Litigation

On April 24, 2018, EMA  Financial, LLC, a New York limited liability company (“EMA”) commenced an action against us, styled EMA Financial, LLC, a New York limited liability company, Plaintiff, against nFUSZ, Inc., Defendant, United States District Court, Southern District of New York, case number 1:18-cv-03634-NRB. The Complaint sets forth four causes of action and seeks relief consisting of: (1) money damages, (2) injunctive relief, (3) liquidated damages, and (4) declaratory relief. All of the claims stem from our refusal to honor EMA’s exercise notice in connection with a common stock purchase warrant that we had granted to it. We believe EMA’s allegations are entirely without merit.

The circumstances giving rise to the dispute are as follows: on or about December 5, 2017, we issued a warrant to EMA as part of the consideration we were required to provide in connection with a contemporaneous convertible loan EMA made to us. The loan, which was evidenced by a convertible note, was for a term of one year. Our refusal to honor the warrant exercise notice was due to our good faith belief that EMA’s interpretation of the cashless exercise provision of the warrant was, inter alia, (1) contrary to our direct conversations and agreements made with EMA prior to, and during the preparation of the loan and warrant agreements; (2) contradictory to the plain language on the face and body of the warrant agreement drafted by EMA; (3) wholly inconsistent with industry norms, standards, and practices; (4) was contrary to the cashless exercise method actually adopted by EMA’s co-lender in the same transaction; and (5) was the result of a single letter mistakenly transposed in the cashless exercise formula drafted by EMA which if adopted, would result in a gross and unintended windfall in favor of EMA and adverse to us. Moreover, as set forth in our response to EMA’s allegations, EMA’s interpretation of the cashless exercise provision would have resulted in it being issued more shares of our Common Stock than it would have received if it exercised the warrant for cash (instead of less), and more than the amount of shares reflected on the face of the warrant agreement itself. The loan underlying the transaction was repaid, in full, approximately three months after it was issued, on March 8, 2018, together with all accrued interest, prior to any conversion or attempted conversion of the note.

On July 20, 2018, we filed an Answer to the Complaint, along with certain Affirmative Defenses, as well as Counterclaims seeking, inter alia, to void the entire transaction for violation of New York’s criminal usury laws and, alternatively, for reformation of the warrant conversion formula set forth in the Warrant Agreement so as to be consistent with the parties’ intent and custom and practice in the industry.

The parties have undergone depositions and exchanged document production. Discovery was scheduled to end on January 31, 2019. Neither party has requested to extend the discovery period. Notwithstanding the pending action, in December 2018, EMA attempted to exercise the warrant through the Company’s transfer agent utilizing the disputed cashless exercise formula. The transfer agent rejected EMA’s request and notified the Company who promptly filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to enjoin EMA from making any further attempts to exercise the warrant in this manner during the pendency of the action. The Company is awaiting a decision from the Court on its preliminary injunction motion. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on the Form 10-Q, the Court has not ruled on our motion. We intend to vigorously defend the action, as well as vigorously prosecute our counterclaims against EMA. The action is still pending.

In August 2014, a former employee and then current stockholder (the “Employee”) entered into that certain Executive Employment Agreement (the “Employment Contract”) with bBooth, Inc., our predecessor company. Section 3.1 of the Employment Contract provided, among other things, that Employee was employed to serve as our President and reported directly to Rory Cutaia, our Chief Executive Officer. Section 5.2 of Employment Contract provides, among other things, that Employee was entitled to receive a bonus (the “Bonus”) from us if certain conditions are met. These specified conditions were never met.

On or about May 15, 2015, Employee ceased employment at the Company. More than eight months later, on or about January 20, 2016, the parties entered into a certain Stock Repurchase Agreement (the “Repurchase Agreement”) pursuant to which we purchased all of Employee’s shares of Common Stock for a purchase price of $144,000. The Repurchase Agreement also provided, among other things, that Employee released us from all claims, causes of action, suits, and demands (the “Release”).

Approximately two years later, in April 2018, at a time when the Company’s share price was on the rise, Employee notified us by email that it is Employee’s position that on or about May 15, 2015: (1) Employee was terminated “without cause” pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Employment Contract; or (2) Employee terminated employment with Company “for good reason” pursuant to Section 6.3 of the Employment Contract. Employee sought approximately $300,000 in allegedly unpaid bonuses, plus 150,000 options priced at $0.50 per share, which expired prior to exercise. We responded in or about April 2018 that Employee’s claims lacked factual and legal merit, including that they are barred by the Release. The lack of response from Employee at that time appeared to indicate Employee’s tacit acknowledgment and ratification of our rationale underpinning our denial of Employee’s claims. Approximately eight (8) months later in December 2018, Employee resurfaced, renewing his claims. We responded by reminding Employee we consider his claims to be without merit, and that, in any event, they are barred by the Release. In our view, the Release set forth in the Repurchase Agreement coupled with the existing merger or integration clause likely shields the Company from liability, even assuming, arguendo, that the claims could be supported by credible evidence.

We know of no other material pending legal proceedings to which we or any of our subsidiaries is a party or to which any of our assets or properties, or the assets or properties of any of our subsidiaries, are subject and, to the best of our knowledge, no adverse legal activity is anticipated or threatened. In addition, we do not know of any such proceedings contemplated by any governmental authorities.

On July 9, 2019, a purported class action complaint was filed in the United States District Court, Central District of California, styled SCOTT C. HARTMANN, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, Plaintiff, v. VERB TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, INC., and RORY J. CUTAIA, Defendant, Case Number 2:19-CV-05896. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the plaintiff has not served either defendant. The complaint purports to be a “class action complaint for violations of the Federal Securities Laws.” The allegations relate to a January 3, 2018, announcement by the Company of its agreement with Oracle America, Inc., and the purchases of and sales of securities by the named plaintiff (and, purportedly, all of the members of the yet to be established class through and including approximately May 2, 2018). The Company and Mr. Cutaia deny all allegations contained in the Complaint and, if and when served, intends to defend vigorously.

We know of no material proceedings in which any of our directors, officers, or affiliates, or any registered or beneficial stockholder is a party adverse to us or any of our subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to us or any of our subsidiaries.

Board of Directors

The Company has committed an aggregate of $270,000 in annual compensation to its three independent board members commencing on the date the Company became listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”). The members will serve on the board of directors until the annual meeting for the year in which their term expires or until their successors have been elected and qualified.