ABOUT BK
BK Technologies Corporation manufactures high-specification communications equipment of unsurpassed reliability and value for use by public safety professionals and government agencies. BK Technologies SaaS business focuses on new, innovative public safety smartphone services that will make the first responders safer or more productive. BK Technologies is honored to serve these heroes when every moment counts. The Company’s common stock trades on the NYSE American market under the symbol “BKTI”.
BK Technologies Corporation
Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call
On Thursday, August 8, 2024 – 9:00 AM Eastern Time
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board of Directors, which is elected by the stockholders, is the ultimate decision-making body of the Company except with respect to those matters reserved to the stockholders. It selects the senior management team, which is charged with the conduct of the Company’s business. Having selected the senior management team, the Board acts as an adviser and counselor to senior management and ultimately monitors its performance.
Board Members:
Josh Horowitz Chairman |
John M. Suzuki | Ellen O’Hara | Lloyd R. Sams |
Charles T. Lanktree | General E. Gray Payne | R. Joseph Jackson |
In accordance with the NYSE American corporate governance listing standards, it is the policy of the Company that the Board of Directors consist of a majority of independent directors. The Board of Directors reviews the relationships that each director has with the Company and other parties. Only those directors who do not have any of the categorical relationships that preclude them from being independent within the independence requirements of the NYSE American corporate governance listing standards and who the Board of Directors affirmatively determines have no relationships that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director, are considered to be independent directors.
The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominating Committee and Strategic M&A Committee. Each of these Committees is comprised of independent directors.
The Audit Committee has oversight responsibility for quality and integrity of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Audit Committee meets privately with members of our independent registered public accounting firm, has the sole authority to retain and dismiss the independent registered public accounting firm and reviews their performance and independence from management. The independent registered public accounting firm has unrestricted access and reports directly to the Audit Committee.
The Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all compensation arrangements for the Company’s senior management team, and is also responsible for administering the Company’s stock option plans.
The Nominating Committee is responsible for evaluating and recommending individuals to be nominated for election or re-election to the Board of Directors and its Committees.
The Strategic M&A Committee is responsible for reviewing the Company’s strategies, transactions and execution related to proposed mergers, acquisitions and business divestitures and is also responsible for reviewing and making recommendations related to proposed capital market transactions and other financing arrangements.
Members:
Compensation Committee
- R. Joseph Jackson – Chair
- Charles T. Lanktree
- Lloyd R. Sams
Nominating and Governance Committee
- Lloyd R. Sams – Chair
- General E. Gray Payne
Audit Committee
- General E. Gray Payne – Chair
- R. Joseph Jackson
- Charles T. Lanktree
Strategic M&A Committee
- Ellen O’Hara – Chair
- John M. Suzuki
- Joshua Horowitz
In an uncontested election for directors, any nominee for director who receives more votes “withheld” from his or her election than votes “for” such election is required to promptly submit his or her resignation to the Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee is required to make recommendations to the Board of Directors as to the action to be taken with respect to any such resignation. The Board of Directors is required to take action within a reasonable period of time and to promptly disclose to the public each resignation and related Board decision.
Amended and Restated Bylaws
Article I : Shareholders
1.1 Meetings.
1.1.1 Place. Meetings of the shareholders shall be held at such place as may be designated by the board of directors.
1.1.2 Annual Meeting. Unless otherwise fixed by the board of directors, an annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and for other business as may properly be brought before the meeting, shall be held at 10:00 a.m. local time on the 4th Thursday of April in each year or, if that day is a legal holiday, on the next following business day.
1.1.3 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the shareholders may be called at any time by the president, the board of directors or the holders of at least one-fifth of the outstanding shares of stock of the corporation entitled to vote at the meeting.
1.1.4 Notice. Written notice of the time and place of all meetings of shareholders and of the general nature of the business to be transacted at each special meeting of shareholders shall be given to each shareholder entitled to vote at the meeting at least ten (10) days before the date of the meeting unless a greater period of notice is required by law in a particular case.
1.1.5 Quorum. The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of the corporation entitled to vote on a particular matter shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of considering such matter. If a quorum is not present no business shall be transacted except to adjourn to a future time.
1.1.6 Adjourned Meetings. Those shareholders entitled to vote who attend a meeting called for the election of directors that has been previously adjourned for lack of a quorum, although less than a quorum as fixed in these bylaws, shall nevertheless constitute a quorum for the purposes of electing directors. Those shareholders entitled to vote who attend a meeting of shareholders that has been previously adjourned for one or more periods aggregating at least fifteen (15) days because of an absence of a quorum, although then less than a quorum as fixed in these by-laws, shall nevertheless constitute a quorum for the purpose of acting upon any matter set forth in the notice of the meeting if the notice states that those shareholders who attend the adjourned meeting shall nevertheless constitute a quorum for purpose of acting upon the matter.
1.1.7 Participation. One or more shareholders may participate in a shareholders’ meeting by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.
1.1.8 Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein, the articles of incorporation or bylaws, every shareholder shall have the right at every shareholders’ meeting to one vote for every share standing in his name on the books of the corporation which is entitled to vote at such meeting. Every shareholder may vote either in person or by proxy.
1.2 Advance Notice Provisions for Business and Nominations at Meetings.
1.2.1 At an annual meeting of shareholders, only such business shall be conducted as has been properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 1.2. To be properly brought before the annual meeting, business and nominations must be: (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or in any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the board of directors, (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any shareholder of the corporation who (i) is a shareholder of record on both (A) the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 1.2 and (B) the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting, and (ii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.2.
1.2.2 In addition to any other applicable requirements, for nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, such shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the secretary of the corporation and such other business must be a proper subject of shareholder action.
(a) To be timely, a written notice of the intent of a shareholder to make a nomination of a person for election as a director or to bring any other matter before the annual meeting shall be received at the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 180th day and not later than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting of shareholders. However, if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the anniversary date of the previous year’s annual meeting, notice by the shareholder must be so received by the secretary not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 75th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the corporation.
(b) To be in proper written form every such notice by a shareholder shall set forth as to each nominee or matter such shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting:
(i) as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (each, a “proposed nominee”): (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of the proposed nominee; (B) the principal occupation or employment of the proposed nominee; (C) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the corporation, if any, which are owned beneficially and of record by the proposed nominee; (D) any other information regarding each proposed nominee proposed by such shareholder as would be required to be included in solicitations of proxies for elections of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement, if any, as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (E) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such shareholder and each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the shareholder;
(ii) as to any other business that the shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (A) a description of the matter, including the text of the proposal of business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the bylaws of the corporation, the language of the proposed amendment); (B) the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting; and (C) any material interest in such business of such shareholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and
(iii) as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal of other business is made: (A) the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the corporation’s stock transfer books, and the name and address of such beneficial owner; (B) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner as of the date of the notice; and (C) a representation that such shareholder intends to vote such stock at such meeting, and that such shareholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to make the nomination or propose the business specified in the notice.
1.2.3 If a shareholder is entitled to vote only for a specific class or category of directors at a meeting of the shareholders, such shareholder’s right to nominate one or more persons for election as a director at the meeting shall be limited to such class or category of directors.
1.2.4 In the event of a special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected, any shareholder entitled to vote may nominate a person or persons for election as director if such shareholder qualifies under Section 1.2.1 and such shareholder’s written notice is prepared in accordance with Section 1.2.2(b) and is received by the secretary not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the special meeting is first made by the corporation.
1.2.5 At a meeting of shareholders, the chairman of the board shall declare out of order and disregard any nomination or other proposal not made in compliance with the foregoing procedures.
1.2.6 In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual or special meeting of the shareholders, or any announcement thereof, commence a new period for the giving of notice under this Section 1.2.
1.2.7 Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.2, unless otherwise required by law, if the shareholder of record (or a qualified representative of such shareholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting to present a nomination or other matter of business, such nomination or business shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the corporation.
1.2.8 As used in these bylaws, the terms “owned beneficially” and “beneficial owner” means all shares which such person is deemed to beneficially own pursuant to Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act. For purposes of these bylaws, a matter shall be deemed to have been “publicly announced” if such matter is disclosed in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, the Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.2.9 Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.2, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.2. Nothing in this Section 1.2 shall be deemed to affect any rights of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act nor grant any shareholders a right to have any nominee included in the corporation’s proxy statement.
Article II : Directors
2.1 Number and Term. Subject to the provisions of applicable law, the board of directors shall have authority to (a) determine the number of directors to constitute the board, and (b) fix the terms of office of the directors and classify the directors with respect to the time for which they shall severally hold office. Except as otherwise fixed by the board of directors under the authority given above, the number of directors shall be five (5) and each director elected to the board shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the shareholders unless he sooner resigns or is removed or disqualified.
2.2 Powers. All corporate powers shall be exercised by or under authority of, and the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed under the direction of, the board of directors.
2.3 Meetings.
2.3.1 Place. Meetings of the board of directors shall be held at such place as may be designated by the board or in the notice of the meeting.
2.3.2 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the board of directors shall be held at such times as the board may designate. Notice of regular meetings need not be given.
2.3.3 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the board of directors may be called at any time by the president and shall be called by him on the written request of one-third of the directors. Notice (which need not be written) of the time and place of each special meeting shall be given to each director at least two days before the meeting.
2.3.4 Quorum. A majority of all the directors in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting and except as otherwise provided herein the acts of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the acts of the board of directors.
2.3.5 Participation. One or more directors may participate in a meeting of the board or a committee of the board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.
2.4 Vacancies. Vacancies in the board of directors shall be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining members of the board.
2.5 Committees. The board of directors may by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole board designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of two or more directors and such alternate members (also directors) as may be designated by the board. To the extent provided in such resolution, any such committee shall have and exercise the powers of the board of directors. Unless otherwise determined by the board, in the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another director to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.
2.6 Limitation on Directors’ Liability. Except as otherwise provided by law, a director shall not be personally liable for monetary damages as such for any action taken, or failure to take any action, unless:
2.6.1 The director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his office as provided in the Nevada General Corporation Law (the “NGCL”); and
2.6.2 The breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness.
Article III: Officers
3.1 Election. The board of directors shall elect a president, treasurer, secretary and such other officers as it deems advisable. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
3.2 Authority, Duties and Compensation. The officers shall have such authority and perform such duties and serve for such compensation as may be determined by or under the direction of the board of directors. Except as otherwise provided by the board (a) the president shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation, shall have general supervision over the business and operations of the corporation, may perform any act and execute any instrument for the conduct of such business and operations and shall preside at all meetings of the board and shareholders, (b) the other officers shall have the duties usually related to their offices, and (c) the vice president (or vice presidents in the order determined by the board) shall in the absence of the president have the authority and perform the duties of the president.
Article IV: Indemnification
4.1 Right to Indemnification.
4.1.1 Third Party Claims. The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that he is or was a representative of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a representative of another domestic or foreign corporation for profit or not-for-profit, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including employee benefit plans), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction upon a plea nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not of itself create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner that he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
4.1.2 Derivative Actions. The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action by or in the right of the corporation to procure judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a representative of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a representative of another domestic or foreign corporation for profit or not-for-profit, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of the action if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the corporation; provided that no indemnification shall be made under this section in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the person has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the expenses that such court deems proper.
4.2 Procedure for Effecting Indemnification. Unless ordered by a court, any indemnification made under Sections 4.1.1 or 4.1.2 shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in this specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the representative is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in those sections. Such determination shall be made:
4.2.1 By the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to the action or proceeding;
4.2.2 If such a quorum is not obtainable or if obtainable and a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion;
4.2.3 By the shareholders; or
4.2.4 In such other manner, if any, as shall be permitted by NGCL.
4.3 Advancement of Expenses. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action or proceeding referred to in this Article may be made by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of the action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the representative to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this Article or otherwise.
Article V: Shares
5.1 Share Certificates. Every shareholder of record shall be entitled to a share certificate representing the shares held by him. Every share certificate shall bear the corporate seal (which may be a facsimile) and the signature of the president or a vice president and the secretary or an assistant secretary.
5.2 Transfers. Transfers of share certificates and the shares represented thereby shall be made on the books of the corporation only by the registered holder or by duly authorized attorney. Transfer shall be made only on surrender of the share certificate or certificates.
Article VI: Amendment
Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, these By-Laws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the board of directors by the vote of a majority of all the directors in office or at any annual or special meeting of shareholders by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote. Notice of any such meeting of shareholders shall set forth the proposed change or a summary thereof.
Article VII : Nevada Acquisition of Controlling Interest Act
Pursuant to NRS § 78.378, the Corporation shall not be subject to the provisions of Nevada Revised Statutes Sections 78.378 to 78.3793, inclusive (Acquisition of Controlling Interest), and specifically that the provisions of NRS §§ 78.378 to 78.3793 do not apply to the Corporation or to an acquisition of a controlling interest by existing or future stockholders.
Updated as of: March 25, 2020
Purpose of the Committee
The Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Committee”) shall report to and assist the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of BK Technologies Corporation (the “Company”). The purpose of the Committee shall be to determine and recommend to the Board the slate of director nominees for election to the Board at each annual shareholders’ meeting, to identify and recommend candidates to fill vacancies occurring between annual shareholders’ meetings, to review, evaluate and recommend changes to the Company’s corporate governance guidelines and policies, to monitor the Company’s compliance with such guidelines and policies, and to address any related matters as may be required under the federal securities laws.
Membership on the Committee
- The Committee shall be comprised of not less than two members of the Board.
- All members of the Committee shall be independent directors, as independence is defined in accordance with the rules, regulations and standards of the NYSE American or any other national securities exchange or any inter-dealer quotation system on which the Company’s common stock is then listed.
- Members of the Committee, including the chairperson, shall be appointed and may be removed by the Board at any time with or without cause.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Committee
- Policies and Procedures for Nomination of Directors: The Committee shall establish policies and procedures for the nomination of director candidates to the Board. In particular, the Committee shall establish a policy regarding minimum qualifications of director candidates and all procedures for identifying and evaluating candidates for nomination as directors, including candidates recommended by the Company’s security holders. The Committee shall also establish a policy regarding the consideration of director candidates recommended by security holders and procedures to be followed by security holders in submitting such recommendations.
- Nomination of Directors: The Committee shall annually consider the size, composition and needs of the Board and consider and recommend director candidates (including those recommended by the Company’s security holders) for membership on the Board. The Committee shall recommend to the Board each year the director nominees for election at the next annual meeting of shareholders. As the need arises to fill vacancies, the Committee shall actively seek individuals qualified to become directors for recommendation to the Board.
- Committees of the Board: The Committee shall review annually the purpose of the committees of the Board, recommend to the Board any changes deemed necessary or desirable to the purpose of the committees and whether any committees should be created or discontinued, and recommend to the Board the directors and chairperson to be appointed to each committee. The Committee shall review annually the adequacy of the charters adopted by each committee of the Board, and recommend changes as necessary.
- Corporate Governance Guidelines and Compliance: The Committee shall review and assess the adequacy of the Company’s guidelines and policies on corporate governance and recommend to the Board any changes deemed necessary or desirable. The Committee shall also monitor the Company’s compliance with such guidelines and policies.
- Evaluation: The Committee shall conduct an annual review of the performance of the Board, itself, and the Board’s other committees and report the results to the Board.
- Reports to the Board: The Committee shall report regularly to the Board on its meetings and activities and review with the Board significant issues and concerns that arise at its meetings or in connection with its activities.
- Charter Review: On an annual basis, the Committee shall review the adequacy of this Charter, and recommend to the Board any modifications or changes hereto for approval by the Board.
- Other Duties: The Committee shall perform other duties and responsibilities expressly delegated to the Committee by the Board from time to time.
Meetings of the Committee
The Committee shall meet at least once each year. The Committee shall meet periodically in executive session without Company management present. Additional meetings may occur as the Committee or its chairperson deems advisable. The Committee will cause to be kept adequate minutes of its proceedings. The Committee shall be governed by the same rules regarding meetings (including meetings by telephone conference or similar communications equipment), action without a meeting, notice, waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements as are applicable to the Board. The Committee is authorized, but not obligated, to adopt its own rules of procedure not inconsistent with (a) any provision of this Charter, (b) any provision of the Bylaws of the Company, or (c) the laws of the state of Nevada.
Additional Authority of the Committee
- The Committee shall have the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees as the Committee may deem appropriate in its discretion.
- The Committee shall have authority to retain any search firm to assist in identifying director candidates, and to retain outside counsel and other advisors as the Committee may deem appropriate in its discretion in the conduct of its duties and responsibilities under this Charter. For the avoidance of doubt, the Committee shall have the sole authority to retain, terminate and negotiate the terms and conditions of the retention of any such advisor. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding as determined by the Committee for payment of compensation to any search firm or any other advisors retained by the Committee.
Last Revised as of March 25, 2020
Last Revised as of: March 25, 2020
BK Technologies Corporation
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER
Purpose
The purpose of the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of BK Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) shall be as follows:
- To discharge the responsibilities of the Board of Directors relating to the Company’s compensation programs and compensation of the Company’s executives; and
- To produce an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Company’s annual proxy statement in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the NYSE American (or any other national securities exchange on which the Company’s common stock is then principally listed and traded), Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and other regulatory bodies, if so required.
Composition
The Committee shall consist of two or more members of the Board of Directors, each of whom is determined by the Board of Directors to be (a) “independent” under the rules of the NYSE American (or any other national securities exchange on which the Company’s common stock is then principally listed and traded), as applicable to the Company, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and (b) a “non-employee director,” as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may consist of less than all “independent” members for such periods and to the extent permitted by the rules of the NYSE American (or any other national securities exchange on which the Company’s common stock is then principally listed and traded).
Appointment and Removal
The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and shall serve until such member’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such member’s earlier resignation or removal. The members of the Committee may be removed by the Board of Directors, with and without cause, at any time.
Chairman
A Chairman shall be elected by the full Board of Directors and approved by a majority of the independent directors. The Chairman will chair all regular sessions of the Committee and set the agendas for Committee meetings.
Meetings
The Committee shall meet as frequently as circumstances dictate. The Chairman of the Board or any member of the Committee may call meetings of the Committee. As part of its review and establishment of the performance criteria and compensation of designated key executives, the Committee should meet separately at least on an annual basis with the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and any other corporate officers as it deems appropriate. However, the Committee should also meet from time to time without such officers present, and in all cases, such officers shall not be present at meetings at which their performance and compensation are being discussed and determined. All meetings of the Committee may be held telephonically.
All independent directors who are not members of the Committee may attend meetings of the Committee, but may not vote. In addition, the Committee may invite to its meetings any director, member of management of the Company, and such other persons as it deems appropriate in order to carry out its responsibilities. The Committee may also exclude from its meetings any persons it deems appropriate in order to carry out its responsibilities. The Committee will cause to be kept adequate minutes of its proceedings. The Committee shall be governed by the same rules regarding meetings (including meetings by telephone conference or similar communications equipment), action without a meeting, notice, waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements as are applicable to the Board. The Committee is authorized, but not obligated, to adopt its own rules of procedure not inconsistent with (a) any provision of this Charter, (b) any provision of the Bylaws of the Company, or (c) the laws of the state of Nevada.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Committee shall carry out the duties and responsibilities set forth below. These functions should serve as a guide with the understanding that the Committee may determine to carry out additional functions and adopt additional policies and procedures as may be appropriate in light of changing business, legislative, regulatory, legal, or other conditions. The Committee shall also carry out any other responsibilities and duties delegated to it by the Board of Directors from time to time related to the purposes of the Committee outlined in this Charter.
In discharging its oversight role, the Committee is empowered to study or investigate any matter of interest or concern that the Committee deems appropriate and shall have the sole authority to retain and terminate, without seeking Board approval, outside counsel, compensation and benefits consultants or other advisers for this purpose, including the authority to approve the fees payable to such counsel, consultants or other advisers and any other terms of retention or termination. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding as determined by the Committee for payment or compensation to any such counsel or adviser retained by the Committee.
If the Company no longer qualifies as a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by the SEC, the Committee may select, or receive advice from, outside counsel, compensation and benefits consultants or other advisers only after taking into consideration the following six independence factors, as well as any other factors required by applicable exchanges and/or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and corresponding rules that may be amended from time to time:
- the provision of other services to the Company by the person that employs the compensation consultant, outside counsel or other adviser;
- the amount of fees received from the Company by the person that employs the compensation consultant, outside counsel or other adviser, as a percentage of the total revenue of the person that employs the compensation consultant, outside counsel or other adviser;
- the policies and procedures of the person that employs the compensation consultant, outside counsel or other adviser that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest;
- any business or personal relationship of the compensation consultant, outside counsel or other adviser with a member of the Committee;
- any stock of the Company owned by the compensation consultant, outside counsel or other adviser; and
- any business or personal relationship of the compensation consultant, outside counsel, other adviser or the person employing the compensation consultant, outside counsel, or other adviser with an executive officer of the Company.
Setting Compensation for Executive Officers and Directors
- Establish and review the overall compensation philosophy of the Company.
- Review and approve the Company’s corporate goals and objectives relevant to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “CEO”) and other executive officers’ compensation, including annual performance objectives.
- Evaluate the performance of the CEO and other executive officers in light of those goals and objectives and, based on such evaluation, review and approve the annual salary, bonus, stock options, and other benefits, direct and indirect, of the CEO and other executive officers.
- In determining the long-term incentive component of compensation for the CEO and other executive officers, the Committee should consider the Company’s performance and relative shareholder return, the value of similar incentive awards to CEOs and other executive officers at comparable companies, and the awards given to the Company’s CEO and other executive officers in past years. The Committee is not precluded from approving awards (with the ratification of the Board of Directors) as may be required to comply with applicable tax laws, such as Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
- In connection with executive compensation programs: Review and recommend to the full Board of Directors, or approve, new executive compensation programs; Review on a periodic basis the operations of the Company’s executive compensation programs to determine whether they are properly coordinated and achieving their intended purposes; Establish and periodically review policies for the administration of executive compensation programs; and Take steps to modify any executive compensation program that yields payments and benefits that are not reasonably related to executive and corporate performance; provided, however that such steps taken by the Committee would not cause the Company to be in breach of any existing, properly approved contractual obligations.
- Establish and periodically review policies in the area of senior management perquisites.
- Consider policies and procedures pertaining to expense accounts of senior executives.
- Review and recommend to the full Board of Directors compensation of directors as well as director’s and officer’s indemnification and insurance matters.
- Review and make recommendations to the full Board of Directors, or approve, any contracts or other transactions with current or former executive officers of the Company, including consulting arrangements, employment contracts, change-in-control, severance, or termination arrangements, and loans to employees made or guaranteed by the Company or its subsidiaries.
- In connection with any shareholder advisory vote on the frequency with which the Company shall hold a shareholder advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers identified in the Company’s proxy statement (also known as “say-on-pay”), review and recommend for approval by the Board of Directors (a) the frequency that should be recommended to the Company’s shareholders and (b) after the vote, the frequency with which the Company should submit to the shareholders advisory “say-on-pay” votes going-forward, taking into account any prior shareholder advisory votes on such frequency.
- Review the results of any “say-on-pay” votes and consider whether to make or recommend adjustments to the Company’s executive compensation policies and practices as a result of such votes.
Monitoring Incentive and Equity-Based Compensation Plans
- Review and make recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to the Company’s incentive-compensation plans and equity-based plans, and review the activities of the individuals responsible for administering those plans.
- Review and approve all equity compensation plans of the Company that are not otherwise subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders.
- Review and make recommendations to the full Board of Directors, or approve, all types of awards pursuant to the Company’s equity-based plans and approve grants of equity and equity-based awards.
- Monitor compliance by executives with the rules and guidelines of the Company’s equity-based plans.
- Review and monitor employee pension, profit sharing, and benefit plans.
- Oversee risks relating to the Company’s compensation policies, practices and procedures.
Reports
- Prepare an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the NYSE American (or any other national securities exchange on which the Company’s common stock is then principally listed and traded), SEC, and other applicable regulatory bodies, if so required.
- Report regularly to the Board of Directors with respect to matters that are relevant to the Committee’s discharge of its responsibilities and with respect to such recommendations as the Committee may deem appropriate. The report to the Board of Directors may take the form of an oral report by the Chairman or any other member of the Committee designated by the Committee to make such report.
- Maintain minutes or other records of meetings and activities of the Committee.
Last Revised as of March 25, 2020
Last Revised as of: March 25, 2020
BK Technologies Corporation
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
Purpose
The purpose of the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of BK Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) shall be as follows:
- To oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and audits of the financial statements of the Company.
- To provide assistance to the Board of Directors with respect to its oversight of the following:
The integrity of the Company’s financial statements.
The independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence.
The performance of the Company’s internal audit function, if any, and independent registered public accounting firm. - To prepare the report that Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules require be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.
Composition
The Committee shall consist of two or more members of the Board of Directors, each of whom is determined by the Board of Directors to be “independent” under the rules of the NYSE American or any other national securities exchange on which the Company’s common stock is then listed and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), adopted pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
One director who is not independent as defined in the rules and regulations of the NYSE American and who meets the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (subject to the exemptions provided in Rule 10A-3(c) under the Exchange Act) may serve as a member of the Committee, in the following circumstances:
- the director, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the Committee, the Board of Directors, or another Board committee, does not accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than the receipt of fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with the Company so long as such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service;
- the director is not an affiliated person of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
- the director is not a current officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or an immediate family member of a current officer or employee;
- the Board determines, under exceptional and limited circumstances, that membership by the individual on the Committee is required by the best interests of the Company and its shareholders;
- the Board of Directors discloses, in the Company’s next annual meeting proxy statement (or its next annual report on Form 10-K or its equivalent if the Company does not file an annual proxy statement) subsequent to such determination, the nature of the relationship and the reason for that determination;
- no such person may serve as the Chairman of the Committee; and
- no such person may serve on the Committee for more than two years.
No member of the Committee can have participated in the preparation of the financial statements of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company at any time during the past three years.
No member of the Committee shall receive directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fees from the Company other than (1) compensation for service as a director of the Company, including reasonable compensation for serving on Board committees and regular benefits that other directors receive; and (2) a pension or similar compensation for past performance, provided that such compensation is not conditioned on continued or future service to the Company. In addition, no member of the Committee may be an affiliate of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company whether by being an officer or owning more than 10 percent of the Company’s voting securities.
Qualifications
All members of the Committee shall be able to read and understand fundamental financial statements (including a company’s balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement) and at least one member must either have past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable experience or background, which results in the individual’s financial sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or other senior officer with financial oversight responsibilities. At least one member of the Committee must be an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K (or any successor rule). A person who satisfies this definition of “audit committee financial expert” will also be presumed to have financial sophistication. Committee members may enhance their familiarity with finance and accounting by participating in educational programs conducted by the Company or by an outside organization.
Appointment and Removal
The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. A member shall serve until such member’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such member’s earlier resignation or removal. The members of the Committee may be removed, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at any time.
Chairman
Unless a Chairman is elected by the full Board of Directors, the members of the Committee shall designate a Chairman by the majority vote of the full Committee membership. The Chairman will chair all regular sessions of the Committee and set the agendas for Committee meetings.
Delegation to Subcommittees
In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Committee shall be entitled to delegate any or all of its responsibilities to a subcommittee of the Committee.
Meetings
The Committee shall meet as frequently as circumstances dictate, but at least on a quarterly basis. The Chairman of the Committee or a majority of the members of the Committee may call meetings of the Committee. Any one or more of the members of the Committee may participate in a meeting of the Committee by means of conference call or similar communication device by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.
All non-management directors who are not members of the Committee may attend meetings of the Committee, but may not vote. In addition, the Committee may invite to its meetings any director, member of management of the Company, and such other persons as it deems appropriate in order to carry out its responsibilities. The Committee may also exclude from its meetings any persons it deems appropriate.
As part of its goal to foster open communication, the Committee shall periodically meet separately with each of management, the director of the internal auditing department, if any, and the independent registered public accounting firm to discuss any matters that the Committee or any of these groups believe would be appropriate to discuss privately. In addition, the Committee should meet with the independent registered public accounting firm and management periodically to review the Company’s financial statements in a manner consistent with that outlined in this Charter.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Committee shall carry out the duties and responsibilities set forth below. These functions should serve as a guide with the understanding that the Committee may determine to carry out additional functions and adopt additional policies and procedures as may be appropriate in light of changing business, legislative, regulatory, legal, or other conditions. The Committee shall also carry out any other duties and responsibilities delegated to it by the Board of Directors from time to time related to the purposes of the Committee outlined in this Charter. The Committee may perform any functions it deems appropriate under applicable law, rules, or regulations, the Company’s Bylaws, and the resolutions or other directives of the Board, including review of any certification required to be reviewed in accordance with applicable law or regulations of the SEC.
In discharging its oversight role, the Committee is empowered to study or investigate any matter of interest or concern that the Committee deems appropriate. In this regard and as it otherwise deems appropriate, the Committee shall have the authority, without seeking Board approval, to engage and obtain advice and assistance from outside legal and other advisors as it deems necessary to carry out its duties. The Committee also shall have the authority to receive appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee, in its capacity as a committee of the Board of Directors, from the Company for the payment of compensation to any independent registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attest services for the Company; to compensate any outside legal or other advisors engaged by the Committee; and to pay the ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.
The Committee shall be given full access to the Company’s internal audit group, if any, Board of Directors, corporate executives, and independent registered public accounting firm as necessary to carry out these responsibilities. While acting within the scope of its stated purpose, the Committee shall have all the authority of the Board of Directors, except as otherwise limited by applicable law. Not withstanding the foregoing, the Committee is not responsible for certifying the Company’s financial statements or guaranteeing the independent registered public accounting firm’s report. The fundamental responsibility for the Company’s financial statements and disclosures rests with management and the independent registered public accounting firm. It also is the job of the Chief Executive Officer and senior management, rather than that of the Committee, to assess and manage the Company’s exposure to risk.
Documents/Reports Review
- Discuss with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, prior to public dissemination, the Company’s annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements, including the Company’s disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and discuss with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC, and other matters, if any, brought to the attention of the Committee by employees or officers of the Company or its subsidiaries.
- Discuss with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, prior to the Company’s filing of any quarterly or annual report, (a) whether any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting exist that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data; (b) the existence of any material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and (c) the existence of any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
- Discuss with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the Company’s earnings press releases (paying particular attention to the use of any “pro forma” or “adjusted” non-GAAP information, any operation metrics and any key performance indicators), as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies.
- Discuss with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the Company’s major financial risk exposures, the guidelines and policies by which risk assessment and management is undertaken, and the steps management has taken to monitor and control risk exposure.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
- Appoint, retain, compensate, evaluate, and terminate any registered public accounting firm engaged by the Company for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attest services for the Company and, in its sole authority, approve all audit engagement fees and terms as well as all non-audit engagements with the registered public accounting firm.
- Oversee the work of any independent registered public accounting firm engaged by the Company for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attest services for the Company, including the resolution of any disagreements between management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding financial reporting.
- Pre-approve, or adopt procedures to pre-approve, all audit, audit related, tax, and other services permitted by law or applicable SEC regulations (including fee and cost ranges) to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm. Any pre-approved services that will involve fees or costs exceeding pre-approved levels will also require specific pre-approval by the Committee. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee in pre-approving a service, the pre-approval will be effective for the 12-month period following pre-approval. The Committee will not approve any non-audit services prohibited by applicable SEC regulations or any services in connection with a transaction initially recommended by the independent registered public accounting firm, the purpose of which may be tax avoidance and the tax treatment of which may not be supported by the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations.
- To the extent it deems it appropriate, delegate pre-approval authority to the Chairman of the Committee or any one or more other members of the Committee provided that any member of the Committee who has exercised such delegation must report any such preapproval decisions to the Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Committee will not delegate the pre-approval of services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm to management.
- Require that the independent registered public accounting firm, in conjunction with the Chief Financial Officer, be responsible for seeking pre-approval for providing services to the Company and that any request for pre-approval must inform the Committee about each service to be provided and must provide detail as to the particular service to be provided.
- Inform each independent registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or to perform audit, review, or attest services for the Company that such firm shall report directly to the Committee.
- Review, at least annually, the qualifications, performance, and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm. In conducting its review and evaluation, the Committee should do the following:
At least annually obtain and review a report by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm describing (i) the accounting firm’s internal quality-control procedures; (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the accounting firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the accounting firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (iii) all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company.
Ensure the receipt from the independent registered public accounting firm of a formal written statement delineating all relationships between the accounting firm and the Company, consistent with applicable standards.
Actively engage in a dialogue with the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of such accounting firm.
Take, or recommend that the full Board of Directors take, appropriate action to oversee the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Ensure the rotation of the lead audit (or coordinating) partner at least every five years, and consider whether there should be regular rotation of the accounting firm itself.
Confirm with the independent registered public accounting firm that the lead (or coordinating) audit partner, the concurring (or reviewing) partner, and each other active audit engagement team partner satisfies the rotation requirements of Rule 2-01(c)(6) of Regulation S-X (or any successor provision).
Take into account the opinions of management and the Company’s internal auditor (or other personnel responsible for the internal audit function), if any.
Financial Reporting Process
- In consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm, management, and the internal auditor, if any, review the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting processes, both internal and external. In that connection, the Committee should obtain and discuss with management and the independent registered public accounting firm reports from management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding (a) all critical accounting policies and practices to be used by the Company and the related disclosure of those critical accounting policies under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”; (b) analyses prepared by management and/or the independent registered public accounting firm setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, including all alternative treatments of financial information within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with the Company’s management, the ramifications of the use of the alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent registered public accounting firm; (c) all alternative treatments of financial statements within generally accepted accounting principles that have been discussed with the Company’s management, the ramifications of the use of alternative disclosures and treatments, and the treatment preferred by the independent registered public accounting firm; (d) major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations, including any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles; (e) major issues as to the adequacy of the Company’s internal controls and any specific audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; (f) issues with respect to the design and effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, management’s evaluation of those controls and procedures, and any issues relating to such controls and procedures during the most recent reporting period; (g) the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as any off-balance sheet structures on the financial statements of the Company; (h) any significant matters arising from any audit, including audit problems and difficulties, whether raised by management, the internal auditor, if any, and the independent registered public accounting firm, relating to the Company’s financial statements; (i) all critical audit matters (CAMs) identified by the independent registered public accounting firm; and (j) any other material written communications between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Company’s management.
- Review periodically the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as any off balance sheet structures, on the financial statements of the Company.
- Review with the independent registered public accounting firm any audit problems or difficulties encountered and management’s response thereto. In this regard, the Committee will regularly review with the independent registered public accounting firm (a) any audit problems or other difficulties encountered by the accounting firm in the course of the audit work, including any restrictions on the scope of the independent registered public accounting firm’s activities or on access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management and (b) management’s responses to such matters. Without excluding other possibilities, the Committee may review with the independent registered public accounting firm (i) any accounting adjustments that were noted or proposed by the accounting firm but were “passed” (as immaterial or otherwise), (ii) any communications between the audit team and the accounting firm’s national office respecting auditing or accounting issues presented by the engagement, and (iii) any “management” or “internal control” letter issued, or proposed to be issued, by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Company.
- Obtain from the independent registered public accounting firm that the audit of the Company’s financial statements was conducted in a manner consistent with Section 10A of the Exchange Act, which sets forth procedures to be followed in any audit of financial statements required under the Exchange Act.
- Discuss the scope of the annual audit and review the form of the opinion the independent registered public accounting firm proposes to issue.
- Review and discuss with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the responsibilities, budget, and staffing of the Company’s internal audit function, if any.
Legal Compliance/General
- Review periodically, with the Company’s counsel, any legal matter that could have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.
- Discuss with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the Company’s guidelines and policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. The Committee will discuss the Company’s major financial risk exposures, including cybersecurity risks, and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures.
- Set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm. At a minimum, these policies should provide that any accounting firm may not provide audit services to the Company if the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Controller, or any person serving in an equivalent position for the Company was employed by the accounting firm and participated in any capacity in the audit of the Company within one year of the initiation of the current audit.
- Establish procedures for (i) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters; and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company or its subsidiaries of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
- Oversee compliance with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the Code of Ethics for the CEO and Senior Financial Officers.
- Consider questions and possible conflicts of interest of executive officers and directors as such questions arise and administer the Company’s policies and procedures regarding the review, approval or ratification of transactions with related persons (it being understood that if the Board creates a special committee in connection with such a transaction or holds a meeting of the non-interested directors of the Board to approve such transaction, the Committee shall not be required to consider such transaction or assess conflicts of interest in connection with such transaction).
- Review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter on an annual basis and recommend to the Board of Directors any modifications or changes hereto for approval by the Board.
Reports
- Prepare all reports required to be included in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to and in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.
- Report regularly to the full Board of Directors. In this regard, the Committee should review with the full Board any issues that arise with respect to the quality or integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the performance and independence of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and the performance of the internal audit function, if any.
- The Committee shall provide such recommendations as the Committee may deem appropriate. The report to the Board of Directors may take the form of an oral report by the Chairman or any other member of the Committee designated by the Committee to make such report.
- Maintain minutes or other records of meetings and activities of the Committee.
Limitation of Audit Committee’s Role
With respect to the foregoing responsibilities and processes, the Committee recognizes that the Company’s financial management, including the internal audit staff, if any, as well as the independent registered public accounting firm have more time, knowledge, and detailed information regarding the Company than do Committee members. Consequently, in discharging its oversight responsibilities, the Committee will not provide or be deemed to provide any expertise or special assurance as to the Company’s financial statements or any professional certification as to the independent registered public accounting firm’s work.
Last Revised as of March 25, 2020
Last Revised as of: Sept 4, 2024
BK Technologies Corporation
STRATEGIC M&A COMMITTEE
Purpose
The primary purposes of the Strategic M&A Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of BK Technologies Corp (the “Company”) are to
(i) review the Company’s strategies, transactions and execution related to proposed mergers, acquisitions and business divestitures (including related to integration matters) and make recommendations to the Board on the same;
(ii) approve on behalf of the Board any non-binding letter of intent for a proposed merger, acquisition or similar acquisition transaction and
(iii) review proposed capital market transactions and other financing arrangements and make recommendations to the Board on the same
(iv) oversee the investor relation function of the Company and provide oversight related to investor relations policies, activities and matters that would be appropriate to raise at the Board level;
(v) undertake such other matters as may be covered by this Charter or delegated to the Committee by the Board from time-to-time.
Membership and Term of Office
The Committee will consist of at least three directors annually appointed by the Board for a one year term or until such member successor is duly elected and qualified, the majority of whom shall be non-employee directors. The CEO may also serve on this Committee. The Committee Chair shall be designated by the full Board or if it does not do so, the non-employee members of the Committee may designate a Chair by majority vote of the non-employee Committee membership.
Committee members shall be recused from the discussion and vote on any matter in which they have direct or indirect self‐interest that is separate and independent from the interests of the Company.
Meetings
The Committee will meet throughout the year at such times determined by the Committee or the Chair of the Committee, but the Committee will meet at least four (4) times a year and endeavor to do so at least quarterly. The Committee may form and delegate authority to any subcommittee of the Committee it deems appropriate or advisable.
Each member of the Committee shall have one vote. One-third of the Committee members, but not less than two, shall constitute a quorum. The Committee shall be authorized to take any permitted action only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Committee members at any meeting at which a quorum is present, or by the unanimous written consent of all of the Committee members. The Committee shall otherwise establish its own rules of procedure.
The Committee can meet in executive session (i) separately as the Committee alone without any members of management and (ii) as is needed, at the discretion of the Committee, with particular members of senior management.
The Committee will report regularly to the Board on matters within the Committee’s responsibilities.
Responsibilities
The Committee shall as it deems appropriate:
- Review, update and recommend for approval by the Board at least annually the Company’s multi-year strategic transactions plan.
- Review and recommend approval by the Board proposed mergers, acquisitions and business divestitures or approve on behalf of the Board any non-binding letter of intent or indications of interest for a proposed merger, acquisition or similar acquisition transaction where the entry into such arrangement does not expose the Company to a material expenditure, break-up fee or similar expense or liability (it being understood ordinary and customary costs associated with pursuing such proposed mergers, acquisitions or similar acquisition transactions would not be deemed material expenditures, expenses or liabilities for this purpose).
- Review financing strategies for mergers and acquisitions and other major corporate activities.
- Oversee and review the
- Company’s policies and procedures related to interactions and communications on behalf of the Company with Company stockholders, other investors, brokers, investment advisors, investment companies, rating agencies, analysts and others within the investment community or
- any other matter related to investor relations that would be appropriate for a Board level review.
- Make regular reports to the Board.
- At its discretion form and delegate authority to subcommittees or management, as appropriate.
- Have the authority to obtain advice and assistance from internal or external legal, accounting or other advisors, and may retain, at the Company’s expense, such independent counsel or other consultants or advisors as it deems necessary. In discharging its responsibilities, the Committee shall have full access to any relevant records of the Company. The Committee may also request that any officer or other employee of the Company, the Company’s outside counsel or any other person meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Committee.
- Annually review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter.
- Annually review its own performance.
- Perform such other duties and functions as may, from time to time, be assigned to the Committee by the Board.
While the members of the Committee have the duties and responsibilities set forth in this Charter, nothing contained in this Charter is intended to create, or should be construed as creating, any responsibility or liability of members of the Committee, except to the extent otherwise provided under applicable federal or state law.
All independent directors who are not members of the Committee may attend meetings of the Committee but may not vote. In addition, the Committee may invite to its meetings any director, member of management of the Company, and such other persons as it deems appropriate in order to carry out its responsibilities. The Committee may also exclude from its meetings any persons it deems appropriate in order to carry out its responsibilities. The Committee will cause to be kept adequate minutes of its proceedings. The Committee shall be governed by the same rules regarding meetings (including meetings by telephone conference or similar communications equipment), action without a meeting, notice, waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements as are applicable to the Board. The Committee is authorized, but not obligated, to adopt its own rules of procedure not inconsistent with (a) any provision of this Charter, (b) any provision of the Bylaws of the Company, or (c) the laws of the state of Nevada.
Nothing in this charter is intended to preclude or impair the protection provided in Section NRS 78.138(2) of the Nevada General Corporation Law for good faith reliance by members of the Committee on reports or other information provided by others.
Last Revised as of Sept 4, 2024
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Introduction
BK Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all employees of the Company and its subsidiaries that urges employees promptly to discuss with or disclose to their supervisor, senior corporate officers, or the Chairman of the Audit Committee events of questionable, fraudulent, or illegal nature. In addition, the Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and senior financial officers that, among other things, requires prompt internal reporting of violations of that Code, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, fraud, and a variety of other matters.
As an additional measure to support our commitment to ethical conduct, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has adopted the following policies and procedures for (i) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by BK Technologies Corporation regarding accounting, internal controls, or auditing matters; and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of BK Technologies and its subsidiaries of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
Reporting of Concerns or Complaints Regarding Accounting, Internal Controls, or Auditing Matters.
Taking action to prevent problems is part of the Company’s culture. If you observe possible unethical or illegal conduct, you are encouraged to report your concerns. Employees and others involved with the Company are urged to come forward with any such information, without regard to the identity or position of the suspected offender.
Employees and others may choose any of the following modes of communicating suspected violations of law, policy, or other wrongdoing, as well as any concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters (including deficiencies in internal controls):
Report the matter to your supervisor; or
Report the matter to the Company’s CEO or CFO; or
Report the matter to the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
Confidentiality.
The Company will treat all communications under this Policy in a confidential manner, except to the extent necessary (a) to conduct a complete and fair investigation, or (b) for reviews of Company operations by the Company’s Board of Directors, its Audit Committee, and the Company’s independent public accountants.
Moreover, if your situation requires that your identity be protected, please submit an anonymous report as set forth in Schedule A. Please be aware that the addresses identified for the Chairman of the Audit Committee are under the sole control of the Audit Committee Chairman.
Retaliation.
Any individual who in good faith reports a possible violation of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers or any law, rule, or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any provision of Federal law relating to fraud against shareholders (including any concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters), even if the report is mistaken, or who assists in the investigation of a reported violation, will be protected by the Company. Retaliation in any form against these individuals will not be tolerated. Any act of retaliation should be reported immediately and will be disciplined appropriately.
Specifically, the Company will not, and will cause its subsidiaries not to, discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, or in any other manner discriminate or retaliate against any employee in the terms and conditions of the employee’s employment because of any lawful act done by that employee to either (a) provide information, cause information to be provided, or otherwise assist in any investigation regarding any conduct that the employee reasonably believes constitutes a violation of any Company code of conduct or any law, rule, or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any provision of Federal law relating to fraud against shareholders, or (b) file, cause to be filed, testify, participate in, or otherwise assist in a proceeding filed or, to the employee’s knowledge, about to be filed relating to an alleged violation of any such code, law, rule, or regulation.
The Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Committee”) believes that members of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of BK Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) must possess certain basic personal and professional qualities in order to properly discharge their fiduciary duties to stockholders, provide effective oversight of the management of the Company and monitor the Company’s adherence to principles of sound corporate governance. It is therefore the policy of the Committee that all persons nominated to serve as a director of the Company should possess the minimum qualifications described in this policy. These are only threshold criteria, however, and the Committee will also consider the contributions that a candidate can be expected to make to the collective functioning of the Board based upon the totality of the candidate’s credentials, experience and expertise, the composition of the Board at the time, and other relevant circumstances.
- Integrity. All candidates must be individuals of personal integrity and ethical character, and who value and appreciate these qualities in others.
- Absence of Conflicts of Interest. Candidates should not have any interests that would materially impair his or her ability to (i) exercise independent judgment, or (ii) otherwise discharge the fiduciary duties owed as a director to the Company and its stockholders.
- Fair and Equal Representation. Candidates must be able to represent fairly and equally all stockholders of the Company without favoring or advancing any particular stockholder or other constituency of the Company.
- Achievement. Candidates must have demonstrated achievement in one or more fields of business, professional, governmental, communal, scientific or educational endeavor.
- Oversight. Candidates are expected to have sound judgment, as result of management or policy-making experience (which may be as an advisor or consultant), that demonstrates an ability to function effectively in an oversight role.
- Business Understanding. Candidates must have a general appreciation regarding major issues facing public companies of a size and operational scope similar to the Company. These include:
- 1. contemporary governance concerns;
- 2. regulatory obligations of a public issuer;
- 3. strategic business planning;
- 4. competition in a global economy; and
- 5. basic concepts of corporate finance.
- Available Time. Candidates must have, and be prepared to devote, adequate time to the Board and its committees. It is expected that each candidate will be available to attend substantially all meetings of the Board and any committees on which the candidate will serve, as well as the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders, after taking into consideration such candidate’s other business and professional commitments, including service on the boards of other companies.
- Age and Term Limits. The candidate’s election must not conflict with any term and/or age limits, if applicable, for directors.
- Limited Exceptions. Under exceptional and limited circumstances, the Committee may approve the candidacy of a candidate who does not satisfy all of these requirements if it believes the service of such candidate is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
- Additional Qualifications. In approving candidates for election as directors, the Committee will also assure that:
- 1. at least a majority of the directors serving at any time on the Board are independent, as defined under the rules of the principal stock market on which the Company’s common shares are listed for trading;
- 2. at least two of the directors (or, if the Company does not qualify for the smaller reporting company exemption for audit committee composition pursuant to NYSE American corporate governance listing standards, three of the directors) satisfy the financial literacy requirements required for service on the audit committee under the rules of the principal stock market on which the Company’s common shares are listed for trading;
- 3. at least one of the directors qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission;
- 4. at least some of the independent directors have experience as senior executives of a public or substantial private company; and
- 5. at least some of the independent directors have general familiarity with an industry or industries in which the Company conducts a substantial portion of its business or in related industries.
- Diversity. The Committee will seek to promote through the nominations process an appropriate diversity on the Board of professional background, experience, expertise, perspective, age, gender, ethnicity and country of citizenship.
The Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Committee) will observe the following procedures in identifying and evaluating candidates for election to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of BK Technologies Corporation (the “Company”).
The Company is of the view that the continuing service of qualified incumbents promotes stability and continuity in the function of the Board, contributing to the Board’s ability to work as a collective body, while giving the Company the benefit of the familiarity and insight into the Company’s affairs that its directors have accumulated during their tenure. Accordingly, the process of the Committee for identifying nominees shall reflect the Company’s practice of renominating incumbent directors who continue to satisfy the Committee’s criteria for membership on the Board, whom the Committee believes continue to make important contributions to the Board and who consent to continue their service on the Board.
Consistent with this policy, in considering candidates for election at annual meetings of stockholders, the Committee will first determine the incumbent directors whose terms expire at the upcoming meeting and who wish to continue their service on the Board.
The Committee will evaluate the qualifications and performance of the incumbent directors that desire to continue their service. In particular, as to each such incumbent director, the Committee will:
- consider if the director continues to satisfy the minimum qualifications for director candidates adopted by the Committee;
- review the assessments of the performance of the director during the preceding term made by the Committee; and
- determine whether there exist any special, countervailing considerations against renomination of the director.
If the Committee determines that (a) an incumbent director consenting to re-nomination continues to be qualified and has satisfactorily performed his or her duties as director during the preceding term and (b) there exist no reasons, including considerations relating to the composition and functional needs of the Board as a whole, why in the Committee’s view the incumbent should not be re-nominated, the Committee will, absent special circumstances, propose the incumbent director for re-election.
Consistent with the Company’s policy regarding director candidates submitted by stockholders, the Company shall only consider recommendations of director candidates from stockholders where the Committee has determined to not re-nominate a qualified incumbent director.
The Committee will identify and evaluate new candidates for election to the Board where there is no qualified and available incumbent, including for the purpose of filling vacancies arising by reason of the resignation, retirement, removal, death or disability of an incumbent director or a decision of the directors to expand the size of the Board.
The Committee will solicit recommendations for nominees from persons that the Committee believes are likely to be familiar with qualified candidates. These persons may include members of the Board, including members of the Committee, and management of the Company. The Committee may also determine to engage a professional search firm to assist in identifying qualified candidates.
As to each recommended candidate that the Committee believes merits consideration, the Committee will:
- cause to be assembled information concerning the background and qualifications of the candidate, including information concerning the candidate required to be disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any relationship between the candidate and the person or persons recommending the candidate;
- determine if the candidate satisfies the minimum qualifications required by the Committee of candidates for election as director;
- determine if the candidate possesses any of the specific qualities or skills that under the Committee’s policies must be possessed by one or more members of the Board;
- consider the contribution that the candidate can be expected to make to the overall functioning of the Board; and
- consider the extent to which the membership of the candidate on the Board will promote diversity among the directors.
It is appropriate for the Committee, in its discretion, to solicit the views of the Chief Executive Officer, other members of the Company’s senior management and other members of the Board regarding the qualifications and suitability of candidates to be nominated as directors.
In its discretion, the Committee may designate one or more of its members (or the entire Committee) to interview any proposed candidate. Other members of the Board may, at their discretion, interview any such proposed candidate.
Based on all available information and relevant considerations, the Committee will select, a candidate who, in the view of the Committee, is most suited for membership on the Board.
The Committee shall maintain appropriate records regarding its process of identifying and evaluating candidates for election to the Board.
It is the policy of the Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of BK Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) to consider recommendations for the nomination of director candidates submitted by holders of shares of the Company’s common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
The Committee will give consideration to these recommendations for positions on the Company’s Board of Directors where the Committee has determined to not re-nominate a qualified incumbent director.
For each annual meeting of stockholders, the Committee will accept for consideration only one recommendation from any stockholder or affiliated group of stockholders. An affiliated group of stockholders means stockholders constituting a group under Regulation 13D-G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
In order for the recommendation of a stockholder to be considered under this policy, the recommending stockholder or group of stockholders must have owned at least five percent (5%) of the Company’s common stock for at least one (1) year as of the date the recommendation was made.
The Committee shall also consider the extent to which the stockholder making the nominating recommendation intends to maintain its ownership interest in the Company.
The Committee shall only consider director candidates so recommended who satisfy the minimum qualifications prescribed by the Committee for director candidates, including that a director must represent the interests of all stockholders and not serve for the purpose of favoring or advancing the interests of any particular stockholder group or other constituency.
Only those recommendations whose submission complies with the procedural requirements adopted by the Committee will be considered by the Committee.
Stockholders Entitled to Make Submissions. The Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of BK Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) will accept for consideration submissions from stockholders of recommendations for the nomination of directors to the extent consistent with and permitted by the Committee’s “Policy Regarding Director Candidate Recommendations Submitted by Stockholders” in effect from time to time. Acceptance of a recommendation for consideration does not imply that the Committee will nominate the recommended candidate.
Manner and Address for Submission. All stockholder nominating recommendations must be in writing, addressed to the Committee care of the Company’s corporate secretary at the Company’s principal headquarters, 7100 Technology Drive, West Melbourne, Florida 32904. Submissions must be made by mail, courier or personal delivery. E-mailed submissions will not be considered.
Information Concerning the Recommending Stockholders. A nominating recommendation must be accompanied by the following information concerning each recommending stockholder:
- The name and address, including telephone number, of the recommending stockholder;
- The number of the Company’s shares owned by the recommending stockholder and the time period for which such shares have been held;
- If the recommending stockholder is not a stockholder of record, a statement from the record holder of the shares (usually a broker or bank) verifying the holdings of the stockholder and a statement from the recommending stockholder of the length of time that the shares have been held. (Alternatively, the stockholder may furnish a current Schedule 13D, Schedule 13G, Form 3, Form 4 or Form 5 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission reflecting the holdings of the stockholder, together with a statement of the length of time that the shares have been held); and
- A statement from the stockholder as to whether the stockholder has a good faith intention to continue to hold the reported shares through the date of the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders.
Information Concerning the Proposed Nominee. A nominating recommendation must be accompanied by the following information concerning the proposed nominee:
- the information required by Item 401 of SEC Regulation S-K (generally providing for disclosure of the name, address, any arrangements or understanding regarding nomination and five year business experience of the proposed nominee, as well as information regarding certain types of legal proceedings within the past ten years involving the nominee);
- the information required by Item 403 of SEC Regulation S-K (generally providing for disclosure regarding the proposed nominee’s ownership of securities of the Company); and
- the information required by Item 404(a) of SEC Regulation S-K (generally providing for disclosure of any transaction in which the Company is a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which the proposed nominee has a direct or indirect material interest).
Relationships Between the Proposed Nominee and the Recommending Stockholder. The nominating recommendation must describe all relationships between the proposed nominee and the recommending stockholder and any agreements or understandings between the recommending stockholder and the nominee regarding the nomination.
Other Relationships of the Proposed Nominee. The nominating recommendation shall describe all relationships between the proposed nominee and any of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ competitors, customers, suppliers, labor unions or other persons with special interests regarding the Company or its subsidiaries.
Qualifications of the Proposed Nominee. The recommending stockholder must furnish a statement supporting its view that the proposed nominee possesses the minimum qualifications prescribed by the Committee for nominees, and briefly describing the contributions that the nominee would be expected to make to the Board and to the governance of the Company.
Ability to Represent All Stockholders. The recommending stockholder must state whether, in the view of the stockholder, the proposed nominee, if nominated and elected, would represent all stockholders and not serve for the purpose of advancing or favoring any particular stockholder or other constituency of the Company.
Consent to be interviewed by the Committee and, if nominated and elected, to serve. The nominating recommendation must be accompanied by the consent of the proposed nominee to be interviewed by the Committee, if the Committee chooses to do so in its discretion (and the recommending stockholder must furnish the proposed nominee’s contact information for this purpose), and, if nominated and elected, to serve as a director of the Company.
Timing for Submissions Regarding Nominees for Election at Annual Meetings. A stockholder (or group of stockholders) wishing to submit a nominating recommendation for an annual meeting of stockholders must ensure that it is received by the Company, as provided above, not later than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the prior annual meeting of stockholders. In the event that the date of the annual meeting of stockholders for the current year is more than 30 days following the first anniversary date of the annual meeting of stockholders for the prior year, the submission of a recommendation will be considered timely if it is submitted a reasonable time in advance of the mailing of the Company’s proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders for the current year.
Stockholder Groups. If a recommendation is submitted by a group of two or more stockholders, the information regarding recommending stockholders must be submitted with respect to each stockholder in the group.
Policy
It is the policy of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of BK Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) that all “Interested Transactions” with “Related Persons,” as those terms are defined in this policy, shall be subject to approval or ratification in accordance with the procedures set forth below.
Procedures
The Company’s Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board shall review the material facts of all Interested Transactions that require the Committee’s approval and either approve or disapprove of the entry into the Interested Transaction, subject to the exceptions described below. If advance Committee approval of an Interested Transaction is not feasible, then the Interested Transaction shall be considered and, if the Committee determines it to be appropriate, ratified at the Committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting. In determining whether to approve or ratify an Interested Transaction, the Committee will take into account, among other factors it deems appropriate, whether the Interested Transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the Related Person’s interest in the transaction.
The Committee has reviewed the Interested Transactions described below in “Standing Pre-Approval for Certain Interested Transactions” and determined that each of the Interested Transactions described therein shall be deemed to be pre-approved or ratified (as applicable) by the Committee under the terms of this policy. In addition, the Board has delegated to the chairperson of the Committee the authority to pre-approve or ratify (as applicable) any Interested Transaction with a Related Person in which the aggregate amount involved is expected to be less than $250,000. In connection with each regularly scheduled meeting of the Committee, a summary of each new Interested Transaction deemed pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (3) or (4) under “Standing Pre-Approval for Certain Interested Transactions” below and each new Interested Transaction pre-approved by the chairperson in accordance with this paragraph shall be provided to the Committee for its review.
No director shall participate in any discussion or approval of an Interested Transaction for which he or she is a Related Person, except that the director shall provide all material information concerning the Interested Transaction to the Committee.
If an Interested Transaction will be ongoing, the Committee shall establish guidelines for the Company’s management to follow in its ongoing relationships with the Related Person. At the Committee’s first meeting of each fiscal year, the Committee shall review and assess ongoing relationships with the Related Person to determine if such relationships are in compliance with the Committee’s guidelines. Based on all the relevant facts and circumstances, the Committee shall determine if it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to continue, modify or terminate any such Interested Transaction.
Definitions
An “Interested Transaction” is any transaction, arrangement or relationship or series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) in which (1) the aggregate amount involved does, will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 (or if less, one percent (1%) of the average of the Company’s total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years), (2) the Company (including any of its subsidiaries) was, is or will be a participant, and (3) any Related Person had, has or will have a direct or indirect interest.
A “Related Person” is (a) any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year was, a director or executive officer of the Company or a nominee to become a director of the Company, (b) any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of any class of the Company’s voting securities, (c) any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of the director, executive officer, nominee or more than 5% beneficial owner, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer, nominee or more than 5% beneficial owner and (d) any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a partner or principal or in a similar position or in which such person and all other related persons have, in the aggregate, a 10% or greater beneficial ownership interest.
Standing Pre-Approval for Certain Interested Transactions
The Committee has reviewed the types of Interested Transactions described below and determined that each of the following Interested Transactions shall be deemed to be pre-approved by the Committee, even if the aggregate amount involved will exceed $120,000.
Employment of executive officers.
Any employment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of an executive officer of the Company if:
(a) the related compensation is required to be reported in the Company’s proxy statement under Item 402 of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC’s”) compensation disclosure requirements (generally applicable to “named executive officers”); or
(b) the executive officer is not an immediate family member of another executive officer or director of the Company, the related compensation would be reported in the Company’s proxy statement under Item 402 of the SEC’s compensation disclosure requirements if the executive officer was a “named executive officer,” and the Company’s Compensation Committee approved (or recommended that the Board approve) such compensation.
Director compensation.
Any compensation paid to a director if the compensation is required to be reported in the Company’s proxy statement under Item 402 of the SEC’s compensation disclosure requirements;
Certain transactions with other companies.
Any transaction with another company at which a Related Person’s only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer), director or beneficial owner of less than 10% of that company’s shares, if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the greater of $500,000, or two percent (2%) of that company’s total annual revenues;
Certain Company charitable contributions.
Any charitable contribution, grant or endowment by the Company to a charitable organization, foundation or university at which a Related Person’s only relationship is as an employee (other than an executive officer) or a director, if the aggregate amount involved does not exceed the lesser of $500,000, or two percent (2%) of the charitable organization’s total annual receipts;
Transactions where all stockholders receive proportional benefits.
Any transaction where the Related Person’s interest arises solely from the ownership of the Company’s common stock and all holders of the Company’s common stock received the same benefit on a pro rata basis (e.g., dividends).
Transactions involving competitive bids.
Any transaction involving a Related Person where the rates or charges involved are determined by competitive bids.
Regulated transactions.
Any transaction with a Related Person involving the rendering of services as a common or contract carrier, or public utility, at rates or charges fixed in conformity with law or governmental authority.
Certain banking-related services
Any transaction with a Related Person involving services as a bank depositary of funds, transfer agent, registrar, trustee under a trust indenture, or similar services.
Disclosure
All Interested Transactions that are required to be disclosed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, as required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and related rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, shall be so disclosed in accordance with such laws, rules and regulations.
The material features of this policy shall be disclosed in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K or in the Company’s proxy statement, as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
At BK Technologies Corporation,(together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) consistent with our core values, we recognize the responsibility to not support or contribute to the violence and human rights violations associated with the mining of certain minerals in Central Africa described as the “Conflict Region.”1.
Our products utilize certain electronic components that contain various metals, including tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold. These four metals are sourced worldwide, including from the Eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where millions have died in a civil war that has persisted for more than a decade. Armed militias profit from the trade of these metals in the DRC and other nearby countries in the Conflict Region.
In the U.S., Section 1502 of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act requires companies to file an annual special disclosure with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission beginning in 2014 indicating if their products include metals sourced from the Conflict Region.
We support the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act and the related U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule that promote transparency and consumer awareness regarding the use of “Conflict Minerals” and seeks to cut direct and indirect funding of armed groups engaged in conflict and human rights abuses in the Conflict Region.
The Company does not directly purchase any Conflict Minerals from any source and does not knowingly procure any product containing Conflict Minerals from the Conflict Region. To the extent the Company’s products may include components containing “Conflict Minerals”2. that are necessary to the functionality of the product, the Company is committed to working with its supply chain to increase transparency regarding the origin of such minerals. The Company’s due diligence is based on guidance established by the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition for responsible sourcing of minerals.
We encourage our suppliers to adopt similar policies and procedures with respect to Conflict Minerals and to drive those efforts throughout their supply chain to ensure that the specified metals are being sourced only from (1) mines and smelters outside the “Conflict Region” or (2) mines and smelters within the Conflict Region which have been certified by an independent third party as “conflict free.”
Last Revised as of March 25, 2020
1. “Conflict Region” includes the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, The Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia.
2. “Conflict Minerals” include Columbite-Tantalite (Tantalum), Cassiterite (Tin), Gold, Wolframite (Tungsten) and any derivatives from these minerals.
CODE OF ETHICS
INTRODUCTION
This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (this “Code”) covers a wide range of business practices and procedures. It does not cover every issue that may arise, but it sets out basic principles to guide the directors, officers, and employees of BK Technologies Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). All Company directors, officers, and employees should conduct themselves accordingly. In appropriate circumstances, this Code should also be provided to and followed by the Company’s agents and representatives, including consultants.
Any director or officer who has any questions about this Code should consult with the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chair of the Audit Committee, or legal counsel, as appropriate in the circumstances. If an employee has any questions about this Code, the employee should ask his or her supervisor how to handle the situation.
FOR CEO AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS
BK Technologies Corporation (the “Company”) has a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Chief Executive Officer and all senior financial officers, including the Chief Financial Officer and principal accounting officer, are bound by the provisions set forth therein relating to ethical conduct, conflicts of interest, and compliance with law. In addition to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the Chief Executive Officer and senior financial officers are subject to the following additional specific policies:
- The Chief Executive Officer and all senior financial officers are responsible for full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in the periodic reports required to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, it is the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer and each senior financial officer promptly to bring to the attention of the Disclosure Committee, if applicable, and to the Audit Committee any material information of which he or she may become aware that affects the disclosures made by the Company in its public filings or otherwise assist the Disclosure Committee, if applicable, and the Audit Committee in fulfilling their responsibilities.
- The Chief Executive Officer and each senior financial officer shall promptly bring to the attention of the Disclosure Committee, if applicable, and the Audit Committee any information he or she may have concerning (a) significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data or (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s financial reporting, disclosures, or internal controls.
- The Chief Executive Officer and each senior financial officer shall promptly bring to the attention of the Audit Committee any information he or she may have concerning any violation of this Code or the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics involving any management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s financial reporting, disclosures, or internal controls. The Chief Executive Officer and all senior financial officers shall disclose any material transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest to the Chair of the Audit Committee so that the Audit Committee can review such transaction or relationship.
- The Chief Executive Officer and each senior financial officer shall promptly bring to the attention of the Disclosure Committee, if applicable, and the Audit Committee any information he or she may have concerning evidence of a material violation of the securities or other laws, rules, or regulations applicable to the Company and the operation of its business, by the Company or any agent thereof, or of violation of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or of these additional procedures.
- The Board of Directors shall determine, or designate appropriate persons to determine, appropriate actions to be taken in the event of violations of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or of these additional procedures by the Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s senior financial officers. Such actions shall be reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote accountability for adherence to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and to these additional procedures, and may include written notices to the individual involved that the Board has determined that there has been a violation, censure by the Board, demotion or reassignment of the individual involved, suspension with or without pay or benefits (as determined by the Board), and termination of the individual’s employment. In determining the appropriate action in a particular case, the Board of Directors or such designee shall take into account all relevant information, including the nature and severity of the violation, whether the violation was a single occurrence or repeated occurrences, whether the violation appears to have been intentional or inadvertent, whether the individual in question had been advised prior to the violation as to the proper course of action, and whether or not the individual in question had committed other violations in the past.
CONFLICT MINERALS REPORT OF BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
In Accordance with Rule 13p-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
This is the Conflict Minerals Report of BK Technologies Corporation for calendar year 2020 (this “Report” or “CMR”) in accordance with Rule 13p-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“1934 Act”). Please refer to Rule 13p-1, Form SD and the 1934 Act Release No. 34-67716 for definitions to the terms used in this Report, unless otherwise defined herein. The date of filing of this Report is May 26, 2021.
References in this Report to the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” mean BK Technologies Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, except where the context otherwise requires.
Applicability of the Conflict Minerals Rule to Our Company
As a company engaged in the manufacture of land mobile radio communications equipment, our products utilize certain electronic components that potentially contain conflict minerals. A review of the products was completed for 2020. It was determined that potential conflict minerals could feasibly be found within, or as part of, the production process of our products.
We are many levels removed from mines, smelters and refiners and have limited influence over the mines, smelters, refiners and many of the other vendors in our supply chain. However, through the efforts described in Form SD and this CMR included as an exhibit to Form SD, we seek to ensure that our sourcing practices are consistent with our Conflict Minerals Policy and to encourage conflict free sourcing in our supply chain.
While BK Technologies Corporation takes its conflict minerals compliance very seriously, as a company engaged in the manufacture of land mobile radio communications equipment, related components and subsystems, BK Technologies Corporation is several levels removed from the actual mining of any potential conflict minerals that may be contained in its final products. Furthermore, BK Technologies Corporation does not purchase raw ore or unrefined conflict minerals, or make purchases from the Covered Countries. Thus, BK Technologies Corporation cannot determine the origin of any potential conflict minerals that may be in its final products with any certainty once the raw ores are smelted, refined and converted to ingots, bullion or other conflict mineral-containing derivatives. The smelters and refiners in BK Technologies Corporation’s supply chain — who BK Technologies Corporation typically does not know due to being so far removed from them in the supply chain — are in the best position to know the origin of the ores.
¹Final Rule: Conflict Minerals, Release No. 34-67716 (August 22, 2012), available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/final/2012/34-67716.pdf.
Our Conflict Minerals Policy
BK Technologies Corporation fully supports the goals and objectives of Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Act”), which aims to prevent the use of certain “conflict minerals” that directly or indirectly finance or benefit armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRC”) or adjoining countries (including Angola, Burundi, The Central African Republic, The Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia) (the “Covered Countries”). As used herein and in the Conflict Minerals Policy, “conflict minerals” are columbite-tantalite (coltan), cassiterite, gold, wolframite and the derivatives tantalum, tin and tungsten, without regard to the location of origin.
We fully support Rule 13p-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Form SD (collectively, the “Conflict Minerals Rule”) and are committed to responsible sourcing of Conflict Minerals (as defined below) as well as compliance with the requirements of the Conflict Minerals Rule. BK Technologies Corporation has implemented procedures designed to identify the potential conflict minerals which are necessary to the functionality or production of a product manufactured by BK Technologies Corporation or for BK Technologies Corporation by a contract manufacturer and determining the country of origin of any potential conflict material. Furthermore, we embrace the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition’s (“EICC”) due diligence and reporting processes that seek to ensure supply chain transparency.
In furtherance of the foregoing, we have adopted and communicated to our suppliers and the public a company policy (the “Conflict Minerals Policy”) for the supply chain of conflict minerals.
The Conflict Minerals Policy includes our expectations that our suppliers:
- Assist us in complying with the Conflict Minerals Rule, by declaring any components, parts and products that contain conflict minerals and further providing associated country of and other origin information;
- Implement controls on their supply chains consistent with our responsible sourcing commitment, so that they are able to provide us with the foregoing information and so that all of the conflict minerals in the components, parts and products that we purchase from them are conflict free;
- Source conflict minerals from ethically and socially responsible sources that do not directly or indirectly contribute to conflict, including sources that do not directly or indirectly benefit or finance armed groups in the DRC or its adjoining countries; and
- Otherwise implement, and require their direct and indirect suppliers to implement, policies, protocols, standards, systems, frameworks and procedures that are consistent with the Conflict Minerals Rule and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas.
Our Conflict Minerals Policy indicates that suppliers will be reviewed and evaluated accordingly for future business and sourcing decisions. In addition, our suppliers are expected to comply with our code of business conduct and ethics.
Reasonable Country of Origin Information
In connection with the reasonable country of origin inquiry (RCOI) required by the Conflict Minerals Rule, BK Technologies Corporation utilized the same process and procedures established for our due diligence. We designed our due diligence measures relating to conflict minerals to conform with, in all material respects, guidance established by the EICC for responsible sourcing of minerals, and on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (“OECD”) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas.
As a result of BK Technologies Corporation’s RCOI and ongoing due diligence (as described below), BK Technologies Corporation does not have sufficient information to determine the country of origin of the conflict minerals used in our products or identify the facilities used to process those conflict minerals. Therefore, we cannot exclude the possibility that some of these conflict minerals may have originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or an adjoining country and/or are not from recycled or scrap sources.
As such, BK Technologies Corporation’s products produced in calendar year 2020 are “DRC Conflict Undeterminable.” As a result, we have filed this Report.
Due Diligence
In accordance with Rule 13p-1, BK Technologies Corporation undertook due diligence reasonably designed to (i) identify whether there are any conflict minerals necessary to the functionality or production of products manufactured by BK Technologies Corporation or contracted by BK Technologies Corporation to be manufactured, and if so (ii) determine whether any of the minerals originated in the DRC or an adjoining country, or are from recycled or scrap sources. BK Technologies Corporation designed its due diligence based on guidance issued by the Conflict Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI) established by the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (“GeSI”) (“EICC-GeSI Guidance”), and on the OECD’s Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-affected and High-risk Areas (“OECD Guidance”).
BK Technologies Corporation has taken the following measures to exercise due diligence on the source and chain of custody of the potential conflict minerals in its products. With respect to the period covered, the design of the due diligence measures described herein for tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold was based on EICC-GeSI Guidance and OECD Guidance, and involved the following:
- BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION has established a management system for conflict minerals.
- BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION has structured internal management to support supply chain due diligence.
- BK Technologies Corporation has adopted and implemented a conflict minerals compliance policy and procedures that are consistent with that of the EICC-GeSI Guidance, for its supply chain.
- A cross-functional team has been formed to administer the conflict minerals management program. The team is comprised of senior Company employees, including management, and reports to the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
- BK Technologies Corporation conducts surveys of its direct suppliers to determine whether the products they provide to BK Technologies Corporation contain potential conflict minerals, using the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template issued by the EICC and GeSI (the “EICC-GeSI Template”). We follow-up with suppliers that submit an incomplete response or a response that we determine contains inaccuracies, inconsistencies or red flags, or that otherwise provide a EICC-GeSI Template determined not to be suitable by us, in each case requesting the supplier to submit a revised EICC-GeSI Template or provide us with additional information. We follow up with other suppliers where determined to be appropriate by us.
- BK Technologies Corporation incorporates its conflict minerals compliance efforts into its contractual procurement terms and conditions. For example, BK Technologies Corporation’s purchase orders contain terms and conditions that require the supplier to certify that its product is “conflict free.”
- BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION has structured internal management to support supply chain due diligence.
- BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION has designed and implemented a strategy to respond to identified risks. BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION’s strategy includes the following:
- Findings of supply chain risk assessment are reported by the Conflict Minerals Team to the team lead (EVP & CFO) and the Company’s President.
- BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION works with suppliers to identify and use alternate suppliers for any component deemed to include conflict minerals from a Covered Country.
- BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION employees can report violations of its conflict minerals policies. BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION has also provided training to relevant employees on its conflict minerals policies.
- BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION has incorporated terms and conditions in its procurement documents (e.g., purchase order contracts), which require suppliers to certify their product to be conflict free.
- BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION complies with Step 4 of the OECD Guidance through encouraging its direct suppliers to purchase from EICC’s Conflict Free Smelter (“CFS”) Compliant Smelters.
- BK TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION complies with Step 5 of the OECD Guidance through making its conflict mineral reports (“CMR”) available on its website.
The due diligence outlined above mitigates the risk that components necessary to the function or production of BK Technologies Corporation’s products are made from conflict minerals. BK Technologies Corporation is expanding its due diligence to improve upon the information gathered and further mitigate any risk that BK Technologies Corporation’s products contain any necessary conflict minerals from Covered Countries. We intend to take the following additional steps to mitigate the risk that the necessary conflict minerals contained in our products benefit armed groups:
- Continue to encourage suppliers to source only from smelters and refiners that are compliant or active.
- Engage with suppliers that provided incomplete responses for 2020 to help ensure that they provide adequate information for 2021.
- Encourage the continuing development and progress of traceability measures at suppliers that indicated for 2020 that the source of conflict minerals was unknown or undeterminable.
- Communicate to new suppliers our sourcing expectations, including through the dissemination of the Conflict Minerals Policy to them and required adherence to contractual sourcing requirements. In addition, as new suppliers are added, work with these suppliers to ensure that they understand the requirements of the Conflict Minerals Rule and the OECD Guidance.
As a result of BK Technologies Corporation’s due diligence efforts for the year covered by this Report, BK Technologies Corporation determined that its two-way land mobile radios, repeaters and base stations potentially contain conflict minerals. Two-way land mobile radios can be units that are hand-held or installed in vehicles. Repeaters expand the range of two-way land mobile radios, enabling them to operate over a wider area. Base station components and subsystems are installed at radio transmitter sites to improve performance by enhancing the signal and reducing or eliminating signal interference. BK Technologies Corporation has concluded in good faith that, with respect to two-way land mobile radios, repeaters and base stations, the potential conflict minerals that these final products contain are “DRC Conflict Undeterminable.”
Product Description
Based on BK Technologies Corporation’s due diligence, BK Technologies Corporation determined for the period covered by this Report that the BK Technologies Corporation products listed below have production processes which utilize potential conflict minerals, and that the final products are “DRC Conflict Undeterminable.”
- Products – BK Technologies Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets wireless communications equipment consisting of two-way land mobile radios, repeaters, base stations, and related components and subsystems. Two-way land mobile radios can be units that are hand-held (portable) or installed in vehicles (mobile). Repeaters expand the range of two-way land mobile radios, enabling them to operate over a wider area. Base station components and subsystems are installed at radio transmitter sites to improve performance by enhancing the signal, reducing or eliminating signal interference and enabling the use of one antenna for both transmission and reception. We employ both analog and digital technologies in our products. Our digital products are compliant with P-25 specifications. Our P-25 digital products and our analog products function in the VHF (136MHz – 174MHz), UHF (380MHz – 470MHz, 450MHz – 520MHz), and 700-800 MHz.
- BK Technologies Corporation, as a purchaser of finished components, and its suppliers of which it is aware, are several layers removed from the mining of any potential conflict minerals that may be contained in the products. Accordingly, BK Technologies Corporation is unable to determine the origin of these minerals with certainty.