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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Smith Micro Software, Inc.

 

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April 28, 2017

Dear Smith Micro Stockholders:

We are pleased to invite you to the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Smith Micro Software, Inc. to be held at our offices located at 51 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

The expected actions to be taken at the Annual Meeting, which include the election of two directors, are described in the attached Proxy Statement and Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In addition to the Proxy Statement, we are mailing or making available to you a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, which we encourage you to read. Our Annual Report includes our audited financial statements for 2016 and information about our operations, markets and products.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you can be sure your shares are represented at the meeting by promptly completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the prepaid envelope provided for your convenience or voting by Internet or telephone. If you later decide to attend the Annual Meeting and wish to change your vote, you may do so simply by voting in person at the meeting.

We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

 

Chairman of the Board,

 

 

President & Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Smith Micro Software, Inc.

 

 

 


SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE, INC.

51 Columbia

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JUNE 15, 2017

Notice is hereby given that the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Smith Micro Software, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at the offices of the Company, located at 51 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, for the following purposes as more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this notice:

 

1.

Election of Directors. The election of two (2) directors to serve on our Board of Directors until the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

2.

“Say-On-Pay” Proposal. Advisory vote to approve the compensation of named executive officers.

 

3.

Ratification of the appointment of SingerLewak LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.

 

4.

Other Business. Any other business properly brought before the shareholders at the Annual Meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The close of business on April 20, 2017 has been fixed as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. Only stockholders of record at such time will be so entitled to vote. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for inspection at our executive offices located at 51 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, and at the Annual Meeting.

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in person, we urge you to ensure your representation by voting by proxy promptly. You may vote by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card, or the form forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of record, by mail. You may also vote by telephone or electronically through the Internet, as further described on the proxy card. A return envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States, has been provided for your use. If you attend the Annual Meeting and vote your shares in person, your proxy will not be used.

A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote must be represented at the Annual Meeting in order to constitute a quorum. Please return your proxy card in order to ensure that a quorum is obtained.

 

 

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven M. Yasbek

 

 

Corporate Secretary Aliso Viejo, California

April 28, 2017

 


Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the stockholder meeting to be held June 15, 2017: The Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at http://www.edocumentview.com/SMSI.

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU OWN. PLEASE READ THE ATTACHED PROXY STATEMENT CAREFULLY AND SUBMIT YOUR PROXY BY INTERNET IF ELIGIBLE OR BY COMPLETING, SIGNING AND DATING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE AND RETURNING IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

 

 

 


SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 


SMITH MICRO SOFTWARE, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held June 15, 2017

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

General

This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card are furnished in connection with the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Smith Micro Software, Inc. (“Smith Micro,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”), which will be held at the offices of the Company, located at 51 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 20, 2017, the record date, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof. This Proxy Statement, the enclosed proxy card and the Smith Micro Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (the “Annual Report”) are being first mailed or made available to stockholders on or about April 28, 2017. These materials are available for viewing, printing and downloading on the Internet at http://www.smithmicro.com/company/investors/sec-filings.

Purpose of the Meeting

The specific proposals to be considered and acted upon at the Annual Meeting are summarized in the accompanying Notice and are described in more detail in this Proxy Statement. We are not aware of any matter to be presented other than those described in this Proxy Statement.

Voting

Our outstanding common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) is the only class of securities entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Common stockholders of record on April 20, 2017, the record date, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of April 20, 2017, there were 12,116,156 shares of Common Stock outstanding and approximately 170 holders of record, according to information provided by our transfer agent. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote. Stockholders may not cumulate votes in the election of directors. A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes count as present for establishing a quorum but will not be counted as votes cast. If a quorum is not present, the meeting may be adjourned until a quorum is obtained.

All votes will be tabulated by our inspector of elections for the Annual Meeting who will separately tabulate affirmative and negative votes, abstentions and “broker non-votes” ( i.e. , shares held by a broker or other nominee having discretionary power to vote on some matters but not others). Broker non-votes occur when your broker or other nominee submits a proxy for your shares (because the broker or other nominee has received instructions from you on one or more proposals, but not all, or has not received instructions from you but is entitled to vote on a particular “discretionary” matter) but does not indicate a vote for a particular proposal because the broker or other nominee either does not have the authority to vote on that proposal and has not received voting instructions from you or has discretionary authority but chooses not to exercise it. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of business. Abstentions will be counted towards the tabulations of votes cast on proposals presented to the stockholders and will have the same effect as negative votes. In the election of directors, the nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes shall be elected; broker non-votes and votes marked “withhold” will not affect the outcome of the election. All other proposals require the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote. Broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining whether such proposals have been approved.

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How to Vote

If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote your shares in one of two ways: either by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting. If you choose to vote by proxy, you may do so by telephone, via the Internet or by mail. Each of these methods is explained below. If you hold your shares of common stock in multiple accounts, you should vote your shares as described in each set of proxy materials you receive. If no direction is made on your proxy and it is otherwise properly executed, your proxy will be voted FOR the election of the director nominees and FOR each of the other proposals at the Annual Meeting.

 

By Telephone . You may transmit your proxy voting instructions by calling the telephone number specified on the enclosed proxy card. You will need to have the proxy card in hand when you call. If you choose to vote by telephone, you do not have to return the proxy card.

 

Via the Internet . You may transmit your proxy voting instructions via the Internet by accessing the website specified on the enclosed proxy card. You will need to have the proxy card in hand when you access the website. If you choose to vote via the Internet, you do not have to return the proxy card.

 

By Mail . You may vote by proxy by completing, signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the enclosed prepaid envelope.

 

In Person at the Annual Meeting . You may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. We will give you a ballot when you arrive. If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and you wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from the organization that holds your shares and present it with your ballot to the inspector of election at the Annual Meeting. Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote your shares by proxy in advance of the Annual Meeting so that if you should become unable to attend the Annual Meeting your shares will be voted as directed by you.

Telephone and Internet voting for stockholders of record will be available up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on June 14, 2017 and mailed proxy cards must be received by June 14, 2017 in order to be counted at the Annual Meeting. If the Annual Meeting is adjourned or postponed, these deadlines may be extended.

The voting deadlines and availability of telephone and Internet voting for beneficial owners of shares held in “street name” will depend on the voting processes of the organization that holds your shares. Therefore, we urge you to carefully review and follow the voting instruction card and any other materials that you receive from that organization.

Revoking a Proxy; Changing Your Vote

If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy before the vote is taken at the meeting:

 

~ by submitting a new proxy with a later date before the applicable deadline either signed and returned by mail or transmitted using the telephone or Internet voting procedures described in the “How to Vote” section above;

 

~ by voting in person at the meeting; or

 

~ by filing a written revocation with our corporate Secretary.

If your shares are held in “street name,” you may submit new voting instructions by contacting your broker or other organization holding your account. You may also vote in person at the Annual Meeting, which will have the effect of revoking any previously submitted voting instructions, if you obtain a legal proxy from the organization that holds your shares as described in the “How to Vote” section above.

Your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not automatically revoke your proxy.

Difference between a “stockholder of record” and a beneficial owner of shares held in “street name”

Stockholder of Record . If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare, then you are considered a “stockholder of record” of those shares. In this case, your set of proxy materials has been sent to you directly by us. You may vote your shares by proxy prior to the Annual Meeting by following the instructions contained on the enclosed proxy card.

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Beneficial Owners of Shares Held in Street Name. If your shares are held in a brokerage account or by a bank, trust or other nominee or custodian, then you are considered the beneficial owner of those shares, which are held in “street name.” In this case, your set of proxy materials has been forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to in struct that organization as to how to vote the shares held in your account by following the instructions contained on the voting instruction card provided to you by that organization.

Solicitation

The enclosed proxy is being solicited by our Board of Directors, and Smith Micro will bear the entire cost of solicitation, including the preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of this Proxy Statement, the proxy card and any additional solicitation materials furnished to the stockholders. Copies of solicitation materials will be furnished to brokerage houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding shares in their names that are beneficially owned by others so that they may forward solicitation material to such beneficial owners. We may reimburse such persons for their costs in forwarding the solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. In addition, the original solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by a solicitation by Internet or other means by our directors, officers or employees. No additional compensation will be paid to these individuals for any such services, although we may reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

Deadlines for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals

Stockholders may present proposals for action at a future meeting only if they comply with the requirements of the proxy rules established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and our Bylaws. Stockholder proposals that are intended to be presented at our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2018 Annual Meeting”) and included in the proxy solicitation materials related to that meeting must be received by us no later than December 29 , 2017, which is 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary date of the mailing of this Proxy Statement. Stockholders are also advised to review our Bylaws which contain additional advance notice requirements, including requirements with respect to advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations. Under our Bylaws, the deadline for submitting a stockholder proposal is not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting, but if less than 40 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, then the deadline for submitting a stockholder proposal is the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. Under our Bylaws, the deadline for submitting a nomination for a director is not less than 60 days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting. Stockholder proposals and nominations must be in writing and should be addressed to the Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices located at 51 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, California 92656.

In addition, the proxy solicited by the Board of Directors for the 2018 Annual Meeting will confer discretionary authority to vote on any stockholder proposal presented at that meeting, unless we receive notice of such proposal no later than March 14, 2018, which is 45 calendar days prior to the anniversary date of the mailing of this Proxy Statement. It is recommended that stockholders submitting proposals direct them to our Corporate Secretary and utilize certified mail, return receipt requested in order to provide proof of timely receipt. The Chairman of the Annual Meeting reserves the right to reject, rule out of order, or take other appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not comply with these and other applicable requirements, including conditions set forth in our Bylaws and conditions established by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We have not been notified by any stockholder of his or her intent to present a stockholder proposal from the floor at this year’s Annual Meeting. The enclosed proxy grants the proxy holders discretionary authority to vote on any matter properly brought before the Annual Meeting.

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MATTERS TO BE CONSIDER ED AT ANNUAL MEETING

PROPOSAL 1:

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide for our Board of Directors to be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as is reasonably possible, serving staggered terms that expire in different years. At each annual meeting of stockholders, the successors to the class of directors whose term expires are elected to hold office for a term of three years. The term of one class of directors expires at each annual meeting. The preceding notwithstanding, directors serve until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until they earlier resign, become disqualified or disabled, or are otherwise removed.

Our Board currently has six directors: Andrew Arno, Thomas G. Campbell, Steven L. Elfman, Samuel Gulko, William W. Smith, Jr. and Gregory J. Szabo. The class whose term expires at this Annual Meeting contains two directors, Messrs. Smith and Szabo. The Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors selected, and the Board of Directors approved, Messrs. Smith and Szabo as nominees for election at the Annual Meeting to the class being elected at this meeting. The enclosed proxy will be voted, unless authority is withheld or the proxy is revoked, FOR the election of the nominees named below to hold office until the date of our 2020 Annual Meeting or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until they earlier resign, becomes disqualified or disabled, or are otherwise removed. Each returned proxy cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the nominees named on the proxy. In the unanticipated event that a nominee becomes unable or declines to serve at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for a substitute person selected by the Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors and approved by the Board of Directors. Messrs. Smith and Szabo have agreed to serve if elected, and management has no reason to believe that they will be unavailable to serve.

Directors and Nominees

Nominees for Term Ending at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Present Position with the Company

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

69

 

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Gregory J. Szabo (1)(2)

 

69

 

Director

 

(1)

Member of the Audit Committee

(2)

Member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Committee

Mr. Smith co-founded Smith Micro and has served as our Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer since inception in 1982. Mr. Smith was employed by Rockwell International Corporation in a variety of technical and management positions from 1975 to 1984. Mr. Smith served with Xerox Data Systems from 1972 to 1975 and RCA Computer Systems Division from 1969 to 1972 in mainframe sales and pre-sale technical roles. Mr. Smith received a B.A. in Business Administration from Grove City College. Mr. Smith brings to our Board extensive knowledge about the telecommunications and wireless industries and our company, as a co-founder of our Company and as a result of his 30 years of service with our company, including service as our CEO since our inception. Mr. Smith also possesses particular strengths with respect to leadership and management skills.

Mr. Szabo re-joined the Board in July 2011. He previously served from June 2001 to April 2010. Mr. Szabo has over 30 years of wireless communications experience and is the founder of Ertek Inc. Ertek provides antenna technology to the wireless industry including high performance low cost RFID Tag antennas. He also serves on the Board of Advisors at Across Techs, LLC. Mr. Szabo has served in a series of senior management positions during a 13-year career with AirTouch's wireless communications operations, through its acquisition by Vodafone and merger with Verizon Wireless in 2000. As Sr. Vice President-Network Services, he directed the engineering and operations of the company's cellular systems in the eastern United States. He also served as Executive Director Global Technology for Vodafone. Earlier, Mr. Szabo held managerial positions with Motorola and Martin Marietta. Mr. Szabo received a Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Ohio University. Mr. Szabo brings to our Board substantial market knowledge and in-depth insights into the worldwide telecommunications and wireless data and cellular industries.

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Continuing Directo rs for Term Ending at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Present Position with the Company

Andrew Arno (1)(2)

 

57

 

Director

Samuel Gulko (3)(4)

 

85

 

Director

 

(1)

Member of the Governance and Nominating Committee

(2)

Member of the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee

(3)

Member of Audit Committee

(4)

Me mber of the Compensation Committee

Mr. Arno joined our Board of Directors in July 2011 and has 30 years of experience working with emerging growth companies. He is currently Vice Chairman of “The Special Equities Group” at Chardan Capital Markets, LLC, a privately held investment banking firm, and from June 2013 until July 2015 served as Managing Director of Emerging Growth Equities, an investment bank, and Vice President of Sabr, Inc., a family investment group. He was previously President of LOMUSA Limited, an investment banking firm. From 2009 to 2012, Mr. Arno served as Vice Chairman and Chief Marketing Officer of Unterberg Capital, LLC, an investment advisory firm that he cofounded. He was also Vice Chairman and Head of Equity Capital Markets of Merriman Capital LLC, an investment banking firm, and served on the board of the parent company, Merriman Holdings, Inc. Mr. Arno currently serves on the board of Oncocyte Corporation and Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Mr. Gulko became a director in October 2004. Since September 2002, he has provided tax and consulting services on a part-time basis to a limited number of clients. From July 1996 until his retirement in September 2002, Mr. Gulko functioned as the Chief Financial Officer, and as the Vice President of Finance, Secretary and Treasurer of Neotherapeutics, Inc., a publicly traded biotechnology company (now known as Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). During this same period, he also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Neotherapeutics, Inc. From April 1987 to July 1996, Mr. Gulko was self-employed as a Certified Public Accountant and business consultant, as well as the part time Chief Financial Officer of several privately-owned companies. Mr. Gulko was a partner in the audit practice of Ernst & Young LLP, an accounting and business services firm, from September 1968 until March 1987. Mr. Gulko holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Southern California. As a senior finance executive, Mr. Gulko brings to our Board extensive qualifications and experience in finance and public accounting, including his prior service as an audit partner at Ernst & Young LLP and as a CFO of a publicly-traded company.

Continuing Directors for Term Ending at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Present Position with the Company

Thomas G. Campbell (1)(2)(3)

 

66

 

Director

Steven L. Elfman (4)

 

61

 

Director

 

(1)

Member of the Audit Committee

(2)

Member of the Compensation Committee

(3)

Member of the Governance and Nominating Committee

(4)

Member of the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee

Mr. Campbell became a director in July 1995. From March 1999 to the present, he has served as the Executive Vice President of King Printing, Inc., a book printing and manufacturing company. From July 1996 to March 1999, he was the Vice President of Operations of Complete Concepts, Ltd., a manufacturer and distributor of women’s accessories. From November 1995 to July 1996, Mr. Campbell was an independent management consultant specializing in corporate turnarounds. From February 1995 to November 1995, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Laser Atlanta Optics, Inc. From 1985 to February 1995, he served in several senior management positions at Hayes, Inc., including Vice President of Operations and Business Development and as Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Practical Peripherals, a Hayes subsidiary. Prior to 1985, Mr. Campbell was employed by Digital Equipment Corporation. Mr. Campbell attended Boston University. Mr. Campbell brings to our Board extensive executive management experience in the retail and consumer products industries, along with particular strengths with respect to leadership skills, management skills, financial skills, international business skills and corporate governance skills.

Mr. Elfman became a director in November 2014. He is the former president of Network Operations and Wholesale at Sprint, having had responsibility for Product, Technology Development, Network, Wholesale Operations, Value Added

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Services, Procurement & Real Estate and Digital. Mr. Elfman j oined the Sprint senior leadership team in May 2008 from mobile data technology services company Infospace where he was executive vice president of Infospace Mobile, then president and chief operating officer of Motricity following the acquisition of Infos pace mobile. He also has held leadership positions at Terabeam, as executive vice president of operations, and AT&T Wireless, where he was chief information officer. Mr. Elfman was the CIO at GE Capital (Fleet Services Company) as well as head of IT at 3M Company for International Operations. Mr. Elfman graduated from the University of Western Ontario in Canada with a degree in Computer Science and Business. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Goodman Networks and Affirmed Networks and previous ly served on the Boards of Competitor Carrier Association, Bethany College and Clearwire. Mr. Elfman brings to our Board extensive knowledge of the telecommunications and wireless data and cellular industries, particularly with respect to the large wireles s providers.

Vote Required

The affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the outstanding shares of Common Stock present or represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote is required for approval of the election of the nominees as members of our Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the nominees named above or their substitutes as set forth herein.

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PROPOS AL 2

“SAY-ON-PAY” PROPOSAL:

ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Consistent with the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), we are providing our stockholders with the opportunity to cast a non-binding, advisory vote on the compensation paid to our named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables, and accompanying narrative discussion. At our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our Board of Directors unanimously recommended, and our stockholders approved, a one year frequency for the advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers. The next stockholder advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers is expected to occur at the 2018 Annual Meeting.

Compensation Philosophy

As described in detail in our Compensation Discussion and Analysis, our executive compensation program is designed to attract, motivate, and retain talented and dedicated executive officers, who are critical to our success. Under this program, a significant portion of our named executive officers’ overall compensation is tied to the achievement of key strategic financial and operational goals, as measured by metrics such as revenue and adjusted profitability. The following highlights our approach to executive compensation:

Competitive Positioning: We seek to establish the overall compensation of our named executive officers at levels that we believe are roughly comparable with the average levels of compensation of executives at other fast-growing technology companies of similar size.

Significant Majority of Executive Officer Compensation Tied to Performance: Although our executive compensation program has four primary components (base salary, cash bonus awards, equity compensation in the form of restricted stock awards, and benefits and perquisites) performance-based incentive compensation constitutes by far the largest portion of potential compensation for our named executive officers.

Limited all other Compensation: Consistent with our “pay-for-performance” philosophy, we restrict all other forms of compensation to our named executive officers to levels that are consistent with competitive market practices.

We encourage you to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, beginning on page 19 of this Proxy Statement, for a detailed discussion and analysis of our executive compensation program, including information about the 2016 compensation of our named executive officers.

Recommendation

We are asking our stockholders to vote at the Annual Meeting on the compensation paid to our named executive officers, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables, and accompanying narrative discussion as included in this Proxy Statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “Say-on-Pay” proposal, gives you as a stockholder the opportunity to endorse or not endorse our compensation program for our named executive officers.

For the reasons set forth above, we are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for the compensation of our named executive officers as described in this Proxy Statement by voting in favor of the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Smith Micro Software, Inc. (the “Company”) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables, and accompanying narrative discussion.”

Effect of Vote

This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather our overall compensation program relating to our named executive officers. Accordingly, your vote will not directly affect or otherwise limit any existing compensation or award arrangement of any of our named executive officers.

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Because your vote is advisory, it wi ll not be binding upon the Company, our Board of Directors, or the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders, however, and, to the extent that there is any significant vote against the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, we will consider our stockholders’ concerns and the Compensation Committee take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future co mpensation arrangements.

Action by Stockholders

Approval of this resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions will have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining whether the resolution has been approved.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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PROPOS AL 3:

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT

REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

SingerLewak LLP (“SingerLewak”) has been engaged as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since December 2005. The Audit Committee has selected SingerLewak as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017 and has further directed that the selection of the independent auditors be submitted for ratification by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Representatives of SingerLewak are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Stockholder ratification of the selection of SingerLewak as the Company’s independent auditors is not required by the Company’s Bylaws or otherwise. However, the Board of Directors is submitting the selection of SingerLewak to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good 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 different independent auditors at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

The following is a summary of the fees billed to Smith Micro by SingerLewak for professional services rendered for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016:

 

Fee Category

 

Fiscal 2016 Fees

 

Audit Fees

 

$

180,000

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

$

113,600

 

Tax Fees

 

 

 

All Other Fees

 

 

 

 

The following is a summary of the fees billed to Smith Micro by SingerLewak for professional services rendered for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015:

 

Fee Category

 

Fiscal 2015 Fees

 

Audit Fees

 

$

180,000

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

$

70,000

 

Tax Fees

 

 

 

All Other Fees

 

 

 

 

Audit Fees: This category consists of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our consolidated annual financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided by our independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

Audit-Related Fees: : This category consists of assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported above under “Audit Fees.”

Tax Fees: : This category consists of fees billed for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

9


Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, and other services. The Audit Committee has adopted a policy for the pre-approval of services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. Under the policy, pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is subject to a specific budget. In addition, the Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. For each proposed service, the independent registered public accounting firm is required to provide detailed back-up documentation at the time of approval. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. Such a member must report any decisions to the Audit Committee at the next scheduled meeting.

Stockholder Approval

The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Company present or represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is being sought to ratify the selection of SingerLewak LLP.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR ratification of the appointment of SingerLewak LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.

10


CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Board Member Independence

The Board of Directors has determined that, except for William W. Smith, Jr., all of the members of the Board of Directors are “independent” as independence is defined in the Nasdaq Stock Market qualification standards. Mr. Smith is not considered independent because he is currently employed by the Company.

Executive Sessions

Independent directors regularly meet in executive sessions without the Chairman and CEO or other members of management present to review the criteria upon which the performance of the Chairman and CEO is based, to review the performance of the Chairman and CEO against those criteria, to ratify the compensation of the Chairman and CEO as approved by the Compensation Committee, and to discuss any other relevant matters.

Board’s Leadership Structure

The Board’s current leadership structure is characterized by:

 

a combined Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer;

 

a robust Committee structure with oversight of various types of risks; and

 

an engaged and independent Board.

The Board believes that its current leadership structure provides independent board leadership and engagement while deriving the benefit of having our CEO also serve as Chairman of the Board. As the individual with primary responsibility for managing the Company’s day-to-day operations and with in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Company, he is best positioned to chair regular Board meetings as we discuss key business and strategic issues. This combined structure provides independent oversight while avoiding unnecessary confusion regarding the Board’s oversight responsibilities and the day-to-day management of business operations. We do not have a lead independent director.

Risk Oversight

Our Board oversees an enterprise-wide approach to risk management, designed to support the achievement of our strategic and organizational objectives, to improve long-term organizational performance and enhance shareholder value. A fundamental part of risk oversight is to understand the risks our Company faces, the steps management is taking to manage those risks and to assess management’s appetite for risk. It is management’s responsibility to manage risk and bring to the Board’s attention material risks facing our Company. Our Board receives regular reports from management on matters relating to strategic and operational initiatives, financial performance and legal developments which are each integrated with enterprise-risk exposures. Our Board also approves our CEO’s performance goals for each year. In doing so, the Board has an opportunity to ensure that the CEO’s goals include responsibility for broad risk management. The involvement of the full Board in setting our strategic plan is a key part of its assessment of the risks inherent in our corporate strategy.

While the Board has the ultimate responsibility for overall risk oversight, each committee of the Board also has responsibility for particular areas of risk oversight. For example, the Audit Committee focuses on financial risk and internal controls, and receives an annual risk assessment report from our external auditors. In addition, the Compensation Committee evaluates and sets compensation programs that encourage decision making predicated upon a level of risk consistent with our business strategy. The Compensation Committee also reviews compensation and benefit plans affecting employees in addition to those applicable to executive officers. Finally, the Governance and Nominating Committee oversees governance and succession risk, including Board and CEO succession and evaluates director skills and qualifications to appoint particular directors to our standing committees based upon the needs of that committee. Each committee makes reports regarding their area of responsibility to the Board at the regularly scheduled Board meeting immediately following the committee meeting.

11


Board Meetings and Committees

Our Board of Directors held ten meetings and acted by written consent one time during 2016. During the period in which each director served on the Board, each director attended or participated in 100% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and of meetings of the committees of the Board on which such director served.

Although we do not have a formal policy regarding attendance by members of the Board of Directors at our annual meeting of stockholders or the special meeting of stockholders, directors are encouraged to attend our annual meetings. None of our current directors attended our annual meeting of stockholders or the special meeting of stockholders in 2016.

Our Board of Directors has established four standing committees: an Audit Committee; a Compensation Committee; a Governance and Nominating Committee; and a Mergers and Acquisitions Committee. Each of these committees has adopted a written charter. All members of the committees are appointed by the Board of Directors and are non-employee directors and independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market listing standards.

Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee is comprised of three members: Messrs. Campbell, Gulko and Szabo. The Board of Directors has determined that all of these members of the Audit Committee are independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market listing standards and also within the meaning of Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and that each member can read and has an understanding of fundamental financial statements. The Audit Committee reviews our financial statements and accounting practices, makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm and reviews the results and scope of our annual audit and other services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also is responsible for establishing, and has established, procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and for the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. In addition, all related party transactions are reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors has adopted and approved an amended and restated written charter for the Audit Committee. A current copy of this charter is posted on our website at http://www.smithmicro.com under the Investor Relations section. Mr. Gulko is the Audit Committee Chairman and has been designated by the Board of Directors as the Audit Committee’s financial expert, as that term is described in the rules of the SEC. The Audit Committee held five meetings during 2016.

Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee is comprised of two members: Messrs. Campbell and Gulko. The Board of Directors has determined that all the members of the Compensation Committee are independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market listing standards. The Compensation Committee administers our executive compensation programs and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning officer and director compensation. The Compensation Committee also has the authority to administer our 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 OEIP”), and to make awards under the 2015 OEIP. The Board of Directors has adopted and approved a written charter for the Compensation Committee. A current copy of this charter is posted on our website at http://www.smithmicro.com under the Investor Relations section. The Compensation Committee held one meeting during 2016.

Governance and Nominating Committee. The Governance and Nominating Committee (the “Nominating Committee”) is comprised of two members: Messrs. Arno and Campbell. The Board of Directors has determined that all the members of the Nominating Committee are independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market listing standards. The Nominating Committee receives proposed nominations to the Board of Directors, reviews the eligibility of each proposed nominee, and nominates, with the approval of the Board of Directors, new members of the Board of Directors to be submitted to the stockholders for election at each annual meeting. The Board of Directors has adopted and approved a written charter for the Nominating Committee. A current copy of this charter is posted on our website at http://www.smithmicro.com under the Investor Relations section. The Nominating Committee held no meetings during 2016.

When considering a potential candidate for membership on our Board of Directors, our Nominating Committee considers relevant business and industry experience and demonstrated character and judgment. The Nominating Committee considers diversity in identifying candidates by generally seeking to achieve a diversity of occupational and personal backgrounds on the Board. However, the Nominating Committee has no formal policy regarding diversity. The Nominating Committee will consider stockholder nominations for directors submitted in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article II, Section 12 of our Bylaws. The procedure provides that a notice relating to the nomination must be timely given in writing to our Corporate Secretary prior to the meeting. To be timely, the notice must be delivered within the time permitted for submission of a stockholder proposal as described herein under “Deadline for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals.” Such notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of each such person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of

12


such person, (iii) the class and number of shares of Smith Micro Common Stock that are beneficially owned by such person and (iv) any other information relating to such person that i s required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including, without limitation, such person’s written consent to being named in the p roxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice (i) the name and address of such stockholder as they appear on our books and (ii) the class and number of shares of Smith Micro common sto ck that are beneficially owned by such stockholder. There are no differences in the manner in which the Nominating Committee evaluates a candidate that is recommended for nomination for membership on our Board of Directors by a stockholder. However, the No minating Committee has not received any recommended nominations from any of our stockholders in connection with the 2017 Annual Meeting.

Mergers and Acquisitions Committee. The Mergers and Acquisitions Committee (the “M&A Committee”) is comprised of three members: Messrs. Arno, Elfman and Szabo. The Board of Directors has determined that all the members of the M&A Committee are independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market listing standards. The M&A Committee evaluates and reviews potential acquisition targets, strategic investments and divestitures, and makes recommendations regarding the same to our Board of Directors. The M&A Committee is also charged with overseeing the due diligence process with respect to proposed acquisitions, strategic investments and divestitures. The Board of Directors has adopted and approved a written charter for the M&A Committee. The M&A Committee held six meetings during 2016.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Ethics for all of our employees, executive officers and directors. We will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics upon request made by email to investor-relations@smithmicro.com or in writing to Smith Micro Software, Inc. at 51 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, Attention: Investor Relations. The full text of our Code of Ethics is posted on our website at http://www.smithmicro.com under the Investor Relations section. We intend to disclose any amendment to the Code of Ethics or waiver of a provision of the Code of Ethics applicable to our executive officers or directors, including the name of the executive officer or director to whom the amendment applies or for whom the waiver was granted, at the same location on our website identified above. The inclusion of our website address in this proxy does not include or incorporate by reference the information on our website into this proxy or our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Board Communications

Stockholders may communicate with members of the Board of Directors by mail addressed to the full Board, a specific member of the Board or to a particular committee of the Board at our principal executive offices located at 51 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, California 92656.

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

Pursuant to the charter of the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, all transactions between us and any of our directors, executive officers or related parties are subject to review by the Audit Committee.  Since January 1, 2016, there have been five transactions to which we were or are a party in which the amount involved exceeded $120,000 and in which any director, executive officer or beneficial holder of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities or members of such person’s immediate family had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.  Each of these related party transactions were reviewed and approved in special meetings by the Board excluding Messers. Smith and Elfman and are reported on Form 8-K’s.

On March 31, 2017, the Company entered into a short-term secured borrowing arrangement with Steven L. and Monique P. Elfman (“Elfman”) pursuant to which Elfman loaned to the Company $1,000,000 and the Company issued to him a Secured Promissory Note (the “Note”) bearing interest at the rate of 18% per annum.  The Note was secured by the Company’s accounts receivable and certain other assets.  The Note is due on or before June 23, 2017.  Mr. Elfman is a director of the Company.

On February 8, 2017, the Company entered into a short-term secured borrowing arrangement with Steven L. and Monique P. Elfman (“Elfman”) pursuant to which Elfman loaned to the Company $1,000,000 and the Company issued to him a Secured Promissory Note (the “Note”) bearing interest at the rate of 18% per annum.  The Note was secured by the Company’s accounts receivable and certain other assets.  The Note was due on March 24, 2017 and repaid on March 20, 2017.  Mr. Elfman is a director of the Company.

13


On February 7, 201 7, the Company entered into a short-term secured borrowing arrangement with William W. and Dieva L. Smith (“Smith”) pursuant to which Smith loaned to the Company $1,000,000 and the Company issued to him a Secured Promissory Note (the “Note”) bearing intere st at the rate of 18% per annum.  The Note is secured by the Company’s accounts receivable and certain other assets.  The Note was due on March 24, 2017.  On March 25, 2017, the Note was amended to extend the maturity date to June 26, 2017.  Mr. Smith is a director of the Company and is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

On December 6, 2016, the Company entered into a short-term secured borrowing arrangement with William W. and Dieva L. Smith (“Smith”), pursuant to which Smith loaned to the Company $1,000,000 and the Company issued to Smith a Secured Promissory Note (the “Secured Note”) bearing interest at the rate of 18% per annum.  The Secured Note was due and repaid on December 14, 2016.     

On September 2, 2016, the Company entered into a Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with William W. and Dieva L. Smith (collectively, the “Investors”), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to the Investors in a private placement senior subordinated promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $2,000,000 (the “Notes”) and five-year warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase an aggregate of 850,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.74 per share. The Company completed the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and issued the Notes and Warrants on September 6, 2016.  William W. Smith, Jr. is the Company’s Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer.  

14


AUDIT COMMIT TEE REPORT

The following is the report of the Audit Committee with respect to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, which include the consolidated balance sheets of Smith Micro as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016, and the notes thereto. The information contained in this report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future 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 it by reference in such filing.

Review with Management. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements with management.

Review and Discussions with Independent Accountants. The Audit Committee has discussed with SingerLewak LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2016, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standard No. 16 (Communications with Audit Committees), which includes, among other items, matters related to the conduct of the audit of our financial statements.

The Audit Committee has also received written disclosures and the letter from SingerLewak LLP required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the audit committee concerning independence and has discussed with SingerLewak LLP its independence.

The Audit Committee has also received written disclosures and the letter from SingerLewak LLP required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (which relates to the accountant’s independence from us and our related entities) and has discussed with SingerLewak LLP its independence.

Conclusion. Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to our Board that our audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 for filing with the SEC.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Thomas G. Campbell

Samuel Gulko

Gregory J. Szabo

15


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BE NEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information known to us as of March 24, 2017 except where another date is noted below), with respect to beneficial ownership of our Common Stock by (i) each person (or group of affiliated persons) who is known by us to own beneficially more than five percent (5%) of our outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each director, (iii) each of our named executive officers, and (iv) all current directors and executive officers as a group, together with the approximate percentages of outstanding Common Stock owned by each of them. The following table is based upon information supplied by directors, executive officers, and principal stockholders. Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. Unless otherwise indicated the address of each beneficial owner is c/o Smith Micro Software, Inc., 51 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. The percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 12,116,156 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2017.

 

 

 

Shares Beneficially Owned

 

Name or Group of Beneficial Owners

 

Number

 

 

Percent

 

Named Executive Officers and Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William W. Smith, Jr. (1)

 

 

2,140,458

 

 

 

16.01

%

Andrew Arno (2)

 

 

127,120

 

 

 

1.05

%

Thomas G. Campbell (2)

 

 

40,500

 

 

*

 

Steven L. Elfman

 

 

43,750

 

 

*

 

Samuel Gulko (3)

 

 

115,750

 

 

*

 

Gregory J. Szabo (2)

 

 

148,500

 

 

 

1.23

%

David Blakeney (4)

 

 

10,262

 

 

*

 

Ken Shebek (5)

 

 

58,563

 

 

*

 

David P. Sperling

 

 

161,182

 

 

 

1.33

%

Steven M. Yasbek

 

 

104,542

 

 

*

 

All Executives officers and directors as a group (10 persons) (6)

 

 

2,950,627

 

 

 

22.02

%

5% Stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unterberg Koller Capital Fund LP (7)

 

 

1,222,617

 

 

 

9.99

%

Thomas Satterfield, Jr. (8)

 

 

1,027,500

 

 

 

8.48

%

 

 

* Represents less than 1%.

(1)

Includes 455,028 shares held in the name of The William W. Smith, Jr. Revocable Trust, of which Mr. Smith is the trustee, 850,000 Warrant shares and an assumed 400,000 Interest shares.

(2)

Includes 3,750 shares issuable upon the exercise of options that are currently exercisable.

(3)

Includes 10,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options that are currently exercisable.

(4)

Includes 9,040 shares issuable upon the exercise of options that are currently or will become exercisable within 60 days after March 31, 2017.

(5)

Includes 6,250 shares issuable upon the exercise of options that are currently exercisable.

(6)

Includes 36,540 shares issuable upon the exercise of options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days after March 31, 2017, 850,000 Warrant shares, and an assumed 400,000 Interest shares.

(7)

Based upon a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 13, 2017.  The shares and percentage ownership listed for the shareholder give effect to the provisions of the $2,000,000 in senior subordinated promissory note and warrants to purchase 850,000 shares of common stock held by the shareholder that limit the ability to acquire shares of common stock, where the security holder would beneficially own more than 9.99% of the Company’s total common stock issued and outstanding, subject to waiver upon providing us with not less than 6a days’ prior notice written notice.  Voting and dispositive power over the shares is shared.

(8)

Based solely upon a Schedule 13G filed on January 24, 2017. Voting and dispositive power over the shares is shared.

16


SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWN ERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our executive officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our common stock to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the SEC. Such persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms filed by such person.

Based solely on our review of such forms furnished to us and written representations from such reporting persons, we believe that all filing requirements applicable to our executive officers, directors and more than 10% stockholders were met in a timely manner, except for a single report filed late by Mr. Smith pertaining to a single transaction  

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table sets forth certain information regarding our executive officers and certain key officers as of March 10, 2017:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

69

 

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

David Blakeney

 

56

 

Vice President, Engineering

Marco Leal

 

39

 

Vice President, Worldwide Products

Charles Messman

 

46

 

Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Development

Ken Shebek

 

54

 

Vice President, Chief Information Officer

David P. Sperling

 

48

 

Vice President, Chief Technology Officer

Steven M. Yasbek

 

63

 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

 

For background information regarding Mr. Smith, see “Proposal 1—Election of Directors.”

Mr. Blakeney joined the Company in 2011 and is responsible for Development Engineering. Prior to this role, he led the development team for several Smith Micro products as well as the Wireless Products Quality Engineering team. Prior to joining Smith Micro, he served as Vice President of Product Development for Marconi’s Broadband Switching Division and Vice President of ATM Engineering at Fore Systems. Previous positions also include engineering management roles at 3Com Corporation and Texas Instruments. Mr. Blakeney holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and studied for a Masters in Electrical Engineering at Rice University.

Mr. Leal joined the Company in July 2016 as a result of the iMobileMagic acquisition and soon thereafter became the Vice President, Worldwide Products.  He is an experienced professional in the mobile products and services area with a career that spans over 16 years across technical, management and executive roles. Mr. Leal started his career at MobiComp, playing a key role in its product development and innovation strategy, helping the company grow and expand internationally. After MobiComp’s acquisition by Microsoft in 2008, he took the role of Principal Group Program Manager where he helped deliver high profile mobile products and data services. Mr. Leal left Microsoft in 2011 to start iMobileMagic as its co-founder and CEO. He is a graduate of the Computer Science and Systems Engineering degree at the Universidade do Minho in Braga, Portugal.

Mr. Messman joined the Company in April 2016 as Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Development.  Mr. Messman brings over 20 years of experience in working with a large range of technology companies providing investor relations counsel, strategy, financing alternatives, and M&A. Prior to joining Smith Micro, Mr. Messman was the Vice President of Finance & Corporate Development at eGain Corporation as well as having co-founded The MKR Group, serving as its President. He has worked with over 50 companies with market caps ranging from $10 million to $2.5 billion and is well known on Wall Street for having a strong marketing presence throughout many diverse industries. Mr. Messman holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Iowa State University.

17


Mr. Shebek joined the C ompany in December 2010 as the Vice President of Operations where he led the Enterprise Mobility Product platform.  Mr. Shebek currently is responsible for Information Technology throughout the Company as well as overseeing the Pittsburgh facility.  Prior to joining Smith Micro, he was Vice President of Operations for Tollgrade Communications. He also served as Vice President of Supply & Logistics for Ericsson, Inc. and worked for Marconi as Vice President of Supply Chain where he also served as its Vice Pr esident of North American Operations. He joined Fore Systems in 1994, and previously held management positions with IBM.  He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University.

Mr. Sperling joined the Company in April 1989 and has been the Director of Software Engineering since April 1992. He assumed the Chief Technology Officer position in September 1999.  Mr. Sperling began his professional career as a software engineer with us and he currently has five patents for various Internet and connectivity technologies. He holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science and an M.B.A. from the University of California, Irvine.

Mr. Yasbek joined the Company in May 2008 as the Chief Accounting Officer and assumed the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer position in May 2014. Mr. Yasbek has held executive finance and information technology positions with REMEC, Paradigm Wireless Systems, Intellisys Group, Pacific Scientific Company, Symbol Technologies, and TRW.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Yasbek was the Chief Financial Officer of Alphatec Spine. He holds a B.S. in Accounting and M.B.A from Loyola Marymount University, and he is a Certified Public Accountant.

Currently, each of our directors holds office until the annual meeting of stockholders in the year in which his term expires, or until his successor has been duly elected and qualified. Our officers are elected and serve at the discretion of our Board of Directors. There are no family relationships among any of our directors and executive officers.

18


COMPENSATION DISCU SSION AND ANALYSIS

Overview

This compensation discussion and analysis explains the material elements of the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid during our last completed fiscal year to our executive officers. We refer to these individuals as our named executive officers, or NEOs.

Our NEOs for 2016 were as follows:

William W. Smith, Jr., Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

Steven M. Yasbek, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

David P. Sperling, Vice President, Chief Technology Officer

Ken Shebek, Vice President, Chief Information Officer

Rick Carpenter, our former Senior Vice President, Engineering

Carla Fitzgerald, our former Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer

Compensation Program Objectives and Philosophy

The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors currently oversees the design and administration of our executive compensation program. Our Compensation Committee’s primary objectives in structuring and administering our executive officer compensation program are to:

 

1.

attract, motivate and retain talented and dedicated executive officers;

 

2.

tie annual and long-term cash and stock incentives to achievement of measurable corporate and individual performance objectives; and

 

3.

reinforce business strategies and objectives for enhanced stockholder value.

To achieve these goals, our Compensation Committee maintains compensation plans that tie a portion of executives’ overall compensation to key strategic goals such as financial and operational performance, as measured by metrics such as revenue and non-GAAP operating expense. Our Compensation Committee evaluates individual executive performance along with our Chief Executive Officer (other than with respect to his own performance) as part of the review process. The Committee seeks to establish overall compensation (including cash and equity awards) at levels the Committee believes are comparable with average levels of compensation for executives at other software technology companies of similar size. The Committee also seeks to maintain internal equity among executives based on their individual roles while setting compensation packages that are necessary to attract experienced executives who can manage a larger, more complex organization. Our Compensation Committee performs at least annually a review of our executive officers’ compensation to determine whether we provide adequate incentives and motivation to our executive officers and whether we adequately compensate our executive officers relative to comparable officers in other similarly situated companies.

The principal elements of our executive compensation program are base salary, cash bonus awards, long-term equity incentives in the form of restricted stock and/or stock options, other benefits and perquisites, post-termination severance and acceleration of stock option and restricted stock vesting for certain named executive officers upon termination and/or a change in control. Our other benefits and perquisites consist of life and health insurance benefits and a qualified 401(k) savings plan.

We view these components of compensation as related but distinct. Although our Compensation Committee does review total compensation, we do not believe that significant compensation derived from one component of compensation should negate or offset compensation from other components. We determine the appropriate level for each compensation component based in part, but not exclusively, on competitive company comparisons consistent with our recruiting and retention goals, our view of internal equity and consistency, and other considerations we deem relevant, such as rewarding extraordinary performance.

Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions

Our Compensation Committee reviews and approves the compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer. With regard to the compensation paid to each executive officer other than the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Executive Officer reviews, on an annual basis, the compensation paid to each such executive officer during the past year and submits to the Compensation Committee his recommendations regarding the compensation to be paid to such persons during the next year.

19


Following a review of such recommendat ions, the Committee will take such action regarding such compensation as it deems appropriate, including approving compensation in an amount the Compensation Committee deems reasonable.

Management plays a significant role in the compensation-setting process for executive officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer, by:

 

evaluating employee performance;

 

recommending business performance targets and establishing objectives; and

 

recommending salary levels, bonuses and equity-based awards.

Management also prepares meeting information for most Compensation Committee meetings, and the Chief Executive Officer participates in Committee meetings at the Compensation Committee’s request to provide:

 

background information regarding our strategic objectives;

 

his evaluation of the performance of the executive officers; and

 

compensation recommendations as to executive officers (other than himself).

Peer Company Comparisons of Compensation

Although the Compensation Committee believes it is important when making its compensation-related decisions to be informed as to current practices of similarly situated companies, the Committee decided not to hire a compensation consultant the past four years due to the Company’s recent financial condition and executive staff and salary reductions mentioned above.

The Company did however conduct an internal compensation study in late 2015/early 2016. The Company updated its peer group, consisting of 24 companies which were primarily software technology companies with revenues in the range of $10 - $220 million with similar ranges of market capitalization. The peer group consisted of the following companies: Actua Corporation, American Software, Inc., Asure Software, Inc., Aware, Inc., BSQUARE Corporation, Carbonite, Inc., Datawatch Corporation, Digimarc Corporation, Evolving Systems, Inc., Exa Corporation, Guidance Software, Inc., GSE Systems, Inc., iPass, Inc., Mitek Systems, Inc., NetSol Technologies, Inc., Park City Group, Inc., Qumu Corporation, Rand Worldwide, Inc., SeaChange International, Inc., Unwired Planet, Inc., Virnetx Holding Corporation, Voltari Corporation, Vringo, Inc., and Zix Corporation.

The compensation study focused on two primary aspects of executive compensation: (1) total disclosed compensation for our NEO’s and (2) our three-year pay and performance relative alliance compared to our peers.

Compared to our peer group, the total disclosed compensation for our CEO and CFO were in the lower 25 th percentile; for our three-year pay and performance compensation comparison, our CEO and CFO were in the lower 58% pay and 27% performance percentile.

2016 “Say-on-Pay” Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation.

In 2016, our stockholders approved a non-binding advisory “say-on-pay” proposal at our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, with approximately 92% of the votes cast voting in favor of that proposal. The Compensation Committee takes into account and considers the results of the annual advisory “say-on-pay” vote.

In 2015, our stockholders approved a non-binding advisory “say-on-pay” proposal at our 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, with approximately 80% of the votes cast voting in favor of that proposal.

The Compensation Committee also considers numerous other factors in evaluating our executive compensation program, as discussed elsewhere in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The Committee will continue to consider the results from this year’s and future advisory stockholder votes regarding our executive compensation program.

20


Base Salary Compensation

We provide our named executive officers and other executives with base salaries that we believe enable us to hire and retain individuals in a competitive environment and to reward individual performance and contribution to our overall business goals, while taking into account the unique circumstances of our company. We review base salaries for our named executive officers annually and increases, or decreases, are generally based on Company and individual performance. We also take into account the base compensation that is payable by companies that we believe to be our competitors and by other public companies with which we believe we generally compete for executives. The following table sets forth the annual base salaries of the named executive officers during 2016 and the decisions of the Compensation Committee for 2017:

 

 

 

Base Salary Effective Date

 

Named Executive Officer

 

Mar. 20, 2015

 

 

Mar. 20, 2016

 

 

Mar. 7, 2017

 

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

$

475,000

 

 

$

475,000

 

 

$

475,000

 

Steven M. Yasbek

 

$

270,750

 

 

$

270,750

 

 

$

270,750

 

David Blakeney

 

$

184,750

 

 

$

184,750

 

 

$

190,290

 

Ken Shebek

 

$

200,000

 

 

$

200,000

 

 

$

200,000

 

David P. Sperling

 

$

255,000

 

 

$

255,000

 

 

$

255,000

 

Rick Carpenter

 

$

225,200

 

 

$

255,200

 

 

N/A

 

Carla Fitzgerald

 

$

235,600

 

 

$

235,600

 

 

N/A

 

 

At the start of 2016, the Compensation Committee decided not to increase the base salaries for executives in fiscal 2016 due to the financial condition of the Company. At the start of 2017, the Compensation Committee has decided to keep the base salaries the same, with the exception of Mr. Blakeney, who was promoted to Vice President, Engineering.

Performance-based Cash Bonus Awards

As part of our compensation program and in order to maintain appropriate financial incentives, our executive officers are eligible for cash bonus compensation pursuant to an annual cash bonus plan. Under the plan, cash bonuses are determined and paid each fiscal year on a quarterly basis based upon the achievement of certain performance objectives. Our cash bonus plan is designed to focus our management on achieving key corporate financial objectives, to motivate certain desirable behaviors and to reward achievement of our key corporate financial objectives and individual goals. Under the terms of the cash bonus plan, the Compensation Committee establishes performance objectives and annual target cash bonus amounts for each named executive officer. In determining the appropriate level of annual target cash bonus for each officer the Compensation Committee considers information provided through independent, third-party surveys and other information collected from public sources for similar positions at peer companies, relative base salary and bonus amounts for each individual and the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer.

Since the Company has been in a turnaround mode the past several years, the Company has maintained performance-based cash bonus awards to incentivize short-term tactical behavior related to reaching revenue and cost targets on a quarterly basis due to the recent volatility of the business.

2016 Bonuses

The table below sets forth the decisions of the Compensation Committee during 2016 with respect to eligibility for a performance-based annual target cash bonus by each of the named executive officers. The Compensation Committee has decided not to increase annual target cash bonus amounts for certain executives for fiscal 2017 at this time due to the financial condition of the Company.

 

  Named Executive Officer

 

2016 Target

Cash Bonus

 

 

Percentage

of 2016

Base Salary

 

 

2015 Target

Cash Bonus

 

 

Percentage

of 2015

Base Salary

 

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

$

175,000

 

 

 

36.8

%

 

$

175,000

 

 

 

36.8

%

Steven M. Yasbek

 

$

110,000

 

 

 

40.6

%

 

$

110,000

 

 

 

40.6

%

David Blakeney

 

$

35,000

 

 

 

18.9

%

 

$

35,000

 

 

 

18.9

%

Ken Shebek

 

$

100,000

 

 

 

50.0

%

 

$

100,000

 

 

 

50.0

%

David P. Sperling

 

$

85,000

 

 

 

33.3

%

 

$

85,000

 

 

 

33.3

%

Rick Carpenter

 

$

100,000

 

 

 

39.2

%

 

$

100,000

 

 

 

39.2

%

Carla Fitzgerald *

 

$

52,500

 

 

 

29.7

%

 

$

70,000

 

 

 

29.7

%

21


 

* 2016 prorated for 9 months

In the first quarter of 2017, the Compensation Committee worked with senior management to establish the performance objectives under the bonus plan. For each performance objective the committee assigned a relative weighting to provide guidelines for setting actual cash payouts for each executive officer based on a percentage of the individual’s target bonus. The Compensation Committee retained wide discretion to interpret the terms of the bonus plan, including interpreting and determining whether the performance objectives had been met and the amount of cash bonus that may be paid pursuant to the bonus plan.

Our bonus plan contains performance objectives with a dollar value ascribed to each objective, so that the sum total equals the approved annual target cash bonus for each named executive officer. In 2016 the objectives for NEOs were (1) revenue achievement and (2) operating expense management, which were evenly weighted in terms of target cash bonuses. For each objective, the Compensation Committee applied the percentage by which the objective was achieved (which could exceed 100% in the case of quantitative performance objectives) to the dollar value ascribed to each objective. The dollar values for each objective were then combined to determine the actual cash bonuses paid to each NEO.

Achievement of the quantitative performance objectives was determined on a quarterly basis based on our financial results for the preceding quarter. As a result, the cash paid in a given fiscal year is the result of the overlap of the attainment achieved for the fourth quarter of the previous year and the first three quarters of the current year. The total of these payments is equal to the amount of non-equity plan compensation reflected in the Summary Compensation Table shown in the following section of this proxy statement. Performance objectives are set by the Compensation Committee by quarter for each (fiscal) year.

The table below outlines the quantitative performance objectives that were established for each named executive officer and the actual results that correspond with their performance cash bonus payouts for 2016:

 

(in thousands)

 

Q4 2015

 

 

Q1 2016

 

 

Q2 2016

 

 

Q3 2016

 

Revenue - target

 

$

14,400

 

 

$

6,830

 

 

$

8,691

 

 

$

10,244

 

Revenue - actual

 

$

10,006

 

 

$

7,214

 

 

$

7,459

 

 

$

6,478

 

Operating Expenses* - target

 

$

9,288

 

 

$

8,693

 

 

$

8,968

 

 

$

8,962

 

Operating Expenses* - actual

 

$

8,280

 

 

$

8,598

 

 

$

9,251

 

 

$

8,873

 

 

* excluding stock-based compensation and the amortization of intangible assets.

For 2016, based on the achievement of the objectives for our executive officers under our bonus plan, we paid the following bonuses:

 

Named Executive Officer

 

2016 Target

Cash Bonus

 

 

Actual

Amount Paid

 

 

Percentage

of Target

 

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

$

175,000

 

 

$

160,846

 

 

 

91.9

%

Steven M. Yasbek

 

$

110,000

 

 

$

101,103

 

 

 

91.9

%

David Blakeney

 

$

35,000

 

 

$

31,982

 

 

 

91.4

%

Ken Shebek

 

$

100,000

 

 

$

91,912

 

 

 

91.9

%

David P. Sperling

 

$

85,000

 

 

$

78,125

 

 

 

91.9

%

Rick Carpenter

 

$

100,000

 

 

$

91,376

 

 

 

91.4

%

Carla Fitzgerald

 

$

70,000

 

 

$

64,338

 

 

 

91.9

%

 

22


2017 Bonuses

The table below sets forth the decisions of the Compensation Committee with respect to annual cash bonus targets for 2017:

 

 

 

Bonus Target Effective Date

 

Named Executive Officer

 

Mar. 20, 2015

 

 

Mar. 7, 2016

 

 

Mar. 7, 2017

 

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

$

175,000

 

 

$

175,000

 

 

$

175,000

 

Steven M. Yasbek

 

$

110,000

 

 

$

110,000

 

 

$

110,000

 

David Blakeney

 

$

35,000

 

 

$

35,000

 

 

$

35,000

 

Ken Shebek

 

$

100,000

 

 

$

100,000

 

 

$

100,000

 

David P. Sperling

 

$

85,000

 

 

$

85,000

 

 

$

85,000

 

Rick Carpenter

 

$

100,000

 

 

$

100,000

 

 

N/A

 

Carla Fitzgerald

 

$

70,000

 

 

$

70,000

 

 

N/A

 

 

We believe that the performance objectives for our named executive officers were sufficiently challenging to achieve and that performance at a high level, while devoting full time and attention to their responsibilities, is required for our named executive officers to earn their respective cash bonuses.

Equity Compensation

We believe that for growth companies in the software technology sector, equity awards are a significant compensation-related motivator in attracting and retaining executive-level employees. Accordingly, we have provided our named executive officers and other executives with long-term equity incentive awards that incentivize those individuals to stay with us for long periods of time, which in turn should provide us with greater stability over such periods than we would experience without such awards. We provided grants of restricted stock to each of our executive officers in 2016. We felt that granting restricted stock in 2016 provided additional incentive to our executives by providing them with immediate stock ownership, which helped align their interests with those of our stockholders. In addition, granting restricted stock incentivized executive officers with non-cash incentives, which helped the Company conserve its cash.

We grant equity compensation to our executive officers and other employees under the 2015 OEIP. We account for equity compensation paid to our employees under the rules of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718, which requires us to estimate and record compensation expense over the vesting period of the award. All equity awards to our employees, including executive officers, and to our directors have been granted and reflected in our consolidated financial statements, based upon the applicable accounting guidance, at fair market value on the grant date.

Generally, we grant long-term equity awards to our named executive officers upon commencement of their employment, and the terms of those awards typically vest over four years. Additionally, from time to time, we grant subsequent long-term equity awards to our named executive officers based upon a number of factors, including rewarding executives for superior performance, maintaining a sufficient number of unvested long-term equity awards as a means to retain the services of such executives, providing increased motivation to such executives and ensuring that the total long-term equity awards are competitive with those of other companies competing for our named executive officers.

On August 17, 2016, we effected a 1:4 reverse stock split.  All information presented herein has been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split as if it took place as of the earliest period presented.

In March 2016, we granted shares of restricted stock to each of our named executive officers in the following amounts:

 

 

 

2016

 

Named Executive Officer

 

Shares of Restricted Stock

 

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

 

75,000

 

Steven M. Yasbek

 

 

37,500

 

David Blakeney

 

 

 

Ken Shebek

 

 

37,500

 

David Sperling

 

 

37,500

 

Rick Carpenter

 

 

37,500

 

Carla Fitzgerald

 

 

37,500

 

23


 

Stock grants vest over a period of four years from the grant date. Half of each total grant vests on a monthly basis and will be earned based on continuous service by the executive over the vesting period. The remaining half is subject to a performance-based hurdle required for each executive. One quarter of each total grant will be earned if the Company achieves a specific annual revenue target, and an additional one quarter of each total grant will be earned if the Company achieves a specific annual operating expense target (determined on a non-GAAP basis, excluding stock-based compensation and the amortization of intangible assets), with a proportionate adjustment to the total performance portion of the grant if the targets are not fully met. Shares earned under the performance conditions cannot exceed the total number of performance shares, even if the sum of the revenue attainment and the expense attainment exceed 100%. Once performance against these hurdles is determined, the “earned” shares will vest 25% on the determination (earnings) date and then ratably over the next thirty-six months, based on continuous service by the executive.

As previously mentioned, the Company has been in a turnaround mode. As such, the same performance objectives used in the annual incentive cash bonus awards is used for the long-term performance objectives for our equity awards. It is critical to keep the executive team focused on tactical actions in order to maintain the Company as a going concern, and to significantly improve the Company’s financial performance and stockholder value.

The specified 2016 net revenue target for these 2016 restricted stock grants was $39.507 million. However, the Company recorded 2016 net revenues of $28.235 million, resulting in 71.5% attainment of this performance goal. The specified 2016 adjusted operating expense target (determined on a non-GAAP basis, excluding stock-based compensation and the amortization of intangible assets) was $35.533 million. Actual 2016 adjusted operating expenses were $35,098 million, resulting in 101.2% attainment of this performance goal. The weighted average of these two attainment calculations resulted in a blended attainment of 87.0%, resulting in the forfeiture of a portion of the 2016 restricted stock grants in 2017 to each of the named executive officers as follows:

 

Named Executive Officer

 

Restricted Shares Forfeited

 

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

 

4,854

 

Steven M. Yasbek

 

 

2,409

 

David Blakeney

 

 

 

Ken Shebek

 

 

2,409

 

David P. Sperling

 

 

2,409

 

Rick Carpenter

 

 

2,437

 

Carla Fitzgerald *

 

 

18,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Ms. Fitzgerald resigned her position prior to the vesting period.  Therefore, all 2016 performance shares were forfeited.

 

 

 

 

 

For 2017, the Compensation Committee has decided not to grant any new stock awards until the Company’s financial performance improves.

Executive Benefits and Perquisites

We provide the opportunity for our named executive officers and other executives to receive certain perquisites and general health and welfare benefits. We also offer participation in our defined contribution 401(k) plan. We provide a 20% match on all eligible employee contributions to our 401(k) plan. We provide these benefits to create additional incentives for our executives and to remain competitive in the general marketplace for executive talent.

Change in Control and Severance Benefits

We provide the opportunity for certain of our named executive officers to receive additional compensation or benefits under the severance and change in control provisions contained in their employment agreements. We provide this opportunity to attract and retain an appropriate caliber of talent in key positions. Our severance and change in control provisions for certain of our named executive officers are summarized below in “Employment Agreements” and “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

24


Code Section 162(m)

It is our policy generally to qualify compensation paid to executive officers for deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Section 162(m) generally prohibits us from deducting the compensation of officers that exceeds $1,000,000 unless that compensation is based on the achievement of objective performance goals. We believe our 2015 OEIP is structured to qualify stock options, restricted share and stock unit awards under such plan as performance-based compensation and to maximize the tax deductibility of such awards. However, we reserve the discretion to pay compensation to our officers that may not be deductible.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee establishes and oversees the design and functioning of our executive compensation program. We have reviewed and discussed the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis with the management of the Company. Based on this review and discussion, we recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Thomas G. Campbell

Samuel Gulko

 

25


EXECUTIVE CO MPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information concerning the annual compensation for services provided to us by our named executive officers during 2016, 2015 and 2014.

 

Name and Principal Position

 

Year

 

Salary

($)

 

 

Stock

Awards

($) (1)

 

 

Option

Awards

($) (1)

 

 

Non-Equity

Plan

Compensation

($) (2)

 

 

All Other

Compensation

($) (3)

 

 

Total ($)

 

William W. Smith,

 

2016

 

$

475,000

 

 

$

204,000

 

 

$

 

 

$

160,846

 

 

$

14,068

 

 

$

853,914

 

Jr., Chairman of the

 

2015

 

 

460,750

 

 

 

456,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

173,781

 

 

 

48,421

 

 

 

1,138,952

 

Board, President and Chief

 

2014

 

 

439,575

 

 

 

537,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

181,191

 

 

 

66,248

 

 

 

1,223,813

 

Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven M. Yasbek,

 

2016

 

 

270,750

 

 

 

102,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

101,103

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

477,453

 

Vice President,

 

2015

 

 

257,127

 

 

 

228,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

83,314

 

 

 

11,303

 

 

 

579,744

 

Chief Financial

 

2014

 

 

227,319

 

 

 

134,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

62,122

 

 

 

17,194

 

 

 

440,885

 

Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Blakeney,

 

2016

 

 

187,518

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,982

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

223,100

 

Vice President,

 

2015

 

 

182,548

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32,187

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

218,335

 

Engineering

 

2014

 

 

175,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,501

 

 

 

177,451

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ken Shebek,

 

2016

 

 

200,846

 

 

 

102,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

91,912

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

398,358

 

Vice President,

 

2015

 

 

187,400

 

 

 

228,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

63,015

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

482,015

 

Chief Information

 

2014

 

 

157,250

 

 

 

268,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,061

 

 

 

3,500

 

 

 

460,311

 

Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David P. Sperling,

 

2016

 

 

255,000

 

 

 

102,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

81,125

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

441,725

 

Vice President,

 

2015

 

 

247,350

 

 

 

228,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

87,408

 

 

 

18,057

 

 

 

580,816

 

Chief Technology

 

2014

 

 

235,875

 

 

 

268,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

93,007

 

 

 

25,434

 

 

 

622,816

 

Officer (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rick Carpenter, Former

 

2016

 

 

255,200

 

 

 

102,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

91,376

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

452,176

 

Senior Vice

 

2015

 

 

247,544

 

 

 

228,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

99,423

 

 

 

18,531

 

 

 

593,498

 

President,

 

2014

 

 

236,060

 

 

 

268,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

104,289

 

 

 

26,572

 

 

 

635,421

 

Engineering (5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carla Fitzgerald, Former

 

2016

 

 

201,771

 

 

 

102,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

64,338

 

 

 

21,564

 

 

 

389,673

 

Vice President,

 

2015

 

 

228,532

 

 

 

228,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

69,513

 

 

 

13,509

 

 

 

539,554

 

Chief Marketing

 

2014

 

 

217,930

 

 

 

268,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

72,476

 

 

 

13,938

 

 

 

572,844

 

Officer (6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

The amounts shown in these columns represent the aggregate grant date fair value of Restricted Shares and Stock Options granted in those years computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Generally, the aggregate grant date fair value is the amount that the company expects to expense in its financial statements over the award’s vesting schedule. These amounts reflect the company’s accounting expense and do not correspond to the actual value that will be realized by the named executives. For Restricted Shares, the fair value is calculated using the closing price of our stock on the date of grant. Stock Options are valued using the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model. The assumptions we used with respect to the valuation of stock grants are set forth in Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

(2)

The amounts in this column reflect the cash awards paid pursuant to our 2016, 2015 and 2014 bonus plans.

(3)

The table set forth below titled “All Other Compensation” provides additional information regarding these amounts.

(4)

Includes patent bonus incentive payments of $3,000, $3,000 and $5,000 for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

(5)

Mr. Carpenter ceased to be an employee on February 3, 2017.

(6)

Ms. Fitzgerald ceased to be an employee on October 27, 2016.

26


All Other Compensation

The amounts shown for “All Other Compensation” for 2016 include the following:

 

Named Executive Officer

 

Tax

Preparation

Fees

 

 

401K

Matching

Contribution

 

 

Payout of

Accrued

Vacation at

Termination

 

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

$

10,468

 

 

$

3,600

 

 

$

 

Steven M. Yasbek

 

 

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

 

David Blakeney

 

 

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

 

Ken Shebek

 

 

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

 

David P. Sperling

 

 

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

 

Rick Carpenter

 

 

 

 

 

3,600

 

 

 

 

Carla Fitzgerald

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,564

 

Grants of Plan Based Awards in Fiscal 2016

The following table sets forth information with regard to (a) potential cash bonuses that were payable during 2016 under our performance-based, non-equity incentive bonus plan, and (b) grants of shares of restricted stock made to our named executive officers during 2016. The actual amounts paid pursuant to the 2016 and 2015 bonus plans are reported in the Summary Compensation Table under the column entitled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.”

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future Payouts

 

 

All Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under Non-Equity

 

 

Stock

 

 

Grant

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive Plan

 

 

Awards;

 

 

Date Fair

 

 

 

 

 

Awards(1)

 

 

Number of

 

 

Value of

 

 

 

 

 

Target

 

 

Maximum

 

 

Shares of

 

 

stock

 

Named Executive Officer

 

Grant Date

 

($) (2)

 

 

($)

 

 

Stock (3)

 

 

Awards

 

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

3/7/2016

 

$

175,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

75,000

 

 

$

204,000

 

Steven M. Yasbek

 

3/7/2016

 

$

110,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

37,500

 

 

$

102,000

 

David Blakeney

 

N/A

 

$

35,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

-

 

Ken Shebek

 

3/7/2016

 

$

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

37,500

 

 

$

102,000

 

David P. Sperling

 

3/7/2016

 

$

85,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

37,500

 

 

$

102,000

 

Rick Carpenter

 

3/7/2016

 

$

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

37,500

 

 

$

102,000

 

Carla Fitzgerald

 

3/7/2016

 

$

70,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

37,500

 

 

$

102,000

 

 

(1)

Amounts shown in these columns are the estimated possible payouts under the 2016 bonus plan based on certain assumptions about the achievement of Company and individual performance objectives, based upon the probable outcome of such conditions, consistent with the estimate of aggregate compensation cost to be recognized over the service period determined as of the grant date under FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. The performance objectives under the 2015 bonus plan, as well the Compensation Committee’s pay-out determinations for the 2016 bonus plan, are discussed above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Cash Bonus Awards – 2016 Bonuses.”

(2)

Calculated as one quarter of the eligible amount under the 2015 bonus plan and three quarters of the eligible amount under the 2016 bonus plan.

(3)

Additional information regarding the shares of restricted stock and stock options granted to the named executive officers is discussed above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Equity Compensation” and below under “Employment Agreements.”

27


Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2016

The following table sets forth the number of securities underlying outstanding equity awards for each named executive officer as of December 31, 2016, as well as the number of outstanding unvested shares of restricted stock held by each named executive officer as of December 31, 2016.

 

 

 

Option awards

 

Stock Awards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

Value of

 

 

 

Securities

 

 

 

Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares or

 

 

 

Shares or

 

 

 

Underlying

 

 

 

Underlying

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Units of

 

 

 

Units of

 

 

 

Unexercised

 

 

 

Unexercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock that

 

 

 

Stock that

 

 

 

Options

 

 

 

Options

 

 

Option

 

 

Option

 

Have

 

 

 

Have

 

 

 

Exercisable

 

 

 

Unexercisable

 

 

Exercise

 

 

Expiration

 

Not Vested

 

 

 

Not Vested

 

Named Executive Officer

 

(#)

 

 

 

(#)

 

 

Price ($)

 

 

Date

 

(#)

 

 

 

($) (1)

 

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

 

50,000

 

(2)

 

 

 

 

$

50.20

 

 

2/18/2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,997

 

(3)

 

$

4,705

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,868

 

(4)

 

 

34,333

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

39,388

 

(5)

 

 

61,839

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

67,962

 

(6)

 

 

106,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

132,215

 

 

 

 

207,577

 

Steven M. Yasbek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

735

 

(3)

 

 

1,154

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,460

 

(4)

 

 

8,572

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19,692

 

(5)

 

 

30,916

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33,981

 

(6)

 

 

53,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

59,868

 

 

 

 

93,992

 

David Blakeney

 

 

5,000

 

(2)

 

 

 

 

5.52

 

 

10/31/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,390

 

(2)

 

 

2,860

 

 

3.76

 

 

10/7/2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2)

 

 

7,500

 

 

2.36

 

 

9/7/2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,390

 

 

 

 

10,360

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ken Shebek

 

 

6,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.52

 

 

10/31/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,920

 

(4)

 

 

17,144

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19,692

 

(5)

 

 

30,916

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33,981

 

(6)

 

 

53,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

64,593

 

 

 

 

101,410

 

David P. Sperling

 

 

25,000

 

(2)

 

 

 

 

 

50.20

 

 

2/18/2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,497

 

(3)

 

 

2,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,920

 

(4)

 

 

17,144

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19,692

 

(5)

 

 

30,916

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33,981

 

(6)

 

 

53,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

66,090

 

 

 

 

103,760

 

Rick Carpenter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,497

 

(3)

 

 

2,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,920

 

(4)

 

 

17,144

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19,683

 

(5)

 

 

30,902

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33,981

 

(6)

 

 

53,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

66,081

 

 

 

 

103,746

 

 

(1)

Determined by multiplying the number of shares by $1.57, the closing price for our stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on December 31, 2016.

(2)

25% vested after one year, the balance over 36 successive monthly installments.

(3)

50% vests in 48 equal monthly installments, 50% based on 2013 performance and vested 25% in February 2014 with the balance in 36 equal successive monthly installments.

(4)

50% vests in 48 equal monthly installments, 50% based on 2014 performance and vested 25% in February 2015 with the balance in 36 equal successive monthly installments.

(5)

50% vests in 48 equal monthly installments, 50% based on 2015 performance and vested 25% in March 2016 with the balance in 36 equal successive monthly installments.

28


(6)

50% vests in 48 equal monthly installments, 50% based on 2016 performance and vested 25% in March 2017 with the balance in 36 equal successive monthly install ments.

29


Option Exercises and Stock Vested during Fiscal 2016

The following table sets forth information regarding exercises of stock options and vesting of restricted stock awards held by each of our named executive officers during 2016.

 

 

 

Option Awards

 

 

Stock Awards

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of

 

 

Value

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Value

 

 

Shares

 

 

Realized

 

 

 

Acquired on

 

 

Realized on

 

 

Acquired on

 

 

On Vesting

 

Named Executive Officer

 

Exercise (#)

 

 

Exercise ($)(1)

 

 

Vesting (#)

 

 

($) (2)

 

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

69,439

 

 

$

165,937

 

Steven M. Yasbek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,525

 

 

 

61,047

 

David Blakeney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

106

 

 

 

261

 

Ken Shebek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,677

 

 

 

61,169

 

David P. Sperling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34,749

 

 

 

83,057

 

Rick Carpenter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34,749

 

 

 

83,057

 

Carla Fitzgerald

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29,381

 

 

 

74,236

 

 

(1)

Represents the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the common stock on the date of exercise.

(2)

Represents the market value per share times the number of shares vested on the vesting date.

Employment Agreements

Agreement with William W. Smith, Jr.

In June 2005, we agreed to make to William W. Smith, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, a lifetime payment of $6,000 annually, subject to annual increases of 5%, in connection with his future retirement or resignation from employment. The agreement provides that we may, at our option, discharge our obligations under the agreement by purchasing a single premium annuity for the benefit of Mr. Smith. We estimate that it would cost approximately $150,000 to purchase such an annuity.

Other than as disclosed above, none of the named executive officers has an employment agreement with us, and the employment of each of the named executive officers may accordingly be terminated at any time at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The Compensation Committee believes that change in control agreements are appropriate and serve an important business purpose for the company. The Committee believes that these benefits aid in recruiting and retaining talent in a competitive market. Also, benefits are provided in the event of termination of employment following a change in control, which are intended to motivate executive officers to remain with the company despite the uncertainty and dislocation that arises in the context of change in control situations. The change in control agreements are an important part of our overall compensation objectives, particularly our goal of retaining the best qualified executive officers, and do not affect the decisions made with respect to other compensation elements.

Mr. Smith

We have an agreement with Mr. Smith pursuant to which we agreed to a lifetime payment of $6,000 annually, subject to annual increases of 5%, in connection with his future retirement or resignation from employment; provided that we may, at our option, discharge our obligations under the agreement by purchasing a single premium annuity for the benefit of Mr. Smith, the estimated cost of which is approximately $150,000. Assuming Mr. Smith’s employment was terminated as of December 31, 2015, and further assuming that we determined to satisfy our obligations under his agreement by purchasing a single premium annuity for the benefit of Mr. Smith, we would have been obligated to spend $150,000 to purchase the annuity.

30


Stock Options and Restricted Stock

Each of our named executive officers holds options and shares of restricted stock that would vest, subject to the satisfaction of certain other conditions included in the option agreements and restricted stock agreements, upon a “Corporate Transaction.” For purposes of these agreements, “Corporate Transaction” is defined as either of the following stockholder-approved transactions to which we are a party: (i) a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of our outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from the persons holding those securities immediately prior to such transaction, or (ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets in our complete liquidation or dissolution. We provide this benefit in order to properly incent our executives to support a Corporate Transaction that would be deemed beneficial to our shareholders.

Assuming a Corporate Transaction occurred as of December 31, 2016 and the other conditions included in the restricted stock agreements were satisfied, the following individuals would be entitled to accelerated vesting of the following shares of restricted stock:

 

Named Executive Officer

 

Value of accelerated stock awards following Change in Control (1)

William W. Smith, Jr.

 

Immediate vesting of 132,215 shares with a value of $207,578.

Steven M. Yasbek

 

Immediate vesting of 59,868 shares with a value of $93,993.

Ken Shebek

 

Immediate vesting of 64,593 shares with a value of $101,411.

David P. Sperling

 

Immediate vesting of 66,090 shares with a value of $103,761.

Rick Carpenter

 

Immediate vesting of 66,081 shares with a value of $103,747.

 

(1)

Based on the December 30, 2016 closing market price of $1.57.

Director Compensation for Fiscal 2016

The following table sets forth compensation that our directors (other than directors who are named executive officers) earned during 2016 for services as members of our Board of Directors.

 

Name

 

Fees earned

or paid in

cash ($)

 

 

Stock

Awards ($)

(1)

 

 

Option

Awards ($)

(1)

 

 

Total ($)

 

Andrew Arno (2)

 

$

10,000

 

 

$

10,400

 

 

$

 

 

$

20,400

 

Thomas G. Campbell (3)

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

10,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,400

 

Steven L. Elfman

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

10,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,400

 

Samuel Gulko (4)

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

10,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,400

 

Gregory J. Szabo (5)

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

10,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,400

 

 

(1)

The amounts shown represent the grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions we used with respect to the valuation of stock and option grants are set forth in Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

(2)

Mr. Arno has options to purchase 3,750 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2016.

(3)

Mr. Campbell has options to purchase 3,750 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2016.

(4)

Mr. Gulko has options to purchase 10,000 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2016.

(5)

Mr. Szabo has options to purchase 3,750 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2016.

Summary of Director Compensation

Non-employee members of the Board of Directors receive fees of $2,500 quarterly for Board and committee service, and are reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses in connection with service on the Board of Directors. Non-employee members of the Board of Directors are eligible to receive discretionary awards under our 2015 OEIP.

On March 8, 2017, each director then serving received a special discretionary grant of 3,750 shares of restricted stock valued at $1.25 per share which vested in equal installments over the next 12 months.

31


Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

In fiscal 2016, the members of our Compensation Committee were Messrs. Campbell and Gulko, who are both non-employee directors. None of such Committee members (i) were during fiscal 2016 an officer or employee of us or any of our subsidiaries, or (ii) is formerly an officer of us or any of our subsidiaries.

ANNUAL REPORT

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2016 fiscal year, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2017, is being mailed along with this Proxy Statement to all stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. The Annual Report is not incorporated into this Proxy Statement and is not considered proxy solicitation material. Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the Annual Report, including the financial statements and financial statement schedules, without charge, by writing to Mr. Charles Messman, Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Development, at our principal executive offices located at 51 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, California 92656. We will furnish upon request any exhibits to the Form 10-K upon the payment by the requesting stockholder of our reasonable expenses in furnishing such exhibits. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as certain other reports, proxy statements and other information regarding Smith Micro, are also available on our website at http://www.smithmicro.com or the Securities and Exchange Commission’s public website at http://www.sec.gov .

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy statements and annual reports with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement and annual report addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially means extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.

This year, a number of brokers with account holders who are Company stockholders will be “householding” our proxy materials. For stockholders requesting paper copies of the proxy statement, a single annual report and proxy statement will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that they will be “householding” communications to your address, “householding” will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in “householding” and would prefer to receive a separate proxy statement and annual report, you may (1) if you are not a stockholder of record, notify your broker, or (2) if you are a stockholder of record, direct your written request to Investor Relations, Smith Micro Software, Inc., 51 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, California 92656 or your oral request to the Marketing Department at (949) 362-5800. If you currently receive multiple copies of the proxy statement at your address and would like to request “householding” of these communications, please contact your broker if you are not a stockholder of record; or contact our Investor Relations department if you are a stockholder of record, using the contact information provided above.

32


OTHER M ATTERS

We know of no other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting. If any other matter is properly presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the proxies will be voted by the persons named therein in accordance with their judgment on such matters. Discretionary authority with respect to such other matters is granted by the execution of the enclosed Proxy.

All stockholders are urged to complete, sign, date and return the accompanying Proxy Card in the enclosed envelope.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

Steven M. Yasbek

Corporate Secretary

Aliso Viejo, California

April 28, 2017

 

 

 

33


 

Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. X 02LA8A 1 U PX + PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. Annual Meeting Proxy Card. IMPORTANT ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION B Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box. + A Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the directors listed below and a vote FOR each of the listed proposals. For Against Abstain 2. “Say-on-Pay” Proposal. Advisory vote to approve the compensation of named executive officers. For Against Abstain 3. Ratification of the appointment of SingerLewak LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017. 01 - William W. Smith, Jr. 1. Election of Directors. To elect two directors to serve for a three-year term ending at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified: For Withhold 02 - Gregory J. Szabo For Withhold This Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted as specified above. If no specification is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR the election of the directors listed above and FOR each of the other proposals. 4. Other Business. In accordance with the discretion of the proxy holders, the proxy holders are authorized to act upon all matters incident to the conduct of the meeting and upon other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 


 

PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. Proxy — Smith Micro Software, Inc. Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the stockholder meeting to be held on June 15, 2017: The Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at: http://www.edocumentview.com/SMSI Annual Meeting of Stockholders - June 15, 2017 This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of Smith Micro Software, Inc. The undersigned revokes all previous proxies, acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 15, 2017 and the related Proxy Statement, and appoints William W. Smith, Jr. and Steven M. Yasbek, and each of them, the Proxy of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of Common Stock of Smith Micro Software, Inc. (the “Company”) which the undersigned is entitled to vote, either on his or her own behalf or on behalf of any entity or entities, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at the offices of Smith Micro Software, Inc., located at 51 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656, on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (the “Annual Meeting”), and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, with the same force and effect as the undersigned might or could do if personally present thereat. The shares represented by this Proxy shall be voted in the manner set forth on this proxy card.

 

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