UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
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Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Appointment of Director
On August 21, 2023, the Board appointed Jatinder (Jay) Dhaliwal as a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”), effective August 21, 2023, increasing the number of directors from seven (7) to eight (8). The Board assessed the independence of Mr. Dhaliwal under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the independence standards under Nasdaq rules and has determined that Mr. Dhaliwal is independent.
Mr. Dhaliwal, age 35, has served as interim CEO of Ravenquest Biomed Inc, a Canadian cannabis company since May 2020. Since March 2019, Mr. Dhaliwal has also served as CEO and director of Global Health Clinics Ltd, a business that engages in the cannabis industry and operates medical clinics which guide patients through the process of becoming legal users of marijuana. In addition, since January 2022, Mr. Dhaliwal has served as CEO and director of Binovi Technologies Corp, a healthcare company with a best-in-class neuro-visual performance platform designed to test, analyze, track and report on individual cognitive performance. Since June 2022, Mr. Dhaliwal has served as independent director of Akanda Corp, an international medical cannabis and wellness platform company seeking to help people lead better lives through improved access to high quality and affordable products. Previously, Mr. Dhaliwal served as a Pharmacy Manager from July 2015 to November 2019 for Rexall Pharmacy Group, as director from August 2021 to March 2022 of Makara Mining Corp, a junior mineral exploration company engaged in the business of acquiring, exploring, and evaluating natural resource properties, as CEO and director from January 2020 to August 2022 of EGF Theramed Health Corp, a consumer technology company engaged in the provision of biomedical on-line services for monitoring and treating common health problems, as director from November 2019 to January 2020 of Intact Gold Corp, a junior mineral exploration company, as CEO and director from August 2022 to May 2023 of Kiaro Holdings Corp, an independent, omnichannel cannabis retailer and distributor. The Company believes that Mr. Dhaliwal is qualified to serve on its board of directors due to his wealth of knowledge with government bodies and proven track record in navigating complex issues within the financial markets.
In connection with his appointment, the Company has entered or will enter into its standard form of indemnity agreement with Mr. Dhaliwal, which is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02. The Company will also enter into a director agreement with Mr. Dhaliwal, filed hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and a Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, filed hereto as Exhibit 10.3.
There is no arrangement or understanding, pursuant to which Mr. Dhaliwal was appointed as a director of the Company. Mr. Dhaliwal is not related to any existing officer or director of the Company. There are also no transactions or relationships between or among Mr. Dhaliwal and the Company that would be required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| LQR HOUSE INC. | ||
| Dated: August 23, 2023 | By: | /s/ Sean Dollinger |
| Name: | Sean Dollinger | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
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Exhibit 10.2
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR AGREEMENT
INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated August 21, 2023 by (the “Effective Date”) and between LQR House Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned (the “Director”).
RECITALS
A. The Director was appointed to the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) on August 21, 2023, which will include membership on one or more committees of the Board.
B. The Company and the Director desire to execute this Agreement which governs the Directors appointment to the Board which may include membership on one or more committees of the Board.
AGREEMENT
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and the Director hereby agree as follows:
1. Duties. The Company requires that the Director be available to perform the duties of an independent director customarily related to this function as may be determined and assigned by the Board and as may be required by the Company’s constituent instruments, including its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, and its corporate governance and board committee charters, each as amended or modified from time to time, and by applicable law, including the Nevada Revised Statutes. The Director agrees to devote as much time as is necessary to perform completely the duties as a Director of the Company, including duties as a member of one or more committees of the Board, to which the Director may hereafter be appointed. The Director will perform such duties described herein in accordance with the general fiduciary duty of directors.
2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date, which shall be the date of the Director’s appointment by the board of directors of the Company, and shall continue until the Director’s removal or resignation.
3. Compensation. Equity Compensation. Following the Effective Date and the commencement of the term of this Agreement, the Director shall be granted 20,000 restricted stock units (“RSUs”), with one (1) RSU corresponding to one (1) share of common stock of the Company. The RSUs will vest in eight (8) equal quarterly installments commencing in the quarter following the Effective Date provided that the Director remains in Continuous Service on such dates.
4. Independence. The Director acknowledges that his appointment hereunder is contingent upon the Board’s determination that he is “independent” with respect to the Company, in accordance with the listing requirements of the Nasdaq and NYSE American stock exchanges, and that his appointment may be terminated by the Company in the event that the Director does not maintain such independence standard.
5. Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Director for pre-approved reasonable business-related expenses incurred in good faith in connection with the performance of the Director’s duties for the Company. Such reimbursement shall be made by the Company upon submission by the Director of a signed statement itemizing the expenses incurred, which shall be accompanied by sufficient documentation to support the expenditures.
6. Other Agreements.
(a) Confidential Information and Insider Trading. The Company and the Director each acknowledge that, in order for the intentions and purposes of this Agreement to be accomplished, the Director shall necessarily be obtaining access to certain confidential information concerning the Company and its affairs, including, but not limited to, business methods, information systems, financial data and strategic plans which are unique assets of the Company (as further defined below, the “Confidential Information”) and that the communication of such Confidential Information to third parties could irreparably injure the Company and its business. Accordingly, the Director agrees that, during his association with the Company and thereafter, he will treat and safeguard as confidential and secret all Confidential Information received by him at any time and that, without the prior written consent of the Company, he will not disclose or reveal any of the Confidential Information to any third party whatsoever or use the same in any manner except in connection with the business of the Company and in any event in no way harmful to or competitive with the Company or its business. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” includes any information not generally known to the public or recognized as confidential according to standard industry practice, any trade secrets, know-how, development, manufacturing, marketing and distribution plans and information, inventions, formulas, methods or processes, whether or not patented or patentable, pricing policies and records of the Company (and such other information normally understood to be confidential or otherwise designated as such in writing by the Company), all of which the Director expressly acknowledges and agrees shall be confidential and proprietary information belonging to the Company. Upon termination of his association with the Company, the Director shall return to the Company all documents and papers relating to the Company, including any Confidential Information, together with any copies thereof, or certify that he or she has destroyed all such documents and papers. Furthermore, the Director recognizes that the Company has received and, in the future, will receive confidential or proprietary information from third parties subject to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and, in some cases, to use it only for certain limited purposes. The Director agrees that the Director owes the Company and such third parties, both during the term of the Director’s association with the Company and thereafter, a duty to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to, except as is consistent with the Company’s agreement with the third party, disclose it to any person or entity or use it for the benefit of anyone other than the Company or such third party, unless expressly authorized to act otherwise by an officer of the Company. In addition, the Director acknowledges and agrees that the Director may have access to “material non-public information” for purposes of the federal securities laws (“Insider Information”) and that the Director will abide by all securities laws relating to the handling of and acting upon such Insider Information.
(b) Disparaging Statements. At all times during and after the period in which the Director is a member of the Board and at all times thereafter, the Director shall not either verbally, in writing, electronically or otherwise: (i) make any derogatory or disparaging statements about the Company, any of its affiliates, any of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents, or any of the Company’s current or past customers or employees, or (ii) make any public statement or perform or do any other act prejudicial or injurious to the reputation or goodwill of the Company or any of its affiliates or otherwise interfere with the business of the Company or any of its affiliates; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall preclude the Director from complying with all obligations imposed by law or legal compulsion, and provided, further, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed applicable to any testimony given by the Director in any legal or administrative proceedings.
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(c) Work Product. Director agrees that any and all Work Product (as defined below) shall be the Company’s sole and exclusive property. Director hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company all right, title and interest worldwide in and to any deliverables resulting from the Director’s services as a director to the Company (“Deliverables”), and to any ideas, concepts, processes, discoveries, developments, formulae, information, materials, improvements, designs, artwork, content, software programs, other copyrightable works, and any other work product created, conceived or developed by you (whether alone or jointly with others) for the Company during or before the term of this Agreement, including all copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and other intellectual property rights therein (the “Work Product”). Director retains no rights to use the Work Product and agrees not to challenge the validity of our ownership of the Work Product. Director agrees to execute, at Company’s request and expense, all documents and other instruments necessary or desirable to confirm such assignment. In the event that Director does not, for any reason, execute such documents within a reasonable time after the Company’s request, Director hereby irrevocably appoint the Company as Director’s attorney-in-fact for the purpose of executing such documents on your behalf, which appointment is coupled with an interest. Director will deliver to the Company any Deliverables and disclose promptly in writing to us all other Work Product.
(d) Enforcement. The Director acknowledges and agrees that the covenants contained herein are reasonable, that valid consideration has been and will be received and that the agreements set forth herein are the result of arms-length negotiations between the parties hereto. The Director recognizes that the provisions of this Section 6 are vitally important to the continuing welfare of the Company and its affiliates and that any violation of this Section 6 could result in irreparable harm to the Company and its affiliates for which money damages would constitute a totally inadequate remedy. Accordingly, in the event of any such violation by the Director, the Company and its affiliates, in addition to any other remedies they may have, shall have the right to institute and maintain a proceeding to compel specific performance thereof or to obtain an injunction or other equitable relief restraining any action by the Director in violation of this Section 6 without posting any bond therefore or demonstrating actual damages, and the Director will not claim as a defense thereto that the Company has an adequate remedy at law or require the posting of a bond. If any of the restrictions or activities contained in this Section 6 shall for any reason be held by an arbitrator to be excessively broad as to duration, geographical scope, activity or subject, such restrictions shall be construed so as thereafter to be limited or reduced to be enforceable to the extent compatible with the applicable law; it being understood that by the execution of this Agreement the parties hereto regard such restrictions as reasonable and compatible with their respective rights. The Director acknowledges that injunctive relief may be granted immediately upon the commencement of any such action without notice to the Director and in addition Company may recover monetary damages.
(e) Separate Agreement. The parties hereto further agree that the provisions of Section 6 are separate from and independent of the remainder of this Agreement and that Section 6 is specifically enforceable by the Company notwithstanding any claim made by the Director against the Company. The terms of this Section 6 shall survive termination of this Agreement.
7. Market Stand-Off Agreement. In the event of a public or private offering of the Company’s securities, including in connection with the IPO, and upon request of the Company, the underwriters or placement agents placing the offering of the Company’s securities, the Director agrees not to sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company that the Director may own, other than those included in the registration, without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time from the effective date of such registration as may be requested by the Company or such placement agent or underwriter.
8. Termination. With or without cause, the Company and the Director may each terminate this Agreement at any time upon ten (10) days written notice, and the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Director the compensation and expenses due up to the date of the termination. Nothing contained herein or omitted herefrom shall prevent the shareholder(s) of the Company from removing the Director with immediate effect at any time for any reason. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Company terminates this Agreement prior to the closing of the IPO in accordance with Section 2 hereof, then the Company shall not have any liability whatsoever to the Director and the share option granted to the Director shall automatically terminate in accordance with its terms.
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9. Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Director, to the full extent allowed by the laws of Nevada, and as provided by, or granted pursuant to, any provision of the Company’s articles of incorporation, bylaws, agreement (including, without limitation, the Indemnification Agreement executed herewith), vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in the Director’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. The Company and the Director are executing an indemnification agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
10. Effect of Waiver. The waiver by either party of the breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach thereof.
11. Notice. Any and all notices referred to herein shall be sufficient if furnished in writing at the addresses specified on the signature page hereto or, if to the Company, to the Company’s address as specified in filings made by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
12. Governing Law; Arbitration. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with, and the rights of the parties hereto shall be determined by, the laws of Nevada without reference to conflicts of laws principles. Any disputes or claims arising under or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereunder shall be resolved by binding arbitration. Notice of a demand to arbitrate a dispute by any party hereto shall be given in writing to the other parties hereto at their last known addresses. Arbitration shall be commenced by the filing by such a party of an arbitration demand with the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The arbitration and resolution of the dispute shall be resolved by a single arbitrator appointed by the AAA pursuant to AAA rules. The arbitration shall in all respects be governed and conducted by applicable AAA rules, and any award and/or decision shall be conclusive and binding on the parties. The arbitration shall be conducted in the state of Nevada. The arbitrator shall supply a written opinion supporting any award, and judgment may be entered on the award in any court of competent jurisdiction. Each party hereto shall pay its own fees and expenses for the arbitration, except that any costs and charges imposed by the AAA and any fees of the arbitrator for his services shall be assessed against the losing party by the arbitrator. In the event that preliminary or permanent injunctive relief is necessary or desirable in order to prevent a party from acting contrary to this Agreement or to prevent irreparable harm prior to a confirmation of an arbitration award, then any party hereto is authorized and entitled to commence a lawsuit solely to obtain equitable relief against the other such parties pending the completion of the arbitration in a court having jurisdiction over those parties.
13. Assignment. The rights and benefits of the Company under this Agreement shall be transferable, and all the covenants and agreements hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by or against, its successors and assigns. The duties and obligations of the Director under this Agreement are personal and therefore the Director may not assign any right or duty under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company.
14. Miscellaneous. If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared invalid or illegal, for any reason whatsoever, then, notwithstanding such invalidity or illegality, the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in the same manner as if the invalid or illegal provision had not been contained herein. The article headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes. Except as provided elsewhere herein, this Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or representative of any party to this Agreement with respect to such subject matter.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Independent Director Agreement to be duly executed and signed as of the day and year first above written.
| COMPANY: | ||
| LQR House Inc. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Sean Dollinger | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| DIRECTOR: | ||
| Name: | Jay Dhaliwal | |
Signature Page to Independent Director Agreement
EXHIBIT A
Indemnification Agreement
(See Attached)
Exhibit 99.1
LQR House Announces Important Addition to Board of Directors and Commitment to Investor Integrity
Miami Beach, FL, August 21, 2023 – LQR House Inc. (the “Company” or “LQR House”) (NASDAQ: LQR) marketing company focused on becoming a prominent force in the alcoholic beverage sector announces a significant update in its Board of Directors and reinforces its dedication to investor confidence and integrity.
LQR House is pleased to announce the appointment of Jay Dhaliwal to its Board of Directors. Jay, an experienced specialist in public markets, will assess the potential of naked short selling and boasts a robust history of accomplishments in corporate governance. His expertise will be pivotal as LQR House undertakes the previously announced Preliminary Investigation into Possible Naked Short Selling and Manipulation of the LQR House common shares trading on the NASDAQ.
Currently, Mr. Dhaliwal serves as a director for Canadian listed companies and a European Cannabis NASDAQ issuer. His experience includes a tenure as the CEO of prominent retail cannabis operations in Canada, providing him with profound insights into navigating government agencies associated with liquor and cannabis boards. Additionally, he has contributed to upper management within a sizable national pharmacy chain, effectively leveraging his expertise to enhance consumer-level growth and achieve savings via supply chain negotiations.
“We are excited to welcome Jatinder Dhaliwal to our Board of Directors,” stated Sean Dollinger, CEO of LQR House. “His wealth of knowledge with government bodies and proven track record in navigating complex issues within the financial markets will undoubtedly bolster our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and accountability.”
This move underscores LQR House’s proactive stance to address potential challenges and demonstrate its unwavering commitment to protecting the interests of its investors and shareholders. By actively pursuing a preliminary investigation, the company aims to reaffirm its dedication to the integrity of the company’s financial ecosystem.
About Jay Dhaliwal
Mr. Jatinder (Jay) Dhaliwal is a registered pharmacist, CEO and director of multiple publicly traded companies listed in Canadian (CSE, TSX) and American (Nasdaq) exchanges. Mr. Dhaliwal is currently director of a leading seed to patient cannabis producer based out of Europe and currently listed on the Nasdaq. He has been and currently acts as a CEO of large retail cannabis operations giving him an in-depth knowledge at dealing with government agencies associated with liquor and cannabis boards. He has worked in an upper management role in a large national banner pharmacy utilizing his skills to drive growth at the consumer level and saving through supply chain negotiations.
He has extensive knowledge in agricultural, medical and pharmaceutical operations. Mr. Dhaliwal holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Victoria. Mr. Dhaliwal has overseen the acquisition and development of numerous projects, technology platforms and applications. He has overseen operations of numerous retail and commercial operations and implemented various health protocols and technology advances into health and wellness chains.
About LQR House Inc.
LQR House is a dynamic and forward-thinking liquor marketing company that intends to become the full-service digital marketing and brand development face of the alcoholic beverage space. Currently, LQR House has a key partnership with Country Wine & Spirits Inc. (“CWS”), granting the company full control over all marketing operations on CWSpirits.com,a leading alcohol ecommerce platform. With a deep passion for the world of beverages, LQR House takes pride in curating marketing strategies aimed to elevate brands to new heights. Composed of a team of seasoned professionals, LQR House focuses on crafting marketing solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs. Through strategic partnerships, creative branding, and digital prowess, LQR House intends to be at the forefront of the wine and spirits marketing landscape, making it the go-to choice for brands seeking to thrive in a competitive industry.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Shareholders can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations that arise after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the initial public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.
Investor and Media Contact:
LQR@bacchus.agency
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