☐
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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☐
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Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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☒
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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☐
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Definitive Additional Materials
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☐
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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ZOOM TELEPHONICS, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Very truly yours,
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Graham Chynoweth
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Chief Executive Officer
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1.
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To elect the eight nominees named in the accompanying Proxy Statement to serve as directors for the ensuing year until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified;
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2.
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To ratify the appointment of RSM US LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2021;
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3.
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To approve an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of capital stock to 62,000,000 shares, consisting of 60,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 2,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock;
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4.
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To approve by a non-binding advisory vote the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (the “say-on-pay” vote); and
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5.
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To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Graham Chynoweth
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Chief Executive Officer
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•
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Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MINM2021. You may vote via the Internet during the meeting. Have the information that is available on the proxy card and follow the instructions.
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•
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Use any touch-tone telephone to dial 1-800-690-6903 to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.
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•
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To vote by written proxy, complete, sign and date your proxy card and return it promptly in the postage-paid envelope to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood NY 11717.
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•
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David Aronoff
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•
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Dan Artusi
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•
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Graham Chynoweth
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•
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Philip Frank
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•
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Elizabeth Hitchcock
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•
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Jeremy Hitchcock
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•
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Joshua Horowitz
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•
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Sandra Howe
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Name
|
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Age
|
| |
Principal Occupation
|
| |
Director
Since
|
David Aronoff(1),(2),(4)
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| |
57
|
| |
General Partner of Flybridge Capital Partners, Board Member of Draper Laboratories and BetterCloud
|
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2020
|
Dan Artusi(3)
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66
|
| |
Board member of MaxLinear, VislC-Tech, and GenXComm
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2020
|
Graham Chynoweth
|
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42
|
| |
Chief Executive Officer and Director of Zoom Telephonics, Inc.
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2020
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Philip Frank(1)
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50
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President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of VUI, Inc.
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2015
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Elizabeth Hitchcock(4)
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42
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Principal at Orbit group and Board Director of St. Mary’s Bank
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2020
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Jeremy Hitchcock(4)
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39
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Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zoom Telephonics, Inc.
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2020
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Joshua Horowitz(1),(3)
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43
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Portfolio Manager at Palm Management (US) LLC
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2020
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Sandra Howe(2),(3)
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48
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Technology Executive, previously with ARRIS, Cisco, and Technetix
|
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2020
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(1)
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Members of the Audit Committee as of December 31, 2020. Chair: Philip Frank.
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(2)
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Members of the Compensation Committee as of December 31, 2020. Chair: David Aronoff.
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(3)
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Members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee as of December 31, 2020. Chair: Joshua Horowitz.
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(4)
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Members of the Cybersecurity and Privacy Committee. Chair: Elizabeth Hitchcock.
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Name
|
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Age
|
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Position with Minim
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Sean Doherty
|
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39
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Chief Financial Officer
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Nicole Zheng
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36
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Chief Marketing Officer
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John Lauten
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54
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Chief Operating Officer
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Audit Committee:
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Philip Frank, Chairman
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David Aronoff
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Joshua Horowitz
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Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
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Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
|
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% of Common Stock
Outstanding
|
5% or Greater Stockholders:
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Zulu Holdings LLC(2)
848 Elm Street, 2nd Floor
Manchester, NH 03101
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15,696,184
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44.4
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Directors and Named Executive Officers:
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David Aronoff(3)
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1,590,987
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4.5
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Daniel Artusi
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19,225
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*
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Graham Chynoweth
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990,726
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2.8
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Philip Frank
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90,000
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*
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Elizabeth Hitchcock(4)
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17,819,529
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50.3
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Jeremy Hitchcock(4)
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17,819,529
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50.3
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Sandra Howe
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—
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—
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Joshua Horowitz(5)
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1,236,426
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3.5
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Nicole Zheng
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275,857
|
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*
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John Lauten(6)
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60,000
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*
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Frank B. Manning(7)
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—
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—
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Joseph L. Wytanis(8)
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150,910
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*
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Jacqueline Barry Hamilton
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71,721
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*
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All directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons)(9)
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22,082,750
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61.9
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*
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Less than one percent of shares outstanding.
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(1)
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Unless otherwise noted: (i) each person identified possesses sole voting and investment power over the shares listed; and (ii) the address of each person identified is c/o Zoom Telephonics, Inc., 848 Elm Street, New Hampshire, 03101.
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(2)
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Information is based on a Schedule 13D/A filed as of December 8, 2020, by Jeremy Hitchcock, Elizabeth Cash Hitchcock, Orbit Group LLC (“Orbit”), HCP and Zulu. The 15,696,184 shares are held of record by Zulu. HCP may be deemed the beneficial owner of the shares as a beneficial owner of the Common Stock held by Zulu through its ownership of Zulu. As the manager of Zulu, Orbit may be deemed the beneficial owner of the Common Stock held by Zulu. As the co-managers of Orbit and HCP, each of Mr. and Ms. Hitchcock may be deemed the beneficial owner of the Common Stock held by Zulu.
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(3)
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Consists of shares of Common Stock held by Flybridge Capital Partners, of which Mr. Aronoff is a General Partner.
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(4)
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Mr. and Ms. Hitchcock may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of all shares of the Company owned by either of them or investment vehicles, including Zulu, owned by either of them. Includes 52,500 shares that Mr. Hitchcock has the right to acquire upon exercise of outstanding stock options exercisable within sixty (60) days after April 5, 2021.
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(5)
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Consists of shares of Common Stock held by Palm Global Small Cap Master Fund LP (“Palm Global”). Mr. Horowitz is a Portfolio Manager with Palm Management (US) LLC, which provides investment management services to Palm Global.
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(6)
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Includes 45,000 shares that Mr. Lauten has the right to acquire upon exercise of outstanding stock options exercisable within sixty days after April 5, 2021.
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(7)
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Mr. Manning retired from his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective as of February 1, 2020.
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(8)
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Mr. Wytanis resigned from the Company effective as of May 8, 2020.
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(9)
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Includes an aggregate of 335,327 shares that the current directors and executive officers have the right to acquire upon exercise of outstanding stock options exercisable within sixty days after April 5, 2021.
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•
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an agreement by Frank B. Manning, Peter R. Kramer and Joseph Donovan to resign from the Company’s Board of Directors and any other position they hold with the Company, effective as of the closing of the purchase of the shares;
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•
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an agreement by each of the sellers, for a period of two years from the closing of the purchase of the shares (or, if earlier, Zulu’s failure to make timely payments for the shares), not to, without the prior written consent of Zulu: (a) acquire in any manner any securities of the Company (other than by exercise of stock options held by the sellers); (b) solicit proxies or seek to influence any person or entity regarding the voting of any securities of the Company; (c) publicly announce or propose any merger, business combination, recapitalization, restructuring or other extraordinary transaction involving the Company or any of its securities or material assets; (d) form, join or in any way participate in a group in connection with any of the foregoing; (e) otherwise act or seek to control or influence the management, Board of Directors or policies of the Company; (f) take any action that could reasonably be expected to require the Company to make a public announcement regarding the possibility of any of the foregoing events; or (g) publicly request Zulu to amend or waive any of the foregoing restrictions;
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•
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mutual non-disparagement undertakings by the sellers, Zulu and Mr. Hitchcock, for a period of three years from the closing of the purchase of the shares (or, in the case of the Sellers’ obligations, if earlier, Zulu’s failure to make timely payments for the shares); and
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•
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mutual general releases by the Sellers of Zulu and Mr. Hitchcock, and by Zulu and Mr. Hitchcock of the Sellers.
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Name and Principal Position
|
| |
Year
|
| |
Salary
($)
|
| |
Bonus(1)
($)
|
| |
Option
Awards(2)
($)
|
| |
All Other
Compensation(3)
($)
|
| |
Total
($)
|
Graham Chynoweth,
Chief Executive Officer
|
| |
2020
|
| |
$15,385
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$15,385
|
|
2019
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
||
Nicole Zheng,
Chief Marketing Officer
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2020
|
| |
$12,308
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$12,308
|
|
2019
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
||
John Lauten,
Chief Operating Officer
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| |
2020
|
| |
$195,000
|
| |
$54,125
|
| |
—
|
| |
$15,192
|
| |
$264,317
|
|
2019
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
||
Jeremy Hitchcock,
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors principal executive officer
|
| |
2020
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$14,425
|
| |
—
|
| |
$14,425
|
|
2019
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$18,257
|
| |
—
|
| |
$18,257
|
||
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
||
Frank B. Manning,(4)
Retired Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer
|
| |
2020
|
| |
$12,430
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$79,833
|
| |
$92,263
|
|
2019
|
| |
$134,244
|
| |
—
|
| |
$67,463
|
| |
$350
|
| |
$202,057
|
||
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
||
Joseph L. Wytanis,(5)
former President and Chief Executive Officer
|
| |
2020
|
| |
$78,254
|
| |
$77,011
|
| |
—
|
| |
$137,643
|
| |
$292,908
|
|
2019
|
| |
$207,708
|
| |
$60,000
|
| |
—
|
| |
$107.538
|
| |
$375,246
|
||
Jacqueline Barry Hamilton,
former Chief Financial Officer
|
| |
2020
|
| |
$159,627
|
| |
$32,375
|
| |
$38,617
|
| |
$104,178
|
| |
$334,797
|
|
2019
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
(1)
|
The amounts in this column represent bonus payments granted in the applicable fiscal year.
|
(2)
|
The amounts included in the “Option Awards” column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, pursuant to the 2009 Stock Option Plan and 2019 Stock Option Plan. Assumptions used in the calculations of these amounts are included in Note 11 to our Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. These options are incentive stock options issued under the 2009 Stock Option Plan or 2019 Stock Option Plan and represent the right to purchase shares of Common Stock at a fixed price per share (the grant date fair market value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the options).
|
(3)
|
The amounts included in the “All Other Compensation” column consists of: (a) for Mr. Lauten in 2020, a taxable housing allowance of $15,192; (b) for Mr. Manning in 2020, severance compensation of $52,206 and vacation pay of $27,627, and in 2019, the Company’s contribution to a 401(k) plan of $350; (c) for Mr. Wytanis in 2020, severance compensation of $105,000, vacation pay of $16,735, and a taxable housing allowance of $15,908, and in 2019, a taxable housing allowance of $107,538; and (d) for Ms. Barry Hamilton in 2020, severance compensation of $92,500 and vacation pay of $11,678.
|
(4)
|
Mr. Manning retired from his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Acting Chief Financial Officer effective as of February 1, 2020.
|
(5)
|
Mr. Wytanis resigned from the Company effective as of May 8, 2020.
|
|
| |
Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised Options
|
| |
Equity Incentive Plan
Awards Number of
Securities Underlying
Unexercised Unvested
Options
|
| |
Option
Exercise
Price
|
| |
Option
Expiration
Date
|
|||
Name
|
| |
Exercisable
Options
|
| |
Unexercisable
Options(2)
|
| ||||||||
Graham Chynoweth
|
| |
20,384
|
| |
2,547
|
| |
2,547
|
| |
$0.55
|
| |
03/31/2025
|
|
48,063
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$0.57
|
| |
08/25/2025
|
||
Nicole Zheng
|
| |
7,337
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$0.55
|
| |
03/31/2025
|
|
—
|
| |
40,503
|
| |
40,503
|
| |
$0.57
|
| |
08/25/2025
|
||
|
53,334
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$3.44
|
| |
2/4/2026
|
||
John Lauten
|
| |
40,000
|
| |
25,000
|
| |
25,000
|
| |
$1.00
|
| |
11/12/2022
|
Jeremy Hitchcock
|
| |
30,000
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$0.88
|
| |
5/30/2022
|
|
7,500
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$0.97
|
| |
7/10/2022
|
||
|
7,500
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$1.15
|
| |
1/10/2023
|
||
|
7,500
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$2.03
|
| |
7/10/2023
|
||
Frank B. Manning
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$—
|
| |
—
|
Joseph L. Wytanis
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$—
|
| |
—
|
Jacqueline Barry Hamilton(1)
|
| |
71,721
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$1.00
|
| |
3/11/2023
|
(1)
|
Upon her departure, effective December 31, 2020, all of the options held by Ms. Barry Hamilton became fully vested.
|
(2)
|
The Unexercisable Options for Mr. Chynoweth and Ms. Zheng were converted from their respective Minim, Inc. options into options to purchase Company Common Stock in connection with the Company’s merger with Minim, Inc.
|
|
| |
Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
|
| |
Weighted-average exercise
price of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
|
| |
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities reflected
in first reporting column)
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
| |
3,098,163
|
| |
$1.16
|
| |
2,122,091
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by securities holders
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
Total
|
| |
3,098,163
|
| |
$1.16
|
| |
2,122,091
|
Name
|
| |
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
|
| |
Option
Awards(1)(2)(3)(4)
|
| |
All Other
Compensation
|
| |
Total
|
David Allen*
|
| |
$8,340
|
| |
$28,652
|
| |
—
|
| |
$36,992
|
David Aronoff
|
| |
$500
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$500
|
Dan Artusi
|
| |
$500
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$500
|
Joseph J. Donovan*
|
| |
$1,500
|
| |
$14,425
|
| |
—
|
| |
$15,925
|
Philip Frank
|
| |
$7,950
|
| |
$14,425
|
| |
—
|
| |
$22,375
|
Jeremy Hitchcock
|
| |
$1,500
|
| |
$14,425
|
| |
—
|
| |
$15,925
|
Elizabeth Hitchcock
|
| |
$500
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$500
|
Joshua Horowitz
|
| |
$7,140
|
| |
$28,652
|
| |
—
|
| |
$35,792
|
Sandra Howe
|
| |
$500
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
$500
|
Peter R. Kramer*
|
| |
$1,500
|
| |
$14,425
|
| |
—
|
| |
$15,925
|
Jonathan Seelig*
|
| |
$1,000
|
| |
$4,874
|
| |
—
|
| |
$5,874
|
Peter Sykes*
|
| |
$1,833
|
| |
$14,425
|
| |
—
|
| |
$16,258
|
(1)
|
The amounts included in the “Option Awards” column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of option awards in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, pursuant to the 2009 Directors Stock Option Plan and 2019 Directors Stock Option Plan. Assumptions used in the calculations of these amounts are included in Note 11 to our Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. These options are non-qualified stock options issued under the 2009 Directors Stock Option Plan or 2019 Directors Stock Option Plan and represent the right to purchase shares of Common Stock at a fixed price per share (the grant date fair market value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the options).
|
(2)
|
As of December 31, 2020, each non-employee director held the following aggregate number of shares under outstanding stock options:
|
Name
|
| |
Number of Shares
Underlying Outstanding
Stock Options*
|
David Allen*
|
| |
18,500
|
David Aronoff
|
| |
—
|
Dan Artusi
|
| |
19,225
|
Joseph J. Donovan*
|
| |
—
|
Philip Frank
|
| |
60,000
|
Elizabeth Hitchcock
|
| |
—
|
Jeremy Hitchcock
|
| |
52,500
|
Joshua Horowitz
|
| |
22,500
|
Sandra Howe
|
| |
—
|
Peter R. Kramer*
|
| |
—
|
Frank B Manning*
|
| |
—
|
Jonathan Seelig*
|
| |
—
|
Peter Sykes*
|
| |
60,000
|
(3)
|
As of December 31, 2020, the number of shares underlying stock options granted to each non-employee director in 2020 and the grant date fair market value of such stock options was:
|
Name
|
| |
Grant
Date
|
| |
Number of
Shares
underlying
Stock Options
Grants in 2019
|
| |
Grant Date
Fair Value of
Stock Option
Grants in 2019
|
David Allen*
|
| |
07/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$9,551
|
|
07/10/2020
|
| |
15,000
|
| |
$19,101
|
||
David Aronoff
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
Dan Artusi
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
Joseph J. Donovan*
|
| |
01/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$4,874
|
|
07/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$9,551
|
||
Philip Frank
|
| |
01/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$4,874
|
|
07/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$9,551
|
||
Elizabeth Hitchcock
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
Jeremy Hitchcock(4)
|
| |
01/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$4,874
|
|
07/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$9,551
|
||
Joshua Horowitz
|
| |
07/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$9,551
|
|
07/10/2020
|
| |
15,000
|
| |
$19,101
|
||
Sandra Howe
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
| |
—
|
Peter R. Kramer*
|
| |
01/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$4,874
|
|
07/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$9,551
|
||
Frank B Manning*
|
| |
07/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$9,551
|
Jonathan Seelig(4)*
|
| |
01/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$4,874
|
Peter Sykes*
|
| |
01/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$4,874
|
|
07/10/2020
|
| |
7,500
|
| |
$9,551
|
(4)
|
The Company closed on a $5 million private placement and issued an aggregate of 4,545,455 shares on May 3, 2019 and Mr. Hitchcock and Mr. Seelig joined the Board; upon joining the Board, Mr. Hitchcock and Mr. Seelig each received a grant of 30,000 stock options. See the description of the private placement in the “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” section in this proxy statement.
|
*
|
Denotes former directors who left the Board of Directors of the Company before December 31, 2020.
|
Name
|
| |
Exercised
Options
|
David Allen*
|
| |
4,000
|
David Aronoff
|
| |
—
|
Dan Artusi
|
| |
—
|
Joseph J. Donovan*
|
| |
75,000
|
Philip Frank
|
| |
30,000
|
Elizabeth Hitchcock
|
| |
—
|
Jeremy Hitchcock
|
| |
—
|
Joshua Horowitz
|
| |
—
|
Sandra Howe
|
| |
—
|
Peter R. Kramer*
|
| |
75,000
|
Frank B Manning*
|
| |
282,500
|
Jonathan Seelig*
|
| |
—
|
Peter Sykes*
|
| |
—
|
*
|
Denotes former directors who left the Board of Directors of the Company before December 31, 2020.
|
Name
|
| |
Exercised
Options
|
Graham Chynoweth
|
| |
—
|
Nicole Zheng
|
| |
—
|
John Lauten
|
| |
—
|
Frank B. Manning
|
| |
—
|
Joseph L. Wytanis
|
| |
100,000
|
Jacqueline Barry Hamilton
|
| |
18,279
|
FEE CATEGORY
|
| |
2020
|
| |
2019
|
Audit fees(1)
|
| |
$267,995
|
| |
$187,200
|
Audit-related fees(2)
|
| |
22,800
|
| |
10,000
|
Total fees
|
| |
$290,795
|
| |
$197,200
|
(1)
|
Audit Fees. Consists of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory filings and engagements.
|
(2)
|
Audit-Related Fees. Consists of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” For 2020, fees are related to registering securities for Zoom's stock option plans and a private placement. For 2019, fees are related to a private placement.
|
|
| |
By order of the Board of Directors,
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Graham Chynoweth
|
|
| |
Chief Executive Officer
|