CTNT Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc

 

United States

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

Form 8-K

 

Current Report

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

July 2, 2024

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

North Carolina		001-41761		81-3509120
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

6201 Fairview Road, Suite 225 Charlotte, North Carolina		28210
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

 

(704) 826-7280

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

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

 

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock		CTNT		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company x

 

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. ¨

 

 

 

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

The information set forth under Item 5.07 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.

 

The 2024 annual meeting of stockholders of Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc. (the “Company”) took place on July 2, 2024 (the “Annual Meeting”). Prior to the Annual Meeting, the Company decided not to nominate Mr. Vladimir Gavrilovic, a director of the Company and the chair of the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) since July 2023, for director re-election. The Company and Mr. Gavrilovic did not have any disagreements. Consequently, Mr. Gavrilovic ceased to be a director of the Company and a member of any committee of the Board, effective July 2, 2024.

 

Pursuant to the results of the Annual Meeting, Mr. Huibo Deng, a director nominee nominated by the Board, assumed the roles of director of the Company and chair of the audit committee of the Board, effective July 2, 2024. Since 2021, Mr. Deng has been a visiting professor at the Chinese Academy of Management Sciences, teaching various management and finance courses. From January 2023 to July 2023, Mr. Deng served as the Vice President at Shenzhen Dexun Securities Advisory Co., Ltd., where he was responsible for strategy development and relationship management related to the financial market. From June 2017 to November 2018, Mr. Deng was a general manager at China Travel Group Zhonglv Bank, overseeing relationship management and business opportunities exploration. Mr. Deng obtained his bachelor’s degree in Finance from Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in 2009 and his master’s degree in Statistics from Dalarna University in 2010. He earned a Ph.D. in Finance from Renmin University of China in 2014. The Company believes Mr. Deng is well-qualified to serve as its director due to Mr. Deng’s expertise in finance and management.

 

On July 2, 2024, the Company extended a director offer letter to Mr. Deng, which he accepted. A copy of the director offer letter is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. On July 2, 2024, the Company entered into an indemnification agreement with Mr. Deng. A copy of the indemnification agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The stockholders of the Company also approved the Company’s 2024 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) at the Annual Meeting. The Plan provides for the grant of options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, or other awards in accordance with the terms of the Plan. The Plan provides for awards to the directors, employees, and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as to the prospective employees (on the condition that they become employees of the Company), except that incentive stock options may be granted only to the current employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. Such awards may be granted in the discretion of the compensation committee of Board.

 

The Plan limits the total number of shares subject to awards to 2,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and 500,000 shares of Class B common stock, with potential adjustments under certain conditions according to the Plan’s terms. The number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the Plan will automatically increase on the first trading day in January each calendar year during the term of the Plan, beginning on the first trading day in January 2025, by an amount equal to 10% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding, as measured as of the last trading day in the immediately preceding calendar year, or such fewer number of shares of common stock as may be determined by the Board prior to the effective date of any such annual increase, but in no event will any such annual increase exceed 4,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and 500,000 shares of Class B common stock. Shares underlying awards that expire or are forfeited or terminated without being exercised or settled for cash will again be available for the grant of additional awards within the limits provided by the Plan. Shares withheld by or delivered to the Company to satisfy the exercise price of options or tax withholding obligations with respect to any award granted under the Plan will nonetheless be deemed to have been issued under the Plan. The total fair market value of shares for which a participant may exercise incentive stock options in a year may not exceed $100,000.

 

 

The foregoing summary description of the Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of the Plan that is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.3.

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

The information set forth under Item 5.07 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

Pursuant to the results of the Annual Meeting, the Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Annual Meeting, was amended and restated to be in the form of the Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto. Such exhibit is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders voted on the matters described below.

 

(1) The Company’s stockholders elected five directors, each to serve until the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. The number of shares that (a) voted for the election of each director and (b) withheld authority to vote for each director is summarized in the table below: 

 

Director Nominee		Votes For		Votes Withheld
Huan Liu		130,339,088		3,554
Xianggeng Huang		130,339,088		3,554
Adam Eilenberg		130,338,726		3,916
Huiping (Catherine) Chen		130,339,088		3,554
Huibo Deng		130,339,088		3,554

 

There were 2,184,740 broker non-votes with respect to the election of the five directors. Broker non-votes represent shares held by broker nominees for beneficial owners that were not voted because the broker nominee did not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owner and lacked discretionary authority to vote the shares on a non-routine proposal.

 

(2) The Company’s stockholders ratified the appointment of Assentsure PAC as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2024 (the “Appointment”). The number of shares that (a) voted for the Appointment, (b) voted against the Appointment, and (c) withheld authority to vote for the Appointment is summarized in the table below: 

 

Votes For		Votes Against		Votes Withheld
132,502,168		25,199		15

 

There were no broker non-votes with respect to the ratification of the Appointment.

 

(3) The Company’s stockholders approved the Company’s 2024 Stock Incentive Plan. The number of shares that (a) voted for the 2024 Stock Incentive Plan, (b) voted against the 2024 Stock Incentive Plan, and (c) withheld authority to vote for the 2024 Stock Incentive Plan is summarized in the table below:

 

Votes For		Votes Against		Votes Withheld
130,337,931		4,696		15

 

There were 2,184,740 broker non-votes with respect to the approval of the Company’s 2024 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

 

(4) The Company’s stockholders approved the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock authorized to be issued to 891,750,000 shares (the “Increase of Class A Common Stock”). The number of shares that (a) voted for the Increase of Class A Common Stock, (b) voted against the Increase of Class A Common Stock, and (c) withheld authority to vote for the Increase of Class A Common Stock is summarized in the table below:

 

Votes For		Votes Against		Votes Withheld
132,485,604		41,778		0

 

There were no broker non-votes with respect to the Increase of Class A Common Stock.

 

(5) The Company’s stockholders approved the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock authorized to be issued to 108,250,000 shares (the “Increase of Class B Common Stock”). The number of shares that (a) voted for the Increase of Class B Common Stock, (b) voted against the Increase of Class B Common Stock, and (c) withheld authority to vote for the Increase of Class B Common Stock is summarized in the table below:

 

Votes For		Votes Against		Votes Withheld
132,485,604		41,778		0

 

There were no broker non-votes with respect to the Increase of Class B Common Stock.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number			Exhibit
3.1			Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company
10.1			Director Offer Letter dated July 2, 2024 between Huibo Deng and the Company
10.2			Indemnification Agreement dated July 2, 2024 between Huibo Deng and the Company
10.3			The Company’s 2024 Stock Incentive Plan
104			Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

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.

 

Date: July 8, 2024

 

	Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc.
	By:	/s/ Huan Liu
		Huan Liu
		Chief Executive Officer, Director, and Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

Third AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
CHEETAH NET SUPPLY CHAIN SERVICE INC.
(a North Carolina corporation)

 

Pursuant to §55-10-07 of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, as amended (the “Act”), the Articles of Incorporation of Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc. (the “Corporation”) are hereby amended and restated to read in their entirety as follows:

 

FIRST: The name of this Corporation is Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc

.

SECOND: The address, including street, number, city and county, of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of North Carolina is 2626 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 550, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina 27608 and the name of the registered agent of the Corporation in the State of North Carolina at such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

THIRD: The nature of the business and of the purposes to be conducted and promoted by the Corporation is to conduct any lawful business, to promote any lawful purpose, and to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Act.

 

FOURTH: The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of common stock, to be designated, respectively, Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The total number of shares of Class A Common Stock authorized to be issued is 891,750,000, with a par value of $0.0001 per share. The total number of shares of Class B Common Stock authorized to be issued is 108,250,000, with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Class A Common Stock shall have a voting right of one (1) vote per share, and Class B Common Stock shall have a voting right of fifteen (15) votes per share. The shares of Class A Common Stock are not convertible into shares of any other class. The shares of Class B Common Stock are convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock at any time after issuance at the option of the holder on a one-to-one basis.

 

FIFTH: The Corporation shall have the authority to issue 500,000 shares of preferred stock as long as is deemed necessary (the “Preferred Stock”) with a par value per share equal to the par value per share of the Class A Common Stock. The Board of Directors is authorized to establish series of Preferred Stock and to fix, in the manner and to the full extent provided and permitted by law, the rights, preferences and limitations of each series of the Preferred Stock and the relative rights, preferences and limitations between or among such series including, but not limited to:

 

(1)         the designation of each series and the number of shares that shall constitute the series;

 

(2)         the rate of dividends, if any, payable on the shares of each series, the time and manner of payment and whether or not such dividends shall be cumulative;

 

(3)         whether shares of each series may be redeemed and, if so, the redemption price and the terms and conditions of redemption;

 

(4)         sinking fund provisions, if any, for the redemption or purchase of shares of each series which is redeemable;

 

 

(5)         the amount, if any, payable upon shares of each series in the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, and the manner and preference of such payment; and

 

(6)         the voting rights, if any, in the shares of each series and any conditions upon the exercising of such rights.

 

SIXTH: Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this Corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of North Carolina may, on the application in a summary way of this Corporation or any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under the provisions of §55-14-30 to 33 of the Act order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this Corporation as a consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case may be, and also on this Corporation.

 

SEVENTH: The power to make, alter, or repeal the By-Laws, and to adopt any new By-Law, shall be vested in the Board of Directors.

 

EIGHTH: To the fullest extent that the Act, as it exists on the date hereof or as it may hereafter be amended, permits the limitation or elimination of the liability of directors, no director of this Corporation shall be personally liable to this Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a director shall be liable to the extent provided by applicable law: (1) for any breach of the directors' duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders; (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (3) under §55-8-33 of the Act; or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article, shall adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment or repeal.

 

NINTH: The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by §55-8-51 of the Act, as the same may be amended and supplemented, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power to indemnify under said section from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered by said section. The Corporation shall advance expenses to the fullest extent permitted by said section. Such right to indemnification and advancement of expenses shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any By-Law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of July 2024.

 

	Signature:
	/s/ Huan Liu
	Huan Liu, President

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc.

6201 Fairview Road, Suite 225

Charlotte, North Carolina, 28210

United States

+1 704-826-7280

July 2, 2024

 

Mr. Huibo Deng

Room 301, Unit 2, Jia 12 Yuan, Meishikou Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, China

 

Re:	Director Offer Letter

 

Dear Mr. Huibo Deng,

 

Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), is pleased to offer you a position as a member of its board of directors (the “Board”). We believe your background and experience will be a significant asset to the Company and we look forward to your participation on the Board. Should you choose to accept this position as a member of the Board, this letter agreement (this “Agreement”) shall constitute an agreement between you and the Company and contains all the terms and conditions relating to the services you agree to provide to the Company.

 

1. Term. This Agreement is effective upon your acceptance and signature below. Your term as a director shall commence upon you being elected to the Board. Subject to the Company’s bylaws and articles of incorporation, as amended, and the provisions in Section 8 below, your term shall continue until your successor is duly elected and qualified. The position shall be up for re-election each year at the annual shareholder’s meeting, and upon re-election, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

2. Services. You shall render services as a member of the Board and the Board committees set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (hereinafter, your “Duties”). During the term of this Agreement, you shall attend and participate in such number of meetings of the Board and of the Board committee(s) of which you are a member as regularly or specially called. You may attend and participate at each such meeting via teleconference, video conference, or in person. You shall consult with the other members of the Board and Board committee(s) as necessary via telephone, electronic mail, or other forms of correspondence.

 

3. Compensation. As compensation for your services to the Company, you will receive compensation as set forth on Schedule B attached hereto (hereinafter, the “Compensation”) for serving on the Board during your term as a director. You shall be reimbursed for reasonable and approved expenses incurred by you in connection with the performance of your Duties.

 

4. No Assignment. Because of the personal nature of the services to be rendered by you, this Agreement may not be assigned by you without the prior written consent of the Company.

 

5. Confidential Information; Non-Disclosure. In consideration of your access to certain Confidential Information (as defined below) of the Company, and in connection with your business relationship with the Company, you hereby represent and agree as follows:

 

a. Definition. For purposes of this Agreement the term “Confidential Information” means:

 

i. Any information which the Company possesses that has been created, discovered, or developed by or for the Company, and which has or could have commercial value or utility in the business in which the Company is engaged; or

 

ii. Any information which is related to the business of the Company and is generally not known by non- Company personnel. 

 

iii. Confidential Information includes, without limitation, trade secrets and any information concerning services provided by the Company, concepts, ideas, improvements, techniques, methods, research, data, know-how, software, formats, marketing plans, general analyses, business plans and analyses, strategies, forecasts, customer and supplier identities, characteristics and agreements.

 

 

b. Exclusions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Confidential Information” shall not include:

 

i. Any information which becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a breach of the confidentiality portions of this Agreement, or any other agreement requiring confidentiality between the Company and you;

 

ii. Information received from a third party in rightful possession of such information who is not restricted from disclosing such information; and

 

iii. Information known by you prior to receipt of such information from the Company, which prior knowledge can be documented.

 

c. Documents. You agree that, without the express written consent of the Company, you will not remove from the Company’s premises, any notes, formulas, programs, data, records, machines, or any other documents or items which in any manner contain or constitute Confidential Information, nor will you make reproductions or copies of same. You shall promptly return any such documents or items, along with any reproductions or copies, to the Company upon the earliest of Company’s demand, termination of this Agreement, or your termination or Resignation, as defined in Section 8 herein.

 

d. Confidentiality. You agree that you will hold in trust and confidence all Confidential Information and will not disclose to others, directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information or anything relating to such information without the prior written consent of the Company, except as maybe necessary in the course of your business relationship with the Company. You further agree that you will not use any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Company, except as may be necessary in the course of your business relationship with the Company, and that the provisions of this paragraph (d) shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

e. Ownership. You agree that Company shall own all right, title, and interest (including patent rights, copyrights, trade secret rights, mask work rights, trademark rights, and all other intellectual and industrial property rights of any sort throughout the world) relating to any and all inventions (whether or not patentable), works of authorship, mask works, designations, designs, know-how, ideas, and information made or conceived or reduced to practice, in whole or in part, by you during the term of this Agreement and that arise out of your Duties (collectively, “Inventions”) and you will promptly disclose and provide all Inventions to the Company. You agree to assist the Company, at its expense, to further evidence, record and perfect such assignments or conveyances as may be necessary in respect hereof, and to perfect, obtain, maintain, enforce, and defend any rights assigned or otherwise conveyed.

 

6. Non-Competition. You agree and undertake that you will not, so long as you are a member of the Board and for a period of 12 months following termination of this Agreement for whatever reason, directly or indirectly, as owner, partner, joint venture, shareholder, employee, broker, agent principal, corporate officer, director, licensor, or in any other capacity whatsoever, engage in, become financially interested in, be employed by, or have any connection with any business or venture that is engaged in any activities involving services or products which compete, directly or indirectly, with the services or products provided or proposed to be provided by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates in the People’s Republic of China and the United States; provided, however, that you may own securities of any public company which is engaged in such business, but in an amount not to exceed at any one time, one percent of any class of stock or securities of such company, so long as you has no active role in the publicly owned company as director, employee, consultant, or otherwise. 

 

7. Non-Solicitation. So long as you are a member of the Board and for a period of 12 months thereafter, you shall not directly or indirectly solicit for employment any individual who was an employee of the Company during your tenure.

 

8. Termination and Resignation. Your membership on the Board or on any Board committee shall be terminated upon your earlier disqualification, removal, resignation, death, incapacity, or any other conditions as specified in the Company’s bylaws and articles of incorporation, as amended. Your membership on the Board may be terminated, with or without cause, by a vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s voting stock, or with cause by a majority vote of the disinterested Board at a meeting at which only your removal and replacement shall be considered, as stipulated in the Company’s bylaws and articles of incorporation, as amended. Your membership on any Board committee will be terminated on the same effective date when your membership on the Board is terminated. You may also terminate your membership on the Board or on any Board committee for any or no reason by delivering your written notice of resignation to the Company (“Resignation”), and such Resignation shall be effective upon the time specified therein or, if no time is specified, upon receipt of the notice of Resignation by the Company. Upon the effective date of the termination or Resignation, your right to compensation hereunder will be subject to the Company’s obligations to pay you any compensation (including the vested portion of the securities of the Company) that you have already earned and to reimburse you for approved expenses already incurred in connection with your performance of your Duties as of the effective date of such termination or Resignation. Any securities of the Company that have not vested as of the effective date of such termination or Resignation shall be forfeited and cancelled.

 

 

9.  Governing Law. All questions with respect to the construction and/or enforcement of this Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, shall be determined in accordance with the internal laws of the State of North Carolina without regard to conflict of laws provisions therein.

 

10. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Waiver; Counterparts. This Agreement expresses the entire understanding with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and terminates any prior oral or written agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof. Any term of this Agreement may be amended and observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived only with the written consent of the parties hereto. Waiver of any term or condition of this Agreement by any party shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or failure of the same term or condition or waiver of any other term or condition of this Agreement. The failure of any party at any time to require performance by any other party of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the right of any such party to require future performance of such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts each of which will be an original and all of which taken together will constitute one and the same agreement, and may be executed using facsimiles of signatures, and a facsimile of a signature shall be deemed to be the same, and equally enforceable, as an original of such signature.

 

11. Indemnification. The Company shall, to the maximum extent provided under applicable law, indemnify and hold you harmless from and against any expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, settlements, and other legally permissible amounts (“Losses”), incurred in connection with any proceeding arising out of, or related to, your performance of your Duties, other than any such Losses incurred as a result of your negligence, fraud, bad faith, or willful misconduct. The Company shall advance to you any expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of settlement, incurred in defending any such proceeding to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. Such costs and expenses incurred by you in defense of any such proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding promptly upon receipt by the Company of (a) written request for payment; (b) appropriate documentation evidencing the incurrence, amount, and nature of the costs and expenses for which payment is being sought; and (c) an undertaking adequate under applicable law made by or on your behalf to repay the amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined pursuant to any non-appealable judgment or settlement that you are not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

 

12. Not an Employment Agreement. This Agreement is not an employment agreement, and shall not be construed or interpreted to create any right for you as an employee of the Company.

 

13. Acknowledgement. You accept this Agreement subject to all the terms and provisions of this Agreement. You agree to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board of the Company of any questions arising under this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

  

This Agreement has been executed and delivered by the undersigned and is made effective as of the date set first set forth above.

 

Sincerely,

 

	Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc.
	/s/ Huan Liu
	By: Huan Liu
	Title: Chief Executive Officer, Director, and Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED:

 

 

/s/ Huibo Deng

By: Huibo Deng

 

 

Schedule A

 

The Director is offered to serve on the following Board committee(s):

 

Committee	Title
Audit Committee	Chairman
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee	Member
Compensation Committee	Member

 

 

Schedule B

Compensation

 

During your term as a member of the Board, you will receive cash compensation in the amount of US$20,000 per year, which shall be paid to you on a six-month basis.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July 2, 2024 between Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), and Huibo Deng, an individual (“Indemnitee”). This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

WITNESSETH THAT:

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee performs a valuable service for the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has adopted bylaws (the “Bylaws”) providing for the indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company to the maximum extent authorized by the North Carolina Business Corporation Act of 1955 (the “NCBCA”);

 

WHEREAS, the Bylaws and Article 8 of the NCBCA, as amended (“Article 8”), by their nonexclusive nature, permit contracts between the Company and the officers or directors of the Company with respect to indemnification of its officers or directors;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is supplemental to and in furtherance of the Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles of Incorporation”), the Bylaws, as amended, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder;

 

WHEREAS, in accordance with the authorization as provided by Article 8, the Company may purchase and maintain a policy or policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, covering certain liabilities which may be incurred by its officers or directors in the performance of their obligations to the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce Indemnitee to continue to serve as an officer or director of the Company, the Company has determined and agreed to enter into this contract with Indemnitee.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee’s service as an officer or director after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.          Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(a)

“Corporate Status” means the status of a person who is or was a director (including, without limitation, serving as a member of any committee or subcommittee of the Board), officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company (or any subsidiary of the Company) or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that the person is or was serving at the express written request of the Company.

 

(b)

“Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

 

(c)

“Enterprise” means the Company and any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that Indemnitee is or was serving at the express written request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(d)

“Expenses” means all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including, without limitation, the premium, security for, and other costs relating to, any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 7(d) only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in the demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(e)

“Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify the Independent Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(f)

“Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an officer or director of the Company, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee or of any inaction on Indemnitee’s part while acting as an officer or director of the Company, or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status; in each case whether or not Indemnitee is acting or serving in that capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement; including one pending on or before the date of this Agreement, but excluding one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 7 hereof to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

 

 

2.          Indemnification of Indemnitee. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the full extent authorized or permitted by the provisions of Article 8, the Articles of Incorporation, and the Bylaws, all as may be amended from time to time. In furtherance of the foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the generality thereof:

 

(a)

Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2(a) if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 2(a), the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of those Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee, or on Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with the Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the vote of its stockholders or Disinterested Directors, or applicable law.

 

(b)

Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2(b) if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 2(b), the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee, or on Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with the Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification of Expenses shall be made under this Section 2(b) in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

(c)

Indemnification of Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in the Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law. For purposes of this Section 2(c) and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to that claim, issue or matter.

 

3.

Additional Indemnity.

 

(a)

In addition to, and without regard to any limitations on, the indemnification provided for in Section 2 hereof, the Company shall and hereby does indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company), including, without limitation, all liability arising out of the negligence or active or passive wrongdoing of Indemnitee. The only limitation that shall exist upon the Company’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be that the Company shall not be obligated to make any payment to Indemnitee that is finally determined (under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set forth in Sections 7 and 8 hereof) to be unlawful under North Carolina law.

 

(b)

For the purposes of Section 2(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

(i)          to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the NCBCA that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the NCBCA, and

 

(ii)          to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the NCBCA adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

4.          Indemnification of Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

 

5.          Advancement of Expenses. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 7), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee. The Company shall make this advancement within 10 days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting the advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of the Proceeding. The Indemnitee’s statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against the Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5 shall be unsecured and interest free. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation of the Company to advance Expenses pursuant to this Section 5 shall be subject to the condition that, if, when, and to the extent that the Company determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, the Indemnitee shall reimburse the Company for all amounts theretofore paid within 30 days of this determination; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law, any determination made by the Company that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advance of Expenses until a final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (and as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed). No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.

 

6.          Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee rights of indemnity that are as favorable as may be permitted under Article 8 and the public policy of the State of North Carolina. Accordingly, the parties agree that the following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of any question as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement:

 

(a)

To obtain indemnification (including, but not limited to, the advancement of Expenses and contribution by the Company) under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of the written request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)

Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 6(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case by one of the following three methods, which shall be at the election of Board:

 

(i)

a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even if less than a quorum;

 

(ii)

Independent Counsel in a written opinion; or

 

(iii)

a vote of the Company’s stockholders.

 

 

(c)

If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 6(c). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company. Indemnitee may, within 10 days after written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company a written objection to the selection; provided, however, that the objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 1(e) hereof, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of this assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until the objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that the objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by Indemnitee to the selection of Independent Counsel or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by any other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 6(b) hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by the Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6(c), regardless of the manner in which the Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.

 

(d)

In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making the determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.

 

(e)

For the purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise. In addition, the knowledge and actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(e) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.

 

 

(f)

If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under this Section 6 to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within 30 days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that the 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional 15 days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires additional time to obtain or evaluate documentation and information relating thereto; and provided further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(f) shall not apply if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof and if (x) within 15 days after receipt by the Company of the request for this determination, the Board or the Disinterested Directors, if appropriate, resolve to submit the determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within 75 days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (y) a special meeting of stockholders is called within 15 days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within 60 days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat.

 

(g)

Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to the person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to the determination. Any Independent Counsel, member of the Board or stockholder of the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a determination regarding the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making the determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

(h)

The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any action, claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such action, suit or proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.

 

 

7.

Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)

In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6 hereof that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 5 hereof, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification is made pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to this Agreement within 10 days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification is not made within 10 days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or the determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6 hereof, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of North Carolina, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence the proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 7(a). The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)

In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of the adverse determination under Section 6(b) hereof. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 7 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)

If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by this determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 7, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)

In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7, seeks a judicial adjudication of Indemnitee's rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, or to recover under any directors' and officers' liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, the Company shall pay on Indemnitee's behalf, in advance, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in the judicial adjudication, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance recovery.

 

  

(e)

The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 7 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(f)

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

8.	Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Primacy of Indemnification; Subrogation.

 

(a)

The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of directors or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to the amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Article 8, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)

To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary under such policy or policies.

 

9.          Liability Insurance. The Company currently maintains liability insurance applicable to directors, officers, employees, or agents, and, to the extent liability insurance of comparable scope can continue to be purchased at reasonable cost, the Company shall continue to maintain this coverage. Indemnitee shall be covered by these policies in such a manner as to provide the Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are provided to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors. The Company shall notify Indemnitee of any change, lapse or cancellation of this coverage.

 

 

10.          Exception to Right of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee, or any claim therein, unless (a) the bringing of such Proceeding or making of such claim shall have been approved by the Board or (b) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company shall not be obligated to indemnify Indemnitee against amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding against Indemnitee if the settlement is effected by Indemnitee without the Company’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, unless the settlement solely involves the payment of money or performance of any obligation by persons other than the Company and includes an unconditional release of the Company by all relevant parties from all liability on any matters that are the subject of such Proceeding and an acknowledgment that the Company denies all wrongdoing in connection with such matters. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, effect any settlement of any Proceeding against Indemnitee or which could have been brought against Indemnitee or which potentially or actually imposes any cost, liability, exposure or burden on Indemnitee, unless the settlement solely involves the payment of money or performance of any obligation by persons other than Indemnitee and includes an unconditional release of Indemnitee by all relevant parties from all liability on any matters that are the subject of such Proceeding and an acknowledgment that Indemnitee denies all wrongdoing in connection with such matters.

 

11.          Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is an officer or director of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee could be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced under Section 7 hereof) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, whether or not Indemnitee is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives.

 

12.          Security. To the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.

 

13.          Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, illegal or otherwise unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to confer upon Indemnitee indemnification rights to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws. In the event any provision hereof conflicts with any applicable law, such provision shall be deemed modified, consistent with the aforementioned intent, to the extent necessary to resolve such conflict.

 

 

14.

Enforcement.

 

(a)

The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director or officer of the Company.

 

(b)

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

15.          Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, termination or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

16.          Notice By Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with or otherwise receiving any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder. The failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise unless and only to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.

 

17.          Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, or (c) mailed with a nationally recognized overnight courier specifying next day delivery with written verification of receipt, on the first business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

 

(a)

If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth below Indemnitee signature hereto.

 

 

(b)

If to the Company, to:

 

Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc.

6201 Fairview Road, Suite 225

Charlotte, North Carolina, 28210

 

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

with a copy (which does not constitute notice) to: Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC

950 3^rd Avenue, 19^th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attention: Ying Li, Esq.

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.

 

18.          Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (a) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the events or transactions giving cause to such Proceeding, and (b) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such events or transactions.

 

19.          Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

20.          Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

21.          Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of North Carolina without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on and as of the day and year first above written.

 

	Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc.
	By:
	/s/ Huan Liu
	Name: Huan Liu
	Title: CEO

 

 

	INDEMNITEE
	Huibo Deng
	/s/ Huibo Deng
	Address:
	Room 301, Unit 2, Jia 12 Yuan, Meishikou Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, China

 

 

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

CHEETAH NET SUPPLY CHAIN SERVICE INC.

2024 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

SECTION 1

PURPOSES AND EFFECTIVE DATE

 

This Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is established to (a) promote the long-term interests of Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Corporation”), and its stockholders by strengthening the ability of the Corporation to attract, motivate and retain employees, officers, and other persons who provide valuable services to the Corporation and its subsidiaries, (b) encourage such persons to hold an equity interest in the Corporation, (c) foster the continued involvement and support of key Principal(s) (defined below) of the Corporation, and (d) enhance the mutuality of interest between such persons and stockholders in improving the value of the Corporation’s common stock.

 

This Plan will become effective upon its adoption by the Board and approval by the stockholders of the Corporation (the “Effective Date”). The Board may amend or restate the Plan in the future (the “Amended Plan”), subject to subsequent approval by the stockholders of the Corporation (the “Amended Plan Effective Date”). If the Amended Plan is approved by the Corporation’s stockholders, Awards granted prior to the Amended Plan Effective Date shall remain subject to the terms of the Plan. If the Corporation’s stockholders do not approve the Amended Plan, the Plan and the Awards granted thereunder shall continue in effect in accordance with their terms.

 

 

SECTION 2

DEFINITIONS

 

As used in the Plan, the following terms will have the respective meanings set forth below, and other capitalized terms used in the Plan will have the respective meanings given such capitalized terms in the Plan.

 

“Award” means any Option, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, dividend equivalent or other award granted under the Plan.

 

“Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under the Plan.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations or guidance.

 

“Common Stock” means the Corporation’s Class A common stock and Class B common stock, or any other security into which the Class A common stock and Class B common stock shall be changed pursuant to the adjustment provisions of Section 12.

 

 

“Consultant” means any natural person who is engaged by the Corporation or any Subsidiary to render consulting or advisory services.

 

“Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

 

“Employee” means an officer or other employee of the Corporation or a Subsidiary, including a member of the Board who is an employee of the Corporation or a Subsidiary.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.

 

“Fair Market Value” of shares of Common Stock as of any date means, (a) if the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Stock Market or other principal national securities exchange, the per share closing price of the Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Stock Market or other principal national securities exchange, as applicable, on that date, or if there were no reported prices on such date, on the last preceding date on which the prices were reported, or (b) if the shares of Common Stock are not quoted on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Stock Market or other principal national securities exchange, but the shares of Common Stock are reported on the over-the-counter market, the arithmetic mean of the high and low prices as reported in the over-the-counter market on that date, or if there were no reported prices on such date, on the last preceding date on which the prices were reported, and (c) if the shares of Common Stock are not quoted on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Stock Market or other principal national securities exchange, and are not reported on the over-the-counter market on that date, the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock as determined by the Committee (defined below) in its good faith judgment, and in compliance with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code for Incentive Stock Options and Section 409A of the Code for Nonqualified Stock Options. The Fair Market Value of any property other than Common Stock shall be the market value of such property as determined by the Committee using such methods or procedures as it shall establish from time to time.

 

“Grant Date” means the date on which the granting of an Award is authorized by the Committee, or such other date as may be specified in such authorization.

 

“Option” means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted under Section 7, and includes both Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options.

 

“Participant” means any Eligible Person to whom an Award is granted.

 

“Principal(s)” mean those key shareholders of the Corporation whose continued involvement with and support of the Corporation is determined by the Board to be fundamental for the long-term success of the Corporation.

 

 

“Restricted Stock” means an Award of shares of Common Stock granted under Section 8, the rights of ownership of which may be subject to restrictions prescribed by the Committee.

 

“Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award measured by shares of Common Stock that is granted under Section 8, the terms of which are subject to restrictions prescribed by the Committee.

 

“Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture or similar entity in which the Corporation owns, directly or indirectly, an equity interest possessing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the total outstanding equity interests of such entity.

 

“Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company acquired by the Corporation or any Subsidiary or with which the Corporation or any Subsidiary combines.

 

 

SECTION 3

ADMINISTRATION

 

3.1       Administration of Plan.

 

(a)       The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”), which shall consist of two or more members of the Board, each of whom (i) is a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and (ii) meets the independence requirements established by the Nasdaq Stock Market rules and any other regulations applicable to compensation committee members as in effect from time to time; provided, however, the Board shall have the right to exercise, in whole or in part, the authority of the Committee hereunder with respect to certain persons or classes of persons as Participants, in which case as to those persons and as to such authority taken or retained by the Board, references to the Committee herein shall refer to the Board.

 

(b)       Subject to applicable law, the Committee may delegate some or all of its power and authority hereunder to the Board or to the Chief Executive Officer or other executive officer of the Corporation as the Committee deems appropriate; provided, however, that the Committee may not delegate its power and authority with regard to the selection for participation in the Plan of an officer, Director or other person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or decisions concerning the timing, pricing or amount of an Award to such an officer, Director or other person. All references in the Plan to the “Committee” shall be, as applicable, to the Committee or any other committee or individual to whom the Board or the Committee has delegated authority to administer the Plan.

 

3.2       Administration and Interpretation by Committee.

 

 

(a)       Except for the terms and conditions explicitly set forth in the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and exclusive authority and discretion, subject to such orders or resolutions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as may from time to time be adopted by the Board or the Committee, to: (i) select the Eligible Persons to whom Awards may from time to time be granted under the Plan; (ii) determine the type or types of Award to be granted to each Eligible Person under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted under the Plan; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan; (v) approve the forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled in cash, shares of Common Stock or other property or canceled or suspended; (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, shares of Common Stock, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant; (viii) interpret and administer the Plan, any Award Agreements and any other instrument or agreement entered into under the Plan; (ix) establish such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion for the proper administration of the Plan; (x) reconcile any inconsistency, correct any defect, and supply any omission in the Plan, or any Award or Award Agreement; (xi) make all factual and legal determinations under the Plan, Awards, and Award Agreements; (xii) add provisions to an Award or Award Agreement, or vary the provisions of an Award, to accommodate the laws of applicable foreign jurisdictions and provide Participants with favorable treatment under these laws; and (xiii) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable in its sole discretion for administration of the Plan. Decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Corporation, any Participant, any stockholder and any person eligible to receive an Award hereunder.

 

(b)       The Committee in its exclusive discretion may make non-uniform and selective determinations among Eligible Persons to receive Awards, regardless of whether such Eligible Persons have received or not yet received Awards before or are similarly situated as prior recipients of Awards. In furtherance of this Section 3.2(b) and not in limitation thereof, the Committee in its exclusive discretion may enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements. Other than pursuant to Section 12, the Committee shall not without the approval of the Corporation’s stockholders (i) lower the option price per share of Common Stock of an Option after it is granted, (ii) cancel an Option in exchange for cash or another Award (other than in connection with Substitute Awards), and (iii) take any other action with respect to an Option that would be treated as a repricing under U.S. generally applicable accounting standards.

 

3.3       Limitation of Liability. No member of the Board or Committee, and no officer or employee acting on behalf of the Board or Committee, will be personally liable for any act or omission in the Plan’s administration, other than an act or omission due to that person’s gross negligence or intentional misconduct. No member of the Board or Committee will be personally liable for any act or omission of any other member of the Board or Committee. Each member of the Board or Committee, and each officer and employee acting on behalf of the Board or Committee, may rely upon information or advice provided by the Corporation’s officers, accountants, actuaries, compensation consultants, and counsel. No member of the Board or Committee, and no officer or employee acting on behalf of the Board or Committee, will be personally liable for any act or omission taken in good faith reliance on the information or advice.

 

 

SECTION 4

STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

 

4.1       Available Shares. Subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 12, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be 2,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and 500,000 shares of Class B common stock. If an Award entitles the holder thereof to receive or purchase shares of Common Stock, the number of shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates shall be counted against the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan on the Grant Date of such Award. If any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award are forfeited, expire or otherwise terminate without issuance of such shares, or any Award is settled for cash or otherwise does not result in the issuance of all or a portion of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Award, such shares of Common Stock shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration, termination, cash settlement or non-issuance, again be available for issuance under the Plan; provided, however, shares of Common Stock subject to an Award under the Plan shall not again be made available for issuance under the Plan if such shares are surrendered to or withheld by the Corporation either (a) in payment of the Exercise Price of an Option, or (b) to satisfy any tax withholding obligation incident to the exercise, vesting or settlement of an Award.

 

4.2       Incentive Stock Options Shares. Subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 12, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance through Incentive Stock Options shall be 300,000 shares of Class A common stock and 0 shares of Class B common stock.

 

4.3       Automatic Increases in Available Shares. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall automatically increase on the first trading day in January each calendar year during the term of the Plan, beginning on the first trading day in January 2025, by an amount equal to 10% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, as measured as of the last trading day in the immediately preceding calendar year, or such fewer number of shares of Common Stock as may be determined by the Board prior to the effective date of any such annual increase, but in no event shall any such annual increase exceed 4,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and 500,000 shares of Class B common stock.

 

4.4       Substitute Awards. The number of shares of Common Stock covered by a Substitute Award or to which a Substitute Award relates shall not be counted against the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan.

 

4.5       Source of Shares. Shares of Common Stock delivered by the Corporation or a Subsidiary, as applicable, in settlement of Awards (including Substitute Awards) may be authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Corporation, or a combination of the foregoing.

 

SECTION 5

ELIGIBILITY

 

An Award may be granted to any Employee, Consultant or Director whom the Committee from time to time selects, including prospective Employees conditioned on their becoming Employees (each, an “Eligible Person”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Award of Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to an Employee of the Corporation, or of a Subsidiary that is also a “subsidiary corporation” of the Corporation within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

 

SECTION 6

AWARDS

 

6.1       Grant of Awards. The Committee may from time to time grant Awards of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or other Awards under the Plan to one or more Eligible Persons. The Committee shall have the authority, in its discretion, to determine the Eligible Persons to receive one or more Awards, the type or types of Awards to be granted under the Plan, and the terms of any Awards granted, consistent with the terms of the Plan. Such Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to any other type of Award. The provisions governing Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

6.2       Award Agreement. Awards granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall contain such terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions as the Committee shall deem advisable and are not inconsistent with the Plan or applicable law. The provisions of the Award Agreement need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

 

SECTION 7

OPTIONS

 

7.1       Grant of Options. The Committee may grant Options. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, an Option shall vest and be fully exercisable as may be determined by the Committee in its discretion and provided in an applicable Award Agreement.

 

7.2       Option Type. An Option granted may be either of a type that complies with the requirements for “incentive stock options” in Section 422 of the Code (“Incentive Stock Option”) or of a type that does not comply with such requirements (“Nonqualified Stock Option”). The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time that the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year under the Plan and under any other option plan of the Corporation or a Subsidiary shall not exceed $100,000, and any Option granted in excess of this limitation shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

7.3       Option Exercise Price. Except as otherwise permitted for Substitute Awards pursuant to Section 14.6, the exercise price (“Exercise Price”) per share of Common Stock for each Option granted under the Plan shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such share of Common Stock, determined as of the Grant Date. In the case of an individual who on the Grant Date owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (a “Ten Percent Stockholder”), the Exercise Price per share of Common Stock for an Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of such share of Common Stock on the Grant Date.

 

7.4       Option Term. Options granted under the Plan shall vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates, and shall expire after such period, not to exceed 10 years, each as determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement; provided, however, the term of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent (10%) Stockholder may not exceed five (5) years.

 

 

7.5       Exercise of Option. To the extent an Option has vested and becomes exercisable, the Option may be exercised by the Participant in whole or in part from time to time by delivery to the Corporation or its designee of a written or electronic notice of exercise, in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement and any procedures established by the Committee for such exercise, accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price as described in Section 7.6, and payment of any taxes required to be withheld as described in Section 10. An Option may be exercised only for whole shares. The Committee may exclude one or more methods for exercising an Option in countries outside the United States.

 

7.6       Payment of Exercise Price. The aggregate Exercise Price payable upon the exercise of an Option shall be payable: (a) in cash, check or wire transfer; (b) to the extent permitted by the Committee, by tendering (either actually or by attestation) shares of Common Stock already owned by the Participant; (c) by delivery of a properly executed exercise notice directing the Corporation to withhold shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to exercise of the Option with a fair market value sufficient to pay the Exercise Price; (d) at the discretion of the Committee, by authorizing a third party to sell, on behalf of the Participant, the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of the Option and to remit to the Corporation a sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to pay the Exercise Price for the shares of Common Stock being acquired; or (e) by such other consideration as the Committee may permit in its sole discretion. The Committee may exclude one or more methods for paying the Exercise Price of an Option in countries outside the United States.

 

7.7       Post-Termination Exercises. The Committee shall establish and set forth in each Award Agreement that evidences an Option whether the Option shall continue to be exercisable, and the terms and conditions of such exercise, after a termination of employment or service, any of which provisions may be waived or modified by the Committee at any time.

 

 

SECTION 8

RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

8.1       Grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may grant Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units on such terms and conditions and subject to such repurchase or forfeiture restrictions, if any (which may be based on continuous employment with or service to the Corporation or a Subsidiary or the achievement of any performance criteria), as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion, which terms, conditions and restrictions shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

8.2       Issuance of Shares. Subject to applicable laws, upon the satisfaction of any terms, conditions and restrictions prescribed with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, or upon a Participant’s release from any terms, conditions and restrictions of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and subject to the provisions of Section 10, (a) the shares of Common Stock covered by an Award of Restricted Stock shall become freely transferable by the Participant, and (b) the Restricted Stock Units shall be paid in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof, as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. Any fractional shares subject to such Awards shall be paid to the Participant in cash.

 

 

8.3       Dividends and Dividend Equivalents. Participants holding shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may, if the Committee so determines, be credited with dividends paid with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock, or dividend equivalents with respect to Restricted Stock Units, while they are so held in a manner determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided, however, any dividends paid with respect to shares of Restricted Stock and dividend equivalents with respect to Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the vesting of the underlying Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine the form of payment of dividends or dividend equivalents, including cash, shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

 

8.4       Waiver of Restrictions. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may waive the repurchase or forfeiture period and any other terms, conditions or restrictions on any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit under such circumstances and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion, including upon the occurrence of a Participant’s death, disability or retirement, or upon a change in control.

 

 

SECTION 9

OTHER AWARDS

 

In addition to the Awards described in Section 7 and Section 8, and subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee may grant other incentives payable in cash or in shares of Common Stock under the Plan as it determines to be in the best interests of the Corporation and subject to such other terms and conditions as it deems appropriate in its sole discretion. The Committee may exclude the use of one or more other Awards in countries outside the United States.

 

 

SECTION 10

WITHHOLDING

 

To the extent required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, a Participant (or authorized transferee) shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Corporation for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise by reason of the grant, vesting, exercise or payment of an Award. The Corporation shall not be required to issue shares of Common Stock or to recognize the disposition of such shares until such obligations are satisfied. Subject to applicable law, the Corporation may: (a) deduct from any cash payment made to a Participant under the Plan an amount that satisfies all or any portion of any withholding tax obligations; (b) require the Participant through payroll withholding, cash payment, or otherwise to satisfy all or any portion of the withholding tax obligations; (c) withhold a portion of the shares of Common Stock that otherwise would be issued to the Participant upon grant, vesting or exercise of the Award by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates, including maximum applicable rates; (d) to the extent permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion, allow the Participant to tender shares of Common Stock previously acquired; (e) at the discretion of the Committee, allow the Participant to authorize a third party to sell, on behalf of the Participant, the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of an Option and to remit to the Corporation a sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to satisfy the withholding tax obligations, considering applicable minimum statutory withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates, including maximum applicable rates; or (f) provide for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligation through any combination of the foregoing methods. The Committee may exclude one or more methods for satisfying any tax withholding associated with the exercise of an Option in countries outside the United States.

 

 

SECTION 11

ASSIGNABILITY

 

Unless provided otherwise by the Committee, no Award or interest in an Award may be sold, assigned, pledged (as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of an obligation or for any other purpose) or transferred by the Participant or made subject to attachment or similar proceedings otherwise than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, except to the extent a Participant designates one or more beneficiaries on a Corporation-approved form who may exercise the Award or receive payment under the Award after the Participant’s death. During a Participant’s lifetime, an Award may be exercised only by the Participant.

 

 

SECTION 12

ADJUSTMENTS

 

12.1       Adjustment of Shares. In the event of any changes in the Common Stock or capital structure of the Corporation by reason of any reorganization, reclassification, recapitalization, combination of shares, stock splits, reverse stock splits, spin-offs, the payment of a stock dividend or extraordinary cash dividend, or other distribution of the Common Stock for which no consideration is received by the Corporation or otherwise occurring after the Grant Date of any Award, then Awards granted under the Plan and any Award Agreements, the Exercise Price of Options, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan set forth in Section 4.1 and the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued as Incentive Stock Options set forth in Section 4.2, shall be equitably adjusted or substituted, as to the number, price or kind of a share of Common Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards to the extent necessary to preserve the economic intent of such Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any adjustment to Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall comply with the applicable requirements, provisions and restrictions of the Code and applicable law. No right to purchase fractional shares shall result from any adjustment in Awards pursuant to Section 12.1. In case of any such adjustment, the shares subject to the Award shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share. Notice of any adjustment shall be given by the Corporation to each Participant which shall have been so adjusted and such adjustment (whether or not notice is given) shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan.

 

12.2       Limitations. The grant of Awards shall in no way affect the Corporation’s right to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

 

SECTION 13

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

13.1       Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan. Subject to applicable law, the Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion of the Plan at any time and in such respects as it shall deem advisable; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment to the Plan. No amendment may be effective, without the approval of the stockholders of the Corporation, if approval of such amendment is required in order that transactions in Corporation securities under the Plan be exempt from the operation of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or if such amendment, with respect to the issuance of Incentive Stock Options, either: (a) materially increases the number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan, except as provided for in Section 12; or (b) materially modifies the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan (unless designed to comport with applicable law). The amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan or a portion thereof or the amendment of an outstanding Award shall not, without the Participant’s consent, materially adversely affect any rights under any Award theretofore granted to the Participant under the Plan.

 

13.2       Amendment of Awards. Subject to applicable law and the Plan, the Committee will have the exclusive authority and discretion to amend any Award or Award Agreement. If the amendment will have a material adverse effect on a Participant’s rights, or result in a material increase in the Participant’s obligations, the Committee must obtain the Participant’s written consent to the amendment.

 

13.3       Term of the Plan. Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, the Plan shall terminate ten (10) years from the Effective Date. After the Plan is terminated, no future Awards may be granted, but Awards previously granted shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the Plan’s terms and conditions.

 

SECTION 14

GENERAL

 

14.1       No Individual Rights. No individual or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and the Corporation has no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants under the Plan. Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed to constitute an employment contract or confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of, or to continue any other relationship with, the Corporation or any Subsidiary, or limit in any way the right of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to terminate a Participant’s employment, service or other relationship at any time, with or without cause.

 

14.2        Issuance of Shares. In the event that the Board or the Committee determines in its sole discretion that the listing, qualification or registration of the shares issued under the Plan on any securities exchange or quotation or trading system or under any applicable law (including state securities laws) or governmental regulation is necessary as a condition to the issuance of such shares under the Award, the Award may not be exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, qualification, consent or approval has been unconditionally obtained.

 

 

14.3       No Rights as Stockholder. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion, a Participant to whom an Award of Restricted Stock has been made shall have ownership of such shares of Common Stock, including the right to vote the same and to receive dividends or other distributions made or paid with respect to such Common Stock (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8.3). Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion, a Participant to whom an Award of Options, Restricted Stock Units or any other Award (other than an Award of Restricted Stock) is made shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock or as a holder with respect to other securities, if any, issuable pursuant to any such Award until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate to the Participant or the entry on the Participant’s behalf of an uncertificated book position on the records of the Corporation’s transfer agent and registrar for such Common Stock or other instrument of ownership, if any. Except as provided in Section 12, no adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights (whether ordinary or extraordinary, and whether in cash, securities, other property or other forms of consideration, or any combination thereof) for which the record date is prior to the date such book entry is made or a stock certificate or other instrument of ownership, if any, is issued.

 

14.4       No Trust or Fund. The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan. Nothing contained herein shall require the Corporation to segregate any monies or other property, or shares of Common Stock, or to create any trusts, or to make any special deposits for any immediate or deferred amounts payable to any Participant, and no Participant shall have any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Corporation.

 

14.5       Successors. All obligations of the Corporation under the Plan with respect to Awards shall be binding on any successor to the Corporation, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all the business and/or assets of the Corporation.

 

14.6       Substitute Awards. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the terms of Substitute Awards may vary from the terms set forth in the Plan to the extent the Committee deems appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of the awards in substitution for which they are granted.

 

14.7       Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or, if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the Committee’s determination, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

 

14.8       Choice of Law. The Plan, all Awards granted thereunder and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by the laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.

 

 

14.9       Electronic Delivery and Signatures. Any reference in the Plan, an Award or an Award Agreement to a written document includes without limitation any document delivered electronically or posted on the Corporation’s or a Subsidiary’s intranet or other shared electronic medium controlled by the Corporation or Subsidiary. The Committee and any Participant may use facsimile and PDF signatures in signing any Award or Award Agreement, in exercising any Option, or in any other written document in the Plan’s administration. The Committee and each Participant are bound by facsimile and PDF signatures, and acknowledge that the other party relies on facsimile and PDF signatures.

 

14.10       Headings and Captions. The headings and captions in the Plan are used only for convenience, and do not construe, define, expand, interpret, or limit any provision of the Plan.

 

14.11       Gender and Number. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun includes the corresponding masculine, feminine, or neuter form, and the singular includes the plural and vice versa.

 

14.12       Construction. The terms “includes,” “including,” “includes without limitation,” and “including without limitation” are not to be construed to limit any provision or item that precedes or follows these terms (whether in the same section or another section) to the specific or similar provisions or items that follow these terms.

 

v3.24.2

Cover	Jul. 02, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jul. 02, 2024
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity File Number	001-41761
Entity Registrant Name	Cheetah Net Supply Chain Service Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001951667
Entity Tax Identification Number	81-3509120
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NC
Entity Address, Address Line One	6201 Fairview Road, Suite 225
Entity Address, City or Town	Charlotte
Entity Address, State or Province	NC
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	28210
City Area Code	704
Local Phone Number	826-7280
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock
Trading Symbol	CTNT
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Elected Not To Use the Extended Transition Period	false

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