13. Related Parties

Equipment loan - Related Party

On September 26, 2022, the Company entered into an equipment loan agreement with Braydon Capital Corp, for the principal sum of $500,000 of which an initial advance of $360,000 was received. The loan bears interest at 9% per annum, compounded monthly and is repayable on October 31, 2023. The loan agreement also provides for additional compensation to the lender of 1% of the gross income received from equipment funded by this loan, capped at 2% of the principal sum advanced.

Braydon Capital Corp is managed by Mr. Claudio Ciavarella, the bother of the Chairman of the Board.

The movement on Equipment loan - Related Party, consists of the following:

Related Party (Payables) Receivables

Related party payables and receivables represent non-interest-bearing (payables) receivables that are due on demand.

The balances outstanding are as follows: 

Luca Pasquini

On January 31, 2019, the Company acquired Virtual Generation for €4,000,000 (approximately $4,576,352), Mr. Pasquini, who at the time of acquisition was an executive officer and director of the Company, was a 20% owner of Virtual Generation and was due gross proceeds of €800,000 (approximately $915,270). The gross proceeds of €800,000 was to be settled by a payment in cash of €500,000 over a twelve month period and by the issuance of common stock valued at €300,000 over an eighteen month period. As of June 30, 2021, the Company had paid Mr. Pasquini the full cash amount of €500,000 (approximately $604,380) and issued 112,521 shares valued at €300,000 (approximately $334,791).

On January 22, 2021, the Company issued Mr. Pasquini 44,968 shares of common stock valued at $257,217, in settlement of accrued compensation due to him.

On July 11, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with Engage IT Services Srl.("Engage"), to provide gaming software and maintenance and support of the system, the total contract price was €390,000 (approximately $459,572), in addition, on October 14, 2021, the Company entered into a further agreement with Engage, to provide gaming software and maintenance and support of the system for a period of 12 months, the total contract price was €1,980,000 (approximately $2,192,000). Mr. Pasquini owns 34% of Engage.

On September 13, 2021, Mr. Pasquini, the Company’s Vice President of Technology, resigned as a director of the Company and on October 4, 2021, Mr. Pasquini became the Global Head of Engineering of the Company’s subsidiary Odissea Betriebsinformatik Beratung GmbH and ceased to be Vice President of Technology and an executive officer of the Company.

On September 26, 2022, Mr. Pasquini was awarded 500,000 restricted shares of common stock valued at $226,750 for services rendered to the Company.

Michele Ciavarella

Mr. Ciavarella, the Company’s Executive Chairman of the Board, agreed to receive $140,000 of his 2021 fiscal year compensation as a restricted stock award, on January 22, 2021, the Company issued Mr. Ciavarella 24,476 shares of common stock valued at $140,000 on the date of issue.

On January 22, 2021, the Company issued Mr. Ciavarella 175,396 shares of common stock valued at $1,003,265, in settlement of accrued compensation due to him.

On July 15, 2021, Mr. Ciavarella, Executive Chairman of the Company, was appointed as the interim Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, effective July 15, 2021. Mr. Ciavarella will serve as the Company's Executive Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer until the earlier of his resignation or removal from office.

Mr. Ciavarella agreed to receive his 2021 bonus and a portion of his 2022 salary as a restricted stock award. On January 7, 2022, the Company issued Mr. Ciavarella 162,835 shares of common stock valued at $425,000 on the date of issue.

On September 26, 2022, Mr. Ciavarella was awarded 300,000 restricted shares of common stock valued at $136,080 for services rendered to the Company.

Carlo Reali

On January 5, 2022, the Company promoted Carlo Reali to the role of Interim Chief Financial Officer.

On March 29, 2022, the Company issued Mr. Reali ten-year options exercisable for 100,000 shares of common stock, at an exercise price of $2.50 per share, vesting equally over a 4 year period commencing on January 1, 2023.

The Company does not have a formal employment or other compensation related agreement with Mr. Reali; however, Mr. Reali will continue to receive the same compensation that he currently receives which is an annual base salary of €76,631 (approximately $83,847).

On September 26, 2022, Mr. Reali was awarded 200,000 restricted shares of common stock valued at $90,720 for services rendered to the Company.

Victor Salerno

On July 15, 2021 the Company consummated the acquisition of USB and in terms of the Purchase Agreement the Company acquired 100% of USB, from its members (the “Sellers”). Mr. Salerno was a 68% owner of USB and received $4,080,000 of the $6,000,000 paid in cash upon closing and 860,760 of the 1,265,823 shares of common stock issued on closing.

Together with the consummation of the acquisition of USB, the Company entered into a 4 year employment agreement with Mr. Salerno terminating on July 14, 2025 (the “Salerno Employment Agreement”), automatically renewable for a period of one year unless notified by either party of non-renewal. The employee will earn an initial base salary of $0 and thereafter $150,000 per annum commencing on January 1, 2022. Mr. Salerno is entitled to bonuses, equity incentives and benefits consistent with those of other senior employees.

Mr. Salerno may be terminated for no cause or resign for good reason, which termination would entitle him to the greater of one year’s salary or the remaining term of the employment agreement plus the highest annual incentive bonus paid to him during the past two years. If Mr. Salerno is terminated for cause he is entitled to all unpaid salary and expenses due to him at the time of termination. If the employment agreement is terminated due to death, his heirs and successors are entitled to all unpaid salary, unpaid expenses and one times his annual base salary. Termination due to disability will result in Mr. Salerno being paid all unpaid salary and expenses and one times annual salary.

Pursuant to the Salerno Employment Agreement, Mr. Salerno has also agreed to customary restrictions with respect to the disclosure and use of the Company’s confidential information and has agreed that work product or inventions developed or conceived by him while employed with the Company relating to its business is the Company’s property. In addition, during the term of his employment and if terminated for cause for the 12 month period following his termination of employment, Mr. Salerno has agreed not to (1) perform services on behalf of a competing business which was the same or similar to the type of services he was authorized, conducted, offered or provided to the Company, (2) solicit or induce any of the Company’s employees or independent contractors to terminate their employment with the Company, (3) solicit any actual or prospective customers with whom he had material contact on behalf of a competing business or (4) solicit any actual or prospective vendors with whom he had material contact to support a competing business.

On September 13, 2021, the Board appointed Mr. Salerno, the President and founder of the Company’s newly acquired subsidiary, USB, to serve as a member of the Board. 

Prior to the acquisition of USB, Mr. Salerno had advanced USB $100,000 of which $50,000 was forgiven and the remaining $50,000 is still owing to Mr. Salerno, which amount earns interest at 8% per annum, compounded monthly and is repayable on December 31, 2023. 

Between February 23, 2022 and September 22, 2022, Mr. Salerno advanced USB a total of $305,000 in terms of purported promissory notes, bearing interest at 10% per annum and repayable between June 30, 2022 and November 30, 2022. These purported promissory notes contain a default clause whereby any unpaid principal would attract an additional 25% penalty. These notes were advanced to USB without the consent of the Company, which is required as per the terms of the Members Interest Purchase Agreement entered into on July 15, 2021. Therefore the Company acknowledges the advance of funds to USB by Mr. Salerno, however the terms of the advance and the default penalty have not been accepted and are subject to negotiation or dispute. As of September 30, 2022, these notes remain outstanding, interest has been accrued on these notes, however we intend to dispute the validity of these notes and have accordingly not repaid them or accrued penalty interest in terms of these notes.

Paul Sallwasser

On September 13, 2021, the Company granted Mr. Sallwasser ten year options exercisable for 21,300 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.10, vesting equally over a twelve month period commencing on September 13, 2021.

Steven Shallcross

On January 22, 2021, the Company issued to Mr. Shallcross, a director of the Company, 5,245 shares of common stock valued at $30,000, in settlement of directors’ fees due to him.

On September 13, 2021, the Company granted Mr. Shallcross ten year options exercisable for 13,600 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.10, vesting equally over a twelve month period commencing on September 13, 2021.

Andrea Mandel-Mantello

On June 29, 2021, the board of directors of the Company appointed Mr. Mandel-Mantello to serve as a member of the Board. The appointment was effective immediately. Mr. Mandel-Mantello serves on the audit committee of the Board.

On September 13, 2021, the Company granted Mr. Mandel-Mantello ten year options exercisable for 13,600 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.10, vesting equally over a twelve month period commencing on September 13, 2021.