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UNITED STATES

SECURITISSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

___________________________

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule 14A-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.)

Check the appropriate box:

LM FUNDING AMERICA, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

AND PROXY STATEMENT

November [], 2023

November __, 2021

You are cordially invited to attend our Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Stockholders, which will be held at 1200 West Platt Street, Suite 100 Tampa, Florida 33606, on Friday, December 10, 2021,[], [], 2023, at 3:00 p.m.[], local time. Stockholders will be admitted beginning at 2:45 p.m.[].

The attached notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy statement cover the formal business of the Annual Meeting and contains a discussion of the matters to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting, our management will also provide a report on our operations and achievements during the past year.

Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person, please vote your shares by completing, signing and returning the accompanying proxy card, or by following the instructions on the card for voting by telephone or internet. If you later decide to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, you may revoke your proxy at that time.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and management, I would like to thank you for choosing to invest in LM Funding America Inc. and look forward to your participation at our Annual Meeting.

LM Funding America, Inc. •1200 West Platt Street, Suite 100, Tampa, FL 33606 • T (813) 222-8996 • F (813) 221-7909 • lmfunding.com

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF LM FUNDING AMERICA, INC.:

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Bruce M. Rodgers

Chairman of the Board

Chief Executive Officer

LM Funding America, Inc. •1200 West Platt Street, Suite 100, Tampa, FL 33606 • T (813) 222-8996 • F (813) 221-7909 • lmfunding.com

PROXY STATEMENT

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 10, 2021, 2023

This proxy statement and the form of proxy are delivered in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of LM Funding America, Inc. (the “company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), a Delaware corporation, of proxies to be voted at our below-described Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.

You are invited to attend our Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Friday, December 10, 2021,[], [], 2023, beginning at 3:00 p.m..[]. The Annual Meeting will be held at 1200 West Platt Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33606. Stockholders will be admitted beginning at 2:45 p.m.[].

Your vote is very important. Therefore, whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting or not and regardless of the number of shares you own, please date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card promptly or follow the instructions on the card for voting by telephone or internet.

At the meeting, the use of cameras, audio or video recording equipment, communications devices or similar equipment will be prohibited.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on December 10, 2021:[], 2023:

This proxy statement and the 20202022 Annual Report to Stockholders, as amended, are available at www.proxyvote.comwww.proxydocs.com/LMFA.

Upon your written request, we will provide you with a copy of our 2020 annual report2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, including exhibits, free of charge. Send your request to LM Funding America, Inc., Attention:Bruce M. Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer, 1200 West Platt Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33606.

LM Funding America, Inc. •1200 West Platt Street, Suite 100, Tampa, FL 33606 • T (813) 222-8996 • F (813) 221-7909 • lmfunding.com

ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

What is the purpose of the meeting?

The principal purposes of the Annual Meeting are to ratify the appointment of our outside auditors andoutside auditors; elect two directors to the company’s Board of Directors;  to approve an amendment to the company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to increase the number of the company’s authorized shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, from 30,000,000 to 350,000,000 shares and to increase the number of the company’s authorized shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, from 5,000,000 to 150,000,000 shares; to approve the LM Funding America, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan;  to  approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of our named executive officers; and to approve on a non-binding advisory basis the compensation of our named executive officers every three years. Directors. In addition, our management will report on our performance during 2020,2022, discuss challenges ahead and respond to questions from stockholders.

When were theseWhy did I receive a notice in the mail regarding the internet availability of proxy materials mailed?instead of a paper copy of proxy materials?

We began mailingThe rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) permit us to furnish proxy materials, including this proxy statement and the Annual Report, to our stockholders by providing access to such documents on the internet instead of mailing printed copies. Stockholders will not receive paper copies of the proxy materials unless they request them. Instead, the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice and Access Card”) provides instructions on how to access and review on the internet all of the proxy materials. The Notice and Access Card also instructs you as to how to authorize via the internet or about November ___, 2021.telephone your proxy to vote your shares according to your voting instructions. If you would like to receive a paper or email copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials described in the Notice and Access Card.

Who is entitled to vote?

Stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date, October 19, 2021,[], 2023, are entitled to vote in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. In general, stockholders are entitled to one vote per share on each matter voted upon. In an election for directors, however, stockholders are entitled to vote the number of shares they own for as many director candidates as there are directors to be elected. The Board of Directors has determined that the Board of Directors should include two Class III directorships. Accordingly, since two directors are to be elected at this Annual Meeting, in electing directors, each share will entitle the stockholder to two votes, one per director. Stockholders may not cumulate their votes. As of October 19, 2021,[], 2023, there were 12,677,442[] common shares outstanding.

What constitutes a quorum?

The presence at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority33-1/3% of the shares outstanding will constitute a quorum, permitting us to conduct the business of the meeting.

What is the difference between a shareholder of record and a beneficial owner?

If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, V Stock Transfer, LLC, then you are a “shareholder of record.” This Notice of Meeting and proxy statement has been provided directly to you by LM Funding America, Inc. You may vote by ballot at the meeting or vote by proxy. To vote by proxy, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card or follow the instructions on the proxy card for voting by telephone or internet.

If your shares are held for you in a brokerage, bank or other institutional account (that is, held in “street name”), then you are not a shareholder of record. Rather, the institution is the shareholder of record and you are the “beneficial owner” of the shares. The accompanying Notice of Meeting and this proxy statement have been forwarded to you by that institution. If you complete and properly sign the accompanying proxy card and return it in the enclosed envelope, or follow the instructions on the proxy card for voting by telephone or internet, the institution will cause your shares to be voted in accordance with your instructions. If you are a beneficial owner of shares and wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, then you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record (the institution).

How do I vote?

By Ballot at the Meeting. If you are a shareholder of record and attend the Annual Meeting, you may vote in person by ballot at the Annual Meeting. To vote by ballot, you must register and confirm your shareholder status at the meeting. If the shareholder of record is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which you are an officer or other authorized person, then you should bring evidence of your authority to vote the shares on behalf of the entity. If your shares are held for you in a brokerage, bank or other institutional account (that is, in “street name”), you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from that institution (the holder of record) to vote your beneficially-owned shares by ballot at the Annual Meeting. In the election of directors (Proposal No. 1), each share held by a shareholder of record will be entitled to two votes, one for each director to be elected.

By Proxy. If you complete, sign and return the accompanying proxy card or follow the instructions on the proxy card for voting by telephone or internet, then your shares will be voted as you direct. In the election of directors (Proposal No. 1), your options with respect to each director are to direct a vote “FOR”, “WITHHOLD ALL”, or to “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY.”  “FOR ALL EXCEPT”.

If you are a shareholder of record, then you may opt to deliver your completed proxy card in person at the Annual Meeting.

Can I vote by telephone or internet?

Yes. If you follow the instructions on the proxy card for voting by telephone or internet, your shares will be voted as you direct.

Can I vote my shares by filling out and returning the Notice and Access Card?

No. The Notice and Access Card identifies the items to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, but you cannot vote by marking the Notice and Access Card and returning it. If you would like a paper proxy card, you should follow the instructions in the Notice and Access Card. The paper proxy card you receive will also provide instructions as to how to authorize via the internet or telephone your proxy to vote your shares according to your voting instructions. Alternatively, you can mark the paper proxy card with how you would like your shares voted, sign and date the proxy card, and return it in the envelope provided.

How Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes Are Treated

Abstentions will be counted as shares that are present for purposes of determining a quorum. For the election of directors, abstentions are excluded entirely from the vote and do not have any effect on the outcome. Broker non-votes occur when a broker or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not have discretionary voting power on a matter and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Broker non-votes are included in the determination of the number of shares represented at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. If you do not provide your broker or other nominee with instructions on how to vote your “street name” shares, your broker or nominee will not be permitted to vote them on nonroutine matters such as Proposal No. 1. Shares subject to a broker non-vote will not be considered entitled to vote with respect to Proposal No. 1 and will not affect the outcome of Proposal No. 1. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on the voting results for Proposal 3.

What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?

You will receive separate proxy cards when you own shares in different ways. For example, you may own shares individually, as a joint tenant, in an individual retirement account, in trust or in one or more brokerage accounts. You should complete, sign and return each proxy card you receive or follow the telephone or internet instructions on each card. The instructions on each proxy card may differ. Be sure to follow the instructions on each card.

Can I change my vote or instruction?

Yes. You may follow the instructions on the proxy card to change your votes or instructions any time before midnight the day before the meeting. In addition, if you are a shareholder of record, you may revoke your proxy any time before your shares are voted by filing with the secretary of the company a written notice of revocation or submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. If you file a notice of revocation, you may then vote (or abstain from voting) your shares in person at the Annual Meeting. If you submit a later dated proxy, then your shares will be voted in accordance with that later dated proxy. No such notice of revocation or later dated proxy, however, will be effective unless received by us at or before the Annual Meeting and before your shares have been voted. Unless the proxy is revoked, the shares represented thereby will be voted at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof as indicated on the proxy card. Sending in a proxy does not affect your right to vote in person if you attend the meeting, although attendance at the meeting will not by itself revoke a previously granted proxy.

If I submit a proxy card, how will my shares be voted?

Your shares will be voted as you instruct on the proxy card.

What happens if I submit a proxy card and do not give specific voting instructions?

If you are a shareholder of record and sign and return the proxy card without indicating your instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors. With respect to any other matter that properly comes before the meeting, the proxy holders will vote as recommended by the Board of Directors or, if no recommendation is given, at their own discretion. As of the date this proxy statement went to print, we did not know of any other matters to be raised at the Annual Meeting.

What are the Board of Directors’ recommendations?

The Board of Directors recommends votes:

Douglas I. McCreeBruce M. Rodgers

Joel E. RodgersCarollinn Gould

What vote is required to approve each item?

The vote required to approve each matter to be voted on at the Annual Meeting is described below. We do not anticipate other matters coming to a vote at the Annual Meeting. Should any other matter be brought to a vote, the matter will be approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of the outstanding shares present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter at a meeting at which a quorum is present unless a greater number of affirmative votes is required for approval of that matter under our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws,bylaws, or the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, an abstaining vote is considered present and entitled to vote and, therefore, is included for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. Pursuant to our Bylaws,bylaws, abstentions are not considered to be ‘‘votes cast’’ for the election of directors in Proposal No. 1 and will not affect the outcome of the election of directors. Abstentions are considered both present and “entitled to vote” on a matter. Accordingly, an abstention counts as a vote “against” any proposal where the voting standard is “a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote” or “a majority of the outstanding shares.”

A broker ‘‘non-vote’’ occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a broker ‘‘non-vote’’ is not deemed to be a ‘‘vote cast’’ and, therefore, will not affect the outcome of the election of directors. While a broker ‘‘non-vote’’ is considered present for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, it is not considered ‘‘entitled to vote’’ and, therefore, not included in the tabulation of the voting results on matters requiring approval of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote. When the voting standard is approval of “a majority of the outstanding shares,” broker non-votes have the same effect as a vote “against” the proposal.

The required vote for each of the proposals expected to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting is summarized below:

Proposal No. 1 — Election of directors. Directors are elected by a plurality, with the two nominees obtaining the most votes being elected. Because there is no minimum vote required, abstentions and broker non-votes will be entirely excluded from the vote and will havenoeffectonitsoutcome.Underthepluralityvotestandard,anysharesthatarenotvoted,whetherbyabstention,broker non-votes or otherwise, will not affect the election ofdirectors.

Proposal No. 2 — Ratification of independent registered public accounting firm. This proposal must be approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote, assuming a

quorum is present.  Abstentions count as a vote “against” the proposal and broker non-votes will be entirely excluded from the vote and will have no effect on its outcome.

Proposal No. 3 – Approval of the amendment  to the company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to increase our authorized shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, from 30,000,000 to 350,000,000 shares and to increase our authorized shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, from 5,000,000 to 150,000,000 shares. This proposal must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.  Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal.

Proposal No. 4 — Approval of the LM Funding America, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan.This proposal must be approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote, assuming a quorum is present. Abstentions count as a vote “against” the proposal and broker non-votes will be entirely excluded from the vote and will have no effect on its outcome.

Proposal No. 53 — Approval onof an advisory, non-binding basis,amendment (in the compensationevent it is deemed by the company’s Board of Directors to be advisable) to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, in the form attached to the proxy statement as Appendix A, to effect a reverse stock split of our named executive officers. issued and outstanding shares of common stock at an exchange ratio ranging from one-for-two (1:2) to one-for-ten (1:10), with the exact ratio to be determined by our Board of Directors.While This proposal must be approved by the

affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our common stock cast on this proposal is advisory in nature and non-binding, the Board will review the voting results and expects to take such results into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.matter. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be entirely excluded from the vote and will have no effect on its outcome.

Proposal No. 6 — Approval, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensationoutcome of our named executive officers every three years. The voting frequency option that receives the highest number of votes cast by stockholders will be deemed the frequency for the advisory vote on executive compensation that has been selected by stockholders.  Abstentions and broker non-votes will be entirely excluded from the vote and will have no effect on its outcome.this proposal.

How will votes be counted?

All votes will be tabulated by the secretary of the company. We have engaged Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. to collect and tabulate proxy instructions.

Who is paying for the preparation and mailingsolicitation of the proxy materialsproxies and how will solicitations be made?

We will pay the expenses of soliciting proxies. Proxies may be solicited on our behalf by directors, officers or employees in person or by mail, telephone, facsimile or electronic transmission. We have also engaged Alliance Advisors, LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies. Fees for this service are estimated to be approximately $10,500. We have requested brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward soliciting material to beneficial owners and have agreed to reimburse those institutions for their out-of-pocket expenses.

PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Two directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting. In accordance with the company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors is divided into three classes. Class I and Class II each consists of two directors, and Class III consists of three directors. All directors within a class have the same three-year terms of office. The class terms expire at successive annual meetings so that each year a class of directors is elected. The current terms of director classes are scheduled to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2023 (Class I directors), 20212024 (Class II directors) and 20222025 (Class III directors). Accordingly, the Class III directors will be elected at this Annual Meeting of Stockholders.Meeting. Each of the Class III directors elected at this Annual Meeting will be elected to serve a three-year term.

With the recommendation of the nominating and governance committee, the Board of Directors has nominated the following persons to stand for election as Class III directors at this Annual Meeting of Stockholders, with terms expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following their election:

Mr. Bruce M. Rodgers

Douglas I. McCree

Joel E. RodgersMs. Carollinn Gould

Each of the nominees for election as a director has consented to serve if elected. If, as a result of circumstances not now known or foreseen, one or more of the nominees should be unavailable or unwilling to serve as a director, proxies may be voted for the election of such other persons as the Board of Directors may select. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve.

The persons named in the enclosed proxy card intend, unless otherwise directed, to vote such proxy “FOR” the election of Mr. Douglas I. McCreeBruce M. Rodgers and Mr. Joel E. RodgersMs. Carollinn Gould as Class III directors of LM Funding America, Inc. The nominees receiving the two highest “FOR” vote totals will be elected as directors.

In the election of directors, the two highest recipients of “FOR” votes will be elected. A properly executed proxy card marked “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY”ALL" or “FOR ALL EXCEPT” with respect to the election of one or more director nominees will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated, even though it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum present at the Annual Meeting.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES AS

DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY

ITEM 1 ON YOUR PROXY CARD.

DIRECTORS

Set forth below is a summary of the background and experience of each director nominee and director. There is no family relationship among any of the directors and/or executive officers of the company except as follows: Mr. Bruce M. Rodgers, our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, and Ms. Carollinn Gould our Vice President—General Manager, Secretary, anda director, have been married since 2004 and Joel E. Rodgers, Sr. is the father of Bruce M. Rodgers and the father-in-law of Carollinn Gould.2004.

Directors Standing for Election (Class II)I)

Bruce M. Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers, age 59, serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company. Prior to that, Mr. Rodgers owned Business Law Group, P.A. (“BLG”) and served as counsel to the founders of LM Funding, LLC, the Company’s predecessor and wholly-owned subsidiary. Mr. Rodgers was instrumental in developing the Company’s business model prior to inception. Mr. Rodgers transferred his interest in BLG to attorneys within the firm by means of redemption of such interest in BLG prior to the Company going public in 2015. Mr. Rodgers is also a member of the Board of Directors of SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: ICU), a medical technology Company developing a platform therapy to reduce the consequences of hyperinflammation on vital organs. Mr. Rodgers is a former business transactions attorney and was an associate of Macfarlane, Ferguson, & McMullen, P.A. from 1991 to 1995 and a partner from 1995-1998 and was an equity partner of Foley & Lardner LLP from 1998 to 2003. Originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky, Mr. Rodgers holds an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University (1985) and a Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Florida (1991). Mr. Rodgers also served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1985-1989 rising to the rank of Lieutenant, Surface Warfare Officer. Mr. Rodgers is a member of the Florida Bar and holds an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell.

Mr. Rodgers brings to the Board of Directors considerable experience in business, management and law, and because of those experiences and his education, we believe that he possesses analytical and legal skills which are considered of importance to the operations of the Company, the oversight of its performance and the evaluation of its future growth opportunities.

Carollinn Gould. Ms. Gould, age 60, co-founded LM Funding, LLC in January 2008, and currently serves as a director of the Company. From January 2008 to September 30, 2020, Mrs. Gould served as Vice President General Manager, Secretary. Prior to joining LM Funding, LLC, Ms. Gould owned and operated a recruiting company specializing in the placement of financial services personnel. Prior to that, Ms. Gould worked at Outback Steakhouse (“OSI”) where she opened the first restaurant in 1989 and finished her career at OSI in 2006 as shared services controller for over 1,000 restaurants. Ms. Gould holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Nova Southeastern University.

As a co-founder of LM Funding, LLC, Ms. Gould brings to our Board of Directors an encyclopedia of knowledge regarding the Company’s business, operation, and procedures. While previously employed with the Company, Ms. Gould managed all bank accounts of the Company and managed its internal control systems. Ms. Gould also brings public company audit experience from her prior service as controller at OSI as well as a wealth of personnel management and human resources skills.

Directors whose present terms continue until the next annual meeting of stockholders following this Annual Meeting (Class II):

Douglas I. McCree.Mr. McCree, age 56,58, has served as a director of the companyCompany since its initial public offering in October 2015. Mr. McCree has been with First Housing Development Corporation of Florida (“First Housing”) since 2000 and has served as its Chief Executive Officer since 2004. From 1987 through 2000, Mr. McCree held various positions with Bank of America, N.A. including Senior Vice President—President Affordable Housing Lending. Mr. McCree serves on numerous professional and civic boards. He received a B.S. from Vanderbilt University majoring in economics. Mr. McCree brings to the Board of Directors many years of banking experience and a strong perspective on public company operational requirements from his experience as Chief Executive Officer of First Housing.

Joel E. Rodgers, Sr.Tian “Todd” Zhang. Mr. Rodgers,Zhang, age 84,39, has served as a director of the companyCompany since its initial public offeringNovember 16, 2022. He has served in October 2015.a variety of corporate counsel roles where he has years of experience with matters involving securities, corporate governance, employee benefits, acquisitions, and compliance. Since November 2022, Mr. RodgersZhang has beenworked as Vice President, Associate General Counsel for Intertape Polymer Group, Inc., a global provider of Allied Signal, Inc. (1987-1992)packaging and CEO of Baron Blakeslee, Inc. (1985-1987). Since 1995,protective solutions. Prior to that, Mr. Rodgers hasZhang served as a part-time ProfessorDirector, Senior Counsel and Assistant Secretary at Nova SoutheasternBloomin' Brands, Inc. from September 2020 to November 2022, as Director, Corporate Counsel at TECO Energy, Inc. from July 2018 through August 2020, and as an associate with the law firm DLA Piper LLP from April 2017 to June 2018. In these roles he prepared Section 16 filings, prepared materials for board and committee meetings, drafted corporate governance policies, assisted with secondary public offerings, and maintained ongoing compliance with certain credit facilities. Prior to his time with DLA Piper LLP, Mr. Zhang held various other corporate attorney roles at public and private companies. Mr. Zhang obtained his Juris Doctor from Stetson University teaching finance, statistics, marketing, operation,College of Law in 2011 and strategy. He has published numerous articles dealing with empowerment and corporate leadership. Mr. Rodgers representedhis Bachelor’s Degree from the United States State Department in China, Mexico and Brazil in negotiations regarding the Montreal Protocol, which dealt with limiting fluorocarbon discharge. Mr. Rodgers’ civic work extends to service on the library, hospital and municipal utility boards of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Mr. Rodgers holds a Doctorate of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University, a Masters of Business Administration from University of Kentucky, a B.S.Florida in Mechanical Engineering from University of New Mexico and was a University of Illinois PhD candidate. He2007. Mr. Zhang brings to ourthe Board of Directors a lifetimemany years of management, financecompliance and marketingcorporate governance experience, which we believe qualifies him to serve as well as an academic careerone of study in each.our directors.

Directors Continuing in Office

Directors whose present terms continue until the nextsecond annual meeting of stockholders following this Annual Meeting (Class III):

Frank Silcox. Andrew L. Graham. Mr. Silcox,Graham, age 57,65, has served as a director of the company since January 2021. Mr. Silcox has been a Managing Director of Osprey Capital since March 2015. From 2008 until 2015, Mr. Silcox was co-founder and a Managing member of LM Funding, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company (“LMF”). Mr. Silcox has owned FS Ventures since 2003, which makes a variety of investments in real estate ventures. Mr. Silcox holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tampa.

Mr. Silcox brings considerable legal, financial and business experience to the Board of Directors. He has counseled and observed numerous businesses in a wide range of industries. The knowledge gained from his observations and his knowledge and experience in business transactions are considered important in monitoring the company’s performance and when we consider and pursue business acquisitions and financial transactions. His knowledge of other businesses and industries are useful in determining management and director compensation.

Andrew L. Graham. Mr. Graham, age 63, has served as a director of the companyCompany since its initial public offering in October 2015. Since June 2008, Mr. Graham has served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of HCI Group, Inc. (NYSE:HCI). From 1999 to 2007, Mr. Graham served in various capacities, including as General Counsel, for Trinsic, Inc. (previously named Z-Tel Technologies, Inc.), a publicly-held provider of communications services headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Since 2011, Mr. Graham has served on the Internal Audit Committee of Hillsborough County, Florida. From 2007 to 2011, he served on the Board of Trustees of Hillsborough Community College, a state institution serving over 45,000 students annually.

Mr. Graham holds a Bachelor of Science, major in Accounting, from Florida State University and a Juris Doctor, as well as a Master of Laws (L.L.M.) in Taxation, from the University of Florida College of Law. Mr. Graham was licensed in Florida as a Certified Public Accountant from 1982 to 2001. As a Certified Public Accountant, he audited, reviewed and compiled financial statements and prepared tax returns. Mr. Graham’s experience serving as general counsel to publicly-held companies brings to our Board of Directors a comprehensive understanding of public company operations, financial reporting, disclosure and corporate governance, as well a perspective regarding potential acquisitions. With his accounting education and experience, he also brings a sophisticated understanding of accounting principles, auditing standards, internal accounting control and financial presentation and analysis.

Frederick Mills. Mr. Mills age 63,65, has served as a director of the companyCompany since August 2018 and has been a partner with the law firm Morrison & Mills, PA since 1989, a Tampa, Florida law firm that focuses on business law. Mr. Mills is also a founder and board member of Apex Labs, Inc. (toxicology lab in Tampa FL). Mr. Mills serves on numerous professional and civic boards. He received a B.S. from the University of Florida majoring in accounting and received a J.D. from the UniversityofFlorida. We believe that Mr. Mills will bringbrings to the Board of Directors many years of valuable business and financial experience from his past experience as a founding board member and Audit Committee Chairman for Nature Coast Bank (OTCQB:NCBF), which was a publicly-held company, and his business lawpractice.

Directors whose present terms continue until the second annual meeting of stockholders following this Annual Meeting (Class I):

Bruce M. Rodgers.Frank Silcox. Mr. Rodgers,Silcox, age 57, serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President of the company. Prior to that, Mr. Rodgers owned Business Law Group, P.A. (“BLG”) and59, has served as counsel to the founders of LM Funding, LLC, the company’s predecessor and wholly-owned subsidiary.  Mr. Rodgers was instrumental in developing the company’s business model prior to inception.  Mr. Rodgers transferred his interest in BLG to attorneys within the firm by means of redemption of such interest in BLG prior to the company going public in 2015.  Mr. Rodgers is also Chief Executive Officer,

President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of LMF Acquisition Opportunities Inc a Nasdaq special purpose acquisition public company. Mr. Rodgers is a former business transactions attorney and was an associate of Macfarlane, Ferguson, & McMullen, P.A. from 1991 to 1995 and a partner from 1995-1998 and was an equity partner of Foley & Lardner LLP from 1998 to 2003. Originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky, Mr. Rodgers holds an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University (1985) and a Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Florida (1991). Mr. Rodgers also served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1985-1989 rising to the rank of Lieutenant, Surface Warfare Officer. Mr. Rodgers is a member of the Florida Bar and holds an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell.

Mr. Rodgers brings to the Board of Directors considerable experience in business, management and law, and because of those experiences and his education, he possesses analytical and legal skills which are considered of importance to the operations of the company, the oversight of its performance and the evaluation of its future growth opportunities. Furthermore, his performance as Chief Executive Officer has indicated an in-depth understanding of the company’s business.

Carollinn Gould. Ms. Gould, age 58, co-founded LMF in January 2008, and currently serves as a director of the company.Company since January 2021. Mr. Silcox has been a Managing Director of Osprey Capital since March 2015. From January 2008 to September 30, 2020, Mrs. Gould served as Vice President—General Manager, Secretary. Prior to joining LMF, Ms. Goulduntil 2015, Mr. Silcox was co-founder and a Managing member of LM Funding, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Mr. Silcox has owned and operatedFS Ventures since 2003, which makes a recruiting company specializingvariety of investments in the placement of financial services personnel. Prior to that, Ms. Gould worked at Outback Steakhouse (“OSI”) where she opened the first restaurant in 1989 and finished her career at OSI in 2006 as shared services controller for over 1,000 restaurants. Ms. Gouldreal estate ventures. Mr. Silcox holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business ManagementBachelor of Science from Nova Southeastern University.the University of Tampa.

As a co-founder of LMF, Ms. GouldMr. Silcox brings considerable legal, financial and business experience to ourthe Board of Directors an encyclopediaDirectors. He has counseled and observed numerous businesses in a wide range of industries. The knowledge regarding LMF’s growth, operation,gained from his observations and procedures. Since inception, Ms. Gould has controlled all bank accountshis knowledge and experience in business transactions are considered important in monitoring the Company’s performance and when we consider and pursue business acquisitions and financial transactions. His knowledge of the companyother businesses and managed its internal control systems. Ms. Gould also brings public company audit experience from her duties as controller at OSI as well as a wealth of personnelindustries are useful in determining management and human resources skills. director compensation.

Arrangements as to Selection and Nomination of Directors

We are aware of no arrangements as to the selection and nomination of directors.

Independent Directors

Based upon recommendations of our nominating and governance committee, the Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. Graham, McCree, Graham, Mills, Zhang, and Silcox are “independent directors” meeting the independence tests set forth in the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market and Rule 10A-3(b)(i) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including having no material relationship with the company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company).

Board Diversity

In August 2021, the SEC approved a Nasdaq proposal to adopt new listing rules related to board diversity and disclosure. The new Nasdaq listing rules require all Nasdaq listed companies to disclose consistent and transparent diversity statistics regarding their board of directors. The rules also require most Nasdaq listed companies to have, or explain why they do not have, at least two diverse directors, including one who self-identifies as female and one who self-identifies as either an under-represented minority or LGBTQ+. As seen in the Board Diversity Matrix below, the company would be in compliance with Nasdaq’s diversity requirement.

The composition of our Board of Directors reflects diversity of gender, race and ethnicity. Specifically, our Board of Directors has determinedone woman, Ms. Gould, and 1 ethnically diverse director, Mr. Zhang. We believe the two directors mentioned above are “diverse” under Nasdaq rules, and that Joel E. Rodgers, Sr.we satisfy the diversity requirements under the Nasdaq rules. Our Board of Directors diversity matrix for the current year is not independent by reason of his family relationship to our Chief Executive Officer.below.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The compensation of our non-employee directors is determined by the Boardour board of Directors,directors, which solicits a recommendation from the compensation committee.

Compensation Committee. Directors who are employees of the companyCompany do not receive any additional compensation for their service as directors. During 2019,

On November 18, 2022, our board of directors adopted the company’s non-employee directors did not earn any fees for serviceLM Funding America, Inc, Non-Employee Director Compensation Program (the “Director Program”). Pursuant to the company, which includes attendance at Board of Directors and committee meetings held during 2019. In September 2020, the Board of Directors, based on the recommendation of the compensation committee, approved a special payment for each outside director to compensate its outside directors for the company’s non-payment of certain compensation since 2015. Such special payment was approved in the amount of $15,000 for each outside director for each year from 2017 to 2020 for which no payment was made to the outside directors. This payment was made in October 2020.

The table below summarizes the compensation paid by the company to non-employee directors or earned by the non-employee directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

(1) Bruce Rodgers, our chairman and chief executive officer, is not included in this table because he was an employee in 2020 and thus received no compensation for his services as director. The compensation received by Mr. Rodgers is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table below. Carollinn Gould was employed by LMF as its Vice President—General Manager and Secretary until September 30, 2020.  Ms. Gould served as an executive officer of the company, but not a named executive officer, who did not receive any additional compensation for services provided as a director for the company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.  The compensation received by Ms. Gould as an employee of LMF is set forth in the section below entitled “Transactions With Related Persons.”

(2) Represents fees paid in October 2020 for the period from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2020, $15,000 of which is attributable to the period from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

* Mr. Traber ceased to be a director of our company in January 2021.

On October 27, 2021, we adopted a non-employee director compensation program that provides for annual retainer fees and equity awards for our non-employee directors.  The program was adopted under the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan, which is described in more detail below. Under the non-employee director compensation program,Director Program, each non-employee director receivesof the Company will receive an annual cash retainer of $60,000$66,000 (or $90,000$99,000 for audit committee members) payable in arrears in equal quarterly payments, and pro-rated for partial years. Non-employee directors will also receive an annual stock option award to purchase a number of shares equal to $60,000$66,000 (or $90,000$99,000 for audit committee members) divided by the option exercise price (which will be equal to the fair market value of the company’sCompany’s common stock on the date of grant), which annual awards will vest one-half on the 180^th180th day after the grant date and one-half on the first anniversary of the grant date. The annual option award will be granted on the day of the company’sCompany’s annual stockholder meeting each year. The programUpon initial election or appointment to our board of directors (or on such later date as is determined by the Board of Directors), non-employee directors will also provides for an initial option grant onautomatically receive stock options to purchase shares under the date on which a person first becomes a director of the company for a number of sharesCompany’s equity incentive plan equal to $25,000 divided by the exercise price and it provides forof the grant of an option, on October 28, 2021 to each non-employee director then serving on the board of directors to purchase a number of shareswith such exercise price being equal to $60,000 ($75,000 for audit committee members) divided by the exercise price, which was $5.95 per share.  Options granted under the non-employee director compensation program will be subject to accelerated vesting upon a change of control of the company (as defined in the 2021 Omnibus Plan), and the options granted on October 28, 2021 will be subject to accelerated vesting in the event that the closing price of the company’s common stock exceeds $12.00 for ten consecutive trading days.  The options granted on October 28, 2021 will not be exercisable unless and until the 2021 Omnibus Plan is approved by the company’s stockholders.  

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

Transactions with Business Law Group

LMF has engaged BLG on behalf of many of its incorporated nonprofit community association clients, or “Associations,” to service and collect the accounts and to distribute the proceeds as required by Florida law and the provisions of the purchase agreements between LMF and the Associations. In addition, Ms. Gould entered an employment agreement to work part-time for LMF, pursuant to which she received $119,431 and $132,693 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Ms. Gould’s employment agreement with LMF permits her to also work as General Manager of BLG, which pays her additional compensation of

$300,000 per year.Ms. Gould terminated her employment with the company on September 30, 2020.  Ms. Gould received a $450,000 severance payment in 2020 in connection with the termination of her employment.

Frank Silcox, a director of the company has been employed by BLG since 2021 as business development director in which he is paid $24,000 a year in cash compensation and health benefits in the amount of approximately $6,720 per year.  The amount paid to Mr. Silcox by BLG in 2020 and 2019 was $0 and $0 in cash, respectively, and $0 and $0 in health benefits, respectively.

IIU Acquisition and Disposal

On November 2, 2018, the company purchased a Senior Convertible Promissory Note in the original principal amount of $1,500,000 (the “IIU Note”) from IIU, a Virginia based travel insurance brokerage company controlled by Craven House North America, LLC (“Craven”) N.A.  At the time of the investment, Craven’s ownership in the our company, excluding unexercised warrants, was approximately 20% of our company’s outstanding stock. The maturity date of the IIU Note was 360 days after the date of issuance (subject to acceleration upon an event of default). The IIU Note carried a 3.0% interest rate, with accrued but unpaid interest being payable on the IIU Note’s maturity date.

On January 16, 2019, the company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Craven (the “IIU SPA”) to purchase all of the outstanding capital stock of IIU, and such transaction closed on the same date. The purchase price paid by the company for the acquired stock under the IIU SPA consisted of (1) the company’s cancellation of all principal and interest outstanding under the IIU Note and (2) the company’s issuance of a convertible promissory note to Craven in the aggregate principal amount of $3,581,982.16 (the “Craven Convertible Note”).  Also on January 16, 2019, Mark Pajak, the President and Chairman of Craven, became the Chief Operating Officer of our company.

On January 8, 2020, the company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Craven pursuant to which the company sold back to Craven all of the issued and outstanding shares of IIU for $3,562,569. The purchase price was paid by Craven through the cancellation of the Craven Convertible Note plus forgiveness of $100,787 of accrued interest. In connection with the transaction, Mark Pajak resigned as our company’s Chief Operating Officer.

Consulting Services

Martin A. Traber, is a former director of the company, who resigned in January 2021.  Mr. Traber serves as Chairman of Skyway Capital Markets, which billed us $135,000 in 2019 for fairness opinions, which represents less than 1% of Skyway Capital Markets’ annual revenue. These services were provided on an arm’s-length basis and paid for at fair market value. We believe that such services were performed on terms at least as favorable to us as those that would have been realized in transactions with unaffiliated entities or individuals.

ADVERSE INTERESTS

We are not aware of any material proceedings in which an executive officer or director is a party adverse to the company or has a material interest adverse to the company.

DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors, and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common stock  to file reports regarding ownership of, and transactions in, our securities with the SEC and to provide us with copies of those filings.  Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us we believe that during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, all filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were timely complied with.

CODE OF ETHICS

We have adopted a code of ethics applicable to all employees and directors, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. We have posted the text of our code of ethics to our internet website: www.lmfunding.com by clicking “Investors” at the top and then “Corporate Governance” and then the appropriate “Code of Ethics”. We intend to disclose any change to or waiver from our code of ethics by posting such change or waiver to our internet website within the same section as described above.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES

We have adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to promote effective governance of the company.  A current copy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on our website www.lmfunding.com by clicking “Investors” at the top and then “Corporate Governance” and then “Corporate Governance Guidelines.”

ANTI-HEDGING POLICIES

Our Board of Directors has adopted an Insider Trading Policy which applies to all of our directors, officers and designated employees. The policy prohibits our directors, officers and designated employees from engaging in hedging transactions, short sales and transactions in publicly traded options, such as puts, calls and other derivatives, involving our equity securities.

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

During 2020, our Board of Directors held ten meetings. During each of 2019 and 2020, no director attended less than 75% of the Board of Directors’ and applicable committee meetings. In addition, the independent directors met in executive session periodically in 2020 and all seven directors attended either telephonically or in person the annual meeting of stockholders held on Monday, May 11, 2020..  

We have not established a policy with regard to the attendance of board members at annual stockholder meetings.  

COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

We have established procedures by which stockholders may communicate with members of the Board of Directors, individually or as a group.  Stockholders wishing to communicate with the Board of Directors or a specified member of the Board may send written communications addressed to: Board of Directors, LM Funding America, Inc., Attention: Bruce M. Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer, 1200 West Platt Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33606. The mailing envelope should clearly specify the intended recipient or recipients, which may be the Board of Directors as a group or an individual member of the Board.  The communication should include the stockholder’s name and the number of shares owned.  Communications that are not racially, ethically or religiously offensive, commercial, pornographic, obscene, vulgar, profane, defamatory, abusive, harassing, threatening, malicious, false or frivolous in nature will be promptly forwarded to the specified members of the Board of Directors.  We have also established procedures by which all interested parties (not just stockholders) may communicate directly with our non-management or independent directors as a group.  Any interested party wishing to communicate with our non-management or independent directors as a group may send written communications addressed to: Board of Directors, LM Funding America, Inc., Attention:  Bruce M. Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer, 1200 West Platt Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33606.  The mailing envelope should clearly specify the intended recipients, which may be the non-management directors or the independent directors as a group.  The envelope will be promptly forwarded for distribution to the intended recipients.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors has an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and governance committee.

Audit Committee

The company has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. The audit committee’s responsibilities include the following:

The audit committee is composed of three members: Andrew Graham, its chairman, Fred Mills and Douglas I. McCree. Since our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“NASDAQ”), we are governed by its listing standards (the “NASDAQ Rules”). Accordingly, the members of the audit committee are considered to be “independent directors” pursuant to the definition contained in NASDAQ Rule 5605(a)(2)  and the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Graham is an audit committee financial expert. The audit committee met formally four times during 2020 and four times during 2019 and otherwise acted by unanimous written consent. The Board of Directors has adopted a written Audit Committee Charter.

A current copy of the charter is available on our website www.lmfunding.com by clicking “Investors” and then “Corporate Governance.”

Compensation Committee

The compensation committee’s responsibilities include the following:

The compensation committee has the authority to determine the compensation of the named executive officers, except the chief executive officer.  The compensation committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for non-employee directors and the chief executive officer compensation and equity awards under the company’s equity plans.  At least annually, the compensation committee considers the results of the company’s operations and its financial position and makes compensation determinations.  The compensation committee did not engage or rely on consultants in determining compensation paid to executive officers in 2019 and 2020, instead relying on the judgment and knowledge of its own members. The compensation committee is composed of three members: Douglas I. McCree, its chairman, Fred Mills, and Frank Silcox, each of whom has been determined to be “independent” within the meaning of the SEC and NASDAQ Rules and is a “non-employee director” as defined in Section 16b-3 of the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors has adopted a formal compensation committee charter.  As required under NASDAQ Rule 5605(d)(1), the compensation committee assesses the adequacy of its charter on an annual basis. The compensation committee met formally one time during 2020 and otherwise acted by unanimous written consent.

A current copy of the charter is available on our website www.lmfunding.com by clicking “Investors” and then “Corporate Governance.”

Nominating and Governance Committee

The nominating and governance committee’s responsibilities include the following:

The nominating and governance committee is composed of three members: Andrew Graham, its chairman, Douglas I. McCree, and Frank Silcox. The nominating and governance committee had no meetings in 2020 but will meet prior to the submission of this proxy statement. The Board of Directors has adopted a written nominating and governance committee charter. A current copy of the charter is available on our website at www.lmfunding.com by clicking “Investors” and then “Corporate Governance.”

Each of the proposed director nominees was recommended by the nominating and governance committee to the Board of Directors.

The nominating and governance committee identifies director candidates in numerous ways. Generally, the candidates are known to and recommended by members of the Board of Directors or management. In evaluating director candidates, the nominating and governance committee considers a variety of attributes, criteria and factors, including experience, skills, expertise, diversity, personal and professional integrity, character, temperament, business judgment, time availability, dedication and conflicts of interest. At a minimum, director candidates must be at least 18 years of age and have such business, financial, technological or legal experience or education to enable them to make informed decisions on behalf of the company. The nominating and governance committee has not adopted a specific policy on diversity. 

The nominating and governance committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. Any stockholder wishing to recommend one or more director candidates should send the recommendations before November 1st of the year preceding the next annual meeting of stockholders to LM Funding America, Inc., Attention: Bruce M. Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer, 1200 West Platt Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33606. Each recommendation should set forth the candidate’s name, age, business address, business telephone number, residence address, and principal occupation or employment and any other attributes or factors the stockholder wishes the committee to consider, as well as the stockholder’s name, address and telephone number and the class and number of shares held. The committee may require the recommended candidate to furnish additional information. Mr. Rodgers will forward recommendations of qualified candidates to the nominating and governance committee and those candidates will be given the same consideration as all other candidates.

A stockholder wishing to nominate an individual for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders, rather than recommend a candidate to the nominating and governance committee, must comply with the advance notice requirements set forth in our Bylaws. See “Stockholder Proposals for Presentation at the Annual Meeting” for further information.

Board of Directors Leadership Structure

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. Under our current leadership structure, Bruce M. Rodgers serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Rodgers’ role includes

providing continuous feedback on the direction and performance of the company, serving as chairman of regular meetings of the Board of Directors, setting the agenda for the meetings of the Board of Directors and leading the Board of Directors in anticipating and responding to changes in our business. Mr. Rodgers plays a significant role also in formulating and executing the company’s strategic plans, financing activity and investment decisions. We believe board oversight and planning is a collaborative effort among the directors, each of whom has unique skills, experience and education, and this structure facilitates collaboration and communication among the directors and management and makes the best use of their respective skills. The Board of Directors periodically reviews the board leadership structure to evaluate whether the structure remains appropriate for the company and may determine to alter this leadership structure anytime based on then existing circumstances.

Board of Directors’ Role in Risk Oversight

The Board of Directors plays a significant role in monitoring risks to the company. Where major risks are involved, the Board of Directors takes a direct role in reviewing those matters.  The Board of Directors also approves any strategic initiatives and any large or unusual investment or other such expenditure of the company’s resources. The Board of Directors has established committees to assist in ensuring that material risks are identified and managed appropriately. Among them are the audit committee, the compensation committee, and the nominating and governance committee. The Board of Directors and its committees regularly review material operational, financial, compensation and compliance risks with executive management. The audit committee is responsible for assisting the Board of Directors in its oversight of the quality and integrity of our accounting, auditing, and reporting practices and discussing with management our processes to manage business and financial risk. The compensation committee considers risk in connection with its design of our compensation programs for our executives.  The nominating and governance committee regularly reviews the company’s corporate governance structure and board committee assignments. Each committee regularly reports to the Board of Directors.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Malone Bailey LLP was our principal registered public accounting firm for 2020 and 2019.

AUDIT FEES

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees for services related to the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 provided by Malone Bailey, LLP our principal accountant:

PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES

All auditing services and non-auditing services are pre-approved by the audit committee. The audit committee has delegated this authority to the chairman of the audit committee for situations when pre-approval by the full audit committee is inconvenient. Any decisions by the chairman of the audit committee must be disclosed at the next audit committee meeting.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The audit committee oversees the financial reporting processes of LM Funding America, Inc. on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the audit committee reviewed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management and discussed with management the quality, in addition to the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.

The audit committee reviewed with representatives of Malone Bailey LLP, the company’s independent registered public accounting firm responsible for auditing the company’s financial statements and expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, their judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the company’s accounting principles. The audit committee has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed under auditing standards adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The audit committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent accountant the independent accountant’s independence.

The audit committee discussed with representatives of Malone Bailey LLP, the overall scope and plans for their audit. The audit committee met with representatives of Malone Bailey LLP, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the company’s financial reporting.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the audit committee recommended to the Board of Directors the inclusion of the audited financial statements in the company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This report of the audit committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Andrew Graham, Chairman

Fred Mills
Douglas I. McCree

PROPOSAL 2

 RATIFICATION OF MALONE BAILEY LLP

The audit committee of the Board of Directors has appointed Malone Bailey LLP (“Malone Bailey”) as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. Malone Bailey also served as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for our 2020 fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. The Board of Directors concurs with the appointment and is submitting the appointment of Malone Bailey as our independent registered public accounting firm for stockholder ratification at the Annual Meeting.

Our Bylaws do not require that the stockholders ratify the appointment of Malone Bailey as our independent registered public accounting firm. We are seeking ratification because we believe it is a sound corporate governance practice. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, our audit committee will reconsider whether to retain Malone Bailey, but may retain Malone Bailey in any event. Even if the appointment is ratified, the audit committee, in its discretion, may change the appointment at any time during the year if it determines that a change would be in the best interests of the company and its stockholders.

We expect that representatives of Malone Bailey, LLP will be either physically present or available via phone at the Annual Meeting. They will be given the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and they will be available to respond to appropriate questions after the meeting

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MALONE BAILEY LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.

ITEM 2 ON YOUR PROXY CARD.

PROPOSAL 3

APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION,

TO INCREASE THE COMPANY’S AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FROM 30,000,000 TO 350,000,000 SHARES AND TO INCREASE THE COMPANY’S AUTHORIZED SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK FROM 5,000,000 to 150,000,000 SHARES

General

You are being asked to approve an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock. Our Board of Directors has approved a proposed amendment, subject to stockholder approval, to the company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, that increases the number of authorized shares of common stock from 30,000,000 shares to 350,000,000 shares. An increase in the number of authorized shares will not have a dilutive effect on the value of our stockholders’ common stock; only the actual issuance of additional common stock would have such an effect.

Current Capitalization

As of October 25, 2021, we were authorized to issue up to 30,000,000 shares of our common stock, 12,677,442 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding, and, as described in the table below, 12,876,800 shares of our common stock were reserved for issuance.

As of October 25, 2021, we were authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of our preferred stock.  There were no shares of our preferred stock issued and outstanding as of such date.

Purpose and Effects of Amendment

Our Board of Directors is recommending the increase in authorized shares of common stock and preferred stock for future corporate needs. Our Board of Directors believes that these additional shares will provide the company with needed flexibility to issue shares in the future to take advantage of market conditions or favorable opportunities without the potential expense or delay relating to obtaining stockholder approval for a particular issuance.

Our Board of Directors believes it is in the best interest of the company to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock and preferred stock in order to give the company greater flexibility in considering and planning for future potential business needs. Having the additional authorized common shares and preferred shares available is important to our continued efforts to pursue our strategic goals. The additional shares of common stock and preferred stock will be available for issuance by our Board of Directors for various corporate purposes, including but not limited to, issuances pursuant to the company’s equity incentive plans, financings, potential strategic transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, divestitures, business combinations, as well as other general corporate transactions. If the authorization of an increase in our available common stock and preferred stock is postponed until the foregoing specific needs arise, the delay and expense incident to obtaining approval of the stockholders at that time could impair our ability to meet the objectives set forth above.    

If this proposal is approved, the additional authorized common shares and preferred shares may be issued at the discretion of our Board of Directors without further stockholder action, except as may be required by law or the rules of the exchange or trading facility on which the company's shares trade or may trade in the future. The terms of the additional shares of common stock will be identical to those of the currently outstanding shares of common stock. The adoption of the amendment to our certificate of incorporation would not have any immediate dilutive effect on the proportionate voting power or other rights of existing stockholders. However, because holders of common stock of the company have no preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of the company, the issuance of shares of common stock or preferred stock that is convertible into shares of common stock would reduce each stockholder's proportionate interest in the company.

Increasing the availability of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could have an anti-takeover effect because the potential issuance of such shares could dilute certain rights of a person seeking to obtain control of the company or to change the company's management. Our Board of Directors has no present intention of using such shares in this manner. The company does not have any current plans, agreements, arrangements or understanding with respect to the planned issuance of the newly authorized shares of common stock and preferred stock.

Effectiveness of the Amendment

If the proposed amendment to our certificate of incorporation, as amended, described in this proposal is approved by our stockholders, it will become effective upon the filing of a certificate of amendment, as contemplated by the proposed form of “Certificate of Amendment” attached hereto as Appendix A (the “Amendment”), to our certificate of incorporation, as amended, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK, $0.001 PAR VALUE PER SHARE, FROM  30,000,000 TO 350,000,000 AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF THE AUTHORIZED SHARES OF OUR PREFERRED STOCK, $0.001 PER SHARE, FROM 5,000,000 TO 150,000,000.

ITEM 3 ON YOUR PROXY CARD.

PROPOSAL 4

APPROVAL OF OUR 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

General

On October 27, 2021, our Board of Directors adopted the LM Funding America, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan” or the “2021 Omnibus Plan”) and recommended that the Plan be submitted for the approval our stockholders at the Annual Meeting. If approved by our stockholders, the Plan authorizes the grant of incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), to our employees and any of our parent and subsidiary corporations’ employees, and the grant of nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance units and performance shares to our employees, directors and consultants and any of our future subsidiary corporations’ employees and consultants.

The 2021 Omnibus Plan is intended to allow us to continue to use equity awards as part of our ongoing compensation strategy for our key employees. Awards under the Plan will support the creation of long-term value and returns for our stockholders. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the best interests of the company and our stockholders by providing key employees, consultants and non-employee directors with an opportunity to acquire our shares or receive monetary payments. The Plan is intended to promote management continuity and increased incentive and personal interest in the welfare of the company by those key employees who are primarily responsible for shaping and carrying out our long-range plans and securing our continued growth and financial success. In addition, by encouraging stock ownership by non-employee directors, we seek to attract and retain highly competent board members and to provide a further incentive to serve as a director of our company.

The 2021 Omnibus Plan became effective on October 27, 2021, provided that no options or stock appreciation rights granted under the Plan will be exercisable and no shares or restricted stock units may be granted under the Plan unless and until the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the ompany, which approval must occur on or within twelve (12) months of the date on which the Plan became effective.

Background of the Plan; Dilutive Impact

Prior to the 2021 Omnibus Plan, we maintained the LM Funding America, Inc. 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”).  The 2015 Plan originally authorized the grant of equity awards with respect to an aggregate of 12,000 shares of our common stock, and as of October 19, 2021, there were outstanding options under the 2015 Plan with respect to an aggregate of 3,860 shares.  Accordingly, an aggregate of only approximately 8,140 shares remain available for the grant of new awards under the 2015 Plan.  The Board of Directors believes that this is insufficient for our future growth and recommended that 5,000,000 shares be authorized for awards under the 2021 Omnibus Plan, subject to annual increases as described below.  

Our Board of Directors believes that approval of the 2021 Omnibus Plan is essential to build and grow our business by making available a pool of equity awards that can be granted to directors, officers, and employees of our company, as the Board of Directors believes that such awards motivate high levels of performance, align the interests of our employees and stockholders by giving employees the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the company, and provide an effective means of recognizing employee contributions to the success of the company. The Board believes that equity awards are a competitive necessity in the environment in which we operate and are essential to our future success at recruiting and retaining the highly qualified technical and other key personnel who will help the company meet its goals, as well as rewarding and encouraging current employees. The Board believes that the ability to continue to grant meaningful equity awards will be important to our future success. In setting the new amount of shares authorized under the 2021 Omnibus Plan, the Board considered, among other factors, the historical amounts of equity awards granted by the company, the potential future grants over the next several years, and the recommendations by the company’s officers.

Based solely on the closing price of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market on October 19, 2021, the approximate aggregate market value of the 5,000,000 shares that could potentially be initially issued under the Plan Amendment (before annual increases) is $30,500,000.

Upon the adoption of the Plan, the Board terminated the 2015 Plan, provided that the 2015 Plan will continue to govern outstanding awards previously made under such plan. Accordingly, no new awards will be granted under the 2015 Plan.

Summary of the Terms of the 2021 Omnibus Plan

The following is a summary of certain terms and conditions of the Plan. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan, a copy of which is attached as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement. You are encouraged to read the full text of the 2021 Omnibus Plan.

Plan Administration

The 2021 Omnibus Plan is administered by our Board of Directors or our compensation committee, or any other committee or subcommittee or one or more of our officers to whom authority has been delegated (collectively, the “Administrator”). The Administrator has the authority to interpret the 2021 Omnibus Plan and award agreements entered into with respect to the 2021 Omnibus Plan; to make, change and rescind rules and regulations relating to the 2021 Omnibus Plan; to make changes to, or reconcile any inconsistency in, the 2021 Omnibus Plan or any award agreement covering an award; and to take any other actions needed to administer the 2021 Omnibus Plan.

Eligibility

The Administrator may designate any of the following as a participant under the 2021 Omnibus Plan: any officer or employee, or individuals engaged to become an officer or employee, of our company or our affiliates; and consultants of our company or our affiliates, and our directors, including our non-employee directors. As of October 19, 2021, we had an total of fourteen employees, directors, and officers eligible to be a participant under the 2021 Omnibus Plan.

Types of Awards

The 2021 Omnibus Plan permits the Administrator to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), performance shares, performance units, shares of common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), cash incentive awards, dividend equivalent units, or any other type of award permitted under the 2021 Omnibus Plan. The Administrator may grant any type of award

to any participant it selects, but only our employees or our subsidiaries’ employees may receive grants of incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Awards may be granted alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or (subject to the repricing prohibition described below) in substitution for any other award (or any other award granted under another plan of our company or any affiliate, including the plan of an acquired entity).

Shares Reserved Under the 2021 Omnibus Plan

The 2021 Omnibus Plan provides that 5,000,000 shares of our common stock are initially reserved for issuance under the 2021 Omnibus Plan, all of which may be issued pursuant to the exercise of incentive stock options. The number of shares available for issuance under our 2021 Omnibus Plan will also include an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year beginning with our 2023 fiscal year (so long as the number of authorized shares of common stock in the company’s certificate of incorporation has been increased to at least 100,000,000 shares prior to such date), equal to the lesser of:

The number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2021 Omnibus Plan will be reduced on the date of the grant of any award by the maximum number of shares, if any, with respect to which such award is granted. However, an award that may be settled solely in cash will not deplete the 2021 Omnibus Plan’s share reserve at the time the award is granted. If (a) an award expires, is canceled, or terminates without issuance of shares or is settled in cash, (b) the Administrator determines that the shares granted under an award will not be issuable because the conditions for issuance will not be satisfied, (c) shares are forfeited under an award, (d) shares are issued under any award and we reacquire them pursuant to our reserved rights upon the issuance of the shares, (e) shares are tendered or withheld in payment of the exercise price of an option or as a result of the net settlement of outstanding stock appreciation rights or (f) shares are tendered or withheld to satisfy federal, state or local tax withholding obligations, then those shares are added back to the reserve and may again be used for new awards under the 2021 Omnibus Plan. However, shares added back to the reserve pursuant to clauses (d), (e) or (f) in the preceding sentence may not be issued pursuant to incentive stock options.

Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.

The Administrator may grant stock options and determine all terms and conditions of each stock option, which include the number of stock options granted, whether a stock option is to be an incentive stock option (“ISO”) or non-qualified stock option (“NQSO”), and the grant date for the stock option. However, the exercise price per share of common stock may never be less than the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant and the expiration date may not be later than 10 years after the date of grant. Stock options will be exercisable and vest at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as are determined by the Administrator, including with respect to the manner of payment of the exercise price of such stock options.

The Administrator may also grant SARs, which represent the right of a participant to receive cash in an amount, or common stock with a fair market value, equal to the appreciation of the fair market value of a share of common stock during a specified period of time. The 2021 Omnibus Plan provides that the Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of each SAR, including, among other things: (a) whether the SAR is granted independently of a stock option or relates to a stock option, (b) the grant price, which may never be less than the fair market value of our common stock as determined on the date of grant, (c) a term that must be no later than 10 years after the date of grant, and (d) whether the SAR will settle in cash, common stock or a combination of the two.

Performance and Stock Awards. 

The Administrator may grant awards of shares of common stock, restricted stock, RSUs, performance shares or performance units. Restricted stock means shares of common stock that are subject to a risk of forfeiture or restrictions on transfer, which may lapse upon the achievement or partial achievement of performance goals (as described below) or upon the completion of a period of service. An RSU grants the participant the right to receive cash or shares of common stock the value of which is equal to the fair market value of one share of common stock, to the extent performance goals are achieved or upon the completion of a period of service. Performance shares give the participant the right to receive shares of common stock to the extent performance goals are achieved. Performance units give the participant the right to receive cash or shares of common stock valued in relation to a unit that has a designated dollar value or the value of which is equal to the fair market value of one or more shares of common stock, to the extent performance goals are achieved.

Cash Incentive Awards

The Administrator may grant cash incentive awards. An incentive award is the right to receive a cash payment to the extent one or more performance goals are achieved. The Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of a cash incentive award, including, but not limited to, the performance goals (described below), the performance period, the potential amount payable, and the timing of payment. While the 2021 Omnibus Plan permits cash incentive awards to be granted under the 2021 Omnibus Plan, we may also make cash incentive awards outside of the 2021 Omnibus Plan.

The Administrator will determine all terms and conditions of the awards including (a) whether performance goals must be achieved for the participant to realize any portion of the benefit provided under the award, (b) the length of the vesting or performance period and, if different, the date that payment of the benefit will be made, (c) with respect to performance units, whether to measure the value of each unit in relation to a designated dollar value or the fair market value of one or more shares of common stock, and (d) with respect to performance shares, performance units, and RSUs, whether the awards will settle in cash, in shares of common stock (including restricted stock), or in a combination of the two.

Performance Goals

For purposes of the 2021 Omnibus Plan, the Administrator may establish objective or subjective performance goals which may apply to any performance award. Such performance goals may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following measures with respect to our company or any one or more of our subsidiaries, affiliates, or other business units: basic earnings per common share for our company on a consolidated basis; diluted earnings per common share for our company on a consolidated basis; total stockholder return; fair market value of shares; net sales; cost of sales; gross profit; selling, general and administrative expenses; operating income; earnings before interest and the provision for income taxes (EBIT); earnings before interest, the provision for income taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA); net income; accounts receivable; return on equity; return on assets; return on invested capital; return on sales; economic value added, or other measure of profitability that considers the cost of capital employed; free cash flow; net cash provided by operating activities; net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents; customer satisfaction; market share; and/or quality.. Performance goals may also relate to a participant’s individual performance. The Administrator reserves the right to adjust any performance goals or modify the manner of measuring or evaluating a performance goal.

Dividend equivalent rights.

The Administrator may grant dividend equivalent units. A dividend equivalent unit gives the participant the right to receive a payment, in cash or shares of common stock, equal to the cash dividends or other distributions that we pay with respect to a share of common stock. We determine all terms and conditions of a dividend equivalent unit award, except that dividend equivalent units may not be granted in connection with a stock option or SAR, and dividend equivalent unit awards granted in connection with another award cannot provide for payment until the date such award vests or is earned, as applicable.

Other stock-based awards. 

The Administrator may grant to any participant shares of unrestricted stock as a replacement for other compensation to which such participant is entitled, such as in payment of director fees, in lieu of cash compensation, in exchange for cancellation of a compensation right or as a bonus.

Transferability

Awards are not transferable, including to any financial institution, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless the Administrator allows a participant to (a) designate in writing a beneficiary to exercise the award or receive payment under the award after the participant’s death, (b) transfer an award to a former spouse as required by a domestic relations order incident to a divorce, or (c) transfer an award without receiving any consideration.

Adjustments

If (a) we are involved in a merger or other transaction in which our shares of common stock are changed or exchanged; (b) we subdivide or combine shares of common stock or declare a dividend payable in shares of common stock, other securities, or other property (other than stock purchase rights issued pursuant to a stockholder rights agreement); (c) we effect a cash dividend that exceeds 10% of the fair market value of a share of common stock or any other dividend or distribution in the form of cash or a repurchase of shares of common stock that our Board of Directors determines is special or extraordinary, or that is in connection with a recapitalization or reorganization; or (d) any other event occurs that in the Administrator’s judgment requires an adjustment to

prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits intended to be made available under the 2021 Omnibus Plan, then the Administrator will, in a manner it deems equitable, adjust any or all of (1) the number and type of shares subject to the 2021 Omnibus Plan and which may, after the event, be made the subject of awards; (2) the number and type of shares of common stock subject to outstanding awards; (3) the grant, purchase, or exercise price with respect to any award; and (4) the performance goals of an award. In any such case, the Administrator may also provide for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding award in exchange for the cancellation of all or a portion of the award, subject to the terms of the 2021 Omnibus Plan.

The Administrator may, in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization, authorize the issuance or assumption of awards upon terms and conditions we deem appropriate without affecting the number of shares of common stock otherwise reserved or available under the 2021 Omnibus Plan.

Change of Control

Upon a change of control (as defined in the 2021 Omnibus Plan), in order to preserve a participant’s rights under an award, the Administrator in its discretion may, at the time an award is made or at any time thereafter, take one or more of the following actions: (a) provide for the acceleration of any time period, or the deemed achievement of any performance Goals, relating to the exercise or realization of the award; (b) provide for the purchase or cancellation of the award for an amount of cash or other property that could have been received upon the exercise or realization of the award had the award been currently exercisable or payable (or the cancellation of awards in exchange for no payment to the extent that no cash or other property would be received upon the exercise or realization of the award in such circumstances); (c) adjust the terms of the award in the manner determined by the Administrator to reflect the change of control; (d) cause the award to be assumed, or new right substituted therefor, by another entity; or (e) make such other provision as the Administrator may consider equitable and in the best interests of our company.

Non-Employee Directors

Non-employee directors will be eligible to receive all types of awards (except for incentive stock options) under our 2021 Omnibus Plan. To provide a maximum limit on the cash compensation and equity awards that can be made to our non-employee directors, the 2021 Omnibus Plan provides that in any given fiscal year, an outside director may not be granted shares under our 2021 Omnibus Plan with an aggregate grant date fair value when added to any cash compensation received by the non-employee directors,  of greater than $300,000.

Term of Plan

Unless earlier terminated by our Board of Directors, the 2021 Omnibus Plan will terminate on, and no further awards may be granted, after the 10^th anniversary of its effective date.

Termination and Amendment of Plan

Our Board of Directors or the Administrator may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the 2021 Omnibus Plan at any time, subject to the following limitations:

Amendment, Modification, Cancellation and Disgorgement of Awards

Subject to the requirements of the 2021 Omnibus Plan, the Administrator may modify or amend any award or waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any award or the exercise of the award, or amend, modify, or cancel any terms and conditions applicable to any award, in each case, by mutual agreement of the Administrator and the participant or any other person that may have an interest in the award, so long as any such action does not increase the number of shares ofCompany’s common stock issuable under the 2021 Omnibus Plan.

We do not need to obtain participant (or other interested party) consent for any such action (a) that is permitted pursuant to the adjustment provisions of the 2021 Omnibus Plan; (b) to the extent we deem the action necessary to comply with any applicable law or the listing requirements of any principal securities exchange or market on which our common stock is then traded; (c) to the extent we deem the action is necessary to preserve favorable accounting or tax treatment of any award for us; or (d) to the extent we determine that such action does not materially and adversely affect the value of an award or that such action is in the best interest of the affected participant or any other person as may then have an interest in the award.

The Administrator can cause a participant to forfeit any award, and require the participant to disgorge any gains attributable to the award, if the participant engages in any action constituting, as determined by the Administrator in its discretion, cause for termination, or a breach of a material company policy, any award agreement or any other agreement between the participant and us or one of our affiliates concerning noncompetition, nonsolicitation, confidentiality, trade secrets, intellectual property, nondisparagement or similar obligations.

Any awards granted under the 2021 Omnibus Plan, and any shares of common stock issued or cash paid under an award, will be subject to any recoupment or clawback policy that we adopt, or any recoupment or similar requirement otherwise made applicable by law, regulation or listing standards to us.

Repricing and Backdating Prohibited

Except for the adjustments provided for in the 2021 Omnibus Plan, neither the Administrator nor any other person may amend the terms of outstanding stock options or SARs to reduce their exercise or grant price, cancel outstanding stock options or SARs in exchange for stock options or SARs with an exercise or grant price that is less than the exercise or grant price of the awards being cancelled, or cancel outstanding stock options or SARs with an exercise or grant price above the current fair market value of a share in exchange for cash or other securities. In addition, the Administrator may not grant a stock option or SAR with a grant date that is effective prior to the date the Administrator takes action to approve such award.

Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences for the 2021 Planstock.

The following is a general summary of the federal income tax consequences under current U.S. tax law to the company and to participants in the 2021 Omnibus Plan who are individual citizens or residents of the United States for federal income tax purposes (“U.S. Participants”) of stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, performance units, restricted stock, restricted stock units, shares of our common stock, dividend equivalent units, or incentive cash awards. It does not purport to cover all of the special rules including special rules relating to limitations on the ability of the company to deduct the amounts for federal income tax purposes of certain compensation, special rules relating to deferred compensation, golden parachutes, participants subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or the exercise of a stock option with previously acquired shares of the company’s common stock. For purposes of this summary, it is assumed that U.S. Participants will hold their shares of the company’s common stock received under the 2021 Omnibus Plan as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. In addition, this summary does not address the non-U.S. state or local income or other tax consequences, or any U.S. federal non-income tax consequences, inherent in the acquisition, ownership, vesting, exercise, termination or disposition of an award under the 2021 Omnibus Plan, or shares of the company’s common stock issued pursuant thereto. All participants are urged to consult with their own tax advisors concerning the tax consequences to them of an award under the 2021 Omnibus Plan or shares of the company’s common stock issued thereto pursuant to the 2021 Omnibus Plan.

A U.S. Participant does not recognize taxable income upon the grant of a NQSO or an ISO. Upon the exercise of a NQSO, the U.S. Participant recognizes ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares acquired on the date of exercise over the exercise price paid therefor under the NQSO, and the company will generally be entitled to a deduction for such amount at that time. If the U.S. Participant later sells shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a NQSO, the U.S. Participant recognizes long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the period for which the shares were held. Long-term capital gain is generally subject to more favorable tax treatment than ordinary income or short-term capital gain. Upon the exercise of an ISO, the U.S. Participant does not recognize taxable income. If the U.S. Participant disposes of the shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO more than two years after the date of grant and more than one year after the transfer of the shares to the U.S. Participant, the U.S. Participant recognizes long-term capital gain or loss and the company will not be entitled to a deduction. However, if the U.S. Participant disposes of such shares prior to the end of the required holding period, all or a portion of the gain is treated as ordinary income and the company is generally entitled to deduct such amount. In addition to the tax consequences described above, a U.S. Participant may be subject to the alternative minimum tax, which is payable to the extent it exceeds the U.S. Participant’s regular tax. For this purpose, upon the exercise of an ISO, the excess of the fair market value of the shares over the exercise price paid therefor under the ISO is a preference item for alternative minimum taxable income determination purposes. In

addition, the U.S. Participant’s basis in such shares is increased by such excess for purposes of computing the gain or loss on the disposition of the shares for alternative minimum tax purposes.

A U.S. Participant does not recognize taxable income upon the grant of an SAR. The U.S. Participant has ordinary compensation income upon exercise of the SAR equal to the increase in the value of the underlying shares, and the company will generally be entitled to a deduction for such amount.

A U.S. Participant does not recognize taxable income upon the receipt of a performance share award until the shares are received. At such time, the U.S. Participant recognizes ordinary compensation income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares over any amount thereby paid for the shares, and the company will generally be entitled to deduct such amount at such time.

A U.S. Participant does not recognize taxable income upon the receipt of a performance unit award, restricted stock unit award or dividend equivalent right award until a cash payment is received. At such time, the U.S. Participant recognizes ordinary compensation income equal to the amount of cash received, and the company will generally be entitled to deduct such amount at such time.

A U.S. Participant who receives a grant of restricted stock generally recognizes ordinary compensation income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of such shares of stock at the time the restriction lapses over any amount paid timely for the shares. Alternatively, the U.S. Participant may elect to be taxed on the fair market value of such shares at the time of grant. The company thereby will generally be entitled to a deduction at the same time and in the same amount as the income required to be included by the U.S. Participant.

A U.S. Participant who receives an award of restricted stock units generally will recognize ordinary income on the market value of unrestricted shares of our common stock on the date that such shares are transferred to the participant or settled in cash, as the case may be, under the award (reduced by any amount paid by the participant for such restricted stock unit), and the capital gain/loss holding period for such shares will also commence on such date.

New Plan Benefits

The table below sets forth awards that the Committee approved under the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan, with the option grant awards not being exercisable until stockholder approval of such Plan and the share grants being contingent on stockholder approval of the Plan. If the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan is not approved by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting, then the awards set forth in the table below will be null and void.

(1) Represents options to purchase common stock of the company with an exercise price of $5.95 per share that will vest as follows:  1/3 on the first anniversary of the grant date with the remainder vesting monthly in 24 equal amounts, subject to accelerated vesting upon a change in control of our company or upon the closing price of our common stock exceeding $12.00 for ten consecutive days. The options were granted on October 28, 2021 but are not exercisable unless and until the company’s stockholders approve the Plan.

(2) Represents options to purchase common stock of the company with an exercise price of $5.95 per share vesting in two equal tranches on the date that is six months following the grant date and on the anniversary of the grant date, subject to accelerated vesting upon a change in control of our company or upon the closing price of our common stock exceeding $12.00 for ten consecutive days.  The options were granted on October 28, 2021 but are not exercisable unless and until the company’s stockholders approve the Plan.

(3) Represents vested shares issuable under employment agreements contingent on stockholder approval of Plan.

(4) Carollinn Gould was employed by the company as its Vice President—General Manager and Secretary until September 30, 2020 and was one of our named executive officers until September 2020.

Except as set forth in the table above, the company currently cannot determine the awards that may be granted under the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan in the future to eligible participants. The Administrator will make future awards under the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan in its discretion from time to time, and the benefits received will depend on the fair market value of the company’s common stock at various future dates and the extent to which performance goals set by the Administrator are met.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

The table below sets forth information with respect to sharescompensation earned by each of common stock that may be issued under our 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan,directors (other than those also serving as ofa “named executive officer”) during the year ended December 31, 2020:2022 and 2021.

Represents compensation for the period from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 and January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.

*Mr. Zhang was appointed to the board in December 2022.

** Mr. J. Rodgers ceased to be a director of our Company in December 2022.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL THE 2021 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

ITEM 4 ON YOUR PROXY CARD.

PROPOSAL 5

ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

We view executive compensation as an important matter both to us and to our stockholders. As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are asking stockholders to vote, on a non-binding, advisory basis, on a resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Executive Compensation and Related Information” that follows. This advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers allows our stockholders to express their views on our executive compensation programs.

The Board of Directors would like the support of the company’s stockholders for the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. Accordingly, for the reasons discussed above, the Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote in favor of the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the compensation tables and narrative discussion contained in this proxy statement.”

This advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers is not binding on the company, the Board of Directors or the compensation committee of the Board of Directors. However, the Board of Directors and the compensation committee of the Board of Directors will review and consider the outcome of this advisory vote when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL ON A NON-BINDING, ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

ITEM 5 ON YOUR PROXY CARD.

PROPOSAL 6

ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Summary

The ompany’s stockholders are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting regarding whether the stockholder vote to approve the compensation of the named executive officers (as described in proposal 5 of this proxy statement) should occur every one, two or three years. Under the rules issued by the SEC, stockholders shall also have the option to abstain from voting on the matter. The stockholder vote on the frequency of the stockholder vote to approve executive compensation is an advisory vote only, and it is not binding on the company or our Board of Directors.

Although the vote is non-binding, our compensation committee and Board of Directors value the opinions of our stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote when determining the frequency of the stockholder vote on executive compensation.

The Board of Directors has determined that a stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation every three years is the best approach for the company based on a number of considerations, including the following:

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THREE YEARS.

ITEM 6 ON YOUR PROXY CARD.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table provides information with respect to our executive officers as of October 31, 2021:[], 2023:

Bruce M. Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers background and experience is contained above in the section of thethis Proxy Statement entitled “Directors.”

Richard Russell Russell.Mr. Russell, age 60,62, has served as Chief Financial Officer of the companyCompany since November 2017. Prior, sSinceince 2016, he has provided financial and accounting consulting services with a focus on technical and external reporting, internal auditing, mergers & acquisitions, risk management, and CFO and controller services. Mr. Russell also served as Chief Financial Officer for Mission Health Communities from 2013 to 2016 and, before that, Mr. Russell served in a variety of roles for Cott Corporation from 2007 to 2013, including Senior Director of Finance, Senior Director of Internal Auditing, and Assistant Corporate Controller. Mr. Russell’s extensive professional experience with public companies includes his position as Director of Financial Reporting and Internal Controls for Quality Distribution a previously listed publicly held company traded on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange  (“QLTY”)Market under the symbol “QLTY” and as Danka’s Director of Reporting from 2001 to 2004 a previously listed publicly held office imaging company traded on both the London Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Exchange (“DANKY”). Mr. Russell also serves as Chief Financial Officer and as a director of LMF Acquisition Opportunities Inc.SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: ICU), which is a publicly traded special purpose acquisitionmedical technology company that has been tradingdeveloping a platform therapy to reduce the consequences of hyperinflammation on the Nasdaq since January 2021.vital organs. Mr. Russell also servepreviously served on a part-time basis as Chief Financial Officer of Generation Income propertiesProperties Inc. (“GIPR”), which is a publicly traded real estate companyREIT traded on the OTCQB market, sinceNasdaq Market, under the symbol "GIPR" from December 2019.2019 to February 2022. Mr. Russell earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting and a Master’s in tax accounting from the University of Alabama, a Bachelor of Arts in international studies from the University of South Florida, and a Master’s in business administration from the University of Tampa. On March 1, 2020, Mr. Russell was appointed to the board of directors for Trident Brands Inc. (“TDNT”), a publicly held consumer products company traded on the OTCQB market.OTC market under the symbol "TDNT". Mr. Russell was also Chairman of the Hillsborough County Internal Audit Committee and had been a member of the Committee from September 2016 to April 2021. He was reappointed to the Committee in October 2021.

Ryan Duran. Mr. Duran, age 37,38, currently serves as Vice President of Operations of the companyCompany and joined the companyCompany in March 2015. Prior to joining the companyCompany, Mr. Duran served as Operations Manager of Business Law Group, since 2008. Mr. Duran holds a bachelor’s degree in real estate and finance from Florida State University.

We are aware of no arrangements as to the selection or appointment of executive officers.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND RELATED INFORMATION

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table provides summary information concerning compensation for services rendered in all capacities awarded to, earned by or paid to our named executive officers during the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192022 and 2018. 2021.

(1) Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of awards granted in 2021 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 18. Refer to Note 1 in our December 31, 2022 financial statements appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed on March 31, 2023, for valuation assumptions.

(2) These amounts consist of health insurance premiums paid by the Company in excess of non-executive contribution.

Employment Agreements

Certain executives’ compensation and other arrangements are set forth in employment agreements. These employment agreements are described below.

Bruce M. Rodgers. Rodgers.On September 30, 2020, the company and Bruce Rodgers

In October 2021, Mr. Rodgers’ entered into an Amendedamended and restated employment agreement with the Company (the “Restated Rodgers Agreement”) which provides for an annual base salary of $750,000. The Restated EmploymentRodgers Agreement under which Mr. Rodgers was appointed to continue to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the company.  The agreement provided for a reductiongrant of Mr. Rodgers’ annual base salary48,662 shares of the Company’s common stock that were paid in February 2022, with an amount of shares equal to the taxes payable by $154,000 to a base salary of $231,000 in return for a cash payment of $539,000.  The agreement also provided that Mr. Rodgers may be granted annualwith respect to the grant having been withheld to satisfy such taxes. The Restated Rodgers Agreement originally provided for certain bonuses at the discretionupon a change of control of the Board of Directors and provided for a one-time merit bonus of $315,000, which was paid on September 30, 2020. In addition, commencing on January 1, 2021, and onCompany (as defined in the first day of each subsequent calendar quarter forRestated Rodgers Agreement), but as stated below, such change-of-control provisions were eliminated in November 2022. Pursuant to the remainder of the term of employment, Mr.Restated Rodgers was entitled under the employment agreement to receive a grant of restricted common stock of the company with a grant date fair value equal to $48,125 under the company’s 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”), with each grant vesting in four quarterly equal installments over a one year period.  However, Mr. Rodgers did not receive any such grants because of an insufficient number of shares available under the 2015 Plan. Under Mr. Rodgers’ employment agreement,Agreement, Mr. Rodgers was also entitled to participate in all of the company’s pension, life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance and other benefit plans on the same basis as the company’s other employee officers participate.  The agreement also provided for a $1,500,000 lump-

sum bonus upon any change of control (as defined in the agreement) during the term of the agreement, and all unvested restricted shares were to vest upon a change of control.  The term of the Mr. Rodgers’ employment agreement was for three years and was to be automatically renewed each year unless terminated for “cause”, as defined in the agreement. Mr. Rodgers wasoriginally entitled to receive thehis applicable base salary due under his employment for a period of 36 months after termination if terminatedsuch termination were “without cause” (including a non-renewal of the agreement by the company) or if he terminatesterminated his own employment for a “good reason event”,event,” as those terms are defined in the agreement,Restated Rodgers Agreement, in addition to any accrued bonus as of the termination date and the accelerated vesting of any unvested options. Mr. Rodgers’ employment agreement containedHowever, such severance provisions were eliminated and replaced in November 2022, as described below. The Restated Rodgers Agreement also contains certain non-competition covenants and confidentiality provisions.

On November 16, 2022, the Restated Rodgers Agreement was amended and modified (the “Rodgers Amendment”) by deleting provisions in the Restated Rodgers Agreement that granted Mr. Rodgers certain bonuses upon a change of control of the Company. Further, the Rodgers Amendment modifies the severance provisions of the Restated Rodgers Agreement to provide that, upon the termination of Mr. Rodgers by the Company without cause (or upon termination by him of his own employment upon a “good reason event,” as defined in the Restated Rodgers Agreement), he will be entitled to receive, in addition to any accrued salary and bonus, the sum of two years of his salary plus the average bonus paid for the preceding three years, which sum will be paid over a period of two years, as well as reimbursements for premium payments paid or payable by Mr. Rodgers for continuing healthcare coverage for up to 24 months following his termination.

Richard Russell.

In October 2021, Mr. Rodgers’ employment agreement wasRussell entered into an amended and restated to increase hisemployment agreement with the Company (the “Restated Russell Agreement”) which provides for an annual base salary to $750,000.of $500,000. The restated employment agreement deletes the quarterly grants of restricted common stock of the company with a grant date fair value equal to $48,125, as they were never paid, and instead providesRestated Russell Agreement provided for a grant of 48,66225,279 shares of the company’sCompany’s common stock to bethat were paid if and after the company’s stockholders approve the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan.  Anin February 2022, with an amount of shares equal to the taxes payable by Mr. RodgersRussell with respect to the grant will behaving been withheld to satisfy such taxes. The restated employment agreement providesRestated Russell Agreement originally provided for a lump-sum transaction bonuscertain bonuses upon anya change of control of the Company (as defined in the amended employment agreement) of 2% ofRestated Russell Agreement), but as stated below, such change-of-control provisions were eliminated in November 2022. Pursuant to the value of the transaction, provided that if the change of control transaction is not one in which the company is acquired, Mr. Rodgers will receive a cash transaction bonus equal to $15.0 million.  The terms of the restated employment agreement are otherwise materially same as Mr. Rodgers’ September 30, 2020 employment agreement.  

RichardRestated Russell. On September 30, 2020, the company and Richard Russell entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, under which Mr. Russell was appointed to continue to serve as the company’s Chief Financial Officer.  The agreement provided for a reduction of Mr. Russell’s annual base salary by $80,000 to a base salary of $120,000 in return for a cash payment of $280,000.  The agreement also provided that Mr. Russell may be granted annual bonuses at the discretion of the Board of Directors and provided for a one-time merit bonus of $315,000, which was paid on September 30, 2020. In addition, commencing on January 1, 2021, and on the first day of each subsequent calendar quarter for the remainder of the term of his employment, Mr. Russell was entitled under such agreement to receive a grant of restricted common stock of the company with a grant date fair value equal to $25,000 under the 2015 Plan, with each grant vesting in four quarterly equal installments over a one year period.  However, Mr. Russell did not receive any such grants because of an insufficient number of shares available under the 2015 Plan. Under the agreement, Mr. Russell was also entitled to participate in all of the company’s pension, life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance and other benefit plans on the same basis as the company’s other employee officers participate.  Mr. Russell’s employment  agreement also provided for a $500,000 lump-sum bonus upon any change of control (as defined in the agreement) during the term of the agreement, and all unvested restricted shares will vest upon a change of control.  The term of Mr.  Russell’s employment agreement was for three years and was to be automatically renewed each year unless terminated for “cause,” as defined in the agreement. Mr. Russell wasoriginally entitled to receive thehis applicable base salary due under his employment agreement for a period of 2436 months after termination if terminatedsuch termination were “without cause” (including a non-renewal of the agreement by the company) or if he terminatesterminated his own employment for a “good reason event”,event,” as those terms are defined in the agreement, Restated Russell Agreement, in addition to any accrued bonus as of the termination date and the accelerated vesting of any unvested options. Mr. Russell’s employment agreementHowever, such severance provisions were eliminated and replaced in November 2022, as described below. The Restated Russell Agreement also contains certain non-competition covenants and confidentiality provisions.

In October 2021, Mr. Russell’s employment agreementOn November 16, 2022, the Restated Russell Agreement was amended and restated to increase his base salary to $500,000.  The restated employment agreement deletesmodified (the “Russell Amendment”) by deleting provisions in the quarterly grantsRestated Russell Agreement that granted Mr. Russell certain bonuses upon a change of restricted common stockcontrol of the company with a grant date fair value equal to $25,000, as they were never paid, and instead provides for a grant of 25,279 sharesCompany.

Further, the Russell Amendment modifies the severance provisions of the company’s common stockRestated Russell Agreement to provide that, upon the termination of Mr. Russell by the Company without cause (or upon termination by him of his own employment upon a “good reason event,” as defined in the Restated Russell Agreement), he will be entitled to receive, in addition to any accrued salary and bonus, the sum of two years of his salary plus the average bonus paid for the preceding three years, which sum will be paid if and after the company’s stockholders approve the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan.  An amountover a period of shares equal to the taxestwo years, as well as reimbursements for premium payments paid or payable by Mr. Russell with respectfor continuing healthcare coverage for up to the grant will be withheld to satisfy such taxes.   The amendment provides for a lump-sum transaction bonus upon any change of control (as defined in the amended employment agreement) of 2% of the value of the transaction, provided that if the change of control transaction is not one in which the company is acquired, Mr. Russell will receive a cash transaction bonus equal to $10.0 million.   The terms of the restated employment agreement are otherwise materially same as Mr. Russell’s September 30, 2020 employment agreement.24 months following his termination.

Ryan Duran.

Ryan Duran.  On October 27, 2021, the companyCompany and Ryan Duran entered into an Employment Agreementemployment agreement under which Mr. Duran will serveserves as the Executive Vice President of Operations of the company.Company. Mr. Duran’s employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of $175,000, and it provides that Mr. Duran may be granted annual bonuses at the discretion of the Board of Directors and may participate in the company’sCompany’s equity incentive plans on the same terms as other senior executives. The agreement provides that Mr. Duran is entitled to participate in all of the company’sCompany’s pension, life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance and other benefit plans on the same basis as the company’sCompany’s other employee officers participate. The term of Mr. Duran’s employment agreement is through September 30, 2023 and is automatically renewed each year unless notice of non-renewal is provided by the companyCompany or Mr. Duran at least 30 days prior to the renewal date. Mr. Duran will be entitled to a lump sum severance payment of three

times his base salary if he is terminated “without cause” (including a non-renewal of the agreement by the company)Company) or he terminates his own employment for a “good reason event”,event,” as those terms are defined in the agreement, in addition to any accrued bonus as of the termination date and the accelerated vesting of any unvested options and other equity awards. Mr. Duran’s employment agreement contains certain non-competition covenants and confidentiality provisions.

Option Cancellation Agreements

On November 18, 2022, the Company entered into Stock Option Cancellation Agreements (the “Cancellation Agreements”) with Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Russell pursuant to which they surrendered and cancelled certain previously granted stock options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock in order to make additional shares available under the Company’s 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan for future equity grants to Company personnel. Pursuant to the terms of the Cancellation Agreements, Mr. Rodgers, Mr. Russell, and the Company acknowledged and agreed that the surrender and cancellation of the Cancelled Options was without any expectation to receive, and was without any obligation on the Company to pay or grant, any cash, equity awards or other consideration presently or in the future in regard to the cancellation of the cancelled options.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table provides information on exercisable and unexercisable options and unvested stock awards held by the named executive officers on December 31, 2020.2022.

The number and percentage of shares beneficially owned are based on 12,677,442[] common shares outstanding as of October 19, 2021.[], 2023. Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by each director, officer or beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which generally require that the individual have voting or investment power with respect to the shares. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by an individual listed below and the percentage ownership of that individual, shares underlying options, warrants and convertible securities held by each individual that are exercisable or convertible within 60 days of October 19, 2021,[], 2023, are deemed owned and outstanding, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other individual. Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, or as required by applicable community property laws, all individuals listed have sole voting and investment power for all shares shown as beneficially owned by them. Unless otherwise indicated below,in the footnotes, the address for each principal stockholdershareholder is LM Funding America, Inc., 1200 West Platt Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33606.