding to the Board as a Class A director on October 23, 2024, pursuant to that certain securities purchase agreement by and between the Company and Blue Planet New Energy Technology Limited, dated October 18, 2024. On April 25, 2025, Mr. Ding resigned as a director of the Company effective immediately. |
(4) | Mr. Lahti resigned as director effective July 1, 2024. In connection with Mr. Lahti’s resignation, the vesting of Mr. Lahti’s 20,800 restricted stock unit award was accelerated. |
(5) | Mr. Pliska resigned as director effective April 30, 2024. In connection with Mr. Pliska’s resignation, the vesting of Mr. Pliska’s 20,800 restricted stock unit award was accelerated. |
(6) | In February 2022, Mr. Pliska entered into a consulting arrangement with the Company pursuant to which he agreed to provide certain business and strategic advice to the Company. Mr. Pliska received a consulting fee in the amount of $80,000 for fiscal year 2024. |
(7) | The Board appointed Mr. Sun to the Board as a Class B director on July 1, 2024. |
(8) | The Board appointed Ms. Zhao to the Board as a Class C director on April 30, 2024. |
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Summary Compensation Table Total For PEO | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO(5) | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs (d) ($) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs(6) (e) ($) | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return(7) (f) ($) | Net Income (g) ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year (a) | Chen(1) (b) ($) | Berman(2) (b) ($) | Wu(3) (b) ($) | Ng(4) (b) ($) | Chen(1) (c) ($) | Berman(2) (c) ($) | Wu(3) (c) ($) | Ng(4) (c) ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | On February 18, 2022, the Board appointed Ms. Chen as the President and Secretary of the Company. On September 6, 2022, |
(2) | On February 18, 2022, the Board appointed |
(3) |
(4) | Pursuant to a Release and Separation Agreement dated July 13, 2021, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Ng severance pay of $ |
(5) | The following table reflects the adjustment from the Summary Compensation Table (“SCT”) to “compensation actually paid” (“CAP”) for each of our PEOs: |
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Chen | Chen | Berman | Wu | Wu | Ng | |||||||||||||
Summary Compensation Table Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Deduction for SCT “Stock Awards” column value | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
Deduction for SCT “Option Awards” column value | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||
Total Deductions from SCT | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of equity awards granted in any prior fiscal year that vested at the end of or during the covered fiscal year | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
Change in fair value of equity awards granted in any prior fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
Fair value of equity awards that are granted and vest during the covered fiscal year | ||||||||||||||||||
Fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year of equity awards granted in a prior fiscal year that were forfeited during the covered fiscal year | ( | |||||||||||||||||
Total Adjustments | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||
Compensation Actually Paid (SCT minus deductions plus total adjustments) | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
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(6) | The following table reflects the average adjustment from the Summary Compensation Table to “compensation actually paid” for our non-PEO NEOs: |
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Summary Compensation Table Total | $ | $ | $ | ||||||
Deduction for SCT “Stock Awards” column value | |||||||||
Deduction for SCT “Option Awards” column value | ( | ||||||||
Total Deductions from SCT | ( | ||||||||
Fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year of equity awards granted in a prior fiscal year that fail to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the covered fiscal year | ( | ||||||||
Change in fair value of equity awards granted in any prior fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year | |||||||||
Fair value of equity awards that are granted and vest during the covered fiscal year | |||||||||
Fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year of equity awards granted in a prior fiscal year that were forfeited during the covered fiscal year | |||||||||
Total Adjustments | ( | ||||||||
Compensation Actually Paid (SCT minus deductions plus total adjustments) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||
(7) | Cumulative total stockholder return (“TSR”) assumes $100 was invested on the last trading day in the year ended December 31, 2020 and is calculated by dividing the sum of the cumulative amount of dividends for the measurement period, assuming dividend reinvestment, and the difference between our share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by our stock price at the beginning of the measurement period. On the last trading day in the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, the per share closing prices for our common stock were $ |
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Summary Compensation Table Total For PEO | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO(4) | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs (d) ($) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs(5) (e) ($) | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return(6) (f) ($) | Net Income (g) ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year (a) | Chen(1) (b) ($) | Berman(2) (b) ($) | Wu(3) (b) ($) | Chen(1) (c) ($) | Berman(2) (c) ($) | Wu(3) (c) ($) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | On February 18, 2022, the Board appointed Ms. Chen as the President and Secretary of the Company. On September 6, 2022, |
(2) | On February 18, 2022, the Board appointed |
(3) |
(4) | The following table reflects the adjustment from the SCT to “compensation actually paid” (“CAP”) for each of our PEOs: |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
Chen | Chen | Chen | Berman | Wu | |||||||||||
Summary Compensation Table Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
Deduction for SCT “Stock Awards” column value | ( | ( | |||||||||||||
Deduction for SCT “Option Awards” column value | ( | ||||||||||||||
Total Deductions from SCT | ( | ( | |||||||||||||
Change in fair value of equity awards granted in any prior fiscal year that vested at the end of or during the covered fiscal year | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||
Change in fair value of equity awards granted in any prior fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||
Fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year of equity awards granted in a prior fiscal year that were forfeited during the covered fiscal year | ( | ||||||||||||||
Total Adjustments | ( | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||
Compensation Actually Paid (SCT minus deductions plus total adjustments) | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
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(5) | The following table reflects the average adjustment from the SCT to “compensation actually paid” for our non-PEO NEOs: |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
Summary Compensation Table Total | $ | $ | $ | ||||||
Deduction for SCT “Stock Awards” column value | ( | ||||||||
Deduction for SCT “Option Awards” column value | |||||||||
Total Deductions from SCT | ( | ||||||||
Fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year of equity awards granted in a prior fiscal year that fail to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the covered fiscal year | ( | ||||||||
Change in fair value of equity awards granted in any prior fiscal year that vested at the end of or during the covered fiscal year | |||||||||
Change in fair value of equity awards granted in any prior fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the covered fiscal year | ( | ||||||||
Fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year of equity awards granted in a prior fiscal year that were forfeited during the covered fiscal year | |||||||||
Total Adjustments | ( | ( | |||||||
Compensation Actually Paid (SCT minus deductions plus total adjustments) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||
(6) | Cumulative total stockholder return (“TSR”) assumes $100 was invested on the last trading day in the year ended December 31, 2021 and is calculated by dividing the sum of the cumulative amount of dividends for the measurement period, assuming dividend reinvestment, and the difference between our share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by our stock price at the beginning of the measurement period. On the last trading day in the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the per share closing prices for our common stock were $ |
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• | each person we believe beneficially holds more than 5% of our outstanding common shares (based solely on our review of SEC filings); |
• | each of our “named executive officers” as identified in the summary compensation table; and |
• | all of our current directors and executive officers as a group. |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owners(1) | Shares Beneficially Owned | Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned | ||||
Five Percent Stockholders: | ||||||
Knighted Pastures LLC(2) | 11,986,423 | 31.5% | ||||
Primo Vital Ltd.(3) | 11,986,523 | 31.5% | ||||
Directors and Named Executive Officers: | ||||||
Yinghua Chen(4)(5) | 1,119,325 | 2.9% | ||||
Roy Anderson(6) | 22,609 | * | ||||
Mao Sun | — | — | ||||
Yangyang Li(7) | 70,000 | * | ||||
Jingsheng (Jason) Lu(8) | 12,046,523 | 31.7% | ||||
Guanzhou (Jerry) Qin(9) | 30,000 | * | ||||
Yushi Guo(10) | 30,000 | * | ||||
Yuanfei Qu(11) | 20,000 | * | ||||
Chi Zhao | — | — | ||||
All current directors and executive officers, as a group (9 individuals) | 13,338,457(12) | 35.1%(12) | ||||
* | Less than 1% |
(1) | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is 745 Fifth Ave, Suite 500, New York, NY 10151. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. |
(2) | Based on a joint Schedule 13D/A filed on June 4, 2025. Roy Choi has shared voting and dispositive power over 11,986,423 shares of the Company’s common stock. Knighted Pastures LLC has shared voting and dispositive power over 8,906,270 shares of the Company’s common stock. Knighted’s business address is 1933 S. Broadway Suite 1146, Los Angeles, CA 90007. |
(3) | Based on a joint Schedule 13D/A filed on December 11, 2024, filed by Primo Vital Ltd. (“Primo”), Ourgame International Holdings Limited (“Ourgame”), and Jingsheng Lu. Primo is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Ourgame and is the record holder of 11,986,523 shares of the Company’s common stock. Ourgame has the power to vote or direct the voting of 11,986,523 shares of common stock and has the power to dispose or direct the disposition of 11,986,523 shares of common stock. Primo’s business address is 31/F, Tower Two, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, China. |
(4) | Consists of (i) 1,023,075 shares of Company common stock held directly and (ii) options to purchase 96,250 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days after May 27, 2025. |
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(5) | Does not include certain shares of Company common stock granted to certain directors and executive officers of the Company for which Yinghua Chen, as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has discretionary voting authority. Ms. Chen disclaims any beneficial ownership in such shares. |
(6) | Consists of 22,609 shares of Company common stock held directly. |
(7) | Consists of (i) 30,000 shares of Company common stock held directly, and (ii) options to purchase 30,000 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days after May 27, 2025. |
(8) | Mr. Lu serves as an executive director and the Chief Executive Officer of Ourgame, the wholly-owned parent of Primo, and as the sole director of Primo. Mr. Lu may exercise voting and dispositive power over the shares beneficially owned by Primo and disclaims any beneficial ownership in such shares. Shares consists of (i) 20,000 shares of Company common stock held directly, (ii) options to purchase 30,000 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days after May 27, 2025, and (iii) 11,986,523 shares of common stock held by Primo. |
(9) | Consists of 30,000 shares of Company common stock held directly. |
(10) | Consists of 30,000 shares of Company common stock held directly. |
(11) | Consists of 20,000 shares of Company common stock held directly. |
(12) | Includes the 11,986,523 shares of common stock held by Primo for which Mr. Lu may be deemed to have beneficial ownership. |
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Name | Class Year | ||||
Yangyang Li | Class A | ||||
Jingsheng (Jason) Lu | Class B | ||||
Mao Sun | Class B | ||||
Guanzhou (Jerry) Qin | Class B | ||||
Yushi Guo | Class C | ||||
Yuanfei Qu* | Class C | ||||
Roy Anderson* | Class C | ||||
Chi Zhao | Class C | ||||
* | Mr. Yuanfei Qu will not stand for reelection at the Annual Meeting as a Class C Director and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has recommended and the Board has elected Mr. Roy Anderson as a Class C Director Nominee at the Annual Meeting. |
Name | Title | ||||
Yangyang Li | President | ||||
Yinghua Chen | Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Roy Anderson | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
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Name | Transaction Date | Number of Shares | Transaction Description | ||||||||
Yangyang Li | 02-22-2024 | 30,000 | Grant of Restricted Stock Units | ||||||||
Zongmin (Philip) Ding | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
Jingsheng (Jason) Lu | 02-22-2024 | 20,000 | Grant of Restricted Stock Units | ||||||||
Mao Sun | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
Guanzhou (Jerry) Qin | 02-22-2024 | 30,000 | Grant of Restricted Stock Units | ||||||||
Yushi Guo | 02-22-2024 | 30,000 | Grant of Restricted Stock Units | ||||||||
Yuanfei Qu | 02-22-2024 | 20,000 | Grant of Restricted Stock Units | ||||||||
Chi Zhao | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||
Yinghua Chen | 08-30-2024 | 74,876 | Disposition of shares for taxes | ||||||||
02-22-2024 | 1,230,000 | Grant of Restricted Stock Units | |||||||||
02-22-2024 | 75,552 | Disposition of shares for taxes | |||||||||
Roy Anderson | 08-30-2024 | 2,199 | Disposition of shares for taxes | ||||||||
02-22-2024 | 30,000 | Grant of Restricted Stock Units | |||||||||
02-22-2024 | 2,597 | Disposition of shares for taxes | |||||||||
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