PRE 14A 1 d125903dpre14a.htm PRE 14A PRE 14A
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.     )

 

 

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                        Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

 

Definitive Additional Materials

 

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

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

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
  No fee required.
  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
  1.  

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

     

  2.  

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

     

  3.  

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

     

  4.  

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

     

  5.  

Total fee paid:

     

  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
  1.  

Amount previously paid:

     

  2.  

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

     

  3.  

Filing Party:

     

  4.  

Date Filed:

     

 

 

 


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SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

177 Huntington Avenue, Suite 1703

PMB 73480

Boston, Massachusetts 02115-3153

NOTICE OF 2021 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JULY 8, 2021

Due to the public health concerns regarding the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, we are holding the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of SeaChange International, Inc. (“SeaChange” or the “Company”) in a virtual-only meeting format to support the health and well-being of our team members and stockholders. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting at a physical location, but rather you can log onto the meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SEAC2021. The Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 8, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, to consider and act upon each of the following matters:

 

  1.

To elect the nominees named in the proxy statement to the Board of Directors to serve for a three-year term as a Class I Director.

 

  2.

To approve amendments to our Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”) to declassify the Board of Directors.

 

  3.

To conduct an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.

 

  4.

To approve the 2021 Compensation and Incentive Plan.

 

  5.

To ratify the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

  6.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments thereof.

Stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting shall be determined as of the close of business on May 18, 2021, the record date fixed by the Board of Directors for such purpose.

IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND:

If you are a registered stockholder or beneficial owner of common stock holding shares at the close of business on the record date, you may attend the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SEAC2021 and logging in by entering the multi-digit control number found on your proxy card, voter instruction form, or Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, as applicable. If you lost your multi-digit control number or are not a stockholder, you will be able to attend the meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SEAC2021 and registering as a guest. If you enter the meeting as a guest, you will not be able to vote your shares or submit questions during the meeting. You may log into www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SEAC2021 beginning at 9:45 a.m., Eastern Time, on July 8, 2021. The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time on July 8, 2021. If you experience any technical difficulties during the meeting, a toll-free number will be available on our virtual stockholder meeting site for assistance.

You may vote if you were a stockholder as of the record date. We urge you to read the proxy statement carefully and to vote in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors. If voting in advance, you should vote by the deadlines specified in the proxy statement, and may do so by telephone or Internet, or, if you requested printed materials, by signing, dating, and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you do not vote in advance and instead plan to vote during the Annual Meeting, you may do so if you enter the multi-digit control number found on your proxy card, voter instruction form, or Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, as applicable, at the time you log into the meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SEAC2021. Our list of stockholders will be available for the 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting. If you want to inspect the stockholder list, email our investor relations department at SEAC@gatewayir.com to make arrangements. The list of stockholders will also be available during the Annual Meeting through the meeting website for those stockholders who choose to attend.


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If you have additional questions about the Annual Meeting, please contact Michael Prinn at michael.prinn@schange.com.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

 

Michael Prinn,

Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and

Treasurer

Boston, Massachusetts

May 28, 2021

Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, we encourage you to vote promptly, following the instructions in the materials you received, to ensure that your shares are represented at the meeting.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JULY 8, 2021:

The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement and the Company’s 2021 Annual Report are available at www.investors.seachange.com.


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2021 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

PROXY STATEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Information Regarding Voting and Proxies

     2  

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

     3  

OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

     6  

Securities Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management

     6  

PROPOSAL NO. I — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     8  

Class I Directors (Term Expires at 2021 Annual Meeting)

     9  

Class II Director (Term Expires at 2022 Annual Meeting)

     10  

Class III Director (Term Expires at 2023 Annual Meeting)

     11  

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     12  

Determination of Director Independence

     12  

Stockholder Proposals

     12  

Availability of Corporate Governance Documents

     12  

Board Meetings

     13  

Board Leadership Structure

     13  

Board Nomination Rights

     13  

Board Oversight of Risk

     13  

Board Committees

     13  

Audit Committee

     13  

Compensation Committee

     14  

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

     14  

Qualifications of Director Candidates

     14  

Procedures for Stockholders to Recommend Director Candidates

     15  

Process for Stockholders to Communicate with Directors

     15  

Compensation of Directors

     15  

Report of the Audit Committee

     18  

PROPOSAL NO. II – APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TIO THE BY-LAWS TO DECLASSIFY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     20  

INFORMATION CONCERNING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

     22  

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

     23  

Executive Summary

     23  

Compensation Objectives

     25  

Setting Executive Compensation

     25  

Fiscal 2021 Executive Compensation Components

     26  

Summary of Fiscal 2021 Management Changes

     27  

Fiscal 2022 Executive Compensation Components

     33  

Tax and Accounting Implications

     34  

Summary Compensation Table

     34  

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

     37  

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

     38  

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

     40  

Pension Benefits

     40  

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

     40  

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

     40  


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Equity Compensation Plan Information

     44  

Compensation Committee Report

     44  

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     45  
PROPOSAL NO. III — ADVISORY VOTE ON COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS      46  

PROPOSAL NO. IV – APPROVAL OF THE 2021 COMPENSATION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

     48  

PROPOSAL NO. V  — RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     55  

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Fiscal 2022

     55  

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

     56  

OTHER MATTERS

     57  

Expenses and Solicitation

     57  

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

     57  

APPENDIX A – Proposed Amendments to the Amended and Restated By-Laws of SeaChange International, Inc.

     A-1  

APPENDIX B – SeaChange International, Inc. 2021 Compensation and Incentive Plan

     B-1  

 


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SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

177 Huntington Avenue, Suite 1703

PMB 73480

Boston, Massachusetts 02115-3153

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JULY 8, 2021

May 28, 2021

This proxy statement is being furnished by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of SeaChange International, Inc. (“SeaChange” or the “Company”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on Thursday, July 8, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. Due to public health concerns regarding the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) pandemic, the Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual-only format. To attend and participate in the Annual Meeting:

 

   

Visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SEAC2021; and

 

   

Enter the multi-digit control number listed on your proxy card, voter instruction form, or Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, as applicable.

The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on July 8, 2021. We encourage you to access the virtual platform prior to the start time to familiarize yourself with the virtual platform and ensure you can hear the streaming audio. You may log onto the virtual platform beginning at 9:45 a.m., Eastern Time, on July 8, 2021. The virtual meeting is supported across different online browsers and devices (desktops, laptops, tablets and cell phones). Please be certain you have the most updated version of the applicable software and plugins. Also, you should ensure that you have a strong internet connection from wherever you intend to participate in the Annual Meeting.

Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 18, 2021 (the “Record Date”) will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. As of the Record Date, there were [                ] shares of our common stock outstanding. Each stockholder has one vote for each share of common stock held as of the Record Date.

SeaChange is pleased to take advantage of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) rules that allow companies to furnish their proxy materials over the Internet. We believe that this process allows SeaChange to provide its stockholders with the information they need in a timelier manner, while reducing the environmental impact and lowering the costs of printing and distributing its proxy materials. As a result, SeaChange is mailing to its stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting on or about May 28, 2021, a Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (sometimes referred to as the “Notice”) instead of a paper copy of this proxy statement and SeaChange’s 2021 Annual Report. The Notice contains instructions on how to access those documents over the Internet. The Notice also contains instructions on how to request a paper copy of our proxy materials. All stockholders who have previously requested a paper copy of our proxy materials will continue to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail. All other stockholders will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless one is requested.

A number of brokers with account holders who are stockholders of SeaChange will be “householding” our proxy materials. A single copy of the Notice and, if applicable, the proxy materials, 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 copy of the

 

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Notice, and if applicable, the proxy materials, please notify your broker and direct a written request to SeaChange International, Inc., 177 Huntington Avenue, Suite 1703, PMB 73480, Boston, Massachusetts 02115-3153, Attention: Secretary, or contact the Secretary by telephone at (978) 897-0100. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the Notice or proxy materials at their address and would like to request “householding” of future communications should contact their broker. In addition, upon written or oral request to the address or telephone number set forth above, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of the Notice and, if applicable, the proxy materials, to any stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered.

Information Regarding Voting and Proxies

Stockholders may vote in one of the following ways:

 

  1.

Via the internet, by visiting www.proxyvote.com.

 

  2.

By telephone, by calling the number on your proxy card, voter instruction form, or Notice Regarding of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.

 

  3.

By mail, by marking, signing, dating and mailing your proxy card if you requested printed materials, and returning it in the enclosed postage paid envelope by return mail; or

 

  4.

By voting electronically during the virtual Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SEAC2021.

Any proxy may be revoked by a stockholder at any time before its exercise by either delivering written revocation or a later dated proxy to the Secretary of SeaChange, entering a new vote by Internet or telephone, or by voting your shares while logged in and participating in the virtual Annual Meeting. Only your latest dated proxy will count.

All properly completed proxy forms returned in time to be cast at the Annual Meeting will be voted. Stockholders are being asked to vote with respect to the election of the Class I Directors, the approval of amendments to the By-Laws to declassify the Board of Directors (“Proposal No. II”), an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, the approval of the 2021 Compensation and Incentive Plan and the ratification of the selection of SeaChange’s independent registered public accounting firm. Where a choice has been specified on the proxy card with respect to each proposal, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted in accordance with your specifications. If no specification is indicated on the proxy card, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted FOR the nominees named herein for election to the Board to serve as Class I Directors, FOR approval of the amendments to the By-Laws to declassify the Board of Directors, FOR approval of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, FOR the approval of the 2021 Compensation and Incentive Plan, and FOR the ratification of the selection of SeaChange’s independent registered public accounting firm.

A majority-in-interest of the outstanding shares represented at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Votes withheld from any nominee, abstentions and broker “non-votes” are counted as present or represented for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the meeting. A “non-vote” occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner votes on one proposal, but does not vote on another proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. On all matters being submitted to stockholders at this Annual Meeting, other than Proposal No. II, an affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares present, in person or represented by proxy, and voting on that matter is required for approval or ratification. With respect to Proposal No. II, an affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the shares entitled to vote at any annual election of directors is required for approval. An automated system administered by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. tabulates the votes. The vote on each matter submitted to stockholders is tabulated separately. On all matters being submitted to stockholders at this Annual

 

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Meeting,, other than Proposal No. II, abstentions, as well as broker “non-votes” are not considered to have been voted for such matters and have the practical effect of having no impact on the outcome of the vote. With respect to Proposal No. II, abstentions and broker “non-votes” will have the same effect as votes AGAINST the proposal.

The Board knows of no other matter to be presented at the Annual Meeting. If any other matter should be presented at the Annual Meeting upon which a vote properly may be taken, shares represented by all proxies received by the Board will be voted with respect thereto in accordance with the judgment of the persons named as proxies and in accordance with the SEC’s proxy rules. See “Stockholder Proposals” herein at page 12. The persons named as proxies, Michael Prinn, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer, and Elaine Martel, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, were selected by the Board.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Why am I being provided with access to proxy materials?

The Company is providing you with access to proxy materials because our Board is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting. You can access our proxy materials online at www.proxyvote.com or in the Investor Relations section of our website. You are invited to attend the virtual Annual Meeting and we request that you vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. You do not need to attend the meeting to vote your shares.

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

In accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to each stockholder of record, we have elected to furnish proxy materials to our stockholders over the Internet. The Notice contains instructions on how to access those documents. The Notice also contains instructions on how to request a paper copy of our proxy materials. All stockholders who have previously requested a paper copy of our proxy materials will continue to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail. All other stockholders will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless one is requested.

What am I voting on?

There are five matters scheduled for a vote at the Annual Meeting:

 

   

to elect each of the nominees named in this proxy statement to serve for a three-year term as a Class I Director;

 

   

to approve amendments to our By-Laws to declassify the Board of Directors;

 

   

to conduct an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;

 

   

to approve the 2021 Compensation and Incentive Plan; and

 

   

to ratify the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

Where will the meeting be held?

Due to the public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we are holding the Annual Meeting in a virtual-only meeting format to support the health and well-being of our team members and stockholders. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting at a physical location, but rather you can log onto the meeting at http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SEAC2021. The Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 8, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time.

 

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What is the effect of the advisory vote on the compensation of SeaChange’s named executive officers?

SeaChange is providing its stockholders with the opportunity at the Annual Meeting to vote on an advisory resolution regarding the compensation of its named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” commonly known as “Say-on-Pay.” While the Say-on-Pay vote is non-binding, and thus advisory in nature, our Board and Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on May 18, 2021 will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

Am I a stockholder of record?

If at the close of business on May 18, 2021 your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare Shareholder Services, then you are a stockholder of record. If you hold SeaChange shares through a bank, broker or other intermediary, you are not a stockholder of record. Instead, you hold our stock in “street name,” and the “record owner” of your shares is your bank, broker or other intermediary. If you are not a registered stockholder, please understand that SeaChange does not know that you are a stockholder, or how many shares you own.

If I am a stockholder of record of SeaChange shares, how do I cast my vote?

If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote during the virtual Annual Meeting. However, we encourage you to vote in advance of the meeting even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. If you choose to vote during the virtual Annual Meeting, you may do so by entering the multi-digit control number found on your proxy card, voter instruction form, or Notice, as applicable, at the time you log into the meeting at http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SEAC2021 and following the voting instructions therein.

If you do not wish to vote during the virtual Annual Meeting, you may vote by proxy. The procedures for voting by proxy are as follows:

 

   

Via the Internet: To vote by proxy on the Internet go to www.proxyvote.com to complete an electronic proxy card. To authenticate your identity in order to allow you to provide your voting instructions, and to confirm that your instructions have been recorded properly, you will need your control number found on the Notice.

 

   

By Telephone: To vote by phone, call the number on your proxy card, voter instruction form, or Notice. You can use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions

 

   

By Mail: If you received a printed copy of the proxy materials by mail, you may vote by completing, signing and dating your proxy card and returning it promptly in the envelope provided. You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate boxes on the proxy card. Shares will be voted following your written instructions. However, it is not necessary to mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board’s recommendations.

If you vote by proxy, your vote must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on July 7, 2020 to be counted.

If I am a holder in “street name” of SeaChange shares, how do I cast my vote?

If you are a holder in “street name,” you may vote during the Annual Meeting by entering the multi-digit control number found on your proxy card, voter instruction form, or Notice, as applicable, at the time you log into the meeting at http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SEAC2021 and following the voting instructions therein.

 

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If you are a holder in “street name” and do not wish to vote during the meeting, you may vote by proxy. To do so you must timely deliver your voting instructions to your respective bank, broker or other intermediary, following the specific instructions that have been provided to you by your bank, broker or other intermediary.

How many votes do I have?

On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of SeaChange common stock that you owned as of the close of business on May 18, 2021.

What does it mean if I received more than one Notice?

If you received more than one Notice, your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. Please follow the voting instructions included with each Notice to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy?

For stockholders of record: Yes. A proxy may be revoked by a stockholder at any time before its exercise by either delivering a written revocation or a later dated proxy to the Secretary of SeaChange, entering a new vote by Internet or telephone, or by voting your shares while logged in and participating in the virtual Annual Meeting.

For holders in “street name:” Yes. You must follow the specific voting directions provided to you by your bank, broker or other intermediary to change or revoke any instructions you have already provided to your bank, broker or other intermediary.

How can I find out the results of the voting at the Annual Meeting?

Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. We intend to publish the final voting results in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC within four business days of the date of the Annual Meeting.

 

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OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Securities Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of SeaChange common stock as of May 18, 2021 by:

 

   

each person or entity who is known by SeaChange to beneficially own more than five percent (5%) of the common stock of SeaChange;

 

   

each of the directors of SeaChange and each of the executive officers of SeaChange named in the Summary Compensation Table on page 34; and

 

   

all of the directors and executive officers of SeaChange as a group.

Except for the named executive officers and directors, none of these persons or entities has a relationship with SeaChange, except as disclosed below under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.” Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each person or entity named in the table is c/o SeaChange International, Inc., 177 Huntington Avenue, Suite 1703, PMB 73480, Boston, Massachusetts 02115-3153, and each person or entity has sole voting power and investment power (or shares such power with his or her spouse), with respect to all shares of capital stock listed as owned by such person or entity.

The number and percentage of shares beneficially owned is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under these rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which a person has sole or shared voting power or investment power and also any shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance stock units (“PSUs”), deferred stock units (“DSUs”), and options or warrants that are exercisable by that person within sixty (60) days of May 18, 2021. However, the shares underlying RSUs, PSUs, DSUs, options or warrants are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person or entity. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on [                ] shares of SeaChange’s common stock outstanding as of May 18, 2021.

 

Name

   Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership (1)
(#)
   Percent of
Common
Stock
Outstanding
   

Robert Pons (2)

       356,959          *      

Michael Prinn

       54,767          *      

Yossi Aloni (3)

       49,621          *      

Marek Kielczewski (4)

       891,499          *      

Chad Hassler (5)

       ---          *      

Julian Singer (6)

       93,563          *      

Matthew Stecker (7)

       60,827          *      

Jeffrey Tuder (8)

       259,959          *      

David J. Nicol (9)

       [            ]          *      

Karen Singer/TAR Holdings LLC (10)

212 Vaccaro Drive

Cresskill, NJ 07626

       6,067,616          [            ]    

Footprints Asset Management & Research, Inc.(11)

11422 Miracle Hills Drive, Suite 208

Omaha, NE 68154

       3,054,458          [            ]    

All executive officers and directors as a group (9 persons) (12)

       [            ]          [            ]    

 

*

Less than 1%

(1)

Includes shares of Common Stock which have not been issued but are subject to options which either are presently exercisable or will become exercisable within sixty (60) days of May 18, 2021, as follows: Mr. Prinn: 50,005 shares. Includes DSUs and RSUs that will have vested within sixty (60) days of May 18, 2021, as follows: Mr. Pons: 72,464 RSUs; Mr. Singer: 93,563 RSUs; Mr. Stecker: 60,827 RSUs and Mr. Tuder: 72,464 DSUs.

 

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(2)

Mr. Pons was elected as a director to the Board on February 28, 2019 pursuant to the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2019, with TAR Holdings LLC and Karen Singer (collectively “TAR”) as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2019 (the “Cooperation Agreement”). Mr. Pons was then appointed Executive Chairman on January 8, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 13, 2021. 135,425 of the 356,959 shares listed above are non-voting DSUs.

(3)

Mr. Aloni was appointed Chief Commercial Officer on January 2, 2019, then appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer on August 29, 2019. Mr. Aloni’s employment with the Company terminated on January 8, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 13, 2021. The holdings included in the table above are as of Mr. Aloni’s termination date and exclude Mr. Aloni’s 317,035 exercisable stock options that expired on April 8, 2021.

(4)

Mr. Kielczewski was appointed Chief Technology Officer on November 29, 2018, and Mr. Kielczewski’s employment with the Company terminated on March 22, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2021. The holdings included in the table above are as of Mr. Kielczewski’s termination date and include Mr. Kielczewski’s 481,170 exercisable stock options that will expire on June 24, 2021.

(5)

Mr. Hassler was appointed Chief Commercial Officer on August 29, 2019, and Mr. Hassler’s employment with the Company terminated on January 14, 2021, as previously reported on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 19, 2021. The holdings included in the table above are as of Mr. Hassler’s termination date and exclude Mr. Hassler’s 75,003 exercisable stock options that expired on April 15, 2021.

(6)

Mr. Singer was elected to the Board of Directors on July 27, 2020, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 29, 2020.

(7)

Mr. Stecker was elected to the Board of Directors on February 10, 2021 as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 11, 2021.

(8)

Mr. Tuder was elected as a director to the Board on February 28, 2019 pursuant to the terms of the Cooperation Agreement. Mr. Tuder resigned from the Board of Directors on May 14, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 18, 2021.

(9)

Mr. Nicol was elected to the Board of Directors on May 14, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 18, 2021.

(10)

According to a Schedule 13D/A filed on August 12, 2019, Karen Singer and TAR Holdings LLC may be deemed to have sole dispositive power and sole voting power over the above-mentioned 6,067,616 shares. Ms. Singer has sole voting power with respect to all shares held by TAR Holdings LLC. Ms. Singer and TAR Holdings LLC are parties to the Cooperation Agreement. The address of TAR Holdings LLC is 2200 Fletcher Avenue, Suite 501, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024. The address of Ms. Singer is 212 Vaccaro Drive, Cresskill, New Jersey 07626.

(11)

According to a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2019, Footprints Asset Management and Research, Inc. may be deemed to have sole dispositive power and sole voting power over the above-mentioned 3,054,458 shares. The address of Footprints Asset Management and Research, Inc. is 11422 Miracle Hills Drive, Suite 208, Omaha, NE 68154.

(12)

This group is comprised of SeaChange’s executive officers and directors, including all named executive officers, as of the date of this proxy statement. Includes an aggregate of 349,323 shares of Common Stock which the directors and executive officers, as a group, have the right to acquire by exercise of stock options or will acquire upon vesting of RSUs or DSUs within sixty (60) days of May 18, 2021.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. I

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

SeaChange’s Board currently consists of four members, three of whom are independent, non-employee directors. Effective as of January 8, 2021, Mr. Pons was appointed to serve as the Executive Chairman of the Company and assume the duties of the Company’s principal executive officer while the Company conducts a search for a new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Pons will not be considered “independent” while he serves as an interim officer. Upon Mr. Pons’ appointment to serve as Executive Chairman, Mr. Pons resigned from the Company’s Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees.

The Board is currently divided into three classes. Each class is elected for a term of three years, with the terms of office of the directors in the respective classes expiring in successive years. Subject to stockholder approval of Proposal No. II, each member of our Board (including Class I directors that may be elected to a three-year term at this Annual Meeting) will serve one-year terms and all directors will be up for election at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2022 Annual Meeting”). If Proposal No. II is not approved, we will continue to have a staggered board with three-year terms as provided in our By-Laws and expiring in the years noted below.

The present term of the current Class I Directors, Mr. Singer and Mr. Stecker, expires at the Annual Meeting. The Board, based on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, has nominated Mr. Singer and Mr. Stecker for election as Class I Directors. The Board knows of no reason why either nominee should be unable or unwilling to serve, but if that should be the case, proxies may be voted for the election of some other person selected by the Board. Mr. Singer and Mr. Stecker have each consented to being named in this proxy statement as a nominee to be a Class I Director and to serve in that capacity, if elected.

There are no agreements or understandings pursuant to which Mr. Singer or Mr. Stecker was selected to serve as a director. There are no family relationships between Mr. Singer or Mr. Stecker and any other director or any executive officer. There are no legal proceedings related to any of the directors or director nominees that must be disclosed pursuant to Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the nominees listed below.

The following table sets forth, for the Class I nominees to be elected at the Annual Meeting and each of the other current directors, the year the nominee or director was first appointed or elected a director, the principal occupation of the nominee or director during at least the past five years, any other public company boards on which the nominee or director serves or has served in the past five years, the nominee’s or director’s qualifications to serve on the Board and the age of the nominee or director. In addition, included in the information presented below is a summary of each nominee’s or director’s specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led the Board to the conclusion that he should serve as a director.

 

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Class I Directors (Term Expires at 2021 Annual Meeting)

 

Director’s Name
and Year First
Became Director

  

Position and Principal Occupation and Business Experience During the Past Five Years

Julian Singer

(2020)

  

Director

 

Julian D. Singer, 37, has served as a director of SeaChange since July 2020. Since May 2013, Mr. Singer has worked as an independent investment advisor. Prior to that, from April 2006 through June 2011, Mr. Singer served as an assistant trader and an analyst with York Capital Management where he evaluated potential mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Singer has served on the Board of Directors of Evolving Systems, Inc. (“Evolving”) (NASDAQ:EVOL) since January 2015, and prior to that, served as a nonvoting observer to Evolving’s Board of Directors from July 2014 until December 2014. Mr. Singer also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Live MicroSystems, Inc. (OTC:LMSC), which sold its operating assets in 2013. Mr. Singer has a B.S. in Finance from Lehigh University and an M.B.A. from the New York University Stern School of Business. Mr. Singer has a background in finance and investing in various industries, including software and telecommunications, as well as mergers and acquisitions. Drawing from his experience in these areas, Mr. Singer provides valuable strategic and financing advice to the Company’s management and the Board.

 

Director’s Name
and Year First
Became Director

  

Position and Principal Occupation and Business Experience During the Past Five Years

Matthew Stecker

(2021)

  

Director

 

Matthew Stecker, 52, has served as a director of SeaChange since February 2021. Mr. Stecker has also served on the Board of Directors of Evolving since March 2016, and was named Evolving’s Executive Chairman in April 2018 and President and Chief Executive Officer in July 2018. He previously served as a Senior Policy Advisor to the United States Department of Commerce from 2014 to 2017. In that capacity, Mr. Stecker was part of the senior team that launched FirstNet. Mr. Stecker currently serves on the Board of Directors of Live Microsystems, Inc. (OTC: LMSC) which sold its operating assets in 2013. He previously served on the Board of Directors of MRV Communications from April 2013 to June 2016 and HealthWarehouse.com Inc. from December 2010 to August 2013, where he also served on the Compensation Committee. From January to November 2014, Mr. Stecker served as the Vice President of Mobile Entertainment for RealNetworks (NASDAQ: RNWK). From November 2009 to December 2013, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Live MicroSystems, Inc., and from April 2005 to November 2009 he was a senior executive in both Telecom Operations and Strategy at Cartesian, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRTN). He received his B.A. in Political Science and Computer Science from Duke University, and his JD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. Mr. Stecker brings over twenty years of experience as a public company executive in the telecommunications and wireless industries, which are highly relevant to the Company’s business and will assist the Company in developing, executing and evaluating business strategies and industry partnerships.

 

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Class II Director (Term Expires at 2022 Annual Meeting)

 

Nominee’s Name
and Year First
Became Director

  

Position and Principal Occupation and Business Experience During the Past Five Years

Robert M. Pons

(2019)

  

Executive Chairman, Director and Chairman of the Board

 

Robert Pons, 65, has served as the Executive Chairman of SeaChange since January 2021 and has served as the Chairman of the Board since November 2019, a director of SeaChange since February 2019, and was appointed to the Board at that time pursuant to the terms of the Cooperation Agreement. Since June 2020, Mr. Pons has served on the Board of Directors of CCUR Holdings, Inc. (OTCPK: CCUR), where he is a member of the Compensation, Audit and Nominating Committees. Mr. Pons is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Spartan Advisors Inc., a management consulting firm specializing in telecom and technology companies. From May 2014 until January 2017, he was Executive Vice President of Business Development and from September 2011 until June 2016 was on the board of directors, of HC2 Holdings, Inc. (“HC2”) (NYSE: HCHC), a publicly traded diversified holding company with a diverse array of operating subsidiaries, including telecom/infrastructure, construction, energy, technology, gaming and life sciences. From February 2011 to April 2014, Mr. Pons was Chairman of Live Micro Systems, Inc. (formerly Livewire Mobile), a comprehensive one-stop digital content solution for mobile carriers. From January 2008 until February 2011, Mr. Pons was Senior Vice President of TMNG Global (now Cartesian, Inc.), a leading provider of professional services to the telecommunications industry and the capital formation firms that support it. From January 2003 until April 2007, Mr. Pons served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Uphonia, Inc. (previously SmartServ Online, Inc.), a wireless applications service provider. From March 1999 to August 2003, Mr. Pons was President of FreedomPay, Inc., a wireless device payment processing company. During the period January 1994 to March 1999, Mr. Pons was President of Lifesafety Solutions, Inc., a software company catering to 911 call centers. Mr. Pons previously served on the Boards of Directors of Inseego, Inc., Network-1 Technologies, Inc., Arbinet Corporation, PTGi, Inc., HC2, Proxim Wireless Corporation, MRV Communications, Inc., DragonWave-X and Concurrent Computer Corporation. Mr. Pons holds a B.A. degree from Rowan University with Honors. Mr. Pons has over 30 years of management experience with telecommunications companies including MCI, Inc., Sprint, Inc. and Geotek, Inc. Mr. Pons’s experience serving on public company boards of directors, his knowledge and expertise as a pioneer in the telecommunications industry and his experience as a senior level executive working in the telecommunications industry provide a relevant and informed background for him to serve as a member of the Board.

 

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Class III Director (Term Expires at 2023 Annual Meeting)

 

Director’s Name
and Year First
Became Director

  

Position and Principal Occupation and Business Experience During the Past Five Years

David J. Nicol

(2021)

  

Director

 

David J. Nicol, 75, has served as a director of SeaChange since May 2021. Since February 2018, Mr. Nicol has served on the Board of Directors of CCUR Holdings, Inc. (OTCPK: CCUR), where he is a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee, and serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee. Since March 2004, Mr. Nicol has served on the Board of Directors of Evolving. In July 2019, he was appointed a member of the Board of Directors of Nanoveu Limited (NVU), listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). Mr. Nicol also serves as an independent board member of a privately-held provider of facilities management SaaS services. A member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (since 2004) and Financial Executives International, since August 2015 he has served on the faculty in the Finance Department and as Executive-in-Residence at the Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. From February 2012 through March 2014, Mr. Nicol was President and Chief Operating Officer of Strongwatch Corporation, a security innovation company since acquired. In prior assignments, Mr. Nicol held senior-level executive positions with both public companies (Verisign, Illuminet, and Sprint/United Telecom), as well as early-stage, private companies: Solutionary (IT network security), Sipera (VOIP security), ITN (network signaling), International Micronet (LAN/WAN systems) and iLAN (LAN systems & consulting). Mr. Nicol has a Ph.D. in corporate finance and has taught corporate finance at the MBA level at the Weatherhead School of Management of Case Western Reserve University and elsewhere. Mr. Nicol’s deep experience in telecom, IT services and technology, both domestic and international and his in-depth understanding of financial strategy and operations provide a relevant and informed background for him to serve as a member of the Board.

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Determination of Director Independence

The Board has determined that Messrs. Singer, Stecker and Nicol are “independent” directors, meeting all applicable independence requirements of the SEC, including Rule 10A-3(b)(1) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Marketplace Rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”). In making this determination, the Board affirmatively determined that none of such directors has a relationship that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. With respect to Mr. Pons, the Board determined that neither the identification of Mr. Pons as a director nominee by TAR, nor the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, precluded a determination that Mr. Pons qualified as “independent”. However, effective as of January 8, 2021, Mr. Pons was appointed to serve as the Executive Chairman of the Company and assume the duties of the Company’s principal executive officer while the Company conducts a search for a new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Pons will not be considered “independent” while he serves as an interim officer. Upon Mr. Pons appointment to Executive Chairman, Mr. Pons resigned from the Company’s Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees.

Stockholder Proposals

Under Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, proposals of stockholders intended to be presented at the 2022 Annual Meeting must be received in writing no later than the close of business on January 28, 2022 at SeaChange’s principal executive offices in order to be included in the SeaChange proxy statement for that meeting. Any such stockholder proposals should be submitted to SeaChange International, Inc., 177 Huntington Avenue, Suite 1703, PMB 73480, Boston, Massachusetts 02115-3153, Attention: Secretary. Under the By-Laws, stockholders who wish to make a proposal at the 2022 Annual Meeting — other than one that will be included in SeaChange’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 — must send a written request no earlier than December 29, 2021 and no later than January 28, 2022. However, if our 2022 Annual Meeting is not held between June 8, 2022 and September 6, 2022, this notice must be provided not earlier than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 60th day prior to such annual meeting or the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by SeaChange. If a stockholder who wishes to present a proposal fails to notify SeaChange by the applicable deadline, the stockholder will not be entitled to present the proposal at the meeting. If, however, notwithstanding the requirements of the By-Laws, the proposal is brought before the meeting, then under the SEC’s proxy rules the proxies solicited by management with respect to the 2022 Annual Meeting will confer discretionary voting authority with respect to the stockholder’s proposal on the persons selected by management to vote the proxies. If a stockholder makes a timely notification, the proxies may still exercise discretionary voting authority under circumstances consistent with the SEC’s proxy rules.

In order to curtail controversy as to the date on which a proposal will be marked as received by SeaChange, it is suggested that stockholders submit their proposals by Certified Mail — Return Receipt Requested.

While our Board will consider proper stockholder proposals that are properly brought before the 2022 Annual Meeting, we reserve the right to omit from next year’s proxy materials stockholder proposals that we are not required to include under the Exchange Act, including Rule 14a-8 thereunder.

Availability of Corporate Governance Documents

SeaChange’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (“Ethics Policy”) for all directors and all employees of SeaChange, including executive officers, and the charters for the Audit, Compensation, and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees of the Board are available on SeaChange’s website at www.seachange.com under the “Corporate Governance” section of the “Investor Relations” link. SeaChange will ensure that amendments, if any, to these documents are disclosed and posted on this website within four (4) business days of any such amendment.

 

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Board Meetings

The Board met seventeen (17) times and acted by written consent nine (9) times during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021. During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, each then director attended at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the total number of meetings of the Board and meetings of all the committees of the Board on which they serve. SeaChange has a policy that each member of its Board is encouraged to attend SeaChange’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Last year, all of the directors attended the Annual Meeting of Stockholders that was held on July 9, 2020.

Board Leadership Structure

Mr. Pons has served as Chairman of the Board since December 4, 2019. Effective as of January 8, 2021, Mr. Pons was appointed as the Executive Chairman of the Company upon the resignation of Mr. Aloni, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, and is serving in that capacity while the Company continues its search for a new Chief Executive Officer. In connection with that appointment, Mr. Pons fulfills the duties of Chairman of the Board and as the Company’s principal executive officer. In the capacity of Chairman of the Board, Mr. Pons sets the agenda for Board meetings and serves to facilitate and improve communications between the independent directors and the Company’s senior management. Mr. Tuder served as Vice Chairman of the Board from December 2019 until his resignation in May 2021. The Board does not currently have a lead independent director. The Board believes that the current structure is suitable during the interim period while the Company continues its search for a new Chief Executive Officer.

Board Nomination Rights

Pursuant to the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, TAR was granted the right to cause the Board to appoint Robert Pons as a Class II Director, to appoint Jeffrey Tuder as a Class III Director, and, subject to the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, nominate, recommend, support and solicit proxies for Mr. Pons at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The foregoing summary of the Cooperation Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Cooperation Agreement that is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2019.

Board Oversight of Risk

The Board oversees the business and strategic risks of SeaChange, including risks related to cybersecurity. The Audit Committee oversees financial reporting, internal controls and compliance risks confronting SeaChange. The Compensation Committee oversees risks associated with SeaChange’s compensation policies and practices, including performance-based compensation and change in control plans. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee oversees risks relating to corporate governance and the process governing the nomination of members of the Board. SeaChange provides a detailed description of the risk factors impacting its business in its Annual Report on Form 10-K and if necessary, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC.

Board Committees

The Board has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The members of each committee are appointed by the Board based on the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The members are set forth below in this proxy statement. Actions taken by any committee of the Board are reported to the Board, usually at the next Board meeting following a committee meeting. Each of these standing committees is governed by a committee-specific charter that is reviewed periodically by the applicable committee pursuant to the rules set forth in each charter. The Board annually conducts a self-evaluation of each of its committees. All members of all committees are independent directors.

Audit Committee

The current Audit Committee members are Mr. Nicol (Chairman, effective May 14, 2021) and Messrs. Singer and Stecker, each of whom meet the independence requirements of the SEC and NASDAQ, as

 

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described above. Mr. Tuder served on the Audit Committee and as its Chairman since April 4, 2019 until his resignation on May 14, 2021. Mr. Pons served on the Audit Committee until his appointment as Executive Chairman effective as of January 8, 2021; Mr. Sriubas served on the Audit Committee until his retirement on February 10, 2021. In addition, SeaChange’s Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate and that Mr. Nicol satisfies the requirement of the Marketplace Rules applicable to NASDAQ-listed companies that at least one member of the Audit Committee possess financial sophistication and that Mr. Nicol is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee’s oversight responsibilities include matters relating to SeaChange’s financial disclosure and reporting process, including the system of internal controls, the performance of SeaChange’s internal audit function, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and the appointment and activities of SeaChange’s independent auditors. The Audit Committee met four (4) times and acted by written consent three (3) times during fiscal 2021. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee and its activities during fiscal 2021 are more fully described under the heading “Report of the Audit Committee” contained in this proxy statement.

Compensation Committee

The current Compensation Committee members are Mr. Stecker (Chairman, effective February 10, 2021) and Mr. Nicol, each of whom meet the independence requirements of the SEC and NASDAQ, as described above. Mr. Tuder served on the Compensation Committee until his resignation on May 14, 2021. Mr. Pons served on the Compensation Committee until his appointment as Executive Chairman effective as of January 8, 2021; Mr. Sriubas served as a member and the Chairman of the Compensation Committee until his retirement from the Board on February 10, 2021. Among other things, the Compensation Committee determines the compensation, including stock options, RSUs and other equity compensation, of SeaChange’s management and key employees, administers and makes recommendations concerning SeaChange’s equity compensation plans, and ensures that appropriate succession planning takes place for all levels of management, department heads and senior management. The Compensation Committee met one (1) time and acted by unanimous written consent ten (10) times during fiscal 2021. The responsibilities of the Compensation Committee and its activities during fiscal 2021 are more fully described in this proxy under the heading, “COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS.”

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

The current Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee members are Mr. Singer (Chairman, effective January 8, 2021) and Messrs. Stecker and Nicol, each of whom meet the independence requirements of the SEC and NASDAQ, as described above. Mr. Tuder served on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee until his resignation on May 14, 2021. Mr. Pons had previously served as the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Chairman until his appointment as Executive Chairman effective as of January 8, 2021; Mr. Sriubas served on the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee until his retirement on February 10, 2021. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for oversight of corporate governance at SeaChange, recommending to the Board persons to be nominated for election or appointment as directors of SeaChange and monitoring compliance with SeaChange’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee identifies Board candidates through numerous sources, including recommendations from existing Board members, executive officers, and stockholders of SeaChange. Additionally, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may identify candidates through engagements with executive search firms. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee met one (1) time and acted by unanimous written consent four (4) times during fiscal 2021.

Qualifications of Director Candidates

In evaluating the suitability of individuals for Board membership, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee takes into account many factors, including whether the individual meets the requirements

 

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for independence, his or her professional expertise and educational background, and the potential to contribute to the diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds or experiences of the Board as a whole including diversity of experience, gender, race, ethnicity and age. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee evaluates each individual in the context of the entire Board, with the objective of recommending nominees who can best further the success of SeaChange’s business and represent stockholder interests. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee assigns specific weights to particular criteria for prospective nominees. SeaChange believes that the backgrounds and qualifications of directors, considered as a group, should provide a significant composite mix of experience, knowledge and ability that will allow the Board to fulfill its responsibilities. As part of the consideration in fiscal 2021 by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of candidates for election to the Board, these criteria were reviewed. No changes to these criteria were recommended as a result of such review.

Procedures for Stockholders to Recommend Director Candidates

Stockholders wishing to suggest candidates to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee for consideration as potential director nominees may do so by submitting the candidate’s name, experience, and other relevant information to the SeaChange Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, 177 Huntington Avenue, Suite 1703, PMB 73480, Boston Massachusetts 02115-3153. SeaChange stockholders wishing to nominate directors may do so by submitting a written notice to the Secretary of SeaChange at the same address in accordance with the nomination procedures set forth in SeaChange’s By-Laws. The procedures are summarized in this proxy statement under the heading “Stockholder Proposals.” The Secretary will provide the notice to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider candidates recommended by stockholders and does not distinguish between nominees recommended by stockholders and other nominees. All nominees must meet, at a minimum, the qualifications described in “Qualifications of Director Candidates” above.

Process for Stockholders to Communicate with Directors

Stockholders may write to the Board or a particular Board member by addressing such communication to the Chairman of the Board, if directed to the Board as whole, or to an individual director, if directed to that particular Board member, care of SeaChange’s Secretary, at SeaChange’s offices at 177 Huntington Avenue, Suite 1703, PMB 73480. Boston, Massachusetts 02115-3153. Unless such communication is addressed to an individual director, SeaChange will forward any such communication to each of the directors. Communication sent in any other manner, including but not limited to email, text messages or social media will be forwarded to the entire Board. The Chairman of the Board will determine the appropriate response to such communication.

Compensation of Directors

Directors who are employees of SeaChange receive no compensation for their services as directors, except for reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings.

Non-employee directors received the following cash compensation in fiscal 2021:

 

   

A cash retainer of $45,000;

 

   

The Chairman of the Board received additional cash compensation of $25,000;

 

   

Each member of the Audit Committee received additional cash compensation of $7,500, other than the Chairman of the Audit Committee, who received additional cash compensation of $15,000;

 

   

Each member of the Compensation Committee received additional cash compensation of $6,000, other than the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, who received additional cash compensation of $12,000; and

 

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Each member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee received additional cash compensation of $5,000, other than the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, who received additional cash compensation of $10,000.

In addition, each non-employee director is entitled to receive an annual grant of RSUs valued at $100,000, granted on the date of our Annual Meeting and which vests in full one year from the grant date, subject to acceleration in the event of a Change in Control. Our non-employee directors have the option to receive stock options or DSUs in lieu of RSUs, and the shares underlying the DSUs are not issued until the earlier of the director ceasing to be a member of the Board or immediately prior to consummation of a Change in Control.

Newly appointed non-employee directors receive an initial grant of RSUs valued at $100,000, granted on the date of the director’s appointment or election to the Board, which vest annually in three (3) equal tranches over a three (3) year period, subject to acceleration in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the applicable plan and/or award agreement). Newly appointed non-employee directors also receive (i) 100% of the annual grant of RSUs valued at $100,000, if their appointment/election is within six (6) months of the Company’s last Annual Meeting of Stockholders or (ii) 50% of the annual grant of RSUs valued at $50,000, if their appointment/election is within six (6) months of the Company’s next Annual Meeting of Stockholders. New non-employee directors have the option to receive their initial grant in the form of stock options or DSUs rather than RSUs (as described above with respect to the annual awards).

Director Compensation Fiscal 2021

 

Name

   Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
   Stock Awards (1)
($)
   Total
($)
   

Robert Pons (2)

       97,576        100,000        197,576    

Julian Singer (3)

       25,000        200,000        225,000    

Andrew Sriubas (4)

       69,500        100,000        169,500    

Matthew Stecker (5)

       ---        ---        ---    

Jeffrey Tuder (6)

       71,000        100,000        171,000    

 

  (1)

The grant date fair value for each of these awards is as follows:

 

Name

   Date of Grant    Stock Awards
(#DSUs, except as
noted)
     Total Grant
Date Fair Value ($)
       

Robert Pons (2)

   7/9/2020      72,464        100,000    

Julian Singer (3)

   7/27/2020      141,844        200,000    

Andrew Sriubas (4)

   7/9/2020      72,464        100,000    

Matthew Stecker (5)

   ---      ---        ---    

Jeffrey Tuder (6)

   7/9/2020      72,464        100,000    

 

  (2)

Mr. Pons was appointed to the Board on February 28, 2019 pursuant to and subject to the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2019. Mr. Pons elected to take RSUs instead of DSUs for the July 9, 2020 stock grant.

  (3)

Mr. Singer was appointed to the Board on July 27, 2020, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 29, 2020, and received an initial $100,000 stock grant, as well as an annual $100,000 stock grant. Mr. Singer elected to take RSUs instead of DSUs for both of his July 27, 2020 stock grants.

  (4)

Mr. Sriubas retired from the Board on February 10, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 11, 2021. In conjunction with his retirement, Mr. Sriubas will

 

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receive (i) four quarterly payments of $17,375 (for a total of $69,500) for the Board fees that Mr. Sriubas would have received through December 31, 2021; (ii) his stock award granted on July 9, 2020 was permitted to continue vesting; and (iii) the second tranche of his stock award granted on December 18, 2019 was permitted to continue vesting. Mr. Sriubas entered into a consulting agreement with the Company to provide transitional support to the Board and will be compensated under the consulting agreement with one additional grant of $100,000 worth of RSUs on or about the expiry of the consulting agreement in July 2021. The amounts paid in conjunction with Mr. Sriubas’ retirement are not included in the fiscal 2021 tables above.

  (5)

Mr. Stecker was appointed to the Board on February 10, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 11, 2021, and did not receive any fees or stock awards in fiscal 2021. Mr. Stecker received his initial stock grants in fiscal 2022 that will be reported in next year’s proxy statement.

  (6)

Mr. Tuder was appointed to the Board on February 28, 2019 pursuant to and subject to the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2019. Mr. Tuder resigned from the Board of Directors on May 14, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 18, 2021. In conjunction with his retirement, Mr. Tuder will receive (i) three quarterly payments of $17,750 (for a total of $53,250) for the Board fees that Mr. Tuder would have received through April 30, 2022; (ii) his stock award granted on February 28, 2019 was permitted to continue vesting; (iii) his stock award granted on July 9, 2020 was permitted to continue vesting; and (iv) the second tranche of his stock award granted on December 18, 2019 was permitted to continue vesting. Mr. Tuder entered into a consulting agreement with the Company to provide transitional support to the Board and will be compensated under the consulting agreement with one additional grant of $100,000 worth of RSUs on or about the expiry of the consulting agreement in July 2021. The amounts paid in conjunction with Mr. Tuder’s resignation are not included in the fiscal 2021 tables above.

The table below shows the aggregate number of unvested stock awards and options for each non-employee director as of January 31, 2021. Stock awards consist of DSUs (except as otherwise noted below) for which the minimum one-year service period has not been satisfied.

 

Name

   Aggregate Stock
Awards Outstanding
(#)
     Aggregate Stock
Options Outstanding
(#)
       

Robert Pons (1)

     145,106        ---    

Julian Singer (2)

     141,844        ---    

Andrew Sriubas (3)

     84,092        ---    

Matthew Stecker (4)

     ---        ---    

Jeffrey Tuder (5)

     145,106        ---    

 

  (1)

Of the 145,106 outstanding stock awards for Mr. Pons, 101,534 stock award are RSUs and 43,572 stock awards are DSUs.

  (2)

All of Mr. Singer’s 141,844 outstanding stock awards are RSUs.

  (3)

Mr. Sriubas retired from the Board on February 10, 2021, as previously report on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 11, 2021 and his 84,092 outstanding stock awards will continue to vest until July 9, 2021 (for 72,464 of the outstanding stock awards) and December 18, 2021 (for 11,628 of the outstanding stock awards).

  (4)

Mr. Stecker was appointed to the Board on February 10, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 11, 2021, and did not receive any stock awards in fiscal 2021.

  (5)

Mr. Tuder resigned from the Board on May 14, 2021, as previously report on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 18, 2021 and his 145,106 outstanding stock awards will continue to vest until July 9, 2021 (for 72,464 of the outstanding stock awards), December 18, 2021 (for 29,070 of the outstanding stock awards) and February 28, 2022 (for 21,786 of the outstanding stock awards).

 

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Report of the Audit Committee

The Audit Committee currently consists of Mr. Nicol (Chairman) and Messrs. Singer and Stecker.

The Audit Committee’s primary duties and responsibilities are to:

 

   

Appoint, compensate and retain SeaChange’s independent registered public accounting firm, and oversee the work performed by the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

Assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities by reviewing the financial reports provided by SeaChange to the SEC and SeaChange’s stockholders;

 

   

Monitor the integrity of SeaChange’s financial reporting process and systems of internal controls regarding finance, accounting, and legal compliance;

 

   

Recommend, establish and monitor procedures designed to improve the quality and reliability of the disclosure of SeaChange’s financial condition and results of operations; and

 

   

Provide an avenue of communication among the independent registered public accounting firm, management and the Board.

The Board has adopted a written charter setting out the functions the Audit Committee is to perform. A copy of this may be found on SeaChange’s website at www.seachange.com under the “Corporate Governance” section of the “Investor Relations” link.

Management has primary responsibility for SeaChange’s consolidated financial statements and the overall reporting process, including SeaChange’s system of internal controls.

The independent registered public accounting firm audits the annual consolidated financial statements prepared by management, expresses an opinion as to whether those consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of SeaChange in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and discusses with the Audit Committee any issues the independent registered public accounting firm believes should be raised with SeaChange.

For fiscal 2021, the Audit Committee reviewed the audited consolidated financial statements of SeaChange and met with both management and Marcum LLP, SeaChange’s independent registered public accounting firm that served in fiscal 2021, to discuss those consolidated financial statements.

The Audit Committee has received from and discussed with Marcum LLP the written disclosures and the letters required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding Marcum LLP’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with Marcum LLP their independence. The Audit Committee also discussed with Marcum LLP the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC.

Based on these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements of SeaChange be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021. The Audit Committee also decided to retain Marcum LLP as SeaChange’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2022 fiscal year.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY THE AUDIT

COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jeffrey Tuder, Chairman (resigned May 14, 2021)

Julian Singer

Matthew Stecker

 

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The information contained in this Audit Committee Report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material.” No portion of this Audit Committee Report shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, through any general statement incorporating by reference in its entirety the proxy statement in which this report appears, except to the extent that SeaChange specifically incorporates this report or any portion of it by reference. In addition, this report shall not be deemed to be filed under either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. II

APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS TO DECLASSIFY

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our By-Laws currently provide that our Board is divided into three classes, with each class elected every three years. Under this structure, only one class of directors, constituting approximately one-third of the Board, is considered for election each year. On the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, our Board has approved, and recommends that the stockholders approve, certain amendments to our By-Laws to eliminate the classified board structure in order to provide for the annual election of all directors elected by the stockholders for one-year terms.

The affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the shares entitled to vote at any annual election of directors is required for approval of this proposal. If the amendments are adopted, then notwithstanding the fact that the existing directors may have been elected to serve multi-year terms, all of the directors will serve one-year terms expiring at our 2022 Annual Meeting, including our Class I directors, who have been nominated in this proxy statement to serve for a three-year term. As a result, assuming the proposed amendment is approved, all of our directors would serve for a term expiring at the next Annual Meeting and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. In the case of any vacancy on the Board occurring after this Annual Meeting created by an increase in the number of directors on our Board, the vacancy would be filled through an interim appointment by the Board with the new director to serve a term ending no later than at the next Annual Meeting. Vacancies on our Board created by resignation, removal, or death would be filled by election by the Board of a new director to serve until the end of the term of the director being replaced. The proposed amendment would not change the present number of directors or the authority of the Board to change that number and to fill any vacancies or newly created directorships. If this proposal is not approved, we will continue to have a classified board with staggered three-year terms as provided in our By-Laws.

Delaware law provides that members of a board of directors that is classified may be removed only for cause. At present, because our Board is classified, our By-Laws provide that our directors may be removed only for cause upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. If the proposed amendments to our By-Laws are approved, directors will be able to be removed with or without cause in the manner provided in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and applicable law.

Our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and the full Board periodically consider our corporate governance practices and structures. As part of that process, the Board considers corporate trends, peer practices, the views of our institutional stockholders and the guidelines of proxy advisory firms. After balancing these interests, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, has decided to submit this proposal to eliminate our classified board structure.

In making this decision, the Board considered that many public companies have taken action to declassify their boards of directors. The Board further weighed the merits of both a classified board of directors and an annually-elected board of directors. In conducting its evaluation, the Board considered the advantages of a classified board structure, such as promoting board stability and continuity, providing a greater opportunity to protect the interests of stockholders in the event of an unsolicited takeover offer and reinforcing a commitment to long-term perspectives and value creation for our stockholders. The Board also considered, however, the corporate governance trend towards annual elections of directors, as this may increase directors’ accountability to stockholders and enable stockholders to express their views on each director’s performance by means of an annual vote. Moreover, many institutional investors believe that the election of directors is the primary means for stockholders to influence corporate governance policies and to hold management accountable for implementing those policies.

 

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Article 2 of our By-Laws contains the provisions that will be affected if this proposal is adopted. Appendix A to this Proxy Statement shows the proposed changes to Article 2, with deletions indicated by strike-outs and additions indicated by underlining.

If our stockholders do not approve this proposal, our directors will continue to be elected in three classes with staggered terms and provisions of our By-Laws relating to the removal of directors only for cause upon supermajority approval will not be amended.

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of the amendments to our By-Laws to declassify the Board of Directors.

 

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INFORMATION CONCERNING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

In addition to Robert Pons, SeaChange’s Executive Chairman and Director, whose biographical information is set forth above on page 7, SeaChange’s other executive officer is:

 

Executive

Officer’s Name                 

  

Position and Principal Occupation and Business Experience During the Past Five Years

Michael Prinn

  

Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

Michael Prinn, 47, joined the Company on October 8, 2019 as Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer. Mr. Prinn previously served as the Vice President, Finance of Brightcove, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOV) from October 2018 to September 2019. Prior to that, from October 2012 to September 2018, Mr. Prinn served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bridgeline Digital, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLIN). In addition to his duties as Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Prinn acted as Co-Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of Bridgeline Digital from December 2015 to May 2016, when a new President and Chief Executive Officer was appointed. Mr. Prinn has a B.S. in accounting from Boston College, Carroll School of Management.

Executive officers of SeaChange are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, the Board, and serve until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. There are no family relationships among any of the executive officers or directors of SeaChange. Each executive officer is a full-time employee of SeaChange, except for Mr. Pons who serves as a non-employee Executive Chairman of the Company.

 

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Executive Summary

We have implemented an executive compensation program that rewards performance. Our executive compensation program is designed to attract, retain and motivate the key individuals who are most capable of contributing to our success and building long-term value for our stockholders. The elements of our executives’ total compensation are base salary, incentive compensation and other employee benefits. We have designed a compensation program that makes a substantial portion of executive pay variable, subject to increase when performance targets are achieved, and subject to reduction when performance targets are not achieved, which we believe aligns the interests of our executives with that of our stockholders.

Fiscal 2021 Business Results

Our software products and services are designed to empower video providers to create, manage and monetize the increasingly personalized, highly engaging experiences that viewers demand. Using our products and services, we believe customers can increase revenue by offering services such as video-on-demand (“VOD”) programming on a variety of consumer devices, including televisions, mobile telephones (“smart phones”), personal computers (“PCs”), tablets and over the top (“OTT”) streaming players. Our solutions enable service providers to offer other interactive television services that allow subscribers to receive personalized services and interact with their video devices, thereby enhancing their viewing experience. Our products also allow our customers to insert advertising into broadcast and VOD content.

SeaChange serves an exciting global marketplace where multiscreen viewing is increasingly required, consumer device options are evolving rapidly, and viewing habits are shifting. The primary driver of our business is enabling the delivery of video content in the changing multiscreen television environment. We have expanded our capabilities, products and services to address the delivery of content to devices other than television set-top boxes, namely PCs, tablets, smart phones and OTT streaming players. We believe that our strategy of expanding into adjacent product lines will also position us to further support and maintain our existing service provider customer base. Providing our customers with more scalable software platforms enables them to further reduce their infrastructure costs, improve reliability and expand service offerings to their customers. Additionally, we believe we are well positioned to capitalize on new customers entering the multiscreen marketplace and increasingly serve adjacent markets. Our core technologies provide a foundation for software products and services that can be deployed in next generation video delivery systems capable of increased levels of subscriber activity across multiple devices.

We have implemented restructuring programs and cost saving initiatives during the past three years to improve operations and optimize our cost structure. In fiscal 2020, we streamlined our operations and closed our service organizations in Ireland and the Netherlands, for which we realized annualized cost savings of approximately $6.0 million. In the first half of fiscal 2021, we reduced our headcount across all departments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, for which we expect approximately $7.6 million of annualized savings. Additionally, in the second quarter of fiscal 2021, we transferred our technical support services to our Poland location in an effort to further reduce costs.

Our cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities totaled $6.3 million at January 31, 2021. Our overall financial results decreased from fiscal 2020, primarily as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business. Revenues declined to $22.0 million in fiscal 2021 compared to revenues of $67.2 in fiscal 2020 and net loss was $21.8 million in fiscal 2021 compared to a net loss of $8.9 million in fiscal 2020.

Named Executive Officers

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis discusses compensation decisions with respect to (i) all individuals who served as our principal executive officer or in a similar capacity during fiscal 2021, (ii)

 

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SeaChange’s two most highly compensated executive officers, other than the principal executive officer, who were serving as executive officers at the end of fiscal 2021, and (iii) up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been provided pursuant to clause (ii), but for the fact that the individual was not serving as an executive officer of SeaChange at the end of fiscal 2021. We refer to these executive officers collectively in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the related compensation tables as the “named executive officers”. For fiscal 2021, the named executive officers were:

 

   

Robert Pons, our Executive Chairman;

 

   

Michael Prinn, our Chief Financial Officer;

 

   

Yossi Aloni, former President and Chief Executive Officer

 

   

Marek Kielczewski, former Chief Technology Officer and former Office of the CEO; and

 

   

Chad Hassler, former Chief Commercial Officer.

As discussed below, each of Messrs. Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler no longer serve as executive officers of SeaChange.

Pay for Performance

Payouts under our executive compensation incentive plan in recent years have reflected the variability in our financial performance.

Historically, in addition to achieving revenue and operating income targets, our named executive officers must also meet individual performance-based objectives under the terms of our annually established short-term incentive plan in order to receive their full bonus. In both fiscal 2017 and 2019, when we did not achieve pre-established financial performance targets under the applicable short-term incentive plan, payouts were limited to the portion of the award based on individual performance objectives. In contrast, in fiscal 2018, when we experienced improved financial performance versus the prior fiscal year and financial performance above pre-established thresholds with respect to revenue and above target with respect to non-GAAP operating income, payouts were made with respect to both financial and individual performance objectives. In fiscal 2020, financial performance was above threshold with respect to non-GAAP operating income, and payouts were made with respect to that financial performance objective. Due to the extensive turnover of the membership of the Board and the management team during fiscal 2020, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) did not believe it appropriate to condition the receipt of the named executive officers’ short-term incentive awards on additional individualized criteria for fiscal 2020, and accordingly did not set individualized performance objectives for fiscal 2020, but elected to pay out the full amount of what would have been the payout for the individualized goals in order to retain the newly appointed management team and in recognition of their services to the Company in connection with the various management and Board transitions that occurred throughout the year. The Committee did not believe that the total bonus payout for fiscal 2020 was sufficient, and the Committee exercised its right to provide supplemental discretionary bonuses in order to motivate and retain our new management team and in recognition of the management team’s successful navigation of the unique challenges posed by the significant transitions throughout the year. In fiscal 2021, the Committee set financial performance goals relating to revenue, non-GAAP operating income and year-end cash balance which would need to be satisfied in order for the executives to attain their the short-term incentive awards, but it did not set individualized performance objectives for fiscal 2021. The Company did not meet its financial goals in fiscal 2021, mainly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic effect on the Company’s business, and no short-term incentive awards were paid in fiscal 2021.

With respect to the long-term incentive plan, payouts showed similar variability with respect to the PSU component of the awards, with the fiscal 2017 awards being determined based on total shareholder return, and each of the fiscal 2018 and 2019 awards being based on financial performance compared to annually established metrics. Similar to the short-term incentive awards, the vesting of the long-term incentive awards has fluctuated based on our recent financial performance, with no vesting for the portion of the fiscal 2019 awards based on

 

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fiscal 2021 financial performance. In fiscal 2020, a long term-incentive award plan was not established due to the significant turnover of the management team and the granting of new hire equity awards during that year. In fiscal 2021, a long-term incentive plan was adopted with the fiscal 2021 PSU awards being determined by the attainment of a certain stock price to be maintained for twenty business days within 3 years of the PSU grant date. The stock price was not met in fiscal 2021, and no vesting of the fiscal 2021 PSUs occurred.

We believe that the variability in these payouts indicates that our annual compensation plans effectively reward our executive officers for superior performance, while appropriately adjusting compensation downward for less-than-superior performance, thereby aligning the interests of our executive team with that of our stockholders.

Compensation Objectives

We structure our executive compensation to reflect individual responsibilities and contributions, while providing incentives to achieve overall business and financial objectives. The Committee has the responsibility for establishing, implementing and monitoring adherence to this philosophy. Pursuant to the Committee’s charter, such responsibility could be delegated to a subcommittee, but the Committee has not delegated its authority.

The Committee has designed an executive compensation plan that rewards the achievement of specific financial and non-financial goals through a combination of cash and stock-based compensation. This bifurcation between financial and non-financial objectives and between cash and stock-based compensation creates alignment with stockholder interests and provides a structure in which executives are rewarded for achieving results that the Committee believes will enhance stockholder value.

The Committee believes that stockholder interests are best served by compensating our executives at industry competitive rates, recognizing superior performance and providing incentives to achieve overall business and financial objectives, which collectively align the interests of our executives and our stockholders. In addition, we believe that our ability to achieve financial and non-financial goals is enhanced.

Setting Executive Compensation

When setting the annual compensation plan for our executive officers, the Committee begins with an analysis of each compensation component for our Chief Executive Officer. This analysis includes the dollar amount of each component of compensation payable to the Chief Executive Officer related to the relevant period, together with the related metrics for performance-based compensation. The overall purpose of this analysis is to bring together all of the elements of fixed and contingent compensation, so that the Committee may analyze both the individual elements of compensation (including the compensation mix) as well as the aggregate amount of actual projected and potential compensation.

The Committee then presents this analysis to the Chief Executive Officer, who provides input to the Committee on the reasonableness, feasibility and effectiveness of the compensation components, including performance metrics, proposed by the Committee. The Chief Executive Officer then creates similar compensation component breakdowns for the other executive officers, and presents compensation recommendations of both base and performance-based compensation related to the relevant period, together with the associated performance metrics to the Committee. These recommendations are then reviewed and, once agreed upon, approved by the Committee. The Committee can and has exercised its discretion in modifying any recommended compensation to executives and exercises this discretion in active consultation with the Chief Executive Officer.

The Committee engaged Meridian to advise on the appropriate peer group for fiscal 2021, taking into account such companies’ revenue, market capitalization and industry focus as compared to that of SeaChange. In

 

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establishing the Company’s fiscal 2021 executive compensation plan, the Committee made reference to the following list of peer companies provided to it by Meridian, but did not benchmark compensation to these companies. The fiscal 2021 peer group is as follows:

 

•  American Software, Inc.

 

•  BSQUARE Corporation

 

•  eGain Corporation

 

•  Marchex, Inc.

 

•  RealNetworks, Inc.

 

•  SITO Mobile, Ltd.

  

•  Brightcove, Inc.

 

•  Digital Turbine, Inc.

 

•  Limelight Networks, Inc.

 

•  Marin Software, Inc.

 

•  Remark Media, Inc.

 

•  Synacor, Inc.

The Committee determined that this list of peer companies provided appropriate data points to aid in its decision making regarding executive compensation, based on our revenues, market capitalization, and industry focus relative to each of these companies.

In 2020, we submitted our executive compensation to an advisory vote of our stockholders and it received the support of 93.9% of the total votes cast on this matter at our annual meeting. We pay careful attention to any feedback we receive from our stockholders about our executive compensation, including the “Say-on-Pay” vote. While we had already approved our fiscal 2021 compensation plan by the time we held our “Say-on-Pay” vote in July 2020, we considered the stockholder advisory vote in formulating our fiscal 2022 compensation plan. This consideration included reaching out to our largest stockholders as part of the Company’s on-going outreach program. In the past six months, the Company has actively engaged with many of its stockholders, representing nearly half of the shares outstanding, on a number of topics, including governance and compensation matters.

Fiscal 2021 Executive Compensation Components

For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021, the principal components of compensation for our named executive officers were:

 

   

base salary;

 

   

short-term performance-based incentive compensation;

 

   

discretionary cash awards;

 

   

long-term incentive equity awards;

 

   

discretionary equity awards;

 

   

change in control and termination benefits; and

 

   

general employee welfare benefits.

As discussed below, in approving the executive compensation for fiscal 2021, the Committee was guided by its belief that this mix of compensation would allow us to pay our executive officers competitive levels of compensation that best reflect their respective individual responsibilities and contributions, while providing incentives to achieve overall business and financial objectives and aligning the interests of our executives with that of our stockholders.

 

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Summary of Fiscal 2021 Management Changes

The Company experienced significant turnover in its executive management team during fiscal 2021. Mr. Aloni resigned as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer on January 8, 2021, and Mr. Robert Pons was appointed as the Company’s Executive Chair serving as the Company’s Chairman of the Board and principal executive officer effective January 8, 2021 while the Company conducts a search for a new Chief Executive Officer. On January 14, 2021, Mr. Hassler resigned as the Chief Commercial Officer of the Company, and on March 22, 2021, Mr. Kielczewski resigned as the Chief Technology Officer of the Company. The Company does not intend to replace these executive management positions, and the duties of these positions are currently being performed by existing management staff.

Compensation Arrangement with New Executive Chairman, Robert Pons

In conjunction with the resignation of Mr. Aloni as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company on January 8, 2021, Mr. Pons was appointed as a nonemployee Executive Chairman of the Company, effective as of January 8. 2021. In this role, Mr. Pons will serve as both the principal executive officer of the Company, while remaining as the Company’s Chairman of the Board while a search is conducted for a new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Pons resigned from the Company’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees of the Board effective January 8, 2021.

In consideration of Mr. Pons service as the Executive Chairman, Mr. Pons will:

 

   

continue to receive his external Director annual equity grant and Director fees for serving as a Board member and as Chairman of the Board, as described in the section Director Compensation Fiscal 2021 on page 16;

 

   

receive a gross cash payment of $75,000 to be paid in three (3) equal payments of $25,000 in February, March and April; and

 

   

receive a gross cash payment of $11,750, equal to the Board Committee fees Mr. Pons is forfeiting due to his Board Committee resignations while serving as Executive Chairman, to be paid in three (3) equal payments of $3,916.67 in February, March in April.

The above compensation paid to Mr. Pons is based on the assumption that the Company will successfully complete its Chief Executive Officer search by July 31, 2021. If the Chief Executive Officer search goes beyond July 31, 2021, then Mr. Pons compensation as Executive Chairman will be reevaluated.

Employee Separation Agreement and General Release of Former Chief Executive Officer, Yossi Aloni

In connection with the employment termination of our former Chief Executive Officer, Yossi Aloni, effective as of January 8, 2021, we entered into an Employee Separation Agreement and General Release (the “Separation Agreement”) with Mr. Aloni, dated January 9, 2021.

Under the terms of the Separation Agreement, Mr. Aloni received:

 

   

severance pay in the gross amount of $150,000 with $50,000 being paid within ten (10) business days after the Effective Date of the Separation Agreement and $100,000 being paid in twenty-four (24) equal installments over a period of one year, all subject to regular payroll withholdings. The Effective Date of the Separation Agreement is the eighth day after the execution date of January 9, 2021; and

 

   

continued vesting of one additional tranche of Mr. Aloni’s RSU equity award dated January 31, 2019 on January 31, 2021, for 16,667 shares of our common stock.

The Company did not enter into separation agreements with either Messrs. Hassler or Kielczewski in connection with their respective terminations, nor did Mr. Hassler or Mr. Kielczewski receive severance benefits in connection with their respective terminations.

 

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Base Salary

We provide our named executive officers and other employees with base salary to compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year. Base salary ranges for named executive officers are determined individually for each executive.

During its review of base salaries for named executive officers, the Committee primarily considers:

 

   

individual performance of the executive;

 

   

our overall past operating and financial performance and future expectations;

 

   

internal review of the executive’s compensation, both individually and relative to other executive officers; and

 

   

market data regarding peer companies.

The Committee does not give a specific weighting among these various factors but rather considers the factors collectively in setting base salary. Salary levels are typically considered on an annual basis as part of the performance review process, as well as upon a promotion or other change in job responsibility. We try to provide an allocation between base and performance-based incentive compensation that reflects market conditions and appropriately ensures alignment of individual performance with our objectives.

In fiscal 2021, Mr. Pons received a total value of $197,576 comprised of external director fees paid in cash and equity awards as described in Director Compensation Fiscal 2021 on page 16. Mr. Pons did not receive any additional compensation for being the Company’s Executive Chairman in fiscal 2021. Mr. Prinn’s annual base salary was $300,000. Mr. Aloni’s annual base salary was $430,000. Mr. Kielczewski’s annual base salary was increased from $250,000 to $320,000, effective February 1, 2020, to be more aligned with current market rates. Mr. Hassler’s annual base salary was $300,000.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, for the period from March 23, 2020 through January 31, 2021, Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler each elected to forego twenty-five percent (25%) of their respective base salaries in exchange for a stock option award equal to the value of their respective reduction in base compensation divided by the Black-Scholes value of the stock option award at the time of grant (the “COVID-19 Equity Grants”). Stock option grants were made to Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler on June 30, 2020 for the period from March 23, 2020 through June 30, 2020 valued at $20,315, $31,359, $21,668 and $20,315, respectively. In lieu of receiving further stock option grants in exchange for the salary reduction, the Company paid cash to Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler in the amounts of $25,001, $35,835, $26,667 and $25,001, respectively, for the period from July 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020. The Committee discontinued the COVID-19 Equity Grants effective November 1, 2020.

Mr. Prinn’s annual base salary was restored to the pre-COVID-19 level of $300,000 effective February 1, 2021. Messrs. Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler’s base salaries were not restored to pre-COVID-19 rates prior to their termination of employment with the Company.

Performance-Based Incentive Compensation

After considering the overall cash-equity mix of the aggregate compensation paid to our named executive officers, the Committee has historically structured awards pursuant to the fiscal performance-based compensation plans to be a mixture of cash, stock options, RSUs and PSUs. The Committee believes that including both cash and stock options, RSUs and PSUs as an element of the performance-based compensation is important as it further aligns the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders, increases executive ownership of our stock, discourages excessive levels of risk taking, and enhances executive retention in a challenging business environment and competitive labor market, while at the same time providing competitive current compensation and accounting for the liquidity limitations created by the Company’s stock ownership guidelines.

 

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Starting in fiscal 2016, the Committee has annually established a long-term incentive plan pursuant to which all equity awards to the named executive officers are made, and a short-term incentive compensation plan, pursuant to which all cash awards to the named executive officers are made. All equity awards made under the annual long-term incentive compensation plans were made pursuant to SeaChange’s Second Amended and Restated 2011 Compensation Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”) and are subject to the terms thereof. In light of the frequent turnover and changes in the management team during fiscal 2020, the Committee did not establish a long-term incentive compensation plan for fiscal 2020. The Committee did not believe that a long-term incentive compensation plan was necessary since most of the executive team received either promotion and/or new hire equity awards in conjunction with their promotions and/or hiring, resulting in significant equity awards being made in fiscal 2020. Furthermore, the Committee desired to change the timing of the grant of long-term incentive compensation awards from the end of each fiscal year to the beginning of each fiscal year.

Fiscal 2021 Performance-Based Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan

The Committee believes that performance-based incentive compensation motivates the achievement of critical annual performance objectives aimed at enhancing stockholder value. The fiscal 2021 short-term incentive plan (the “fiscal 2021 STI”) established for each of Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler provided for cash awards payable upon the satisfaction of specified targets.

Performance-based compensation for Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler pursuant to our fiscal 2021 STI was structured as follows:

 

   

40% of target bonus payable based upon the achievement of certain U.S. GAAP revenue goals for fiscal 2021;

 

   

40% of target bonus payable based upon the achievement of certain Non-GAAP operating income goals for fiscal 2021; and

 

   

20% of target bonus payable based upon the achievement of certain minimum cash balance goals.

All metrics used for the payout of the fiscal 2021 STI were financial goals, and personal objectives were eliminated as a metric in fiscal 2021. For purposes of the fiscal 2021 STI, we define non-GAAP (loss) income from operations as U.S. GAAP net income (loss) adjusted for stock-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, non-operating expense professional fees, severance and other restructuring costs, loss on the sale of fixed assets, other (expense) income, net, and income tax provision.

In determining the targets and payouts at target performance levels for each of the objectives for awards under the fiscal 2021 STI, the Committee considered the probability of achieving that target and the corresponding level of individual and group effort that would be required to achieve that target. Within that framework, the Committee set a fiscal 2021 U.S. GAAP revenue target of $75 million, with a threshold of $65 million and stretch goal of $85 million; a fiscal 2021 non-GAAP operating income target of $15.5 million, with a threshold of $13.6 million and a stretch goal of $17.36 million; and a fiscal 2021 minimum cash balance target of $7.5 million by the end of fiscal 2021. The Committee retained discretion to adjust these targets during the year. The Committee did not establish limits for itself with respect to exercise of this discretion and believes that this discretion is important in order to retain the ability to compensate executive officers in a manner that reflects overall corporate and individual performance relative to the market conditions.

In establishing financial targets and potential payout targets for the named executive officers, the Committee provided for additional incentive payouts in the event that the revenue or non-GAAP operating income targets were exceeded, with a specified maximum upward adjustment of twenty-five percent (25%) above target based upon non-GAAP operating income and a maximum upward adjustment of twenty-five percent (25%) based upon revenue. The Committee also provided for a decreasing amount of cash payouts in the event that the revenue or non-GAAP operating income target, as applicable, were not met, while establishing a

 

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threshold with respect to each objective below which no corresponding payout would be made. These provisions were established to provide incentive to our executive officers to exceed the financial targets, as well as to provide some form of payout for performance that approaches but may not meet the established targets. The Committee implemented this structure to ensure that our compensation programs support our overall compensation objectives.

Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler did not receive bonus payments under the fiscal 2021 STI because the Company did not achieve the fiscal 2021 financial goals under the fiscal 2021 STI.

Long-Term Incentive Equity Awards

Fiscal 2021 Long-Term Incentive Program

After not providing long-term equity-based incentive awards in fiscal 2020, the Committee reinstated the long-term incentive compensation plan in fiscal 2021 (“fiscal 2021 LTI”) under which the named executive officers received long-term equity-based incentive awards, which are intended to align the interests of our named executive officers with the long-term interests of our stockholders and to emphasize and reinforce our focus on team success. The long-term equity-based incentive compensation awards for fiscal 2021 were made in the form of stock options, RSUs and a new form of PSUs for shares of our common stock subject to vesting based in part on the extent to which employment continues for three (3) years.

Because the executives are able to profit from stock options only if our stock price increases relative to the stock option’s exercise price and because the value of restricted stock units is based on the price of our common stock when the RSUs vest, we believe stock options and RSUs provide meaningful incentives to executives to achieve increases in the value of our stock over time and as a result are effective tools for meeting our compensation goal of increasing long-term stockholder value.

In fiscal 2018, the Committee restructured the vesting criteria of the PSUs to emphasize the achievement of specified U.S. GAAP revenue and non-GAAP operating income goals. In fiscal 2019, the Committee used the same structure for the fiscal 2019 LTIs as was used in fiscal 2018. Instead of vesting based on the Company’s TSR percentile rank compared to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index over a three (3) year period, as was done in fiscal 2016 and 2017, the PSUs awarded pursuant to the fiscal 2019 LTI are eligible to vest in three (3) equal annual tranches subject to the executives’ achievement of both U.S. GAAP revenue and non-GAAP operating income goals that will be set annually for each year. In fiscal 2020, long-term equity-based incentive awards were not granted due to the significant turnover of the management team in that year. In fiscal 2021, the Committee reinstated and changed the structure for the fiscal 2021 LTI, as compared to the structure that was used in fiscal 2019. Pursuant to the fiscal 2021 LTI, performance-based awards will be eligible to vest subject to the Company’s attainment of a threshold share price that must be held for twenty (20) consecutive trading days within the three (3) years following the grant date of such awards. The vesting terms of the RSU awards are time-based, and the RSU awards will vest in three equal tranches on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant.

All fiscal 2021 LTI awards were approved by the Committee. In determining the size of the RSU award or performance-based award, the Committee takes into account individual performance (generally consisting of financial performance for the year as well as a subjective, qualitative review of each named executive officer’s contribution to the success of the business), internal pay equity considerations and the value of previously granted equity awards.

 

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The following awards under the fiscal 2021 LTI were approved by the Committee effective as of May 24, 2020:

 

   

PSUs. An award of PSUs in an amount equal to the number of shares of SeaChange’s common stock set forth opposite the applicable executive’s name below:

 

Yossi Aloni(1)    185,714
Michael Prinn      42,857
Marek Kielczewski      87,857
Chad Hassler      55,714
  (1)

Mr. Aloni elected to take performance-based stock options instead of PSUs or RSUs.

 

   

RSUs. An award of RSUs in an amount equal to the number of shares of SeaChange’s common stock set forth opposite the applicable executive’s name below, to vest ratably on an annual basis over the three years following the RSU grant date:

 

Yossi Aloni(1)    --
Michael Prinn    14,286
Marek Kielczewski    29,286
Chad Hassler    18,571
  (1)

Mr. Aloni elected to take his entire fiscal 2021 LTI award as a performance-based stock option award.

In light of the uncertain effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SeaChange’s business and results of operations, and the lack of clarity regarding the breadth and depth of such effects, the Committee retained the right to modify its decisions with respect to fiscal 2021 executive compensation and adjust the threshold share price and minimum cash balance, as appropriate.

Additional Fiscal 2021 LTI Terms

If a Change in Control of the Company occurs prior to prospective vesting date(s) of the fiscal 2021 LTI awards, then one hundred percent (100%) of the awards to vest in those prospective periods shall vest immediately on the executive’s Covered Termination that follows such Change in Control, subject to the executive being an employee of the Company as of the Change in Control date.    Covered Termination and Change in Control are defined in each executive’s Change in Control Severance Agreement (“Change in Control Agreement”) described further in Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control on page 40.

Clawback Policy; Stock Ownership Guidelines; Hedging and Pledging Restrictions

Compensation paid to our named executive officers is subject to a policy regarding compensation reimbursement, or a “clawback” policy, as described in our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, a copy of which is available on our website of www.seachange.com under the “Corporate Governance” section of the “Investor Relations” link. The policy provides that in the event that our financial results are significantly restated, the Board will review any compensation, other than base salary, paid or awarded to any executive officer found to be personally responsible for the fraud or intentional misconduct that caused the need for the restatement. The Board will, to the extent permitted by law, require the executive officer to repay any such compensation if:

 

   

the amount of such compensation was calculated based upon the achievement of certain financial results that were subsequently the subject of the restatement;

 

   

the executive officer engaged in fraud or intentional misconduct that caused the need for the restatement; and

 

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such compensation would have been lower than the amount actually awarded had the financial results been properly reported.

Compensation paid to our named executive officers in the form of equity is also subject to our stock retention and ownership guidelines that apply to our directors and senior officers, as described in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, a copy of which is available on our website at www.seachange.com under the “Corporate Governance” section of the “Investor Relations” link. These guidelines provide that by the later of six (6) years following appointment to office or four (4) years following election to the Board, as applicable:

 

   

each non-employee director is expected to retain ownership of vested shares of SeaChange stock in a minimum amount equal to the lesser of 40,000 shares or $250,000 worth of shares;

 

   

the Chief Executive Officer is expected to retain ownership of vested shares of SeaChange stock in a minimum amount equal to 250,000 shares;

 

   

the Chief Financial Officer is expected to retain ownership of vested shares of SeaChange stock in a minimum amount equal to 75,000 shares; and

 

   

each Senior Vice President that is an executive officer is expected to retain ownership of vested shares of SeaChange stock in a minimum amount equal to 50,000 shares.

Prior to meeting the stock ownership targets, each non-employee director and senior executive officer is encouraged, but is not required, to retain a meaningful portion of all shares of stock acquired by the non-employee director or officer (whether through equity awards by SeaChange, purchases on the open market or otherwise) in order to progress toward the stock ownership targets, other than shares of stock sold to pay taxes and/or applicable exercise price with respect to an equity award. Upon meeting the stock ownership targets, each non-employee director and senior executive officer is required thereafter to retain not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of all shares of stock acquired by the non-employee director or officer (whether through equity awards by SeaChange, purchases on the open market or otherwise), other than shares of stock sold to pay taxes and/or the applicable exercise price with respect to an equity award. In addition, upon any termination of service for a non-employee director and upon voluntary termination of service for a senior executive officer, such director or officer must wait at least ninety (90) days before selling any shares. In the case of hardship or other compelling personal requirements, the stock ownership targets may be waived to permit the sale of shares by the affected person.

In addition, our Insider Trading and Tipping Policy prohibits our insiders, which includes our employees and directors, from engaging in hedging transactions and requires the prior written consent of our compliance officer to pledge securities of SeaChange owned by the insider. We have not received any requests pursuant to our Insider Trading and Tipping Policy to permit pledges of SeaChange stock.

We have made, and from time to time continue to make, grants of stock options and RSUs to eligible employees based upon our overall financial performance and their individual contributions. Stock options and RSUs are designed to align the interests of our executives and other employees with those of our stockholders by encouraging them to enhance the value of SeaChange. In addition, the vesting of stock options and RSUs over a period of time is designed to defer the receipt of compensation by the recipient, creating an incentive for the individual to remain an employee. We do not have a program, plan or practice to select equity grant dates in connection with the release of favorable or negative news.

Change in Control and Termination Benefits

Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler are each party to a Change in Control Severance Agreement with SeaChange (the “Change in Control Agreements”), however, the Change in Control Agreements for Messrs. Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler are no longer in effect as of their respective resignation dates of January 8, 2021, March 22, 2021 and January 14, 2021.

 

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The Change in Control Agreements provide for benefits upon termination of employment following a change in control or sale of SeaChange (commonly referred to as “double trigger”) and do not contain any tax gross-up provisions. SeaChange entered into these agreements to reflect current best pay practices, while continuing to provide an incentive for each executive to remain with SeaChange leading up to and following a Change in Control.

In addition to the Change in Control Agreements, the offer letters governing the employment of each of Messrs. Prinn and Aloni include provisions regarding payments in the event of a termination under other circumstances.

The specific terms of these arrangements, as well as an estimate of the compensation that would have been payable had they been triggered as of fiscal 2021 year-end, are described in detail on page 43 under the heading entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination Associated with a Change in Control.”

General Employee Welfare Benefits

We also have various broad-based employee benefit plans. Executive officers participate in these plans on the same terms as eligible, non-executive employees, subject to any legal limits on the amounts that may be contributed or paid to executive officers under these plans. We offer a 401(k) retirement plan, which permits employees to invest in a choice of mutual funds on a pre-tax basis. We also maintain medical, disability and life insurance plans and other benefit plans for our employees.

Fiscal 2022 Executive Compensation Components

The Committee did not engage Meridian to advise on the appropriate peer group for fiscal 2022. Instead the Committee continued to use the list of peer companies provided to it by Meridian in fiscal 2021, as a point of reference, without formal compensation benchmarking. The fiscal 2022 peer group is as follows:

 

•   American Software, Inc.

 

•   BSQUARE Corporation

 

•   eGain Corporation

 

•   Marchex, Inc.

 

•   RealNetworks, Inc.

 

•   SITO Mobile, Ltd.

  

•   Brightcove, Inc.

 

•   Digital Turbine, Inc.

 

•   Limelight Networks, Inc.

 

•   Marin Software, Inc.

 

•   Remark Media, Inc.

 

•   Synacor, Inc.

The principal components of fiscal 2022 executive compensation are as follows, the same as existed for fiscal 2021 executive compensation:

 

   

base salary;

 

   

short-term performance-based incentive compensation;

 

   

discretionary cash awards;

 

   

long-term incentive equity awards;

 

   

discretionary equity awards;

 

   

change in control and termination benefits; and

 

   

general employee welfare benefits.

Within this framework, the Committee established the specific compensation programs for our named executive officers.

 

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Mr. Prinn’s annual base salary of $300,000, was restored back to its pre-COVID-19 fiscal 2021 rate on February 1, 2021.

Similar to previous years, in fiscal 2022 no equity awards will be made to the named executive officers under the fiscal 2022 short-term incentive bonus plan (“fiscal 2022 STI”). Instead, any incentive equity awards to the named executive officers during fiscal 2021 are intended to be made under the fiscal 2022 long-term incentive compensation plan (“fiscal 2022 LTI”) subject to vesting based in part on the extent to which employment continues for three (3) years. Under the fiscal 2022 STI, Mr. Prinn will be eligible for a target cash bonus of $50,000.

This fiscal 2022 STI is earned based on the Company’s achievement of overall company financial objectives for fiscal 2022 related to total revenue and non-GAAP operating income. These objectives will be further discussed in our proxy statement relating to our 2022 Annual Meeting.

The Committee discussed the establishment of a fiscal 2022 LTI, and decided to forego offering fiscal 2022 LTI awards in view of recent equity awards made to certain executives in fiscal 2022.

In light of the uncertain effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SeaChange’s business and results of operations, and the lack of clarity regarding the breadth and depth of such effects, the Committee retains the right to modify its decisions with respect to fiscal 2022 executive compensation, as appropriate.

Tax and Accounting Implications

The financial reporting and income tax consequences to SeaChange of individual compensation elements are considered by the Committee when it is analyzing the overall level of compensation and the mix of compensation among individual elements.

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) limits the amount that SeaChange may deduct from the Company’s federal taxable income for compensation paid to our named executive officers and other employees deemed “covered persons” under Section 162(m) to $1 million per executive per year. As a result, compensation paid to our named executive officers above the $1 million limit will not be deductible. While our Compensation Committee considers the tax deductibility when making compensation decisions, the Committee believes that it should retain flexibility to provide compensation above the limits of Section 162(m) when in furtherance of our corporate objectives and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth summary information regarding the compensation in fiscal 2021 and 2020 for SeaChange’s named executive officers to the extent such person was a named executive officer during the applicable period.

As described above in Compensation Discussion and Analysis, final determinations regarding awards of fiscal 2021 STI compensation are made after fiscal year-end, when performance against the previously established metrics may be assessed by the Committee. With respect to equity awards under SeaChange’s performance-based long-term incentive compensation plans, the grant date for purposes of ASC 718 is the service inception date, or the beginning of the period during which performance is measured. In accordance with ASC 718, the amounts reflected below under the headings “Stock Awards” for fiscal 2021, represent the probable outcome as of the service inception date of the performance conditions under the fiscal 2021 LTI, which in each case is the award amount at the targets approved by the Committee. In the table below performance-based compensation paid in cash after fiscal year-end but earned in the prior fiscal year is reflected

 

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under the heading “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” or “Bonus,” as applicable, in the fiscal year in which that compensation was earned, regardless of when paid.

 

Name and Principal Position

  Fiscal
Year
    Salary
($)
    Bonus
($)
    Stock
Awards (1)
($)
    Option
Awards (2)
($)
    Non-
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation (3)
($)
    All Other
Compensation (4)
($)
    Total
($)
 

Robert Pons (5)

    2021       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ----  

Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board

               

Michael Prinn (6)

    2021       260,941       ---       200,000       20,315       ---       ---       481,256  

Chief Financial
Officer, Senior Vice President & Treasurer

   

 

2020

 

 

 

   

 

95,636

 

 

 

 

 

 

22,351

 

 

 

   

 

---

 

 

 

   

 

141,830

 

 

 

   

 

27,649

 

 

 

   

 

---

 

 

 

   

 

287,466

 

 

 

Yossi Aloni (7)

    2021       354,470       ---       ---       681,359       ---       150,000       1,185,829  

Former President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

   

 

2020

 

 

 

   

 

374,277

 

 

 

   

 

50,211

 

 

 

   

 

---

 

 

 

   

 

391,765

 

 

 

   

 

226,351

 

 

 

   

 

---

 

 

 

   

 

1,042,604

 

 

 

Marek Kielczewski (8)

    2021       278,326       ---       410,000       21,668       ---       12,816       722,810  

Former Chief Technology Officer & Senior Vice President

   

 

2020

 

 

 

   

 

253,526

 

 

 

   

 

25,263

 

 

 

   

 

---

 

 

 

   

 

102,575

 

 

 

   

 

87,237

 

 

 

   

 

213,916

 

 

 

   

 

682,517

 

 

 

Chad Hassler (9)

    2021       267,191       ---       260,000       20,315       ---       ---       547,506  

Former Chief Commercial Officer & Senior Vice President

   

 

2020

 

 

 

   

 

265,193

 

 

 

   

 

---

 

 

 

   

 

---

 

 

 

   

 

193,800

 

 

 

   

 

218,531

 

 

 

   

 

----

 

 

 

   

 

677,524

 

 

 

 

(1)

The amounts shown under the “Stock Awards” column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the applicable RSU and target PSU awards as computed in accordance with ASC 718 disregarding any estimates of forfeitures relating to service-based vesting conditions. Performance-based RSUs and PSUs are valued at the grant date based upon the probable outcome of the performance metrics. Therefore, the amounts under the “Stock Awards” column do not reflect the amount of compensation actually received by the named executive officer during the fiscal year. Stock Awards in this table for fiscal 2021 consist of:; for Mr. Prinn, his fiscal 2021 LTI award of RSUs valued at $50,000 and PSUs valued at target at $150,000; Mr. Kielczewski, his fiscal 2021 LTI award of RSUs valued at $102,500 and PSUs valued at target at $307,500; and for Mr. Hassler, his fiscal 2021 LTI award of RSUs valued at $65,000 and PSUs valued at target at $195,000.

(2)

The amounts shown under the “Option Awards” column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the applicable option awards, as computed in accordance with ASC 718 disregarding any estimates of forfeitures relating to service-based vesting conditions. Option Awards in this table for fiscal 2021 consist of: for Mr. Prinn, an award of stock options for his COVID-19 Equity Grant valued at $20,315 for the period from March 23, 2020 through June 30, 2020; for Mr. Aloni, an award of stock options for his COVID-19 Equity Grant valued at $20,315 for the period from March 23, 2020 through June 30, 2020 and an award of performance-based stock options for his fiscal 2021 LTI award valued at a target of $650,000; for Mr. Kielczewski, an award of stock options for his COVID-19 Equity Grant valued at $21,668 for the period from March 23, 2020 through June 30, 2020; and for Mr. Hassler, an award of stock options for his COVID-19 Equity Grant valued at $20,315 for the period from March 23, 2020 through June 30, 2020. Option Awards in this table for fiscal 2020 consist of: for Mr. Prinn, a new hire award of stock options valued at $141,830; for Mr. Aloni, an award of stock options relating to his service as Office of the CEO from February 25, 2019 until April 4, 2019 valued at $32,855, an award of stock options for employee retention valued at $87,150 and an award of stock options on his promotion to President and Chief Executive Officer valued at $271,760; for Mr. Kielczewski, an award of stock options relating to his service as Office of the CEO from February 25, 2019 until April 4, 2019 valued at $32,855

 

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and an award of stock options for employee retention valued at $69,720; and for Mr. Hassler, a new hire award of stock options valued at $39,600, an award of stock options for employee retention valued at $52,290 and an award of stock options on his promotion to Chief Commercial Officer and Senior Vice President valued at $101,910.

(3)

The Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column reflects for fiscal 2020 and 2021 cash awards under performance-based compensation plans from the satisfaction of pre-established performance criteria.

(4)

The All Other Compensation column includes Company contributions to a named executive officer’s 401(k) retirement plan account, perquisites and other personal benefits received by a named executive officer to the extent such benefits exceeded $10,000 in the aggregate relating to the fiscal year. For fiscal 2021, Mr. Kielczewski received an additional $12,816 relating to Mr. Kielczewski’s relocation to the U.S. for his 16-month U.S. assignment. The $12,816 includes a tax “gross-up” of $4,409 pursuant to the terms of Mr. Kielczewski’s December 10, 2018 compensation letter. For fiscal 2020, Mr. Kielczewski received an additional $213,916 relating to Mr. Kielczewski’s relocation to and living expenses in the U.S. for his 16-month U.S. assignment. For fiscal 2021, Mr. Aloni received severance compensation of $150,000, of which $54,167 was paid in fiscal 2021, pursuant to the Employee Separation Agreement and General Release which is further described on page 27.

(5)

The information provided for Mr. Pons only reflects compensation earned in his capacity as Executive Chairman of the Company. Please see Director Compensation Fiscal 2021 on page 16 for information regarding compensation paid to Mr. Pons in connection with his service as a non-employee director.

(6)

Mr. Prinn joined the Company on October 8, 2019 as the Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer. The compensation paid in fiscal 2020 is for the period from October 8, 2019 through January 31, 2020.

(7)

Mr. Aloni was appointed Chief Commercial Officer on January 2, 2019, then appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer on August 29, 2019. Mr. Aloni’s employment with the Company terminated on January 8, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 13, 2021. Mr. Aloni’s fiscal 2020 compensation includes compensation paid to Mr. Aloni in fiscal 2020 for his position as Chief Commercial Officer, as a member of the Office of the CEO and as Chief Executive Officer. The compensation paid in fiscal 2021 is for the period from February 1, 2020 through his termination date of January 8, 2021. Mr. Aloni did not receive compensation for his service as a director.

(8)

Mr. Kielczewski was appointed Chief Technology Officer on November 29, 2018, and Mr. Kielczewski’s employment with the Company terminated on March 22, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2021. Mr. Kielczewski’s fiscal 2019 compensation includes compensation paid to Mr. Kielczewski in fiscal 2019 prior to Mr. Kielczewski’s appointment as Chief Technology Officer.

(9)

Mr. Hassler was appointed Chief Commercial Officer on August 29, 2019, and Mr. Hassler’s employment with the Company terminated on January 14, 2021, as previously reported on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 19, 2021. Mr. Hassler’s fiscal 2020 compensation includes compensation paid to Mr. Hassler in fiscal 2020 prior to Mr. Hassler’s appointment as Chief Commercial Officer. The compensation paid in fiscal 2021 is for the period from February 1, 2020 through his termination date of January 14, 2021.

 

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table sets forth information concerning plan-based awards to the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021.

 

         

 

Estimated Future Payouts under

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards

   

Estimated Future Payouts under

Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)

   

All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of Shares
of Stock
or Units (2)

(#)

   

All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options (2)

(#)

    Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
   

Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards

($)

 
    Grant Date    

Threshold

($)

   

Target

($)

    Maximum
($)
    Threshold
(#)
  Target
(#)
    Maximum
(#)
 

Robert Pons (3)

    ---       ---       ---       ---     ---     ---       ---       ---       ---       ---       ---  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Prinn (6)

    5/24/2020  (4)      156,000       260,000       312,000     ---     42,857       42,857       14,286       ---       ---       50,000  

 

    6/30/2020  (5)      ---       ---       ---     ---     ---       ---       ---       25,006       1.51       20,315  

Yossi Aloni (7)

    5/24/2020  (4)      240,000       400,000       480,000     ---     185,714       185,714       ---       ---       ---       ---  

 

    6/30/2020  (5)      ---       ---       ---     ---     ---       ---       ---       38,600       1.51       31,359  

Marek Kielczewski(8)

    5/24/2020  (4)      192,000       320,000       384,000     ---     87,854       87,857       29,286       ---       ---       102,500  

 

    6/30/2020  (5)      ---       ---       ---     ---     ---       ---       ---       26,672       1.51       21,668  

Chad Hassler (9)

    5/24/2020  (4)      192,000       320,000       384,000     ---     55,714       55,714       18,571       ---       ---       65,000  
    6/30/2020  (5)      ---       ---       ---     ---     ---       ---       ---       25,006       1.51       20,315  

 

(1)

The grants under the “Estimated Future Payouts under Equity Incentive Plan Awards” column represent the threshold, target and maximum number of RSUs or stock options awarded under the fiscal 2021 LTI.

(2)

The grants under the “All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units” column and under the “All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options” column represent the number of RSUs and options, respectively, subject to time-based vesting.

(3)

The information provided for Mr. Pons only reflects those stock awards earned in his capacity as Executive Chairman of the Company. Please see Director Compensation Fiscal 2021 on page 16 for information regarding stock awards granted to Mr. Pons in connection with his service as a non-employee director.

(4)

These awards were made pursuant to the fiscal 2021 STI and LTI adopted on May 24, 2020.

(5)

The value of these COVID-19 Equity Grants is equal to the amount of base salary that the executives forfeited due to the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s business for the period from March 23, 2020 through June 30, 2020, as described in Base Salary on page 28. One third of the stock options will vest semi-annually on December 31, 2020, June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2022.

(6)

As Chief Financial Officer of the Company, Mr. Prinn was entitled to participate in the fiscal 2021 STI with a target cash payout of $260,000 and the fiscal 2021 LTI with a target equity payout of $50,000 worth of RSUs and $150,000 worth of RSU based PSUs. Of the 57,143 stock awards, 14,286 are RSUs and 42,857 are PSUs. One third (33.3%) of the RSUs will vest annually in three equal tranches on May 26, 2021, May 26, 2022 and May 26, 2023. The PSUs will vest subject to the Company’s attainment of a threshold share price that must be held for twenty (20) consecutive trading days within the three years of the PSU grant date.

(7)

As Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Aloni was entitled to participate in the fiscal 2021 STI with a target cash payout of $400,000 and the fiscal 2021 LTI with a target equity payout of $650,000 worth of stock option based PSUs. The PSUs will vest subject to the Company’s attainment of a threshold share price that must be held for twenty (20) consecutive trading days within the three years of the PSU grant date. Mr. Aloni’s employment with the Company terminated on January 8, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 13, 2021.

(8)

As Chief Technology Officer of the Company, Mr. Kielczewski was entitled to participate in the fiscal 2021 STI with a target cash payout of $320,000 and the fiscal 2021 LTI with a target equity payout of $102,500 worth of RSUs and $307,500 worth of RSU based PSUs. Of the 117,143 stock awards, 29,286 are RSUs and 87,857 are PSUs. One third (33.3%) of the RSUs will vest annually in three equal tranches on May 26, 2021, May 26, 2022 and May 26, 2023. The PSUs will vest subject to the Company’s attainment of a threshold share price that must be held for twenty (20) consecutive trading days within the three years of the PSU grant date. Mr. Kielczewski’s employment with the Company terminated on March 22, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2021.

(9)

As Chief Commercial Officer of the Company, Mr. Hassler was entitled to participate in the fiscal 2021 STI with a target cash payout of $320,000 and the fiscal 2021 LTI with a target equity payout of $65,000 worth of RSUs and $195,000 worth of RSU based PSUs. Of the 74,285 stock awards, 18,571 are RSUs and 55,714 are PSUs. One third (33.3%) of the

 

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RSUs will vest annually in three equal tranches on May 26, 2021, May 26, 2022 and May 26, 2023. The PSUs will vest subject to the Company’s attainment of a threshold share price that must be held for twenty (20) consecutive trading days within the three years of the PSU grant date. Mr. Hassler’s employment with the Company terminated on January 14, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 19, 2021.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table sets forth summary information regarding the outstanding equity awards at January 31, 2021 granted to each of SeaChange’s named executive officers:

 

     Options Awards (1)      Stock Awards (2)  

Name

   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
     Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
     Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)
     Option
Exercise
Price ($)
     Option
Expiration
Date
     Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested (#)
     Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested ($)
 

Robert Pons(3)

     ---        ---        ---        ---        ---        ---        ---  

Michael Prinn

     33,334        66,666        ---        2.80        10/08/2029        57,143        66,857  
     8,336        16,670        ---        1.51        6/30/2030        

Yossi Aloni (4)

     133,334        ---        ---        1.43        4/8/2021        ---        ---  
     50,000        ---        ---        1.59        4/8/2021        
     41,667        ---        ---        1.43        4/8/2021        
     16,667        ---        ---        1.35        4/8/2021        
     62,500        ---        ---        2.70        4/8/2021        
     ---        ---        ---        3.50        4/8/2021        
     12,867        ---        ---        1.51        4/8/2021        

Marek Kielczewski (5)

     100,000        ---        ---        3.50        6/24/2021        150,475        176,056  
     30,612        ---        ---        2.42        6/24/2021        
     50,000        ---        ---        2.60        6/24/2021        
     75,000        ---        ---        3.33        6/24/2021        
     66,666        33,334        ---        1.68        6/24/2021        
     100,000        ---        50,000        1.59        6/24/2021        
     33,334        66,666        ---        1.43        6/24/2021        
     16,667        33,333        ---        1.35        6/24/2021        
     8,891        17,781        ---        1.51        6/24/2021        

Chad Hassler (6)

     16,667        ---        ---        1.62        4/15/2021        ---        ---  
     25,000        ---        ---        1.43        4/15/2021        
     25,000        ---        ---        2.70        4/15/2021        
     8,336        ---        ---        1.51        4/15/2021        

 

(1)

All options in the table above were granted under the 2011 Plan. The long-term incentive award stock options listed in the column, “Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options” will vest annually in equal tranches over three years from the grant date.

 

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(2)

These columns show the number of shares of common stock represented by unvested RSUs and PSUs at January 31, 2021. The remaining vesting dates for these unvested RSUs and PSUs as of January 31, 2021 were as follows in the table below.

 

Name

   Number of
Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have
Not Vested
     Date of Grant      Vesting Dates  

Robert Pons

     ---        

Michael Prinn

     14,286        5/26/2020        5/26/2021, 5/26/2022, 5/26/2023  
     42,857        5/26/2020        5/26/2021, 5/26/2022, 5/26/2023  

Yossi Aloni

     ---        

Marek Kielczewski (7)

     16,666        1/31/2019        1/31/2022  
     16,666        1/31/2019        1/31/2022  
     29,286        5/26/2020        5/26/2021, 5/26/2022, 5/26/2023  
     87,857        5/26/2020        5/26/2021, 5/26/2022, 5/26/2023  

Chad Hassler

     ---        

 

(3)

The information provided for Mr. Pons only reflects those stock awards earned in his capacity as Executive Chairman of the Company. Please see Director Compensation Fiscal 2021 on page 16 for information regarding stock awards granted to Mr. Pons in connection with his service as a non-employee director.

(4)

Mr. Aloni’s employment with the Company terminated on January 8, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 13, 2021. All vesting on Mr. Aloni’s stock option awards ceased effective on Mr. Aloni’s employment termination date. Mr. Aloni’s vested stock options expired 90 days after his termination date on April 8, 2021.

(5)

Mr. Kielczewski’s employment with the Company terminated on March 22, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2021. All vesting on Mr. Kielczewski’s stock option awards ceased effective on Mr. Kielczewski’s employment termination date, thus the unvested options appearing in the columns “Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable” and “Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#)” were cancelled effective on Mr. Kielczewski’s termination date. Mr. Kielczewski’s vested stock options will expire 90 days after his termination date on June 22, 2021.

(6)

Mr. Hassler’s employment with the Company terminated on January 14, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 19, 2021. All vesting on Mr. Hassler’s stock option awards ceased effective on Mr. Hassler’s employment termination date. Mr. Hassler’s vested stock options expired 90 days after his termination date on April 14, 2021.

(7)

Mr. Kielczewski’s employment with the Company terminated on March 22, 2021, as previously reported on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2021. All vesting on Mr. Kielczewski’s RSU and PSU awards ceased effective on Mr. Kielczewski’s employment termination date, thus the unvested options appearing in the columns “Number of Restricted Stock Units That Have Not Vested” were cancelled effective on Mr. Kielczewski’s termination date.

 

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table summarizes the option exercises and vesting of stock awards for each of SeaChange’s named executive officers for fiscal 2021:

 

     Option Awards      Stock Awards  

Name

   Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise
(#)
     Value Realized
on

Exercise
($)
     Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting
(#)
    Value Realized
on

Vesting (1)
($)
 

Robert Pons (2)

     ---        ---        ---       ---  

Michael Prinn

     ---        ---        ---       ---  

Yossi Aloni (3)

     ---        ---        33,334  (4)      42,001  

Marek Kielczewski

     ---        ---        20,833       24,375  

Chad Hassler (3)

     ---        ---        ---       ---  

 

(1)

The value realized upon vesting of the RSUs shown in the table above was calculated as the product of the closing price of a share of our common stock on the vesting date multiplied by the number of shares vested.

(2)

The information provided for Mr. Pons only reflects those stock awards earned in his capacity as Executive Chairman of the Company. Please see Director Compensation Fiscal 2021 on page 16 for information regarding stock awards granted to Mr. Pons in connection with his service as a non-employee director.

(3)

The information provided regarding the exercise of option awards for Messrs. Aloni and Hassler is through their respective employment termination dates with the Company of January 8, 2021 and January 14, 2021, respectively.

(4)

16,667 shares vested on January 2, 2021, prior to Mr. Aloni’s termination date of January 8, 2021, and 16,667 shares vested on January 31, 2021, after Mr. Aloni’s termination date of January 8, 2021 pursuant to the terms of Mr. Aloni’s Separation Agreement described on page 27.

Pension Benefits

SeaChange does not offer pension benefits to its employees other than its broad-based 401(k) retirement plan.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

SeaChange does not offer nonqualified defined contribution or other nonqualified deferred compensation plans to its employees.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler are (or were) each party to a Change in Control Agreement with SeaChange. The Change in Control Agreements provide for benefits upon termination of the executives’ employment for “Cause” or with “Good Reason” (as such terms are defined in the Change in Control Agreements) following a change in control or sale of SeaChange (commonly referred to as “double trigger”) and do not contain any tax gross-up provisions. SeaChange entered into these agreements to reflect current best pay practices, while continuing to provide an incentive for each executive to remain with SeaChange leading up to and following a Change in Control.

Under the Change in Control Agreements, a “change in control” means any of the following:

 

  (i)

the members of the Board at the beginning of any consecutive 12-calendar-month period (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason other than due to death to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; provided that any director whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the members of the Board then still in office who were members of the Board at the beginning of such 12-calendar-month period, shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;

 

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  (ii)

any consolidation or merger of the Company where the stockholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, shares of stock representing in the aggregate fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any);

 

  (iii)

there shall occur (A) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions contemplated or arranged by any party as a single plan) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by persons in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or (B) the approval by stockholders of the Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

  (iv)

any corporation or other legal person, pursuant to a tender offer, exchange offer, purchase of stock (whether in a market transaction or otherwise) or other transaction or event acquires securities representing forty percent (40%) or more of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company, or there is a report filed on Schedule 13D or Schedule 14D-1 (or any successor schedule, form or report), each as promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act, disclosing that any “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) has become the “beneficial owner” (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities representing forty percent (40%) or more of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company.

Under the Change in Control Agreements, “cause” means any of the following:

 

  (i)

the executive’s engaging in willful and repeated gross negligence or gross misconduct;

 

  (ii)

the executive’s breaching of a material fiduciary duty to the Company; or

 

  (iii)

the executive’s being convicted of a felony, in either case, to the demonstrable and material injury to the Company. For purposes of the definition of “cause”, no act, or failure to act, on the executive’s part, shall be deemed “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that any act or omission was in the best interest of the Company.

Under the Change in Control Agreements, “good reason” generally means, without the express written consent of the executive, the occurrence after a Change in Control of any of the following circumstances:

 

  (i)

the material reduction of the executive’s title, authority, duties or responsibilities, or the assignment to the executive of any duties inconsistent with executive’s position, authority, duties or responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

  (ii)

a requirement that the executive report to anyone other than the Board and/or the chief executive officer of the acquiring entity and/or the chief business officer of the applicable business unit of the acquiring company;

 

  (iii)

a material reduction in the budget over which the executive retains authority from that which exists as of immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

  (iv)

a reduction in the executive’s base salary as in effect immediately before the Change in Control;

 

  (v)

a material reduction in the executive’s annual bonus opportunity or annual target long-term incentive compensation opportunity (whether payable in cash, shares of Stock or a combination thereof) as in effect on the Change in Control; provided, that for the avoidance of doubt, a material reduction of such annual target long-term incentive compensation opportunity shall not be deemed to occur if such opportunity becomes payable solely in cash;

 

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  (vi)

the Company’s requiring the executive to be based at any other geographic location more than 50 miles from that location at which the executive primarily performed executive’s services immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control (or, in the case of Mr. Kielczewski, 50 miles from Mr. Kielczewski’s domicile), except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with executive’s business travel obligations immediately prior to such Change in Control;

 

  (vii)

the failure of the Company to obtain a reasonable agreement from any successor to assume and agree to perform the Change in Control Agreement to which the executive is a party;

 

  (viii)

the failure of the Company to pay the executive any amounts due thereunder; or

 

  (ix)

any material breach by the Company of the Change in Control Agreement to which the executive is a party.

Under the Change in Control Agreements, if an executive’s equity award, other than a performance-based equity award (such as PSUs or market-based stock options), is continued, assumed or substituted following a change in control and the executive’s employment is terminated within two years after the change in control by the employer without cause or by the executive for good reason (a “Covered Termination”), then such equity award would be accelerated in full. PSUs would continue to be governed by their existing terms. In addition, if a Covered Termination occurs, the executive would be entitled to receive a cash amount as severance equal to the sum of (a) one times his base salary, plus (b) 150% of the executive’s target annual bonus for the fiscal year in which the Covered Termination occurs, plus (c) $62,000, being an amount corresponding to medical and other benefits during the post-employment period.

As a condition to the receipt by the executive officer of any payment or benefit under the Change in Control Agreements, the executive officer must first execute a valid, binding and irrevocable general release in favor of SeaChange and in a form reasonably acceptable to SeaChange.

The following table shows, for the named executive officers with SeaChange as of the close of business on January 31, 2021, the payments to which Messrs. Prinn and Kielczewski would have been entitled pursuant to their Change in Control Agreement in the event of a Covered Termination after with a change in control occurring on such date.

 

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Potential Payments upon Termination Associated with a Change in Control

 

Name

   Salary (1)
($)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation (2)
($)
     Equity Incentive
Plan
Compensation (2)
($)
     Benefits
($)
     Equity
Awards (3)
($)
 

Robert Pons (4)

     ---       ---        ---        ---        169,774  

(Change in Control)

             

Michael Prinn

     300,000       390,000        ---        62,000        66,857  

(Covered Termination)

             

Yossi Aloni (5)

     150,000 (6)       ---        ---        ---        19,500 (6)  

(Actual Termination)

             

Marek Kielczewski (7)

     320,000       480,000        ---        62,000        178,494  

(Covered Termination)

             

Chad Hassler (8)

     ---       ---        ---        ---        ---  

(Actual Termination)

             

 

(1)

The amounts reflect one times annual base salary, except as noted otherwise.

(2)

The amounts shown in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation and Equity Incentive Plan Compensation columns reflect payment of 150% of the executive’s target amount under the fiscal 2021 STI in connection with a Covered Termination.

(3)

The amounts reflect the value of all unvested stock options, RSUs and PSUs that would vest as a result of the termination. The amounts are based on (i) in the case of accelerated options, the excess of the SeaChange January 31, 2021 closing common stock price over the applicable exercise price, (ii) in the case of accelerated RSUs, the SeaChange closing common stock price as of January 31, 2021 multiplied by the number of unvested RSUs as of January 31, 2021, and (iii) in the case of accelerated 2021 PSUs, the SeaChange closing common stock price as of January 31, 2021 multiplied by the number of unvested RSUs as of January 31, 2021.

(4)

Mr. Pons is not a party to a Change in Control Agreement, and the column “Equity Awards” reflects the value of the accelerated vesting of Mr. Pons’ non-employee director stock awards.

(5)

Mr. Aloni resigned as Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director of the Company on January 8, 2021.

(6)

Mr. Aloni’s employment as the Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director of the Company terminated on January 8, 2021. Mr. Aloni and the Company entered into an Employee Separation Agreement and General Release, pursuant to which Mr. Aloni received (i) $150,000 in severance pay and (ii) continued vesting of one additional tranche of his RSU award grant dated January 31, 2019 for 16,667 RSUs.

(7)

Mr. Kielczewski resigned as Chief Technology Officer of the Company on March 22, 2021. Mr. Kielczewski did not receive any severance benefits upon his separation.

(8)

Mr. Hassler resigned as Chief Commercial Officer of the Company on January 14, 2021. Mr. Hassler did not receive any severance benefits upon his separation.

Termination without Cause Other Than in Association with a Change in Control

Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler are (or were) each party to an offer letter governing the terms of their employment. The offer letters provide for the following benefits upon termination other than in association with a change in control (as described above):

 

 

Messrs. Prinn, Aloni and Hassler are entitled to the following upon the executive’s termination by SeaChange without “cause” (as defined in their respective Change in Control Agreements), so long as the

 

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executive is not entitled to payment pursuant to his Change in Control Agreement in connection therewith: (i) a one-time payment in an amount equal to the sum of 12 months of the executive’s base salary, payable over 12 months in equal monthly instalments, subject to applicable withholding, and (ii) an amount of the executive’s annual bonus determined based on performance targets pro-rated to the date of termination and based on actual performance through date of termination (with the RSU portion of the annual award to be subject to vesting on the last day of the following fiscal year). Severance under Messrs. Prinn, Aloni and Hassler’s offer letters is subject to the executive’s execution of a general release and satisfaction agreement, in form and substance acceptable to the SeaChange (which shall include, without limitation, a non-compete provision of one year). If he were terminated on January 31, 2021, Mr. Prinn would have been entitled to severance of $305,572. If he were terminated on January 31, 2021, Mr. Aloni would have been entitled to severance of $430,000. If he were terminated on January 31, 2021, Mr. Hassler would have been entitled to severance of $307,242.

 

 

Mr. Kielczewski’s offer letter does not provide for any compensation upon his termination by SeaChange (other than as provided for under Mr. Kielczewski’s Change in Control Agreement).

 

 

None of Messrs. Prinn, Aloni, Kielczewski and Hassler are entitled to severance benefits upon termination for Good Reason other than in connection with a Change in Control.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table summarizes all of our equity compensation plans, including those approved by stockholders and those not approved by stockholders as of January 31, 2021.

 

Plan Category

   Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights

(#)
     Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights

($)
     Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans

(#)
 

Equity compensation plans approved

by stockholders (1)

     1,672,546  (2)        2.00        4,361,755  (3) 

Equity compensation plans not approved

by stockholders

     ---        ---        ---  

Total

     1,672,546        2.00        4,361,755  

 

(1)

Consists of the 2011 Plan and the 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”).

(2)

Includes 4,102,511 shares of restricted stock units, deferred stock units and performance stock units that are not included in the calculation of the weighted average exercise price.

(3)

As of January 31, 2021, 3,286,731 shares remained available for issuance under the 2011 Plan and 1,075,024 shares remained available under the ESPP.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.

THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Matthew Stecker, Chairman

Jeffrey Tuder (resigned May 14, 2021)

 

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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The Compensation Committee consists of Mr. Stecker (Chairman) and Mr. Nicol. No person who served as a member of the Compensation Committee was, during the past fiscal year, an officer or employee of SeaChange or any of its subsidiaries, was formerly an officer of SeaChange or any of its subsidiaries, or had any relationship requiring disclosure herein. No executive officer of SeaChange served as a member of the compensation committee of another entity (or other committee of the board of directors performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors), one of whose executive officers served as a director of SeaChange.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. III

ADVISORY VOTE ON COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

As required under Section 14A of the Exchange Act, the Company is providing stockholders with the opportunity at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to vote on the following advisory resolution, commonly known as “Say-on-Pay”:

RESOLVED, that the stockholders of the Company approve, in a non-binding, advisory vote, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K including the compensation tables and narrative discussion in the Company’s proxy statement under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

The Board has implemented an executive compensation program that rewards performance. The executive compensation program is designed to attract, retain and motivate the key individuals who are most capable of contributing to SeaChange’s success and building long-term value for our stockholders. The elements of our executives’ total compensation are base salary, incentive compensation and other employee benefits. We have designed a compensation program that makes a substantial portion of executive pay variable, subject to increase when performance targets are achieved, and subject to reduction when performance targets are not achieved, which we believe aligns the interests of our executives with that of our stockholders. We believe that the variability in these payouts indicates that our annual compensation plans effectively reward our executive officers for superior performance, while appropriately adjusting compensation downward for less-than-superior performance, thereby aligning the interests of our executive team with that of our stockholders. The Committee retains discretion as to final payouts under the incentive compensation plans to ensure the goals of the overall program are met.

Accordingly, payouts under our executive compensation incentive plan in recent years have reflected the variability in our financial performance. In both fiscal 2017 and 2019, when we did not achieve pre-established financial performance targets under the applicable short-term incentive plan, payouts were limited to the portion of the award based on individual performance objectives. In contrast, in fiscal 2018, when we experienced improved financial performance versus the prior fiscal year and financial performance above pre-established thresholds with respect to revenue and above target with respect to non-GAAP operating income, payouts were made with respect to both financial and individual performance objectives. In fiscal 2020, financial performance was above threshold with respect to non-GAAP operating income, and payouts were made with respect to that financial performance objective. Due to the extensive turnover of the membership of the Board and the management team during fiscal 2020, the Committee did not believe it appropriate to condition the receipt of the named executive officers’ short-term incentive awards on additional individualized criteria for fiscal 2020, and accordingly did not set individualized performance objectives for fiscal 2020, but elected to pay out the full amount of what would have been the payout for the individualized goals in order to retain the newly appointed management team and in recognition of their services to the Company in connection with the various management and Board transitions that occurred throughout the year. The Committee did not believe that the total bonus payout for fiscal 2021 was sufficient, and the Committee exercised its right to provide supplemental discretionary bonuses in order to motivate and retain our new management team and in recognition of the management team’s successful navigation of the unique challenges posed by the significant transitions throughout the year. In fiscal 2021, the Committee set financial performance goals relating to revenue, non-GAAP operating income and year-end cash balance which would need to be satisfied in order for the executives to attain their the short-term incentive awards, but it did not set individualized objectives for fiscal 2021. The Company did not meet its financial goals in fiscal 2021, mainly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic effect on the Company’s business, and no short-term incentive awards were paid in fiscal 2021.

With respect to the long-term incentive plan, payouts showed similar variability with respect to the performance-based component of the awards, with the fiscal 2017 awards being determined based on total

 

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shareholder return, and each of the fiscal 2018 and 2019 awards being based on financial performance compared to annually established metrics. Similar to the short-term incentive awards, the vesting of the long-term incentive awards has fluctuated based on our recent financial performance, with no vesting for the portion of the fiscal 2019 awards based on fiscal 2021 financial performance. In fiscal 2020, a long term-incentive award plan was not established due to the significant turnover of the management team and the granting of new hire equity awards during that year. In fiscal 2021, a long-term incentive plan was adopted which included RSU awards with time-based vesting and performance-based vesting based upon the attainment of a certain stock price to be maintained for twenty (20) consecutive trading days within three (3) years of the grant date of such awards. The stock price was not met in fiscal 2021, and no vesting of the fiscal 2021 performance-based awards occurred.

We pay careful attention to any feedback we receive from our stockholders about our executive compensation, including the annual “Say-on-Pay” vote. While we had already approved our fiscal 2021 compensation plan by the time we held our “Say-on-Pay” vote in July 2020, we considered the stockholder advisory vote in the implementation of our fiscal 2021 compensation plan and in formulating our fiscal 2022 compensation plan. This consideration included reaching out to certain large stockholders to discuss and seek input on our compensation plans.

The Board urges stockholders to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 23 of this proxy statement, which describes in more detail how the Company’s executive compensation policies and procedures operate and are designed to achieve our compensation objectives, and the Summary Compensation Table and other related compensation tables and narrative, appearing on pages 34 through 44 of this proxy statement, which provide detailed information on the compensation of our named executive officers. The Committee and the Board believe that the policies and procedures articulated in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis are effective and that the compensation of our named executive officers reported in this proxy statement reflects and supports these compensation policies and procedures.

While the vote is advisory, the Board and the Committee will consider the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements. It is currently expected that stockholders will be given an opportunity to cast an advisory vote on this topic annually, with the next opportunity occurring in connection with the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2022.

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of the Company’s executive compensation.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. IV

APPROVAL OF THE 2021 COMPENSATION

AND INCENTIVE PLAN

The 2011 Plan expires pursuant to its terms on July 20, 2021. When the 2011 Plan expires, SeaChange will have no longer be able to make equity awards under the 2011 Plan. The Board believes that equity-based and other performance-based compensation will continue to be essential to permit SeaChange to successfully continue the pursuit of its business objectives. Accordingly, the Board is proposing for adoption by stockholders the 2021 Compensation and Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) to permit the continued issuance by SeaChange of equity-based compensation and to provide for cash awards.

The Board strongly believes that the grant of equity awards is in the stockholder’s best interests because these awards provide an enhanced ability to recruit, retain and motivate SeaChange’s employees, and that without a continued ability to make such grants SeaChange would suffer a severe competitive disadvantage.

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of the 2021 Plan.

The principal features of the 2021 Plan include:

 

   

Minimum Vesting Periods: Generally, restricted stock awards granted under the 2021 Plan will have a minimum vesting period of no less than one (1) year. No more than 10% of the maximum aggregate shares authorized for issuance under the 2021 Plan may be granted in the form of restricted stock awards that do not comply with these minimum vesting periods.

 

   

No Discount Stock Options: The 2021 Plan prohibits the grant of a stock option with an exercise price less than the fair market value of SeaChange’s stock on the date of grant.

 

   

Maximum Ten-Year Option Term: The 2021 Plan provides that stock options may not have a term greater than ten years.

 

   

No Liberal Share Counting: The 2021 Plan does not permit the number of shares available for grant to be increased by actions such as the tendering of shares in payment of a stock option, the withholding of shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations, and shares repurchased with option proceeds.

 

   

No Repricing of Stock Options: The 2021 Plan prohibits the repricing of stock options without stockholder approval.

 

   

Independent Committee Administration: The 2021 Plan is administered by a committee of the Board whose members satisfy the independence requirements of applicable rules and regulations.

 

   

Material Amendments to the 2021 Plan Require Stockholder Approval: The 2021 Plan provides that a material amendment to the 2021 Plan is not effective unless approved by SeaChange’s stockholders.

 

   

Awards Subject to Recovery: Awards and shares of Common Stock (and proceeds therefrom) obtained pursuant to or on exercise of such awards under the 2021 Plan are subject to forfeiture, setoff, recoupment or other recovery if the Committee determines in good faith that such action is required by applicable law or Company policy.

 

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Summary of the 2021 Plan

The following description of the 2021 Plan is a summary only. SeaChange strongly recommends that you read the complete text of the 2021 Plan, which is attached as Appendix B hereto.

The purpose of the 2021 Plan is to provide equity ownership and compensation opportunities in SeaChange (each, an “Award”) to employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of SeaChange and its subsidiaries, all of whom are eligible to receive Awards under the 2021 Plan. Any person to whom an Award is granted will be called a “Participant.”

Administration

The 2021 Plan is administered by a committee composed solely of members of SeaChange’s Board that are “independent” under applicable rules and regulations. The Committee has the authority to grant and amend Awards, to establish performance goals with respect to such Awards, to adopt, amend and repeal rules relating to the 2021 Plan, to interpret and correct the provisions of the 2021 Plan and any Award, and to subject Awards to forfeiture, setoff, recoupment or other recovery if the Committee determines in good faith that such action is required by applicable law or Company policy. The 2021 Plan also provides that, subject to certain limits provided for in the 2021 Plan, authority to grant Awards to employees may be delegated to one or more officers of SeaChange.

Authorized Shares

The number of shares (the “Authorized Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), that may be delivered in satisfaction of Awards granted under the 2021 Plan is (i) 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock plus (ii) the number of shares that would have become available for issuance under the 2011 Plan following the adoption of the 2021 Plan due to the expiration, termination, surrender or forfeiture of an award under the 2011 Plan. If any Award expires, or is terminated, surrendered or forfeited, in whole or in part, the unissued shares covered by such Award will again be available for the grant of Awards under the 2021 Plan, provided that in no event shall the following shares of Common Stock be added to the foregoing plan limit: (i) shares of Common Stock tendered in payment of an option, granted pursuant to the 2011 Plan; (ii) shares of Common Stock withheld by SeaChange to satisfy any tax withholding obligation pursuant to the 2011 Plan; or (iii) shares of Common Stock that are repurchased by SeaChange with proceeds of options, granted pursuant to the 2011 Plan. Upon approval of the 2021 Plan, the 2011 Plan will be terminated and no further awards will be granted pursuant to the 2011 Plan.

Eligibility

Employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of SeaChange and its subsidiaries are eligible to be granted Awards under the 2021 Plan. Under present law, however, incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code may only be granted to employees of SeaChange and parent or subsidiaries of SeaChange. Approximately 275 persons were eligible to participate in the 2021 Plan as of January 31, 2021.

Types of Awards

Awards under the 2021 Plan may be in the form of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, any other equity-based interests as the Committee shall determine, cash awards, or any combination thereof. Awards may be granted subject to time-based vesting schedules and/or performance-based vesting measured by performance goals.

Stock Options

Stock options represent the right to purchase shares of Common Stock within a specified period of time at a specified price. The exercise price for options will be not less than 100% (110% for an incentive stock option

 

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granted to a 10% or more stockholder) of the fair market value of Common Stock on the date of grant. The aggregate fair market value, determined on the date the option is granted, of the stock for which any person may be granted incentive stock options which become exercisable for the first time by such person in any calendar year cannot exceed the sum of $100,000 (determined on the date such option is granted). No incentive stock option will be granted to a person who is not an “employee” as defined in the applicable provisions of the Code. Options will expire no later than ten years (five years in the case of an incentive stock option granted to a 10% or more stockholder) after the date of grant. No stock options can be granted under the 2021 Plan after July 20, 2031, but options granted before that date may be exercised thereafter.

Payment for the exercise of options under the 2021 Plan may be made by one or any combination of the following forms of payment:

 

   

by cash or by check payable to the order of SeaChange;

 

   

at the discretion of the Committee through delivery of shares of Common Stock having fair market value equal as of the date of exercise to the cash exercise price of the option; or

 

   

at the discretion of the Committee, by delivery of a sufficient amount of the proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the option by the optionee’s broker or selling agent.

Generally, options granted under the 2021 Plan shall have a minimum vesting period of no less than six (6) months. Each option or installment may be exercised at any time or from time to time, in whole or in part, for up to the total number of shares with respect to which it is then exercisable.

Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Other Equity Awards

The 2021 Plan provides the flexibility to grant other forms of Awards based upon the Common Stock, having the terms and conditions established at the time of grant by the Committee. Restricted stock is Common Stock that is subject to a risk of forfeiture or other restrictions that will lapse upon satisfaction of specified conditions. Restricted stock units represent the right to receive shares of Common Stock in the future, with the right to future delivery of the shares subject to a risk of forfeiture or other restrictions that will lapse upon satisfaction of specified conditions. All of the shares being approved for issuance under the 2021 Plan may be granted as Awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units or other non-stock option Awards.

Generally, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other full value Awards under the 2021 Plan shall have a minimum vesting period of no less than one (1) year for Awards granted subject to performance goals and no less than three (3) years for all other Awards.

Subject to any restrictions applicable to the Award, a Participant holding restricted stock, whether vested or unvested, will be entitled to enjoy all rights of a stockholder with respect to such restricted stock, including the right to receive dividends and to vote the shares. A Participant holding restricted stock units may not vote the shares represented by a restricted stock unit and is not entitled to receive any dividends with respect to shares represented by a restricted stock unit.

Cash Awards

The 2021 Plan provides the flexibility to grant cash Awards either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other Awards granted under the 2021 Plan. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such cash Award. From time to time, the Committee shall establish administrative rules and procedures governing the administration of Cash Awards.

 

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Transferability

Except as the Committee may otherwise determine or provide in an Award, Awards may be transferred only by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that nonstatutory stock options may be transferred pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or to a grantor-retained annuity trust or a similar estate-planning vehicle under which the trust is bound by all provisions of the option which are applicable to the holder thereof.

Adjustment

In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, liquidation, spin-off, split-up, or other similar change in capitalization or event, the following shall be equitably adjusted:

 

   

the number and class of securities available for stock-based Awards under the 2021 Plan and the per-Participant share limit;

 

   

the number and class of securities, vesting schedule and exercise price per share subject to each outstanding option;

 

   

the repurchase price per security subject to repurchase; and

 

   

the terms of each other outstanding stock-based Award shall be adjusted by SeaChange (or substituted Awards may be made) to the extent the Committee shall determine, in good faith, that such an adjustment (or substitution) is appropriate.

Treatment upon Acquisition

Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award, upon the occurrence of an acquisition of SeaChange, appropriate provision is to be made for the continuation or the assumption by the surviving or acquiring entity of all Awards. In addition to or in lieu of the foregoing, the Committee may provide that one or more Awards granted under the 2021 Plan must be exercised by a certain date or shall be terminated, that any such Awards shall be terminated in exchange for a cash payment, or that any out of the money stock-based Awards be terminated.

Effect of Termination, Disability or Death

The Committee determines the effect on an Award of the disability, death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, or the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or designated beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award, subject to applicable law and the provisions of the Code related to incentive stock options.

Amendment of Awards

The Committee may, without stockholder approval, amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, provided that, the Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless the Committee determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant. In addition, other than in the case of equitable adjustments to outstanding Awards, without the prior approval of SeaChange’s stockholders, (i) no option or other stock-based Award that is not a full value Award may be amended to reduce the price at which such option or Award is exercisable, (ii) no option or other stock-based Award that is not a full value Award may be canceled in exchange for an option or other stock-based

 

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Award that is not a full value Award with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original option or stock-based Award that is not a full value Award, (iii) no option or other stock-based Award that is not a full value Award with an exercise price above the then current Fair Market Value may be canceled in exchange for cash or other securities, and (iv) no option or other stock-based Award that is not a full value Award may be amended to extend the period of time for which such previously-issued Award shall be exercisable beyond the expiration date of such Award.

Termination of 2021 Plan; Amendments

Awards may be granted under the 2021 Plan at any time prior to July 8, 2031. The Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the 2021 Plan or any portion thereof at any time, provided, however, that any “material amendment” as defined by the 2021 Plan will not be effective unless approved by SeaChange’s stockholders. If any Award expires, or is terminated, surrendered or forfeited, in whole or in part, the unissued shares covered by such Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards under the 2021 Plan.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

Incentive Stock Options

The following general rules are applicable under current United States federal income tax law to incentive stock options (“ISOs”) granted under SeaChange’s 2021 Plan.

1. In general, no taxable income results to the optionee upon the grant of an ISO or upon the exercise of the ISO, and no corresponding federal tax deduction is allowed to SeaChange upon either the grant or exercise of an ISO.

2. If shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO are not disposed of within (i) two (2) years following the date the option was granted or (ii) one (1) year following the date the shares are issued to the optionee pursuant to the ISO exercise (the “Holding Periods”), the difference between the amount realized on any subsequent disposition of the shares and the exercise price will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss to the optionee.

3. If shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO are disposed of before the Holding Periods are met (a “Disqualifying Disposition”), then in most cases the lesser of (i) any excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise of the ISO over the exercise price or (ii) the actual gain on disposition will be treated as compensation to the optionee and will be taxed as ordinary income in the year of such disposition.

4. In any year that an optionee recognizes ordinary income as the result of a Disqualifying Disposition, SeaChange generally should be entitled to a corresponding deduction for federal income tax purposes.

5. Any excess of the amount realized by the optionee as the result of a Disqualifying Disposition over the sum of (i) the exercise price and (ii) the amount of ordinary income recognized under the above rules will be treated as capital gain to the optionee.

6. Capital gain or loss recognized by an optionee upon a disposition of shares will be long-term capital gain or loss if the optionee’s holding period for the shares exceeds one year.

7. An optionee may be entitled to exercise an ISO by delivering shares of SeaChange’s Common Stock to SeaChange in payment of the exercise price, if so provided by the Committee. If an optionee exercises an ISO in such fashion, special rules will apply.

8. In addition to the tax consequences described above, the exercise of an ISO may result in additional tax liability to the optionee under the alternative minimum tax rules. The Code provides that an alternative minimum tax (at a maximum rate of 28%) will be applied against a taxable base which is equal to “alternative minimum

 

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taxable income” reduced by a statutory exemption. In general, the amount by which the value of the Common Stock received upon exercise of the ISO exceeds the exercise price is included in the optionee’s alternative minimum taxable income. A taxpayer is required to pay the higher of his or her regular tax liability or the alternative minimum tax. A taxpayer that pays alternative minimum tax attributable to the exercise of an ISO may be entitled to a tax credit against his or her regular tax liability in later years.

Nonstatutory Stock Options

The following general rules are applicable under current federal income tax law to options that do not qualify as ISOs (“NSOs”) granted under the 2021 Plan:

1. The optionee generally does not realize any taxable income upon the grant of a NSO, and SeaChange is not allowed a federal income tax deduction by reason of such grant.

2. The optionee generally will recognize ordinary income at the time of exercise of a NSO in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price.

3. When the optionee sells the shares acquired pursuant to a NSO, he or she generally will recognize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale of the shares and his or her basis in the shares (generally, the exercise price plus the amount taxed to the optionee as ordinary income). If the optionee’s holding period for the shares exceeds one year, such gain or loss will be a long-term capital gain or loss.

4. SeaChange generally should be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction for federal income tax purposes when the optionee recognizes ordinary income.

5. An optionee may be entitled to exercise a NSO by delivering shares of SeaChange’s Common Stock to SeaChange in payment of the exercise price, if so provided by the Committee. If an optionee exercises a NSO in such fashion, special rules will apply.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards

The following general rules are applicable under current federal income tax law to Awards of restricted stock and restricted stock units under the 2021 Plan:

1. The recipient of restricted stock units will not recognize taxable income at the time of a grant of a restricted stock unit, and SeaChange will not be entitled to a tax deduction at that time. The recipient will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income, however, at the time of the settlement of the Award, equal to the fair market value of any shares delivered and the amount of cash paid.

2. The recipient of restricted stock will not recognize taxable income at the time of a grant of a restricted stock Award, and SeaChange will not be entitled to a tax deduction at such time, unless the Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed at that time. If that election is made, the Participant will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income at the time of the grant, equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares at such time over the amount, if any, paid for such shares. If such election is not made, the Participant will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income at the time the restrictions lapse, in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares at such time over the amount, if any, paid for such shares. SeaChange will generally be entitled to a corresponding deduction at the time the ordinary income is recognized by the recipient.

In addition, a Participant receiving dividends with respect to restricted shares for which the above-described election has not been made, and prior to the time the restrictions lapse, will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income rather than dividend income. SeaChange will generally be entitled to a corresponding deduction.

 

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Cash Awards.

The following general rules are applicable under current federal income tax law to cash Awards under the 2021 Plan:

1. Participants granted a cash Award generally will recognize ordinary income at the time of payment of the cash Award equal to the amount paid.

2. SeaChange will generally be entitled to a corresponding deduction.

Other Tax Considerations.

A Participant who receives accelerated vesting, exercise or payment of Awards contingent upon or in connection with a change of control may be deemed to have received an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code. In such event, the Participant may be subject to a 20% excise tax and SeaChange may be denied a tax deduction for such payments.

It is the intention of SeaChange that Awards will comply with Section 409A of the Code regarding nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements or will satisfy the conditions of applicable exemptions. However, if an Award is subject to and fails to comply with the requirements of Section 409A, the Participant may recognize ordinary income on the amounts deferred under the Award, to the extent vested, prior to the time when the compensation is received. In addition, Section 409A imposes a 20% penalty tax, as well as interest, on the Participant with respect to such amounts.

The foregoing general tax discussion is intended for the information of SeaChange’s shareholders considering how to vote with respect to this proposal, and not as tax guidance to Participants in the 2021 Plan.

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the approval of the 2021 Plan.

 

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PROPOSAL NO. V

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Fiscal 2022

The Audit Committee has appointed Marcum LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2022. The Board is asking stockholders to ratify this appointment. Marcum LLP currently serves as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

Grant Thornton LLP served as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2019 and 2018. On September 9, 2019, the Audit Committee approved the dismissal of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

The audit reports of Grant Thornton LLP on the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2019 and 2018 and the audit report of Grant Thornton LLP on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting for the Company as of January 31, 2019 did not contain any adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

During the Company’s two fiscal years ended January 31, 2019 and 2018 and through September 9, 2019, (i) there were no disagreements (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) between the Company and Grant Thornton LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Grant Thornton LLP would have caused Grant Thornton LLP to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and (ii) there were no “reportable events” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

Effective September 9, 2019, the Audit Committee engaged Marcum LLP as the Company’s new independent registered public accounting firm. During the fiscal years ended January 31, 2019 and 2018 and through September 9, 2019, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted Marcum LLP with respect to any matter whatsoever, including without limitation with respect to: (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; (ii) the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements; or (iii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or an event of the type described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

The disclosures above were originally made in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by us with the SEC on September 10, 2019 (the “Form 8-K”). We provided Grant Thornton LLP with a copy of the disclosures in the Form 8-K and requested that Grant Thornton LLP furnish us with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not Grant Thornton LLP agreed with the above statements and, if not, stating the respects in which it did not agree. A copy of the letter, dated September 9, 2019, furnished by Grant Thornton LLP in response to that request, was filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Form 8-K. We also provided Grant Thornton LLP with a copy of these proxy statement disclosures in advance of filing the proxy statement with the SEC, and they confirmed their agreement with the statements concerning them.

Representatives of Marcum LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions. They will also be available to answer questions. Representatives of Grant Thornton LLP are not expected to be present at the Annual Meeting.

The Board has put the ratification of the selection of Marcum LLP before the stockholders because the Board believes that seeking stockholder ratification of the selection of the independent registered public

 

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accounting firm is good corporate practice. If the appointment of Marcum LLP is not ratified, the Audit Committee will first review the basis for the stockholder vote and SeaChange’s relationship with Marcum LLP and will then take such action as it deems necessary.

The Board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of SeaChange’s independent registered public accounting firm.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees for services provided by Marcum LLP for the audit of our consolidated financial statements and other services for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2020 and January 31, 2021.

 

     2021      2020  

Audit Fees (1)

   $ 519,635      $ 697,853  

Audit-Related Fees

     ---         

Tax Fees

             

All Other Fees

             

Total:

   $     519,635      $     697,853  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1)

Audit fees consist of the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, review of our internal consolidated financial statements, the audit of internal control over financial reporting and the review of SEC filings.

The Audit Committee of the Board has determined that the provision of the services as set out above is compatible with maintaining Marcum LLP’s independence.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit, audit-related, tax and other non-audit services that may be provided by Marcum LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm. The policy identifies the principles that must be considered by the Audit Committee in approving these services to ensure that Marcum LLP’s independence is not impaired; describes the audit and audit-related, tax and other services that may be provided; and sets forth pre-approval requirements for all permitted services. To date, Audit Committee pre-approval has been sought for the provision of all services by Marcum LLP.

 

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OTHER MATTERS

Expenses and Solicitation

All costs of solicitation of proxies will be borne by SeaChange. In addition to solicitations by mail, certain of SeaChange’s directors, officers and regular employees, without additional remuneration, may solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile, e-mail and personal interviews. Brokers, custodians and fiduciaries will be requested to forward the Notice and proxy soliciting material to the owners of stock held in their names, and SeaChange will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket costs.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

SeaChange has adopted a written policy pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Charter of the Audit Committee and the Charter of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee that all transactions between SeaChange and its officers, directors, principal stockholders and affiliates will be approved by a majority of the Board, including a majority of the independent and disinterested outside directors on the Board, and will be on terms no less favorable to SeaChange than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.

There were no transactions, or series of transactions, since February 1, 2019, or any currently proposed transactions, in which SeaChange is a party that require disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K.

 

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Appendix A

Proposed Amendments to the

Amended and Restated By-Laws of SeaChange International, Inc.

If Proposal No. II is approved by the stockholders, Article 2 of the Amended and Restated By-Laws of SeaChange International, Inc. will be amended as set forth below. Proposed additions are indicated by underline and proposed deletions are indicated by strike-through.

ARTICLE 2 - Directors

2.1        General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors, who may exercise all of the powers of the Corporation except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation. In the event of a vacancy in the Board of Directors, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, may exercise the powers of the full Board of Directors until the vacancy is filled. Without limiting the foregoing, the Board of Directors may:

(a)        declare dividends from time to time in accordance with law;

(b)        purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or privileges on such terms as it shall determine;

(c)        authorize the creation, making and issuance, in such form as it may determine, of written obligations of every kind, negotiable or non-negotiable, secured or unsecured, to borrow funds and guarantee obligations, and to do all things necessary in connection therewith;

(d)        remove any officer of the Corporation with or without cause, and from time to time to devolve the powers and duties of any officer upon any other person for the time being;

(e)        confer upon any officer of the Corporation the power to appoint, remove and suspend subordinate officers, employees and agents;

(f)        adopt from time to time such stock option, stock purchase, bonus or other compensation plans for directors, officers, employees, consultants and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine;

(g)        adopt from time to time such insurance, retirement, and other benefit plans for directors, officers, employees, consultants and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine; and

(h)        adopt from time to time regulations, not inconsistent herewith, for the management of the Corporation’s business and affairs.

2.2        Number; Election and Qualification. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, but in no event shall be less than three. The number of directors may be decreased at any time and from time to time by a majority of the directors then in office, but only to eliminate vacancies existing by reason of the death, resignation, removal or expiration of the term of one or more directors. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders (or, if so determined by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 10 hereof, at a special meeting of stockholders), by such stockholders as have the right to vote on such election. Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.

 

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2.3        Classes of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be and is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. No one class shall have more than one director more than any other class.

2.4        Terms in Office. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting following the annual meeting at which such director was elected provided, however, that each initial director in Class I shall serve for a term ending on the date of the annual meeting next following the end of the Corporation’s fiscal year ending December 31, 1996; each initial director in Class II shall serve for a term ending on the date of the annual meeting next following the end of the Corporation’s fiscal year ending December 31, 1997; and each initial director in Class III shall serve for a term ending on the date of the annual meeting next following the end of the Corporation’s fiscal year ending December 31, 1998. Each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy, shall be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders to serve for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders and shall remain in office until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal, notwithstanding that any director may have been elected for a term that extended beyond the date of such next annual meeting of stockholders. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the whole Board of Directors shall shorten the term of an incumbent director.

2.5        Allocation of Directors Among Classes in the Event of Increases or Decreases in the Number of Directors. In the event of any increase or decrease in the authorized number of directors, (i) each director then serving as such shall nevertheless continue as a director of the class of which he or she is a member until the expiration of such director’s current term or his or her prior death, removal or resignation and (ii) the newly created or eliminated directorships resulting from such increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board of Directors among the three classes of directors, subject to the second sentence of Section 2.3. To the extent possible, consistent with the foregoing rule, any newly created directorships shall be added to those classes whose terms of office are to expire at the earliest dates following such allocation, unless otherwise provided for from time to time by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the whole Board of Directors shall shorten the term of an incumbent Director.

2.6        Tenure. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained herein, each director shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

2.7        Vacancies. Unless and until filled by the stockholders, any vacancy in the Board of Directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement thereof, may be filled by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office, if any, and a director chosen to fill a position resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office until the next election of directors of the class for which such director was chosen annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

2.8        Resignation. Any director may resign by delivering his or her written resignation to the Corporation at its principal office or to the President or Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event.

2.9        Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is made shall be given notice of the determination. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.

 

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2.10        Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, designated in a call by the Chairman of the Board (if any), the President, two or more directors, or by one director in the event that there is only a single director in office.

2.11        Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of any special meeting of directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be duly given to each director (i) by giving notice to such director in person or by telephone at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting, (ii) by sending a telegram or delivering written notice by facsimile transmission or by hand, to his or her last known business or home address at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting, or (iii) by mailing written notice to his or her last known business or home address at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. A notice or waiver of notice of a meeting of the Board of Directors need not specify the purposes of the meeting.

2.12        Meetings by Telephone Conference Calls. Directors or any members of any committee designated by the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation by such means shall be deemed to constitute presence in person at such meeting.

2.13        Quorum. A majority of the total number of the whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Board of Directors. In the event one or more of the directors shall be disqualified to vote at any meeting, then the required quorum shall be reduced by one for each such director so disqualified; provided, however, that in no case shall less than one-third (1/3) of the total number of the whole Board of Directors constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum at any such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

2.14        Action at Meeting. At any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, the vote of a majority of those present shall be sufficient to take any action, unless a different vote is specified by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws.

2.15        Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent to such action in writing, and the written consents are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

2.16        Removal. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any one or more or all of the directors may be removed, only for cause, by the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. Directors of the Corporation may be removed in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

2.17        Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members of such committee present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at such meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors and subject to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Each such committee shall keep minutes and make such reports as the Board of Directors may from

 

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time to time request. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine or as provided herein, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the directors or in such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is provided in these By-Laws for the Board of Directors. Adequate provisions shall be made for notice to members of all meeting of committees. One-third (1/3) of the members of any committee shall constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one (1) or two (2) members, in which event one (1) member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present. Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee.

2.18        Compensation of Directors. Directors may be paid such compensation for their services and such reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation or any of its parent or subsidiary corporations in any other capacity and receiving compensation for such service.

2.19        Amendments to Article. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage may be specified by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the votes which all the stockholders would be entitled to cast at any annual election of directors or class of directors shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Article 2.

 

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Appendix B

SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

2021 COMPENSATION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

1. Purpose and Eligibility.

The purpose of this 2021 Compensation and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of SeaChange International, Inc. is to provide equity ownership and compensation opportunities in the Company (each an “Award”) to employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of the Company and its Subsidiaries, all of whom are eligible to receive Awards under the Plan. Any person to whom an Award has been granted under the Plan is called a “Participant”. Additional definitions are contained in Section 12.

2. Administration.

a. Administration by Committee of Independent Members of the Board of Directors. The Plan will be administered by a committee (the “Committee”) composed solely of members of the Board of Directors of the Company that are “independent”, as defined pursuant to applicable rules and regulations; provided, however, that at any time and on any one or more occasions the Board may itself exercise any of the powers and responsibilities assigned the Committee under the Plan and when so acting shall have the benefit of all of the provisions of the Plan pertaining to the Committee’s exercise of its authorities hereunder. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the authority to grant and amend Awards, to adopt, amend and repeal rules relating to the Plan and to interpret and correct the provisions of the Plan and any Award. All decisions by the Committee shall be final and binding on all interested persons. Neither the Company nor any member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination relating to the Plan.

b. Delegation to Executive Officers. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may delegate to one or more executive officers of the Company the power to grant Awards and exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Committee may determine; provided, however, that the Committee shall fix the maximum number and type of Awards to be granted and the maximum number of shares issuable to any one Participant pursuant to Awards granted by such executive officer or officers. The Committee may, by a resolution adopted by the Committee, authorize one or more officers of the Company to do one or both of the following: (i) designate employees of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries to be recipients of Awards created by the Company and (ii) determine the number, type and terms of such Awards to be received by such employees; provided, however, that the resolution so authorizing such officer or officers shall specify the maximum number and type of Awards such officer or officers may so award. The Committee may not authorize an officer to designate himself or herself as a recipient of any such Awards and the Committee may not authorize an officer to grant Awards to other executive officers of the Company.

3. Stock Available for Awards.

a. Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 3(c), the aggregate number of shares (the “Authorized Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), that may be issued pursuant to the Plan shall be (i) 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock, plus (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock that would have become available for issuance under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 2011 Compensation and Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”) following the adoption of this Plan due to the expiration, termination, surrender or forfeiture of an award under the 2011 Plan. If any Award granted pursuant to this Plan expires, or is terminated, surrendered or forfeited, in whole or in part, the unissued Common Stock covered by such Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the following shares of Common Stock be added to the foregoing plan limit: (i) shares of Common Stock tendered in payment of an Option, whether granted pursuant to this Plan for the 2011 Plan; (ii) shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation, whether pursuant to this Plan or the 2011 Plan; or (iii) shares of Common Stock that are

 

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repurchased by the Company with proceeds of Options, whether granted pursuant to this Plan or the 2011 Plan. Shares issued under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.

b. Adjustment to Common Stock. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, liquidation, spin-off, split-up, or other similar change in capitalization or event, (i) the number and class of securities available for Awards under the Plan, (ii) the number and class of securities, vesting schedule and exercise price per share subject to each outstanding Option (as defined below), (iii) the repurchase price per security subject to repurchase, and (iv) the terms of each other outstanding stock-based Award shall be adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made) to the extent the Committee shall determine, in good faith, that such an adjustment (or substitution) is appropriate. If Section 10(e)(i) applies for any event, this Section 3(c) shall not be applicable.

c. Fractional Shares. No fractional shares shall be issued under the Plan and the Participant shall receive from the Company cash in lieu of such fractional shares.

4. Stock Options.

a. General. The Committee may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “Option”) and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option and the Common Stock issued upon the exercise of each Option, including vesting provisions, Performance Goals (as defined in Section 9(b)), repurchase provisions and restrictions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers advisable.

b. Incentive Stock Options. An Option that the Committee intends to be an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “Incentive Stock Option”) shall be granted only to employees of the Company and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Committee and the Company shall have no liability if an Option or any part thereof that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option does not qualify as such. An Option or any part thereof that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option is referred to herein as a “Nonstatutory Stock Option.” Subject to adjustment under Section 3(c), no more than 9,300,000 shares shall be available for issuance as Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.

c. Dollar Limitation. For so long as the Code shall so provide, Options granted to any employee under the Plan (and any other plans of the Company) which are intended to constitute Incentive Stock Options shall not constitute Incentive Stock Options to the extent that such Options, in the aggregate, become exercisable for the first time in any one calendar year for shares of Common Stock with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as defined below) of more than $100,000 (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) or such other limit as may be imposed by Section 422 of the Code or other applicable regulation. To the extent that any such Incentive Stock Options exceed the $100,000 limitation or such other limitation, such Options shall be Nonstatutory Stock Options.

d. Exercise Price. The Committee shall establish the exercise price (or determine the method by which the exercise price shall be determined) at the time each Option is granted and specify the exercise price in the applicable option agreement, provided, that the exercise price per share specified in the agreement relating to each Option granted under the Plan shall not be less than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date of such grant. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option to be granted to an employee owning stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, the price per share specified in the agreement relating to such Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

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For purposes of determining stock ownership under this subsection, the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply.

e. Duration of Options. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify in the applicable option agreement; provided, that no Option shall be exercisable for a period of time greater than ten (10) years from the date of grant of such Option; provided, further, that Incentive Stock Options granted to an employee owning stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company shall be exercisable for a maximum of five (5) years from the date of grant of such option. For purposes of determining stock ownership under this subsection, the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply.

f. Vesting of Options. At the time of the grant of an Option, the Committee shall establish a vesting date or vesting dates with respect to the shares of Common Stock covered by such Options. The Committee may establish vesting dates based upon the passage of time and/or the satisfaction of Performance Goals or other conditions as deemed appropriate by the Committee.

g. Exercise of Option. Options may be exercised only by delivery to the Company at its principal office address or to such transfer agent as the Company shall designate of a written notice of exercise specifying the number of shares as to which such Option is being exercised, signed by the proper person, or by notification of the Company-designated third party commercial provider (the “Third Party Commercial Provider”), in accordance with the procedures approved by the Company and to which the holder of the Option shall have ongoing access by means of accessing such person’s account maintained with the Third Party Commercial Provider, together with payment in full as specified in Section 4(h) for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised.

h. Payment Upon Exercise. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option shall be paid for by one or any combination of the following forms of payment:

 

  (i)

in United States dollars in cash or by check or by fund transfer from the Option holder’s account maintained with the Third Party Commercial Provider;

 

  (ii)

at the discretion of the Committee, through delivery of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal as of the date of the exercise to the cash exercise price of the Option;

 

  (iii)

at the discretion of the Committee and consistent with applicable law, through the delivery of an assignment to the Company of a sufficient amount of the proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the Option and an authorization to the Third Party Commercial Provider to pay that amount to the Company, which sale shall be at the Participant’s direction at the time of exercise;

 

  (iv)

at the discretion of the Committee, by any combination of (i), (ii), or (iii) above.

If the Committee exercises its discretion to permit payment of the exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option by means of the methods set forth in clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) of the preceding sentence, such discretion shall be exercised in writing at the time of the grant of the Incentive Stock Option in question.

i.  Notice to Company of Disqualifying Disposition. By accepting an Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan, each optionee agrees to notify the Company in writing immediately after such optionee makes a disqualifying disposition of any stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan. A “disqualifying disposition” is generally any disposition occurring on or before the later of (a) the date two years following the date the Incentive Stock Option was granted or (b) the date one year following the date the Incentive Stock Option was exercised.

 

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j.  Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, each Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action or at such other time and subject to such other conditions as shall be determined by the Committee.

k.  Issuances of Securities. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares subject to Options. No adjustments shall be made for dividends paid in cash or in property other than securities of the Company.

5. Restricted Stock.

a. Grants. The Committee may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock, subject to (i) delivery to the Company by the Participant of a check in an amount at least equal to the par value of the shares purchased, and (ii) the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price from the Participant in the event that conditions specified by the Committee in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Committee for such Award (each, a “Restricted Stock Award”).

b. Terms and Conditions. A Participant that is the holder of a Restricted Stock Award, whether vested or unvested, shall be entitled to enjoy all stockholder rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying such Restricted Stock Award, including the right to receive dividends and vote such shares. Subject to Section 5(c) hereof, the Committee shall determine all other terms and conditions of any such Restricted Stock Award, including without limitation whether the shares of Common Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Award are represented by a stock certificate or are registered in electronic or book entry form without the issuance of a stock certificate. Any stock certificates issued in respect of a Restricted Stock Award shall be registered in the name of the Participant and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, deposited by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). After the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or, if the Participant has died, to the beneficiary designated by the Participant, in a manner determined by the Committee, to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death (the “Designated Beneficiary”). In the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, Designated Beneficiary shall mean the Participant’s estate.

c. Vesting of Restricted Stock. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Award, the Committee shall establish a vesting date or vesting dates with respect to the shares of Common Stock covered by such Restricted Stock Award; provided, that all Restricted Stock Awards (other than Awards granted pursuant to Section 10(k), and subject to Sections 10(e) and 10(j)), shall have a minimum vesting period of no less than one (1) year for Restricted Stock Awards. The Committee may establish vesting dates based upon the passage of time and/or the satisfaction of Performance Goals or other conditions as deemed appropriate by the Committee.

6. Restricted Stock Unit.

a. Grants. The Committee may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock in the future, with the future delivery of the Common Stock subject to a risk of forfeiture or other restrictions that will lapse upon the satisfaction of one or more specified conditions (each, a “Restricted Stock Unit”).

b. Terms and Conditions. Subject to Section 6(c) hereof, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Restricted Stock Unit. A Participant may not vote the shares represented by a Restricted Stock Unit and does not give the Participant a right to receive any dividends (whether paid in cash, stock or property) declared and paid by the Company with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Unit Award.

c. Vesting of Restricted Stock Unit. At the time of the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Committee shall establish a vesting date or vesting dates with respect to the shares of Common Stock covered by such Restricted Stock Unit Award. The Committee may establish vesting dates based upon the passage of time and/or the satisfaction of Performance Goals or other conditions as deemed appropriate by the Committee.

 

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7. Other Stock-Based Awards.

The Committee shall have the right to grant other Awards based upon the Common Stock having such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine, including, without limitation, the grant of shares based upon certain conditions and/or Performance Goals, the grant of securities convertible into Common Stock and the grant of stock units. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Awards.

8. Cash Awards.

a. Grants. The Committee may grant cash awards (each, a “Cash Award”), either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan.

b. Terms and Conditions. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Cash Award. From time to time, the Committee shall establish administrative rules and procedures governing the administration of Cash Awards; provided, no Participant may be granted a Cash Award hereunder that would result in a payment of more than $2 million during any one fiscal year of the Company.

9. Performance-Based Awards.    

a. General. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to establish and administer performance-based grant, exercise, and/or vesting conditions and Performance Goals (as defined in Section 9(b) below) with respect to such Awards as it considers appropriate, which Performance Goals must be satisfied, as determined by the Committee, before the Participant receives or retains an Award or before the Award becomes exercisable or nonforfeitable, as the case may be. Prior to the occurrence of an Acquisition, the Committee may exercise its discretion in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner for similarly-situated Participants to reduce (but not increase) any Award otherwise payable under this Plan in accordance with objective or subjective factors if necessary or appropriate to limit the amount payable under an Award to an amount consistent with the purposes of the Plan and the intended economic benefits of participation in the Plan.

b. Performance Goals. Performance goals (the “Performance Goals”) will be based on such objectives as the Committee determines appropriate, including without limitation, on the basis of the performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a group-wide basis or on the basis of Subsidiary, business platform, or operating unit results or on the basis of satisfaction of performance objectives with respect to one or more Participants.

Each Performance Goal may be expressed in absolute and/or relative terms or ratios and may be based on or use comparisons with internal targets, the past performance of the Company (including the performance of one or more Subsidiaries, divisions, platforms, operating units and/or other business unit) and/or the past or current performance of other companies. In the case of earnings-based measures, Performance Goals may use comparisons relating to capital (including, but not limited to, the cost of capital), cash flow, free cash flow, shareholders’ equity and/or shares outstanding, or to assets or net assets.

The Committee shall determine the period for which Performance Goals are set and during which performance is to be measured to determine whether a Participant is entitled to payment of an Award under the Plan (the “Performance Period”). Performance Periods may be of varying and overlapping durations, but each such period shall not be less than 12 months.

The Committee may specify in an Award that Performance Goals shall be adjusted to include or exclude the effect of special one-time or extraordinary gains or losses and other one-time or extraordinary events, including without limitation changes in accounting principles, extraordinary, unusual, or nonrecurring items (such as material litigation, judgments and settlements), currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes in corporate tax rates, and the impact of acquisitions, divestitures, and discontinued operations.

 

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10. General Provisions Applicable to Awards.

a. Transferability of Awards. Except as the Committee may otherwise determine or provide in an Award, Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant, provided, however, that Nonstatutory Stock Options may be transferred pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (as defined in the Code) or to a grantor-retained annuity trust or a similar estate-planning vehicle in which the trust is bound by all provisions of the Option which are applicable to the Participant. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.

b. Documentation. Each Award granted under the Plan, with the exception of Cash Awards, shall be evidenced by a written Award agreement in such form as the Committee shall from time to time approve. Award agreements shall comply with the terms and conditions of the Plan and may contain such other provisions not inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Plan as the Committee shall deem advisable. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Award agreement shall contain, or refer to, such provisions relating to exercise and other matters as are required of “incentive stock options” under the Code. Award agreements may be evidenced by an electronic transmission (including an e-mail or reference to a website or other URL) sent to the Participant through the Company’s normal process for communicating electronically with its employees. As a condition to receiving an Award, the Committee may require the proposed Participant to affirmatively accept the Award and agree to the terms and conditions set forth in the Award agreement by physically and/or electronically executing the Award agreement or by otherwise physically and/or electronically acknowledging such acceptance and agreement. With or without such affirmative acceptance, however, the Committee may prescribe conditions (including the exercise or attempted exercise of any benefit conferred by the Award) under which the proposed Participant may be deemed to have accepted the Award and agreed to the terms and conditions set forth in the Award agreement.

c. Committee Discretion. The terms of each type of Award need not be identical, and the Committee need not treat Participants uniformly.

d. Termination of Status. The Committee shall determine the effect on an Award of the disability, death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, or the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award, subject to applicable law and the provisions of the Code related to Incentive Stock Options.

e. Acquisition of the Company.

(i) Consequences of an Acquisition. If the Company is to be consolidated with or acquired by another entity in a merger, tender offer or other reorganization or transaction in which the holders of the outstanding voting stock of the Company immediately preceding the consummation of such event, shall, immediately following such event, hold, as a group, less than a majority of the voting securities of the surviving or successor entity, or in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise (each, an “Acquisition”), the Committee or the board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations of the Company hereunder (the “Successor Committee”), shall, as to outstanding Awards, either (i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Awards by substituting on an equitable basis for the shares then subject to such Awards either (a) the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock in connection with the Acquisition, (b) shares of stock of the surviving or successor corporation or (c) such other securities as the Successor Committee deems appropriate, the Fair Market Value of which shall not exceed the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Awards immediately preceding the Acquisition and in each case subject to applicable tax withholding; (ii) upon written notice to the Participants, provide that all Awards must be exercised, to the extent then exercisable or to be exercisable as a result of the Acquisition, within a specified number of days of the date of such notice, at the end of which period the Awards shall terminate; (iii) terminate all Awards in exchange for a cash payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market

 

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Value of the shares subject to such Awards (to the extent then exercisable or to be exercisable as a result of the Acquisition) over the exercise price thereof, if any, subject to applicable tax withholding; (iv) if applicable, in the event the exercise price of an Award exceeds the Fair Market Value of the shares subject to such Award, terminate such Award without any consideration; or (v) in the case of Awards that may be settled in whole or in part in cash, provide for equitable treatment of such Awards.

(ii) Assumption of Awards Upon Certain Events. In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Committee may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for stock and stock-based awards issued by such entity or an affiliate thereof. The substitute Awards shall be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee considers appropriate in the circumstances.

f. Withholding. Each Participant shall pay to the Company, or make provisions satisfactory to the Company for payment of, any taxes required by law to be withheld in connection with Awards to such Participant no later than the date of the event creating the tax liability. The Committee may allow Participants to satisfy such tax obligations in whole or in part by transferring shares of Common Stock, including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value. The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant.

g. Amendment of Awards. The Committee may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award including, but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of vesting or realization, modifying the exercise price, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option; provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 10(e)(i) or in the last sentence of this Section 10(g), the Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless the Committee determines in its sole discretion that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than as provided for in Section 3(c), without prior approval by the Company’s stockholders (a) no Option or other stock-based Award that is not a Full Value Award may be amended to reduce the price at which it is exercisable; (b) no Option or other stock-based Award that is not a Full Value Award may be canceled in exchange for an Option or other stock-based Award that is not a Full Value Award with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Option or stock-based Award that is not a Full Value Award; (c) no Option or stock-based Full Value Award with an exercise price above the then current Fair Market Value may be canceled in exchange for cash or other securities; and (d) no Option or stock-based Award that is not a Full Value Award may be amended to extend the period of time for which such previously-issued Award shall be exercisable beyond the expiration date of such Award.

h. Forfeiture. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, Awards and shares of Common Stock (and proceeds therefrom) obtained pursuant to or on exercise of such Awards hereunder are subject to forfeiture, setoff, recoupment or other recovery if the Committee determines in good faith that such action is required by applicable law or Company policy.

i. Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of the Plan and any applicable laws, rules or regulations, and (iv) the Participant has paid to the Company, or made provisions satisfactory to the Company for payment of, any taxes required by law to be withheld in connection with the Award.

j. Acceleration. The Committee may at any time subsequent to the grant of an Award provide that any Options shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, that Awards that may be settled in whole or in part in cash may become exercisable in full or in part, that any Restricted Stock Awards shall be free of some or

 

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all restrictions, or that any other stock-based Awards may become exercisable in full or in part or free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be, despite the fact that the foregoing actions may (i) cause the application of Sections 280G and 4999 or (ii) disqualify all or part of the Option as an Incentive Stock Option. In the event of the acceleration of the exercisability of one or more outstanding Options, including pursuant to Section 10(e)(i), the Committee may provide, as a condition of full exercisability of any or all such Options, that the Common Stock or other substituted consideration, including cash, as to which exercisability has been accelerated shall be restricted and subject to forfeiture back to the Company at the option of the Company at the cost thereof upon termination of employment or other relationship, with the timing and other terms of the vesting of such restricted stock or other consideration being equivalent to the timing and other terms of the superseded exercise schedule of the related Option.

k. Exception to Minimum Vesting Periods. The Committee may grant up to ten percent (10%) of the maximum aggregate shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance hereunder in the form of Restricted Stock based on Common Stock that do not comply with the minimum vesting periods set forth in Section 5(c).

l. Compliance with Code Section 409A. It is the intention of the Company that this Plan and each Award comply with and be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, the United States Department of Treasury regulations, and other guidance issued thereunder, including any applicable exemptions (collectively, “Section 409A”). Each payment in any series of payments provided to a Participant pursuant to this Plan or an Award will be deemed a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. If any amount payable under this Plan or an Award is determined by the Company to constitute nonqualified deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A (after taking into account applicable exemptions) and such amount is payable upon a termination of employment, then such amount shall not be paid unless and until the Participant’s termination of employment also constitutes a “separation from service” from the Company for purposes of Section 409A. In the event that the Participant is determined by the Company to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A at the time of his separation from service with the Company, then any nonqualified deferred compensation (after giving effect to any exemptions available under Section 409A) otherwise payable to the Participant as a result of the Participant’s separation from service during the first six (6) months following his separation from service shall be delayed and paid in a lump sum upon the earlier of (x) the Participant’s date of death, or (y) the first day of the seventh month following the Participant’s separation from service, and the balance of the installments (if any) will be payable in accordance with their original schedule.

11. Foreign Jurisdictions.

To the extent that the Committee determines that the material terms set by the Committee or imposed by the Plan preclude the achievement of the material purposes of the Plan in jurisdictions outside the United States, the Committee will have the authority and discretion to modify those terms and provide for such additional terms and conditions as the Committee determines to be necessary, appropriate or desirable to accommodate differences in local law, policy or custom or to facilitate administration of the Plan. The Committee may adopt or approve sub-plans, appendices or supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, the Plan as it may consider necessary, appropriate or desirable, without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose. The special terms and any appendices, supplements, amendments, restatements or alternative versions, however, shall not include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of the Plan as then in effect, unless the Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the stockholders. The Committee shall also have the authority and discretion to delegate the foregoing powers to appropriate officers of the Company.

12. Miscellaneous.

a. Definitions.

(i) “Company” for purposes of eligibility under the Plan, shall include any present or future subsidiary corporations of SeaChange International, Inc., as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code (a “Subsidiary”), and any present or future parent corporation of SeaChange International, Inc., as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code. For purposes of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the term “Company” shall also include any other

 

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business venture in which the Company has a direct or indirect significant interest, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(ii) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

(iii) “employee” for purposes of eligibility under the Plan shall include a person to whom an offer of employment has been extended by the Company and who has actually commenced employment with the Company, whether full or part-time status; provided, however, that for purposes of Section 4(b) such person must be an employee of the Company as defined under Section 422 of the Code.

(iv) “Fair Market Value” of the Company’s Common Stock on any date means (i) the last reported sale price (on that date) of the Common Stock on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded, if the Common Stock is then traded on a national securities exchange; or (ii) the average of the closing bid and asked prices last quoted (on that date) by an established quotation service for over-the-counter securities, if the Common Stock is not then traded on a national securities exchange; or (iii) if the Common Stock is not publicly traded, the fair market value of the Common Stock as determined by the Committee after taking into consideration all factors which it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, recent sale and offer prices of the Common Stock in private transactions negotiated at arm’s length); provided, that, in all events the Fair Market Value shall represent the Committee’s good faith determination of the fair market value of the Common Stock. The Committee’s determination shall be conclusive as to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock.

(v) “Full Value Awards” means Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Awards other than (a) Options or (b) Cash Awards or (c) other stock-based Awards for which the Participant pays the intrinsic value (whether directly or by forgoing a right to receive a cash payment from the Company).

b. No Right To Employment or Other Status. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan.

c. No Rights As Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder thereof.

d. Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is approved by the stockholders of the Company (the “Effective Date”). No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the completion of ten years from the Effective Date, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.

e. Amendment of Plan. The Committee may amend this Plan at any time, provided that any material amendment to the Plan will not be effective unless approved by the Company’s stockholders. For this purpose, a material amendment is any amendment that would (i) other than pursuant to Section 3(c), materially increase either the number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan, or the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable in one fiscal year to a Participant; (ii) expand the class of persons eligible to receive Awards or otherwise participate in the Plan; (iii) amend Section 10(g); (iv) amend Section 10(k); (v) subject to Sections 10(e) and 10(j), amend the minimum vesting provisions of Awards contained in Sections 4(f), 5(c), 6(c) or 7 of the Plan; or (vi) require stockholder approval pursuant to the requirements of NASDAQ or any exchange on which the Company is then listed or applicable law.

f. Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, exclusive of reference to rules and principles of conflicts of law.

Adopted by the Board of Directors on May 14, 2021

 

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SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

ATTN: ELAINE MARTEL

177 HUNTINGTON AVENUE, SUITE 1703

PMB 73480

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02115-3153

VOTE BY INTERNET

Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com

Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

During The Meeting - Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SEAC2021

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

VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903

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

VOTE BY MAIL

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

 

 

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

D54448-P57667                    KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS

 

DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

 

 

  SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR

proposals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

 

1.      To elect the following nominees to the Board of Directors to serve for a three-year term as a Class I Director:      
         For   Against   Abstain
     1a.   Julian Singer      
     1b.   Matthew Stecker      
           
           

 

 

        For   Against   Abstain  
 
2.   To approve amendments to SeaChange’s Amended and Restated By-Laws to declassify the Board of Directors.     ☐     ☐     ☐   
3.   To adopt, on an advisory basis, a resolution approving the compensation of SeaChange’s named executive officers.     ☐     ☐     ☐   
4.   To approve the 2021 Compensation and Incentive Plan.     ☐     ☐     ☐   
5.   To ratify the appointment of SeaChange’s independent registered public accounting firm, Marcum LLP.     ☐     ☐     ☐   

 

Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.

 

 

          
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]   Date  
          
 Signature (Joint Owners)   Date  
 


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

The Notice and Proxy Statement, Form 10-K and FAQ are available at www.proxyvote.com

 

 

D54449-P57667    

 

 

SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on July 8, 2021

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned, revoking all prior proxies, hereby appoints Michael Prinn and Elaine Martel and each of them, with full power of substitution, as proxies to represent and vote all shares of common stock of SeaChange International, Inc. which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of SeaChange to be held on July 8, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, virtually via live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SEAC2021, and at all adjournments or postponements thereof, upon matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement dated May 28, 2021, a copy of which has been received by the undersigned. The proxies are further authorized to vote, in their discretion, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER(S). IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE DIRECTORS NAMED HEREIN, FOR THE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS, FOR THE APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE 2021 COMPENSATION AND INCENTIVE PLAN, AND FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF SEACHANGE’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.

Continued and to be signed on reverse side