0001398432-18-000078.txt : 20180604 0001398432-18-000078.hdr.sgml : 20180604 20180604160623 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001398432-18-000078 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-8 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 FILED AS OF DATE: 20180604 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20180604 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20180604 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GENERAL CANNABIS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001477009 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-DETECTIVE, GUARD & ARMORED CAR SERVICES [7381] IRS NUMBER: 208096131 STATE OF INCORPORATION: CO FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-8 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-225413 FILM NUMBER: 18878161 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6565 EAST EVANS AVENUE CITY: DENVER STATE: CO ZIP: 80224 BUSINESS PHONE: (719) 748-5603 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6565 EAST EVANS AVENUE CITY: DENVER STATE: CO ZIP: 80224 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: Advanced Cannabis Solutions, Inc. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20131023 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: Promap Corp DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20091117 S-8 1 a14146.htm FORM S-8 S-8

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 4, 2018

Registration No. 333-


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

GENERAL CANNABIS CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Colorado

 

90-1072649

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

6565 E. Evans Avenue

Denver, CO 80224

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

2014 Equity Incentive Plan

Time-Based Options Award Plan

Performance-Based Options Award Plan

(Full titles of the plan)

 

 (303) 759-1300

(Telephone number)

 

Robert L. Frichtel

6565 E. Evans Avenue

Denver, Colorado 80224

(303) 759-1300

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number

Including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:

 

Murray Indick, Esq.

John M. Rafferty, Esq.

Morrison & Foerster LLP

425 Market Street

San Francisco, California 94105

(415) 268-7000

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

(Do not check if smaller reporting company)

 

Emerging growth company

 

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






CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Securities to Be Registered

 

Total Shares

To Be

Registered (1)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

per Share (2)

 

Proposed

Maximum Aggregate

Offering

Price (2)

 

Amount of Registration

Fee

Common Stock, $0.001 par value, under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan

 

5,000,000 (3)

 

$3.55

 

$17,750,000

 

$2,209.88

Common Stock, $0.001 par value, under the Time-Based Options Award Plan

 

600,000

 

$3.55

 

$2,130,000

 

$265.19

Common Stock, $0.001 par value, under the Performance-Based Options Award Plan

 

300,000

 

$3.55

 

$1,065,000

 

$132.59

Total

 

5,900,000

 

$3.55

 

$20,945,000

 

$2,607.65


(1)   Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s common stock that become issuable by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction that increases the number of the outstanding shares of the Registrant’s common stock.

(2)   Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act, using the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s common stock on May 31, 2018, as reported by the OTC Market Group’s OTCQB.

(3)   Represents additional shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.





 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

This registration statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) relates to 5,000,000 shares of common stock of General Cannabis Corp. (the “Registrant,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”), $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), which are issuable pursuant to, or upon exercise of, options that have been granted or may be granted under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2014 Plan”). Under the 2014 Plan, a total of 15,000,000 shares of Common Stock have been reserved for issuance upon the grant and exercise of options to employees, and/or to non-employees/consultants as the administrator of the 2014 Plan shall elect. 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan were previously registered on the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-8 filed on April 25, 2016 (Commission File No. 333-210910) (the “Initial Registration Statement”).


This Registration Statement relates to securities of the same class as that to which the Initial Registration Statement relates and is submitted in accordance with General Instruction E to Form S-8 regarding Registration of Additional Securities. Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of the Initial Registration Statement are incorporated herein by reference and made part of this Registration Statement, except as amended hereby.


This Registration Statement also relates to 900,000 shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon exercise of an option (the “Option”) to purchase such shares granted to Michael Feinsod and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on December 8, 2017 as an inducement material to Mr. Feinsod’s continued employment with the Company as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.  The Option consists of the following: (i) 600,000 shares subject to the Option have time-based vesting terms (the “Time-Based Options Award Plan”), with one-third of such shares vesting on each yearly anniversary of the date of grant, and (ii) 300,000 shares subject to the Option have performance-based vesting terms (the “Performance-Based Options Award Plan”) with (a) one-third of such shares vesting on the date on which the Twenty Day Average Trading Price (as defined in the applicable option agreement) for a share of Common Stock equals or exceeds $3.50,  (b) an additional one-third of such shares vesting on the date on which the Twenty Day Average Trading Price for a share of Common Stock equals or exceeds $5.00, and (c) the remaining one-third of such shares vesting on the date on which the Twenty Day Average Trading Price for a share of Common Stock equals or exceeds $6.50, in each case, in accordance with the applicable option agreement.





PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

The Registrant has sent or given or will send or give documents containing the information specified by Part I of this Registration Statement to participants in the 2014 Plan, the Time-Based Options Award Plan and the Performance-Based Options Award Plan, as specified in Rule 428(b)(1)(i) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”) under the Securities Act. The Registrant is not filing such documents with the SEC, but these documents constitute (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement) a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

 

Upon written or oral request, any of the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement (which documents are incorporated by reference in this Section 10(a) Prospectus), and other documents required to be delivered to eligible employees, non-employee directors and consultants, pursuant to Rule 428(b) are available without charge by contacting:

 

General Cannabis Corp.

6565 E. Evans Avenue

Denver, CO 80224

(303) 759-1300






PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.


The following documents filed by the Registrant with the SEC are incorporated herein by reference:


(a)

The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2018;


(b)

The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2018, and the Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 8, 2018, January 30, 2018, February 23, 2018, March 7, 2018, April 13, 2018 and April 26, 2018; and


(c)

The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on July 11, 2011 (File No. 000-54457), and any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.


We also incorporate by reference any future filings (other than information in such documents that is not deemed to be filed) made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, until we file a post-effective amendment which indicates the termination of the offering of the securities made by this Registration Statement.


Item 4. Description of Securities.


Not applicable.


Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.


Not applicable.


Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.


Our articles of incorporation provide that we may indemnify any of our directors, officers, employees, fiduciaries, or agents to the full extent permitted by the Colorado Business Corporation Act as in effect at the time of the conduct by such person.  Our bylaws provide that we shall indemnify our directors in their capacities as directors pursuant to the procedures set forth in, and to the full extent authorized by, Colorado law and that we may indemnify and advance expenses to our officers, employees, fiduciaries and agents as we deemed appropriate and as permitted by Colorado law.


Section 7-109-103 of the Colorado Business Corporation Act provides that a Colorado corporation must indemnify a person (i) who is or was a director of the corporation or an individual who, while serving as a director of the corporation, is or was serving at the corporation’s request as a director, officer, agent, associate, employee, fiduciary, manager, member, partner, promoter, trustee of, or similar position with, another corporation or other entity or of any employee benefit plan (a “Director”) or officer of the corporation and (ii) who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative and whether formal or informal (a “Proceeding”), in which the Director was a party, against reasonable expenses incurred by him or her in connection with the Proceeding, unless such indemnity is limited by the corporation’s articles of incorporation. Our articles of incorporation do not contain any such limitation.


Section 7-109-102 of the Colorado Business Corporation Act provides, generally, that a Colorado corporation may indemnify a person made a party to a Proceeding because the person is or was a Director, against any obligation incurred with respect to a Proceeding, to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, fine (including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan) or reasonable expenses incurred in the Proceeding if the Director conducted himself or herself in good faith and the Director reasonably believed, in the case of conduct in an official capacity with the corporation, that the Director’s conduct was in the corporation’s best interests and, in all other cases, the Director’s conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal proceedings, the Director had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.  A corporation may not indemnify a Director in connection with any Proceeding charging the Director derived an improper personal benefit, whether or not involving actions in an official capacity, in which Proceeding the Director was judged liable on the basis that he derived an improper personal benefit.


Section 7-109-105 of the Colorado Business Corporation Act authorizes a court of competent jurisdiction to order indemnification if it determines that the Director is (i) entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 7-109-103 (in which case the court also shall order the Colorado corporation to pay the Director’s reasonable expenses incurred to obtain court-ordered indemnification) or (ii)




fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all of the relevant circumstances, whether or not the Director met the standard of conduct under Section 7-109-102 or was adjudged liable in an action by or in the right of the corporation or on the basis that he or she derived an improper personal benefit (except that the indemnification in these circumstances is limited to the reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the Proceeding and reasonable expenses incurred to obtain court-ordered indemnification).


Under Section 7-109-107 of the Colorado Business Corporation Act, unless otherwise provided in its articles of incorporation, a Colorado corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of the corporation to the same extent as a Director and may indemnify such a person who is not a Director to a greater extent, if not inconsistent with public policy and if provided for by its bylaws, general or specific action of its board of directors or shareholders, or contract.


Section 7-109-104 of the Colorado Business Corporation Act authorizes a Colorado corporation to pay expenses incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding if the Director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent undertakes in writing to repay the amount if it is a ultimately determined that such person did not meet the statutory standards of conduct and a determination is made that the facts then known to those making the determination would not preclude indemnification under the Colorado Business Corporation Act.


Section 7-109-106 of the Colorado Business Corporation Act provides that the determination that a Director or other person is entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses under the Act is to be made by (i) the board of directors by a majority vote of those present at a meeting at which a quorum is present (and only those directors not parties to the Proceeding shall be counted in satisfying the quorum), (ii) if a quorum cannot be obtained, by a majority vote of a committee of the board, which shall consist of two or more directors not parties to the Proceeding (except that directors who are parties to the Proceeding may participate in the designation of the directors for the committee) or (iii) by the corporation’s shareholders. With respect to clauses (i) and (ii), if a quorum of the board cannot be obtained and a committee cannot be established (or even if quorum is obtained or a committee is designated), if a majority of the directors constituting such quorum or such committee so directs, the determination required to be made under the Act must be made by independent legal counsel selected by a vote of the board or committee constituted in the manner contemplated in the preceding sentence or if a quorum cannot be obtained and a committee cannot be established, by independent legal counsel selected by a majority vote of the full board of directors. Authorization of indemnification and advancement of expenses must be made in the same manner as the determination that indemnification or advancement of expenses is permissible; except that, if the determination that indemnification or advancement of expenses is permissible is made by independent legal counsel, authorization of indemnification and advancement of expenses is to be made by the body that selected such counsel.


It is the opinion of the SEC that indemnification of directors and officers for liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy and is unenforceable pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Act.


Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.


Not applicable.


Item 8. Exhibits.


The following Exhibits are filed with this Registration Statement:


Exhibit Number

 

Exhibit

4.1

 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-163342)

4.2

 

Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-163342)

4.3*

 

2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended

4.4

 

Form of Time-Based Options Award (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2017)

4.5

 

Form of Performance-Based Options Award (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2017)

5.1*

 

Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP

23.1*

 

Consent of Hall & Company, Inc., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

23.2*

 

Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5.1)

24

 

Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement)


*   filed herewith.




Item 9. Undertakings.


(a)  

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:


(1)  

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:


(i)  

To include, any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

 

(ii)  

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

 

 

(iii)  

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;


provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.


(2)  

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

 

(3)  

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.


(b)  

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

 

(c)  

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing previsions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.




SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements of filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Denver, Colorado, on June 4, 2018.

 

 

GENERAL CANNABIS CORP.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert L. Frichtel

 

 

Robert L. Frichtel

 

 

Chief Executive Officer



POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Robert L. Frichtel and Brian Andrews, and each of them, as his or her attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement, any and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the 1st day of June, 2018.


June 4, 2018

By:

/s/ Robert L. Frichtel

 

 

Robert L. Frichtel

 

 

Principal Executive Officer and Director

 

 

 

June 4, 2018

By:

/s/ Brian Andrews

 

 

Brian Andrews

 

 

Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

 

 

 

June 4, 2018

By:

/s/ Michael Feinsod

 

 

Michael Feinsod

 

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

 

June 4, 2018

By:

/s/ Peter Boockvar

 

 

Peter Boockvar

 

 

Director

 

 

 

June 4, 2018

By:

/s/ Duncan Levin

 

 

Duncan Levin

 

 

Director

 

 

 

June 4, 2018

By:

/s/ Mark Green

 

 

Mark Green

 

 

Director



 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

Exhibit Number

 

Exhibit

4.1

 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-163342)

4.2

 

Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-163342)

4.3*

 

2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended

4.4

 

Form of Time-Based Options Award (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2017)

4.5

 

Form of Performance-Based Options Award (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2017)

5.1*

 

Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP

23.1*

 

Consent of Hall & Company, Inc., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

23.2*

 

Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5.1)

24

 

Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement)


*   filed herewith.




EX-4.3 2 exh4_03.htm EXHIBIT 4.3 4.3

Exhibit 4.3


GENERAL CANNABIS CORP., AS AMENDED

2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

THIS GENERAL CANNABIS CORP. 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED (the "Plan") is designed to retain directors, executives and selected employees and consultants and reward them for making contributions to the success of the Company. These objectives are accomplished by making long-term incentive awards under the Plan thereby providing Participants (as defined below) with a proprietary interest in the growth and performance of the Company.


1.

Definitions.

 

 

 

 

(a)

"Board" - The Board of Directors of the Company.

 

 

 

 

(b)

"Change in Control" - Means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of, any one of the following events:


 

(i)

The acquisition in one transaction by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule l3d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of shares or other securities (as defined in Section 3(a)(10) of the Exchange Act) representing 51% or more of outstanding Stock (as defined below) of the Company; provided, however, that a Change in Control as defined in this clause (1) shall not be deemed to occur in connection with any acquisition by the Company, an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Person who immediately prior to the effective date of this Plan is a holder of Stock (a "Current Stockholder") so long as such acquisition does not result in any Person other than the Company, such employee benefit plan or such Current Stockholder beneficially owning shares or securities representing 51% or more of the outstanding; or

 

 

 

 

(ii)

Any election has occurred of persons as directors of the Company that causes two-thirds or more of the Board to consist of persons other than (i) persons who were members of the Board on the effective date of this Plan and (ii) persons who were nominated by the Board for election as members of the Board at a time when at least two-thirds of the Board consisted of persons who were members of the Board on the effective date of this Plan; provided, however, that any person nominated for election by the Board when at least two-thirds of the members of the Board are persons described in subclause (i) or (ii) and persons who were themselves previously nominated in accordance with this clause (2) shall, for this purpose, be deemed to have been nominated by a Board composed of persons described in subclause (ii); or

 

 

 

 

(iii)

Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction (a "Reorganization Transaction"), in each case, unless, immediately following such Reorganization Transaction, more than 50% of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock (or similar equity security) of the corporation or other entity resulting from or surviving such Reorganization Transaction and the combined voting power of the securities of such corporation or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the outstanding Stock immediately prior to such Reorganization Transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the outstanding Stock immediately prior to such Reorganization Transaction; or

 

 

 

 

(iv)

Approval by the stockholders of the Company of (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to a corporation or other entity, unless, with respect to such corporation or other entity, immediately following such sale or other disposition more than 50% of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock (or similar equity security) of such corporation or other entity and the combined voting power of the securities of such corporation or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the outstanding Stock immediately prior to such sale or disposition in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the outstanding Stock immediately prior to such sale or disposition.

 

 

(c)

"Code" - The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

 

 

 

(d)

"Committee" - The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board, or such other committee of the Board that is designated by the Board to administer the Plan.


1




 

(e)

"Company" – General Cannabis Corp. and its subsidiaries including subsidiaries of subsidiaries.

 

 

 

 

(f)

"Exchange Act" - The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

 

 

 

(g)

"Fair Market Value" - The fair market value of the Company's issued and outstanding Stock as determined in good faith by the Board or Committee. If the Stock is then quoted on a securities exchange or automated quotation system, the fair market values of the Company's issued and outstanding Stock shall be the closing sales price of the Stock on the date of the Grant.

 

 

 

 

(h)

"Grant" - The grant of any form of stock option, stock award, or stock purchase offer, whether granted singly, in combination, or in tandem, to a Participant pursuant to such terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee may establish in order to fulfill the objectives of the Plan.

 

 

 

 

(i)

"Grant Agreement" - An agreement between the Company and a Participant that sets forth the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to a Grant.

 

 

 

 

(j)

"Option" - Either an Incentive Stock Option, in accordance with Section 422 of Code, or a Nonstatutory Option, to purchase the Company's Stock that may be awarded to a Participant under the Plan. A Participant who receives an award of an Option shall be referred to as an "Optionee."

 

 

 

 

(k)

"Participant" - A director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company to whom an Award has been made under the Plan.

 

 

 

 

(l)

"Restricted Stock Purchase Offer" - A Grant of the right to purchase a specified number of shares of Stock pursuant to a written agreement issued under the Plan.

 

 

 

 

(m)

"Securities Act" - The Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

 

 

 

(n)

"Stock" - Authorized and issued or unissued shares of the no par value common stock of the Company.

 

 

 

 

(o)

"Stock Award" - A Grant made under the Plan in stock or denominated in units of stock for which the Participant is not obligated to pay additional consideration.

 

2.

Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Board, provided, however, that the Board may delegate such administration to the Committee. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board and/or the Committee shall have authority to (a) grant, in its discretion, Incentive Stock Options in accordance with Section 422 of the Code, or Nonstatutory Options, Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Purchase Offers; (b) determine in good faith the fair market value of the Stock covered by any Grant; (c) determine which eligible persons shall receive Grants and the number of shares, restrictions, terms and conditions to be included in such Grants; (d) construe and interpret the Plan; (e) promulgate, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to its administration, and correct defects, omissions and inconsistencies in the Plan or any Grant; (f) consistent with the Plan and with the consent of the Participant, as appropriate, amend any outstanding Grant or amend the exercise date or dates thereof; (g) determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absence which may be granted to Participants without constituting termination of their employment for the purpose of the Plan or any Grant; and (h) make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the Plan's administration. The interpretation and construction by the Board of any provisions of the Plan or selection of Participants shall be conclusive and final. No member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Grant made thereunder. The Board may authorize one or more Company officers to grant awards subject to such limitations as the Board determines from time to time, subject to applicable laws.

 

 

3.

Eligibility.

 

 

 

 

(a)

General: The persons who shall be eligible to receive Grants shall be directors, officers, employees or consultants to the Company. The term consultant shall mean any person, other than an employee, who is engaged by the Company to render services and is compensated for such services. An Optionee may hold more than one Option. Any issuance of a Grant to an officer or director of the Company subsequent to the first registration of any of the securities of the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") shall comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3, as promulgated under the Exchange Act.


2




 

(b)

Incentive Stock Options: Incentive Stock Options may only be issued to employees of the Company. Incentive Stock Options may be granted to officers or directors, provided they are also employees of the Company. Payment of a director's fee shall not be sufficient to constitute employment by the Company.


The Company shall not grant an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan to any employee if such Grant would result in such employee holding the right to exercise for the first time in any one calendar year, under all Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan or any other plan maintained by the Company, with respect to shares of Stock having an aggregate fair market value, determined as of the date the Option is granted, in excess of $100,000. Should it be determined that an Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan exceeds such maximum for any reason other than a failure in good faith to value the Stock subject to such option, the excess portion of such option shall be considered a Nonstatutory Option. To the extent the employee holds two (2) or more such Options which become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year, the foregoing limitation on the exercisability of such Option as Incentive Stock Options under the Federal tax laws shall be applied on the basis of the order in which such Options are granted. If, for any reason, an entire Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option by reason of exceeding such maximum, such Option shall be considered a Nonstatutory Option.

 

 

 

 

(c)

Nonstatutory Option: The provisions of the foregoing Section 3(b) shall not apply to any Option designated as a "Nonstatutory Option" or which sets forth the intention of the parties that the Option be a Nonstatutory Option.

 

 

 

 

(d)

Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Purchase Offers: The provisions of this Section 3 shall not apply to any Stock Award or Restricted Stock Purchase Offer under the Plan.

 

 

4.

Stock.

 

 

 

 

(a)

Authorized Stock: Stock subject to Grants may be either unissued or reacquired Stock.

 

 

 

 

(b)

Number of Shares: Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5(i) of the Plan, the total number of shares of Stock which may be purchased or granted directly by Options, Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Purchase Offers, or purchased indirectly through exercise of Options granted under the Plan shall not exceed 15,000,000 shares. If any Grant shall for any reason terminate or expire, any shares allocated thereto but remaining unpurchased upon such expiration or termination shall again be available for Grants with respect thereto under the Plan as though no Grant had previously occurred with respect to such shares. Any shares of Stock issued pursuant to a Grant and repurchased pursuant to the terms thereof shall be available for future Grants as though not previously covered by a Grant.

 

 

 

 

(c)

Reservation of Shares: The Company shall reserve and keep available at all times during the term of the Plan such number of shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. If, after reasonable efforts, which efforts shall not include the registration of the Plan or Grants under the Securities Act, the Company is unable to obtain authority from any applicable regulatory body, which authorization is deemed necessary by legal counsel for the Company for the lawful issuance of shares hereunder, the Company shall be relieved of any liability with respect to its failure to issue and sell the shares for which such requisite authority was so deemed necessary unless and until such authority is obtained.

 

 

 

 

(d)

Application of Funds: The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Stock pursuant to the exercise of Options or rights under Stock Purchase Agreements will be used for general corporate purposes.

 

 

 

 

(e)

No Obligation to Exercise: The issuance of a Grant shall impose no obligation upon the Participant to exercise any rights under such Grant.

 

 

5.

Terms and Conditions of Options.  Options granted hereunder shall be evidenced by agreements between the Company and the respective Optionees, in such form and substance as the Board or Committee shall from time to time approve. Option agreements need not be identical, and in each case may include such provisions as the Board or Committee may determine, but all such agreements shall be subject to and limited by the following terms and conditions:

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

Number of Shares: Each Option shall state the number of shares to which it pertains.

 

(b)

Exercise Price: Each Incentive Stock Option shall state the exercise price, which shall be determined as follows:


3




 

(i)

Any Incentive Stock Option granted to a person who at the time the Option is granted owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company ("Ten Percent Holder") shall have an exercise price of no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock as of the date of grant; and

 

 

 

 

(ii)

Incentive Stock Options granted to a person who at the time the Option is granted is not a Ten Percent Holder shall have an exercise price of no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock as of the date of grant.


 

 

The exercise price of each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

 

 

 

(c)

Medium and Time of Payment: The exercise price shall become immediately due upon exercise of the Option and shall be paid in cash or check made payable to the Company. Should the Company's outstanding Stock be registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act at the time the Option is exercised, then the exercise price may also be paid as follows:

 

 

 

 

(i)

in shares of Stock held by the Optionee for the requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the Company's earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date, or

 

 

 

 

(ii)

through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Optionee shall concurrently provide irrevocable written instructions (a) to a Company-designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to the Company, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable Federal, state and local income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the Company by reason of such purchase and (b) to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale transaction.


At the discretion of the Board, exercisable either at the time of Option grant or of Option exercise, the exercise price may also be paid (i) by Optionee's delivery of a promissory note in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and permissible under applicable securities rules and bearing interest at a rate determined by the Board in its sole discretion, but in no event less than the minimum rate of interest required to avoid the imputation of compensation income to the Optionee under the Federal tax laws, or (ii) in such other form of consideration permitted by the corporations law of the State of Colorado as may be acceptable to the Board.

  

 

 

 

(d)

Term and Exercise of Options: Any Option granted to an employee of the Company shall become exercisable over a period of no longer than five (5) years. In no event shall any Option be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it is granted, and no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Holder shall, by its terms, be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of the Option. Unless otherwise specified by the Board or the Committee in the resolution authorizing such Option, the date of grant of an Option shall be deemed to be the date upon which the Board or the Committee authorizes the granting of such Option.


Each Option shall be exercisable to the nearest whole share, in installments or otherwise, as the respective Option agreements may provide. During the lifetime of an Optionee, the Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall not be assignable or transferable by the Optionee, and no other person shall acquire any rights therein. To the extent not exercised, installments (if more than one) shall accumulate, but shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, only during the period for exercise as stated in the Option agreement, whether or not other installments are then exercisable.

  

 

 

 

(e)

Termination of Status as Employee, Consultant or Director: If Optionee's status as an employee shall terminate for any reason other than Optionee's disability or death, then Optionee (or if the Optionee shall die after such termination, but prior to exercise, Optionee's personal representative or the person entitled to succeed to the Option) shall have the right to exercise the portions of any of Optionee's Incentive Stock Options which were exercisable as of the date of such termination, in whole or in part, within 90 days after such termination (or, in the event of "termination for good cause" as that term is defined in case law related thereto, or by the terms of the Plan or the Option Agreement or an employment agreement, the Option shall automatically terminate as of the termination of employment as to all shares covered by the Option).

 

 

 

 

 

With respect to Nonstatutory Options granted to employees, directors or consultants, the Board may specify such period for exercise, not less than 90 days (except that in the case of "termination for cause" or removal of a director), the Option shall automatically terminate as of the termination of employment or services as to shares covered by the Option, following termination of employment or services as the Board deems reasonable and appropriate. The Option may be exercised only with respect to installments that the Optionee could have exercised at the date of termination of employment or services. Nothing contained herein or in any Option granted pursuant hereto shall be construed to affect or restrict in any way the right of the Company to terminate the employment or services of an Optionee with or without cause.


4




 

(f)

Disability of Optionee: If an Optionee is disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) at the time of termination, the ninety (90) day period set forth in Section 5(e) shall be a period, as determined by the Board and set forth in the Option, of not less than six months nor more than one year after such termination.

 

 

 

 

(g)

Death of Optionee: If an Optionee dies while employed by, engaged as a consultant to, or serving as a Director of the Company, the portion of such Optionee's Option which was exercisable at the date of death may be exercised, in whole or in part, by the estate of the decedent or by a person succeeding to the right to exercise such Option at any time within (i) a period, as determined by the Board and set forth in the Option, of not less than six (6) months nor more than one (1) year after Optionee's death, which period shall not be more, in the case of a Nonstatutory Option, than the period for exercise following termination of employment or services, or (ii) during the remaining term of the Option, whichever is the lesser. The Option may be so exercised only with respect to installments exercisable at the time of Optionee's death and not previously exercised by the Optionee.

 

 

 

 

(h)

Nontransferability of Option: No Option shall be transferable by the Optionee, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

 

 

 

(i)

Recapitalization: Subject to any required action of shareholders, the number of shares of Stock covered by each outstanding Option, and the exercise price per share thereof set forth in each such Option, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock of the Company resulting from a stock split, stock dividend, combination, subdivision or reclassification of shares, or the payment of a stock dividend, or any other increase or decrease in the number of such shares affected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of consideration" by the Company.


In the event of a proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of the Company (collectively, a "Reorganization"), unless otherwise provided by the Board, this Option shall terminate immediately prior to such date as is determined by the Board, which date shall be no later than the consummation of such Reorganization. In such event, if the entity which shall be the surviving entity does not tender to Optionee an offer, for which it has no obligation to do so, to substitute for any unexercised Option a stock option or capital stock of such surviving entity, as applicable, which on an equitable basis shall provide the Optionee with substantially the same economic benefit as such unexercised Option, then the Board may grant to such Optionee, in its sole and absolute discretion and without obligation, the right for a period commencing thirty (30) days prior to and ending immediately prior to the date determined by the Board pursuant hereto for termination of the Option or during the remaining term of the Option, whichever is the lesser, to exercise any unexpired Option or Options without regard to the installment provisions of Paragraph 5(d) of the Plan; provided, that any such right granted shall be granted to all Optionees not receiving an offer to receive substitute options on a consistent basis, and provided further, that any such exercise shall be subject to the consummation of such Reorganization.

 

Subject to any required action of shareholders, if the Company shall be the surviving entity in any merger or consolidation, each outstanding Option thereafter shall pertain to and apply to the securities to which a holder of shares of Stock equal to the shares subject to the Option would have been entitled by reason of such merger or consolidation.

 

In the event of a change in the Stock of the Company as presently constituted, which is limited to a change of all of its authorized shares without par value into the same number of shares with a par value, the shares resulting from any such change shall be deemed to be the Stock within the meaning of the Plan.

 

To the extent that the foregoing adjustments relate to stock or securities of the Company, such adjustments shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided in this Section 5(i), the Optionee shall have no rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class or the payment of any stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class, and the number or price of shares of Stock subject to any Option shall not be affected by, and no adjustment shall be made by reason of, any dissolution, liquidation, merger, consolidation or sale of assets or capital stock, or any issue by the Company of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class.

 

The Grant of an Option pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make any adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes in its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, or liquidate or to sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.


5




 

(j)

Rights as a Shareholder: An Optionee shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by an Option until the effective date of the issuance of the shares following exercise of such Option by Optionee. No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is issued, except as expressly provided in Section 5(i) hereof.

 

 

 

 

(k)

Modification, Acceleration, Extension, and Renewal of Options: Subject to the terms and conditions and within the limitations of the Plan, the Board may modify an Option, or, once an Option is exercisable, accelerate the rate at which it may be exercised, and may extend or renew outstanding Options granted under the Plan or accept the surrender of outstanding Options (to the extent not theretofore exercised) and authorize the granting of new Options in substitution for such Options, provided such action is permissible under Section 422 of the Code and applicable state securities laws. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(k), however, no modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the Optionee, alter to the Optionee's detriment or impair any rights or obligations under any Option theretofore granted under the Plan.

 

 

 

 

(l)

Exercise Before Exercise Date: At the discretion of the Board, the Option may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Optionee may elect to exercise all or any portion of the Option prior to the stated exercise date of the Option or any installment thereof. Any shares so purchased prior to the stated exercise date shall be subject to repurchase by the Company upon termination of Optionee's employment as contemplated by Section 5(n) hereof prior to the exercise date stated in the Option and such other restrictions and conditions as the Board or Committee may deem advisable.

 

 

 

 

(m)

Other Provisions: The Option agreements authorized under the Plan shall contain such other provisions, including, without limitation, restrictions upon the exercise of the Options, as the Board or the Committee shall deem advisable. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option, if the exercise of such Option or the issuance of shares thereunder would violate, in the opinion of legal counsel for the Company, the provisions of any applicable law or the rules or regulations of any applicable governmental or administrative agency or body, such as the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, applicable state securities laws, Colorado corporation law, and the rules promulgated under the foregoing or the rules and regulations of any exchange upon which the shares of the Company are listed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the exercise of each Option shall be subject to the condition that if at any time the Company shall determine that (i) the satisfaction of withholding tax or other similar liabilities, or (ii) the listing, registration or qualification of any shares covered by such exercise upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or (iii) the consent or approval of any regulatory body, or (iv) the perfection of any exemption from any such withholding, listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval is necessary or desirable in connection with such exercise or the issuance of shares thereunder, then in any such event, such exercise shall not be effective unless such withholding, listing registration, qualification, consent, approval or exemption shall have been effected, obtained or perfected free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company.

 

 

 

 

(n)

Repurchase Agreement: The Board may, in its discretion, require as a condition to the Grant of an Option hereunder, that an Optionee execute an agreement with the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Board in its discretion ("Repurchase Agreement"), (i) restricting the Optionee's right to transfer shares purchased under such Option without first offering such shares to the Company or another shareholder of the Company upon the same terms and conditions as provided therein; and (ii) providing that upon termination of Optionee's employment with the Company, for any reason, the Company (or another shareholder of the Company, as provided in the Repurchase Agreement) shall have the right at its discretion (or the discretion of such other shareholders) to purchase and/or redeem all such shares owned by the Optionee on the date of termination of his or her employment at a price equal to: (A) the fair value of such shares as of such date of termination; or (B) if such repurchase right lapses at 20% of the number of shares per year, the original purchase price of such shares, and upon terms of payment permissible under the applicable state securities laws; provided that in the case of Options or Stock Awards granted to officers, directors, consultants or affiliates of the Company, such repurchase provisions may be subject to additional or greater restrictions as determined by the Board or Committee.


6.

Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Purchase Offers.

 

 

 

 

(a)

Types of Grants.

 

 

 

 

(i)

Stock Award. All or part of any Stock Award under the Plan may be subject to conditions established by the Board or the Committee, and set forth in the Stock Award Agreement, which may include, but are not limited to, continuous service with the Company, achievement of specific business objectives, increases in specified indices, attaining growth rates and other comparable measurements of Company performance. Such Awards may be based on Fair Market Value or other specified valuation.

 

 

 

 

(ii)

Restricted Stock Purchase Offer. A Grant of a Restricted Stock Purchase Offer under the Plan shall be subject to such (i) vesting contingencies related to the Participant's continued association with the Company for a specified time and (ii) other specified conditions as the Board or Committee shall determine, in their sole discretion, consistent with the provisions of the Plan.


6




  

 

 

 

(b)

Conditions and Restrictions. Shares of Stock which Participants may receive as a Stock Award under a Stock Award Agreement or Restricted Stock Purchase Offer under a Restricted Stock Purchase Offer may include such restrictions as the Board or Committee, as applicable, shall determine, including restrictions on transfer, repurchase rights, right of first refusal, and forfeiture provisions. When transfer of Stock is so restricted or subject to forfeiture provisions it is referred to as "Restricted Stock". Further, with Board or Committee approval, Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Purchase Offers may be deferred, either in the form of installments or a future lump sum distribution. The Board or Committee may permit selected Participants to elect to defer distributions of Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Purchase Offers in accordance with procedures established by the Board or Committee to assure that such deferrals comply with applicable requirements of the Code including, at the choice of Participants, the capability to make further deferrals for distribution after retirement. Any deferred distribution, whether elected by the Participant or specified by the Stock Award Agreement, Restricted Stock Purchase Offers or by the Board or Committee, may require the payment be forfeited in accordance with the provisions of Section 6(c). Dividends or dividend equivalent rights may be extended to and made part of any Stock Award or Restricted Stock Purchase Offers denominated in Stock or units of Stock, subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Board or Committee may establish.

 

 

 

 

(c)

Cancellation and Rescission of Grants. Unless the Stock Award Agreement or Restricted Stock Purchase Offer specifies otherwise, the Board or Committee, as applicable, may cancel any unexpired, unpaid, or deferred Grants at any time if the Participant is not in compliance with all other applicable provisions of the Stock Award Agreement or Restricted Stock Purchase Offer, the Plan and with the following conditions:

 

 

 

 

(i)

A Participant shall not render services for any organization or engage directly or indirectly in any business which, in the judgment of the chief executive officer of the Company or other senior officer designated by the Board or Committee, is or becomes competitive with the Company, or which organization or business, or the rendering of services to such organization or business, is or becomes otherwise prejudicial to or in conflict with the interests of the Company. For Participants whose employment has terminated, the judgment of the chief executive officer shall be based on the Participant's position and responsibilities while employed by the Company, the Participant's post-employment responsibilities and position with the other organization or business, the extent of past, current and potential competition or conflict between the Company and the other organization or business, the effect on the Company's customers, suppliers and competitors and such other considerations as are deemed relevant given the applicable facts and circumstances. A Participant who has retired shall be free, however, to purchase as an investment or otherwise, stock or other securities of such organization or business so long as they are listed upon a recognized securities exchange or traded over-the-counter, and such investment does not represent a substantial investment to the Participant or a greater than ten percent (10%) equity interest in the organization or business.

 

 

 

 

(ii)

A Participant shall not, without prior written authorization from the Company, disclose to anyone outside the Company, or use in other than the Company's business, any confidential information or material, as defined in the Company's Proprietary Information and Invention Agreement or similar agreement regarding confidential information and intellectual property, relating to the business of the Company, acquired by the Participant either during or after employment with the Company.

 

 

 

 

(iii)

A Participant shall disclose promptly and assign to the Company all right, title and interest in any invention or idea, patentable or not, made or conceived by the Participant during employment by the Company, relating in any manner to the actual or anticipated business, research or development work of the Company and shall do anything reasonably necessary to enable the Company to secure a patent where appropriate in the United States and in foreign countries.

 

 

 

 

(iv)

Upon exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to a Grant, the Participant shall certify on a form acceptable to the Committee that he or she is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Plan. Failure to comply with all of the provisions of this Section 6(c) prior to, or during the six months after, any exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to a Grant shall cause such exercise, payment or delivery to be rescinded. The Company shall notify the Participant in writing of any such rescission within two years after such exercise, payment or delivery. Within ten days after receiving such a notice from the Company, the Participant shall pay to the Company the amount of any gain realized or payment received as a result of the rescinded exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to a Grant. Such payment shall be made either in cash or by returning to the Company the number of shares of Stock that the Participant received in connection with the rescinded exercise, payment or delivery.


7




 

(d)

Nonassignability.

 

 

 

 

(i)

Except pursuant to Section 6(e)(iii) and except as set forth in Section 6(d)(ii), no Grant or any other benefit under the Plan shall be assignable or transferable, or payable to or exercisable by, anyone other than the Participant to whom it was granted.

 

 

 

 

(ii)

Where a Participant terminates employment and retains a Grant pursuant to Section 6(e)(ii) in order to assume a position with a governmental, charitable or educational institution, the Board or Committee, in its discretion and to the extent permitted by law, may authorize a third party (including but not limited to the trustee of a "blind" trust), acceptable to the applicable governmental or institutional authorities, the Participant and the Board or Committee, to act on behalf of the Participant with regard to such Awards.

 

 

 

 

(e)

Termination of Employment. If the employment or service to the Company of a Participant terminates, other than pursuant to any of the following provisions under this Section 6(e), all unexercised, deferred and unpaid Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Purchase Offers shall be cancelled immediately, unless the Stock Award Agreement or Restricted Stock Purchase Offer provides otherwise:

 

 

 

 

(i)

Retirement Under a Company Retirement Plan. When a Participant's employment terminates as a result of retirement in accordance with the terms of a Company retirement plan, the Board or Committee may permit Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Purchase Offers to continue in effect beyond the date of retirement in accordance with the applicable Grant Agreement and the exercisability and vesting of any such Grants may be accelerated.

 

 

 

 

(ii)

Rights in the Best Interests of the Company. When a Participant resigns from the Company and, in the judgment of the Board or Committee, the acceleration and/or continuation of outstanding Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Purchase Offers would be in the best interests of the Company, the Board or Committee may (i) authorize, where appropriate, the acceleration and/or continuation of all or any part of Grants issued prior to such termination and (ii) permit the exercise, vesting and payment of such Grants for such period as may be set forth in the applicable Grant Agreement, subject to earlier cancellation pursuant to Section 9 or at such time as the Board or Committee shall deem the continuation of all or any part of the Participant's Grants are not in the Company's best interest.

 

(iii)

Death or Disability of a Participant.

 

 

 

 

(1)

In the event of a Participant's death, the Participant's estate or beneficiaries shall have a period up to the expiration date specified in the Grant Agreement within which to receive or exercise any outstanding Grant held by the Participant under such terms as may be specified in the applicable Grant Agreement. Rights to any such outstanding Grants shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution in the following order: (a) to beneficiaries so designated by the Participant; if none, then (b) to a legal representative of the Participant; if none, then (c) to the persons entitled thereto as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Grants so passing shall be made at such times and in such manner as if the Participant were living.

 

 

 

 

(2)

In the event a Participant is deemed by the Board or Committee to be unable to perform his or her usual duties by reason of mental disorder or medical condition which does not result from facts which would be grounds for termination for cause, Grants and rights to any such Grants may be paid to or exercised by the Participant, if legally competent, or a committee or other legally designated guardian or representative if the Participant is legally incompetent by virtue of such disability.

 

 

 

 

(3)

After the death or disability of a Participant, the Board or Committee may in its sole discretion at any time (1) terminate restrictions in Grant Agreements; (2) accelerate any or all installments and rights; and (3) instruct the Company to pay the total of any accelerated payments in a lump sum to the Participant, the Participant's estate, beneficiaries or representative; notwithstanding that, in the absence of such termination of restrictions or acceleration of payments, any or all of the payments due under the Grant might ultimately have become payable to other beneficiaries.

 

 

 

 

(4)

In the event of uncertainty as to interpretation of or controversies concerning this Section 6, the determinations of the Board or Committee, as applicable, shall be binding and conclusive.


8




7.

Change in Control. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Grant Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, 50% of the vesting restrictions applicable to each Participant’s Grant(s) shall terminate fully and the Participant shall immediately have the right to the delivery of share certificates or exercise of Options, i.e. to the extent that a Participant’s Option(s) are unvested, 50% of such unvested portion shall vest.

 

 

8.

Investment Intent. All Grants under the Plan are intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 701 thereunder. Unless and until the granting of Options or sale and issuance of Stock subject to the Plan are registered under the Securities Act or shall be exempt pursuant to the rules promulgated thereunder, each Grant under the Plan shall provide that the purchases or other acquisitions of Stock thereunder shall be for investment purposes and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution thereof. Further, unless the issuance and sale of the Stock have been registered under the Securities Act, each Grant shall provide that no shares shall be purchased upon the exercise of the rights under such Grant unless and until (i) all then applicable requirements of state and federal laws and regulatory agencies shall have been fully complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and its counsel, and (ii) if requested to do so by the Company, the person exercising the rights under the Grant shall (A) give written assurances as to knowledge and experience of such person (or a representative employed by such person) in financial and business matters and the ability of such person (or representative) to evaluate the merits and risks of exercising the Option, and (B) execute and deliver to the Company a letter of investment intent and/or such other form related to applicable exemptions from registration, all in such form and substance as the Company may require. If shares are issued upon exercise of any rights under a Grant without registration under the Securities Act, subsequent registration of such shares shall relieve the purchaser thereof of any investment restrictions or representations made upon the exercise of such rights.

 

 

9.

Amendment, Modification, Suspension or Discontinuance of the Plan. The Board may, insofar as permitted by law, from time to time, with respect to any shares at the time not subject to outstanding Grants, suspend or terminate the Plan or revise or amend it in any respect whatsoever, except that without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, no such revision or amendment shall (i) increase the number of shares subject to the Plan, (ii) decrease the price at which Grants may be granted, (iii) materially increase the benefits to Participants, or (iv) change the class of persons eligible to receive Grants under the Plan; provided, however, no such action shall alter or impair the rights and obligations under any Option, or Stock Award, or Restricted Stock Purchase Offer outstanding as of the date thereof without the written consent of the Participant thereunder. No Grant may be issued while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated, but the rights and obligations under any Grant issued while the Plan is in effect shall not be impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan.


In the event of any change in the outstanding Stock by reason of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of shares, recapitalization, merger, or similar event, the Board or the Committee may adjust proportionally (a) the number of shares of Stock (i) reserved under the Plan, (ii) available for Incentive Stock Options and Nonstatutory Options and (iii) covered by outstanding Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Purchase Offers; (b) the Stock prices related to outstanding Grants; and (c) the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price determinations for such Grants. In the event of any other change affecting the Stock or any distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to holders of Stock, such adjustments as may be deemed equitable by the Board or the Committee, including adjustments to avoid fractional shares, shall be made to give proper effect to such event. In the event of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or liquidation, the Board or the Committee shall be authorized to issue or assume stock options, whether or not in a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies, and other Grants by means of substitution of new Grant Agreements for previously issued Grants or an assumption of previously issued Grants.

  

 

 

10.

Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the right to deduct applicable taxes from any Grant payment and withhold, at the time of delivery or exercise of Options, Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Purchase Offers or vesting of shares under such Grants, an appropriate number of shares for payment of taxes required by law or to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for withholding of such taxes. If Stock is used to satisfy tax withholding, such stock shall be valued based on the Fair Market Value when the tax withholding is required to be made.

 

 

11.

Availability of Information. During the term of the Plan and any additional period during which a Grant granted pursuant to the Plan shall be exercisable, the Company shall make available, not later than one hundred and twenty (120) days following the close of each of its fiscal years, such financial and other information regarding the Company as is required by the bylaws of the Company and applicable law to be furnished in an annual report to the shareholders of the Company.

 

 

12.

Notice. Any written notice to the Company required by any of the provisions of the Plan shall be addressed to the chief personnel officer or to the chief executive officer of the Company, and shall become effective when it is received by the office of the chief personnel officer or the chief executive officer.


9




13.

Indemnification of Board. In addition to such other rights or indemnifications as they may have as directors or otherwise, and to the extent allowed by applicable law, the members of the Board and the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company against the reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any claim, action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal thereof, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken, or failure to act, under or in connection with the Plan or any Grant granted thereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such claim, action, suit or proceeding, except in any case in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such claim, action, suit or proceeding that such Board or Committee member is liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or her duties; provided that within sixty (60) days after institution of any such action, suit or Board proceeding the member involved shall offer the Company, in writing, the opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same.

 

 

14.

Governing Law. The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by the Code or the securities laws of the United States, shall be governed by the law of the State of Colorado and construed accordingly.

 

 

15.

Termination Dates. The Plan shall terminate ten years later, subject to earlier termination by the Board pursuant to Section 9.


10


EX-5.1 3 exh5_01.htm EXHIBIT 5.1 5.1


Exhibit 5.1

OPINION OF MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP


June 4, 2018


Board of Directors

General Cannabis Corp.

6565 E. Evans Avenue

Denver, CO 80224

Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to General Cannabis Corp., a Colorado corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration of 5,900,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), covering the registration of (i) 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Plan Shares”) to be issued under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), (ii) 600,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Time-Based Shares”) to be issued under the Time-Based Stock Option Award Agreement (the “Time-Based Award Agreement”) and (iii) 300,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Performance-Based Shares”) to be issued under the Performance-Based Stock Option Award Agreement (the “Performance-Based Award Agreement”).

As counsel for the Company, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of rendering this opinion and we are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Company in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.

For the purpose of the opinion rendered below, we have assumed that in connection with the issuance of the Shares, the Company will receive consideration in an amount not less than the aggregate par value of the Shares covered by each such issuance.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that (i) the Plan Shares, when issued and sold in accordance with the terms set forth in the Plan and pursuant to the agreements that accompany the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, (ii) the Time-Based Shares, when issued and sold in accordance with the terms set forth in the Time-Based Award Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and (iii) the Performance-Based Shares, when issued and sold in accordance with the terms set forth in the Performance-Based Award Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and we consent to the reference of our name wherever appearing in the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.



Very truly yours,



/s/ Morrison & Foerster LLP



EX-23.1 4 exh23_01.htm EXHIBIT 23.1 23.1

Exhibit 23.1



CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) of General Cannabis Corporation (the “Company”) of our report dated March 12, 2018, relating to our audits of the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and for the years then ended, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which report includes an explanatory paragraph regarding a change in accounting principle during the year ended December 31, 2017.



/s/ Hall & Company



Irvine, CA

June 4, 2018