UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

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

   
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

 

   
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¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
x Definitive Proxy Statement
¨ Definitive Additional Materials
¨ Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-12

 

PATRIOT SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

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

 

 

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March 18, 2016

 

 

 

Dear Patriot Scientific Corporation Stockholder:

 

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the management of Patriot Scientific Corporation, I'm pleased to extend a personal invitation to you to attend via the internet the annual meeting of stockholders of Patriot Scientific Corporation. We will hold the meeting at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, April 28, 2016.

 

We are offering a live webcast of the annual meeting for our stockholders at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PTSC2016 where you will be able to attend the annual meeting and vote electronically.

 

This booklet includes the Notice of Annual Meeting and the Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement describes the business to be transacted at the meeting and provides other information about the Company that you should know when you vote your shares.

Thank you for your support and interest in Patriot.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

/s/ Clifford L. Flowers

Clifford L. Flowers

CFO, Interim CEO and Corporate Secretary

 

 

 

 

   
 

  

PATRIOT SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

701 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 170

Carlsbad, California 92011

(760) 547-2700

 

NOTICE OF 2015 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

TIME AND DATE: 10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) on Thursday, April 28, 2016
   
PLACE: Via the internet only at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PTSC2016

  

AGENDA: 1. Election of our board of directors;

 

2.Ratify the appointment of KMJ Corbin & Company LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year ending May 31, 2016;

 

3.To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in our Proxy Statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

 

4.To approve an amendment to our certificate of incorporation, as amended, to effect a reverse stock split of shares of our issued and outstanding common stock, par value of $.00001 per share, at a ratio to be established by our board of directors in its discretion, of up to one for fifteen (but not less than one for five) (the “Reverse Stock Split”);

 

5.To authorize the adjournment of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, if necessary to solicit additional proxies, in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to approve any of the foregoing proposals; and

 

6.Transact other business that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 

RECORD DATE: March 1, 2016. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting of stockholders will be available at our corporate offices for 10 days prior to the date of the meeting, and electronically during the annual meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PTSC2016 when you enter your Control Number.

 

MEETING ADMISSION: You are entitled to attend and vote at the annual meeting only if you were a Patriot Scientific Corporation stockholder as of the close of business on March 1, 2016 or hold a valid proxy for the annual meeting. Attendance will be via the live webcast available at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PTSC2016.

 

ADMISSION VOTING: Please vote as soon as possible to record your vote promptly, even if you plan to attend the annual meeting via the internet. You have three options for submitting your vote before the annual meeting:

 

·Internet

 

·Phone

 

·Mail

 

INTERNET AVAILABILITY: Pursuant to rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials both by sending you this full set of proxy materials, including a proxy card, and by notifying you of the availability of our proxy materials on the internet. The enclosed Proxy Statement and accompanying 2015 Annual Report are available on the internet at http://www.hivedms.com/ptsc/. Information on the website does not constitute a part of this Proxy Statement.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

/s/ Clifford L. Flowers                                             
Clifford L. Flowers
CFO, Interim CEO and Corporate Secretary
March 18, 2016
Carlsbad, California

 

   
 

  

PROXY STATEMENT

 

General information

 

Your vote is very important.  For this reason, the board of directors of Patriot Scientific Corporation, a Delaware corporation (referred to as “we,” “us,” “our”, or “the Company,”), is soliciting your proxy to vote your shares of common stock at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “annual meeting”), or at any continuation, postponement or adjournment thereof, for the purposes discussed in this proxy statement and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and any business properly brought before the annual meeting.

 

Why am I receiving these materials?

 

Proxies are solicited to give all stockholders of record an opportunity to vote on matters properly presented at the annual meeting. This proxy statement is being sent to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 1, 2016 in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the board of directors for use at the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders to be held on April 28, 2016. We intend to commence mailing this proxy statement and accompanying proxy card on or about March 18, 2016 to all stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting.

 

Our financial information

 

Our annual report to stockholders for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015, including audited consolidated financial statements, has been mailed to the stockholders concurrently herewith, but such report is not incorporated in this proxy statement and is not deemed to be a part of the proxy solicitation material.

 

Who is eligible to vote?

 

Stockholders of Patriot Scientific Corporation, as recorded in our stock register at the close of business on March 1, 2016, can vote at the annual meeting. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote.  As of March 1, 2016, there were 401,392,948 shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

 

How do I vote?

 

There are three ways to vote by proxy:

 

  (1) by internet;

 

  (2) by telephone; or

 

  (3) by mail.

 

If you vote by telephone or via the internet, please do not return a signed proxy card. If you choose to vote by mail, mark your proxy card enclosed with the proxy statement, date and sign it, and mail it in the postage-paid envelope.

 

You may also vote via the internet during the meeting. Stockholders attending via the internet will need to follow the instructions at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PTSC2016 in order to vote at the meeting. Voting via the internet by a stockholder will revoke and replace any previous votes submitted.

 

Who pays the cost of proxy solicitation?

 

Our board of directors is soliciting the enclosed proxy. We will make proxy solicitations by electronic or regular mail and we will bear the costs of this solicitation. We will request banks, brokerage houses, nominees and other fiduciaries nominally holding shares of our common stock to forward the proxy soliciting materials to the beneficial owners of such common stock and to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies. We will, upon request, reimburse such parties for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy materials to the beneficial owners. In the event we decide to hire a service to solicit proxies, we would expect such service to cost approximately $15,000 plus reasonable and approved out-of-pocket expenses.

  

What is a proxy?

 

Giving us your proxy means you authorize us to vote your shares at the meeting in the manner you direct. You may vote for all, some or none of our director candidates. You may also vote for or against the other proposals or abstain from voting.

 

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How do I specify how I want my shares voted?

 

If you are a registered stockholder, you can specify how you want your shares voted on each proposal by marking the appropriate boxes on the proxy card. Please review the voting instructions on the proxy card and read the entire text of the proposals and the positions of the board of directors in the proxy statement prior to marking your vote.

 

If your proxy card is signed and returned without specifying a vote or an abstention on a proposal, it will be voted according to the recommendation of the board of directors on that proposal.  That recommendation is shown for each proposal on the proxy card.

 

How do I vote if I am a beneficial stockholder?

 

If you are a beneficial stockholder, you have the right to direct your broker or nominee on how to vote the shares. You should complete a Voting Instruction Card which your broker or nominee is obligated to provide you.

 

Brokerage firms have the authority under the various exchange rules to vote shares on routine matters for which their customers do not provide voting instructions.

 

What are broker “non-votes”?

 

Broker non-votes occur when nominees, such as banks and brokers holding shares on behalf of beneficial owners, do not receive voting instructions from the beneficial holders at least ten days before the meeting. If that happens, the nominees may vote those shares only on matters deemed "routine" by the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), such as the ratification of auditors. Nominees cannot vote on non-routine matters unless they receive voting instructions from beneficial holders, resulting in so-called "broker non-votes." The effect of “broker non-votes” on each of the proposals that will be considered at the Annual Meeting is described below and in our proxy statement.

 

We believe that the proposals: for the ratification of our independent registered public accounting firm; to approve an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to effect a reverse stock split; and to adjourn the meeting are considered to be "routine" matters, and hence we do not expect that there will be a significant number of “broker non-votes” on such proposals.

 

The proposals to elect directors and approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers are non-routine and the record owner may not vote your shares on these proposals if it does not get instructions from you.  If you do not provide voting instructions on these two matters, a broker non-vote will occur.  Broker non-votes, as well as “ABSTAIN” votes, will each be counted towards the presence of a quorum but will not be counted towards the vote total for any Proposal, other than Proposal Nos. 2, 4 and 5. Accordingly, it is particularly important that beneficial owners instruct their brokers how they wish to vote their shares.

 

Can I revoke a proxy?

 

Stockholders of record may revoke their proxy at any time before the polls close by submitting a later-dated vote electronically at the annual meeting, via the internet, by telephone, by mail, or by delivering instructions to our Corporate Secretary before the annual meeting. If you hold shares through a brokerage firm, you may revoke any prior voting instructions by contacting that firm.

 

What is a quorum?

 

In order to carry on the business of the meeting, we must have a quorum. This means that at least a majority of the outstanding shares eligible to vote on the record date must be present at the meeting, either by proxy or in person. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present at the meeting for determining whether we have a quorum. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker returns a proxy but does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power for that particular item and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.

 

What are the Board of Directors’ voting recommendations? 

 

For the reasons set forth in more detail later in the proxy statement, our board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote “For” for the following proposals:

 

  Proposal No. 1 - the election of our directors;
     
  Proposal No. 2 - the ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of KMJ Corbin & Company as our independent registered public accounting firm for current fiscal year 2016;
     
  Proposal No. 3 - to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers;

 

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  Proposal No. 4 -

to approve an amendment to our certificate of incorporation, as amended, to effect a reverse stock split of shares of our issued and outstanding common stock, par value of $.00001 per share, at a ratio to be established by our board of directors in its discretion, of up to one for fifteen (but not less than one for five; and

     
  Proposal No. 5 -

to authorize the adjournment of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, if necessary to solicit additional proxies, in the event that there are not sufficient votes at the time of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to approve any of the foregoing proposals.

 

How many votes are needed to have the proposals pass?

 

The board of directors will be elected by a favorable vote of a plurality of the shares of common stock present and entitled to vote, in person or by proxy, at the annual meeting. Accordingly, abstentions and “broker non-votes” (see above) as to the election of directors will not be counted in determining which nominees received the largest number of votes cast.

 

In order for Proposal Nos. 2, 3, and 5 to pass, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting is required for each proposal.  

 

In order for Proposal No. 4 to pass, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote is required.

 

Only proxies and ballots indicating votes “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” on the proposals or providing the designated proxies with the right to vote in their judgment and discretion on the proposals are counted to determine the number of shares present and entitled to vote. Broker non-votes will not be counted towards the vote total on Proposal Nos. 1 and 3 although they will count toward the presence of a quorum. Abstentions as to a proposal will have the same effect as votes against a proposal.

 

Voting Results

 

We will report final results on Form 8-K which we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) no later than May 4, 2016.

 

What is “Householding” of annual meeting materials?

 

Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be “householding” our proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of our proxy statement and annual report to stockholders may have been sent to multiple stockholders in your household. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of either document to you if you call or write us at our principal executive offices, 701 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 170, Carlsbad, California, 92011-1045, Attn: Clifford L. Flowers, Corporate Secretary, telephone: (760) 547-2700. If you want to receive separate copies of the proxy statement or annual report to stockholders in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy per household, you should contact your bank, broker, or other nominee record holder, or you may contact us at the above address and telephone number.

 

PROPOSAL NUMBER 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

The first proposal on the agenda for the annual meeting will be electing three directors to serve until the next annual meeting or until their successors are elected. Our bylaws provide that the number of our directors may be no less than three and no more than seven, with the exact number to be fixed as the board determines. The Board has currently fixed the number of directors at three. There are three nominees for the three currently authorized seats on our board of directors. Unless authority to vote for directors has been withheld in the proxy, the persons named in the enclosed proxy intend to vote at the annual meeting FOR the election of the nominees presented below.

 

Under Delaware law, the three nominees receiving the highest number of votes will be elected as directors at the Annual Meeting. As a result, proxies voted to “Withhold Authority” and broker non-votes will have no practical effect.

 

Each person nominated for election is currently serving as a director of the Company and has consented to serve as a director for the ensuing year. If any nominee becomes unavailable to serve for any reason before the election, then the enclosed proxy will be voted for the election of such substitute nominee, if any, as shall be designated by the board of directors.  The board of directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will become unavailable to serve.

 

Information with respect to the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each director as of March 1, 2016 appears under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Directors and Management.” The name, age, years of service on our board of directors, and principal occupation and business experience of each director nominee is set forth below.

 

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Director Qualifications – We believe that individuals who serve on our Board should possess the requisite education and experience to make a significant contribution to the Board and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and should have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and dedication to serving the interests of our stockholders. The following are qualifications, experience and skills for Board members which are important to our business:

 

·Leadership Experience – We seek directors who demonstrate extraordinary leadership qualities. Strong leaders bring vision, diverse perspectives, and broad business insight to the company. They demonstrate practical management experience, skills for managing change, and knowledge of industries, geographies and risk management strategies relevant to the company.

 

·Finance Experience – We believe that all directors should possess an understanding of finance and related reporting processes. We also seek directors who qualify as “audit committee financial experts” as defined in rules of the SEC for service on the Audit Committee.

 

·Industry Experience – We seek directors who have relevant industry experience including: existing and new technologies, new or expanding businesses and a deep understanding of the Company’s business environments.

 

NAME AGE POSITION and TERM
Carlton M. Johnson, Jr. 56 Director (since August 2001)
Gloria H. Felcyn 68 Director (since October 2002)
Clifford L. Flowers 57

Chief Financial Officer/Secretary (since September 17, 2007)

Interim CEO (since October 5, 2009)

Director (since January 19, 2011)

 

CARLTON M. JOHNSON, JR. Carlton Johnson has served as a director of the Company since 2001, and is Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. From June 1996 through March 2013, Mr. Johnson served as in-house legal counsel for Roswell Capital Partners, LLC and related entities. Mr. Johnson has been admitted to the practice of law in Alabama since 1986, Florida since 1988 and Georgia since 1997. He has been a shareholder in the Pensacola, Florida AV- rated law firm of Smith, Sauer, DeMaria Johnson and was President-Elect of the 500 member Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association. He also served on the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors. Mr. Johnson earned a degree in History/Political Science at Auburn University and a Juris Doctor at Samford University - Cumberland School of Law. Since 1999, Mr. Johnson has served on the board of directors of Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly held emerging bio-tech company, and currently serves as chairman of Peregrine’s board of directors. Mr. Johnson serves as chairman of Peregrine’s audit committee and is a member of Peregrine’s compensation and nominating committees. From May 2009 to March 2012, Mr. Johnson served on the board of directors of Cryoport, Inc. a publicly held company providing cost-efficient frozen shipping to biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Mr. Johnson served as chairman of Cryoport’s compensation committee and as a member of its audit committee and nomination and governance committee. From November 2009 to December 2011, Mr. Johnson served on the board of directors of ECOtality, Inc. a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies. Mr. Johnson served on the audit committee and nominating committee of ECOtality.

 

The Board of Directors concluded that Mr. Johnson should serve as a director in light of the extensive public company finance and corporate governance experience that he has obtained through serving on the boards and audit committees of Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cryoport, Inc., and ECOtality, Inc.

 

GLORIA H. FELCYN. Gloria Felcyn has served as a director of the Company since October, 2002 and is the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Since 1982, Ms. Felcyn has been the principal in her own certified public accounting firm, during which time she represented Helmut Falk Sr. and nanoTronics, along with other major individual and corporate clients in Silicon Valley. Following Mr. Falk’s death, Ms. Felcyn represented his estate and family trust as Executrix and Trustee of the Falk Estate and The Falk Trust. Prior to establishing her firm, Ms. Felcyn worked for the national accounting firm of Hurdman and Cranston from 1969 through 1970 and Price Waterhouse & Co. in San Francisco and New York City from 1970 through 1976, during which period, she represented major Fortune 500 companies. Subsequent to that, Ms. Felcyn worked in the field of international tax planning with a major real estate syndication company in Los Angeles until 1982 when she decided to start her own practice in Northern California. A major portion of Ms. Felcyn’s current practice is “Forensic Accounting”, which involves valuation of business entities and investigation of assets. Ms. Felcyn has published tax articles for “The Tax Advisor” and co-authored a book published in 1982, “International Tax Planning”. Ms. Felcyn has a degree in Business Economics from Trinity University and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs.

 

The Board of Directors concluded that Ms. Felcyn should serve as a director and the chairperson of the Audit Committee in light of the extensive financial and accounting experience that she has obtained over her career.

 

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CLIFFORD L. FLOWERS. Cliff Flowers became our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary on September 17, 2007. On October 5, 2009 Mr. Flowers was named Interim CEO and was elected a director of the Company on January 19, 2011. From May 2007 to September 17, 2007, Mr. Flowers was the interim CFO for BakBone Software Inc., working as a consultant on behalf of Resources Global Professionals, Inc.  From June 2004 through December 2006, Mr. Flowers was the senior vice president of finance and operations and CFO for Financial Profiles, Inc., a developer and marketer of software for the financial planning industry. Prior to joining Financial Profiles, Mr. Flowers served as CFO of Xifin, Inc., a provider of hosted software services to the commercial laboratory marketplace. Prior to Xifin, Mr. Flowers served for nine years in positions of increasing responsibility at Previo, Inc., a developer and marketer of various PC and server-based products, including back up and business continuity offerings. As CFO of Previo, Mr. Flowers’ global responsibilities included all financial operations and legal affairs. He earlier served as an audit manager with Price Waterhouse, LLP. Mr. Flowers is a graduate of San Diego State University with a B.S. summa cum laude in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting.

 

The Board of Directors concluded that Mr. Flowers should serve as a director due to his leadership and financial experience combined with the perspective and experience he brings as our current Chief Financial Officer, interim Chief Executive Officer and Corporate Secretary.

 

Vote Required; Board Recommendation

 

Directors are elected by plurality vote, meaning that (should there be more nominees than seats available) the nominees who receive the most votes will be elected for the term nominated, even if the number of votes received by any one or more nominees is less than a majority of the votes cast. Cumulative voting is not allowed in the election of directors. The Board recommends a vote in favor of each nominee set forth above.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Our Board of Directors strongly believes in good corporate governance policies and practices. We expect to continue to seek and implement those corporate governance practices that we believe will promote a high level of performance from our Board of Directors, officers and employees. This section describes key corporate governance guidelines and practices that our Board has adopted. Copies of the following corporate governance documents are posted on our website at www.ptsc.com (the information contained on our website is not intended to be a part of this Proxy Statement): (1) Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, (2) Charter of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, and (3) Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. If you would like a printed copy of any of these corporate governance documents, please send your request to Patriot Scientific Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 701 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 170, Carlsbad, California  92011-1045.

 

Board of Directors

 

Our business is managed under the direction of our Board of Directors pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law and our Bylaws. Our Board of Directors has responsibility for establishing broad corporate policies and reviewing our overall performance. Among the primary responsibilities of our Board of Directors is the oversight of the management of our Company. Our directors remain informed of our business and management’s activities by reviewing documents provided to them before each board meeting and by attending presentations made by our chief executive officer and other members of management. The Board of Directors held five (5) formal meetings during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015. Each incumbent director attended at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the meetings of the Board and of the committees on which the director served during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015. In addition, members of the Board of Directors have access to our books, records and reports and independent auditors and advisors.  Members of our management frequently interact with and are at all times available to our directors.

 

Director Independence

 

Under NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5605(a)(2), a director will not be considered an “independent director” if, such director at any time during the past three years was an employee of the Company, or if a director (or a director’s family member) accepted compensation from the Company (other than compensation for board or board committee service) in excess of $120,000 during any twelve month period within the three years preceding the determination of independence. In addition, a director will not qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of our Board of Directors, that person has a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of the current directors, as well as those standing for re-election, are independent directors as defined by the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules governing the independence of directors, except for Clifford L. Flowers, our Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer.

 

Our Audit and Compensation Committees are composed entirely of independent directors as required by applicable SEC and NASDAQ rules, including Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In addition, there are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of the Company.

 

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Meetings of Independent Directors

 

The independent members of our Board of Directors have a practice of meeting in executive sessions without the presence of our management.

 

Board Committees

 

Our Board has two standing committees, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee. In addition, the Board from time to time establishes special purpose committees and utilizes an Executive Committee for executive transitions and other matters.

 

Audit Committee

 

Our Audit Committee has been established in accordance with Section 3(a) (58) (A) of the Exchange Act, and is currently comprised of: Gloria H. Felcyn (Committee Chair) and Carlton M. Johnson, Jr. Each member of our Audit Committee is independent as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC and NASDAQ listing standards. The Board has determined that Gloria H. Felcyn, who serves on the Audit Committee, is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.

 

The Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, a copy of which is available on our Web site—www.ptsc.com. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee, as more fully described in its charter, include reviewing our: (i) financial reports and information, (ii) systems of internal controls, (iii) auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes, (iv) compliance with legal requirements, (v) independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, and (vi) internal audit function performance and that of our independent auditors. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015, the Audit Committee held a total of three (3) meetings.

 

Compensation Committee

 

Our Compensation Committee is currently comprised of the following, each of whom is independent as defined under applicable NASDAQ and SEC rules: Carlton M. Johnson, Jr. (Committee Chair) and Gloria H. Felcyn. In addition, each member is a “non-employee director” under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015, our Compensation Committee held one (1) meeting.

 

The Compensation Committee reviews and recommends to the Board the salaries, bonuses and perquisites of our executive officers. The Compensation Committee also reviews and recommends to the Board any new compensation or retirement plans and administers our 2006 Stock Option Plan. The Compensation Committee also reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our executive officers and evaluates their performance in light of these goals and objectives. The Compensation Committee operates under a charter, a copy of which is available on our Web site — www.ptsc.com. Changes to the charter are recommended by the Compensation Committee and must be approved by the Board.

 

Nominating Committee

 

We do not have a standing nominating committee and therefore do not have a nominating committee charter. We believe that it is appropriate not to have such a committee because the full Board participates in the decision of who to nominate to the Board.

 

Although we do not have a formal policy that outlines a process whereby stockholders may submit recommendations for Board nominees, we do facilitate communications from stockholders to our Board on any topic as described in the section of this Proxy Statement entitled “STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND COMMUNICATIONS.” We believe that this process is adequate for considering the recommendations of our stockholders.

 

Qualifications for Director nominees are considered on a case by case basis, and may include factors including diversity in background, specific skills needed for committee roles, and in general experience that can complement the backgrounds of existing Board members. The Board has no specific process for identifying and evaluating nominees to the Board, but generally tries to identify individuals known to existing Board members who will provide a broad range of characteristics, including diversity, management skills, financial, technological and business experience, as well as the ability to commit the requisite time for preparation and attendance at regularly scheduled meetings and to participate in other matters necessary for good corporate governance. The Board has no policy regarding any differences in the manner in which it evaluates nominees recommended by a stockholder. 

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

Our bylaws provide that the Chairman of the Board shall preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors. Our bylaws also state that the Chairman of the Board shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer unless determined otherwise by our Board. Since October 5, 2009 our Chief Financial Officer has served as our interim CEO and our Board has not appointed a Chairman of the Board. During meetings of our Board of Directors, Mr. Johnson, an independent director, acts as Chairman of the Board.

 

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Our independent directors meet in executive sessions without management present to evaluate whether management is performing its responsibilities in a manner consistent with the direction of the Board. Additionally, all Board committee members are independent directors. The committee chairs have authority to hold executive sessions without management present. The Board has determined that its current structure is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. We believe the independent nature of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee as well as the practice of regular meetings of the independent directors in executive session without Mr. Flowers present ensures that the Board maintains a level of independent oversight of management that is appropriate for the Company.

 

Board Risk Oversight

 

Our Board oversees and maintains our governance and compliance processes and procedures to promote the conduct of our business in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and with the highest standards of responsibility, ethics and integrity. As part of its oversight responsibility, our Board is responsible for the oversight of risks facing the Company and seeks to provide guidance with respect to the management and mitigation of those risks. Our board also delegates specific areas of risk to the Audit Committee which is responsible for the oversight of risk policies and processes relating to our financial statements and financial reporting processes. The Audit Committee reviews and discusses with management and the independent auditors significant risks and exposures to the Company and steps management has taken or plans to take to minimize or manage such risks. The Audit Committee meets with our Chief Financial Officer and our independent auditor at each regular meeting of the Audit Committee.

 

Director Legal Proceedings

 

During the past ten years, no director, executive officer or nominee for our Board of Directors has been involved in any legal proceedings that are material to an evaluation of their ability or integrity to become our director or executive officer.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

We have not entered into any transaction during fiscal year ended May 31, 2015 in which any related person, as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

 

We have established policies and other procedures regarding approval of transactions between the Company and any employee, officer, director, and certain of their family members and other related persons, including those required to be reported under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. These policies and procedures are generally not in writing, but are evidenced by long standing principles set forth in our Code of Ethics or adhered to by our Board. As set forth in the Audit Committee Charter, as and to the extent required under applicable federal securities laws and related rules and regulations, and/or the NASDAQ Rules, related party transactions are to be reviewed and approved, if appropriate, by the Audit Committee. Generally speaking, we enter into such transactions only on terms that we believe are at least as favorable to the Company as those that we could obtain from an unrelated third party.

 

Code of Ethics

 

We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. Our Code of Ethics is available on our website at www.ptsc.com under the link “Investors” and “Management Team”.

 

Communicating with the Board of Directors

 

We have established a hotline for the confidential, anonymous submission by our directors, officers and employees of concerns regarding violations or suspected violations of our ethics policy including matters relating to accounting and auditing. In addition, the Audit Committee has established procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of communications received by us, our Board of Directors and the Audit Committee regarding accounting, internal controls or auditing matters. Written communications from our stockholders and employees may be sent to: Patriot Scientific Corporation, Attention: Audit Committee Chair, 701 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 170, Carlsbad, California 92011-1045.

 

In addition, our annual meeting of stockholders provides an opportunity each year for stockholders to ask questions of or otherwise communicate directly with members of the Board on appropriate matters. In addition, stockholders may communicate in writing with any particular director, or the directors as a group, by sending such written communication to: Board of Directors, Attention: Corporate Secretary, Patriot Scientific Corporation, 701 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 170, Carlsbad, California 92011-1045. Copies of written communications received at such address will be provided to the Board or the relevant director unless such communications are considered, in the reasonable judgment of the Secretary, to be inappropriate for submission to the intended recipient(s).  Examples of stockholder communications that would be considered inappropriate for submission to the Board include, without limitation, customer complaints, solicitations, communications that do not relate directly or indirectly to our business or communications that relate to improper or irrelevant topics.

 

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Director Attendance at Annual Meetings of Stockholders

 

We have no policy requiring directors to attend annual meetings of stockholders, but directors are encouraged to attend our annual meetings at which they stand for re-election.

 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

The following information outlines the compensation paid to our non-employee directors, including annual base retainer fees and option awards for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015:

 

Name 

Fees Earned or Paid in Cash

($)

  

Option Awards

($)(3)

  

All

Other

Compensation

  

Total

Compensation

($)

 
Carlton M. Johnson, Jr.  $122,400(1)  $10,802   $   $133,202 
Gloria H. Felcyn   96,000(2)   10,802        106,802 

 

1. Consists of $28,800 board fee, $36,000 Phoenix Digital Solutions, LLC management committee fee, $28,800 Compensation Committee Chair fee and $28,800 Executive Committee Chair fee.  

 

2. Consists of $28,800 board fee and $67,200 Audit Committee Chair fee.  

 

3. Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of grants awarded in fiscal year 2015 computed in accordance with authoritative guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.  

 

Director Outstanding Equity Awards

As of May 31, 2015 

 

Name  Number of Securities Underlying Options (#) Exercisable   Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable   Option Exercise Price ($)  

Option

Expiration Date

 
Carlton M. Johnson, Jr.   300,000       $0.12    6/4/2018 
Carlton M. Johnson, Jr.   500,000       $0.03    5/4/2020 
                     
Gloria H. Felcyn   300,000       $0.12    6/4/2018 
Gloria H. Felcyn   500,000       $0.03    5/4/2020 

 

Directors who are not our employees are compensated for their service as a director as shown in the table below:

 

Schedule of Director Fees

May 31, 2015

 

Compensation Item  Amount 
Board  $28,800 
Audit Committee Chair   67,200 
Compensation Committee Chair   28,800 
Executive Committee Chair   28,800 
Phoenix Digital Solutions, LLC Management Committee Board Member   36,000 

 

All retainers are paid in monthly installments.

 

Other

 

We reimburse all directors for travel and other reasonable business expenses incurred in the performance of their services for us. 

 

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PROPOSAL NUMBER 2

 

RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KMJ CORBIN & COMPANY LLP

 

The next proposal on the agenda for the annual meeting will be ratifying the Board’s appointment of KMJ Corbin & Company LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for current fiscal year ending May 31, 2016. The Audit Committee of the Board has appointed KMJ Corbin & Company LLP, certified public accountants to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2016. Our stockholders are being requested to ratify the appointment. KMJ Corbin & Company LLP has served as our independent auditors and accountants since November 23, 2005. Since November 23, 2005, there were no disagreements between us and KMJ Corbin & Company LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure. The Audit Committee recommended to the Board that KMJ Corbin & Company LLP be re-appointed for fiscal year 2016. A representative of KMJ Corbin & Company LLP will be available at the annual meeting. They will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and they are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 

Stockholder ratification of the selection of KMJ Corbin & Company LLP as our independent auditors is not required by the Bylaws or otherwise. However, the Board is submitting the selection of KMJ Corbin & Company to the stockholders LLP for ratification as a matter of corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of us and our stockholders.

 

Vote Required; Board Recommendation

 

The Board recommends a vote in favor of this proposal. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast will be required to approve this proposal.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees

 

The following summarizes aggregate fees billed to us for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2015 and 2014 by KMJ Corbin & Company LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm:

 

   2015   2014 
Audit fees  $91,850   $103,400 
Tax fees   12,525    12,200 
Total fees  $104,375   $115,600 

 

Audit fees pertain to the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements for fiscal years 2015 and 2014, and timely reviews of our quarterly consolidated financial statements, consents, comfort letters, and review of documents filed with the SEC.

 

Tax fees relate to tax compliance services rendered in the preparation of our tax returns.

 

Pre-Approval Policy for Services Provided by our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Pursuant to the Policy on Engagement of Independent Auditor, the Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the independent auditor. The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit services and non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditor and has approved 100% of the audit, audit-related and tax fees. The Audit Committee may delegate to one or more of its members the authority to grant the required approvals, provided that any exercise of such authority is presented at the next Audit Committee meeting for ratification.

 

Each audit, non-audit and tax service that is approved by the Audit Committee will be reflected in a written engagement letter or writing specifying the services to be performed and the cost of such services, which will be signed by either a member of the Audit Committee or by one of our officers authorized by the Audit Committee to sign on our behalf.

 

The Audit Committee will not approve any prohibited non-audit service or any non-audit service that individually or in the aggregate may impair, in the Audit Committee’s opinion, the independence of the independent auditor.

 

In addition, since January 1, 2003, our independent auditor may not provide any services to our officers or Audit Committee members, including financial counseling or tax services.

 

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Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (*)

 

Each year, the Board of Directors appoints an Audit Committee to review the Company’s financial matters. We operate pursuant to a written Audit Committee Charter adopted by the Board of Directors. In accordance with the Audit Committee Charter, we must meet the independence requirements and other criteria set by the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules as currently in effect. As part of our oversight of the Company’s financial statements, our Chair of the Audit Committee reviews and discusses with both management and KMJ Corbin & Company LLP all annual and quarterly financial statements prior to their issuance. In addition, our responsibilities include recommending to the Board an accounting firm to be hired as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. We are also responsible for recommending to the Board that the Company’s financial statements be included in its Annual Report. We have taken the following steps in making our recommendation that the Company’s financial statements be included in its Annual Report: 

 

  1. The Audit Committee discussed with KMJ Corbin & Company LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, for fiscal year ended May 31, 2015, those matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, including information regarding the scope and results of the audit. These communications and discussions are intended to assist the Audit Committee in overseeing the financial reporting and disclosure process.

 

  2. The Audit Committee discussed with KMJ Corbin & Company LLP, its independence and received from KMJ Corbin & Company LLP a letter concerning independence as required under applicable independence standards for auditors of public companies. This discussion and disclosure helped the Audit Committee in evaluating such independence.

 

  3. The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with the Company’s management and KMJ Corbin & Company LLP, the Company’s audited consolidated balance sheet at May 31, 2015, and consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and stockholders’ equity for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015.

 

Based on the reviews and discussions explained above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Company’s financial statements be included in its annual report for its fiscal year ended May 31, 2015. The Audit Committee also recommended to the Board the selection of KMJ Corbin & Company LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2016.

 

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Gloria H. Felcyn, Chair of the Audit Committee

Carlton M. Johnson, Jr.

 

 

*  The report of the Audit Committee shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

 

 

PROPOSAL NUMBER 3

 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank Act”) enables our stockholders to vote to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. This advisory vote is commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” proposal. Consistent with the mandate of the Dodd-Frank Act, we are seeking our stockholders’ approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules (which disclosure includes the related compensation tables on page 17 in this Proxy Statement). Our stockholders previously voted that the frequency of the “say-on-pay” vote will be annually.

 

The Compensation Committee, which is responsible for designing and administering our executive compensation program, has designed our executive compensation program to provide a competitive and internally equitable compensation and benefits package that reflects the Company performance, job complexity, and strategic value of the position while seeking to ensure the individual’s long-term retention and motivation and alignment with the long-term interests of our stockholders. We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our named executive officers compensation as described in this proxy statement. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall fiscal year 2015 compensation of our named executive officers described in this proxy statement. Accordingly, we are asking our stockholders to vote “FOR” the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

 

“RESOLVED, that our stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in our proxy statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC.”

 

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Vote Required; Board Recommendation

 

Adoption of this resolution will require the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of common stock represented in person or by proxy at the meeting. Abstentions will not be counted as either votes cast for or against the Proposal.

 

The results of this advisory vote are not binding upon us. However, the Compensation Committee values the opinions expressed by stockholders in their vote, and will consider the outcome of the vote in deciding whether any actions are necessary to address concerns raised by the vote and when making future compensation decisions for named executive officers.

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote for the advisory proposal on executive compensation.

 

PROPOSAL NUMBER 4

 

APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECTUATE THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT

 

Overview

 

The Board of Directors has approved, and is hereby soliciting stockholder approval of, an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation in the form set forth in APPENDIX A to this proxy statement (the “Reverse Stock Split Amendment”) to effect a reserve split of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock, at a ratio to be established by our board of directors in its discretion, of up to one for fifteen (but not less than one for five), with any fractional shares that would otherwise be issuable as a result of the Reverse Stock Split being rounded up to the nearest whole share.

 

A vote “FOR” this proposal will constitute approval of the Reverse Stock Split Amendment providing for the combination of up to fifteen (but not less than five) shares of common stock into one share of Common Stock. If our stockholders approve this proposal, the Board of Directors will have the authority, but not the obligation, in its sole discretion and without further action on the part of our stockholders, to select the ratio for the Reverse Stock Split in the range above and implement the Reverse Stock Split by filing the Reverse Stock Split Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware at any time after the approval of the Reverse Stock Split Amendment.

 

Except for any changes as a result of the treatment of fractional shares, each stockholder will hold the same percentage of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the Reverse Stock Split as such stockholder held immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split.

 

In determining the ratio of the Reverse Stock Split, if any, following receipt of stockholder approval of this proposal, the Board of Directors may consider, among other things, various factors such as:

 

·the historical trading price and trading volume of the common stock;
·the then prevailing trading price and trading volume of the common stock and the expected impact of the Reverse Stock Split on the trading market for the common stock;
·the number of shares of our common stock outstanding;
·the minimum price per share requirements of the OTCQB;
·which Reverse Stock Split ratio would result in the least administrative cost to us; and
·prevailing general market and economic conditions.

 

The Reverse Stock Split will not change the number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock as designated by our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Therefore, because the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock will decrease, the number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for future issuance will increase. As of the date of this proxy statement, we do not have any plans, proposals, or arrangements, written or otherwise, to issue any of such newly available authorized shares of Common Stock for any purpose, including future acquisitions and/or financings.

 

If our stockholders approve the Reverse Stock Split, it is expected that the Reverse Stock Split will be implemented promptly. However, the Board of Directors reserves the right, notwithstanding stockholder approval of this proposal and without further action by the stockholders, to elect not to proceed with the Reverse Stock Split if, at any time the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, determines that it is no longer in our best interest and the best interests of the stockholders to proceed with the Reverse Stock Split.

 

Purpose of the Reverse Stock Split Amendment

 

The purpose of the Reverse Stock Split is to decrease the total number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding and thereby potentially increasing the market price of our common stock. Our common stock currently trades on the OTCQB under the symbol “PTSC,” and we are required to continually meet the listing requirements of the OTCQB (including a minimum bid price for our common stock of $0.01 per share) to maintain the listing of our common stock on the OTCQB.

 

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On December 14, 2015, we received a deficiency letter from the OTC Markets Group indicating that for 30 consecutive trading days, our common stock had a closing bid price below the $0.01 per share minimum. In accordance with OTCQB listing rules, we were provided a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until June 11, 2016, to regain compliance with this requirement. We can regain compliance with the minimum closing bid price requirement if the bid price of our Common Stock closes at $0.01 per share or higher for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days. If we do not regain compliance with the minimum closing bid price requirement by June 11, 2016, the OTC Markets Group will provide written notice that our securities are subject to delisting.

 

The Board of Directors has considered the potential harm to us and our stockholders should OTC Markets Group delist our common stock on OTCQB. If our common stock is delisted, it could be more difficult to buy or sell our common stock and to obtain accurate quotations, and the price of our stock could suffer a material decline. Delisting may also impair our ability to raise capital, which would have a negative effect on our business plans and operations.

 

IF OUR STOCKHOLDERS DO NOT APPROVE THIS PROPOSAL 4, WE WOULD LIKELY BE DELISTED FROM THE OTCQB DUE TO OUR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A MINIMUM BID PRICE FOR OUR COMMON STOCK OF $0.01 PER SHARE AS REQUIRED BY THE APPLICABLE OTCQB LISTING RULES.

 

Impact of the Reverse Stock Split Amendment if Implemented

 

If approved and implemented, the Reverse Stock Split will be realized simultaneously and in the same ratio for all of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Any fractional shares that would otherwise be issuable as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will be rounded up to the nearest whole share. The Reverse Stock Split will affect all stockholders uniformly and will not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership interest in the Company (subject to the treatment of fractional shares). In addition, the Reverse Stock Split will not affect any stockholder’s proportionate voting power (subject to the treatment of fractional shares).

 

Stockholders should also recognize that once the Reverse Stock Split is effected, they will own fewer number of shares than they owned prior to the Reverse Stock Split (a number equal to the quotient of the number of shares owned immediately before the Reverse Stock Split divided by, for example, 10, assuming a ratio of 1-for-10).

 

Our authorized capital stock currently consists of 600,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. If the Reverse Stock Split is implemented, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock would remain at 600,000,000 shares, thereby effectively increasing the number of shares of common stock available for future issuance. In addition, the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock would remain at 5,000,000 shares.

 

The principal effects of the Reverse Stock Split Amendment will be as follows:

 

·each five to fifteen shares of common stock, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, owned by a stockholder, will be combined into one new share of common stock, with any fractional shares that would otherwise be issuable as a result of the split being rounded up to the nearest whole share;
·the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding will be reduced;
·proportionate adjustments will be made to the per share exercise prices and/or the number of shares issuable upon exercise or conversion of outstanding options, warrants, and any other convertible or exchangeable securities entitling the holders to purchase, exchange for, or convert into, shares of common stock, which will result in approximately the same aggregate price being required to be paid for such securities upon exercise or conversion as had been payable immediately preceding the Reverse Stock Split;
·the number of shares reserved for issuance or under the securities described immediately above will be reduced proportionately; and
·the number of shares of common stock available for future issuance will increase accordingly.

 

Certain Risks Associated with the Reverse Stock Split

 

Certain risks associated with the Reverse Stock Split are as follows:

 

·There can be no assurance that we can regain compliance with the minimum closing bid price requirements of the OTCQB for our common stock, and there can be no assurance that we will continue to meet the other listing requirements of the OTCQB;
·If the Reverse Stock Split is approved and implemented and the market price of our common stock declines, the percentage decline may be greater than would occur in the absence of the Reverse Stock Split;
·There can be no assurance that the Reverse Stock Split will increase the per share price for our common stock. While we expect that the Reverse Stock Split will result in an increase in the per share price of our common stock, the Reverse Stock Split may not increase the per share price of our common stock in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares of our common stock outstanding. It also may not result in a permanent increase in the per share price, which depends on many factors, including our performance, prospects and other factors that may be unrelated to the number of shares outstanding.

 

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·We will have fewer shares that are publicly traded. As a result, the trading liquidity of our common stock may decline. Accordingly, the total market capitalization of our common stock after the may be lower than the total market capitalization before the Reverse Stock Split. Moreover, in the future, the market price of our common stock following the Reverse Stock Split may not exceed or remain higher than the market price prior to the Reverse Stock Split.
·The Reverse Stock Split may result in some stockholders owning “odd lots” of less than 100 shares of common stock. Odd lot shares may be more difficult to sell, and brokerage commissions and other costs of transactions in odd lots are generally somewhat higher than the costs of transactions in “round lots” of even multiples of 100 shares.
·The number of shares of common stock available for future issuance will effectively be increased, which potentially allows us to raise additional capital in the future through the issuance and sale of equity securities from time to time, as the Board of Directors may deem advisable. The issuance in the future of such additional authorized shares may have the effect of diluting the earnings or loss per share and book value per share, as well as the ownership and voting rights of the holders of our then-outstanding shares of capital stock. In addition, an increase in the number of authorized but unissued shares of our common stock may have a potential anti-takeover effect, as our ability to issue additional shares could be used to thwart persons, or otherwise dilute the stock ownership of stockholders, seeking to control us. The Reverse Stock Split is not being recommended by the Board of Directors as part of an anti-takeover strategy.

 

Effective Time

 

If approved and implemented, the Reverse Stock Split would become effective on the date specified in the Reverse Stock Split Amendment filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”). Except as explained below with respect to fractional shares, at the Effective Time, shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior thereto will be combined, automatically and without any action on the part of our stockholders, into one share of our Common Stock in accordance with the Reverse Stock Split ratio of between 1-for-5 and 1-for-15, inclusive.

 

After the Effective Time, our Common Stock will have a new Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (“CUSIP”) number, which is a number used to identify our equity securities, and stock certificates with the old CUSIP numbers will need to be exchanged for stock certificates with the new CUSIP numbers by following the procedures described below.

 

After the Effective Time, we will continue to be subject to periodic reporting and other requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Unless our Common Stock is delisted by the OTC Markets Group because of our failure to comply with the $0.01 minimum bid price requirement, our common stock will continue to be listed on the OTCQB under the symbol “PTSC.”

 

The table below sets forth, as of the Record Date and for illustrative purposes only, certain approximated effects of potential Reverse Stock Split ratios between 1-for-5 and 1-for-15 on our common stock, inclusive (without giving effect to the treatment of fractional shares). The percentages for each line item in the table represent the percentage of the total number of authorized shares of common stock both prior to and after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split and the assumed ratios.

 

   Prior to Reverse Stock Split   After Reverse Stock Split Assuming Certain Ratios 
       %   1-for-5   %   1-for-10   %   1-for-15   % 
Number of Shares Authorized   600,000,000    100%   600,000,000    100%   600,000,000    100%   600,000,000    100%
Number of Shares Issued and Outstanding   401,392,948    66.9%   80,278,590    13.4%   40,129,295    6.7%   26,759,530    4.5%
Number of Shares Reserved for Issuance   3,410,000    0.6%   682,000    0.1%   341,000    0.1%   227,333    0.0%
Number of Shares Authorized and Unissued   198,607,052    33.1%   519,721,410    86.6%   559,860,705    93.3%   573,240,470    95.5%

 

Board Discretion to Implement the Reverse Stock Split Amendment

 

If stockholder approval is obtained for the Reverse Stock Split Amendment to effect the Reserve Stock Split, the Board expects to select an appropriate ratio and implement the Reverse Stock Split promptly. However, the Board reserves the authority to decide, in its sole discretion, to delay or abandon the Reverse Stock Split after such vote and before the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split if it determines that the Reverse Stock Split is no longer in the best interests of the Company and the stockholders.

 

Fractional Shares

 

Our stockholders will not receive fractional post-Reverse Stock Split shares in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Instead, any fractional shares that would otherwise be issuable as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will be rounded up to the nearest whole share.

 

No Going-Private Transaction

 

Notwithstanding the decrease in the number of outstanding shares following the proposed Reverse Stock Split, the Board of Directors does not intend for the Reverse Stock Split to be the first step in a “going-private transaction” within the meaning of Rule 13e-3 of the Exchange Act. In fact, since all fractional shares of Common Stock resulting from the Reverse Stock Split will be rounded up to the nearest whole share, there will be no reduction in the number of stockholders of record that could provide the basis for a going-private transaction.

 

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Effect on Beneficial Holders of Common Stock (i.e., Stockholders Who Hold In “Street Name”)

 

Upon the Reverse Stock Split, we intend to treat shares held by stockholders in “street name,” through a bank, broker or other nominee, in the same manner as registered stockholders whose shares are registered in their names. Banks, brokers or other nominees will be instructed to effect the Reverse Stock Split for their beneficial holders holding our common stock in “street name.” However, these banks, brokers or other nominees may have different procedures than registered stockholders for processing the Reverse Stock Split. If a stockholder holds shares of our common stock with a bank, broker or other nominee and has any questions in this regard, stockholders are encouraged to contact their bank, broker or other nominee.

 

Effect on Registered “Book−Entry” Holders of Common Stock

 

Certain of our registered holders of common stock may hold some or all of their shares electronically in book-entry form with the transfer agent. These stockholders do not have stock certificates evidencing their ownership of the common stock. They are, however, provided with a statement reflecting the number of shares registered in their accounts.

 

If a stockholder holds registered shares in book-entry form with the transfer agent, no action needs to be taken to receive post-Reverse Stock Split shares. If a stockholder is entitled to post-Reverse Stock Split shares, a transaction statement will automatically be sent to the stockholder’s address of record indicating the number of shares of common stock held following the Reverse Stock Split.

 

Effect on Certificated Shares

 

Some of our registered stockholders hold all their shares in certificate form or a combination of certificate and book-entry form. If any of your shares are held in certificate form before the Effective Time (the “Old Certificates”), you do not need to take any action to exchange your Old Certificates unless you want to make a sale or transfer of stock. After the Effective Time, upon request, we will issue new certificates (the “New Certificates”) to anyone who holds Old Certificates in exchange therefor. Any request for New Certificates into a name different from that of the registered holder will be subject to normal stock transfer requirements and fees, including proper endorsement and signature guarantee, if required.

 

No New Certificates will be issued to a stockholder until the stockholder has surrendered all Old Certificates to the transfer agent. Stockholders will then receive one or more New Certificates representing the number of whole shares of common stock to which they are entitled as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. Until surrendered, we will deem outstanding Old Certificates held by stockholders to be cancelled and only to represent the number of whole shares of post-Reverse Stock Split common stock to which these stockholders are entitled.

 

Any Old Certificates submitted for exchange, whether because of a sale, transfer or other disposition of stock, will automatically be exchanged for New Certificates. If an Old Certificate has one or more restrictive legends on the back of the Old Certificate, the New Certificate will be issued with the same restrictive legends that are on the back of the Old Certificate.

 

STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT DESTROY ANY STOCK CERTIFICATE AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY STOCK CERTIFICATE UNTIL REQUESTED TO DO SO.

 

Accounting Matters

 

The Reverse Stock Split will not affect the par value of a share of our common stock. As a result, as of the Effective Time, the stated capital attributable to common stock on our balance sheet will be reduced proportionately based on the Reverse Stock Split, and the additional paid-in capital account will be credited with the amount by which the stated capital is reduced. Reported per share net income or loss will be higher because there will be fewer shares of common stock outstanding. In our future financial statements, per share net income or loss and other per share amounts for periods ending before the Reverse Stock Split would be recast to give retroactive effect to the Reverse Stock Split.

 

Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

The following is a discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split to U.S. holders (as defined below). This discussion is included for general information purposes only and does not purport to address all aspects of U.S. federal income tax law that may be relevant to U.S. holders in light of their particular circumstances. This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and current Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are effective as of the date hereof and subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. Any such change could affect the continuing validity of this discussion. There can be no assurances that the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described herein, and we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling from the IRS, or an opinion from counsel, with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.

 

 14 
 

 

ALL STOCKHOLDERS, IN PARTICULAR THOSE THAT ARE NON-U.S. HOLDERS, ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE PARTICULAR U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT.

 

This discussion generally applies only to beneficial owners of shares of common stock that are held as “capital assets,” as such term is defined in Code Section 1221 (i.e., generally for investment). This discussion does not address tax consequences to stockholders that are subject to special tax rules, such as banks, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, personal holding companies, U.S. holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, partnerships (or other flow-through entities for U.S. federal income purposes and their partners or members), persons who acquired their shares in connection with employment or other performance of services, broker-dealers, foreign entities, nonresident alien individuals, U.S. expatriates, tax-exempt entities, dealers in securities, traders in securities who elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting, and banks.

 

If a partnership (or other flow-through entity) is a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock, then the tax treatment of a partner (or equity holder of such flow-through entity) will generally depend upon the status of such partner (or equity holder) and the activities of the partnership (or flow-through entity). A beneficial owner of our shares of common stock that is a partnership (or other flow-through entity) and the partners (or equity holders) of such partnership (or other flow-through entity) are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences discussed herein.

 

As used herein, the term “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of shares of common stock that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

·an individual citizen or resident of the United States;
·a corporation or other entity taxed as a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any State or political subdivision thereof;
·an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
·a trust (A) if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more “U.S. persons” (as defined in the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has a valid election in effect to be treated as a U.S. person.

 

Pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split, each holder of our common stock outstanding immediately before the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split will become the holder of fewer shares of our common stock after consummation of the Reverse Stock Split.

 

The Reverse Stock Split should be treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, other than with respect to any stockholder that receives one whole share for each fractional share (as described below), a stockholder generally will not recognize gain or loss by reason of such stockholder’s receipt of post-Reverse Stock Split shares pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split solely in exchange for pre-Reverse Stock Split shares held by such stockholder immediately before the Reverse Stock Split. Subject to the following discussion regarding a stockholder’s receipt of a whole post-Reserve Stock Split share in exchange for a fractional share, a stockholder’s aggregate tax basis in the post-Reverse Stock Split shares received pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split will equal the stockholder’s aggregate basis in pre-Reverse Stock Split shares exchanged therefor (excluding any portion of the holder’s basis allocated to fractional pre-Reverse Stock Split shares) and will be allocated among the post-Reverse Stock Split shares received in the Reverse Stock Split on a pro-rata basis.

 

A stockholder may recognize gain or loss from the disposition of a fractional pre-Reverse Stock Split share in exchange for a whole post-Reverse Stock Split share, which may affect such stockholder’s adjusted basis and holding period in such whole share received. The treatment of the exchange of a fractional share for a whole share in the Reverse Stock Split is not clear. We intend to treat the issuance to a stockholder of a whole share in exchange for a fractional share as a nontaxable event, but there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service would not contend, or that a court would not find, that a stockholder should recognize gain or loss on its receipt of a whole share in exchange for a fractional share. If you are a stockholder who receives a whole post-Reverse Stock Split share pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split solely in exchange for a fractional pre-Reverse Stock Split share, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split. To the extent gain or loss is recognized, such gain or loss will equal the difference between (i) the portion of the tax basis of the pre-Reverse Stock Split shares allocated to the fractional share, and (ii) the fair market value of the post-Reverse Stock Split whole share received in exchange for such fractional share. Any such gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss and will be short-term if the pre-split shares were held for one year or loss, and long-term if held for more than one year. Stockholders who have used the specific identification method to identify their basis in the pre-Reverse Stock Split shares held immediately before the Reverse Stock Split should consult their own tax advisors to determine their basis in the post-Reverse Stock Split shares received in exchange therefor in the Reverse Stock Split.

 

Subject to the discussion above regarding a stockholder’s receipt of a whole post-Reserve Stock Split share in exchange for a pre-Reverse Stock Split fractional share, a stockholder’s holding period in the post-Reverse Stock Split shares received pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split will generally include the stockholder’s holding period in the pre-Reverse Stock Split shares surrendered in exchange therefor, provided the pre-Reverse Stock Split shares surrendered are held as capital assets at the time of the Reverse Stock Split.

 

 15 
 

 

Required Vote of Stockholders

 

Approval of this Proposal 4 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the Company’s outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as negative votes.

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE PROPOSAL

TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

TO EFFECTUATE THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT.

 

PROPOSAL NO. 5

 

THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL

 

The Annual Meeting may be adjourned to another time or place, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Meeting to approve any of Proposal Nos. 1 through 4.  The Meeting may be adjourned from time to time to a date that is not more than 120 days after the original record date for the Meeting.

 

If, at the Meeting, the number of shares of Common Stock present or represented and voting in favor of the approval of any of Proposal Nos. 1 through 4 is not sufficient to approve that proposal, we currently intend to move to adjourn the Meeting in order to enable our Board of Directors to solicit additional proxies for the approval of any of Proposal Nos. 1 through 4. In that event, we will ask our stockholders to vote only upon the adjournment proposal, and not upon any of Proposal Nos. 1 through 4.

 

In this proposal, we are asking our stockholders to authorize the holder of any proxy solicited by our Board of Directors to vote in favor of granting discretionary authority to the proxy holders, and each of them individually, to adjourn the Meeting to another time and place for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies. If the stockholders approve the adjournment proposal, we could adjourn the Meeting and any adjourned session of the Meeting and use the additional time to solicit additional proxies, including the solicitation of proxies from stockholders who have previously voted.

 

Vote Required for Approval

 

If the proposal to adjourn the Meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies is submitted to the stockholders for approval, such proposal will be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Meeting.

 

Recommendation of the Board

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” Proposal No. 5, as to the adjournment of the Meeting if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies in favor of the approval of any of Proposal Nos. 1 through 4.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 5.

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS, DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth, as of March 1, 2016, the stock ownership of our executive officer and directors, of our executive officer and directors as a group, and of each person known to us to be a beneficial owner of 5% or more of our Common Stock. In general, “Beneficial Ownership” refers to shares that an individual or entity has the power to vote or dispose of, and any rights to acquire common stock that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2016. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 1, 2016, was 401,392,948. Except as otherwise noted, each person listed below is the sole beneficial owner of the shares and has sole investment and voting power over such shares. Each individual’s address is 701 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 170, Carlsbad, California 92011-1045.

 

Name

Amount & Nature of

Beneficial Ownership

Percent of Class
Gloria H. Felcyn, CPA 1,751,690 (1) *
Carlton M. Johnson, Jr. 1,325,000 (2) *
Clifford L. Flowers 775,000 (3) *
All directors & officers as a group (3 persons) 3,851,690 (4) 0.96%

*Less than 1%

 

(1) Includes 800,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2016.

 

 16 
 

 

(2) Includes 800,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2016.

 

(3) Includes 700,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2016.

 

(4) Includes 2,300,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2016.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and persons who beneficially own 10% or more of a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act to file reports of beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership with the SEC. Directors, executive officers and greater than 10% stockholders are required by the rules and regulations of the SEC to furnish us with copies of all reports filed by them in compliance with Section 16(a).

 

Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us, or written representations from reporting persons, we believe that our insiders complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements during fiscal year 2015.

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The following table summarizes the compensation of the named executive officers for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2015 and 2014.  For fiscal years 2015 and 2014, the named executive officers are our Interim Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer.

 

Summary Compensation Table

For Fiscal Years Ended May 31, 2015 and 2014

 

Name and Principal Position  Year   Salary ($)   Bonus ($)   Option Awards ($)(1)  

All Other Compensation

($) (2)

  

Total Compensation

($)

 
Clifford L. Flowers, Interim   2015   $327,750   $   $12,963   $9,896   $350,609 
CEO and CFO                              
                               
Clifford L. Flowers, Interim   2014    327,750        8,213    10,200    346,163 
CEO and CFO                              

 

1. Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of grants awarded in fiscal 2015 and 2014 computed in accordance with authoritative guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.  
   
 2. See the All Other Compensation Table below for details of the total amounts represented.  

 

All Other Compensation Table

For Fiscal Years Ended May 31, 2015 and 2014

 

Name and Principal Position  Year   401(k) Company Match ($)   Total ($) 
Clifford L. Flowers, Interim   2015   $9,896   $9,896 
CEO and CFO               
                
Clifford L. Flowers, Interim   2014    10,200    10,200 
CEO and CFO               

 

The following table shows the number of shares covered by exercisable and un-exercisable options held by our named executive officers as of May 31, 2015.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards

As of May 31, 2015

 

Name  Number of Securities Underlying Options (#)Exercisable   Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable   Option Exercise Price($)  

Option

Expiration Date

 
Clifford L. Flowers   100,000       $0.12    6/4/2018 
Clifford L. Flowers   600,000       $0.03    5/4/2020 

 

 17 
 

 

Employment Contracts

 

In connection with Mr. Flowers’ appointment as Chief Financial Officer on September 17, 2007, we entered into an Employment Agreement (the “Flowers Agreement”) with Mr. Flowers for an initial 120-day term if not terminated pursuant to the Flowers Agreement, with an extension period of one year and on a day-to-day basis thereafter. Pursuant to the Flowers Agreement, Mr. Flowers’ initial base salary was $225,000 per year and he is eligible to receive an annual merit bonus of up to 50% of his base salary, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. Effective October 1, 2008, October 5, 2009 and December 15, 2011, Mr. Flowers’ base salary was increased to $231,750, $291,750 and $327,750, respectively. Also pursuant to the Flowers Agreement and on the date of the Flowers Agreement, Mr. Flowers received a fully vested grant of non-qualified stock options to purchase 150,000 shares of our Common Stock and a grant of non-qualified stock options to purchase 600,000 shares of our Common Stock vesting over four years. Mr. Flowers’ right to exercise the foregoing stock options became fully vested on October 9, 2009, in connection with his appointment as Interim CEO. The Flowers Agreement also provides for Mr. Flowers to receive customary employee benefits, including health, life and disability insurance.

 

Pursuant to the Flowers Agreement, if Mr. Flowers is terminated without cause or resigns with good reason any time after two years of continuous employment, he is entitled to receive an amount equal to 12 months of his annual base salary. Mr. Flowers is also entitled to certain payments upon a change of control of the Company if the surviving corporation does not retain him.  All such payments are conditional upon the execution of a general release.

 

OTHER MATTERS:

 

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, stockholders may present proper proposals for inclusion in our proxy statement for presentation at our next annual meeting of stockholders. To be eligible for inclusion in our fiscal 2016 proxy statement, your proposal must be received by us in writing no later than November 17, 2016 and must otherwise comply with Rule 14a-8. Proposals received by us after such date will be considered untimely. Stockholder proposals should be directed to the attention of the Corporate Secretary, addressed as follows: Patriot Scientific Corporation, Mr. Clifford L. Flowers, Corporate Secretary, 701 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 170, Carlsbad, CA 92011. While the Board will consider stockholder proposals, we reserve the right to omit from our proxy statement stockholder proposals that we are not required to include under the Exchange Act, including Rule 14a-8.

 

We encourage stockholders to communicate with members of the Board. Stockholders wishing to communicate with directors may send correspondence addressed as follows: Patriot Scientific Corporation, Mr. Clifford L. Flowers, Corporate Secretary, 701 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 170, Carlsbad, CA 92011. All communications will be provided directly to the Board.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

Neither the Board of Directors nor the management knows of any other business to be presented at the Annual Meeting, but if other matters do properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the persons named on the proxy card will vote on those matters in accordance with their best judgment.

 

FINANCIAL AND OTHER AVAILABLE INFORMATION

 

We are subject to the informational and reporting requirements of Section 13 of the Exchange Act and in accordance with those requirements file reports and other information with the SEC. Such reports and other information filed with the SEC are available for inspection and copying at the Public Reference Room of the SEC, located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549, at prescribed rates. You may obtain information about the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our filings under the Exchange Act may also be accessed through the SEC's web site (http://www.sec.gov).

 

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2015, including our annual financial statements, as filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act, constitutes the annual report to stockholders and is being mailed with this Proxy Statement. Upon request and payment of a reasonable fee to cover our expenses, we will furnish any person who was a stockholder as of the record date, a copy of any exhibit to the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015. Any such written request may be addressed to: Clifford L. Flowers, Secretary, Patriot Scientific Corporation, 701 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 170, Carlsbad, CA 92011. The written request must contain a good faith representation that, as of the record date, the person making the request was the beneficial owner of our common stock. All of our public filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, can be found on our website at www.ptsc.com. The information contained on our website is not intended to be a part of this proxy statement. 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

/s/ Clifford L. Flowers

Clifford L. Flowers

CFO, Interim CEO and Corporate Secretary

 18 
 

 

APPENDIX A

 

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

PATRIOT SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

 

PATRIOT SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION (the "Corporation"), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:

 

1. That at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation resolutions were duly adopted setting forth a proposed amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of said corporation, declaring said amendment to be advisable and calling a meeting of the stockholders of said corporation for consideration thereof. The resolution setting forth the proposed amendment is as follows:

 

RESOLVED, that the Certificate of Incorporation of this Corporation be amended by changing the Article FIFTH thereof by adding the following paragraph at the end of such Article FIFTH:

 

“Upon the filing and effectiveness (the “Effective Time”) pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law of this Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, each [__] shares of Corporation’s common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (“Common Stock”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, automatically and without any action on the part of the respective holders thereof, be combined and converted into one (1) share of Common Stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”). No fractional shares shall be issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional share interests of Common Stock as a result of the Reverse Stock Split shall be entitled to receive in lieu of such fractional share interests, upon the Effective Time, one whole share of Common Stock in lieu of such fractional share interests.”

 

2. That thereafter, pursuant to resolution of its Board of Directors, the annual meeting of the stockholders of said corporation was duly called and held upon notice in accordance with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware at which meeting the necessary number of shares as required by statute were voted in favor of the amendment.

 

3. That said amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. 

 

4. All other provisions of the Certificate shall remain in full force and effect.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be signed this ____ day of __________, 20__.

 

  Patriot Scientific Corporation  
       
  By:    
  Name:    
  Title:    

 

 

 

 A-1 
 

 

   

VOTE BY INTERNET

Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com

     
PATRIOT SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION   Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for
ATTN: CLIFF FLOWERS   electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern
701 PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD, STE 170   Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date.
CARLSBAD, CA 92011-1045   Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site
    and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to
    create an electronic voting instruction form.
     
   

During The Meeting - Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PTSC2016

 

You may attend the Meeting via the Internet and vote during the Meeting. Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions.

 

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

 

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

 

 

 

TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:

 

                                                      E01845-P75760               KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

 

DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

 

 

 

   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.