UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A
INFORMATION
Proxy statement
Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of
1934 (Amendment No. )
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[ ] Confidential,
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14a-6(e)(2))
[ ]
Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive
Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
PARKERVISION, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in
Its Charter)
N/A
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy
statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check all
boxes that apply):
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[X]
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No fee required
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[ ]
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Fee paid previously with
preliminary materials
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[ ]
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Fee computed on
table in Exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules
14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11
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PARKERVISION,
INC.
4446-1A
Hendricks Avenue, Suite 354
Jacksonville, Florida
32207
___________
NOTICE OF ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD
SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
___________
Notice is hereby given that the
2022 annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual
Meeting”) of ParkerVision, Inc. (the “Company”,
“we” or “our”), will be held September 16,
2022 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. You may attend the Annual Meeting
online at https://web.lumiagm.com/209610065
(password: parkervision2022).
To participate in the Annual
Meeting, you will need your 16-digit control number included with
the notice of internet availability of proxy materials or proxy
card. Instructions on how to attend and participate in the Annual
Meeting online can be found at www.voteproxy.com
or at https://web.lumiagm.com/209610065
(password: parkervision2022).
You will be able to vote your shares
while attending the Annual Meeting by following the instructions on
the website.
At the Annual Meeting, the
Company's shareholders will vote on the following
proposals:
1.
To
elect two nominees as Class III directors to the Board of
Directors;
2.
To
approve an amendment to the amended and restated articles of
incorporation of the Company to increase the number of authorized
shares of common stock;
3.
To
ratify the selection of MSL, P.A. as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending
December 31, 2022; and
4.
To
transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting or any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
The board of directors has fixed
the close of business on July 18, 2022 as the record date for the
determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote
at, the Annual Meeting, and any adjournments
thereof.
You are urged to read the attached proxy statement, which contains
information relevant to the actions to be taken at the Annual
Meeting. In order to ensure the presence of a quorum, whether or
not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting online, please vote
your shares by proxy as promptly as possible. You may revoke your
proxy if you so desire at any time before it is
voted.
Important Notice Regarding
the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to
be Held on September 16, 2022: The Company’s proxy
statement and annual report to security holders are available at
http://www.astproxyportal.com/ast/20640.
By Order of the Board of
Directors
Cynthia French
Chief Financial
Officer and Corporate Secretary
Jacksonville,
Florida
August 2,
2022
PARKERVISION,
INC.
___________
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR THE ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON
SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
___________
Table of
Contents
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INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION
AND VOTING
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2
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PROPOSAL I: ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS
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6
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CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
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9
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EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
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13
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PROPOSAL II: APPROVAL OF AN
AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON
STOCK
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15
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AUDIT COMMITTEE
REPORT
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18
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PROPOSAL III: RATIFICATION OF THE
SELECTION OF MSL, P.A. AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
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20
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STOCK OWNERSHIP
INFORMATION
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21
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
TRANSACTIONS
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22
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SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND
NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2023 ANNUAL MEETING
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23
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DISCRETIONARY VOTING OF PROXIES ON
OTHER MATTERS
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23
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INFORMATION
CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
General
This proxy statement and the
accompanying proxy materials are being furnished to our
shareholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our
board of directors (our “Board”) for use at our 2022
annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”)
to be held Friday, September 16, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
for the following purposes:
1.
to
elect two Class III members of the Board to hold office until the
third ensuing annual meeting and until his respective successor is
duly elected and qualified;
2.
to
approve an amendment to the amended and restated articles of
incorporation of the Company, as amended, to increase the number of
authorized shares of common stock from 150,000,000 shares to
175,000,000 shares;
3.
to
ratify the appointment of MSL, P.A. as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending
December 31, 2022; and
4.
to
transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual
Meeting or any adjournments or postponements
thereof.
The Annual Meeting will be held via
live webcast at https://web.lumiagm.com/209610065
(password: parkervision2022) and will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.
Eastern Time. We encourage you to access the Annual Meeting prior
to the start time. Online check-in will begin at 9:45 a.m. Eastern
Time, and you should allow ample time for the check-in procedures.
This proxy statement and the accompanying proxy materials will be
sent or made available to shareholders on or about August 2,
2022.
Record Date and
Voting Securities
Our Board has fixed the close of
business on July 18, 2022 as the record date for determination of
shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual
Meeting. As of July 18, 2022, we had issued and outstanding
78,341,325 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, our
only class of voting securities outstanding. Each of our
shareholders is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock
registered in his or her name on the record
date.
Voting
There are several different methods
shareholders can use to vote their shares:
1.
By
Internet: You can submit a proxy over the internet to vote
your shares by following the instructions provided either in the
notice of internet availability of proxy materials or on the proxy
card or voting instruction form you received if you requested a
full set of the proxy materials by mail or
email;
2.
By
Telephone: If you requested a full set of proxy materials by
mail or email, you can submit a proxy over the telephone by
following the instructions provided on the proxy card or voting
instruction form accompanying the proxy materials you received. If
you received a notice of internet availability of proxy materials
only, you can submit a proxy over the telephone to vote your shares
by following the instructions at the internet web address referred
to in the notice;
3.
By
Mail: If you requested and received a full set of the proxy
materials by mail or email, you can submit a proxy by mail to vote
your shares by completing, signing, and returning the proxy card or
voting instruction form accompanying the proxy materials you
received; or
4.
During the Annual Meeting:
You may
vote virtually via the internet during the Annual Meeting. If
you desire to vote during the meeting, please follow the
instructions for attending and voting during the Annual Meeting
posted at https://web.lumiagm.com/209610065
(password: parkervision2022).
Shareholders of
Record and Shareholders Who Hold Shares in “Street
Name”
If your shares of common
stock are registered in your name on
the books and records of our transfer agent, you are the
shareholder of record. If your shares of common stock are held for
you in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, your shares
are held in “street name.”
If you are a
shareholder of record and you sign and return a proxy card without
giving specific voting instructions or you indicate when voting on
the internet or by telephone that you wish to vote as recommended
by the Board, then the proxy holders will vote your shares in the
manner recommended by the Board on all matters presented in this
proxy statement and as the proxy holders may determine in their
discretion with respect to any other matters properly presented for
a vote at the Annual Meeting. If you hold your shares in
“street name” through a bank, broker or other holder of
record, please refer to the materials provided to you by your bank,
broker or other holder of record for information on communicating
your voting instructions.
If you hold your shares in
street name, your bank, broker or other holder of record will not
be permitted to vote on your behalf on certain matters, including
with respect to the election of our directors and approval of the
amendment to our amended and restated articles of incorporation,
unless it receives voting instructions from you. To ensure
that your vote is counted, please (i) communicate your voting
instructions to your broker, bank, or other holder of record before
the Annual Meeting, (ii) obtain a legal proxy and vote online using
the instructions posted on the internet, (iii) or obtain a legal
proxy and arrange to vote online during the Annual Meeting using
the instructions posted at https://web.lumiagm.com/209610065
(password: parkervision2022).
Proxies and
Revocation of Proxies
Your proxy is being solicited by our Board for
use at the Annual Meeting. By giving your proxy, you are appointing
as your proxies the persons that have been designated by our Board.
Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation and received in time
for the Annual Meeting will be voted in accordance with your
instructions. If no instructions are given, proxies given by a
shareholder will be voted “FOR” the election of the
director nominees, “FOR” the amendment to our amended
and restated articles of incorporation increasing the number of
authorized shares of common stock, and “FOR”
ratification of the appointment of MSL, P.A. as our independent
registered public accounting firm. With respect to any other
proposal that properly comes before the Annual Meeting, the persons
appointed as proxies will vote as recommended by our Board or, if
no recommendation is given, in their own discretion, to the extent
permitted by applicable laws and
regulations.
Any
proxy may be revoked by (i) submitting a written notice of
revocation that is received by our Corporate Secretary at any time
prior to the voting at the Annual Meeting, (ii) submitting a
subsequent proxy prior to the voting at the Annual Meeting or (iii)
attending the Annual Meeting virtually and voting online.
Attendance by a shareholder at the Annual Meeting does not alone
serve to revoke his or her proxy. Shareholders may send written
notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary, ParkerVision,
Inc., 4446-1A Hendricks Avenue, Suite 354, Jacksonville, Florida
32207.
Quorum and
Required Vote
The presence, in person, including
online attendance, or by proxy, of a majority of the votes entitled
to be cast at the Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum at the
meeting. A proxy submitted by a shareholder may indicate that all
or a portion of the shares represented by his or her proxy are not
being voted (“shareholder withholding”) with respect to
a particular matter. Similarly, a broker may not be permitted to
vote stock held in street name on a particular matter in the
absence of instructions from the beneficial owner of the stock
(“broker non-vote”). The shares subject to a proxy
which are not being voted on a particular matter because of either
shareholder withholding or a broker non-vote will not be considered
shares present and entitled to vote on the matter. These shares,
however, may be considered present and entitled to vote on other
matters and will count for purposes of determining the presence of
a quorum, unless the proxy indicates that the shares are not being
voted on any matter at the Annual Meeting, in which case the shares
will not be counted for purposes of determining the presence of a
quorum.
Director Election. The directors will
be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting.
“Plurality” means that the nominees who receive the
highest number of votes in their favor will be elected as our
directors. Consequently, any shares not voted “FOR” a
particular nominee, because of either shareholder withholding or
broker non-vote, will not be counted in the nominee’s favor.
Shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights for
directors.
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles
of Incorporation. The approval of the amendment to our
amended and restated articles of incorporation to increase the
number of authorized shares of common stock requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual
Meeting. Abstentions will have no effect on the proposal because
abstentions do not count as a vote cast. Brokerage firms do not
have the authority to vote customers’ shares on this proposal
in the absence of instructions from the beneficial owner of the
shares. Because brokers are not entitled to vote on this matter,
such broker non-votes will have no effect on the
vote.
Ratification of the Appointment of MSL, P.A.
as our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The
ratification of the appointment of MSL, P.A. as our independent
registered public accounting firm requires the affirmative vote of
a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. Abstentions have the same effect as a vote against the
proposal. Brokerage firms do have authority to vote
customers’ shares on this proposal in the absence of
instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares. To the extent
any brokerage firms do not vote on this proposal, such broker
non-votes will not have any effect on the outcome of this
matter.
Other Matters. All other matters that
may be brought before the shareholders must be approved by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes present and entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting, unless the governing corporate law, our
amended and restated articles of incorporation or our bylaws
require otherwise. Abstentions have the same effect as a vote
against any such other matters. Brokers are not entitled to vote on
such other matters and, accordingly, “broker non-votes”
will have no effect on the vote.
Appraisal
Rights
No appraisal rights are available
under Florida law, our amended and restated articles of
incorporation or our bylaws if you dissent from or vote against any
of the proposals to be presented at the Annual
Meeting.
Solicitation of
Proxies
Your proxy is being solicited by
our Board for use at the Annual Meeting. We have retained Advantage
Proxy to act as a proxy solicitor in conjunction with the Annual
Meeting. We have agreed to pay Advantage Proxy a fee of $4,000,
plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. If you are a shareholder
and have questions about the proposals including the procedures for
voting your shares, please contact Advantage Proxy toll free at
1-877-870-8565 or by email at ksmith@advantageproxy.com.
Our officers and other employees, without additional remuneration,
may also assist in the solicitation of proxies in the ordinary
course of their employment. In addition to the use of the mail and
the internet, solicitations may be made personally or by email or
telephone, as well as by public announcement. We will bear the cost
of this proxy solicitation. We may also request brokers, dealers,
banks and their nominees to solicit proxies from their clients
where appropriate and may reimburse them for reasonable expenses
related thereto.
Our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2021 (“Annual Report”),
which contains our audited financial statements, is being sent or
made available to our shareholders along with this proxy statement.
We will provide to you exhibits to the Annual Report upon payment
of a fee of $.25 per page, plus $5.00 postage and handling charge,
if a request is sent in writing to the Corporate Secretary,
ParkerVision, Inc., 4446-1A Hendricks Avenue, Suite 354,
Jacksonville, Florida 32207.
PROPOSAL I:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
General
Our Board is divided into three
classes with only one class of directors typically being elected in
each year and each class serving a three-year term. The term of
office of our Class III directors expires at this year’s
Annual Meeting. Our Board has nominated Mr. Paul A. Rosenbaum and
Mr. Robert G. Sterne, the current Class III directors, for
re-election.
The nominees have agreed to be
named in this proxy statement and to serve as director if elected.
Unless otherwise specified by you when you give your proxy, the
shares subject to your proxy will be voted “FOR” the
election of the nominees. In case one or both of the nominees
become unavailable for election to the Board, an event which is not
anticipated, the persons appointed as proxies, or their
substitutes, shall have full discretion and authority to vote or
refrain from voting your shares for any other person(s) in
accordance with their judgment.
Directors and
Director Nominees
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Name
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Age
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Position with the
Company
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Frank N. Newman
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80
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Class II Director, Audit Committee
Member
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Jeffrey L.
Parker
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65
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Class I Director, Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer
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Paul A.
Rosenbaum
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79
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Class III Director, Audit Committee
Chair
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Robert G.
Sterne
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70
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Class III
Director
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Frank N.
Newman, Class II Director
Frank Newman has been a director of
ours since December 2016 and a member of our audit committee since
April 2020. Mr. Newman has been the chief executive officer and
co-founder of PathGuard, Inc. (or its predecessors), a company
offering hardware-based cybersecurity, since 2015. From 2011 until
December 2018, Mr. Newman served as chairman of Promontory
Financial Group China Ltd., an advisory group for financial
institutions and corporations in China. From 2005 to 2010, he
served as chairman and chief executive officer of Shenzhen
Development Bank, a national bank in China. Prior to 2005, Mr.
Newman served as chairman, president, and chief executive officer
of Bankers Trust and chief financial officer of Bank of America and
Wells Fargo Bank. Mr. Newman served as Deputy Secretary of the U.S.
Treasury from 1994 to 1995 and as Under Secretary of Domestic
Finance from 1993 to 1994. He has authored two books and several
articles on economic matters, published in the U.S., mainland
China, and Hong Kong. Mr. Newman has served as director of
Aspirational Consumer Lifestyle Corp (NYSE: ASPL), a special
purpose acquisition company, since September 2020. He also serves
as audit committee chair and a member of the compensation committee
for ASPL. Mr. Newman has previously served as a director for major
public companies in the U.S., United Kingdom, and China, and as a
member of the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Hall. He earned his BA,
magna cum laude, in economics at Harvard. Mr. Newman brings a
substantial knowledge of international banking and business
relationships to the Board. His financial background adds an
important expertise to the Board with regard to financing future
business opportunities.
Jeffrey L.
Parker, Class I Director
Jeffrey Parker has been the
chairman of our Board and our chief executive officer since our
inception in August 1989 and was our president from April 1993 to
June 1998. From March 1983 to August 1989, Mr. Parker served as
executive vice president for Parker Electronics, Inc., a joint
venture partner with Carrier Corporation performing research,
development, manufacturing, and sales and marketing for the
heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry. Mr. Parker is a
named inventor on 31 U.S. patents. Among other qualifications, as
chief executive officer, Mr. Parker has relevant insight into our
operations, our industry, and related risks as well as experience
bringing disruptive technologies to market.
Paul A. Rosenbaum, Class III Director
Nominee
Paul A. Rosenbaum has been a
director of ours since December 2016 and a member of our audit
committee since September 2018. Mr. Rosenbaum has extensive
experience as a director and executive officer for both public and
private companies in a number of industries. Since 1994, Mr.
Rosenbaum has served as chief executive of SWR Corporation, a
privately-held corporation that designs, sells, and markets
specialty industrial chemicals. In September 2017, Mr. Rosenbaum
was appointed to the Board of Commissioners for the Oregon Liquor
Control Commission and has served as chairman since March 2018.
Since 2009, Mr. Rosenbaum has been a member of the Providence St.
Vincent Medical Foundation Council of Trustees, and previously
served as president of the Council. In addition, from September
2000 until June 2009, Mr. Rosenbaum served as chairman and chief
executive officer of Rentrak Corporation (“Rentrak”), a Nasdaq
publicly traded company that provides transactional media
measurement and analytical services to the entertainment and media
industry. From June 2009 until July 2011, Mr. Rosenbaum served in a
non-executive capacity as chairman of Rentrack. From 2007 until
2016, Mr. Rosenbaum served on the Board of Commissioners for the
Port of Portland, including as vice chairman from 2012 to 2016. Mr.
Rosenbaum was chief partner in the Rosenbaum Law Center from 1978
to 2000 and served in the Michigan Legislature from 1972 to 1978,
during which time he chaired the Michigan House Judiciary
Committee, was legal counsel to the Speaker of the House of the
state of Michigan and wrote and sponsored the Michigan
Administrative Procedures Act. Additionally, Mr. Rosenbaum served
on the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws,
as vice chairman of the Criminal Justice and Consumer Affairs
Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures, and on
a committee of the Michigan Supreme Court responsible for reviewing
local court rules. Among other
qualifications, Mr. Rosenbaum has extensive experience as a
director and executive officer of a publicly held corporation and
has relevant insights into operations and our litigation
strategies.
Robert G.
Sterne, Class III Director Nominee
Robert Sterne has been a director
of ours since September 2006 and also served as a director of ours
from February 2000 to June 2003. Since 1978, Mr. Sterne has been a
partner of the law firm of Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
PLLC, specializing in patent and other intellectual property law.
Mr. Sterne provides legal services to us as one of our patent and
intellectual property attorneys. Mr. Sterne has co-authored
numerous publications related to patent litigation strategies. He
has received multiple awards for contributions to intellectual
property law including Law 360’s 2016 Top 25 Icons of IP and
the Financial Times 2015 Top 10 Legal Innovators in North America.
Among other qualifications, Mr. Sterne has an in-depth knowledge of
our intellectual property portfolio and patent strategies and is
considered a leader in best practices and board responsibilities
concerning intellectual property.
Voting
Standard
The directors will be elected by a
plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting.
“Plurality” means that the nominees who receive the
highest number of votes in their favor will be elected as our
directors. Consequently, any shares not voted “FOR” a
particular nominee, because of either shareholder withholding or
broker non-vote, will not be counted in the nominee’s favor.
Shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights for
directors.
THE BOARD
RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE CLASS III DIRECTOR
NOMINEES.
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CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
We maintain corporate governance
policies and practices that reflect what the Board believes are
“best practices.” A copy of our Corporate Governance
Guidelines is available upon request to our Secretary, or may be
viewed or downloaded from our website at http://www.parkervision.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/.
Leadership
Structure
The decision as to who should serve
as Chairman of the Board, who should serve as Chief Executive
Officer, and whether those offices should be combined or separate,
is the responsibility of our Board. The members of our Board
possess considerable experiences and unique knowledge of the
challenges and opportunities we face, and are in the best position
to evaluate our needs and how best to organize the capabilities of
the directors and senior officers to meet those needs. Our Board
does not believe that our size or the complexity of our operations
warrant a separation of the Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer functions. Furthermore, our Board believes that
combining the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
Board promotes leadership and direction for the Board and for
executive management, as well as allowing for a single, clear focus
for the chain of command.
Accordingly, the Board believes
that the most effective leadership structure for us at this time is
for Mr. Parker to serve as both Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer. Mr. Parker is one of our founders and has been
our Chairman of the Board and our Chief Executive Officer since our
inception in August 1989. The Board believes that he is uniquely
qualified through his experience and expertise to be the person who
generally sets the agenda for, and leads discussions of, issues
relating to the implementation of our strategic plan. Mr.
Parker’s leadership, in both his Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer roles, continues to ensure that we remain
dedicated to and focused on both our short and long-term
objectives. While the Board does not have a lead independent
director, the independent directors meet in executive session regularly without the
presence of management.
Independence of
Directors
Although our common stock is quoted
on the OTCQB Venture Market (“OTCQB”), we continue to
follow the rules of Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) in
determining if a director is independent. The Board also consults
with our counsel to ensure that the Board’s determinations is
consistent with the Nasdaq rules and all other relevant securities
and other laws and regulations regarding independence of directors.
The Board has affirmatively determined that each of Messrs. Newman,
Rosenbaum, and Sterne are independent
directors.
Risk Management
and Board Oversight
The Board as a whole works with our
management team to promote and cultivate a corporate environment
that incorporates enterprise-wide risk management into strategy and
operations. Management periodically reports to the Board about the
identification, assessment and management of critical risks and
management’s risk mitigation strategies.
Each committee of the Board is
responsible for the evaluation of elements of risk management based
on the committee’s expertise and applicable regulatory
requirements. In evaluating risk, the Board and its committees
consider whether our management adequately identifies material
risks in a timely manner and implements appropriately responsive
risk management strategies throughout the organization. The audit
committee focuses on assessing and mitigating financial risk,
including risk related to internal controls, and receives at least
quarterly reports from management on identified risk areas. Each of
the committees reports regularly to the Board as a whole as to
their findings with respect to the risks they are charged with
assessing.
Board Meetings
and Committees
During the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021, our Board met ten times and acted by
unanimous consent three times. All of our directors attended 75% or
more of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and
committees on which they served. The directors are strongly
encouraged to attend meetings of shareholders. All of our directors
attended our 2021 annual meeting of
shareholders.
The Board has one separately
standing committee, the audit committee, which is composed entirely
of independent directors as determined in accordance with the rules
of Nasdaq for directors generally, and where applicable, with the
rules of Nasdaq for such committee. In addition, the committee has
a written charter, a copy of which is available free of charge at
http://www.parkervision.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/.
Audit Committee
Messrs. Rosenbaum and Newman serve
on our audit committee with Mr. Rosenbaum acting as chairperson.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the audit
committee met five times. The functions of the audit committee
include oversight of the integrity of our financial statements, our
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and the
performance, qualifications and independence of our independent
registered public accounting firm. The audit committee also reviews
and recommends to the Board whether or not to approve transactions
between us and an officer, director, or other related party. The
purpose and responsibilities of our audit committee are set forth
in full in the committee’s charter. The report of the audit
committee is included on page 6 of this proxy
statement.
Audit Committee
Financial Expert
The Board has determined that Paul
Rosenbaum and Frank Newman are audit committee financial experts
within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and are independent as
determined in accordance with the rules of Nasdaq for audit
committee members.
Director
Nomination Process
The Board does not have a separate
nominating committee. Instead, each of our independent directors
participates in the consideration of director nominees. The Board
determined that, due to the small size of the Board, full
participation of the independent directors in consideration of
director nominees is appropriate.
The Board considers for nomination
as directors those persons identified by its members, management,
shareholders, potential investors, investment bankers and others
with the objective of having a Board with diverse perspectives and
skills. The committee does not distinguish among nominees
recommended by shareholders and other persons. Each individual is
evaluated in the context of the Board as a whole, with the
objective of recommending a group of persons that can best
implement our business plan, perpetuate our business and represent
shareholder interests.
The Board is responsible for
assessing the appropriate balance of skills and characteristics
required of Board members. Nominees for director are selected on
the basis of, among other things, experience, integrity, ability to
make independent analytical inquiries, understanding of our
business environment and willingness and ability to devote adequate
time to Board duties. Nominees for director are assessed based on
the needs of the Board at that point in time and with an objective
of ensuring diversity in background, experience and viewpoints of
Board members. Though the committee does not have specific
guidelines on diversity, it is one of many criteria considered by
the Board when evaluating candidates.
Shareholders and others wishing to
suggest candidates to the nominating committee for consideration as
directors must submit written notice to the Corporate Secretary,
ParkerVision, Inc., 4446-1A Hendricks Avenue, Suite 354,
Jacksonville, Florida 32207, who will provide it to the Board. We
also have a method by which shareholders may nominate persons as
directors, which is described in the section “Shareholder
Proposals and Nominations” on page 8 of this proxy statement.
We did not receive any recommendations or nominations from
shareholders for this Annual Meeting.
Code of
Ethics
The Board has adopted a code of
ethics that is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote ethical
conduct and full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable reports
that we file or submit to the SEC and others. A copy of the code of
ethics may be found on our website at http://www.parkervision.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance/.
Shareholder
Communications
Shareholders may contact the Board
or individual members of the Board by writing to them in care of
the Corporate Secretary, ParkerVision, Inc., 4446-1A Hendricks
Avenue, Suite 354, Jacksonville, Florida 32207. The Corporate
Secretary will forward all correspondence received to the Board or
the applicable director from time to time. This procedure was
approved by our independent directors.
Compensation
Committee Information
The Board does not have a
separately standing compensation committee. Instead, each of our
independent directors participates in the consideration of officer
and director compensation. The Board determined that, due to the
small size of the Board, full participation of the independent
directors in consideration of officer and director compensation is
appropriate.
Prohibition on
Short Sales and Hedging
The Company prohibits directors,
officers, employees, and consultants of the Company and its
subsidiaries from entering into transactions involving short sales,
hedging, or other monetization transactions that have the effect of
permitting such persons to continue to own our securities without
bearing the full risks and rewards of such
ownership.
Compensation of
Outside Directors
Since September 2018, the Board
compensation program has consisted exclusively of equity-based
compensation, generally awarded annually, in the form of
nonqualified stock options, RSUs, or a combination thereof.
Unvested director equity compensation awards are forfeited if the
director resigns or is removed from the Board for cause prior to
the vesting date. Nonqualified stock options generally expire five
to seven year from grant date.
In January 2021, each of our
non-employee directors were awarded 360,000 nonqualified stock
options at an exercise price of $0.54 per share. These options vest
over eight equal quarterly increments commencing March 31, 2021 and
expire on January 11, 2026.
In July 2022, each of our
non-employee directors were awarded 250,000 nonqualified stock
options and non-employee directors who also serve as members of our
audit committee were awarded an additional 50,000 nonqualified
stock options. The options have an exercise price of $0.18 per
share, vest over four equal quarterly increments commencing October
7, 2022 and expire on July 7, 2029.
We reimburse our non-employee
directors for their reasonable expenses incurred in attending
meetings where applicable and we encourage participation in
relevant educational programs for which we reimburse all or a
portion of the costs incurred for these purposes. Directors who are
also our employees are not compensated for serving on our Board.
Information regarding compensation otherwise received by our
directors who are also named executive officers is provided under
“Executive Compensation.”
The following table summarizes the
compensation of our non-employee directors for the year ended
December 31, 2021.
Name
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
|
|
Frank Newman 2
|
$-
|
$172,900
|
$172,900
|
Paul Rosenbaum 3
|
-
|
172,900
|
172,900
|
Robert Sterne 4
|
-
|
172,900
|
172,900
|
|
|
|
|
1.
The
amounts represented in columns (b) and (c) represent the full grant
date fair value of share-based awards in accordance with ASC
718. Refer to Note 14 of the consolidated financial
statements included in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the assumptions made in the valuation of stock
awards.
2.
At
December 31, 2021, Mr. Newman has an aggregate of 1,355,000
nonqualified stock options outstanding, of which 1,165,000 are
exercisable.
3.
At
December 31, 2021, Mr. Rosenbaum has an aggregate of 1,505,000
nonqualified stock options outstanding, of which 1,315,000 are
exercisable.
4.
At December 31, 2021, Mr. Sterne has 1,651,735
nonqualified stock options outstanding, of which 1,461,735 are
exercisable.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Executive
Officers
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position with the
Company
|
Jeffrey Parker
|
|
65
|
|
Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer (“CEO”)
|
Cynthia French
|
|
55
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and
Corporate Secretary (“CFO”)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey Parker has served as our
chairman and chief executive officer since our inception in August
1989 and was our president from April 1993 to June 1998. Refer to
Mr. Parker’s biography set forth above in the section
entitled “Proposal I – Election of
Directors.”
Cynthia French has been our chief
financial officer since June 2004 and our corporate secretary since
August 2007. From March 1994 to June 2004, Ms. French was our
controller and our chief accounting officer. Ms. French has been a
certified public accountant in the state of Florida since
1989.
Summary
Compensation Table
The following table summarizes the total
compensation of each of our “named executive officers”
as defined in Item 402(m) of Regulation S-K (the
“Executives”) for the fiscal years ended December 31,
2021 and 2020. Given the complexity of disclosure requirements
concerning executive compensation, and in particular with respect
to the standards of financial accounting and reporting related to
equity compensation, there is a difference between the compensation
that is reported in this table versus that which is actually paid
to and received by the Executives. The amounts in the Summary
Compensation Table that reflect the full grant date fair value of
an equity award, do not necessarily correspond to the actual value
that has been realized or will be realized in the future with
respect to these awards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$260,000 $
|
-
|
$-
|
$3,640,000
|
$24,000 3
|
3,924,000
|
|
2020
|
270,000 1
|
-
|
99,000
|
-
|
24,923 3
|
393,923
|
|
2021
|
180,000
|
-
|
-
|
455,000
|
-
|
635,000
|
|
2020
|
186,923
1
|
-
|
-
|
42,750
|
-
|
229,673
|
David
Sorrells, Former CTO 4
|
2020
|
176,150
|
-
|
49,500
|
-
|
-
|
225,650
|
Gregory
Rawlins, Former CTO Heathrow 4
|
2020
|
207,692
|
-
|
49,500
|
-
|
-
|
257,192
|
1.
There were 27
biweekly pay periods in 2020 compared to 26 in 2021 resulting in
the decrease in reported base salaries.
2.
The amounts
represented in columns (e) and (f) represents the full grant date
fair value of equity awards in accordance with ASC 718. Refer to
Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8
of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the assumptions made in the
valuation of equity awards.
3.
Represents an
automobile allowance in the amount of $24,000, paid biweekly. The
additional amount in 2020 is the result of 27 pay periods in 2020
compared to 26 in 2021.
4.
The CTO roles were
eliminated in March 2020 by our Board.
In
January 2021, the Board approved equity awards under the 2019 Plan
including nonqualified stock options for the purchase of up to
8,000,000 shares at an exercise price of $0.54 per share to Mr.
Parker and nonqualified stock options for the purchase of up to
1,000,000 shares at an exercise price of $0.54 to Ms. French. These
options vest over eight equal quarterly increments commencing March
31, 2021 and expire on January 11, 2026. These awards were awarded
as long-term incentive to our executives and took into
consideration the longevity of their tenure with us, the
continuation of their base compensation at a 20% reduced pay rate
since 2018 and in recognition of the key role each holds in the
organization.
We do not have employment
agreements with any of our Executives. We have non-compete
arrangements in place with all of our employees, including our
Executives, that impose post-termination restrictions on (i)
employment or consultation with competing companies or customers,
(ii) recruiting or hiring employees for a competing company, and
(iii) soliciting or accepting business from our customers. We also
have a tax-qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan for all of
our employees, including our Executives. We did not make any
employer contributions to the 401(k) plan in 2021 or 2020. Our
Executives are eligible for the same employment benefits as our
non-Executive employees and receive no other perquisites except as
noted in the table above.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
The following table summarizes information
concerning the outstanding equity awards, including unexercised
options, unvested stock and equity incentive awards, as of December
31, 2021 for each of our Executives:
|
|
|
|
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
(#)
exercisable
|
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
(#)
unexercisable
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
|
Number of
shares or units
of stock that
have not
vested
(#)
|
Market Value
of shares or
units of stock
that have not
vested ($)
|
Name
|
|
|
|
(d)
|
|
|
Jeffrey Parker
|
20,000
1
|
-
|
1.98
|
8/15/2024
|
|
$
|
|
2,680,000
2
|
-
|
0.17
|
8/7/2026
|
|
|
|
4,000,000
3
|
4,000,000
3
|
0.54
|
1/11/2026
|
-
|
-
|
Cynthia French
|
20,000
1
|
-
|
1.98
|
8/15/2024
|
-
|
-
|
|
877,150
2
|
-
|
0.17
|
8/7/2026
|
|
|
|
150,000
4
|
-
|
0.33
|
2/9/2027
|
|
|
|
500,000
3
|
500,000
3
|
0.54
|
1/11/2026
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
Options vested over
four equal quarterly periods from August 31, 2017 to May 31,
2018.
2
Options vest over
eight equal quarterly periods from September 1, 2019 to June 1,
2021.
3
Options vested 50%
on grant date and the remaining 50% over four equal quarterly
periods from May 9, 2020 to May 9, 2021.
PROPOSAL II:
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON
STOCK
On June 6, 2022, the Board
unanimously adopted a resolution proposing to amend our amended and
restated articles of incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, from
150,000,000 shares to 175,000,000 shares, and recommending the
proposed amendment (the “Amendment”) to our
shareholders for approval. The form of Amendment is attached as
Annex A to this proxy
statement.
As of July 18, 2022, the record
date for the Annual Meeting, 78,341,325 shares of our common stock
were issued and outstanding. In addition, as of such date,
23,580,055 shares of common stock were subject to outstanding
options or RSUs, 10,345,604 shares of common stock were subject to
outstanding warrants, 963,242 shares of common stock were reserved
for issuance under our equity compensation plans and 33,342,661
shares were reserved for issuance upon conversion of, and payment
of interest-in-kind on outstanding convertible promissory notes.
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation also authorize
us to issue 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value,
none of which were issued and outstanding as of the record
date.
Reasons for
Approval
The Board believes approval of the
Amendment is in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders. The authorization of additional shares of common
stock will allow us to retain flexibility to respond to future
business needs and opportunities and to provide compensation to our
board and key employees. For example, the additional shares may be
used for repayment of long-term debt obligations, for financing our
business, for acquiring other businesses, for forming strategic
partnerships and alliances or for the retention or compensation of
key employees, including executives and the
board.
Effect of
Approval
If the Amendment is approved, the
Board will be authorized to issue the additional shares of common
stock for which authorization is sought, in its discretion, without
further approval of the shareholders, and the Board does not intend
to seek shareholder approval prior to any issuance of the shares of
common stock, unless shareholder approval is required by applicable
law. Although we review from time to time various transactions that
could result in the issuance of common stock, we have no current
plan, agreement, commitment, understanding or arrangement to issue
additional shares of our common stock, except issuances of common
stock upon the exercise of our outstanding options and warrants,
issuances of common stock upon vesting of our outstanding RSUs and
issuances of common stock upon conversion of, and for payment of
interest-in-kind on our outstanding convertible promissory
notes.
The additional shares of common
stock for which authorization is sought would be identical to the
shares of common stock we are presently authorized to issue.
Holders of our common stock do not have preemptive rights to
subscribe to additional securities which may be issued by us. The
holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share
held of record on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. There
is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors,
with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares of
our common stock voted in an election of directors can elect all of
our directors. The holders of our common stock are entitled to
receive dividends when, as, and if declared by the Board out of
funds legally available therefor. We have never paid dividends on
our shares of common stock. In the event of our liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common stock are
entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for
distribution after payment of
liabilities and after provision has
been made for each class of stock, if any, having preference over
the common stock. There are no redemption or sinking fund
provisions applicable to the common stock.
The issuance of additional shares
of common stock for which authorization is sought may have a
dilutive effect on earnings per share and on the equity and voting
power of existing security holders of our capital stock. It may
also adversely affect the market price of the common stock.
However, if the issuance of additional shares of common stock
allows us to pursue our business plan and grow our business, the
market price of our common stock may increase.
While not intended as an
anti-takeover provision, the additional shares of common stock for
which authorization is sought could also be used by us to oppose a
hostile takeover attempt or to delay or prevent changes in control
or management of the Company. For example, without further
shareholder approval, the Board could strategically sell shares of
common stock to purchasers who would oppose a takeover or favor the
current Board. Although the Amendment has been prompted by business
and financial considerations and not by the threat of any hostile
takeover attempt (nor is the Board currently aware of any such
attempts directed at the Company), approval of the proposal could
facilitate future efforts by us to deter or prevent changes in
control of the Company, including transactions in which the
shareholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares
over then current market prices. Our Board is not aware of any
attempt, or contemplated attempt, to acquire control of the
Company, and the Amendment is not being presented with the intent
that it be utilized as a type of anti-takeover device or to secure
management’s positions within the
Company.
Voting
Standard
The affirmative vote of a majority
of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the
Amendment. Abstentions from voting are not counted as “votes
cast” and therefore have no effect on Proposal II. Brokerage
firms do not have authority to vote customers’ shares on this
proposal in the absence of instructions from the beneficial owner
of the shares. Because brokers are not entitled to vote on this
matter, such broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote.
Neither Florida law, nor our amended and restated articles of
incorporation, nor our bylaws provides for appraisal or other
similar rights for dissenting shareholders in connection with the
Amendment. Accordingly, shareholders will have no right to dissent
and obtain payment for their shares.
If Proposal II is approved, the
Amendment will be filed with Department of State of the State of
Florida promptly after the Annual Meeting and will be effective on
the date of filing.
THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF AN
AMENDMENT TO OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO
INCREASE THE AUTHORIZED NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON
STOCK.
|
AUDIT AND
ACCOUNTING RELATED FEES FOR THE YEARS ENDED 2020 AND
2021
The firm of MSL, P.A. acts as our
principal accountants. From April 2018 to September 2019, the firm
of BDO USA, LLP acted as our principal accountants
(“Prior
Accountants”). The following is a summary of fees paid
to the principal accountants and Prior Accountants for services
rendered.
Audit Fees. For the years ended
December 31, 2021 and 2020, the aggregate fees billed by our
principal accountants for professional services rendered for the
audit of our annual financial statements, the review of our
financial statements included in our quarterly reports, and
services provided in connection with regulatory filings were
approximately $120,000 and $148,300, respectively. In addition, for
the year ended December 31, 2020, the aggregate fees billed by our
Prior Accountants for professional services rendered in connection
with regulatory filings were approximately
$70,000.
Audit Related Fees. For the years ended
December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no fees billed for
professional services by our principal accountants or Prior
Accountants for assurance and related services.
Tax Fees. For the years ended December
31, 2021 and 2020, there were no fees billed for professional
services rendered by our principal accountants for tax compliance,
tax advice or tax planning.
All Other Fees. For the years ended
December 31, 2021 and 2020, there were no fees billed for other
professional services by our principal
accountants.
All the services discussed above
were approved by our audit committee. The audit committee
pre-approves the services to be provided by our principal
accountants, including the scope of the annual audit and non-audit
services to be performed by the principal accountants and the
principal accountants’ audit and non-audit
fees.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
REPORT
Pursuant to the charter of the
audit committee originally adopted on April 25, 2003, as amended on
July 31, 2006, March 5, 2012, December 3, 2012, and February 12,
2019, the audit committee’s responsibilities include, among
other things:
●
annually reviewing and reassessing
the adequacy of the audit committee’s formal
charter;
●
reviewing and discussing our annual
audited financial statements, our interim financial statements, and
the adequacy of our internal controls and procedures with our
management and our independent registered public accounting
firm;
●
reviewing the quality of our
accounting principles, including significant financial reporting
issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our
financial statements;
●
appointing the independent
registered public accounting firm, which firm will report directly
to the audit committee;
●
reviewing the independence of the
independent registered public accounting firm;
and
●
reviewing and approving all related
party transactions on an ongoing basis.
The audit committee also
pre-approves the services to be provided by our independent
registered public accounting firm. During the year ended December
31, 2021, the committee reviewed in advance the scope of the annual
audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent
registered public accounting firm and the independent registered
public accounting firm’s audit and non-audit fees and
approved them.
The audit committee reviewed and
discussed our audited financial statements for 2021 with
management, as well as with our independent registered public
accounting firm. During 2021 and thereafter, the audit committee
met privately at regularly scheduled meetings and held discussions
with management, including the chief financial officer and our
independent registered public accounting firm. Management
represented to the audit committee that our financial statements
were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. The audit committee also discussed and reviewed with
management and the independent registered public accounting firm
the internal controls and procedures of the audit functions and the
objectivity of the process of reporting on the financial
statements. The committee discussed with management financial risk
exposures relating to our company and the processes in place to
monitor and control the resulting exposure, if
any.
The audit committee discussed with
the independent registered public accounting firm the matters
required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), as
well as various accounting issues relating to presentation of
certain items in our financial statements and compliance with
Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
“Exchange Act”). The committee received the written
disclosures and letter from the independent registered public
accounting firm required by the applicable requirements of the
PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting
firm’s communications with the committee concerning
independence, and the committee discussed with the independent
registered public accounting firm the independent registered public
accounting firm’s independence.
Based
upon the review and discussions referred to above, and in reliance
on the report of our independent registered public accounting firm,
the audit committee recommended to the Board that our audited
consolidated financial statements be included in our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 for filing with
the SEC. The audit committee also recommended to the Board the
appointment of MSL as the independent registered public accounting
firm for the year ending December 31, 2022.
Submitted by the Audit
Committee:
Paul A. Rosenbaum,
Chair
Frank N. Newman
PROPOSAL III:
RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF MSL, P.A. AS OUR INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of the Board has appointed MSL, P.A. as our
independent registered public accounting firm to audit our
financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2022. The
Board recommends ratification of the audit committee’s
selection of MSL. At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will consider
and vote on the ratification of the engagement of MSL for the year
ending December 31, 2022. A representative of MSL is expected
to attend the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions
and to make a statement, if deemed appropriate.
The selection of MSL as our independent registered public
accounting firm is not required to be submitted to a vote of our
shareholders for ratification; however, we are submitting the
selection to our shareholders for ratification as a matter of good
corporate practice and in order to provide a method by which
shareholders may communicate their opinion to the audit committee.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that the audit committee be
directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and
oversight of our independent registered public accounting firm.
While the audit committee is not required to take any action as a
result of the outcome of the vote on this proposal, if our
shareholders do not ratify the appointment, the audit committee
will reconsider whether to retain MSL and may retain that firm or
another firm without re-submitting the matter to our shareholders.
Even if our shareholders ratify the appointment, the audit
committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a
different independent registered public accounting firm at any time
if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests
of the Company and our shareholders.
Vote Required
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present and entitled
to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify the selection
of MSL as our independent registered public accounting firm.
Abstentions from voting have the same effect as a vote against
Proposal III. Brokerage firms have authority to vote
customers’ shares on this proposal in the absence of
instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares. To the extent
any brokerage firms do not vote on this proposal, such broker
non-votes will not have any effect on the outcome of this
matter.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” RATIFICATION
OF THE SELECTION OF MSL, P.A. AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM.
|
STOCK OWNERSHIP
INFORMATION
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Holders
The following table sets forth
certain information as of July 18, 2022 with respect to the stock
ownership of (i) those persons or groups who beneficially own more
than 5% of our common stock, (ii) each of our directors and
director nominees, (iii) each of our executive officers, and (iv)
all of our directors, director nominees and executive officers as a
group (based upon information furnished by those persons). As of
July 18, 2022, 78,341,325 shares of our common stock were issued
and outstanding.
Name of Beneficial
Owner
|
Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
|
|
>5% HOLDERS
(EXCLUDING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS)
|
|
|
GEM Partners,
LP
|
8,214,502
2
|
9.99%
|
Thomas Staz Revocable
Trust
|
4,017,169
3
|
5.13%
|
|
|
|
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
|
|
|
Jeffrey Parker 10
|
8,990,583
4
|
10.33%
|
Cynthia French 10
|
1,982,133
5
|
2.47%
|
Frank Newman 10
|
1,443,100
6
|
1.81%
|
Paul Rosenbaum 10
|
2,871,321
7
|
3.55%
|
Robert Sterne 10
|
1,605,000
8
|
2.01%
|
All directors and executive
officers as a group (5 persons)
|
16,892,137
9
|
17.96%
|
|
|
|
1
Percentage is
calculated based on all outstanding shares of common stock plus,
for each person or group, any shares of common stock that the
person or the group has the right to acquire within 60 days
pursuant to options, warrants, conversion privileges or other
rights. Unless otherwise indicated, each person or group has sole
voting and dispositive power over all such shares of common
stock.
2
GEM
Investment Advisors, LLC (“GEM Advisors”) is the
general partner of GEM Partners LP (“GEM”) and Flat
Rock Partners LP (“FlatRock”). Mr. Daniel Lewis is the
controlling person of GEM Advisors. GEM Advisors and Mr. Lewis have
shared voting and dispositive power. Beneficial ownership includes
(i) 4,899 shares held by FlatRock, (ii) 6,600 shares held by Mr.
Lewis, (iii) 4,346,080 shares held by GEM, and (iv)
3,856,923 shares underlying convertible notes held by GEM, but
excludes 5,470,000 shares underlying convertible notes held by
GEM that are not convertible within 60 days due to exercise
limitations. The principal business address of GEM Advisors,
FlatRock, and Mr. Lewis is 100 State Street, Suite 2B, Teaneck, NJ
07666. Information derived from a Schedule 13G/A filed by GEM
Advisors on March 9, 2021.
3
Thomas Staz is the
trustee of the Thomas Staz Revocable Trust. The principal business
address of the Thomas Staz Revocable Trust is 1221 Brickell Avenue,
Suite 2660, Miami, Florida 33131. Information provided by
beneficial holder on July 26, 2021.
4
Includes 8,680,000
shares of common stock issuable options exercisable within 60 days,
193,324 shares held by Mr. Parker directly, and 117,259 shares held
by Jeffrey Parker and Deborah Parker Joint Tenants in Common, over
which Mr. Parker has shared voting and dispositive power. Excludes
2,000,000 shares of common stock
issuable upon options that may become exercisable in the
future.
5
Includes 1,790,550
shares of common stock issuable upon options exercisable within 60
days and excludes 250,000 shares of
common stock issuable upon options that may become
exercisable in the future.
6
Includes 1,260,000
shares of common stock issuable upon options exercisable within 60
days and excludes 395,000 shares of
common stock issuable upon options that may become
exercisable in the future.
7
Includes 1,410,000
shares of common stock issuable upon options exercisable within 60
days and 1,019,231 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion
of convertible notes. Excludes 395,000 shares of common stock
issuable upon options that may become exercisable in the
future.
8
Includes 1,556,735
shares of common stock issuable upon options exercisable within 60
days and excludes 345,000 shares of common stock issuable upon
options that may become exercisable in the future.
9
Includes 14,697,285
shares of common stock issuable upon options exercisable within 60
days and 1,019,231 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion
of convertible notes held by directors and officers and excludes
3,385,000 shares of common stock issuable upon options that may
become exercisable in the future (see notes 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8
above).
10
The
person’s address is 4446-1A Hendricks Avenue, Suite 354,
Jacksonville, Florida 32207.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
We paid approximately $97,000 and
$11,000 in 2021 and 2020, respectively for patent-related legal
services to SKGF, of which Robert Sterne is a partner. In addition,
we paid approximately $130,000 and $110,000 in 2021 and 2020,
respectively, for principal and interest on an unsecured note
payable to SKGF. The note was issued in 2016 to convert outstanding
unpaid legal fees to an unsecured promissory note. The note has
been amended multiple times to defer principal payments. The note,
as amended, allows for interest at 4% per annum, monthly
installments of $10,000 per month beginning January 2020, with a
final balloon payment due on April 30, 2023. At December 31, 2021,
the outstanding balance of the note, including unpaid interest is
approximately $703,000.
In January 2020, we issued 500,000
in unregistered shares of our common stock as an in-kind payment of
approximately $0.08 million in outstanding amounts payable to
Stacie Wilf, sister to Jeffrey Parker.
On May 10, 2022, we sold an
aggregate of $100,000 in promissory notes, convertible into
shares of our common stock at a fixed conversion price of $0.13 to
one of our directors, Paul Rosenbaum, on the same terms as other
convertible notes sold in the same transaction.
Review, Approval
or Ratification of Transactions with Related
Persons
Our audit committee, pursuant to
its written charter, is responsible for reviewing and approving
related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such
transactions. In certain instances, the full Board may review and
approve a transaction. The audit committee will consider all
relevant factors when determining whether to approve a related
party transaction, including 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 party’s interest in the transaction. We
require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a
questionnaire that elicits information about related party
transactions. These procedures are intended to determine whether
any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a
director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a
director, officer or employee.
SOLICITATION
OF PROXIES
Your proxy is being solicited on
behalf of our Board and we are bearing the cost of this
solicitation. In addition to the use of the mail and internet,
proxies may be solicited personally or by email or telephone using
the services of directors, officers, and regular employees at
nominal costs. Banks, brokerage firms, and other custodians,
nominees, and fiduciaries will be reimbursed by us for expenses
incurred in sending proxy materials to beneficial owners of our
common stock. We have retained Advantage Proxy to act as a proxy
solicitor in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. We have agreed to
pay Advantage Proxy a fee of $4,000, plus reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses. If you are a shareholder and have questions about the
proposals including the procedures for voting your shares, please
contact Advantage Proxy toll free at 1-877-870-8565 or by email at
ksmith@advantageproxy.com.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2023 ANNUAL
MEETING
Pursuant to the rules of the SEC,
if a shareholder wishes to submit a proposal for possible inclusion
in our 2023 proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the
Exchange Act, we must receive it on or before April 4, 2023. All
proposals submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act
must comply with the SEC rules regarding eligibility for inclusion
in our proxy statement.
Our by-laws contain provisions
intended to promote the efficient functioning of our shareholder
meetings. Some of the provisions describe our right to determine
the time, place and conduct of shareholder meetings and to require
advance notice by mail or delivery to us of shareholder proposals
or director nominations for shareholder meetings. Under our
by-laws, in order to properly bring business before a shareholder
meeting or nominate a person for election as a director, a
shareholder must provide us with written notice, at least 120 days
prior to the first anniversary of the mailing of this proxy
statement, of any such business the shareholder proposes for
consideration, even if the shareholder does not intend to include
such proposal in our proxy materials, or any such person the
shareholder intends to nominate for election as a director. For the
2023 annual meeting of shareholders, this notice must be received
by us no later than April 4, 2023. A notice of a shareholder
proposal or nomination must include the information set forth in
our bylaws.
To comply with the universal proxy
rules (once effective), shareholders who intend to solicit proxies
in support of director nominees other than the Company’s
nominees must provide us with notice that sets forth the
information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act no later
than July 18, 2023.
Shareholder proposals and
nominations should be addressed to Corporate Secretary,
ParkerVision, Inc., 4446-1A Hendricks Avenue, Suite 354,
Jacksonville, Florida 32207.
DISCRETIONARY
VOTING OF PROXIES ON OTHER MATTERS
We do not now intend to bring
before the Annual Meeting any matters other than those specified in
the Notice of the Annual Meeting, and we do not know of any
business which persons other than the Board intend to present at
the Annual Meeting. Should any business requiring a vote of the
shareholders, which is not specified in the notice, properly come
before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying
proxy intend to vote the shares represented by them in accordance
with their best judgment.
OTHER
SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS WITH OUR BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Our
Board provides a process for shareholders and interested parties to
send communications to the Board. Shareholders and interested
parties may communicate with our Board, any committee chairperson
or the non-management directors as a group by writing to the Board
or committee chairperson in care of Corporate Secretary,
ParkerVision, Inc., 4446-1A Hendricks Avenue, Suite 354,
Jacksonville, Florida 32207.
Each
communication will be forwarded, depending on the subject matter,
to the Board, the appropriate committee chairperson or all
non-management directors.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
This
proxy statement incorporates by reference certain information
included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2021, including our audited financial
statements, management’s discussion and analysis of financial
condition and results of operations, and our quantitative and
qualitative disclosures about market risk. You may request a free
copy of any or all of the information incorporated by reference
into the proxy statement (other than exhibits not specifically
incorporated by reference into the text of such documents). Please
direct any oral or written requests for such documents to
Corporate Secretary, ParkerVision, Inc., 4446-1A Hendricks Avenue,
Suite 354, Jacksonville, Florida 32207.
Annex
A
ARTICLES OF
AMENDMENT
TO
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION
OF
PARKERVISION,
INC.
__________________________________
Pursuant to Section 607.1006 of
the
Florida 1989 Business Corporation
Act
__________________________________
FIRST: The name of the Corporation
is ParkerVision, Inc.
SECOND: This amendment to the
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation
was approved and adopted, as prescribed by Section 607.1003 of the
Florida 1989 Business Corporation Act, by the Board of Directors at
a meeting held June 6, 2022 and by the holders of the common stock
of the Corporation at a meeting held on September 16, 2022. The
number of votes cast for the amendment by the shareholders was
sufficient for approval. Only the holders of common stock were
entitled to vote on the amendment.
THIRD: This amendment is to be
effective immediately upon filing.
FOURTH: Article IV of the Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation is
further amended by deleting the first paragraph of Article IV,
Section 4.1, and in its place substituting the
following:
Section 4.1 Authorized Capital. The
number of shares of stock which this corporation is authorized to
issue shall be 190,000,000 shares, of which 175,000,000 shares
shall be voting common stock having a par value of $0.01 and
15,000,000 shares shall be Preferred Stock having a par value of
$1.00 per share.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have
executed this amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, as
amended, this ____day of ___ September 2022.
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PARKERVISION, INC.
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By:
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Jeffrey L. Parker
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Chief Executive
Officer
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By:
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Cynthia French
Secretary
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ParkerVision (QB) (USOTC:PRKR)
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