UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


SCHEDULE 14A


SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. __)


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RELM Wireless

BK Technologies Corporation

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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


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RELM Wireless

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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

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Date Filed:

BK Technologies Corporation

7100 Technology Drive

West Melbourne, Florida 32904

 April 1, 2016

November 2, 2023

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 20162023 annual meeting of stockholders of RELM WirelessBK Technologies Corporation, which we will hold on Wednesday, May 18, 2016,Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 10:3000 a.m., local time, at our corporateEastern Time, virtually via webcast from the offices of the Company at 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904.

The annual meeting will be held solely through virtual participation via webcast at https://agm.issuerdirect.com/BKTI. Please monitor our annual meeting website at www.bktechnologies.com, under the tab “Investor Relations,” for updated information. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the annual meeting.

We are pleased to take advantage of Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow issuers to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders on the Internet. We believe these rules allow us to provide our stockholders with the information they need, while lowering the costs of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of our annual meeting. On or about April 1, 2016,November 2, 2023, we expect to begin mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, or E-proxy notice, to our stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 24, 2016.October 25, 2023. The E-proxy notice contains instructions for your use of this process, including how to access our proxy statement, proxy card and annual report and how to vote on the Internet. In addition, the E-proxy notice contains instructions on how you may receive a paper copy of the proxy statement, proxy card and annual report or elect to receive your proxy statement, proxy card and annual report over the Internet.

If you are unable to attend the meeting in person,virtually, it is very important that your shares be represented and voted at the annual meeting. You may vote your shares over the Internet as described in the E-proxy notice. Alternatively, if you received a paper copy of the proxy card by mail, please complete, sign, date and promptly return the proxy card in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided. You may also vote by telephone as described in your proxy card. Voting by telephone, over the Internet or by mailing a proxy card will not limit your right to attend the virtual annual meeting and vote your shares in person.

during the meeting.

We look forward to seeingparticipating with you at the meeting.

Sincerely,

/s/ D. Kyle Cerminara

D. Kyle Cerminara

Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

 
/s/ David P. Storey
David P. Storey
President and Chief Executive Officer



RELM WIRELESS

BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

7100 Technology Drive

West Melbourne, Florida 32904

NOTICE OF 20162023 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2016

DECEMBER 14, 2023

To the stockholders of RELM WirelessBK Technologies Corporation:

The 20162023 annual meeting of stockholders of RELM WirelessBK Technologies Corporation will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2016,December 14, 2023, at 10:3000 a.m., local time,Eastern Time. In order to provide access to our stockholders regardless of geographic location, the meeting will be held solely through virtual participation via webcast at our corporate offices at 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904,https://agm.issuerdirect.com/BKTI for the following purposes:

1.

To elect fivesix directors named in the proxy statement to serve on our boardBoard of directorsDirectors until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified;

2.

To ratify the appointment of Moore Stephens Lovelace,MSL, P.A. as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2016; and2023;

3.

To approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of our named executive officers;

4.

To approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the frequency of the stockholder vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers; and

5.

To transact such other business properly brought before the meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.

Stockholders will not be able to attend the meeting in person; however, stockholders of record will be able to vote and submit questions electronically prior to the meeting by visiting www.iproxydirect.com/BKTI, and during the meeting by visiting https://agm.issuerdirect.com/BKTI. You will also be able to dial-in via telephone to ask questions during the meeting. Specific instructions for accessing the meeting are provided in the accompanying proxy card or voting instruction form you received.

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 24, 2016October 25, 2023, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the meeting. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be available for inspection by our stockholders, for any purpose germane to the meeting, atduring the annual meeting and during ordinary business hours beginning 10 days prior to the date of the annual meeting, at our principal executive offices at 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904.

Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting in person,virtually, please vote your shares over the Internet, as described in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, or E-proxy notice. Alternatively, if you received a paper copy of the proxy card by mail, please complete, sign, date and promptly return the proxy card in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided. You may also vote your shares by telephone as described in your proxy card. Voting by telephone, over the Internet or by mailing a proxy card will not limit your right to attend the virtual annual meeting and vote your shares in person.

during the meeting.

All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Scott A Malmanger

Scott A. Malmanger, Secretary

West Melbourne, Florida

November 2, 2023

 

 
/s/ William P. Kelly
William P. Kelly, Secretary

West Melbourne, Florida
April 1, 2016

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Stockholder Meeting to be held on May 18, 2016December 14, 2023: Our proxy statement, proxy card and annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20152022, are available at https://www.iproxydirect.com/RWC.


www.iproxydirect.com/BKTI.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE VOTE YOUR PROXY TODAY. YOU CAN VOTE BY INTERNET, BY TELEPHONE OR BY MAIL USING THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED ON THE NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS OR PROXY CARD.


RELM WIRELESS

BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION


2016

________________________________________________________

2023 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

MAY 18, 2016


DECEMBER 14, 2023

________________________________________________________

PROXY STATEMENT

________________________________________________________

This proxy statement contains information related to the 20162023 annual meeting of stockholders of RELM WirelessBK Technologies Corporation, (“RELM,”a Nevada corporation (together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”), to be held virtually on Wednesday, May 18, 2016,the Internet at https://agm.issuerdirect.com/BKTI, on December 14, 2023, at 10:3000 a.m., local time, at our corporate offices at 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904Eastern Time, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. We are using the Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow issuers to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders on the Internet. On or about April 1, 2016,November 2, 2023, we expect to begin mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, which is referred to herein as the “E-proxy notice,” to each holder of record of our common stock as of March 24, 2016,the close of business on October 25, 2023, the record date (the “Record Date”) for the meeting. The E-proxy notice and this proxy statement summarize the information you need to know to vote by proxy or in person atduring the virtual annual meeting. You do not need to attend the virtual annual meeting in person in order to vote.


________________________________________________________


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Page

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

1

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

4

6

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

5

8

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

9

11

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR 20152022

13

17

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

15

20

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

16

21

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE FOR 2014-201516
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END FOR 201517
RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR 201518
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION IN CONNECTION WITH A CHANGE OF CONTROL18
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION22

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

22

33

RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

23

34

PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

23

35

FEES PAID TO OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

24

35

PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY APPROVAL OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

37

PROPOSAL 4: ADVISORY APPROVAL OF THE FREQUENCY OF THE ADVISORY VOTE ON NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

38

Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote for the option of every three years as the frequency to have an advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers.

38

MISCELLANEOUS

39

 
MISCELLANEOUS25

Annex A Policy Regarding Minimum QualificationsTable of Director CandidatesA-1
Annex B Procedures for Identifying and Evaluating Director CandidatesB-1
Annex C Policy Regarding Director Candidate Recommendations Submitted by StockholdersC-1
Annex D Procedures for Stockholders Submitting Director Candidate RecommendationsD-1
Annex E Policy and Procedures with Respect to Interested Transactions with Related PersonsE-1Contents


What is the purpose of the annual meeting?

At the annual meeting, we are asking stockholders:

●  

1.

To elect fivesix directors named in this proxy statement to our boardBoard of directorsDirectors until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified;

●  

2.

To ratify the appointment of Moore Stephens Lovelace,MSL, P.A. (“Moore Stephens Lovelace”MSL”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year 2016; andending December 31, 2023 (“fiscal 2023”);

●  

3.

To approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of our named executive officers (so-called, “say-on-pay”);

4.

To approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the frequency of the stockholder vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers (so-called, “say-when-on-pay”); and

5.

To transact such other business properly brought before the meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.

Why did I receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials?

The rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) permit us to make our proxy materials available to beneficial owners of our common stock electronically over the Internet without having to mail printed copies of the proxy materials. Accordingly, on or about April 1, 2016,November 2, 2023, we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, which is referred to herein as the “E-proxy notice,” to our beneficial owners. All beneficial owners will have the ability to access the proxy materials, including this proxy statement, the form of proxy card and our 2015 annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 (“fiscal 2022”), on the website referred to in the E-proxy notice or to request a printed set of the proxy materials. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or to request a printed copy may be found in the E-proxy notice. In addition, beneficial owners may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email on an ongoing basis.


On or about April 1, 2016,November 2, 2023, we will begin mailing paper copies of our proxy materials to stockholders who have requested them. Those stockholders who do not receive the E-proxy notice, including stockholders who have previously requested to receive paper copies of proxy materials, will receive a copy of this proxy statement, the proxy card and our annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20152022 by mail.

Who is entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting?

You are entitled to notice of the annual meeting and to vote, in personeither during the meeting or by proxy, at the annual meeting if you owned shares of our common stock as of the close of business (5:00 p.m. EDT) on March 24, 2016, the record dateRecord Date (October 25, 2023) of the annual meeting. On the record date, 13,730,562Record Date, 3,455,499 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and held by 875103 holders of record.record, including Cede & Co., which holds shares on behalf of the beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock. The number of outstanding shares and the number of holders of record as of the record date are provided on reverse stock split basis. Holders of record of our common stock on the record date are entitled to one vote per share at the annual meeting.

Who can attend the meeting?

meeting, and what are the rules for admission or voting at the meeting?

All stockholders as of the record date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend. Please note that if you hold shares in “street name” (that is, through a broker or other nominee), you will need to bring a copy of a brokerage statement reflecting your stock ownership as of the record date.

  If you want to vote shares that you hold in street name at the annual meeting, you must bring a legal proxy in your name from the broker or other nominee that holds your shares.

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Table of Contents

The annual meeting will be held by virtual meeting only. Our virtual Annual Meeting will be conducted on the internet via webcast. Stockholders will be able to attend and participate online and submit questions during the annual meeting by visiting https://agm.issuerdirect.com/BKTI and then clicking on the document entitled “Virtual Meeting Instructions” which includes additional instructions necessary to access the meeting roomStockholders will be able to vote their shares electronically during the annual meeting.

Virtual Meeting

In order to facilitate wide attendance and participation of our stockholders, our 2023 annual meeting will be a virtual meeting, which will be conducted via live webcast.

To participate in the annual meeting virtually via the Internet, please visit https://agm.issuerdirect.com/BKTI. You will need the 8-digit control number included on your Notice, your proxy card or the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials.

Instructions should also be provided on the voting instruction card provided by your bank or brokerage firm. If you do not have your 8-digit control number and attend the meeting online, you will be able to listen to the meeting only – you will not be able to vote or submit questions during the meeting.

Technical Assistance for the Virtual Meeting

We will have technicians ready to assist you with any technical difficulties you may have accessing the virtual meeting website. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting website during the check-in or meeting time, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the annual meeting login page.

The virtual annual meeting platform is fully supported across browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari) and devices (desktops, laptops, tablets, and cell phones) running the most updated version of applicable software and plugins. Stockholders should ensure that they have a strong internet connection if they intend to attend and/or participate virtually in the annual meeting. Attendees should allow plenty of time to log in and ensure that they can hear streaming audio prior to the start of the annual meeting.

We may also announce changes to the procedures for voting your shares at the annual meeting. Any such changes will be announced via press release and the filing of additional proxy materials with the SEC.

What constitutes a quorum?

If a majority of the shares of our common stock outstanding on the record date is represented either in person (virtually) or by proxy at the annual meeting, a quorum will be present at the annual meeting. Shares held by persons attending the annual meeting but not voting, shares represented in person (virtually) or by proxy and for which the holder has abstained from voting, and broker “non-votes” will be counted as present at the annual meeting for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum.

What are broker “non-votes”?

A broker non-vote occurs when a brokerage firm or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the brokerage firm or other nominee did not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owner and does not have authority to vote on that particular proposal. Brokers and other nominees are subject to the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). The NYSE rules direct that certain matters submitted to a vote of stockholders are considered “routine” proposals. Brokers or other nominees generally may vote on such proposals on behalf of beneficial owners who have not furnished voting instructions, subject to the rules of the NYSE concerning transmission of proxy materials to beneficial owners, and subject to any proxy voting policies and procedures of those brokerage firms or other nominees. For “non-routine” proposals, brokers or other nominees may not vote on such proposals unless they have received voting instructions from the beneficial owner, and, to the extent that they have not received voting instructions, brokers or other nominees report such number of shares as “non-votes.”

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2

Table of Contents

Under NYSE rules, Proposal 1 isthe election of directors (Proposal 1), the advisory approval of say-on-pay (Proposal 3), and the advisory approval of say-when-on-pay (Proposal 4), are considered a “non-routine” matter.matters. This means that brokers or other nominees who have not been furnished voting instructions from their clients will not be authorized to vote in their discretion on this proposal. We believe that Proposal 2, thethese proposals. The ratification of the appointment of an independent registered public accounting firm will be(Proposal 2) is considered a “routine” matter. This means that brokers or other nominees who have not been furnished voting instructions from their clients will be authorized to exercise discretionary voting authority to vote for this proposal. Your broker or other nominee will also be able to submit a “non-vote” proxy to be counted as to attendance at the annual meeting in determining the presence of a quorum.your shares on Proposal 2. For beneficial stockholders, if you do not give your broker or other nominee specific instructions, your shares will not be voted on ProposalProposals 1, and3, or 4, but may be voted by the brokerage firm or other nominee foron Proposal 2.

Broker non-votes, to the extent applicable, will have the effect of a vote AGAINST the ratification of the appointment of an independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal 2). Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors (Proposal 1), the advisory approval of say-on-pay (Proposal 3), and the advisory approval of say-when-on-pay (Proposal 4).  Because your broker will have discretionary voting on any ofauthority with respect to Proposal 2, a broker non-vote would only arise in the proposals.

event that your broker does not receive your voting instructions and chooses not to exercise its discretionary voting authority with respect to such matter. We understand that certain brokers have a policy not to exercise discretionary voting authority. Therefore, we encourage you to instruct your broker how to vote your shares.

How will abstentions be counted?


Because the election of directors requires only a plurality vote, abstentions will have no impact upon the election of directors. With regard toAbstentions will also have no impact on the ratificationoutcome of Proposal 2 (ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm, abstentions will be counted as votes against the proposal.

firm), Proposal 3 (advisory approval of say-on-pay), and Proposal 4 (advisory approval of say-when-on-pay).

How do I vote?

Whether or not you plan to attend the virtual annual meeting, we urge you to vote your shares over the Internet as described in the E-proxy notice. Alternatively, if you received a paper copy of the proxy card by mail, please complete, sign, date and promptly return the proxy card in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided. You may also vote your shares by telephone as described in your proxy card. Authorizing your proxy over the Internet, by mailing a proxy card or by telephone will not limit your right to attend the virtual annual meeting and vote your shares in person.during the meeting. Your proxy (one of the individuals named in your proxy card) will vote your shares per your instructions. If you fail to provide instructions on a proxy properly submitted via the Internet, mail or telephone, your proxy will vote, as recommended by the boardBoard of directors,Directors (sometimes referred to herein as the “Board”), (1) to elect to our boardBoard of directorsDirectors the fivesix director nominees named in this proxy statement and for ratification ofstatement; (2) to ratify the appointment of Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2016.

2023; (3) to approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of our named executive officers, and (4) to approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, a three-year frequency for the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers.  

If you have shares held by a broker or other nominee, you may instruct your broker or nominee to vote your shares by following the instructions that the broker or nominee provides to you. Most brokers and nominees allow you to vote by mail, telephone and on the Internet. As indicated above, under NYSE rules, theProposal 1 (the election of directors (Proposal 1) is considered “non-routine,”directors), Proposal 3 (the advisory approval of say-on-pay), Proposal 4 (the advisory approval of say-when-on-pay), are “non-routine” matters, meaning that brokers or other nominees who have not been furnished voting instructions from their clients will not be authorized to vote in their discretion on this proposal.these proposals. The ratification of the appointment of Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2023 (Proposal 2) is considered a “routine” matter, considered “routine,” meaning that brokers or nominees who have not been furnished voting instructions from their clients will be authorized to vote on that proposal.

Can I change my vote after I have voted?

Yes. Voting by telephone, over the Internet or by mailing a proxy card does not preclude a stockholder from voting in person atduring the virtual annual meeting. A stockholder may revoke a proxy, whether submitted via telephone, the Internet or mailed, at any time prior to its exercise by filing with our Corporate Secretary a duly executed revocation of proxy, by properly submitting, either by telephone, mail or Internet, a proxy to our Corporate Secretary bearing a later date or by appearing atattending the annual meeting and voting in person.during the meeting. Attendance at the virtual annual meeting will not itself constitute revocation of a proxy.

2

3

Table of Contents

What are the board’sBoard’s recommendations?

The boardBoard unanimously recommends a vote “FOR”:

●  

·

election to our boardBoard of each of the fivesix director nominees named in this proxy statement; and

●  

·

ratification of the appointment of Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2016.2023;

·

approval, on an advisory, non-binding basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers; and

·

approval, on an advisory, non-binding basis, of a three-year frequency for the vote on the compensation of our named executive officers.

We do not expect that any other matters will be brought before the annual meeting. If, however, other matters are properly presented, the persons named as proxies will vote the shares represented by properly executed proxies in accordance with their judgment with respect to those matters, including any proposal to adjourn or postpone the annual meeting.

What vote is required to approve the proposals?

Proposal 1: Election of Directors. The affirmative vote ofDirectors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, either in person (virtually) or by proxy, at the annual meeting (meaning that the six director nominees who receive the highest number of shares voted “for” their election are elected). You may vote “for” or “withhold” authority to vote for each of the director nominees. If you “withhold” authority to vote with respect to one or more director nominees, your vote will have no effect on the election of such nominees. Broker non-votes will also have no effect on the election of the director nominees.

Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of MSL. The number of votes cast “for” the ratification of the appointment of MSL as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2023, either in person (virtually) or by proxy, at the annual meeting must exceed the number of votes cast “against” ratification. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.

Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on Named Executive Officer Compensation (Say-on-Pay). The number of votes cast “for” advisory approval of the compensation of our named executive officers, either in person or by proxy, at the annual meeting must exceed the number of votes cast “against” advisory approval. Abstentions and broker-non votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.

Proposal 4: Frequency of the Advisory Vote on Named Executive Officer Compensation (Say-when-on-Pay). The option of every year, every two years or every three years that receives the highest number of votes cast, either in person or by proxy, at the annual meeting is requiredwill be considered the stockholders’ recommendation of the frequency for the election toadvisory vote on the compensation of our board of directors of eachnamed executive officers. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the director nominees. You may vote “for” or “withheld” with respect to the election of one or more of the directors. Only votes “for” or “withheld” are counted in determining whether a plurality has been cast in favor of a director. Abstentions are not counted for purposes of the election of directors, although they are counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum. Stockholders do not have the right to cumulate their votes for directors.

Proposal 2: Ratification of Appointment of Moore Stephens Lovelace. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power present or represented by proxy at the annual meeting is required for the ratification of the appointment of Moore Stephens Lovelace as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2016. You may vote “for” ratification, “against” ratification, or “abstain” from voting on this proposal. Abstentions will have the effect of a negative vote for purposes of the ratification of the appointment of Moore Stephens Lovelace.

vote.

Other Items. In the event that other items are properly brought before the annual meeting, under Nevada law, each matter other than the election of directors will be determinedapproved if the number of votes cast in favor of the item by the stockholders entitled to vote exceeds the number of votes cast in opposition to the holders of a majority of the voting power present or represented by proxy.matter. A properly executed proxy marked “abstain” with respect to any such matter will not be voted, although it will be counted for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum. Accordingly, an abstention will havenot be counted as a vote cast on the effectmatter and therefore will not affect the outcome of a negative vote.


the matter.

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Table of Contents

As of the record date,Record Date, our directors and executive officers and their affiliates owned and were entitled to vote approximately 5,567,564884,389 shares of our common stock, which represented approximately 40.1%25.59% of our common stock outstanding on that date. We currently anticipate that all of these persons will vote their and their affiliates’ shares in favor of the director nominees and in favor of ratification of the appointment of Moore Stephens Lovelace.


MSL.

Who pays for the preparation of the proxy and soliciting proxies?

We are making this solicitation of proxies and have paid the entire expense of preparing, printing and mailing the E-proxy notice and, to the extent requested by our stockholders, this proxy statement and any additional materials furnished to stockholders. We have retained Alliance Advisors LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the annual meeting and will pay Alliance Advisors a fee of approximately $15,000, including reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements incurred in connection with the proxy solicitation. It is anticipated that Alliance Advisors LLC will employ approximately 25 persons to solicit stockholders of the Company for the annual meeting. We have also agreed to indemnify Alliance Advisors LLC against certain losses, costs and expenses.  In addition, to solicitations by mail, our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies from stockholders by telephone, e-mail or other electronic means, or in person. These persons will not receive additional compensation for soliciting proxies. Arrangements also will be made with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for the forwarding of solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of stock held of record by these persons, and we will reimburse them for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

3


The table below sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the record date, March 24, 2016,October 25, 2023, by the following individuals or groups:

●  

·

each person who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our common stock;

●  

·

each of our directors and nominees for director;

●  

·

each of our Named Executive Officers (asnamed executive officers identified in the “Summary Compensation Table For 2014-2015”2021-2022” appearing in this proxy statement)report (the “Named Executive Officers”); and

●  

·

all of our current directors, director nominees, and executive officers as a group.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Shares of our common stock that are subject to our stock options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of March 24, 2016October 25, 2023, as well as shares of common stock issuable within 60 days of October 25, 2023, upon vesting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”), are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the stock options or RSUs, as applicable, for the purpose of computing the percentage of ownership of that person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of any other person.

Unless indicated otherwise below, the address of our directors and executive officers is c/o RELM WirelessBK Technologies Corporation, 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904. Except as indicated below, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. As of March 24, 2016,October 25, 2023, we had outstanding 13,730,5623,455,499 shares of our common stock.

  Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned 
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner Number of Shares  Percent of Class 
Beneficial Owners of More Than 5% of Our Common Stock:      
Fundamental Global Investors, LLC  3,368,848(1)  24.5%
Kyle D. Cerminara  3,368,848(1)(2)(8)  24.5%
Lewis M. Johnson  3,368,848(1)(3)(9)  24.5%
Donald F. U. Goebert  1,903,815(4)(6)(8)  13.9%
Benchmark Capital Advisors  1,573,253(5)  11.5%
Directors, Director Nominees and Named Executive Officers (not otherwise included above):        
Timothy W. O’Neil  32,763(6)(8)  * 
David P. Storey  161,311(6)(8)(10)  1.2%
William P. Kelly  66,827(6)(7)(10)  * 
James E. Gilley  34,000(6)(10)  * 
All directors and executive officers as a group (7 persons)  5,567,564(11)  40.1%

 

 

Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

 

Number of Shares

 

 

Percent of Class

 

Beneficial Owners of More Than 5% of Our Common Stock:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fundamental Global GP, LLC

 

 

541,163

(1)

 

 

15.66

%

D. Kyle Cerminara, Chairman of the Board

 

 

553,157

(2)(14)

 

 

16.01

%

AIGH Capital Management, LLC

 

 

337,945

(3)

 

 

9.78

%

Donald F.U. Goebert

 

 

252,902

(4)

 

 

7.32

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors, Director Nominees and Named Executive Officers (not otherwise included above):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John M. Suzuki, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

 

41,569

(5)(6)(14)

 

 

1.20

%

Scott A. Malmanger, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

545

(7)

 

*

 

Randy Willis, Chief Operating Officer

 

 

16,200

(6)(14)

 

*

 

Branko Avanic, Chief Technology Officer

 

 

8,800

(6)(14)

 

*

 

Joshua S. Horowitz, Director Nominee

 

 

74,956

(8)

 

 

2.17

%

R. Joseph Jackson, Director

 

 

147,434

(9)(14)

 

 

4.27

%

Charles T. Lanktree, Director

 

 

13,535

(10)(14)

 

*

 

Michael C. Mitchell, Director

 

 

7,705

(11)(14)

 

*

 

E. Gray Payne, Director

 

 

10,994

(12)(14)

 

*

 

Lloyd R. Sams, Director

 

 

9,494

(13)(14)

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All current directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group (11 persons

 

 

884,389

(15)

 

 

25.59

%

*Less than 1%


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(1)

The amount shown and the following information is derived from a Form 4, as amended, filed with the SEC by Fundamental Global GP, LLC (“FG”) and its affiliates on June 14, 2023, disclosing ownership of 541,163 shares, or 15.66% of outstanding shares. FG is deemed to beneficially own the shares disclosed as directly owned by certain of its affiliates. FG has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to all such shares. FG, on behalf of the funds managed by it, has entered into a stock trading plan in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 (the “10b5-1 Plan”) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), for the purchase of up to 1.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock. The 10b5-1 Plan became effective on April 2, 2020, and terminated on April 2, 2021. Transactions under the 10b5-1 Plan are reported to the SEC in accordance with applicable securities laws, rules and regulations. FG’s business address is 108 Gateway Blvd., Suite 204, Mooresville, NC 28117.

(2)

Mr. Cerminara is the Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Partner of FG. Due to his positions with FG, Mr. Cerminara is deemed to beneficially own the 541,163 shares disclosed as directly owned by certain affiliates of FG. Mr. Cerminara expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. In addition, Mr. Cerminara, a member of our Board, and affiliate of FG, holds an additional 11,994 shares of common stock, which increases the total number of shares beneficially owned by Mr. Cerminara to 553,157, or 16.01% of outstanding shares. The business address for Mr. Cerninara is 108 Gateway Blvd., Suite 204, Mooresville, NC 28117.

(3)

The amount shown and the following information is derived from a Schedule 13D/13G/A filed by Fundamental Global Investors,AIGH Capital Management, LLC (“AIGH”) on December 21, 2015.January 3, 2023. According to the Schedule 13D/13G/A, and the Form 4 filed on March 16, 2016, additional affiliates of Fundamental Global Investors, LLC hold 356,876 shares, which represents 2.6% of outstanding shares and increases the total of shares beneficially owned by Fundamental Global Investors, LLC to 3,725,724 shares, or 27.1% of outstanding shares. Fundamental Global Investors, LLC has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to all of these shares. Fundamental Global Investors, LLC’s business address is 4201 Congress Street, Suite 140 Charlotte, North Carolina 28209.

(2)Includes 3,368,848 shares reported as beneficially owned by Fundamental Global Investors, LLC, of which Mr. Cerminara is deemed to have beneficial ownership by virtue of his positions as Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Partner of Fundamental Global Investors, LLC. The address for Mr. Cerminara is 4201 Congress Street, Suite 140 Charlotte, North Carolina 28209. The amount does not include the 5,000 options exercisable for shares of our common stock granted to Mr. Cerminara on July 7, 2015, as such options do not become exercisable until the date that is later than 60 days after March 24, 2016.
(3)Includes 3,368,848 shares reported as beneficially owned by Fundamental Global Investors, LLC, of which Mr. Johnson is deemed to have beneficial ownership by virtue of his positions as President, Partner and Manager of Fundamental Global Investors, LLC. The address for Mr. Johnson is 4201 Congress Street, Suite 140 Charlotte, North Carolina 28209.

4

(4)Includes 144,355 shares owned by a partnership controlled by Mr. Goebert. The address for Mr. Goebert is 315 Willowbrook Lane, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19382. Also includes 809,154 shares held jointly by Mr. Goebert with his wife, and 3,887 shares held by his wife.
(5)
The amount shown and the following information is derived from a Schedule 13G (Amendment No. 1) filed by Benchmark Capital Advisors (“Benchmark”), reporting beneficial ownership as of February 14, 2015. According to the Schedule 13G, BenchmarkAIGH beneficially owns 1,573,253337,945 post reverse split shares, andover which it has sole voting and dispositive power with respectpower. Also according to 882,697the Schedule 13G/A, each of these sharesAIGH Investment Partners, L.L.C. (“AIGHIP”), and sharedMr. Orin Hirschman may be deemed to beneficially own, and have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,573,253 of theseover, such shares. Benchmark’sThe principal business address of AIGH, AIGHIP, and Mr. Hirschman is 100 Wall Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10005.
6006 Berkeley Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21209.

(6)

(4)

The amount shown is based on Mr. Goebert’s Form 4 filed on December 30, 2016, plus 1,245 post reverse split shares acquired upon option exercises since the filing of the Form 4, and reflects the repurchase by the Company on December 12, 2018 of 40,000 post reverse split shares of common stock held by Mr. Goebert. Mr. Goebert’s primary address is 3382 Harbor Road S., Tequesta, Florida 33469.

(5)

Includes 14,769 shares owned by Mr. Suzuki.

(6)

Share ownership of the following persons includes options to purchase our common shares presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of March 24, 2016October 25, 2023, as follows: for Mr. GoebertSuzuki25,00026,800 shares; for Mr. O’NeilWillis25,00016,200 shares; for Mr. StoreyDr. Avanic45,000 shares; for Mr. Kelly – 40,000 shares; and for Mr. Gilley – 34,0008,800 shares.

(7)

Includes 545 shares owned by Mr. Malmanger.

(8)

Includes 14,720 shares owned by Mr. Horowitz and 60,236 shares owned by Palm Global Small Cap Master Fund LP (“Palm Global”). Palm Management (US) LLC, as the investment manager of Palm Global, may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock disclosed as directly owned by Palm Global. Due to his positions with Palm Global and Palm Management (US) LLC, Mr. Horowitz may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock disclosed as directly owned by Palm Global. Palm Management (US) LLC and Mr. Horowitz expressly disclaim such beneficial ownership except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

(9)

Includes 4,000 shares owned by Robert Joseph Jackson SEP-IRA, 8,251 shares owned by Mr. Jackson and 135,183 shares owned by Metrolina Capital Investors, LLC (“Metrolina Capital”). Because Mr. Jackson currently serves as the Managing Partner of Metrolina Capital, Mr. Jackson is deemed to beneficially own the 135,183 shares disclosed. Mr. Jackson expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.

(10)

Includes 11,994 shares owned by Mr. Lanktree and 1,541 shares directly owned by the Donna B. Lanktree Family Trust, the trustee of which is Donna B. Lanktree, the spouse of Mr. Lanktree.

(11)

Includes 7,705 shares owned by Mr. Mitchell.

(12)

Includes 10,994 shares owned by Mr. Payne.

(13)

Includes 9,494 shares owned by Mr. Sams.

 
(7)7

Table of Contents

(14)

Includes 26,827

The following options are not reflected in the table, as they are not presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of October 25, 2023: options to purchase 19,200 common shares held jointly by Mr. Kelly with his wife.Suzuki; options to purchase 8,800 shares held by Mr. Willis; and options to purchase 8,800 common shares held by Dr. Avanic.

The table also does not include the following RSUs held by each of Messrs. Cerminara, Lanktree, and General Payne: 1,246 RSUs remaining pursuant to a grant made on September 6, 2019 (not including 416 RSUs that vested as of September 6, 2020, 416 RSUs that vested as of September 6, 2021, 416 RSUs that vested as of September 6, 2022 and 416 RSUs that vested as of September 6, 2023); 3,158 RSUs remaining pursuant to a grant made on August 24, 2020, (not including 526 RSUs that vested as of August 24, 2021,  526 RSUs that vested as of August 24, 2022 and 526  RSUs that vested as of August 24, 2023), 5,573  RSUs remaining pursuant to a grant made on July 30, 2021, (not including 619 RSUs that vested as of July 30, 2022, and 619  RSUs that vested as of July 30, 2023). The above RSUs vest in five equal annual installments, beginning on the first anniversary of the respective grant date, in each case subject to the director’s continued service as a director of the Company through such date.  The table also does not include 3,234 RSUs held by each of Messrs. Cerminara, Jackson, Lanktree, Mitchell, Sams and General Payne issued on August 21, 2023, that vest on September 21, 2024.  All RSUs were granted under the Company’s 2017 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2017 Plan”). Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock of the Company.

(8)

(15)

The named person is a director and a nominee for director at the annual meeting.
(9)The named person is a nominee for director at the annual meeting.
(10)The named person is a Named Executive Officer.
(11)

Includes 3,368,848541,163 shares reported as beneficially owned by Fundamental Global Investors, LLC,FG, of which Mr. Cerminara and Mr. Johnson areis deemed to have beneficial ownership by virtue of their respective positionshis position with FG.  Includes 60,236 shares reported as Chief Executive, Co-Founder and Partner and President, Partner and Manager of Fundamental Global Investors, LLC. Includes 144,355 sharesbeneficially owned by a partnership controlledPalm Global, of which Mr. Horowitz is deemed to have beneficial ownership by virtue of his position with Palm Global. Includes 135,183 shares reported as beneficially owned by Metrolina Capital, of which Mr. Goebert, 809,154Jackson is deemed to have beneficial ownership by virtue of his position with Metrolina Capital. Includes 1,541 shares held jointlydirectly owned by the Donna B. Lanktree Family Trust, the trustee of which is Donna B. Lanktree, the spouse of Mr. Goebert with his wife, and 3,887 shares held by Mr. Goebert’s wife. Includes 26,827 shares held jointly by Mr. Kelly with his wife.Lanktree. Includes options to purchase our common shares presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of March 24, 2016October 25, 2023, as follows: for Mr. GoebertSuzuki25,00026,800 shares; for Mr. O’NeilWillis25,00016,200 shares; for Mr. StoreyDr. Avanic45,000 shares; for Mr. Kelly – 40,000 shares; and for Mr. Gilley – 34,0008,800 shares.

General

At the annual meeting, fivesix nominees will be elected as directors. Our boardBoard of directorsDirectors currently consists of fourseven members, allfive of whom are standing for re-election at the annual meeting. At the 20152022 annual meeting, our stockholders elected Donald F.U. Goebert, James R. Henderson, Ryan Levenson, Timothy W. O’Neil, Benjamin Rosenzweig and David P. Storey to our board of directors. On July 6, 2015, pursuant to an agreement between us and Fundamental Global Investors, LLC (collectively with its affiliates, “Fundamental Global”), our largest stockholder, our board of directors approved an increase to the size of the board to seven members and appointed D. Kyle Cerminara, R. Joseph Jackson, Charles T. Lanktree, Michael C. Mitchell, E. Gray Payne, Lloyd R. Sams and John M. Suzuki as directors. The Board of Directors has resolved to reduce the Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Partnernumber of Fundamental Global,directors serving on the Board of Directors to serve as a director. Our agreement with Fundamental Global gave Fundamental Globalsix, beginning at the right, upon written notice to the Company, to nominate an individual for appointment to our board of directors. Upon such nomination, the board was required to increase the size of the board and appoint such designee to fill the newly created vacancy. Fundamental Global also agreed to vote in favor of all of our board nominees in connection with the 20152023 annual meeting.


On September 24, 2015, our board

Our Board of directors appointed Timothy W. O’Neil as the Chairman of the Board, replacing James R. Henderson, who subsequently resigned from the board of directors on September 26, 2015. On September 27, 2015, Ryan Levenson and Ben Rosenzweig also resigned from the board of directors.


Our board of directors,Directors, based on the recommendation of the nominatingNominating and governance committee, hasGovernance Committee, nominated eachfive of David P. Storey, Donald F.U. Goebert, Timothy W. O’Neil our current directors, R. Joseph Jackson, Charles T. Lanktree, E. Gray Payne, Lloyd R. Sams and D. Kyle CerminaraJohn M. Suzuki, to stand for re-election at the annual meeting. The board is also nominating Lewis M. JohnsonOur Board of Directors, based on the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee, nominated Joshua S. Horowitz, who previously has served as an advisor to the Board of Directors, to stand for election toat the board.  annual meeting.

We expect each nominee for director to be able to serve if elected.  If any nominee is not able to serve, proxies will be voted in favor of the remainder of those nominated and may be voted for substitute nominees, unless our boardBoard of directorsDirectors chooses to reduce the number of directors serving on the board. Our board size is currently set at four, but will be increased to five immediately after the annual meeting.

5

Board.

The directors elected at the annual meeting will serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.

8

Table of Contents

We are of the view that the continuing service of qualified incumbent directors promotes stability and continuity in the function of the boardBoard of directors,Directors, contributing to the board’sBoard’s ability to work as a collective body, while giving us the benefit of the familiarity and insight into our affairs that our directors have accumulated during their tenure.  When analyzing whether directors and nominees have the desired experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, individually and taken as a whole, the nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee and the boardBoard of directorsDirectors focus on the information as summarized in each of the directors’ individual biographies set forth below. In particular, the boardBoard selected Mr. StoreyJackson because he provides extensive experience in the accounting and finance field and the experience of serving on the boards of directors of five other organizations.  Mr. Lanktree brings extensive operational and leadership experience, wireless communications industry experience and public company experience to servethe Board, including experience as a director because he is our company’s Chief Executive OfficerOfficer.  General E. Gray Payne brings extensive strategic, operational and President,leadership experience and has been with our company for 18 years, having initially served as our company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Aside from his strong leadership skills, Mr. Storey has extensive manufacturing experience that the board believes has been invaluable to the success of our business. The board selected Mr. Goebert to serve as a director because it believes he has extensive knowledge of our business having served as a senior executive of our company (and its predecessors) for over 30 years. The board selected Mr. O’Neil to serve as a director because it believes he possesses valuable knowledge of the wireless telecommunications industry having served as a financial analyst in the industry for over 10 years. Mr. O’Neil provides the board with valuable insight regardinginto the industry’s current trendsmilitary sector, having over 40 years of military operational and technology, as well as insight about anticipated technology changes and potential strategic opportunities for us. The board selectedexpertise. Mr. Cerminara to serve as a director because ofSams offers valuable insights obtained through his extensive experience in the financial industry, including investing, capital allocation, financeprivate equity and financial analysis of public companies. He alsobanking industries, as well as his background and experience originating, underwriting, structuring, and ultimately exiting debt and equity transactions.  Mr. Suzuki brings the perspective of one of our most significant stockholders.   Mr. Johnson would also bring to the board the perspective of one of the Company’s most significant stockholders. He also has extensive experience in the financialland mobile radio industry including investing, capital allocation, finance and financial analysisexecutive leadership in the industry.  Mr. Horowitz provides extensive experience as a director of a public companies whichand over 20 years of investing experience will bring significant strategic, consensus-building and management skills would be valuable to our Board of Directors.

the Company.

Vote Required

The affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast, either in person or by proxy, at the annual meeting is required for the election of these nominees as directors.

Recommendation of the Board

Our boardBoard of directorsDirectors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the election of the fivesix nominees named in this proxy statement as directors.

Nominees for Election as Directors

The following table sets forth the nominees to be elected at the annual meeting, the year each nominee was first elected as a director and each nominee’s age and the positions currently held by each nominee with our company:

as of November 2, 2023:

Name and Year First Elected

Age

Position

David P. Storey (2000)

Joshua S. Horowitz (new nominee)

63

45

President, Chief Executive Officer and

Director

Donald F.U. Goebert (1968)(1)(2)(3)

R. Joseph Jackson (2021)

79

57

Director

Timothy W. O’Neil (2006)(1)(2)(3)

Charles T. Lanktree (2017)

54

74

Chairman of the Board

Director

D. Kyle Cerminara (2015)(2)(3)

E. Gray Payne (2017)

38

75

Director

Lewis M. Johnson

Lloyd R. Sams (2022)

46

67

Director Nominee

_____________
(1)Member of the audit committee.

(2)

John M. Suzuki (2021)

Member of the compensation committee.
(3)

Member of the nominating and governance committee.

59

Director



6


The business experience of each nominee for director is set forth below as of September 30, 2023.

Joshua S. Horowitz was nominated to the Board of Directors for the 2023 Annual Meeting. Mr. Horowitz is a professional investor with over 20 years of investing experience. Since January 2012, he has served as a portfolio manager and Managing Director at various Palm entities, first with Palm Ventures LLC and currently with Palm Management (US) LLC where he manages the Palm Global Small Cap Master Fund. He was formerly Director of Research at Berggruen Holdings, a multi-billion dollar family office and a research analyst at Crossway Partners LP, a value strategy investment partnership.

Mr. Horowitz served as a director of The Lincoln General Insurance Company from October 2001 to November 2014, 1347 Capital Corp (Nasdaq: TFSC) from July 2014 to July 2016, and 1347 Property Insurance Holdings, Inc (Nasdaq: PIH) from April 1, 2016.


David P. Storey2015 to April 2018. He served as the Interim Chairman of the Board of Directors of Birner Dental Management Services, Inc. (OTC: BDMS) from June 2018 until the Company’s sale to Mid Atlantic Dental Partners in January 2019. Birner was the only publicly traded dental service organization (DSO) in the country with 67 offices and over 500 employees.

Mr. Horowitz has served as a director of Limbach Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMB) since March 2020, where he is Chair of the Finance Committee, and Barnwell, Inc. (NYSE: BRN) since April 2023. .He was also a board observer at Biomerica, Inc. (Nasdaq:BMRA) and served on the board of directors of Minim, Inc. (Nasdaq: MINM). Since November 2021, Mr. Horowitz has been a board adviser to the Board of Directors, advising regarding the Company’s mergers & acquisitions strategy and other transactions.

9

Table of Contents

Mr. Horowitz holds a B.S. in Management magna cum laude from Binghamton University and also studied at the Bath School of Management in the United Kingdom.

We believe Mr. Horowitz is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors as he offers the Board valuable insights obtained through his extensive experience in the financial industry, including investing, capital allocation, finance and financial analysis of public companies.

R. Joseph Jackson was nominated to the Board of Directors for the 2021 Annual Meeting. Mr. Jackson currently serves as the Managing Partner of Metrolina Capital, a firm that is in the business of providing private lending, structured equity, and making real estate investments. Mr. Jackson founded Metrolina Capital, which is the evolution of various Metrolina entities that started in 1996, and has served as Managing Partner since its inception.  His background and experience include commercial real estate investments, private lending, structured equity, analytics, development, and consulting.

Mr. Jackson completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  He has been a licensed Real Estate Broker since 1984 (NC Broker #93412/SC Broker #59906) and has been a State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser since 1990 (NC #A3241/SC #CG1838).

Mr. Jackson earned the MAI (#41604) membership designation from the Appraisal Institute, which is held by professionals who can provide a wide range of services relating to all types of real property, such as providing opinions of value, evaluations, reviews, and consulting regarding investment decisions.  He also holds the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation, a globally recognized designation with members across North America and in more than 30 countries.  His CCIM designation number is #19213. In addition, Mr. Jackson also holds an MRICS (#6208909) designation.  The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is a professional body promoting and enforcing the highest international standards in the valuation, management and development of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure.

Mr. Jackson currently serves on the following boards: 1) Carolinas Business Capital, a regional Small Business Administration Certified Development Corporation, for over 20 years and has served as board chair for the last 5 years; 2) Community First Bancorporation and Community First Bank in South Carolina; 3) Camino Community Center, a non-profit organization serving the Latino community; and 4) Charlotte Fund, a Charlotte NC based venture capital fund.  He previously served as board chair of SeaTrust Mortgage, a subsidiary of Community First Bancorporation which was sold to Primis Bank in 2022 and also as an investment manager for a private REIT.

Charles T. Lanktree was appointed to the Board of Directors in March 2017. Mr. Lanktree serves on the board of directors of FG Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: FGH), a holding company with diverse business activities focused on serving the cinema, retail, financial and government markets. Mr. Lanktree has served as Chief Executive Officer of Eggland’s Best, LLC, a joint venture between Eggland’s Best, Inc. and Land O’Lakes, Inc. distributing nationally branded eggs from 2012 when it was formed until December 31, 2022.  He also served as its President from 2012 to 2018.  He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Eggland’s Best, Inc., a franchise-driven consumer egg business, from 1997 to 2022 where he previously served as the President and a director since July 2000, after serving as ourChief Operating Officer from 1995 to 1996 and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from June 19981990 to July 2000.1994. Mr. Lanktree also served on the board of directors of Eggland’s Best, Inc. from 1990 through 2022.  He also served on the boards of many of England’s Best affiliates through that time period. From January 19942010 to June 1998,2013, he served on the board of directors of Eurofresh Foods, Inc., a privately-held company, and, from 2004 to 2013, he was executive vice presidenton the board of manufacturing for Arris Corporation (formerly Antec Corporation).  At Arris,directors of Nature’s Harmony Foods, Inc. Prior to joining Eggland’s Best, Inc., Mr. Storey was responsible for six manufacturing facilities which consisted of 2 million sq. ft. of manufacturing and distribution services.  In the years preceding Arris, Mr. Storey was an officer of Keptel, Inc., which was acquired by Arris.  He has also held senior management positions with EG&G, GTE, Exxon Office Systems, American Hospital Supply and Gould, Inc. Mr. Storey received a Masters of Business Administration from LaSalle University in 1989.

Donald F. U. GoebertLanktree served as Chairman of the Board (and a director of our predecessor) from March 1968 until May 2003 and has been a director to the present; he also served as Chairman of the Board from September 2014 to May 2015. He was the President of our predecessor from March 1968 to October 1988, and our President and Chief Executive Officer of American Mobile Communications, Inc. from April 19931987 to December 1997.
Timothy W. O’Neil has been a director since August 20061990 and was appointed as Chairman of the Board in September 2015. Mr. O’Neil currently serves as the managing directorPresident and Chief Operating Officer of Precision Target Marketing, Inc. (NYSE American: PTMI), from 1985 to 1987. From 1976 to 1985, he held various executive-level marketing positions with The EON Group,Grand Union Company, BeechNut/Nestle, and Unilever. Mr. Lanktree received an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a firm specializingB.S. in helping technology companies develop go-to-market strategies and raise capital, which he founded in 2002.Food Marketing from St. Joseph’s University. He also served asin the managing director of The EON GroupU.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves from 20021971 to 2012. From 2011 to 2014, he served as the chief executive officer and president of Eyefly, Inc., a technology company specializing in single-shot panoramic imaging for still and video photography. From 2003 to 2004, he served as a portfolio manager at Sigma Asset Management, an independent financial adviser. From 1997 to 2002, he was a managing director and a top-ranked “Wall Street Journal” wireless telecommunication’s analyst at Soundview Technology Group, a technology-focused investment bank that was acquired by Charles Schwab Corp. in 2003. Mr. O’Neil received a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1991 and an undergraduate degree in Finance and Computer Science from Boston College.

D. Kyle Cerminara1977.

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E. Gray Payne was appointed to the boardBoard of directorsDirectors in July 2015.  Mr. CerminaraJanuary 2017. He served as Senior Vice President of The Columbia Group (“TCG”) from September 2010 to September 2017, where he was responsible for managing the Marine Corps and Navy Programs Divisions. TCG is alsoa federal consulting firm working with the Chief Executive Officer, Co-FounderDepartment of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Oceanic and PartnerAtmospheric Administration, and private clients. TCG consults in the areas of Fundamental Global Investors, LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor that manages equitylogistics, acquisitions, program management, information technology, training, marine architecture and fixed income hedge fundsengineering, and is the Company’s largest stockholder. In addition, Mr. Cerminara is Co-Chief Investment Officer of Capital Wealth Advisors, a wealth advisorcommand and multi-family office affiliated with Fundamental Global Investors, LLC. Mr. Cerminaracontrol systems. Since December 2011, General Payne has also provided consulting services to and served on the BoardAdvisory Council of DirectorsMarstel-Day, LLC, located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, which consults in the areas of Ballantyne Strong, Inc.,conservation, environmental compliance, and encroachment. Prior to September 2010, General Payne was on active duty with the Marine Corps for 10 years, retiring as a publicly traded company onMajor General. His three commands as a General Officer included the NYSE MKT, since February 2015Marine Corps Mobilization Command, the Marine Corps Logistics Command, and has been Executive Chairmanthe 4th Marine Logistics Group. In his last tour with the Marine Corps, he served as Assistant Deputy Commandant for Facilities, where he was responsible for 28 installations and an annual budget exceeding $5.5 billion. Prior to March 2001, he worked with a number of companies in various capacities, including as a management consultant, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Executive Officer of Ballantyne Strong,companies ranging in size from $2.5 million to $100 million. General Payne currently serves on the board of directors of FG Financial Group, Inc. since September 2015(Nasdaq: FGF), a publicly traded reinsurance and November 2015, respectively. Mr. Cerminara wasfinancial services company (since May 2018), VetCV (since December 2017), and National Wildlife Refuge Association (since June 2018). He is a Portfolio Manager at Sigma Capital Management from 2011 to 2012, a Director and Sector Headprior chairman of the Financials Industry at Highside Capital Management from 2009 to 2011,board of the Marine Corps Association and a Portfolio ManagerFoundation and Director at CR Intrinsic Investors from 2007 to 2009. Before joining CR Intrinsic Investors, Mr. Cerminara was a Vice President, Associate Portfolio Manager and Analyst at T. Rowe Price from 2001 to 2007 and an Analyst at Legg Mason from 2000 to 2001. Mr. Cerminaraserved on the Advisory Council of Marstel-Day, LLC. He received an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and a B.S. in FinanceEconomics from North Carolina State University and Accountinga M.S. in Strategic Studies from U.S. Army War College. A member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, he has also earned the Professional Director designation from the Smith SchoolAmerican College of Business atCorporate Directors.

Lloyd R. Sams was nominated to the UniversityBoard of Maryland, whereDirectors for the 2022 Annual Meeting. Since 1999, Mr. Sams had been a Managing Principal of BIA Digital Partners, a private equity group that was focused on investments in the media, telecommunications, business services and information segments.  From 2020 to 2021, Mr. Sams was a Director of Aceyus Inc., a private software company.  From 2018 to 2019, he was the President of Every Income Holdings, LLC, a financial services holding company.  Mr. Sams was Managing Director of MoonSail Capital, a private equity group, from 2017 to 2018.  From 2013 through 2015, he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, an NCAA Academic All American and Co-Captain of the men’s varsity tennis team. He also completed a China Executive Residency at the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing, China. Mr. Cerminara holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.


Lewis M. Johnson is President, Co-Founder and Partner of Fundamental Global Investors, LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor that manages equity and fixed income hedge funds and is the largest stockholder of the Company. In addition, Mr. Johnson is Co-Chief Investment Officer of Capital Wealth Advisors, a wealth advisor and multi-family office affiliated with Fundamental Global Investors, LLC.  Prior to co-founding Fundamental Global Investors, LLC and partnering with Capital Wealth Advisors, Mr. Johnson was a private investor from 2010 to 2012.  From 2008 to 2010 Mr. Johnson served as Portfolio Manager and Managing Director and Head of Lower Middle Market Investing at Louis Dreyfus Highbridge Energy.Business Development Corporation of America, a non-traded BDC headquartered in New York.   Previously, Mr. Johnson was a Senior Vice President, Portfolio ManagerSams had an 18-year banking career, principally with First Union (now Wells Fargo) and Analyst at Pequot CapitalFirst Chicago (now J.P. Morgan).  Ms. Sams received his B.S. in Business Administration from 2006-2007.  Prior to joining Pequot Capital, Mr. Johnson was a Vice PresidentWashington and Analyst at T. Rowe Price from 2000-2006.  Mr. Johnson worked as an Analyst at Capital Research and Management in 1999Lee University and a Vice President at AYSA from 1992-1998.  Mr. Johnson received an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in addition to a MA in Political Science and a BA in International Studies from Emory University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
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Executive Officers
The following table presents information with respect to our executive officers as of April 1, 2016.
NameAgePosition
David P. Storey63President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
William P. Kelly59Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
James E. Gilley52Chief Technology Officer and Vice President
See “—Nominees for Election as Directors” above for additional information concerning Mr. Storey.
William P. Kelly has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since July 1997, and Secretary since June 2000.  From October 1995 to June 1997, he was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of our subsidiary, RELM Communications, Inc.  From January 1993 to October 1995, he was the Financial Director of Harris Corp. Semiconductor Sector.
James E. Gilley has been our Chief Technology Officer and Vice President since June 30, 2008. From September 1995 to June 2008, he served as Chief Scientist of Transcrypt International, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of EFJ, Inc., a provider of secure wireless technologies primarily for the homeland security marketplace.  Mr. Gilley received a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree, Electrical Engineering from the University of NebraskaNorth Carolina at Chapel Hill.

John M. Suzuki was appointed to the Board of Directors in 1990July 2021. From May 2019 until accepting the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Suzuki served as Chief Strategy Officer of Imperium Leadership, where he has overseen the development and 1985, respectively.


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growth of the business. From May 2015 through May 2019, he served as President and CEO of EFJohnson Technologies, a two-way radio manufacturer. From 2011 through 2015, Mr. Suzuki served in a variety of leadership positions, including as Senior Vice President of Sales for AVTEC Incorporated, and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for 3eTechnologies International, a subsidiary of UltraElectronics. From 2004 through 2011, Mr. Suzuki served as Senior Vice President, Sales of EFJohnson Technologies. Mr. Suzuki has a broad background in general management, strategy, product development, sales, marketing, supply chain, operations and engineering, and mergers and acquisitions. He is a strategic thinker with extensive experience in developing and growing new business opportunities. Mr. Suzuki holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Ottawa and an MBA from Duke University.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The boardBoard of directorsDirectors is committed to good business practices, transparency in financial reporting and the highest level of corporate governance. The boardBoard of directors,Directors, which is elected by the stockholders, is our ultimate decision-making body, except with respect to those matters reserved to our stockholders. ItThe Board selects the senior management team, which is charged with the conduct of our business. Having selected the senior management team, the boardBoard of directorsDirectors acts as an advisor and counselor to senior management and ultimately monitors its performance.

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Board of Directors Independence

In accordance with the

The NYSE MKTAmerican corporate governance listing standards it is our policyprovide that the Company, as a smaller reporting company, may have a board of directors consistconsisting of a majority ofat least fifty percent (50%) independent directors. Our boardBoard of directorsDirectors reviews the relationships that each director has with us and other parties. Only those directors who do not have any of the categorical relationships that preclude them from being independent within the independence requirements of the NYSE MKTAmerican corporate governance listing standards and who the boardBoard of directorsDirectors affirmatively determines have no relationships that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director are considered to be independent directors. The boardBoard of directors has reviewedDirectors reviews a number of factors to evaluate the independence of each of its members. These factors include its members’ current and historic relationships with us and our subsidiaries; their relationships with management and other directors; the relationships their current and former employers have with us and our subsidiaries; and the relationships between us and other companies of which our boardBoard members are directors or executive officers. After evaluating theseThe Board of Directors reviewed the various factors described above in October 2023, including an evaluation of the boardholdings of directors hasFG, one of our most significant stockholders, and Mr. Cerminara’s positions as its Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Partner, and our investment in FG Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FGF), through our investment in FGI 1347 Holdings, LP, which was a consolidated variable interest entity of which we were the sole limited partner. Pursuant to such evaluation, the Board of Directors determined that three of its four members areMessrs. Horowitz, Jackson, Lanktree, Mitchell, Sams and General Payne were “independent” directors within the independence requirements of the NYSE MKTAmerican corporate governance listing standards and all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. These directors are: Donald F.U. Goebert, Timothy W. O’NeilAll Board committee members during 2022 were, and Kyle Cerminara. The board also determined that Mr. Johnson would qualify as anall current Board committee members are, independent director, if elected, and former directors George N. Benjamin, III, who resigned fromfor the boardpurpose of the committees on February 24, 2015, Randolph K. Piechocki, who was not nominated for re-election to the board at the 2015 annual meeting, and James R. Henderson, Ryan Levenson and Ben Rosenzweig, who each resigned from the board in September 2015, were independent. David P. Storey is not independent because of his employment as a senior executive of our company.


There are no family relationships between any of our directors, director nomineeswhich they served or executive officers.
serve.

Independent members of our boardBoard of directorsDirectors meet in executive session without the presence of non-independent directors and management, present, and are scheduled to do so at least once per year. The board

Stockholder Communications

Our Board of directors has designated Mr. O’Neil as the presiding director for these meetings.

Stockholder Communications
Our board of directorsDirectors believes that it is important for our stockholders and other interested parties to have a process to send communications to the board.Board. Accordingly, stockholders and other interested parties desiring to send a communication to the boardBoard of directors,Directors or to a specific director may do so by delivering a letter to theour Corporate Secretary of RELM at 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904. The mailing envelope must contain a clear notation indicating that the enclosed letter is a “stockholder-board communication” or “stockholder-director communication.communication” (or “interested party-board communication” or “interested party-director communication, as appropriate). All such letters must identify the author as the stockholder or interested party and clearly state whether the intended recipients of the letter are all members of our boardBoard of directorsDirectors or certain specified individual directors. The secretary will open such communications and make copies, and then circulate them to the appropriate director or directors and such other individuals in accordance with our corporate governance policies.

Policy Concerning Director Attendance at Annual Stockholders’ Meetings

While we encourage all members of our boardBoard of directorsDirectors to attend our annual stockholders’ meetings, there is no formal policy as to their attendance at annual stockholders’ meetings. OnAll seven of our directors serving at the datetime of the 20152022 annual stockholders’ meeting we had eight board members. All eight members of our board of directors attended the 2015 annual stockholders’such meeting.

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Codes of Ethics


Our boardBoard of directorsDirectors has adopted the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Conduct”) that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, and the Code of Ethics for the CEO and Senior Financial Officers (the “Code of Ethics”) containing additional specific policies. The Code of Conduct and the Code of Ethics are posted on our Internet website www.relm.com, under the “Resources / 508” tab,at www.bktechnologies.com/investor-relations and are available free of charge, upon request to Corporate Secretary, 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904; telephone number: (321) 984-1414.


Any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of the codes of ethics applicable to our directors and executive officers will be disclosed in a current report on Form 8-K within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver, unless the rules of the NYSE MKTAmerican then permit website posting of such amendments and waivers, in which case we would post such disclosures on our Internet website.

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Hedging and Pledging Policy

Our insider trading policy prohibits our officers, other employees and directors from hedging or pledging our shares.

Legal Proceedings

                No director, director nominee, or executive officer has been involved in any legal proceeding during the past ten years that is material to an evaluation of his or her ability or integrity.

Family Relationships

                There are no family relationships among any of our directors, director nominees or executive officers.

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

The boardBoard of directorsDirectors held 1118 meetings during 2015,2022, and each of the directors attended at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the total number of meetings of the boardBoard of directorsDirectors held during the period for which he has beenwas a director and the total number of meetings held by all committees of the boardBoard of directorsDirectors on which he served during the periods that he served.


was a member of that committee.

The boardBoard of directorsDirectors has a standing audit committee, compensation committeeAudit Committee, Compensation Committee and nominatingNominating and governance committee.

Audit Committee.  TheGovernance Committee. As of December 31, 2022, the members of the audit committee are Donald F.U. Goebert and Timothy W. O’Neil, who servescommittees of the Board of Directors were as chairperson. follows:

Director

Audit Committee

Compensation Committee

Nominating and Governance Committee

D. Kyle Cerminara(1)

R. Joseph Jackson

X

Chair

Charles T. Lanktree

X

X

Michael C. Mitchell

X

X

E. Gray Payne

Chair

Chair

Lloyd R. Sams

X

John M. Suzuki

__________________ 

(1)

Chairman of the Board.

Audit Committee.The audit committeeAudit Committee has a written charter, which is available at our website at www.relm.com/resources/corporate-governance.www.bktechnologies.com/investor-relations. The audit committee charterAudit Committee Charter requires that the audit committeeAudit Committee consist of two or more members of the boardBoard of directors,Directors, each of whom are independent, as defined by the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE MKT. We currently maintain an audit committeeAmerican.

The Board of two members pursuant to the exemption provided under Section 803(B)(2)(c) of the NYSE MKT listing rules, which provides that an issuer that satisfies the definition of “smaller reporting company” under SEC rules is only required to maintain an audit committee of at least two members, comprised solely of independent directors who also meet the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).


  The board of directorsDirectors has determined that each member of the members of the audit committeeAudit Committee is, and was during 2022, independent, as defined by Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act, and the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE MKT.American. The boardBoard of directorsDirectors also has determined that Mr. O’NeilGeneral Payne is an “audit committee financial expert”expert,” as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K.

The audit committeeAudit Committee has oversight responsibility for the quality and integrity of our consolidated financial statements.statements and is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of our independent registered public accounting firm. The committee meets privately with members of our independent registered public accounting firm, has the sole authority to retain and dismiss the independent registered public accounting firm and reviews their performance and independence from management. The independent registered public accounting firmwhich has unrestricted access and reports directly to the committee.committee, and annually reviews their performance and independence from management in deciding whether to continue to retain the accounting firm or engage a different accounting firm. The Audit Committee also evaluates the lead partner designated by the independent auditor. As required by the SEC’s rules, the committee is directly involved in the review and selection of the audit committeepartners serving on the auditor’s engagement team during mandated five-year partner rotations. The Audit Committee also oversees audit fee negotiations associated with our retention of the independent auditor and has the sole authority to approve such fees. The Audit Committee met 5five times during 2015.2022. The primary functions of the audit committeeAudit Committee are to oversee: (i) the audit of our consolidated financial statements provided to the SEC and our stockholders; (ii) our internal financial and accounting processes; and (iii) the independent audit process.process; and (iv) compliance with our Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics, as well as conflicts of interest and related party transactions. Additionally, the audit committeeAudit Committee has responsibilities and authority necessary to comply with Rules 10A-3(b)(2), (3), (4), and (5) of the Exchange Act, concerning the responsibilities relating to: (a) registered public accounting firms, (b) complaints relating to accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, (c) authority to engage advisors, and (d) funding. These and other aspects of the audit committee’sAudit Committee’s authority are more particularly described in the audit committee charter.

Audit Committee Charter.

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The audit committeeAudit Committee has adopted a formal policy concerning approval of audit, permitted audit-related and non-audit services to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm, Moore Stephens Lovelace.MSL. The policy requires that all services to be provided by Moore Stephens Lovelace,MSL, including audit services and permitted audit-related and non-audit services, must be pre-approved by the audit committee. The audit committeeAudit Committee approved all audit and permitted audit-related services provided by Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL to us during 2015. Moore Stephens Lovelace2022.  MSL did not provide any audit-related or non-audit services to us during 2015. The audit committee also approved all audit services provided by BDO USA, LLP to us during 2015. BDO USA, LLP did not provide any audit-related or non-audit services to us during 2015. As discussed under “Proposal 2–Ratification of Appointment of Independent Public Accounting Firm” in this proxy statement, we dismissed BDO USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm on November 9, 2015 and subsequently appointed Moore Stephens Lovelace as our independent registered public accounting firm.

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2022.

Compensation Committee.The members of the compensation committee are Donald F.U. Goebert, as chairperson, Timothy W. O’Neil and Kyle Cerminara. All members of the compensation committeeCompensation Committee are, and were during fiscal 2022, independent under the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE MKTAmerican and applicable SEC rules and regulations and qualify as “outside directors” under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.regulations. The compensation committeeCompensation Committee has a written charter, which is available at our website at www.relm.com/resources/corporate-governance.www.bktechnologies.com/investor-relations. The functions performed by the compensation committeeCompensation Committee include reviewing and approving all compensation arrangements for our executive officers and administering our equity incentive plans and programs. The compensation committeeCompensation Committee makes all final compensation decisions for the namedour executive officers, (as identified inincluding equity grants. The Compensation Committee reviews the “Summary Compensation Table For 2014-2015” appearing in this proxy statement,performance of our executive officers, including the “Named Executive Officers”), including stock options. The Chief Executive Officerprincipal executive officer. Our principal executive officer annually reviews the performance of each of the Named Executive Officersour executive officers and other officers and makes recommendations regarding the Named Executive Officersour executive officers and other officers and managers of the company, while the compensation committee reviews the performance of the Chief Executive Officer. The conclusions and recommendations resulting from the Chief Executive Officer’s review are then presented to the compensation committeeCompensation Committee for its consideration and approval. The compensation committeeCompensation Committee can exercise its discretion in modifying any of the Chief Executive Officer’sour principal executive officer’s recommendations. In performing its functions, the compensation committeeCompensation Committee may retain and terminate outside counsel, compensation and benefits consultants or other experts. During 2015,2022, the compensation committeeCompensation Committee met 1 time.

four times.

Nominating and Governance Committee.  The members of the nominating and governance committee are Timothy W. O’Neil, Donald F. U. Goebert and Kyle Cerminara, who serves as chairperson. All members of the nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee are, and were during fiscal 2022, independent under the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE MKT.American. The nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee has a written charter, which is available at our website at www.relm.com/resources/corporate-governance.www.bktechnologies.com/investor-relations. During 2015,2022, the nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee met 2 times.

one time.

The functions of the nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee include determining and recommending to the boardBoard of directorsDirectors the slate of director nominees for election to the boardBoard of directorsDirectors at each annual stockholders’ meeting and identifying and recommending director candidates to fill vacancies occurring between annual stockholders’ meetings. In addition, the nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee reviews, evaluates and recommends changes to our corporate governance guidelines and policies including our Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics, and monitors our compliance with these corporate governance guidelines, policies and codes.

policies.

Board Leadership and Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

We

During 2022, we had a separate Chairman of the Board and Principal Executive Officer. Our Board of Directors believed this Board leadership structure was best for the Company and our stockholders at the time. General Payne served as our Chairman of the Board until July 8, 2022, at which time the Board appointed Mr. Cerminara as the Chairman of the Board.  Our Principal Executive Officer was our Chief Executive Officer, John M. Suzuki. The Board believed it was in the Company’s best interest to have a separate Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Our board of directors believes this board leadership structure is best for the Company and our stockholders at this time. Our current Chairman is Timothy W. O’Neil, an independent director, and our current ChiefPrincipal Executive Officer is David P. Storey. Mr. Storey has been our Chiefso that the Principal Executive Officer for over 15 years, and the board believes it is in the Company’s best interest for our Chief Executive Officer to continue devotingcould devote his time and energy on the day-to-day management of ourthe business, while our independentthe Chairman Mr. O’Neil, focusesof the Board could focus on providing advice and independent oversight of management. Because our Chairman is appointed annually by our non-management directors, such directors are able to evaluate the leadership performance and independenceperformance of our Chairman each year.


The Board believes that it remains in the Company’s best interests to have a separate Chairman of the Board and Principal Executive Officer at this time for the reasons described above, and the Chairman will continue to be appointed annually by our non-management directors. The Board does not believe that one particular leadership structure is appropriate at all times and will continue to evaluate the Board’s leadership structure from time to time.

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The Board of Directors has not named a lead independent director, as it receives strong leadership from all of its members. Our boardBoard committees consist of only independent members, and our independent directors meet at least annually in executive session without the presence of non-independent directors and management. In addition, our directors take active and substantial roles in the activities of our Board of Directors at the full Board meetings. Our Board believes that this open structure, as compared to a system in which there is a designated lead independent director, facilitates a greater sense of responsibility among our directors and facilitates active and effective oversight by the independent directors of the Company’s operations and strategic initiatives, including any risks.

Our Board of Directors, both as a whole and through its three standing committees, has an advisory role in the Company’s risk management process. The Board of Directors does not have a standing risk management committee.  The Board typically reviews and discusses with management at each of its regular quarterly meetings, information presented by management relating to our operational results and outlook, including information regarding risks related to our business and operations, as well as risks associated with the markets we serve. In particular, the boardBoard is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic and operational risk exposure.exposure, which may include financial, legal and regulatory, human capital, environmental, information technology, security and reputational risks. Our management team maintains primary responsibility for the Company’s risk management, and the boardBoard and its committees rely on the representations of management, the external audit of our financial and operating results, our systems of internal controls and our historically conservative practices when assessing the Company’s risks. The audit committeeAudit Committee considers and discusses financial risk exposures, and the steps management has taken to monitor and control these exposures, and also provides oversight of the performance of the internal audit function. The nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance policies and the selection of prospective boardBoard members and their qualifications.qualifications, as well as environmental, social and governance (“ESG”)-related risks. The compensation committee,Compensation Committee, in conjunction with the audit committee,Audit Committee, assesses and monitors whether any of the Company’s compensation policies and programs have the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking. In addition, the Compensation Committee reviews and monitors matters related to human capital management, including diversity and inclusion initiatives and management of human capital risks.  Each committee must report findings regarding material risk exposures to the boardBoard as quickly as possible. The boardBoard believes that its role in risk oversight does not affect the board’sBoard’s leadership structure.

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Like all businesses, we also face threats to the Company’s cybersecurity, as the Company is reliant upon information systems and the Internet to conduct its business activities. In light of the pervasive and increasing threat from cyberattacks, the Board and the Audit Committee, with input from management, assess the Company’s cybersecurity threats and the measures implemented by the Company to mitigate and prevent cyberattacks. The Audit Committee consults with management regarding ongoing cybersecurity initiatives, and requests management to report to the Audit Committee or the full Board regularly on their assessment of the Company’s cybersecurity program and risks. With input from management, the Audit Committee assesses the Company’s cybersecurity risks and the measures implemented by the Company to mitigate and prevent cyberattacks and respond to data breaches, and periodically reports on the Company’s cybersecurity program to the Board of Directors.

Director Nomination Process

In accordance with the nominatingNominating and governance committee’sGovernance Committee’s written charter, the nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee has established policies and procedures for the nomination of director candidates to the boardBoard of directors.Directors. The nominating and governance committee determines the required selection criteria and qualifications of director candidates based upon our needs at the time director candidates are considered. Minimum qualifications for director candidates are set forth in the committee’s “Policy Regarding Minimum Qualifications of Director Candidates” attachedand include threshold criteria, such as Annex Aintegrity, absence of conflicts of interest that would materially impair a director’s ability to this proxy statement. Asexercise independent judgment or otherwise discharge the fiduciary duties owed as a director to the Company and our stockholders, ability to represent fairly and equally all stockholders, demonstrated achievement in one or more fields of business, professional, governmental, communal, scientific or educational endeavors, sound judgment, as a result of management or policy-making experience, that demonstrates an ability to function effectively in an oversight role, general appreciation regarding major issues facing public companies of a size and operational scope similar to the Company, and adequate time to serve. The Nominating and Governance Committee does not have a formal diversity policy. However, as noted in the policy,committee’s “Policy Regarding Minimum Qualifications of Director Candidates”, the committee, as one of its considerations, considers the extent to which the membership of the candidate on the boardBoard will promote diversity among the directors, and seeks to promote through the nominations process an appropriate diversity on the boardBoard of professional background, experience, expertise, perspective, age, gender, ethnicity and country of citizenship.


The committee also considers the overall composition of the Board and its committees, compliance with the NYSE American listing standards, and the contributions that a candidate can be expected to make to the collective functioning of the Board based upon the totality of the candidate’s credentials, experience and expertise, the composition of the Board at the time, and other relevant circumstances.

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We are of the view that the continuing service of qualified incumbent directors promotes stability and continuity in the function of the boardBoard of directors,Directors, contributing to the board’sBoard’s ability to work as a collective body, while giving us the benefit of the familiarity and insight into our affairs that our directors have accumulated during their tenure.


The nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee has adopted procedures consistent with the practice of re-nominating incumbent directors who continue to satisfy the committee’s criteria for membership on the board, whomBoard, who the committee believes continue to make important contributions to the boardBoard and who consent to continue their service on the board.Board. These procedures are set forth in the committee’s “Procedures for Identifying and Evaluating Director Candidates” attached as Annex Bpolicy. When evaluating the qualifications and performance of the incumbent directors that desire to this proxy statement.  


continue their service on our Board, the committee will (i) consider whether the director continues to satisfy the minimum qualifications for director candidates adopted by the committee, (ii) review the assessments of the performance of the director during the preceding term made by the committee, and (iii) determine whether there exist any special, countervailing considerations against re-nomination of the director. When there is no qualified and available incumbent, the committee will also solicit recommendations for nominees from persons that the committee believes are likely to be familiar with qualified candidates. These persons may include members of our Board of Directors and management of the Company. The nominatingcommittee may also determine to engage a professional search firm to assist in identifying candidates. As to each recommended candidate that the committee believes merits consideration, the committee will consider, among other things, whether the candidate possesses any of the specific qualities or skills that under the committee’s policies must be possessed by one or more members of the Board, the contribution that the candidate can be expected to make to the overall functioning of the Board and governance committeethe extent to which the membership of the candidate on the Board will promote diversity among the directors.

The Nominating and Governance Committee has adopted a policy with regard to the consideration of director candidates submitted by stockholders. This policy is set forth in the committee’s “Policy Regarding Director Candidate Recommendations Submitted by Stockholders” attached as Annex C to this proxy statement.Stockholders.” The committee will only consider director candidates submitted by stockholders who satisfy the minimum qualifications prescribed by the committee for director candidates, including that a director must represent the interests of all stockholders and not serve for the purpose of favoring or advancing the interests of any particular stockholder group or other constituency.


In accordance with this policy, the nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders only where the committee has determined not to not re-nominate a qualifiedan incumbent director. In addition, the nominating and governance committee will not consider any recommendation by a stockholder or an affiliated group of stockholders unless such stockholder or group of stockholders has owned at least five percent (5%) of our common stock for at least one year as of the date the recommendation is made. Any eligible stockholder (or affiliated group of stockholders) who desires to recommend a director candidate for consideration by the nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee generally must ensure that it is received by the Company no later than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the 2017prior annual meeting of stockholders. In the event that the date of the annual meeting of stockholders for the current year is more than 30 days following the first anniversary date of the annual meeting of stockholders for the prior year, the submission of a recommendation will be considered timely if it is submitted a reasonable time in advance of the mailing of the Company’s proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders for the current year. Any eligible stockholder (or affiliated group of stockholders) who desires to recommend a director candidate for consideration by the Nominating and Governance Committee for the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders is required to do so prior to December 2, 2016. July 5, 2024.

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Any such eligible stockholder (or affiliated group of stockholders) is required to submit complete information about itself and the recommended director candidate as specified in the committee’s “Procedures for Stockholders Submitting Director Candidate Recommendations” attached as Annex D to this proxy statementpolicy and as set forth in the advance notice provisions in our amended and restated bylaws. Such information must include, among other things, (i) the number of our common shares beneficially owned by the recommending stockholder and the length of time such shares have been held, (ii) the name, age and experience of the director candidate, (iii) whether the director candidate owns any of our securities, (iv) whether the director candidate has a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction in which we are a participant, (v) a description of all relationships between the director candidate and the recommending stockholder, and (vi) a statement setting forth the director candidate’s qualifications. Submissions should be addressed to the nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee care of our Corporate Secretary at our principal headquarters, 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904. Submissions must be made by mail, courier or personal delivery. E-mail submissions will not be considered.


12

Copies of the policies of the Nominating and Governance Committee are available on our website at www.bktechnologies.com/investor-relations.

The nominatingNominating and governance committeeGovernance Committee evaluated General Payne, Messrs. David P. Storey, Donald F.U. Goebert, Timothy W. O’NeilHorowitz, Jackson, Lanktree, Sams and D. Kyle Cerminara, allSuzuki, of whom General Payne, Messrs. Jackson, Lanktree, Sams and Suzuki are incumbent directors, in addition to Lewis M. Johnson, a director nominee, and recommended their nomination to the boardBoard of directors.Directors. The board,Board, in turn, nominated these fivesix persons for election as directors at the annual meeting. Based upon discussions with Mr. Cerminara and Fundamental Global, our largest stockholder, Mr. Cerminara suggested Mr. Johnson, President, Co-Founder and Partner of Fundamental Global Investors, LLC as a person that the nominating and governance committee should consider for nomination to our board of directors. After evaluating the qualifications of the individuals submitted for consideration, including Mr. Johnson, the nominating and governance committee recommended to the board that Mr. Johnson be nominated for election at the annual meeting, and the board approved his nomination.  The board believes Mr. Johnson would bring the board the perspective of one of the Company’s most significant stockholders. In addition, Mr. Johnson has extensive experience in the financial industry, including investing, capital allocation, finance and financial analysis of public companies, which skills would be valuable to our board of directors.


2022

Director Compensation Program

On September 6, 2018, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, adopted a new director compensation program for all non-employee directors, effective as of September 1, 2018. The program was adopted to remain competitive in attracting and retaining qualified Board members and to better align director compensation to other public companies of comparable size to the Company.

Under the program, each non-employee director receives an annual retainer fee of $50,000, payable in quarterly installments of cash or the cash equivalent in company stock, at the date of the approval of payment by the compensation Committee. On August 12, 2022, the Compensation Committee granted each non-employee director 4,310 RSUs for the annual retainer fee. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The RSUs vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, subject to the recipient’s continued service as a director of the Company through such date, provided that, if the director makes himself available and consents to be nominated by the Company for continued service as a director of the Company, but is not nominated for the Board of Directors for election by stockholders, other than for good reason, as determined by the Board in its discretion, then the RSUs will vest in full as of the director’s last date of service as a director of the Company.

In addition, the director compensation program provides for an additional annual cash retainer of $75,000, payable in quarterly cash or the cash equivalent in company stock installments, for the Chairman of the Board, $3,000, payable in quarterly cash installments, for each Board committee served on, or an additional annual cash retainer of $10,000, payable in quarterly cash or the cash equivalent in company stock installments, per committee for service as committee chairman. All non-employee directors are entitled to reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with their attendance at meetings of the Board and any committee thereof on which they serve. If a non-employee director does not serve on the Board or a Board committee, or as Chairman or as a Board committee chairman, for the full year, the Board and any applicable Board committee, Board Chairman, and any Board committee chairman retainers are prorated for the portion of the year served. If a non-employee director joins the Board after the grant of RSUs for that year, the non-employee director’s grant of RSUs will be prorated for the portion of the year to be served.

Our 2017 Plan provides that the aggregate grant date fair value of all awards granted to any single non-employee director during any single calendar year (determined as of the applicable grant date(s) under applicable financial accounting rules), taken together with any cash fees paid to the non-employee director during the same calendar year, may not exceed $200,000.

17

Table of Contents

The following table shows the compensation ofpaid to our non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2015.  For a description of the compensation, see the narrative description immediately following the table.

Name Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)  Option Awards ($)(6)  Total ($) 
          
Donald F. U. Goebert  17,250   10,260   27,510 
Timothy W. O’Neil  19,000   10,260   29,260 
D. Kyle Cerminara(1)  8,500   8,415   16,915 
Ryan Levenson(2)  12,500   10,260   22,760 
Benjamin Rosenzweig(2)  11,250   10,260   21,510 
James Henderson(3)  13,250   10,260   23,510 
Randolph K. Piechocki(4)  4,750      4,750 
George Benjamin, III(5)  3,250      3,250 
___________________
fiscal 2022:

Name

 

Fees Earned or

Paid in Cash ($)

 

 

Stock Awards ($)(1)

 

 

Total ($)

 

D. Kyle Cerminara(2)

 

 

89,000

 

 

 

41,409

 

 

 

130,409

 

R. Joseph Jackson(2)

 

 

59,500

 

 

 

18,750

 

 

 

78,250

 

Charles T. Lanktree(2)

 

 

56,000

 

 

 

41,409

 

 

 

97,409

 

Michael C. Mitchell(2)

 

 

28,000

 

 

 

18,750

 

 

 

46,750

 

E. Gray Payne(2)

 

 

120,000

 

 

 

41,409

 

 

 

161,409

 

Lloyd R. Sams(2)

 

 

26,500

 

 

 

18,750

 

 

 

45,250

 

Michael R. Dill(2)

 

 

33,000

 

 

 

136,651(4)

 

 

169,651

 

Inez M. Tenenbaum(2)

 

 

28,000

 

 

 

27,102

 

 

 

55,102

 

John W. Struble(3)

 

 

10,598

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,598

 

_________________

(1)

Mr.

Stock awards represent the aggregate grant date fair value of 4,310 RSUs granted on August 12, 2022, to each of Messrs. Cerminara, was appointed asJackson, Lanktree, Mitchell, Sams and General Payne. Messrs. Cerminara, Lanktree and General Payne stock award compensation also includes compensation related to vesting of shares granted for prior years or service. The RSUs were granted pursuant to the 2017 Plan and represent a director on July 6, 2015.

(2)Messrs. Levenson and Rosenzweig resigned as directors on September 27, 2015.
(3)Mr. Henderson resigned as a director on September 26, 2015.
(4)Mr. Piechocki was not nominated to stand for re-election at our 2015 annual meeting and served as a director until May 20, 2015, the dateportion of the meeting.
(5)Mr. Benjamin servedcompensation payable to our non-employee directors, as described above. Each RSU represents a director until his resignationcontingent right to receive one share of our common stock. The RSUs vest in full on February 24, 2015. On May 21, 2014, Mr. Benjamin received a stock optionthe first anniversary of the grant for hisdate, subject to the director’s continued service as a director for 5,000 shares of our common stock under our 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan at an exercise price of $3.44 per share. In connection with his resignation, the board took action to cause all of the stock options, which were scheduledCompany through such date, provided that, if the director makes himself available and consents to vest on April 20, 2015, to vest and immediately become exercisable.
(6)
On May 20, 2015, stock option grantsbe nominated by the Company for 5,000 sharescontinued service as a director of our common stock under our 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan were made to Messrs. Goebert, O’Neil, Levenson, Rosenzweig and Henderson following their re-election to the board at our 2015 annual meeting. The options were granted at an exercise price of $5.70 per share andCompany, but is not nominated for the Board for election by stockholders, other than for good reason, as determined by the Board in its discretion, then the RSUs shall vest in full on April 21, 2016. On July 6, 2015,as of the director’s last date of service as a stock optiondirector of the Company. In addition, the 2017 Plan and the RSU award agreements grant for 5,000 sharesthe compensation committee the discretion to accelerate vesting of our common stockthe RSUs upon the occurrence of a “change in control” (as defined under our 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan was made to Mr. Cerminarathe 2017 Plan) or in connection with his appointmentthe termination of the director’s service for any reason prior to the board. vesting date.

The options were granted at an exercise price of $4.66 per share and vest in full on June 7, 2016. Amountsamounts shown represent the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718 “Compensation-Stock Compensation” (“FASB ASC Topic 718”). The value ultimately realized by the director upon the actual exercise of the stock options may or may not be equal to the FASB ASC Topic 718 computed value.  For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 10 (Share-Based Employee Compensation) of our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

2022.

(2)

The aggregate number of option and stock option awards outstanding (including exercised and unexercised stock options and unvested RSUs) as of December 31, 20152022, for each non-employee director was as follows:

Name

Option Awards (#)

Stock Awards (#)

D. Kyle Cerminara

9,391 RSUs

R. Joseph Jackson

4,310 RSUs

Charles T. Lanktree

9,391 RSUs

Michael C. Mitchell

4,310 RSUs

E. Gray Payne

9,391 RSUs

Lloyd R. Sams

4,310 RSUs

18

Table of Contents

The RSUs outstanding for each director listed above as of December 31, 2022 include 202 RSUs remaining pursuant to a grant made to Messrs. Cerminara, Lanktree and Payne on September 6, 2018 (not including 810 RSUs that vested prior to December 31, 2022), 831 RSUs remaining pursuant to a grant made to Messrs. Cerminara, Lanktree and Payne on September 6, 2019 (not including 1,247 RSUs that vested prior to December 31, 2022), 1,579 RSUs remaining pursuant to a grant made to Messrs. Cerminara, Lanktree and Payne on August 24, 2020 (not including 1,053 RSUs that vested prior to December 31, 2022), and 2,477 RSUs remaining pursuant to a grant made to Messrs. Cerminara, Lanktree and Payne on August 17, 2021, (not including 619 RSUs that vested prior to December 31, 2022).  The RSUs listed above vest in full in five equal annual installments, beginning on the first anniversary of the respective grant date, in each case subject to the director’s continued service as a director of the Company through such date, provided that, if the director makes himself available and consents to be nominated by the Company for continued service as a director of the Company, but is not nominated for the Board of directors for election by stockholders, other than for good reason, as determined by the Board in its discretion, then the RSUs will vest in full as of the director’s last date of service as a director of the Company. See footnote 1 above for more information. The 4,310 RSUs  pursuant to a grant made to Messrs. Cerminara, Jackson, Lanktree, Mitchell, Payne and Sams on August 12, 2022, remain unvested as of December 31, 2022. Such RSUs vest in on the first anniversary of the grant date, in each case subject to the director’s continued service as a director of the Company through such date, provided that, if the director makes himself available and consents to be nominated by the Company for continued service as a director of the Company, but is not nominated for the Board of directors for election by stockholders, other than for good reason, as determined by the Board in its discretion, then the RSUs will vest in full as of the director’s last date of service as a director of the Company. See footnote 1 above for more information.   On June 30, 2022, the Company, at the direction of the Board of Directors, accelerated the vesting of Mr. Dill’s unvested restricted stock units granted September 6, 2018, September 6, 2019, August 24, 2020, and July 30, 2021, and issued 6,853 shares of common stock to Mr. Dill. On July 1, 2022, the Company, at the direction of the Board of Directors, granted on a pro rata basis for 2022 compensation, 3,743 RSUs to former director Mr. Dill. These restricted stock units were fully vested and settled on the date of grant. On July 1, 2022, the Company, at the direction of the Board of Directors, granted on a pro rata basis for 2022 compensation 2,212 RSUs to former director Ms. Tenenbaum. These restricted stock units were fully vested and settled on the date of grant.

(3)

Mr. Dill and Ms. Tenenbaum were members of the Board until the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders held on June 30, 2022, when they did not stand for re-election. Mr. Struble was as follows:

David P. Storey – 61,468
Donald F. U. Goebert – 25,000
Timothy O’Neil – 25,000
D. Kyle Cerminara – 5,000
a member of the Board until the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders held on December 17, 2021, when he did not stand for re-election.

13

During 2015, we paid to each of our non-employee directors meeting fees of $1,000 for attendance in person and $500 for attendance by telephone at each board meeting. We also paid to each of our non-employee directors, who served on any committee of the board, meeting fees of $250 for attendance at each meeting of any such committee which was held in conjunction with a meeting of the board and meeting fees of $500 for attendance at each meeting of any such committee which was not held in conjunction with a board meeting. Each of our non-employee directors who served as chairperson of any committee of the board of directors also received an annual fee of $1,000. In addition, our non-employee directors receive a yearly retainer fee of $8,000.  All non-employee directors are entitled to reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with their attendance at meetings of the board and any committee thereof on which they serve or otherwise in furtherance of our business.

On May 20, 2015, after the 2015 annual stockholders’ meeting, each of our non-employee directors who was elected as a director at the annual meeting received a stock option grant to purchase 5,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $5.70 per share. Mr. Cerminara, who was appointed as a director on July 6, 2015, received a stock option grant to purchase 5,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $4.66 per share on July 6, 2015. These stock option grants were made pursuant to the terms of our 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan.  Our 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan provides for automatic annual grants of stock options for 5,000 shares to each non-employee director of the date of each annual meeting of stockholders at which such individual is elected or re-elected as a director.  The 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan further provides that each grant be made at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant and on such other terms and conditions determined by the compensation committee, as administrator of the Plan, and consistent with the Plan. However, under a policy established by the compensation committee, all stock option grants to non-employee directors are required to have an exercise price equal to either the book value per share or the fair market value per share, whichever is greater on the date of grant.  


14

The following report of the audit committeeAudit Committee does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission nor shall this report be incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The audit committeeAudit Committee oversees our financial reporting process on behalf of the boardBoard of directors.Directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the consolidated financial statements and the reporting process, including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the audit committeeAudit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20152022, with management, including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.

The audit committeeAudit Committee also has reviewed and discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm, Moore Stephens Lovelace,MSL, P.A., which is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those consolidated financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, its judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of our accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the committee by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees, as adopted byapplicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the audit committeeAudit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Moore Stephens Lovelace,MSL, P.A. required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committeeAudit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Moore Stephens Lovelace,MSL, P.A. its independence.

Based on the considerations and discussions referred to above, the audit committeeAudit Committee recommended to our boardBoard of directorsDirectors (and the boardBoard approved) that the audited consolidated financial statements for 20152022 be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015,2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


This report is provided by the following independent directors, who comprise the audit committee:

Audit Committee:

E. Gray Payne (Chair)

R. Joseph Jackson

Charles T. Lanktree

 
Timothy W. O’Neil (chairperson)20

Donald F.U. GoebertTable of Contents


15


Information about our Executive Officers

Set forth below is certain information regarding our executive officers as of October 25, 2023. Each executive officer serves at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Name

Age

Position

John M. Suzuki

59

Chief Executive Officer, President, Director

Scott A. Malmanger

67

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

Henry R. (Randy) Willis

64

Chief Operating Officer

Branko Avanic, Ph.D.

62

Chief Technology Officer

John M. Suzuki was appointed as our Chief Executive Officer on July 19, 2021, and as our President on October 12, 2023. From May 2019 until accepting the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Suzuki served as Chief Strategy Officer of Imperium Leadership, where he has overseen the development and growth of the business. From May 2015 through May 2019, he served as President and CEO of EFJohnson Technologies, a two-way radio manufacturer. From 2011 through 2015, Mr. Suzuki served in a variety of leadership positions, including as Senior Vice President of Sales for AVTEC Incorporated, and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for 3eTechnologies International, a subsidiary of UltraElectronics. From 2004 through 2011, Mr. Suzuki served as Senior Vice President, Sales of EFJohnson Technologies. Mr. Suzuki has a broad background in general management, strategy, product development, sales, marketing, supply chain, operations and engineering, and mergers and acquisitions. He is a strategic thinker with extensive experience in developing and growing new business opportunities. Mr. Suzuki holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Ottawa and an MBA from Duke University.

Scott A. Malmangerhas been our Chief Financial Officer since July 2022 and Secretary since November 2022. From October 2019 to October 2021, he was Chief Financial Officer for OneroRx Inc., an Illinois based group of retail pharmacies.  From May 2017 to April 2019, he was the Chief Financial Officer of iCoreConnect, Inc. (OCT: ICCT), a SaaS provider of electronic medical record software. From November 2015 to May 2017, he served as VP of Finance for Atlantic Tower Services, Inc., a provider of cell phone tower maintenance services.  From May 2010 to February 2015, he was Chief Financial Officer/VP Finance for American K-9 Detection Services, LLC., a provider of canine detection services to the US Dept of Defense, Department of State and other government agencies.  He is an analytical strategist skilled in successfully navigating corporations large and small through periods of accelerated growth. Mr. Malmanger is a Certified Public Accountant (Inactive) and also holds a Certified Management Accountant designation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Business Administration from Pillsbury College and a MBA from the University of Minnesota – Mankato.

Henry R. (Randy) Willis has been our Chief Operating Officer since March 14, 2018. He previously served as the Company’s Vice President of Operations since August 2017, overseeing all aspects of manufacturing and quality. Prior to joining the Company, he held leadership positions in manufacturing, operations, quality, supply chain, industrial engineering and program management, including founding and serving as President of Target Velocity Consulting, Inc., a “Lean/Six Sigma” firm specializing in operational improvements, from December 2009 to August 2017 and Vice President, Continuous Improvement, for CIRCOR International, Inc. (NYSE: CIR), from August 2007 to December 2009. He also served in leadership positions for Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE: PH) from January 2005 to August 2007 and Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON) from June 1998 to January 2005. Mr. Willis holds certifications as a Lean Master and Six Sigma Black Belt and B.S. and M.S. degrees in Industrial Technology from East Carolina University.

Branko Avanic, Ph.D., has been our Chief Technology Officer since October 30, 2019. Dr. Avanic previously served as Senior Vice President of Engineering of BK Technologies, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary, since August 13, 2019. Prior to joining the Company, he served in a number of roles at Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MSI), including Director, Head Architect – Devices Engineering for several different projects from 2015 through June 2019 and a variety of other roles from 1999 to 2015. Dr. Avanic also serves as President of Ph.D. Research Group Inc. Dr. Avanic has previously served as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami and Florida Atlantic University. He received a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Miami.

21

Table of Contents

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE FOR 2014-2015

2021-2022

The following table provides certain summary information concerning the compensation of our Named Executive Officersnamed executive officers for the last two completed fiscal years ended December 31, 2015:

Name and Principal Position Year 
Salary
($)
  Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(1)  All Other Compensation ($)  Total ($) 
David P. Storey 2015  299,174      14,842(2)  314,016 
President and Chief Executive Officer 2014  299,174   48,800   14,180(2)  362,154 
                   
William P. Kelly 2015  187,012      14,536(3)  201,548 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary 2014  178,231   40,000   13,703(3)  231,934 
                   
James E. Gilley 2015  149,838      4,157(4)  153,995 
Chief Technology Officer and Vice President 2014  135,960   26,600   3,935(4)  166,495 
2022:

Name and Principal Position

 

Year

 

Salary

($)

 

Bonus

($)(1)

 

Stock Awards ($)(2)

 

Option Awards ($)(3)

 

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)

 

All Other Compensation ($)

 

Total

($)

John M. Suzuki

Chief Executive Officer and President(10)

 

2022

 

358,844

 

 

27,200

 

101,605

 

 

18,528(4)

 

506,177

 

 

 2021

 

   150,770

 

       — 

 

   —    

 

    111,100

 

      — 

 

  5,035(4)       

 

 266,905   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timothy A. Vitou(10)

 

2022

 

281,949

 

30,000

 

 

47,550

 

 

14,918(5)

 

374,417

President

 

2021

 

275,000

 

45,000

 

 

 

 

24,341(5)

 

344,341

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William P. Kelly()(11)

 

2022

 

225,881

 

 

 

 

 

34,449(6)

 

260,331

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

2021

 

221,450

 

30,000

 

 

 

 

23,348(6)

 

244,798

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scott A. Malmanger(12)

 

2022

 

36,152

 

 

 

 

 

90(7)

 

36,242

Chief Financial Officer

 

2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Randy Willis

 

2022

 

231,454

 

30,000

 

 

22,710

 

 

12,261(8)

 

266,425

Chief Operating Officer

 

2021

 

222,400

 

60,000

 

 

 

 

12,091(8)

 

264,491

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Branko Avanic

 

2022

 

252,986

 

30,000

 

 

22,710

 

 

11,855(9)

 

287,551

Chief Technology Officer

 

2021

 

244,445

 

75,000

 

 

 

 

14,359(9)

 

288,804

_____________

(1)

Amounts reported as “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” represent payouts under our executive incentive bonus plan for

On March 2, 2022, at the 2014 fiscal year.recommendation of the compensation committee, the Board approved payment of cash bonuses of $30,000 to each of Mr. Vitou, Mr. Willis, and Dr. Avanic.

On March 16, 2021, the Compensation Committee approved payment of cash bonuses of $45,000 to Mr. Vitou, $30,000 to Mr. Kelly, $60,000 to Mr. Willis, and $75,000 to Dr. Avanic

(2)

On June 8, 2022, at the recommendation of the compensation committee, the Board approved issuance of 2,000 RSUs to Mr. Suzuki.

(3)

The amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options granted to the Named Executive Officer computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The value ultimately realized by the Named Executive Officer upon the actual exercise of the stock options may or may not be equal to the FASB ASC Topic 718 computed value. For a discussion of valuation assumptions, see Note 1 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and Note 10 (Share-Based Employee Compensation) of our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2022.

 
(2)22

Table of Contents

On June 22, 2022, the compensation committee granted non-qualified stock options to Messrs. Suzuki, Vitou and Willis to purchase 9,000, 6,000 and 6,000 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price of $12.40 per share.

On March 1, 2022, the compensation committee granted non-qualified stock options to Messrs. Suzuki, Vitou, Willis and Dr. Avanic to purchase 17,000, 6,000, 6,000 and 6,000 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price of $11.65 per share.

On July 19, 2021, the compensation committee granted non-qualified stock options to Mr. Suzuki to purchase 20,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price of $15.40 per share.

(4)

The amounts in this column for Mr. StoreySuzuki represent ourthe Company’s matching contributions for the fiscal years 20152022 and 2014fiscal 2021 of $6,031$10,238 and $5,938,$2,019, respectively, to Mr. Storey’sSuzuki’s account under ourthe Company’s 401(k) planplan; and ourthe Company’s payments for the fiscal years 20152022 and 2014fiscal 2021 of $8,811$8,291 and $8,241,$3,016, respectively, for long-term disability, life and health insurance premiums for the benefit of Mr. Storey.Suzuki.

(3)

(5)

The amounts in this column for Mr. KellyVitou represent ourthe Company’s matching contributions for the fiscal years 20152022 and 2014fiscal 2021 of $5,806$7,049 and $5,543,$5,534, respectively, to Mr. Kelly’sVitou’s account under ourthe Company’s 401(k) plan and ourplan; the Company’s payments for the fiscal years 20152022 and 2014fiscal 2021 of $8,730$7,869 and $8,160,$8,231, respectively, for long-term disability, life and health insurance premiums for the benefit of Mr. Kelly.Vitou; and the Company’s payment for fiscal 2021 of $10,576, for accrued unused vacation time.

(4)

(6)

The amounts in this column for Mr. GilleyKelly represent ourthe Company’s matching contributions for fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 of $3,359 and $6,776, respectively, to Mr. Kelly’s account under the Company’s 401(k) plan; the Company’s payments for the fiscal years 20152022 and 2014fiscal 2021 of $4,157$3,931 and $3,935,$8,055, respectively, for long-term disability, life and health insurance premiums for the benefit of Mr. Gilley.Kelly; and the Company’s payment for fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 of $27,160 and $8,517, respectively for accrued unused vacation time.

(7)

The amounts in this column for Mr. Malmanger represent the Company’s payments for fiscal 2022 of $90, for long-term disability, life and health insurance premiums for the benefit of Mr. Malmanger.

(8)

The amounts in this column for Mr. Willis represent the Company’s matching contribution for fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 of $6,944 and of $6,793, respectively, to Mr. Willis’s account under the Company’s 401(k) plan; the Company’s payments for fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 of $5,318 and $5,298 for long-term disability, life and health insurance premiums for the benefit of Mr. Willis.

(9)

The amount in this column for Dr. Avanic represents the Company’s matching contributions for fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021 of $3,564 and $6,088, respectively, to Dr. Avanic’s account under the Company’s 401(k) plan; the Company’s payments for fiscal 2022 and 2021 of $8,291 and $8,271 for long-term disability, life and health insurance premiums for the benefit of Dr. Avanic.

(10)

Mr. Vitou retired on October 12, 2023, and Mr. Suzuki was appointed President of the Company effective October 12, 2023.

(11)

Mr, Kelly retired effective June 30, 2022.

(12)

Mr. Malmanger was appointed Chief Financial Officer on November 1, 2022. He previously served as a consultant to the Company since May 31, 2022, and as the Company’s interim Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since June 30, 2022.

Each

Narrative to Summary Compensation Table

We review compensation annually for all employees, including our Named Executive Officers. In setting annual base salaries and bonuses and granting equity incentive awards, we consider (i) compensation for comparable positions in the market, (ii) individual performance as compared to our expectations and objectives, (iii) our desire to motivate our employees to achieve short- and long-term results that are in the best interests of our stockholders, and (iv) a long-term commitment to our Company.

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Our Board historically has determined our executives’ compensation based on the recommendations of our Compensation Committee, which typically reviews and discusses management’s proposed compensation with the Chief Executive Officer for all executives other than the Chief Executive Officer. Based on those discussions and its discretion, the Compensation Committee then recommends the compensation for each executive officer to the Board. Our Board, without members of management present, discusses the Compensation Committee’s recommendations and ultimately approves the compensation of our executive officers.

Base Salaries

On March 17, 2021, the Compensation Committee approved base salaries of $275,000, $221,450, $225,750, and $246,750 to Messrs. Vitou, Kelly and Willis, and Dr. Avanic, respectively. On July 19, 2021, in connection with Mr. Suzuki’s appointment as Chief Executive officer and the Suzuki Employment agreement, the Board of Directors approved a base salary of $350,000 for Mr. Suzuki.

On October 31, 2022, in connection with Mr. Malmanger’s appointment as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary and the Malmanger Employment agreement, the Compensation Committee approved base salary of $235,000 for Mr. Malmanger.

Bonus Payments

2022 Discretionary Cash Bonuses

On March 1, 2022, the compensation committee approved the payment of cash bonuses of $30,000 to Mr. Vitou, $30,000 to Mr. Willis, and $30,000 to Dr. Avanic.

Stock Option Awards

2022 Awards

On March 1, 2022, the compensation committee granted non-qualified stock options to Messrs. Suzuki, Vitou, Willis and Dr. Avanic to purchase 17,000, 6,000, 6,000 and 6,000 shares, respectively, of the Named Executive OfficersCompany’s common stock, at an exercise price of $11.65 per share. The options have a ten-year term. Mr. Suzuki’s options vest in five equal annual installments beginning on the grant date and thereafter on March 1, 2023, March 1, 2024, March 1, 2025, and March 1, 2026. The options granted to Mr. Vitou, Mr. Willis, and Dr. Avanic vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the grant date and thereafter on March 1, 2023, and March 1, 2024.

On June 22, 2022, the compensation committee granted non-qualified stock options to Messrs. Suzuki, Vitou and Willis to purchase 9,000, 6,000 and 6,000 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price of $12.40 per share. The options have a ten-year term. The options vest based on achievement of certain business objectives, that as of December 31, 2022 were not achieved and the options remain unvested.

Other Compensation

Except as disclosed above, Mr. Suzuki, Mr. Vitou, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Malmanger, Mr. Willis and Dr. Avanic did not receive any other compensation during 2015fiscal 2022 or 2014fiscal 2021, except for perquisites and other personal benefits, of which the total aggregate value for each Named Executive Officerof them did not exceed $10,000.


2015

Pay Versus Performance

As required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship between executive compensation actually paid (also referred to as “CAP”) and certain financial performance of our Company for each of the last two completed fiscal years. In determining the “compensation actually paid” to our NEOs, we are required to make various adjustments to amounts that have been previously reported in the Summary Compensation Table in previous years, as the SEC’s valuation methods for this section differ from those required in the Summary Compensation Table. The table below summarizes compensation values both previously reported in our Summary Compensation Table, as well as the adjusted values required in this section for the 2022 and 2021 fiscal years. Note that for our NEOs other than our CEO, or principal executive officer, compensation is reported as an average.

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Table of Contents

 

 

John M. Suzuki, PEO

 

 

Timothy A. Vitou, Former PEO

 

 

Non-PEO NEO's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year

 

Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (1)

 

 

Compensation Actually

Paid to PEO (2)

 

 

Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (1)

 

 

Compensation Actually

Paid to PEO (2)

 

 

Average Summary Compensation Table Total for

Non-PEOs (3)

 

 

Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEOs (4)

 

 

Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return

 

 

Net loss

(thousands) (5)

 

2022

 

$506,177

 

 

$573,303

 

 

$374,417

 

 

$414,758

 

 

$299,716

 

 

$331,001

 

 

$117.04

 

 

$(11,633)

2021

 

$266,905

 

 

$266,905

 

 

$344,341

 

 

$316,875

 

 

$297,704

 

 

$283,193

 

 

$80.92

 

 

$(1,701)

(1) Represent the amounts of total compensation reported for our PEO and Former PEO during each corresponding year in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table above.

(2) Represents the amount of “compensation actually paid” to our PEO and Former PEO, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or paid to our PEO and Former PEO during the applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to our PEO and Former PEO’s total compensation for each year to determine the “compensation actually paid”:

 

 

Year

 

Reported Summary Compensation Table

Total for PEO ($)

 

 

Reported Value of Option Awards (a)(b) ($)

 

 

Equity Award

Adjustments (b) ($)

 

 

Compensation Actually

Paid to PEO ($)

 

John M. Suzuki, PEO

 

2022

 

$506,177

 

 

$(101,605)

 

$168,732

 

 

$573,303

 

 

 

2021

 

$266,905

 

 

$(111,100)

 

$111,100

 

 

$266,905

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timothy A. Vitou, Former PEO

 

2022

 

$374,417

 

 

 

(47,550)

 

$87,891

 

 

$414,758

 

 

 

2021

 

$344,341

 

 

$-

 

 

$(27,466)

 

$316,875

 

(a) The grant date fair value of equity awards represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Option Awards” columns in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year.

(b) In order to calculate the compensation “actually paid” to our PEO and Former PEO, we are required under the SEC rules to subtract from the value in the Summary Compensation Table the grant date fair value of equity awards, and add back the following:

(i)the year-end fair value of any equity awards in the applicable year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the year;

(ii)the amount of change as of the end of the applicable year (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value of any awards granted in prior years that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the applicable year;

(iii)for awards that are granted and vest in the same applicable year, the fair value as of the vesting date;

(iv)for awards granted in prior years that vest in the applicable year, the amount equal to the change as of the vesting date (from the end of the prior fiscal year) in fair value;

(v)for awards granted in prior years that are determined to fail to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the applicable year, a deduction for the amount equal to the fair value at the end of the prior fiscal year; and

(vi)the dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid on stock or option awards in the applicable year prior to the vesting date that are not otherwise reflected in the fair value of such award or included in any other component of total compensation for the applicable year.

The amounts deducted or added in calculating the equity award adjustments are as follows:

 

 

Year

 

Year End Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Year ($)

 

 

Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years ($)

 

 

Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year ($)

 

 

Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year ($)

 

 

Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year ($)

 

 

Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock or Option Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation($)

 

 

Total Equity Award Adjustments

 

John M. Suzuki, PEO

 

2022

 

$147,283

 

 

$-

 

 

$21,448

 

 

$-

 

 

$-

 

 

$-

 

 

$168,732

 

 

 

2021

 

$-

 

 

$-

 

 

$111,100

 

 

$-

 

 

$-

 

 

$-

 

 

$111,100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timothy A. Vitou, Former PEO

 

2022

 

$72,820

 

 

$5,634

 

 

$7,570

 

 

$1,867

 

 

$-

 

 

$-

 

 

$87,891

 

 

 

2021

 

$-

 

 

$(17,654)

 

$-

 

 

$(9,812)

 

$-

 

 

$-

 

 

$(27,466)

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(3) Represents the average of the amounts reported for our NEOs as a group (excluding our PEO and our Former PEO) in each applicable year in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table above. For 2021, this includes William P. Kelly, Randy Willis and Branko Avanic and for 2022, Scott A. Malmanger and the executives listed above, (the “Non-PEO NEOs”).

(4) Represents the average amount of “compensation actually paid” to the Non-PEO NEOs, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average compensation earned or paid to the Non-PEO NEOs during the applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to average total compensation for the Non-PEO NEOs for each year to determine the “compensation actually paid”, using the same methodology as described above in Note (2):

Year

 

Average Reported Summary Compensation Table

Total for Non-PEOs ($)

 

 

Average Reported

Value of Option

Awards ($)

 

 

Average Equity

Award

Adjustments (a) ($)

 

 

Average Compensation

Actually Paid to

Non-PEOs ($)

 

2022

 

$299,716

 

 

$(35,130)

 

$66,416

 

 

$331,001

 

2021

 

$297,704

 

 

$-

 

 

$(14,511)

 

$283,193

 

(a) The amounts deducted or added in calculating the total average equity award adjustment are as follows:

Year

 

Year End Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Year ($)

 

 

Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years ($)

 

 

Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Equity Awards Granted and Vested in the Year ($)

 

 

Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Year ($)

 

 

Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Failed to Meet Vesting Conditions in the Year ($)

 

 

Value of Dividends or other Earnings Paid on Stock or Option Awards not Otherwise Reflected in Fair Value or Total Compensation ($)

 

 

Total Equity Award Adjustments

 

2022

 

$50,680

 

 

$6,207

 

 

$7,570

 

 

$1,959

 

 

$-

 

 

$-

 

 

$66,416

 

2021

 

$-

 

 

$(9,748)

 

$-

 

 

$(4,764)

 

$-

 

 

$-

 

 

$(14,511)

(5) The dollar amounts reported represent the amount of net loss reflected in our consolidated audited financial statements for the applicable year.

Named Executive Bonus Plan


Officer Appointments and Agreements

Appointment of Chief Executive Officer and President

On February 24, 2015,July 19, 2021, the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Suzuki as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately. In connection with such appointment, BK Technologies, Inc. entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Suzuki, executed July 19, 2021 (the “Suzuki Employment Agreement”), which is described below.

The Suzuki Employment Agreement provides for an annual base salary of $350,000 for Mr. Suzuki. 

Mr. Suzuki is eligible for performance-based compensation in the form of an annual bonus of 50% of his annual base salary, payable in cash, as determined by the compensation committee, adoptedand subject to the achievement of performance metrics and other criteria as determined by the compensation committee. Other equity incentive awards will be made to Mr. Suzuki based on performance as determined by the compensation committee. In the case of a Change of Control as such term is defined in the 2017 Plan, Mr. Suzuki will also be entitled to a bonus of 100% of his annual base salary, payable in a cash lump sum.

The Suzuki Employment Agreement provides for severance payments in the event Mr. Suzuki’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause.” Mr. Suzuki will be entitled to an amount equal to twelve months of his base salary.

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Any severance payable to Mr. Suzuki under the Suzuki Employment Agreement will be paid by the Company over a twelve-month period in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices and subject to applicable law. Mr. Suzuki will not be entitled to severance payments in the event he is terminated for “cause.” For purposes of the Suzuki Employment Agreement, “cause” will exist if Mr. Suzuki (i) acts dishonestly or incompetently or engages in willful misconduct in performance of his executive incentive bonus plan for the 2015 fiscal year (the “2015 Executive Bonus Plan”) forduties, (ii) breaches the Named Executive Officers. UnderOfficer’s fiduciary duties owed to the 2015Company, (iii) intentionally fails to perform duties assigned to him, (iv) is convicted or enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere with respect to any felony crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, and/or (v) breaches his obligations under the Suzuki Employment Agreement.

Mr. Suzuki is also eligible to participate in the Company’s benefit plans. The Suzuki Employment Agreement contains customary non-competition and non-solicitation covenants.

Mr. Suzuki was appointed as President on October 12, 2023, following the retirement of Mr. Vitou. There were no changes to Mr. Suzuki’s compensation or the Suzuki Employment Agreement in connection with his appointment as President.

Other Employment Agreements

The Company entered into employment agreements with each of the following (collectively, as amended, the “Other Employment Agreements” and, collectively with the Suzuki Employment Agreement, the “Employment Agreements”): (i) Timothy A. Vitou, President; (ii) Scott A. Malmanger, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary; (iii) Branko Avanic, Ph.D, Chief Technology Officer and (iv) Randy Willis, Chief Operating Officer. The Other Employment Agreements provide for an annual base salary of $275,000 for Mr. Vitou, $235,000 for Dr. Avanic, $235,000 for Mr. Malmanger and $215,000 for Mr. Willis, subject to adjustment by the Board.

Each Named Executive Bonus Plan, eachOfficer in his respective Other Employment Agreement is eligible for performance-based compensation in the form of an annual bonus, payable in cash or through equity in the Company, as determined by the compensation committee, and subject to the achievement of performance metrics and other criteria as determined by the compensation committee.

The Other Employment Agreements provide for severance payments in the event the Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause.” Each Named Executive Officer will be entitled to an amount equal to six months (twelve months for Mr. Vitou) of his base salary in effect at the time of termination or the original base salary set forth in his respective Other Employment Agreement, whichever is greater.

Any severance payable to a Named Executive Officer under his Other Employment Agreement will be paid by the Company over a twelve-month period in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices and subject to applicable law. None of the Named Executive Officers was eligiblewill be entitled to receive a cash award if we achieved reportable audited pre-tax income for the 2015 fiscal year as specifiedseverance payments in the plan (the “2015 Target Income”).  The 2015 Executive Bonus Plan established threshold, target and maximum cash bonus amounts, each expressed as a percentageevent he is terminated for “cause.” For purposes of a cash award pool (the “2015 Cash Award Pool”). If we had achieved the 2015 Target Income, the 2015 Cash Award Pool forOther Employment Agreements, “cause” will exist if the Named Executive Officers would have been approximately 7.8%Officer (i) acts dishonestly or incompetently or engages in willful misconduct in performance of the 2015 Target Income (the “2015 Target Cash Award Pool”). If we had achieved a threshold of 90% of the 2015 Target Income, the 2015 Cash Award Pool forhis executive duties, (ii) breaches the Named Executive Officers would have been 50%Officer’s fiduciary duties owed to the Company, (iii) intentionally fails to perform duties assigned to him, (iv) is convicted or enters a plea of the 2015 Target Cash Award Pool. If we had achieved a maximum of 120% of the 2015 Target Income, the 2015 Cash Award Pool for the Named Executive Officers would have been 150% of the 2015 Target Cash Award Pool. If we had achieved reportable audited pre-tax income between the threshold and maximum 2015 Target Income amounts, the 2015 Cash Award Pool would have been proportionally adjusted.

16

guilty or nolo contendere with respect to any felony crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, and/or (v) breaches his obligations under his Other Employment Agreement.

The Named Executive Officers could not receive award cash awards that exceeded 100% of their base salaries.are also eligible to participate in the Company’s benefit plans. The 2015 Cash Award Pool allocableOther Employment Agreements contain customary non-competition and non-solicitation covenants.

On October 12, 2023, the Company’s President, Timothy A. Vitou, retired. In connection with Mr. Vitou’s retirement, the Company and Mr. Vitou entered into a Separation Agreement and General Release (“Separation Agreement”). Pursuant to the Named Executive Officers was as follows: 42%Separation Agreement, the Company will pay to Mr. Storey, 35%Vitou $283,250, which amounts to twelve months of compensation at Mr. Vitou’s current normal base pay rate, less taxes, social security and other required withholdings, to be paid in bi-weekly increments in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices. Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Mr. Vitou granted a general release to the Company from any and all claims (known or unknown), rights, or demands that Mr. Vitou has or may have against the Company and other released parties described in the Separation Agreement.

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Table of Contents

On January 11, 2022, the Company announced Mr. Kelly’s plans to retire. Mr. Kelly retired effective June 30, 2022. In connection with Mr. Kelly’s retirement on January 11, 2022, the Company and Mr. Kelly entered into a Separation Agreement and General Release (“Separation Agreement”). Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, upon Mr. Kelly’s retirement, the Company paid to Mr. Kelly one hundred sixty-six thousand eighty-seven dollars and 23%fifty cents ($166,087.50), which amounts to nine months of compensation at Mr. Gilley.


Kelly’s normal base pay rate, less taxes, social security and other required withholdings, paid in bi-weekly increments in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices. Also pursuant to the Separation Agreement, the Company paid or reimbursed the monthly premium or cost of COBRA health care coverage (approximately $1,119.96 monthly) for Mr. Kelly’s wife, until August 7, 2022. Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Mr. Kelly granted a general release to the Company from any and all claims (known or unknown), rights, or demands that Mr. Kelly had against the Company and other released parties described in the Separation Agreement.  In addition,the Separation Agreement, Mr. Kelly was given required opportunities to seek advice of counsel and to revoke the Separation Agreement.

2017 Incentive Compensation Plan

The Company’s stockholders approved the 2017 Incentive Compensation Plan (as amended, the “2017 Plan”) at the Company’s 2017 annual meeting of stockholders held on June 15, 2017. The 2017 Plan replaced the 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2007 Plan” and, together with the 2017 Plan, the “Equity Plans”), which had been approved by the stockholders in 2007. No new awards will be granted under the 2015 Executive Bonus2007 Plan. 

 In connection with the Reorganization, we assumed the Equity Plans and all of the outstanding equity awards under such Equity Plans pursuant to the Omnibus Amendment to Incentive Compensation Plans, dated as of March 28, 2019 (the “Omnibus Amendment”). Each outstanding equity award assumed by us is issuable upon the same terms and conditions as were in effect immediately prior to the completion of the Reorganization, except that all such equity awards now entitle the holder thereof to acquire our common stock.

The Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the 2017 Plan at the Company’s 2021 annual meeting of stockholders held on December 17, 2021, to increase the number of authorized shares under the 2017 Plan from 200,000 shares to 600,000 shares.

The objective of the 2017 Plan is to provide incentives to attract and retain key employees, non-employee directors and consultants and align their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. The 2017 Plan is administered by the compensation committee was permitted to grant discretionary awards to the Named Executive Officers if we achieved reportable audited pre-tax income for the 2015 fiscal year below or above such minimum and maximum criterion for pre-tax income.


There were no payouts made to anyhas a term of ten years. All non-employee directors of the Named Executive Officers underCompany and employees and consultants of the 2015 Executive BonusCompany and its subsidiaries designated by the committee are eligible to participate in the 2017 Plan because the targeted objectives for 2015 were not achieved, and no discretionary bonuses were awarded.

2016 Stock Option Awards

On February 24, 2016, the compensation committee grantedto receive awards, including stock options (which may be incentive stock options or non-qualified stock options to Mr. Storeyoptions), stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, RSUs, or other share-based awards and Mr. Kelly to purchase 50,000 shares and 10,000 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price of $3.83 per share. The stock options have ten-year terms and become exercisable in five-year annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

cash-based awards.

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2022 FISCAL YEAR-END FOR 2015

The following table provides information with respect to outstanding stock option awards for our shares of common stock classified as exercisable and unexercisable as of December 31, 20152022, for the Named Executive Officers. There were no outstanding stock awards as of December 31, 2015 for any of the Named Executive Officers.

  Option Awards
Name Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable  Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable  Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#)  Option Exercise Price ($) Option Expiration Date
David P. Storey  16,468(1)        11.40 2/22/16
   45,000(2)         4.07 3/04/20
                  
William P. Kelly  16,648(1)        11.40 2/22/16
   25,000(2)         4.07 3/04/20
   15,000(3)         2.23 3/12/23
                  
James E. Gilley  13,000(4)        1.50 6/30/18
   1,000(5)         1.89 5/18/19
   15,000(2)         4.07 3/04/20
   5,000(3)         2.23 3/12/23
___________

(1)The option was granted on February 23, 2006 and was fully vested. All of the unexercised options expired on February 22, 2016.
 
(2)28

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Name

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable(11)

 

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable

 

 

Option Exercise Price ($)

 

 

Option Expiration Date

 

John M. Suzuki

 

 

20,000

(1)

 

 

 

 

 

15.40

 

 

7/19/31

 

 

 

 

3,400

(2)

 

 

13,600

 

 

 

11.65

 

 

3/01/32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,000

(3)

 

 

12.40

 

 

6/22/32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timothy A. Vitou

 

 

1,000

(4)

 

 

 

 

 

11.15

 

 

3/12/23

 

 

 

 

5,000

(5)

 

 

 

 

 

25.50

 

 

3/17/27

 

 

 

 

2,000

(6)

 

 

 

 

 

21.00

 

 

8/30/27

 

 

 

 

4,800

(7)

 

 

1,200

 

 

 

18.75

 

 

3/14/28

 

 

 

 

3,600

(8)

 

 

2,400

 

 

 

20.35

 

 

3/05/29

 

 

 

 

2,000

(10)

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

11.65

 

 

3/01/32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,000

(3)

 

 

12.40

 

 

6/22/32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Randy Willis

 

 

5,000

(6)

 

 

 

 

 

21.00

 

 

8/30/27

 

 

 

 

3,200

(7)

 

 

800

 

 

 

18.75

 

 

3/14/28

 

 

 

 

2,400

(8)

 

 

1,600

 

 

 

20.35

 

 

3/05/29

 

 

 

 

2,000

(10)

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

11.65

 

 

3/01/32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,000

(3)

 

 

12.40

 

 

6/22/32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Branko Avanic

 

 

3,600

(9)

 

 

2,400

 

 

 

18.05

 

 

10/30/29

 

 

 

 

2,000

(10)

 

 

4,000

 

 

 

11.65

 

 

3/01/32

 

Note: The options and exercise prices listed above, have been adjusted to reflect the one (1) for five (5) reverse-split of the Company’s shares on April 24, 2022.

(1)

The option wasoptions were granted on March 4, 2010. The option isJuly 19, 2021, and are fully vested and exercisable.

(3)

(2)

The option wasoptions were granted on March 1, 2022, and vest in five equal annual installments, beginning on March 1, 2022.

(3)

The options were granted on June 22, 2022, and vest based on grant terms of achievement of certain business goals.

(4)

The options were granted on March 12, 2013. The option is2013, and are fully vested and exercisable.

(4)

(5)

The option wasoptions were granted on June 30, 2008. March 17, 2017, and vest in five equal annual installments, beginning on March 17, 2018.

(6)

The option is fully vested and exercisable.

(5)The option wasoptions were granted on May 19, 2009. August 30, 2017, and vest in five equal annual installments, beginning on August 30, 2018.

(7)

The option is fully vestedoptions were granted on March 14, 2018, and exercisable.vest in five equal annual installments, beginning on March 14, 2019.

(8)

The options were granted on March 5, 2019, and vest in five equal annual installments, beginning on March 5, 2020.

(9)

The options were granted on October 30, 2019, and vest in five equal annual installments, beginning on October 30, 2020.

(10)

The options were granted on March 1, 2022, and vest in three equal annual installments, beginning on March 1, 2022.

(11)

None of the Named Executive Officers exercised any options during fiscal 2022.

17

RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR 2015

2022

We do not have a defined benefit plan for the Named Executive Officers or other employees. The only retirement plan available to the Named Executive Officers in 20152022 was ourthe qualified 401(k) retirement plan, which is available to all employees.

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POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR IN CONNECTION

WITH A CHANGE OF CONTROL
2012 Change of Control

Employment Agreements

Effective as of February 29, 2012, we entered into change of control agreements (the “2012 Change of Control Agreements”) with the Named Executive Officers, which were approved by the compensation committee.  Each of the 2012 Change of Control

The Employment Agreements had a term of four years, unless a “change of control” (as definedprovide for severance payments in the agreements) ofevent the company occurred within such four-year period, in which case, each agreement would have been automatically extended for twelve months after the date of such change of control.   Pursuant to each 2012 Change of Control Agreement, if the applicable Named Executive Officer’s employment was terminated within twelve months following a change of control (i) by our company for any reason other than death, disability or “cause” (as defined in the change of control agreements) or (ii) by such Named Executive Officer for “good reason” (as defined in the change of control agreements), each such 2012 Change of Control Agreement provided that the applicable Named Executive Officer would receive certain payments and benefits.  These payments and benefits for each of the Named Executive Officers, Messrs. Storey, Kelly and Gilley, were as follows:

●  Mr. Storey would receive (i) a cash payment equal to the sum of (x) 100% of his then-current base salary and (y) the average of his annual cash bonuses for the two fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which termination occurred, (ii) health, life and disability insurance benefits for himself and, if applicable, his covered dependents for a period of twelve months after the date of termination and (iii) outplacement services for a period of twelve months following the date of termination, not to exceed $15,000;
●  Mr. Kelly would receive (i) a cash payment equal to the sum of (x) 75% of his then-current base salary and (y) the average of his annual cash bonuses for the two fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which termination occurred, (ii) health, life and disability insurance benefits for himself and, if applicable, his covered dependents for a period of nine months after the date of termination and (iii) outplacement services for a period of nine months following the date of termination, not to exceed $11,250; and
●  Mr. Gilley would receive (i) a cash payment equal to the sum of (x) 50% of his then-current base salary and (y) the average of his annual cash bonuses for the two fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which termination occurred, (ii) health, life and disability insurance benefits for himself and, if applicable, his covered dependents for a period of six months after the date of termination and (iii) outplacement services for a period of six months following the date of termination, not to exceed $7,500.
Each of the 2012 Change of Control Agreements contained term and post-termination confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition covenants. The post-termination non-solicitation and non-competition covenants were to survive twelve months for Mr. Storey, nine months for Mr. Kelly and six months for Mr. Gilley, while the post-term confidentiality covenants were to survive indefinitely for each of them.

In addition to the 2012 Change of Control Agreements, upon a change of control, stock options held by our Named Executive Officers to the extent then unvested would become vested and exercisable in accordance with the terms of the related option agreements.

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Under each Named Executive Officer’s 2012 Change of Control Agreement, a change of control would have occurred if:

●  individuals who, as of February 29, 2012, constituted the board of directors (the “Incumbent Board”) ceased for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the board, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to that date whose election, or nomination for election by the company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office was in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the directors of the company, as such terms were used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) were to be considered as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board; or

●  the approval by the stockholders of the company of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other form of corporate transaction or series of transactions (but not including an underwritten public offering of the company’s common stock or other voting securities (or securities convertible into voting securities of the company) for the company’s own account registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), in each case, with respect to which stockholders of the company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction did not, immediately thereafter, own more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the reorganized, merged or consolidated entity’s then outstanding voting securities, or a liquidation or dissolution of the company or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the company (unless such reorganization, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction, liquidation, dissolution or sale is subsequently abandoned or terminated prior to being consummated); or
 ●  the acquisition by any person, entity or “group”, within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) of more than thirty percent (30%) of either the then outstanding shares of the company’s common stock or the combined voting power of the company’s then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (hereinafter referred to as a “Controlling Interest”) excluding any acquisitions by (x) the company or any of its subsidiaries, (y) any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the company or any of its subsidiaries or (z) any person, entity or “group” that as of February 29, 2012 owned beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) a Controlling Interest.

2016 Change of Control Agreements

Effective as of February 24, 2016, we entered into new change of control agreements (the “2016 Change of Control Agreements”) with the Named Executive Officers, which were approved by the compensation committee on that same day. The 2016 Change of Control Agreements replace and terminate the 2012 Change of Control Agreements, which were set to expire on February 29, 2016, and are substantially similar to the 2012 Change of Control Agreements.

Each of the 2016 Change of Control Agreements has a term of four years, unless a “change of control” (as defined in the agreements) of the Company occurs within such four-year period, in which case each agreement is automatically extended for twelve months after the date of such change of control. Pursuant to the 2016 Change of Control Agreements, if the applicable Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated within twelve months following a change in control (i) by the Company for any reason other than for “cause” (as defined in the agreements), disability or death or (ii) by such Named Executive Officer for “good reason” (as defined in the agreements), the applicablewithout “cause.” Each Named Executive Officer will receive certain paymentsbe entitled to an amount equal to six months (twelve months for Mr. Vitou and benefits. AMr. Suzuki) of his base salary in effect at the time of termination or the original base salary set forth in his respective Employment Agreement, whichever is greater.

Any severance payable to a Named Executive Officer is notunder his Employment Agreement will be paid by the Company over a twelve-month period in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices and subject to applicable law. None of the Named Executive Officers will be entitled to anyseverance payments and benefitsin the event he is terminated for “cause.” For purposes of the Employment Agreements, “cause” will exist if the Named Executive Officer terminates(i) acts dishonestly or incompetently or engages in willful misconduct in performance of his executive duties, (ii) breaches the Named Executive Officer’s employment without good reason.

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The payments and benefits to be paidfiduciary duties owed to the Named Executive Officers, Messrs. Storey, Kelly and Gilley, pursuantCompany, (iii) intentionally fails to perform duties assigned to him, (iv) is convicted or enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere with respect to any felony crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude, and/or (v) breaches his obligations under his Employment Agreement. Additionally, in the 2016case of a Change of Control Agreements are as follows:
●  Mr. Storey will receive (i) a cash payment equalsuch term is defined in the 2017 Plan, Mr. Suzuki will also be entitled to a bonus of 100% of his annual base salary, payable in a cash lump sum.

On January 11, 2022, the Company announced Mr. Kelly’s plans to retire. Mr. Kelly retired effective June 30, 2022. In connection with Mr. Kelly’s retirement on January 11, 2022, the Company and Mr. Kelly entered into a Separation Agreement and General Release (“Kelly Separation Agreement”). Pursuant to the Kelly Separation Agreement, upon Mr. Kelly’s retirement, the Company paid to Mr. Kelly one hundred sixty-six thousand eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents ($166,087.50), which amounts to the sum of (x) 100% of his then-current base salary and (y) the average of his annual cash bonuses for the two fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which termination occurs, (ii) health, life and disability insurance benefits for himself and, if applicable, his covered dependents for a period of twelve months after the date of termination and (iii) outplacement services for a period of twelve months following the date of termination, provided that the costs of such services to the Company may not exceed $15,000.

●  Mr. Kelly will receive (i) a cash payment equal to the sum of (x) 75% of his then-current base salary and (y) the average of his annual cash bonuses for the two fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which termination occurs, (ii) health, life and disability insurance benefits for himself and, if applicable, his covered dependents for a period of nine months after the date of termination and (iii) outplacement services for a period of nine months following the date of termination, provided that the costs of such services to the Company may not exceed $11,250.
●  Mr. Gilley will receive (i) a cash payment equal to the sum of (x) 50% of his then-current base salary and (y) the average of his annual cash bonuses for the two fiscal years preceding the fiscal year in which termination occurs, (ii) health, life and disability insurance benefits for himself and, if applicable, his covered dependents for a period of six months after the date of termination and (iii) outplacement services for a period of six months following the date of termination, provided that the costs of such services to the Company may not exceed $7,500.

Under the 2016 Change of Control Agreements, a change of control will have occurred if:

●  individuals who, as of February 24, 2016, constitute the board of directors (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the board, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to that date whose election, or nomination for election by the company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the directors of the company, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) shall be considered as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board; or

●  the approval by the stockholders of the company of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other form of corporate transaction or series of transactions (but not including an underwritten public offering of the company’s common stock or other voting securities (or securities convertible into voting securities of the company) for the company’s own account registered under the Securities Act), in each case, with respect to which stockholders of the company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction do not, immediately thereafter, own more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the reorganized, merged or consolidated entity’s then outstanding voting securities, or a liquidation or dissolution of the company or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the company (unless such reorganization, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction, liquidation, dissolution or sale is subsequently abandoned or terminated prior to being consummated); or
●  the acquisition by any person, entity or “group”, within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, of more than fifty percent (50%) of either the then outstanding shares of the company’s common stock or the combined voting power of the company’s then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (hereinafter referred to as a “Controlling Interest”) excluding any acquisitions by (x) the company or any of its subsidiaries, (y) any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the company or any of its subsidiaries or (z) any person, entity or “group” that as of February 24, 2016 owns beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) a Controlling Interest.
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Each of the 2016 Change of Control Agreements contain term and post-termination confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition covenants. The post-termination non-solicitation and non-competition covenants survive twelve months for Mr. Storey, nine months forof compensation at Mr. KellyKelly’s normal base pay rate, less taxes, social security and six months for Mr. Gilley, while the post-term confidentiality covenants survive indefinitely for each of them.

We do not have any employment agreements or severance agreements with any of our Named Executive Officers. In addition to the 2016 Change of Control Agreements, upon a change of control, stock options held by our Named Executive Officers to the extent then unvested would become vested and exercisableother required withholdings, paid in bi-weekly increments in accordance with the termsCompany’s regular payroll practices. Also pursuant to the Kelly Separation Agreement, the Company paid or reimbursed the monthly premium or cost of COBRA health care coverage (approximately $1,119.96 monthly) for Mr. Kelly’s wife, until August 7, 2022. Pursuant to the Kelly Separation Agreement, Mr. Kelly granted a general release to the Company from any and all claims (known or unknown), rights, or demands that Mr. Kelly had against the Company and other released parties described in the Kelly Separation Agreement.  In the Kelly Separation Agreement, Mr. Kelly was given required opportunities to seek advice of counsel and to revoke the Kelly Separation Agreement.

Mr. Timothy A. Vitou retired from his position as President of BK Technologies Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), effective October 12, 2023. In connection with Mr. Vitou’s retirement, the Company and Mr. Vitou entered into a Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Vitou Separation Agreement”). Pursuant to the Vitou Separation Agreement, upon Mr. Vitou’s retirement, the Company will pay to Mr. Vitou $283,250, which amounts to twelve months of compensation at Mr. Vitou’s current normal base pay rate, less taxes, social security and other required withholdings, to be paid in bi-weekly increments in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices. Pursuant to the Vitou Separation Agreement, Mr. Vitou granted a general release to the Company from any and all claims (known or unknown), rights, or demands that Mr. Vitou has or may have against the Company and other released parties described in the Vitou Separation Agreement.  In the Vitou Separation Agreement, Mr. Vitou was given required opportunities to seek advice of counsel and to revoke the Vitou Separation Agreement.

Equity Plans and Award Agreements

The Company’s Equity Plans and award agreements entered into with its Named Executive Officers include change in control provisions.

2017 Incentive Compensation Plan – Change in Control Provisions

Our 2017 Plan generally provides for “double-trigger” vesting of equity awards in connection with a change in control of the related option agreementsCompany, as described below.

To the extent that outstanding awards granted under the 2017 Plan are assumed in connection with a change in control, then, except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement or in another written agreement with the participant, all outstanding awards will continue to vest and become exercisable (as applicable) based on continued service during the remaining vesting period, with performance-based awards being converted to service-based awards at the “target” level. Vesting and exercisability (as applicable) of awards that are assumed in connection with a change in control generally would be accelerated in full on a “double-trigger” basis, if, within two years after the change in control, the participant’s employment is involuntarily terminated without cause, or by the participant for “good reason.” Any stock options or stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) that become vested on a “double-trigger” basis generally would remain exercisable for the full duration of the term of the applicable award.

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To the extent outstanding awards granted under the 2017 Plan are not assumed in connection with a change in control, then such awards generally would become vested in full on a “single-trigger” basis, effective immediately prior to the change in control, with performance-based awards becoming vested at the “target” level. Any stock options or SARs that become vested on a “single-trigger” basis generally would remain exercisable for the full duration of the term of the applicable award.

The compensation committee has the discretion to determine whether or not any outstanding awards granted under the 2017 Plan will be assumed by the resulting entity in connection with a change in control, and the equity compensation planscommittee has the authority to make appropriate adjustments in connection with the assumption of any awards. The compensation committee also has the right to cancel any outstanding awards in connection with a change in control, in exchange for a payment in cash or other property (including shares of the resulting entity) in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares subject to the award over any exercise price related to the award, including the right to cancel any “underwater” stock options and SARs without payment therefor.

For purposes of the 2017 Plan, subject to exceptions set forth in the 2017 Plan, a “change in control” generally includes (a) the acquisition of more than 50% of the Company’s common stock; (b) the incumbent board of directors ceasing to constitute a majority of the board of directors; (c) a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction, or a sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets; and (d) the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. The full definition of “change in control” is set forth in the 2017 Plan.

Whether a participant’s employment has been terminated for “cause” will be determined by the compensation committee. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement or in another written agreement with the participant, “cause,” as a reason for termination of a participant’s employment, generally includes (a) the participant’s failure to perform, in a reasonable manner, his or her assigned duties; (b) the participant’s violation or breach of his or her employment agreement, consulting agreement or other similar agreement; (c) the participant’s violation or breach of any non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and/or other similar agreement; (d) any act of dishonesty or bad faith by the participant with respect to the Company or a subsidiary; (e) the participant’s breach of fiduciary duties owed to the Company; (f) the use of alcohol, drugs or other similar substances in a manner that adversely affects the participant’s work performance; or (g) the participant’s commission of any act, misdemeanor, or crime reflecting unfavorably upon the participant or the Company or any subsidiary.

For purposes of the 2017 Plan, unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement or in another written agreement with the participant, “good reason” generally includes (a) the assignment to the participant of any duties that are inconsistent in any material respect with his or her duties or responsibilities as previously assigned by the Company or a subsidiary, or any other action by the Company or a subsidiary that results in a material diminution of the participant’s duties or responsibilities, other than any action that is remedied by the Company or a subsidiary promptly after receipt of notice from the participant; or (b) any material failure by the Company or a subsidiary to comply with its obligations to the participant as agreed upon, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure which is remedied by the Company or subsidiary promptly after receipt of notice from the participant.

Except as described above with respect to a change in control, unexercisable stock options generally become forfeited upon termination of employment. The stock options that are exercisable at the time of termination of employment expire (a) twelve months after the termination of employment by reason of death or disability or (b) three months after the termination of employment for other reasons. With respect to unvested restricted shares and RSUs, unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, the compensation committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for the full or partial acceleration of vesting of the restricted shares or RSUs, as applicable, in connection with the termination of the grantee’s employment for any reason prior to a vesting date, including, but not limited to, termination of employment as a result of the grantee’s death or disability. Unless action is otherwise taken by the compensation committee, any restricted shares or RSUs that have not yet vested will be forfeited automatically in the event of the termination of the grantee’s employment for any reason prior to a vesting date.

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The Company’s Named Executive Officers, other employees and directors are prohibited from hedging or pledging the Company’s securities. Awards granted under the 2017 Plan also may be subject to forfeiture or recoupment, as provided pursuant to whichany compensation recovery (or “clawback”) policy that the options were granted.


Under the Company may adopt or maintain from time to time.

2007 Incentive Compensation Plan – Change in Control Provisions

Our 2007 Plan, under which some equity awards remain outstanding, also contains provisions providing for the vesting of equity awards in connection with a change in control means the occurrence of any of the following:


●  the acquisition by any person, entity or “group”, within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, of more than fifty percent (50%) of either the then outstanding shares of the company’s common stock or the combined voting power of the company’s then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (hereinafter referred to as a “Controlling Interest”); provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute or result in a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the company; (ii) any acquisition by the company; (iii) any acquisition by any person that as of the date of the plan (the “Effective Date”) owns Beneficial Ownership of a Controlling Interest; (iv) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the company or any related entity; or (v) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of the third bullet point below; or

●  individuals who constitute the board on the Effective Date (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the board; or

●  consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the company or any of its related entities, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the company, or the acquisition of assets or equity of another entity by the company or any of its related entities (each a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners, respectively, of the outstanding company common stock and outstanding company voting securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the value of the then outstanding equity securities and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of members of the board of directors (or comparable governing body of an entity that does not have such a board), as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the company or all or substantially all of the company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the outstanding company common stock and outstanding company voting securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination or any person that as of the Effective Date owns Beneficial Ownership of a Controlling Interest) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the value of the then outstanding equity securities of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such entity except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors or other governing body of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the board, providing for such Business Combination; or
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  ●  approval by the stockholders of the company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the company.
UnderCompany, as described below.

To the 1997 Stock Option Plan, a change of control occurs upon:


●  the consummation of the sale of all or substantially all of the company’s assets; or

●  a merger of the company in which a majority in interest of the company’s then outstanding securities shall have been transferred to or issued to the other party thereto or the stockholders of such other party.
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2015 with respect to our equity compensation plans: the 2007 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, the 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan, and the 1997 Stock Option Plan (which expired in October 2007), under which our common stock is authorized for issuance. On January 1, 2016, no shares of our common stock were available for issuanceextent that outstanding awards granted under the 2007 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan 541,000 shares of our common stock were available for issuanceare assumed in connection with a change in control, then, except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, all outstanding awards will continue to vest and become exercisable (as applicable) based on continued service during the remaining vesting period.

To the extent outstanding awards granted under the 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan are not assumed in connection with a change in control, then such awards generally would become vested in full on a “single-trigger” basis in connection with the change in control. With respect to any outstanding performance-based awards subject to achievement of performance goals and noconditions, the compensation committee may, in its discretion, deem such performance goals and conditions as having been met as of the date of the change in control. Any stock options or SARs that become vested on a “single-trigger” basis generally would remain exercisable for the full duration of the term of the applicable award.

The compensation committee has the discretion to determine whether or not any outstanding awards granted under the 2007 Plan will be assumed by the resulting entity in connection with a change in control, and the committee has the authority to make appropriate adjustments in connection with the assumption of any awards. The committee also has the right to cancel any outstanding awards in connection with a change in control, in exchange for a payment in cash or other property (including shares of the resulting entity) in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares subject to the award over any exercise price related to the award, including the right to cancel any “underwater” stock options and SARs without payment therefor.

For purposes of the 2007 Plan, subject to exceptions set forth in the 2007 Plan, a “change in control” generally includes: (a) the acquisition of more than 50% of the Company’s common stock; (b) the incumbent board of directors ceasing to constitute a majority of the board of directors; (c) a reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction, or a sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets; and (d) the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. The full definition of “change in control” is set forth in the 2007 Plan.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

                The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors consists of Mr. Jackson (Chair), Mr. Lanktree, and Mr. Mitchell, none of whom has been at any time an executive officer or employee of the Company, or has any relationship requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K.  None of our common stock were available for issuanceexecutive officers serves, or in the past has served, on the board of directors, or as a member of the compensation committee (or other committee performing an equivalent function) of the board of directors of any entity that has one or more executive officers who serve as members of our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.

Compensation Committee Report

The following report of the Compensation Committee shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall this report be incorporated by reference into any filing made by the Company under the 1997 Stock Option Plan.

Plan Category 
(a)
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants and rights (1)
  
(b)
Weighted- average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
  
(c)
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plan (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (2)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders  291,936  $4.07   541,000 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders         
Total                            291,936  $4.07   541,000 

Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the executive compensation, as disclosed above, with management.  Based on this review and those discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended that the executive compensation be included in this report.

(1)

Includes 32,936 shares issuable upon

By the exercise of awards outstanding under the 1997 Stock Option Plan and 259,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of awards outstanding under the 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan.Committee

R. Joseph Jackson (Chair)

Charles T. Lanktree

Michael C. Mitchell

 
(2)32
Represents shares available for issuance under the 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan.

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Any transaction with a related person is subject to our written policy and procedures for transactions with related persons, a copy of which is attached as Annex E to this proxy statement.available on our website at www.bktechnologies.com/investor-relations. The nominating and corporate governance committeeAudit Committee is responsible for applying this policy. As set forth in the policy, the nominating and corporate governance committeeAudit Committee reviews the material facts of the transaction and considers, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction.

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The policy also prohibits our directors from participating in any discussion or approval of any interested transaction for which he is a related person, except that the director is required to provide all material information concerning the transaction to the committee.

If a transaction with a related party will be ongoing, the Audit Committee will establish guidelines for our management to follow in our ongoing relationships with the related person, will review and assess ongoing relationships with the related person to determine if such relationships are in compliance with the Audit Committee’s guidelines, and, based on all the relevant facts and circumstances, will determine if it is in the best interests of us and our stockholders to continue, modify or terminate any such interested transaction.

The policy provides exceptions for certain transactions, including (i) those involving compensation paid to a director or executive officer required to be reported in the Company’s proxy statement.


During 2014statement, (ii) transactions with another company at which a related person’s only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer), director or beneficial owner of less than 10% of that company’s shares, if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the greater of $500,000 or two percent (2%) of that company’s total annual revenues, (iii) certain charitable contributions, (iv) transactions where all of our stockholders receive proportional benefits, (v) transactions involving competitive bids, (vi) certain regulated transactions, and 2015,(vii) certain banking-related services.

Except as set forth below, during 2022 and 2021, we did not have any transactions with related persons that were reportable under Item 404 of Regulation S-K, and we do not have any transactions with related persons currently proposed for 20162022 that are reportable under Item 404 of Regulation S-K.

Fundamental Global GP, LLC (“FG”)

FG, together with its affiliates, is the largest stockholder of the Company. Mr. Cerminara, a member of our Board of Directors during 2022 and 2021, is Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Partner of Fundamental Global. We had an investment in a limited partnership, FGI 1347 Holdings, LP, of which we were the sole limited partner until September 30, 2022. FGI 1347 Holdings, LP was established for the purpose of investing in securities using a portion of the proceeds from our previously successful investment in Iteris, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITI), which was liquidated for a substantial gain. On September 30, 2022, the Company exchanged its limited partner interest in FGI 1347 Holdings, LP for an investment in Series B Common interests of FG Financial Holdings, LLC (“FG Holdings”).  Affiliates of Fundamental Global serve as the managers of FG Holdings.

Indemnification Agreements

On July 22, 2020, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. Under the terms of the indemnification agreements, subject to certain exceptions specified in the indemnification agreements, the Company will, among other things, indemnify its directors and executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by law in the event such director or executive officer becomes subject to or a participant in certain claims or proceedings as a result of his service as a director or officer. The Company will also, subject to certain exceptions and repayment conditions, advance to such director or executive officer specified indemnifiable expenses incurred in connection with such claims or proceedings.

The  partnerships operated by Fundamental Global, including the partnerships that directly hold shares of our common stock, have agreed to indemnify Fundamental Global and its principals, including Mr. Cerminara, or any other person designated by Fundamental Global, for claims arising from Mr. Cerminara’s service on our Board of Directors, provided that a partnership’s indemnity obligations are secondary to any obligations we may have with respect to Mr. Cerminara’s service on our Board of Directors.

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RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Moore Stephens Lovelace,

MSL, an independent registered public accounting firm, audited our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015.fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021. We had no disagreements with Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL on accounting and financial disclosures. Moore Stephens Lovelace’sMSL’s work on our audit for 2015fiscal 2022 was performed by full time, permanent employees and partners of Moore Stephens Lovelace.


Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL.

MSL, which has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since November 2015, has been reappointed to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2016.


fiscal 2023. The Audit Committee, in discussing the reappointment of MSL, considered the qualifications, experience, independence, compliance with regulations, quality control, candor, objectivity, and professional skepticism of MSL and the effectiveness of the firm’s processes, including its timeliness and responsiveness and communication and interaction with management. The Audit Committee also considered the tenure of MSL as our independent registered public accounting firm and its related depth of understanding of our businesses, operations and systems. The Audit Committee and the Board of Directors believe that the continued retention of MSL as our independent registered public accounting firm is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.

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PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT


General

Our audit committeeAudit Committee has appointed Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.2023. Representatives of Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL are not expected to be present at the annual meetingmeeting. If any stockholder desires to ask MSL a question, management will ensure that the question is sent to MSL and will havethat an appropriate response is made directly to the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate stockholder questions.


stockholder.

Although applicable law does not require stockholder ratification of the appointment of Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm, our boardBoard has decided to ascertain the position of our stockholders on the appointment. If our stockholders do not ratify the appointment of Moore Stephens Lovelace,MSL, our audit committeeAudit Committee will reconsider the appointment. Even if the selection is ratified, our audit committeeAudit Committee in its discretion may appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in our best interests and in the best interests of our stockholders.


Change in Independent Accountants

On November 9, 2015, we dismissed BDO USA, LLP (“BDO USA”)

Vote Required

This proposal will be approved if the number of votes cast “for” the ratification of MSL as our independent registered public accounting firm exceed the number of votes cast “against” ratification. Abstentions and appointed Moore Stephens Lovelace as our new independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately. The decision to change our independent registered public accounting firm to Moore Stephens Lovelace was approved by the audit committee.


The reports of BDO USA on our financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, and in the subsequent interim periods through November 9, 2015, there were no disagreements with BDO USA on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope and procedure which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of BDO USA, would have caused BDO USA to make reference to the matter in its report.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, and in the subsequent interim periods through November 9, 2015, there were no “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(i)(v) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Regulation S-K”).

We provided BDO USA with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and requested BDO USA to furnish to us a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agrees with the above disclosures. A copy of this letter, dated November 9, 2015, was filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 10, 2015.
23

Vote Required
This proposal will be approved if a majority of the voting power present or represented by proxy at the annual meeting votes in favor of the proposal. Accordingly, an abstention will have the effect of a negative vote.  Brokerbroker non-votes will have no effect on this proposal.the outcome of the vote. Shares represented by properly executed proxies will be voted, if specific instructions are not otherwise given, in favor of this proposal.

Recommendation of the Board

Our boardBoard of directorsDirectors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL as our independent registered public accounting firm.

MSL, an independent registered public accounting firm, audited our financial statements for fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021. We had no disagreements with MSL on accounting and financial disclosures. MSL’s work on our audit for fiscal 2022 was performed by full time, permanent employees and partners of MSL.

MSL has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since November 2015.  The rules of the SEC require us to disclose fees billed by our independent registered public accounting firm for services rendered to us for each of the years ended December 31, 20152022 and 2014. Since November 9, 2015, we have engaged Moore Stephens Lovelace as our independent registered public accounting firm.2021.  The following table represents aggregate fees billed for the fiscal years ended December 31, 20152022 and December 31, 20142021, by Moore Stephens Lovelace and BDO USA, our prior independent registered public accounting firm.

  2015  2014 
Moore Stephens Lovelace, P.A.      
Audit Fees (1) $105,000  $ 
Audit-Related Fees (2)      
Tax Fees (3)      
All Other Fees (4)      
         
BDO USA, LLP        
Audit Fees (1)  53,700   183,700 
Audit-Related Fees (2)      
Tax Fees (3)      — 
All Other Fees (4)      
Total $158,700  $183,700 

MSL.

Fees(1)(2)(3)(4)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Audit Fees

 

$154,800

 

 

$178,650

 

Audited-Related Fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax Fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Other Fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$154,800

 

 

$178,650

 

(1)

For 2015,2022 and 2021, includes fees paid to Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements for the yearyears ended December 31, 20152022 and fees paid to BDO USA2021, and for the reviews of the financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, June 30 and September 30 2015. For 2014, includes fees paid to BDO USA for professional services rendered for the auditin each of our annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 and for the reviews of the financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2014.those years.

(2)

(2)

No audit-related services were performed for us by Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL in 2022 or BDO USA in 2015 or 2014.2021. Audit-related services include assurance and related services that are related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements.

 
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(3)

No tax services were performed for us by Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL in 2022 or BDO USA in 2015 or 2014.2021. Tax services include tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

(4)

(4)

No other services were performed for us by Moore Stephens LovelaceMSL in 2022 or BDO USA in 2015 or 2014.

2021.


As previously discussed, the

The audit committee has implemented pre-approval procedures consistent with the rules adopted a formal policy concerning approval of audit and non-audit services to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm, MSL. The policy requires that all services to be provided by MSL, including audit services and permitted audit-related and non-audit services, must be pre-approved by the SEC.

audit committee. The audit committee approved all audit services provided by MSL to us during 2022. MSL did not provide any audit-related or non-audit services to us during 2022. The audit committee has determined that the provision of the services by Moore Stephens Lovelace and BDO USAMSL reported hereunder had no impact on its independence.

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PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY APPROVAL OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

General

The Board of Directors recognizes the interests that stockholders have in the compensation of executives. In recognition of that interest and as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (as amended, the “Dodd Frank Act”) and Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are providing stockholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory, non-binding vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers at this annual meeting. The last advisory vote on named executive officer compensation was held at our 2020 annual meeting of stockholders. At that meeting, approximately 96% of stockholders who cast votes on the matter voted in favor of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. The compensation committee considered the results of the last advisory say-on-pay vote when setting executive compensation and decided, based upon strong stockholder support, not to make any changes to our compensation program. 

This proposal gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their independence.

24

views on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation or any single compensation philosophy, policy or practice, but rather the overall compensation of our Named Executive Officers as described in this proxy statement.

We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for the compensation of our Named Executive Officers by voting on the following resolution at the annual meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the stockholders of BK Technologies Corporation approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the narrative compensation tables and any other related materials disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement.”

Stockholders should note that the say-on-pay vote is advisory and is not binding on the Company, the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee will consider the results of the vote when evaluating our executive compensation practices and considering future executive compensation arrangements. The Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee value the opinion of stockholders, and to the extent there is any significant vote against our Named Executive Officer compensation as disclosed in the proxy statement, stockholders’ concerns will be considered, and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.

Vote Required

The number of votes cast by stockholders, either in person or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting “FOR” advisory approval of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers pursuant to the above resolution must exceed the number of votes cast “AGAINST” advisory approval. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote. Shares represented by property executed proxies will be voted, if specific instructions are not otherwise given, for the advisory approval of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers.

Recommendation of the Board

Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote “FOR” advisory approval of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers pursuant to the above restrictions.

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PROPOSAL 4: ADVISORY APPROVAL OF THE FREQUENCY OF THE ADVISORY VOTE ON NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

General

The Dodd-Frank Act enables our stockholders to indicate how frequently we should seek an advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers (also known as “say-when-on-pay”). This advisory vote, which is also required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, must be solicited from our stockholders at least once every six years. At the last vote held at the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, stockholders voted for the advisory vote on Named Executive Officer compensation to be held once every three years, and the Board of Directors approved this choice.

The Board of Directors believes that a frequency of every three years for the advisory vote on executive compensation is the optimal interval for conducting and responding to a vote on executive compensation. Stockholders who have concerns about executive compensation during the interval between votes on executive compensation may bring their specific concerns to the attention of the Board of Directors. Please refer to “Stockholder Communications” in this proxy statement for information about communicating with the Board of Directors. The Board and the Compensation Committee believe that holding a vote on executive compensation every three years provides the Board and the Compensation Committee with the opportunity to thoroughly consider the results of the advisory vote, respond to the vote results and effectively implement any appropriate changes to our executive compensation policies and procedures.

We understand that our stockholders may have different views as to the frequency of “say-on-pay” votes, and we look forward to hearing from our stockholders on this Proposal 4. We are asking our stockholders to indicate whether they would prefer that we conduct future advisory votes on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers annually, every two years or every three years by voting on the following resolution at the annual meeting:

“RESOLVED, that the option of every year, every two years or every three years that receives the highest number of votes cast for this resolution will be considered the stockholders’ recommendation of the frequency with which BK Technologies Corporation is to hold a stockholder advisory vote on the compensation of its Named Executive Officers.”

Although this advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on our Named Executive Officer compensation is non-binding, the Board and the Compensation Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. Notwithstanding the Board’s recommendation and the outcome of the stockholder vote, the Board may in the future decide to conduct advisory votes on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers on a more or less frequent basis and may vary its practice based on factors such as discussions with stockholders and changes to compensation programs. The next stockholder vote on the frequency of future votes on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers is currently expected to occur at our 2029 annual meeting of stockholders.

Vote Required

The option of every year, every two years or every three years that receives the highest number of votes cast by stockholders, either in person or by proxy, at the annual meeting will be considered the stockholders’ recommendation of the frequency for the advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote. Shares represented by properly executed proxies will be voted, if specific instructions are not otherwise given, for a three-year frequency.

Recommendation of the Board

Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote for the option of every three years as the frequency to have an advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers.

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MISCELLANEOUS

Delinquent Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Reports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that our directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10ten percent (10%) of our common stock, file with the SEC initial statements of beneficial ownership of common stock and statements of changes in beneficial ownership of common stock. Officers, directors and greater than 10 percent stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with all Section 16 reports they file.

To the best of our knowledge based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnishedForms 3, 4, and 5 (and any amendments thereof) received by us during or with respect to us and representations that no other reports were required, we believe that all Section 16 filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and 10 percent beneficial owners were timely complied with during the year ended December 31, 2015.


2022, the following persons failed to file, on a timely basis, the identified reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during fiscal year ended December 2022:

Name and Principal Position

 

Number of Late Reports

 

Transactions not Reported in Timely Manner

Scott A. Malmanger, Chief Financial Officer

 

1

 

0

Annual Report on Form 10-K

Copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015,fiscal 2022, as filed with the SEC, are available to stockholders without charge upon written request to theour Corporate Secretary of RELM at 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904.

Eliminating Duplicative Proxy Materials


A single Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or a single copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015fiscal 2022 and this proxy statement will be delivered to multiple stockholders who live at the same address. If you live at the same address as another stockholder and would like to receive your own copy of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, the 20152022 annual report, or this proxy statement, or would like to receive multiple copies of our proxy materials in the future, please contact us at 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904; telephone number: (321) 984-1414.  A separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, or of our 20152022 annual report and this proxy statement, will be delivered to you promptly and without charge.


If you live at the same address as another stockholder and are receiving multiple copies of our proxy materials, please contact us at the telephone number or address above if you only want to receive one copy of those materials.

Stockholder Proposals

Inclusion of Proposals in our Proxy Statement Pursuant to SEC Rules


Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, some stockholder proposals may be eligible for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 20172024 annual meeting of stockholders. To be eligible for inclusion in our 20172024 proxy statement, any such proposals must be delivered in writing to the Corporate Secretary of RELM no later than December 2, 2016, and must meet the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.Act and be delivered in writing to our Corporate Secretary no later than July 5, 2024, unless the date of the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders is more than 30 days from the anniversary date of the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, in which case the proposals must be submitted a reasonable time before we begin to print and send our proxy materials. The submission of a stockholder proposal does not guarantee that it will be included in our proxy statement.


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Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Submission of Nominations and Proposals


In addition, pursuant to the advance notice provisions set forth in our bylaws, for a stockholder’s proposal or nomination to be properly presented at the 20172024 annual meeting of stockholders, but not submitted for inclusion in our proxy statement, such stockholder’s written notice of the intent of such stockholder to make a nomination of a person for election as a director or to bring any other matter before the annual meeting must be delivered to thereceived by our Corporate Secretary of RELM at theour principal executive offices of the Company no less than 120 days nor more than 180 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which we first mailed our proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders.  As a result, stockholder nominations of director candidates for the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, and proposals for the 20172023 annual meeting of stockholders submitted outside the provisions of Rule 14a-8, will be considered untimely if submitted prior to October 3, 2016May 6, 2024, or after December 2, 2016. Also,July 5, 2024.  However, in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days prior to or after the anniversary date of the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders, notice by the stockholder must be received by our Corporate Secretary at our principal offices not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting of stockholders and not later than the close of business on the later of the 75th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement (as defined in the bylaws) of the date of such annual meeting is first made. The bylaws specify the information that must accompany any such stockholder notices.

Any proxy granted with respect to the 20172024 annual meeting of stockholders will confer on management discretionary authority to vote with respect to a stockholder proposal or director nomination if notice of such proposal or nomination is not received by our Corporate Secretary within the timeframe provided above.


Other Matters

As of the date of this proxy statement, our boardBoard of directorsDirectors does not know of any other matters that will be presented for consideration at the annual meeting other than as described in this proxy statement. If, however, any other matters are properly brought before the annual meeting, it is intended that the persons named as proxies will vote in accordance with their best judgment with respect to such matters.

25

ANNEX A
RELM WIRELESS CORPORATION
NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
POLICY REGARDING
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF DIRECTOR CANDIDATES
The Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Committee”) believes that members of the  Board of Directors (the “Board”)  of RELM Wireless Corporation (the “Company”) must possess certain basic personal and professional qualities

If you have any questions, require any assistance in order to properly discharge their fiduciary duties to stockholders, provide effective oversight of the management ofvoting your shares in the Company, and monitor the Company’s adherence to principles of sound corporate governance. It is therefore the policy of the Committee that all persons nominated to serve as a director of the Company should possess the minimum qualifications described in this policy. These are only threshold criteria, however, and the Committee will also consider the contributions that a candidate can be expected to make to the collective functioning of the Board based upon the totality of the candidate’s credentials, experience and expertise, the composition of the Board at the time, and other relevant circumstances.

1.           Integrity. All candidates must be individuals of personal integrity and ethical character, and who value and appreciate these qualities in others.
2.           Absence of Conflicts of Interest. Candidates should not haveneed any interests that would materially impair his or her ability to (i) exercise independent judgment, or (ii) otherwise discharge the fiduciary duties owed as a director to the Company and its stockholders.
3.           Fair and Equal Representation. Candidates must be able to represent fairly and equally all stockholders of the Company without favoring or advancing any particular stockholder or other constituency of the Company.
4.           Achievement. Candidates must have demonstrated achievement in one or more fields of business, professional, governmental, communal, scientific or educational endeavor.
5.           Oversight. Candidates are expected to have sound judgment, as result of management or policy-making experience (which may be as an advisor or consultant), that demonstrates an ability to function effectively in an oversight role.
6.           Business Understanding. Candidates must have a general appreciation regarding major issues facing public companies of a size and operational scope similar to the Company. These include:
contemporary governance concerns;
regulatory obligations of a public issuer;
strategic business planning;
competition in a global economy; and
basic concepts of corporate finance.
7.           Available Time. Candidates must have, and be prepared to devote, adequate time to the Board and its committees. It is expected that each candidate will be available to attend substantially all meetings of the Board and any committees on which the candidate will serve, as well as the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders, after taking into consideration such candidate’s other business and professional commitments, including service on the boards of other companies.
8.           Age and Term Limits. The candidate’s election must not conflict with any term and/or age limits, if applicable, for directors.
A-1

9.           Limited Exceptions. Under exceptional and limited circumstances, the Committee may approve the candidacy of a candidate who does not satisfy all of these requirements if it believes the service of such candidate is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
10.           Additional Qualifications. In approving candidates for election as directors, the Committee will also assure that:
at least a majority of the directors serving at any time on the Board are independent, as defined under the rules of the principal stock market on which the Company’s common shares are listed for trading;
at least three of the directors satisfy the financial literacy requirements required for service on the audit committee under the rules of the principal stock market on which the Company’s common shares are listed for trading;
at least one of the directors qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission;
at least some of the independent directors have experience as senior executives of a public or substantial private company; and
at least some of the independent directors have general familiarity with an industry or industries in which the Company conducts a substantial portion of its business or in related industries.
11.         Diversity. The Committee will seek to promote through the nominations process an appropriate diversity on the Board of professional background, experience, expertise, perspective, age, gender, ethnicity and country of citizenship.
Last Revised as of February 24, 2016
A-2

ANNEX B
RELM WIRELESS CORPORATION
NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING AND EVALUATING DIRECTOR CANDIDATES

1.           The Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Committee) will observe the following procedures in identifying and evaluating candidates for election to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of RELM Wireless Corporation (the “Company”).
2.           The Company is of the view that the continuing service of qualified incumbents promotes stability and continuity in the function of the Board, contributing to the Board’s ability to work as a collective body, while giving the Company the benefit of the familiarity and insight into the Company’s affairs that its directors have accumulated during their tenure. Accordingly, the process of the Committee for identifying nominees shall reflect the Company’s practice of re-nominating incumbent directors who continue to satisfy the Committee’s criteria for membership on the Board, whom the Committee believes continue to make important contributions to the Board and who consent to continue their service on the Board.
3.           Consistent with this policy, in considering candidates for election at annual meetings of stockholders, the Committee will first determine the incumbent directors whose terms expire at the upcoming meeting and who wish to continue their service on the Board.
4.           The Committee will evaluate the qualifications and performance of the incumbent directors that desire to continue their service. In particular, as to each such incumbent director, the Committee will:
consider if the director continues to satisfy the minimum qualifications for director candidates adopted by the Committee;
review the assessments of the performance of the director during the preceding term made by the Committee; and
determine whether there exist any special, countervailing considerations against re-nomination of the director.
5.           If the Committee determines that (a) an incumbent director consenting to re-nomination continues to be qualified and has satisfactorily performed his or her duties as director during the preceding term and (b) there exist no reasons, including considerations relating to the composition and functional needs of the Board as a whole, why in the Committee’s view the incumbent should not be re-nominated, the Committee will, absent special circumstances, propose the incumbent director for re-election.
6.           Consistent with the Company’s policy regarding director candidates submitted by stockholders, the Company shall only consider recommendations of director candidates from stockholders where the Committee has determined to not re-nominate a qualified incumbent director.
7.           The Committee will identify and evaluate new candidates for election to the Board where there is no qualified and available incumbent, including for the purpose of filling vacancies arising by reason of the resignation, retirement, removal, death or disability of an incumbent director or a decision of the directors to expand the size of the Board.
8.           The Committee will solicit recommendations for nominees from persons that the Committee believes are likely to be familiar with qualified candidates. These persons may include members of the Board, including members of the Committee, and management of the Company. The Committee may also determine to engage a professional search firm to assist in identifying qualified candidates.
B-1

9.           As to each recommended candidate that the Committee believes merits consideration, the Committee will:
cause to be assembled information concerning the background and qualifications of the candidate, including information concerning the candidate required to be disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any relationship between the candidate and the person or persons recommending the candidate;
determine if the candidate satisfies the minimum qualifications required by the Committee of candidates for election as director;
determine if the candidate possesses any of the specific qualities or skills that under the Committee’s policies must be possessed by one or more members of the Board;
consider the contribution that the candidate can be expected to make to the overall functioning of the Board; and
consider the extent to which the membership of the candidate on the Board will promote diversity among the directors.
10.           It is appropriate for the Committee, in its discretion, to solicit the views of the Chief Executive Officer, other members of the Company’s senior management and other members of the Board regarding the qualifications and suitability of candidates to be nominated as directors.
11.           In its discretion, the Committee may designate one or more of its members (or the entire Committee) to interview any proposed candidate.  Other members of the Board may, at their discretion, interview any such proposed candidate.
12.           Based on all available information and relevant considerations, the Committee will select, a candidate who, in the view of the Committee, is most suited for membership on the Board.
13.           The Committee shall maintain appropriate records regarding its process of identifying and evaluating candidates for election to the Board.

Last Revised as of February 24, 2016
B-2

ANNEX C
RELM WIRELESS CORPORATION
NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
POLICY REGARDING
DIRECTOR CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATIONS
SUBMITTED BY STOCKHOLDERS
1.           It is the policy of the Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of RELM Wireless Corporation (the “Company”) to consider recommendations for the nomination of director candidates submitted by holders of shares of the Company’s common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
2.           The Committee will give consideration to these recommendations for positions on the Company’s Board of Directors where the Committee has determined to not re-nominate a qualified incumbent director.
3.           For each annual meeting of stockholders, the Committee will accept for consideration only one recommendation from any stockholder or affiliated group of stockholders. An affiliated group of stockholders means stockholders constituting a group under Regulation 13D-G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
4.           In order for the recommendation of a stockholder to be considered under this policy, the recommending stockholder or group of stockholders must have owned at least five percent (5%) of the Company’s common stock for at least  one (1) year as of the date the recommendation was made.
5.           The Committee shall also consider the extent to which the stockholder making the nominating recommendation intends to maintain its ownership interest in the Company.
6.           The Committee shall only consider director candidates so recommended who satisfy the minimum qualifications prescribed by the Committee for director candidates, including that a director must represent the interests of all stockholders and not serve for the purpose of favoring or advancing the interests of any particular stockholder group or other constituency.
7.           Only those recommendations whose submission complies with the procedural requirements adopted by the Committee will be considered by the Committee.

Last Revised as of February 24, 2016
C-1

ANNEX D
RELM WIRELESS CORPORATION
NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
PROCEDURES FOR STOCKHOLDERS SUBMITTING
DIRECTOR CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATIONS

1.           Stockholders Entitled to Make Submissions. The Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of RELM Wireless Corporation (the “Company”) will accept for consideration submissions from stockholders of recommendations for the nomination of directors to the extent consistent with and permitted by the Committee’s “Policy Regarding Director Candidate Recommendations Submitted by Stockholders” in effect from time to time. Acceptance of a recommendation for consideration does not imply that the Committee will nominate the recommended candidate.
2.           Manner and Address for Submission. All stockholder nominating recommendations must be in writing, addressed to the Committee care of the Company’s corporate secretary at the Company’s principal headquarters, 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904. Submissions must be made by mail, courier or personal delivery. E-mailed submissions will not be considered.
3.           Information Concerning the Recommending Stockholders. A nominating recommendation must be accompanied by the following information concerning each recommending stockholder:
The name and address, including telephone number, of the recommending stockholder;
The number of the Company’s shares owned by the recommending stockholder and the time period for which such shares have been held;
If the recommending stockholder is not a stockholder of record, a statement from the record holder of the shares (usually a broker or bank) verifying the holdings of the stockholder and a statement from the recommending stockholder of the length of time that the shares have been held. (Alternatively, the stockholder may furnish a current Schedule 13D, Schedule 13G, Form 3, Form 4 or Form 5 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission reflecting the holdings of the stockholder, together with a statement of the length of time that the shares have been held); and
A statement from the stockholder as to whether the stockholder has a good faith intention to continue to hold the reported shares through the date of the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders.
4.           Information Concerning the Proposed Nominee. A nominating recommendation must be accompanied by the following information concerning the proposed nominee:
the information required by Item 401 of SEC Regulation S-K (generally providing for disclosure of the name, address, any arrangements or understanding regarding nomination and five year business experience of the proposed nominee, as well as information regarding certain types of legal proceedings within the past ten years involving the nominee);
the information required by Item 403 of SEC Regulation S-K (generally providing for disclosure regarding the proposed nominee’s ownership of securities of the Company); and
the information required by Item 404(a) of SEC Regulation S-K (generally providing for disclosure of any transaction in which the Company is a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which the proposed nominee has a direct or indirect material interest).
5.           Relationships Between the Proposed Nominee and the Recommending Stockholder. The nominating recommendation must describe all relationships between the proposed nominee and the recommending stockholder and any agreements or understandings between the recommending stockholder and the nominee regarding the nomination.
D-1

6.           Other Relationships of the Proposed Nominee. The nominating recommendation shall describe all relationships between the proposed nominee and any of the Company’s competitors, customers, suppliers, labor unions or other persons with special interests regarding the Company.
7.           Qualifications of the Proposed Nominee. The recommending stockholder must furnish a statement supporting its view that the proposed nominee possesses the minimum qualifications prescribed by the Committee for nominees, and briefly describing the contributions that the nominee would be expected to make to the Board and to the governance of the Company.
8.           Ability to Represent All Stockholders. The recommending stockholder must state whether, in the view of the stockholder, the proposed nominee, if nominated and elected, would represent all stockholders and not serve for the purpose of advancing or favoring any particular stockholder or other constituency of the Company.
9.           Consent to be interviewed by the Committee and, if nominated and elected, to serve. The nominating recommendation must be accompanied by the consent of the proposed nominee to be interviewed by the Committee, if the Committee chooses to do so in its discretion (and the recommending stockholder must furnish the proposed nominee’s contact information for this purpose), and, if nominated and elected, to serve as a director of the Company.
10.           Timing for Submissions Regarding Nominees for Election at Annual Meetings. A stockholder (or group of stockholders) wishing to submit a nominating recommendation for an annual meeting of stockholders must ensure that it is received by the Company, as provided above, not later than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the prior annual meeting of stockholders. In the event that the date of the annual meeting of stockholders for the current year is more than 30 days following the first anniversary date of the annual meeting of stockholders for the prior year, the submission of a recommendation will be considered timely if it is submitted a reasonable time in advance of the mailingadditional copies of the Company’s proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders for the current year.
11.           Stockholder Groups. If a recommendation is submitted by a group of twomaterials, or more stockholders, the information regarding recommending stockholders must be submitted with respect to each stockholder in the group.

Last Revised as of February 24, 2016
D-2

ANNEX E
RELM WIRELESS CORPORATION
POLICY AND PROCEDURES WITH RESPECT
TO INTERESTED TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
Policy
It is the policy of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of RELM Wireless Corporation (the “Company”)  that all “Interested Transactions” with “Related Persons,” as those terms are defined in this policy, shall be subject to approval or ratification in accordance with the procedures set forth below.
Procedures
The Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board shall review the material facts of all Interested Transactions that require the Committee’s approval and either approve or disapprove of the entry into the Interested Transaction, subject to the exceptions described below. If advance Committee approval of an Interested Transaction is not feasible, then the Interested Transaction shall be considered and, if the Committee determines it to be appropriate, ratified at the Committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting. In determining whether to approve or ratify an Interested Transaction, the Committee will take into account, amonghave any other factors it deems appropriate, whether the Interested Transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the Related Person’s interest in the transaction.
The Committee has reviewed the Interested Transactions described below in “Standing Pre-Approval for Certain Interested Transactions” and determined that each of the Interested Transactions described therein shall be deemed to be pre-approved or ratified (as applicable) by the Committee under the terms of this policy. In addition, the Board has delegated to the chairperson of the Committee the authority to pre-approve or ratify (as applicable) any Interested Transaction with a Related Person in which the aggregate amount involved is expected to be less than $250,000. In connection with each regularly scheduled meeting of the Committee, a summary of each new Interested Transaction deemed pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (3) or (4) under “Standing Pre-Approval for Certain Interested Transactions” below and each new Interested Transaction pre-approved by the chairperson in accordance with this paragraph shall be provided to the Committee for its review.
No director shall participate in any discussion or approval of an Interested Transaction for which he or she is a Related Person, except that the director shall provide all material information concerning the Interested Transaction to the Committee.
If an Interested Transaction will be ongoing, the Committee shall establish guidelines for the Company’s management to follow in its ongoing relationships with the Related Person. At the Committee’s first meeting of each fiscal year, the Committee shall review and assess ongoing relationships with the Related Person to determine if such relationships are in compliance with the Committee’s guidelines.  Based on all the relevant facts and circumstances, the Committee shall determine if it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to continue, modify or terminate any such Interested Transaction.
Definitions
An “Interested Transaction” is any transaction, arrangement or relationship or series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) in which (1) the aggregate amount involved does, will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 (or if less, one percent (1%) of the average of the Company’s total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years), (2) the Company (including any of its subsidiaries) was, is or will be a participant, and (3) any Related Person had, has or will have a direct or indirect interest.
E-1

A “Related Person” is (a) any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year was, a director or executive officer of the Company or a nominee to become a director of the Company, (b) any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of any class of the Company’s voting securities, (c) any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of the director, executive officer, nominee or more than 5% beneficial owner, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer, nominee or more than 5% beneficial owner and (d) any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a partner or principal or in a similar position or in which such person and all other related persons have, in the aggregate, a 10% or greater beneficial ownership interest.
Standing Pre-Approval for Certain Interested Transactions
The Committee has reviewed the types of Interested Transactions described below and determined that each of the following Interested Transactions shall be deemed to be pre-approved by the Committee, even if the aggregate amount involved will exceed $120,000.
1.           Employment of executive officers. Any employment by the Company of an executive officer of the Company if:
(a)the related compensation is required to be reported in the Company’s proxy statement under Item 402 of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC’s”) compensation disclosure requirements (generally applicable to “named executive officers”); or
(b)the executive officer is not an immediate family member of another executive officer or director of the Company, the related compensation would be reported in the Company’s proxy statement under Item 402 of the SEC’s compensation disclosure requirements if the executive officer was a “named executive officer,” and the Company’s Compensation Committee approved (or recommended that the Board approve) such compensation.
2.           Director compensation. Any compensation paid to a director if the compensation is required to be reported inquestions, please call Alliance Advisors LLC, the Company’s proxy statement under Item 402 ofsolicitor, at the SEC’s compensation disclosure requirements;
3.           Certain transactions with other companies. Any transaction with another company at which a Related Person’s only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer), director or beneficial owner of less than 10% of that company’s shares, if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the greater of $500,000, or two percent (2%) of that company’s total annual revenues;
4.           Certain Company charitable contributions. Any charitable contribution, grant or endowment by the Company to a charitable organization, foundation or university at which a Related Person’s only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer) or a director, if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the lesser of $500,000, or two percent (2%) of the charitable organization’s total annual receipts;
5.           Transactions where all stockholders receive proportional benefits. Any transaction where the Related Person’s interest arises solely from the ownership of the Company’s common stock and all holders of the Company’s common stock received the same benefit on a pro rata basis (e.g., dividends).
6.           Transactions involving competitive bids. Any transaction involving a Related Person where the rates or charges involved are determined by competitive bids.
7.           Regulated transactions. Any transaction with a Related Person involving the rendering of services as a common or contract carrier, or public utility, at rates or charges fixed in conformity with law or governmental authority.
8.           Certain banking-related services. Any transaction with a Related Person involving services as a bank depositary of funds, transfer agent, registrar, trustee under a trust indenture, or similar services.
E-2

Disclosure
All Interested Transactions that are required to be disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, as required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and related rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, shall be so disclosed in accordance with such laws, rules and regulations.
The material features of this policy shall be disclosed in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K or in the Company’s proxy statement, as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Last Revised as of February 24, 2016
E-3

toll-free telephone number included below.

RELM WIRELESS

Alliance Advisors LLC

200 Broadacres Drive, 3rd Floor

Bloomfield, NJ 07003

Toll-free number: 844-876-6187

40

BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS – MAY 18, 2016December 14, 2023, AT 10:30 AM LOCAL00 A.M., EASTERN TIME

CONTROL ID:

REQUEST ID:

The undersigned stockholder(s) of RELM WirelessBK Technologies Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), hereby revoking any proxy heretofore given, does hereby appoint David P. StoreyJohn M. Suzuki and William P. Kelly,Scott A. Malmanger, and each of them, with full power to act alone, the true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and proxies of the undersigned, with full powers of substitution, and hereby authorize(s) them and each of them, to represent the undersigned and to vote all shares of common stock of the Company that the undersigned isheld of record as of the close of business on October 25, 2023, and is/are entitled to vote at the 20162023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on May 18, 2016December 14, 2023, at 10:3000 a.m., local time,Eastern Time, online at the corporate offices of the Company at 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904,https://agm.issuerdirect.com/BKTI, and any and all adjournments and postponements thereof, with all powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, on the following proposals, each as described more fully in the accompanying proxy statement, and any other matters coming before said meeting.

(CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE.)

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

If you vote by phone, fax or internet, please DO NOT mail your proxy card.

MAIL:

MAIL:

Please mark, sign, date, and return this Proxy Card promptly using the enclosed envelope.

FAX:

Complete the reverse portion of this Proxy Card and Fax to 202-521-3464.

INTERNET:

https://iproxydirect.com/BKTI

PHONE:

1-866-752-VOTE(8683)

 
INTERNET:https://www.iproxydirect.com/RWC
PHONE:1-866-752-VOTE(8683)

 


ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCKHOLDERS OF

RELM WIRELESS

BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE: ý

PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Proposal 1

FOR

WITHHOLD

Proposal 1

à
FOR
ALL
WITHHOLD
ALL
FOR ALL
EXCEPT

Election of Directors:

¨

¨

David P. Storey

Joshua S. Horowitz

¨

Donald F.U. Goebert

R. Joseph Jackson

¨

CONTROL

Control ID:

Timothy W. O’Neil

Charles T. Lanktree

¨

REQUEST ID:

D. Kyle Cerminara

E. Gray Payne

¨

Lewis M. Johnson

Lloyd R. Sams

¨

 John M. Suzuki

Proposal 2

à

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

To ratify the appointment of Moore Stephens Lovelace,MSL, P.A. as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2016.2023.

¨

¨

¨

Proposal 3

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

Proposal 3

To approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers

Proposal 4

ONE-YEAR FREQUENCY

TWO-YEAR FREQUENCY

THREE-YEAR FREQUENCY

To approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the frequency of the advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

To transact such other business properly brought before the meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.

MARK “X” HERE IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING: ¨

This proxy will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE, AND IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED, “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR NAMED IN PROPOSAL 1, “FOR” RATIFICATION OF THE AUDITOR APPOINTMENT IN PROPOSAL 2, “FOR” THE ADVISORY approval of the compensation of our named executive officers in proposal 3, “FOR” a three-year frequency for the advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers in proposal 4,ANDIN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS OR POSTPONEMENTS THEREOF TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE   ¨  New Address (if applicable):

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

IMPORTANT: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

Dated: ________________________, 2016

2023

(Print Name of Stockholder and/or Joint Tenant)

(Signature of Stockholder)

(Second Signature if held jointly)