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(Mark One)

 

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

 

OR

 

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                to

 

Commission File Number 001-38819

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Issuer’s telephone number)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐      No ☒

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐     No ☒

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒     No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒     No ☐

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth 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.

 

 

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

 

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☒

 

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No

 

The aggregate market value of the common stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 30, 2023, the last business day of the registrant's second fiscal quarter was approximately $14,237,000.

 

As of April 25, 2024, there were 6,506,183 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value, issued and outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “Super League Enterprise, Inc.,” “Super League,” “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar references mean Super League Enterprise, Inc. References to the “SEC” refer to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

 

 

 

Our Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”) provide that the number of directors that constitute the entire Board of Directors (the “Board”) shall be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board, but that in no event shall the number be less than one. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (our “Charter”) classifies our Board of Directors into three classes with staggered three-year terms, designated as follows:

 

 

 

 

Our Board currently consists of the following five members:

 

 

A – Audit Committee
C – Committee Chair

CP – Compensation Committee

NCG – Nominating and Governance Committee

SC – Strategic Committee

M – Committee Member

 

Ms. Hand has served as our Chief Executive Officer and Chair of our Board since June 2015. From June 2015 to January 13, 2023, Ms. Hand also served as our President. Over the past 20 years, Ms. Hand has served as a market-facing executive with a track record in brand creation and turn- around with notable delivery at the intersection of social impact with consumer trends and technology to create bold offers, drive consumer preference and deliver bottom line results. Prior to joining the Company, from 2009 to 2015, Ms. Hand served as Chief Executive Officer and as a director of Project Frog, a venture-backed firm with a mission to democratize healthy, inspired buildings that are better, faster, greener, and more affordable than traditional construction. From 1998 through 2008, Ms. Hand served in various senior executive positions with BP plc, including Senior Vice President, Global Brand Marketing & Innovation from 2005 to 2008, during which time she led many award-winning integrated marketing campaigns and oversaw the entire brand portfolio of B2C and B2B brands, including BP, Castrol, Arco, am/pm and Aral. Additionally, she served as Chief Executive, Global Liquefied Gas Business Unit with full P&L accountability across 15 countries and 3,000 staff, covering operations, logistics, sales and marketing with over $3 billion in annual revenue. Ms. Hand was recognized by Goldman Sachs - “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs” in 2014, by Fortune - “Top 10 Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs” in 2013, and Fast Company – “100 Most Creative People” in 2011. Ms. Hand earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from DePauw University, an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, and completed executive education at Cambridge, Harvard and Stanford Universities. 

 

 

Ms. Hand’s extensive background in corporate leadership and her practical experience in brand creation and turn-arounds directly align with the Company’s focus, and ideally position her to make substantial contributions to the Board, both as Chair of the Board and as the leader of the Company’s executive team.

 

 

Mr. Gehl has served as a director on our Board since 2015. Mr. Gehl is a co-owner at VLOC LLC. Since 2001, Mr. Gehl has been a Managing Partner of RCP Advisors. Mr. Gehl is responsible for leading RCP's client relations function and covering private equity fund managers in the western United States. He is a General Partner of BKM Capital Partners, L.P. Previously, Mr. Gehl was an Advisor at Troy Capital Partners until 2018. In addition, Mr. Gehl founded and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MMI, a technical staffing company, and acquired Big Ballot, Inc., a sports marketing firm. He currently serves as a Director of P10 Industries, Inc., a Director of Veritone, Inc. (NASDAQ: VERI) and an Advisory Board member of several of RCP’s underlying funds, as well as Accel-KKR and Seidler Equity Partners. Mr. Gehl was the Manager of VLOC. Mr. Gehl received the 1989 “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from University of Southern California’s Entrepreneur Program. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California's Entrepreneur Program.

 

Mr. Gehl’s wide range of experience in financing, developing and managing high-growth technology companies, as well as his entrepreneurial experience, has considerably broadened the Board’s perspective, particularly as the Company engaged in capital raising activities to fund the early stages of its development. Mr. Gehl also serves as our Board-designated “audit committee financial expert,” as the Chair of the Board’s Audit Committee and as a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee.

 

 

Mr. Jung has served as a director on our Board since July 2019. Mr. Jung currently serves as an independent consultant to multiple media and technology companies. Previously, Mr. Jung served on the board of directors of Accela, a leading provider of cloud-based productivity and civic engagement solutions for government, from March 2016 to April 2019. During his tenure on the board of Accela, Mr. Jung also held executive management positions for Accela, including as Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer from August 2016 to March 2017 and from April 2018 to October 2018, as well as serving as Executive Chairman from March 2017 to April 2018. Prior to Accela, Mr. Jung served as Executive Chairman of OL2, a leading cloud solutions provider for gaming and graphics-rich applications, from May 2013 to March 2015; Samba Safety, a provider of driver risk management solutions from May 2016 to September 2021; and ReadyUp, a provider of an esports platform for player networking and team management from March 2019 to February 2023. Currently, Mr. Jung serves as a member of the board of directors of Millennium Trust Company, a leading financial services company offering niche alternative custody solutions to institutions, advisors and individuals; Inmar, a provider of intelligent commerce network solutions; and PocketRN, a telenursing platform and services provider. Mr. Jung graduated with a BS in engineering from Princeton University and received his MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

 

With over three decades of experience serving as a C-suite executive at several prominent companies within the digital entertainment and video game industries, and extensive public and private board member experience, we believe Mr. Jung provides our Board with invaluable knowledge and insight regarding key strategies and best practices for building gaming communities and creating a demand for gaming-related content in the market that can accelerate our audience development and content monetization strategies, and will also share key learnings with Super League gained from his experience navigating the transition of companies from private to public. Mr. Jung also serves as Chair of the Board’s Compensation Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee.

 

 

 

Mr. Keller has served as a director on our Board since November 2018. From July 2014 to February 2018, Mr. Keller served as an advisor and board member for Cake Entertainment, an independent entertainment company specializing in the production, distribution, development, financing and brand development of kids’ and family properties, as managing director of Tiedemann Wealth Management from March 2008 to December 2013, as co-founder and principal of Natrica USA, LLC from August 2006 to March 2008 and as Senior Vice President of Brown Brothers Harriman Financial Services from July 1996 to June 2006. Mr. Keller earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Colby College.

 

With over 15 years of experience in asset and portfolio management, and experience in helping companies gain exposure for their products and services, including in the entertainment industry, we believe Mr. Keller provides our Board with useful insight that will help us as we allocate resources to expand the utility of our platform and other technologies. Mr. Keller also serves as Chair of the Board’s Nominating and Governance Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee.

 

 

Ms. Patrick has served as a director on our Board since November 2018, and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Claire's, a position she has held since March 2021. Previously, Ms. Patrick served as President and Chief Marketing Officer of Eros Innovations, a position she held from January 2019 to March 2021. Prior to her time with Eros Innovations, Ms. Patrick served as Global Chief Marketing Officer of Soda Brand at Pepsico, Inc., a position she held from June 2013 to January 2019. Prior to her time with Pepsico, Inc., Ms. Patrick served as Chief Marketing Officer of Playboy Enterprises, Inc. from November 2011 to June 2013, and as Executive Vice President of Marketing Strategy for William Morris Endeavor from January 2010 to November 2011. Ms. Patrick has also held senior marketing positions at Liz Claiborne's Lucky Brand, Walt Disney Company, Calvin Klein, Revlon and NBC Universal and Gap, Inc. A Brandweek "Next Gen Marketer" and Reggie Award recipient, Ms. Patrick received her Bachelor of Arts from Emerson College and J.D. from Southwestern University.

 

As we continue to expand the visibility of our brand, we believe Ms. Patrick will provide instrumental input on our marketing efforts, and will assist the Board and management with initiating marketing programs to enable us to meet our short-term and long-term growth objectives. Ms. Patrick also serves as a member of the Board’s Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee.

 

 

Our executive officers are appointed by the Board and serve at the discretion of the Board, subject to the terms of any employment agreements they may have with the Company. The following is a brief description of the present and past business experience of each of the Company’s current executive officers.

 

 

 

Please see Ms. Hand’s biography in the preceding section under the heading “Directors.”

 

 

 

Mr. Haynes was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer in August 2018. From 2001 to August 2018, Mr. Haynes served as Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer of Acacia Research Corporation (NASDAQ: ACTG), an industry-leading intellectual property licensing and enforcement and technology investment company. From 1992 to March 2001, Mr. Haynes was employed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, ultimately serving as a Manager in the Audit and Business Advisory Services practice, where he provided and managed full scope financial statement audit and business advisory services for public and private company clients with annual revenues up to $1 billion in a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, distribution, oil and gas, engineering, aerospace and retail. Mr. Haynes received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business/Accounting from the University of California at Los Angeles, an MBA from the University of California at Irvine Paul Merage School of Business and is a Certified Public Accountant (Inactive).

 

 

Mr. Edelman oversees the Company’s revenue, marketing, content, creative services and business development activities, and has served as our Chief Commercial Officer since July 2017. Mr. Edelman is the owner of PickTheBrain, a leading digital self-improvement business, a board member and marketing committee member of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles and has over 20 years of experience working in the digital and traditional media and entertainment industries. Since 2001, he has served as an advisor and consultant to numerous digital and media companies, including, amongst others, Nike, Marvel, MTV, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox and TV Guide. Prior to joining the Company, from 2014 to 2017, Mr. Edelman served as the Head of Digital Operations and Marketing Solutions at WME-IMG (now Endeavor), where he was responsible for several areas, including digital audience and revenue growth through content, social media and paid customer acquisition across the company’s global live events business within sports, fashion, culinary and entertainment verticals; digital marketing services for consumer brands, college athletics programs and talent; and management of direct-to-consumer digital content businesses, including both eSports and Fashion OTT properties. From 2010 to 2013, Mr. Edelman served as the Chief Executive Officer of Glossi (previously ThisNext), an authoring platform enabling individuals to create their own digital magazines. Previously, Mr. Edelman also founded and/or served in executive positions at multiple early-stage digital media companies. Mr. Edelman earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Princeton University. 

 

Mr. Edelman served as the Company’s Chief Commercial Officer during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and was appointed as President on January 13, 2023.

 

 

Our Board has responsibility for the oversight of the Company’s risk management processes and, either as a whole or through its committees, regularly discusses with management our major risk exposures, their potential impact on our business, and the steps we take to manage them. The risk oversight process includes receiving regular reports from Board committees and members of senior management to enable our Board to understand our risk identification, risk management and risk mitigation strategies with respect to areas of potential material risk, including operations, finance, legal, regulatory, strategic and reputational risk. Cybersecurity risk is a key consideration in our operational risk management capabilities, and we continuously strive to implement best practices to mitigate risk. Given the nature of our operations and business, cybersecurity risk may manifest itself through various business activities and channels and is thus considered an enterprise-wide risk which is subject to control and monitoring at various levels of management throughout the business. Our Board will oversee and review reports on significant matters of corporate security, including cybersecurity. In addition, we maintain specific cyber insurance through our corporate insurance program, the adequacy of which is subject to review and oversight by our Board.

 

Our Audit Committee reviews information regarding liquidity and operations and oversees our management of financial risks. Periodically, our Audit Committee reviews our policies with respect to risk assessment, risk management, loss prevention and regulatory compliance. Oversight by the Audit Committee includes direct communication with our external auditors, and discussions with management regarding significant risk exposures and the actions management has taken to limit, monitor or control such exposures. Our Compensation Committee is responsible for assessing whether any of our compensation policies or programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking. Matters of significant strategic risk are considered by our Board as a whole.

 

 

 

Our Board has established the following three standing committees: Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, and Strategic Committee. Our Board has adopted written charters for each of these committees, copies of which are available under the Corporate Governance section of our website at http://ir.superleague.com.

 

 

Our Audit Committee is currently comprised of Jeff Gehl, who serves as the Audit Committee Chair, Michael Keller and Mark Jung, each of whom are independent directors as determined in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Audit Committee’s main function is to oversee our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements. The Audit Committee met four times during the year ended December 31, 2023. Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee’s responsibilities include, among other things:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Board has affirmatively determined that all members of our Audit Committee meet the requirements for independence and financial literacy under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the Nasdaq Stock Market. Our Board has determined that Mr. Gehl qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by applicable SEC rules and has the requisite financial sophistication as defined under the applicable Nasdaq Stock Market rules and regulations. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

 

Our Compensation Committee is currently comprised of Mark Jung, who serves as the Compensation Committee Chair, Kristin Patrick and Michael Keller, each of whom are independent directors as determined in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Compensation Committee’s main function is to assist our Board in the discharge of its responsibilities related to the compensation of our executive officers. The Compensation Committee met five times during the year ended December 31, 2023. Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee is primarily responsible for, among other things:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Nominating and Governance Committee is currently comprised of Michael Keller, who serves as the Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, Kristin Patrick and Jeff Gehl, each of whom are independent directors as determined in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Nominating and Governance Committee met four times during the year ended December 31, 2023. Pursuant to its charter, the Nominating and Governance Committee is primarily responsible for, among other things: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Strategic Committee was formed on October 1, 2023 and is currently comprised of Mark Jung (Chairman), and Michael Keller and Jeff Gehl, each of which are members of the committee. The Strategic Committee met three times during the year ended December 31, 2023. Pursuant to its charter, the Strategic Committee is primarily responsible for reviewing and advising on strategies submitted by management relating to financing options, M&A opportunities, and strategic options, among other things.

 

 

Our Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing with the Board, on an annual basis, the appropriate characteristics, skills and experience required for the Board as a whole and its individual members. In evaluating the suitability of individual candidates (both new candidates and current members), the Nominating and Governance Committee, in recommending candidates for election, and the Board, in approving (and, in the case of vacancies, appointing) such candidates, will take into account many factors, including the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currently, our Board evaluates each individual in the context of the Board as a whole, with the objective of assembling a group that can best maximize the success of the business and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment using its diversity of experience in these various areas.

 

 

 

Our five directors come from diverse backgrounds. We comply with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(f), which requires Nasdaq-listed companies to have at least two diverse directors, including one self-identified woman and one individual who self-identifies as an underrepresented minority or as LGBTQ+.

 

The table below provides certain highlights of the composition of our Board members as of April 29, 2024. Each of the categories listed in the table below has the meaning as it is used in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(f).

 

 

*  Did not disclose with respect to LGBTQ+ background.

 

 

At no time have any of the members of our Compensation Committee been one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors or Compensation Committee of any other entity that has one or more executive officers on our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.

 

Our Board’s Leadership Structure

 

Our Board has discretion to determine whether to separate or combine the roles of Chair and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Hand has served in both roles since 2015, and our Board continues to believe that her combined role is most advantageous to the Company and its stockholders. Ms. Hand possesses in-depth knowledge of the issues, opportunities and risks facing us, as well as our business and our industry. Ms. Hand is best positioned to fulfill the Chair’s responsibility to develop meeting agendas that focus the Board’s time and attention on critical matters and to facilitate constructive dialogue among Board members on strategic issues.

 

In addition to Ms. Hand’s leadership, the Board maintains effective independent oversight through a number of governance practices, including open and direct communication with management, input on meeting agendas, and regular executive sessions.

 

 

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our employees, officers and directors. We provide our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics under the Corporate Governance section of our website at http://ir.superleague.com.  We intend to disclose any future amendments to certain provisions of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, or waivers of these provisions, on our website or in our filings with the SEC under the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

Our Charter and Bylaws provide the indemnification of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). In addition, the Charter provides that our directors shall not be personally liable to us or our shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director and that if the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of our directors shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended.

 

As permitted by the DGCL, we have entered into or plan to enter into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and certain of our officers that require us, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities which may arise by reason of their status as directors, officers or certain other employees. We have obtained and expect to maintain insurance policies under which our directors and officers are insured, within the limits and subject to the limitations of those policies, against certain expenses in connection with the defense of, and certain liabilities that might be imposed as a result of, actions, suits or proceedings to which they are parties by reason of being or having been directors or officers. The coverage provided by these policies may apply whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.

 

We believe that these provisions and agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as our officers and directors. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving our directors or officers for whom indemnification is required or permitted, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that may result in a claim for indemnification.

 

 

If you wish to communicate with the Board of Directors, you may send your communication in writing to:

 

Super League Enterprise, Inc.

2912 Colorado Avenue, Suite #203

Santa Monica, California 90404

Attn: Corporate Secretary

 

You must include your name and address in the written communication and indicate whether you are a stockholder of the Company. Our Corporate Secretary will review any communication received from a stockholder, and all material and appropriate communications from stockholders will be forwarded to the appropriate director or directors or committee of the Board of Directors based on the subject matter.

 

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers, directors, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors, and greater-than-ten-percent shareholders are also required by the SEC to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file.

 

Based solely on a review of copies of such reports furnished to our Company and representation that no other reports were required during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, we believe that all persons subject to the reporting requirements pursuant to Section 16(a) filed the required reports on a timely basis with the SEC, with the exception of one late Form 4 for each of Mr. Gehl, Mr. Jung, Mr. Keller and Ms. Patrick, each reporting one transaction.

 

 

 

 

We are an emerging growth company for purposes of the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules. In accordance with such rules, we are required to provide a Summary Compensation Table and an Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End Table, as well as limited narrative disclosures regarding executive compensation for our last two completed fiscal years. Further, our reporting obligations extend only to our “named executive officers,” who are those individuals serving as our principal executive officer and our two other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at December 31, 2023, the end of the last completed fiscal year (the “Named Executive Officers”).

 

We have identified Ann Hand, Matt Edelman, and David Steigelfest as our Named Executive Officers for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our Named Executive Officers for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 are subject to change, as we may hire or appoint new executive officers.

 

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, compensation for our Named Executive Officers was as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Our executive compensation program consisted of the following components of compensation during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:

 

 

Each of our executive officers receives a base salary for the expertise, skills, knowledge and experience he or she offers to our management team. The base salary of each of our executive officers is re-evaluated annually, and may be adjusted to reflect:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Compensation Committee assesses the level of the executive officer’s achievement of meeting individual goals, as well as that executive officer’s contribution towards our business objectives. Bonus amounts depend on the level of achievement of individual performance goals, with a target bonus generally set as a percentage of base salary and based on the achievement of pre-determined milestones.  For the year ended December 31, 2023, each of our Named Executive Officers was awarded a bonus by the Compensation Committee in the amount set forth in the Summary Compensation Table above.

 

 

We believe that to attract and retain management, key employees and non-management directors, the compensation paid to these persons should include, in addition to base salary, annual equity incentives. Our Compensation Committee determines the amount and terms of equity-based compensation granted to each individual. In determining whether to grant certain equity awards to our executive officers, the Compensation Committee assesses the level of the executive officer’s achievement of meeting individual goals, as well as the executive officer’s contribution towards goals of the Company. All equity awards issued to our Named Executive Officers during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were issued under our 2014 Amended and Restated Employee Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”).

 

 

 

 

 

On January 5, 2022, we entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Hand, which provides that Ms. Hand shall continue to serve as our Chief Executive Officer, President and Chair of the Board. The term of the agreement is through December 31, 2024 (the “Hand Initial Term”), and provided that neither party provides 30 days’ notice prior to the expiration of the Hand Initial Term or a Renewal Term (defined below) of their intent to allow the agreement to expire and thereby terminate, the agreement shall continue in effect for successive periods of one year (each, a “Hand Renewal Term”). The employment agreement with Ms. Hand provides for a base annual salary of $425,000, which amount may be increased annually, at the sole discretion of the Board. Additionally, Ms. Hand shall be entitled to (i) an annual cash bonus, the amount of which shall be determined by our Compensation Committee, (ii) health insurance for herself and her dependents, for which the Company shall pay 90% of the premiums, (iii) reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses, and (iv) participate in the Company’s annual variable compensation plan approved by the Board. As additional compensation, Ms. Hand was issued a grant of 45,000 performance stock units (“PSUs”) (the “Hand PSUs”), with equal increments of 20% of the Hand PSUs vesting upon the 60-day volume weighted average price of the Company’s Common Stock (the “60-Day VWAP”) reaching (A) $16.00 per share, (B) $20.00 per share, (C) $24.00 per share, (D) $28.00 per share, and (E) $32.00 per share. Ms. Hand has been granted the Hand PSUs in lieu of participating in the equity-grant component, granted pursuant to the Plan, of the Company’s annual executive compensation plan during the Hand Initial Term.

 

On April 30, 2023, the Board approved the cancellation of 45,000 PSUs previously granted to Ms. Hand under the 2014 Plan.  In exchange for the cancelled PSUs, Ms. Hand was granted an award of 45,000 PSUs, with equal increments of 20% vesting upon the 60-Day VWAP reach each of (A) $16.00 per share, (B) $20.00 per share, (C) $24.00 per share, (D) $28.00 per share, and (E) $32.00 per share, in each case, as quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The modified PSUs have a five-year term from the date of approval and modification.

 

Ms. Hand’s employment agreement is terminable by either party at any time. In the event of termination by us without Cause or by Ms. Hand for Good Reason, as those terms are defined in the agreement, she shall receive a severance package consisting of the following: (i) all accrued obligations as of the termination date; (ii) a cash payment equal to the greater of (A) her base annual salary for 18 months, or (B) the remaining payments due for the term of the agreement; and (iii) the immediate vesting of all options, RSUs and PSUs, that utilize time-based vesting, set to vest over the 18 month period from and after the Termination Date; and (iv) 13,500 of the Hand PSUs shall immediately vest. In the event of termination by us with Cause or by Ms. Hand without Good Reason, Ms. Hand shall be entitled to all salary and benefits accrued prior to the termination date, and nothing else; provided, however, that Ms. Hand shall be entitled to exercise that portion of the Hand Warrant that has vested as of the effective date of the termination until the Hand Warrant’s expiration. 

 

Ms. Hand’s employment agreement replaces a prior employment agreement entered into by the Company and Ms. Hand on June 16, 2017, as amended and restated on November 15, 2018.

 

Ms. Hand currently serves as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board, and served as President until January 13, 2023, when Mr. Edelman was appointed President of the Company.

 

 

 

On January 5, 2022, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Edelman, which provides that Mr. Edelman shall continue to serve as our Chief Commercial Officer. The initial term of the agreement is three years (the “Edelman Initial Term”), and provided that neither party provides 30 days' notice prior to the expiration of the Edelman Initial Term or a Edelman Renewal Term of their intent to allow the agreement to expire and thereby terminate, the agreement shall continue in effect for successive periods of one year (each, a “Edelman Renewal Term”). The employment agreement with Mr. Edelman provides for a base annual salary of $330,000, which amount may be increased annually, at the sole discretion of the Board. Additionally, Mr. Edelman shall be entitled to (i) health insurance for himself and his dependents, for which the Company shall pay 50% of the premiums, (ii) reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses, and (iv) annual variable compensation plan approved by the Board. As additional compensation, Mr. Edelman was issued a grant of 7,500 performance stock units (“PSUs”) (the “Edelman PSUs”), with equal increments of 20% of the Edelman PSUs vesting upon the 60-Day VWAP reaching (A) $16.00 per share, (B) $20.00 per share, (C) $24.00 per share, (D) $28.00 per share, and (E) $32.00 per share.

 

On April 30, 2023, the Board approved the cancellation of 7,500 PSUs previously granted to Mr. Edelman under the 2014 Plan.  In exchange for the cancelled PSUs, Mr. Edelman was granted an award of 7,500 PSUs, with equal increments of 20% vesting upon the 60-Day VWAP reach each of (A) $16.00 per share, (B) $20.00 per share, (C) $24.00 per share, (D) $28.00 per share, and (E) $32.00 per share, in each case, as quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The modified PSUs have a five-year term from the date of approval and modification.

 

In the event the Company terminates Mr. Edelman without Cause, or Mr. Edelman resigns for Good Reason (each as defined in the agreement), Mr. Edelman will be entitled to a cash payment equal to six months of the Edelman Base Pay from the date of such termination. In the event the Company terminates Mr. Edelman for Cause, or, Mr. Edelman resigns without Good Reason, Mr. Edelman shall only be entitled to salary and benefits accrued prior to such date, provided that Mr. Edelman shall retain the right for 90 days from the date of such termination or resignation to exercise any Awards which are vested as of such date. In the event of a Change-In-Control (as defined in the agreement), the vesting of all Awards granted to Mr. Edelman shall accelerate, and all such Awards shall be considered fully vested immediately prior to such Change-In-Control.

 

Mr. Edelman’s employment agreement replaces a prior employment agreement entered into by the Company and Mr. Edelman on November 1, 2018.

 

On January 13, 2023, Mr. Edelman was appointed as President of the Company in addition to his ongoing role as Chief Commercial Officer.

 

 

On January 5, 2022, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Steigelfest, which provided that Mr. Steigelfest would continue to serve as our Chief Platform Officer. The initial term of the agreement was three years (the “Steigelfest Initial Term”), and provided that neither party provides 30 days' notice prior to the expiration of the Steigelfest Initial Term or a Steigelfest Renewal Term of their intent to allow the agreement to expire and thereby terminate, the agreement would continue in effect for successive periods of one year (each, a “Steigelfest Renewal Term”). The employment agreement with Mr. Steigelfest provided for a base annual salary of $330,000, which amount may be increased annually, at the sole discretion of the Board. Additionally, Mr. Steigelfest was entitled to (i) health insurance for himself and his dependents, for which the Company shall pay 50% of the premiums, (ii) reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses, and (iv) annual variable compensation plan approved by the Board. As additional compensation, Mr. Steigelfest was issued a grant of 7,500 performance stock units (“PSUs”) (the “Steigelfest PSUs”), with equal increments of 20% of the Steigelfest PSUs vesting upon the 60-Day VWAP reaching (A) $16.00 per share, (B) $20.00 per share, (C) $24.00 per share, (D) $28.00 per share, and (E) $32.00 per share.

 

On April 30, 2023, the Board approved the cancellation of 7,500 PSUs previously granted to Mr. Steigelfest under the 2014 Plan.  In exchange for the cancelled PSUs, Mr. Steigelfest was granted an award of 7,500 PSUs, with equal increments of 20% vesting upon the 60-Day VWAP reach each of (A) $16.00 per share, (B) $20.00 per share, (C) $24.00 per share, (D) $28.00 per share, and (E) $32.00 per share, in each case, as quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The modified PSUs have a five-year term from the date of approval and modification.

 

 

In the event the Company terminated Mr. Steigelfest without Cause, or Mr. Steigelfest resigned for Good Reason (each as defined in the agreement), Mr. Steigelfest was entitled to a cash payment equal to 12 months of the Steigelfest Base Pay from the date of such termination. In the event the Company terminated Mr. Steigelfest for Cause, or, Mr. Steigelfest resigned without Good Reason, Mr. Steigelfest was only be entitled to salary and benefits accrued prior to such date, provided that Mr. Steigelfest retains the right for 90 days from the date of such termination or resignation to exercise any Awards which are vested as of such date. In the event of a Change-In-Control (as defined in the agreement), the vesting of all Awards granted to Mr. Steigelfest shall accelerate, and all such Awards shall be considered fully vested immediately prior to such Change-In-Control.

 

Mr. Steigelfest’s employment agreement replaces a prior employment agreement entered into by the Company and Mr. Steigelfest on October 31, 2016, as amended and restated on November 1, 2018.

 

On March 22, 2024, the Company and Mr. Steigelfest agreed that Mr. Steigelfest would conclude his tenure as an officer and director of the Company effective April 1, 2024. Pursuant to the terms of Mr. Steigelfest’s employment agreement, as described above, Mr. Steigelfest is entitled to a cash payment equal to 12 months of the Steigelfest Base Pay from the date of termination.

 

 

 

On January 5, 2022, we entered into an executive employment agreement with Mr. Wann to serve as our Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President of Sales, which served as an amendment and restatement of the existing executive employment agreement of Mr. Wann dated June 1, 2021.

 

The agreement provided that Mr. Wann would continue to serve for a term beginning on the Effective Date, and concluding on the third anniversary thereof, and that Mr. Wann would be entitled to (i) an annual base salary of $330,000, which may be increased annually at the sole discretion of the Company’s Board; (ii) participation in the Company’s annual variable compensation plan approved by the Board; (iii) in conjunction with Mr. Wann’s prior executive employment agreement executed on June 1, 2021, Mr. Wann was issued a grant, pursuant to the 2014 Plan, of 6,000 non-qualified options to purchase the Company’s Common Stock (“Options”), exercisable for a period of 10 years at the closing trading price as listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market as of the June 1, 2021, with 25% of the Options vesting an the one-year anniversary of June 1, 2021, and the remaining Options vesting in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter; (iv) participate in the Company’s health insurance plan offered by the Company to its employees; (v) participate in the Company’s 401(k) Plan; and (vi) reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses.

 

On January 13, 2023, Mr. Wann stepped down from his positions as director and Chief Strategy Officer of the Company and Executive Vice President of Sales.

 

In connection with Mr. Wann stepping down from his roles in the Company, the Company and Mr. Wann entered into a Transition Letter Agreement (the “Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Wann will remain a full-time strategic advisor of the Company from the Effective Date through July 14, 2023 (the “Term”). During the Term, Mr. Wann: (i) may not be terminated by the Company from his role as a strategic advisor for any reason; (ii) will continue to be paid on a semi-monthly basis at his current salary of $330,000 per year (the “Annual Salary”); (iii) will continue to have access to all employee benefits and  all outstanding options and restricted stock units (collectively, “Awards”) granted prior to the Effective Date will continue to vest, with no changes to the terms of the Awards under his existing employment agreement with the Company, dated January 5, 2022 (the “Employment Agreement”); and (iv) will be eligible to participate in the 2022 SLG executive bonus plan.  In the event Mr. Wann finds other employment during the Term, Mr. Wann will be entitled to the remainder of his Annual Salary not previously paid to him during the Term, payable in a lump sum payment due within 30 days of Mr. Wann’s termination of his employment with the Company.  In exchange for being released from Mr. Wann’s intellectual property assignment agreement for future intellectual property developed by him, Mr. Wann will continue to be bound by the confidentiality and non-solicitation provisions of the Employment Agreement. With exception to the sections referenced in the Agreement, the Agreement replaces and supersedes the Employment Agreement.   

 

 

 

On January 5, 2022 (the “Effective Date”) we entered into an executive employment agreement with Clayton Haynes (the “Haynes Employment Agreement”), which provides that Mr. Haynes will continue to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, for a term beginning on the Effective Date, and concluding on the third anniversary thereof (the “Haynes Initial Term”), and, provided that neither party provides 30 days’ notice prior to the expiration of the Haynes Initial Term or a Haynes Renewal Term (defined below) of their intent to allow the Haynes Employment Agreement to expire and thereby terminate, the Haynes Employment Agreement shall continue in effect for successive periods of one year (each, a “Haynes Renewal Term”).

 

Pursuant to the Haynes Employment Agreement, Mr. Haynes will be entitled to: (i) an annual base salary of $310,000, which may be increased annually at the sole discretion of the Company’s Board (the “Haynes Base Salary”); (ii) a grant, pursuant to the 2014 Plan, of 7,500 Performance Stock Units (“PSUs”) (the “Haynes PSUs”), with equal increments of 20% of the Haynes PSUs vesting upon the 60-Day VWAP reaching each of (A) $16.00 per share, (B) $20.00 per share, (C) $24.00 per share, (D) $28.00 per share, and (E) $32.00 per share; (iii) participate in the Company’s annual variable compensation plan approved by the Board; (iv) participate in the Company’s health insurance plan offered by the Company to its employees; (v) participate in the Company’s 401(k) Plan; and (vi) reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses.

 

On April 30, 2023, the Board approved the cancellation of 7,500 PSUs previously granted to Mr. Haynes under the 2014 Plan.  In exchange for the cancelled PSUs, Mr. Haynes was granted an award of 7,500 PSUs, with equal increments of 20% vesting upon the 60-Day VWAP reach each of (A) $16.00 per share, (B) $20.00 per share, (C) $24.00 per share, (D) $28.00 per share, and (E) $32.00 per share, in each case, as quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The modified PSUs have a five-year term from the date of approval and modification.

 

In the event: (i) the Company terminates Mr. Haynes without Cause, or Mr. Haynes resigns for Good Reason, Mr. Haynes will be entitled to a cash payment equal to six months of the Haynes Base Salary from the date of such termination; or (ii) the Company terminates Mr. Haynes for Cause, or, Mr. Haynes resigns without Good Reason, Mr. Haynes shall be only be entitled to salary and benefits accrued prior to such date, provided that Mr. Haynes shall retain the right for 90 days from the date of such termination or resignation to exercise any Awards which are vested as of such date.

 

In the event of a Change-In-Control, the vesting of all equity awards granted to Mr. Haynes shall accelerate, and all such equity awards shall be considered fully vested immediately prior to such Change-In-Control.

 

 

 

The following table discloses outstanding equity awards held by each of the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2023:

 

 

 

 

 

The following table provides a summary of the securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2023.

 

 

(1)           Excludes 276,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting of RSUs as of December 31, 2023.

 

 

 

The Super League 2014 Stock Option and Incentive Plan was approved by the Board of Directors and the stockholders of Super League in October 2014. The 2014 Plan was subsequently amended in May 2015, May 2016, July 2017, October 2018, May 2020, April 2021, June 2022 and September 2023. The Plan allows grants of stock options, stock awards and performance shares with respect to Common Stock of the Company to eligible individuals, which generally includes directors, officers, employees, advisors and consultants. The Plan provides for both the direct award and sale of shares of Common Stock and for the grant of options to purchase shares of Common Stock. Options granted under the Plan include non-statutory options as well as incentive options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

The Board of Directors administers the Plan and determines which eligible individuals are to receive option grants or stock issuances under the Plan, the times when the grants or issuances are to be made, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each grant or issuance, the status of any granted option as either an incentive stock option or a non-statutory stock option under the federal tax laws, the vesting schedule to be in effect for the option grant or stock issuance and the maximum term for which any granted option is to remain outstanding.. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable under the 2014 Plan is currently 15.0 million shares, subject to adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends or other similar changes in our Common Stock or our capital structure.

 

 

On January 31, 2019, and as amended on August 13, 2019, effective July 1, 2019, our Board adopted a director compensation plan for our non-employee directors, the details of which are presented in the table below. We do not provide deferred compensation or retirement plans for non-employee directors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table sets forth the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to each person who served as a non-employee director during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of April 25, 2024, we had 12 classes of voting stock outstanding: (i) Common Stock; and (ii) each of the following series of our Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share: (a) Series A-2 Preferred; (b) Series A-3 Preferred; (c) Series A-4 Preferred; (d) Series A-5 Preferred; (e) Series AA Preferred; (f) Series AA-3 Preferred; (g) Series AA-4 Preferred; (h) Series AA-5 Preferred; (i) Series AAA Preferred and (j) Series AAA-2 Preferred.

 

 

The following table sets forth certain information known to us regarding beneficial ownership of our Series A Preferred, Series A-2 Preferred, Series A-3 Preferred, Series A-4 Preferred, Series A-5 Preferred, Series AA Preferred, Series AA-3 Preferred, Series AA-4 Preferred, Series AA-5 Preferred, Series AAA Preferred and Series AAA-2 Preferred as of April 25, 2024 for

 

 

 

 

The percentage of beneficial ownership in the tables below is based on 440 shares of Series A Preferred, 463 shares of Series A-2 Preferred, 315 shares of Series A-3 Preferred, 476 shares of Series A-4 Preferred, 780 shares of Series A-5 Preferred, 4,491 shares of Series AA Preferred, no shares of Series AA-2 Preferred, 391 shares of Series AA-3 Preferred, 515 shares of Series AA-4 Preferred, 550 shares of Series AA-5 Preferred, 8,423 shares of Series AAA Preferred and 5,154 shares of Series AAA-2 Preferred deemed to be outstanding as of April 25, 2024, excluding shares reserved for issuance upon exercise and/or vesting of awards issued under our 2014 Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following table sets forth certain information known to us regarding beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of April 25, 2024 for

 

 

 

 

The percentage of beneficial ownership in the tables below is based on 6,629,942 shares of Common Stock deemed to be outstanding as of April 25, 2024, excluding shares reserved for issuance upon exercise and/or vesting of awards issued under our 2014 Plan.

 

 

 

 

* Less than 1.0%

 

 

 

 

In connection with Mr. Jung’s appointment as a director on our Board, the Company and Mr. Jung entered into a consulting agreement (the “Consulting Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Jung will provide the Company with strategic advice and planning services for which Mr. Jung will receive a cash payment of $7,500 per month from the Company. The Consulting Agreement had an initial term that continued until December 31, 2019, and was extended through December 31, 2020 upon mutual agreement of Mr. Jung and the Company, and continued on a month-to-month basis during 2022 and 2023.

 

 

Our Board recognizes the fact that transactions with related persons present a heightened risk of conflicts of interests and/or improper valuation (or the perception thereof). Accordingly, our Board has adopted a written policy addressing the approval of transactions with related persons, in conformity with the requirements for issuers having publicly held common stock listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Pursuant to our Related Persons Transactions Policy (the “Policy”), any related-person transaction, and any material amendment or modification of a related-person transaction, is required to be reviewed and approved or ratified by the Board’s Audit Committee, which shall be composed solely of independent directors who are disinterested, or in the event that a member of the Audit Committee is a Related Person, as defined below, then by the disinterested members of the Audit Committee; provided, however, that in the event that management determines that it is impractical or undesirable to delay the consummation of a related person transaction until a meeting of the Audit Committee, then the Chair of the Audit Committee may approve such transaction in accordance with this policy; such approval must be reported to the Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. In determining whether to approve or ratify any related person transaction, the Audit Committee must consider all of the relevant facts and circumstances and shall approve only those transactions that are deemed to be in the best interests of the Company.

 

Pursuant to our Policy and SEC rules, a “related person transaction” includes any transaction, arrangement or relationship which: (i) the Company is a participant; (ii) the amount involved exceeds $120,000; and (iii) an executive officer, director or director nominee, or any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock, or any person who is an immediate family member of an executive officer, director or director nominee or beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest (each a “Related Person”).

 

In connection with the review and approval or ratification of a related person transaction:

 

 

 

 

Our Board has determined that the following four of our five directors qualify as independent directors, as determined in accordance with the Listing Rule 5605 of the Nasdaq Stock Market: Messrs. Gehl, Keller and Jung, and Ms. Patrick. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605 includes a series of objective tests, including that the director is not, and has not been for at least three years, one of our employees and that neither the director nor any of his family members has engaged in various types of business dealings with us. In addition, as required by Nasdaq Stock Market listing rules, our Board has made a subjective determination as to each independent director that no relationships exist, which, in the opinion of our Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our Board reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors and us with regard to each director’s business and personal activities and relationships as they may relate to us and our management.

 

 

Ms. Hand, our Chief Executive Officer and Chair, is a first cousin of Mr. Gehl, a member of our Board. There are no other family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

 

 

Upon recommendation of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, the Board appointed Baker Tilly US, LLP (formerly Squar Milner LLP) (“Baker Tilly”) (Los Angeles, California, PCAOB ID: 23) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023. The Board may terminate the appointment of Baker Tilly as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm without the approval of the Company’s stockholders whenever the Board deems such termination necessary or appropriate.

 

 

The following table presents fees billed by Baker Tilly LLP (Baker Tilly LLP served as the Company’s auditor from 2016 to 2023) for professional services rendered for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:

 

 

 

 

The following table presents fees billed by WithumSmith+Brown, PC for professional services rendered for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023:

 

 

 

 

Except as described below, there have been no changes in or disagreements with accountants on accounting and financial disclosure.

 

On July 14, 2023, Super League Gaming, Inc. (the “Company”) retained Withum Smith + Brown, PC (“Withum”) as its independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. 

 

 

Our Audit Committee and our full Board of Directors considered that the work done for us in the year ended December 31, 2023, by WithumSmith+Brown, PC, was compatible with maintaining WithumSmith+Brown, PC independence.

 

Our Audit Committee and our full Board of Directors considered that the work done for us in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, by Baker Tilly was compatible with maintaining Baker Tilly independence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.