UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.)

 

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Check the appropriate box:

 

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Definitive Proxy Statement

(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

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Definitive Proxy StatementAdditional Materials

  

¨

Definitive Additional Materials

¨

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

  

 

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

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

 

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LOGO

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION

2000 Technology Parkway

Newark, New York 14513

April 22, 2016

May 30, 2023

To Our Shareholders:Stockholders:

You

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Ultralife Corporation (the “Company”) you are cordially invited to attend the 20162023 Annual Meeting of ShareholdersStockholders of the Company on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time at Ultralife Corporation on Wednesday, June 1, 2016Headquarters located at 11:00 A.M. local time at2000 Technology Parkway, Newark, New York 14513. As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport, O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, IL 60666.Annual Meeting.

This year, we are again providing our proxy materials overon the Internet. Accordingly, we are mailing to many of our shareholdersstockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) instead of a paper copy of our Proxy Statement and our 20152022 Annual Report to Shareholders.Stockholders. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials contains instructions about how to access those documents and vote online. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials also contains instructions about how each of our shareholdersstockholders can also receive a paper copy of our proxy materials, including the Proxy Statement, our 20152022 Annual Report to ShareholdersStockholders and a form of proxy card or voting instruction card. By taking advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission Rules permitting this internet distribution process, wethe Company will not only conserve natural resources,reduce the environmental impact of the Annual Meeting, but we will also reduce our costs of printing and distributing proxy materials.

Your continued interest in the Company is greatly appreciated. We look forward to a productive annual meeting.Annual Meeting.

 

Very truly yours,
LOGO
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Michael D. PopielecE. Manna,

President and Chief Executive Officer



ULTRALIFE CORPORATION

2000 Technology Parkway

Newark, New York 14513

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERSSTOCKHOLDERS

JUNE 1, 2016

JULY 19, 2023

Notice is hereby given that the 20162023 Annual Meeting of ShareholdersStockholders of Ultralife Corporation will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2016July 19, 2023 at 11:9:00 A.M. local timeEastern Time at the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport, O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, IL 60666Ultralife Corporation Headquarters located at 2000 Technology Parkway, Newark, New York 14513 for the following purposes:purposes which follow below.

 

 

1.

To elect sixfive directors for a term of one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

 

 

2.

To ratify the selection of Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016; and2023;

 

 

3.

To vote on a non-binding advisory resolution approving executive compensation (“Say-on-Pay”);

4.

To vote on a non-binding advisory resolution determining the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation (“Say-When-on-Pay”); and

5.

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

Only shareholdersholders of record of our common stock, par value $.10 per share, at the close of business on April 5, 2016May 25, 2023 are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at and attend our Annual Meeting. Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend our Annual Meeting, we hope that you will vote as soon as possible. If you received only a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) by mail, you may vote your shares at the Internet site address listed on your Notice of Internet Availability.Notice. You may also request a paper copy of our proxy materials by visiting the Internet site address listed on yourthe Notice, of Internet Availability, by calling the toll-free number or by sending an e-mail to the e-mail address listed on your Notice of Internet Availability.the Notice. If you received a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail, you may vote your shares by proxy by doing any one of the following: vote at the Internet site address listed on your proxy or voting instruction card; call the toll-free number listed on your proxy or voting instruction card; or sign, date and return in the pre-addressed envelope provided the enclosed proxy or voting instruction card.card in the pre-addressed envelope provided.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors
LOGO
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Bradford T. Whitmore,

Chair of the Board of Directors

Newark, New York

Dated: April 22, 2016

May 30, 2023


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

1

TitleQuorum

2

Vote Required

3

Abstentions

3

Broker Voting

3

  

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

1

Quorum

2

Vote Required

3

Abstentions

3

Broker Voting

3

PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

4

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

7 

GeneralCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

7

6

General

6

Committees of the Board of Directors

8

6

Audit and Finance Committee

8

7

Corporate Development and Governance Committee

8

7

Compensation and Management Committee

9

7

ShareholderStockholder Recommendations and Standards for Director Nominations

9

7

Annual Meeting Attendance

10

8

Executive Sessions

10

8

Communicating with the Board of Directors

8

Code of Ethics

8

Related Party Transactions

10

9

Employee, Officer and Director Hedging

9

Risk Management

9

 

Code of EthicsDIRECTOR COMPENSATION

9

Annual Retainers

9

Director Compensation Table

10

 

Related Party TransactionsEXECUTIVE OFFICERS

11

 10 

Risk ManagementEXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

11

12

DIRECTOR COMPENSATIONSummary Compensation Table

12

Narrative to Summary Compensation Table

13

Outstanding Equity Awards

11

16

Option Exercises

17

Pay Versus Performance

18

Employment Arrangements

18

Retirement Benefits and Potential Payments upon Termination, Change in Control or Retirement

19

Stock Ownership Guidelines

19

 

Director Cash Compensation

11

Directors’ Stock-Based Incentive Compensation

12

Director Compensation for 2015

13

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

13

Compensation Overview

13

Retirement Benefits

20

Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

20

Stock Ownership and Retention Guidelines

20

Deductibility of Executive Compensation

21

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

21

2015 Summary Compensation Table

21

Employment Arrangements

22

Mr. Popielec

22

Other Executive Officers

23

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2015

24

PROPOSAL 2 RATIFYRATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

26

20

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

20

 26 

Audit Fees

26

Audit-Related Fees

26

Tax Fees

26


REPORT OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

21

 27 

PROPOSAL 3 ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

22

OTHER MATTERS

28 

PROPOSAL 4 ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

23

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

29 

OTHER MATTERS

24

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

24

 29 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

25

 30 

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

31

SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDERSTOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

31

27


In this Proxy Statement, the terms “Ultralife,” “Company,” “we,” and “our” refer to Ultralife Corporation. This Proxy Statement includes website addresses and references to additional materials found on those websites. These websites and materials are not incorporated into the Proxy Statement by reference.

This document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our environmental and social goals, commitments and strategies. These statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including due to the risks and uncertainties that are discussed in our most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings. We assume no obligations to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates.

These materials were first sent or made available to stockholders on May 30, 2023.


IMPORTANT

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ENCOURAGE
YOU TO VOTE IN ANY OF THE MANNERS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE BENEFICIAL OWNERS TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY YOUR

THEIR BROKER REGARDING HOW TO VOTE. YOUR BROKER CANNOT VOTE YOUR SHARES FOR

DIRECTOR NOMINEES OR PROPOSAL 2 UNLESS YOU PROVIDE YOUR BROKER WITH VOTING INSTRUCTIONS. SEE “BROKER

“BROKER VOTING” BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.

 

 

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION

2000 Technology Parkway

Newark, New York 14513

(315) 332-7100

PROXY STATEMENT

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERSSTOCKHOLDERS

JUNE 1, 2016

TO BE HELD ON JULY 19, 2023

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

We are furnishing this proxy statement to our shareholdersstockholders in connection with our Board of Directors’ solicitation of proxies for use at our 20162023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders,Stockholders, which we refer to in this proxy statement as the Meeting, to be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2016,July 19, 2023 at 11:9:00 A.M. local timeEastern Time and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. The Meeting will be held at Ultralife Corporation Headquarters located at 2000 Technology Parkway, Newark, New York 14513.  As always, we encourage you to vote your shares prior to the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport, O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, IL 60666.Meeting.

In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to each shareholderstockholder of record, we are now furnishing proxy materials to our shareholdersstockholders on the Internet. If you received only a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you request a copy. Instead, the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials will instruct you how to access and review the proxy materials overon the Internet. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials will also instruct you as to how you may submit your proxy or voting instruction card over the Internet. If you received only a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials by mail and would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, please follow the instructions for requesting those materials included in the Notice. Generally stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless they request them. The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.only identifies the items to be voted on at the Meeting. The Notice explains how to cast your vote.

The Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials iswas first being sent to our shareholdersstockholders on or about April 22, 2016May 30, 2023 and our proxy materials arewere first being made available to our shareholdersstockholders on or about April 22, 2016.May 30, 2023.

You may vote by proxy or in person at the Meeting. If you received only athe Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials by mail, you may vote your shares online by proxy at the Internet site address listed on your Notice of Internet Availability. You may also request a paper copy of our proxy materials by (i) visiting the Internet site address, (ii) calling the toll-free number or (iii) by sending an email to the email address, listed on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.the Notice. If you received a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail, you may vote your shares by proxy by doing any one of the following: vote at the Internet site address listed on your proxy or voting instruction card; call the toll-free number listed on your proxy or voting instruction card; or mail your signed and dated proxy


or voting instruction card to our tabulator in the self-addressed envelope provided.If you vote via the internet or by telephone, do not return your proxy card. Even if you plan to attend the Meeting in person, we recommend that you vote by proxy prior to the Meeting. You can always change your vote as described below.

When a proxy card is returned properly signed and dated, the shares represented thereby will be voted in accordance with the shareholder’sstockholder’s directions. If the proxy is signed, dated and returned without choices having been specified (except in the case of broker non-votes), the shares will be votedFOR the election of each director-nominee named therein andFOR the other proposals identified therein.

1

You may receive more than one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or more than one paper copy of the proxy materials, including multiple paper copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy or voting instruction cards, depending on how you hold your shares. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you may receive a separate Notice, of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, a separate e-mail or a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold your shares. If you are a shareholderstockholder of record and your shares are registered in more than one name, you may receive more than one Notice, of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, more than one e-mail or more than one proxy card. To vote all of your shares by proxy, you must (i) vote at the Internet site address listed on yourthe Notice, of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, proxy or voting instruction card;card, (ii) call the toll-free number listed on your proxy or voting instruction card;card, or (iii) sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive.If you vote via the internet or telephone do not also sign, date and return your proxy card.

If for any reason any of the nominees for election as directors become unavailable for election, the holders of the proxies will exercise discretionary authority to vote for substitute nominees proposed by our Board of Directors. A shareholderstockholder has the right to revoke a previously granted proxy at any time before it is voted by filing with our Corporate Secretary a written notice of revocation, or a duly executed later-dated proxy, or by requesting return of the proxy and voting in person at the Meeting.

We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by use of the mails,mail, some of our officers, directors and regular employees, without extra remuneration, may solicit proxies personally or by telephone, email or similar transmission.communication. However, such officers, directors and regular employees may be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation. We have not engaged a proxy solicitation firm, but we may decide to retain the services of a proxy solicitation firm in the future if we believe it is appropriate under the circumstances. In those situations where the beneficial owner of shares is not the record holder, we will reimburse record holders for reasonable expenses in forwarding proxies and proxy soliciting material to the beneficial owners of the shares.

Only shareholdersstockholders of record at the close of business on April 5, 2016May 25, 2023 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting. As of April 5, 2016,May 25, 2023, there were 15,326,23916,143,193 shares of our common stock, par value $.10 per share, issued and outstanding, each entitled to one vote per share at the Meeting.

Quorum

A majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock, represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting, will constitute a quorum with respect to the voting of proposals submitted to the shareholders,stockholders, as described in this proxy statement. For purposes of determining whether a quorum is present, shareholdersstockholders of record who are present at the Meeting in person or by proxy are considered to be present at the Meeting.

2

Vote Required

The table below showsdescribes the vote required at the Meeting to approve each of the proposals described in this proxy statement, assuming the presence of a quorum:

 

Proposal

 

Vote Required

1. 

1.   Election of directors

 

Plurality of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote

2. 

2.   Ratification of the selection of Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 20162023

 

Majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote*

3.   To vote on a non-binding advisory resolution on executive compensation (“Say-on-Pay”)

Majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote

4.   To vote on a non-binding advisory resolution on the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation (Say-When-on-Pay”)

Majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote

 

*

The selection of Freed Maxick CPA’sCPAs, P.C. is being presented to our shareholdersstockholders for ratification. The Audit and Finance Committee will consider the outcome of this vote when selecting our independent registered public accounting firm for this and subsequent fiscal years.years but may, in its discretion, determine to maintain its selection of Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C.

Abstentions

Shares that abstain from voting on one or more proposals to be acted on at the Meeting are considered to be present for the purpose of determining whether a quorum exists. Abstentions will have no effect on the election of directors; however, abstentions will have the effect of voting against the other proposalproposals set forth in this proxy statement, because abstentions are deemed to be present and entitled to vote but do not count toward the affirmative vote required to approve the proposal.

Broker Voting

If you own your shares through a broker and do not provide your broker with specific voting instructions, your broker will have the discretion under the rules governing brokers who havehold record ownership of shares that they hold in street name for their clients to vote your shares on routine matters but not otherwise. The only proposal being submitted to the shareholders whichstockholders that is considered routine and as to which brokers may exercise discretion to vote is Proposal 2 concerning ratification of the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm. Brokers will not be permitted to vote shares they hold as nominee in their discretion infor the election of directors.If you want your shares held in your broker account to be counted in the election of directors or proposals 3 and 4, you must provide instructions to your broker on how to vote your shares.

A broker non-vote occurs when shares held by a broker are not voted on a non-routine proposal because the broker has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner and the broker lacks discretionary authority to vote the shares in the absence of such instructions. Shares subject to broker non-votes are considered to be present for the purpose of determining whether a quorum exists and thus count towards satisfying the quorum requirement but are not counted for purposes of determining the number of shares entitled to vote on non-routine matters. A broker non-vote will have no effect on the election of directors or on the approval of anthe advisory resolution on executive compensation since,resolutions, with respect to non-routine matters,matters. Shares representing broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of shares entitled to vote on such proposals.

3

PROPOSAL 1


ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our Board of Directors currently has six directors, eachfive of whom hashave been nominated to serve for an additional one-year term. Mr. Singh is not eligible for election at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders since, in accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Principles, he has reached the director mandatory retirement age of seventy (70) prior to the Meeting. If elected, each director standing for election shall serve until the next annual meeting of shareholdersstockholders and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. Except for Mr. Manna, none of the individuals nominated for re-election to our Board, is or has been employed by a parent, subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company. The names of, and certain information with respect to, the persons nominated for election as directors are presented below.

 

Name

Age

Present Principal Occupation, Employment History and Expertise

Steven M. Anderson

 59Brigadier General (Ret.) Anderson has been a director of the Company since April 13, 2010. General (Ret.) Anderson currently serves as the Afghanistan Country Manager for Fluor, managing the US Army LOGCAP (Logistics Civil Augmentation Program) providing contingency support to US forces in the Afghanistan combat zone. He has served as an owner and Chief Marketing Officer from January 2013 to March 2015 and Senior VP from February 2011 through December 2012 of Relyant, LLC, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business and global provider of construction, environmental, energy and logistics services. General (Ret.) Anderson, a career military officer who retired from active duty in November 2009, served for five years as a general officer in the US Army, including 15 months as the senior US and coalition logistician in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From 2004 to 2006, General (Ret.) Anderson served as the senior US logistician in Korea (Deputy C-4 for the United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command and J4, United States Forces Korea) and spearheaded the development of Camp Humphreys, the combined and US headquarters facility in Central Korea. He served in various command positions including Commander, Division Support Command, 2nd Infantry Division, Korea (2000-02), and Commander, 725th Main Support Battalion, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii (1995-97). In his final military assignment, he served for two years on the Army Staff in the Pentagon as the Director, Operations and Logistics Readiness, Office of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G4 (logistics). General (Ret.) Anderson is a 1978 graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point and earned a Master’s of Science degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School in 1987. In 2014, he was inducted into the US Army Ordnance Hall of Fame and elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Ordnance Contractors (NAOC). General (Ret.) Anderson has been nominated for re-election to our Board of Directors because of his general knowledge of the US military and particularly his knowledge of its procurement processes and policies. The military and prime defense contractors are important customer bases of the Company.

Name

Age

Present Principal Occupation, Employment History and Expertise

Michael D. PopielecE. Manna

53

54

Mr. PopielecManna has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company since December 30, 2010.November 22, 2022. Mr. PopielecManna has 30 yearsalmost thirty years’ experience in growing domesticthe battery industry, all with Ultralife Corporation. He joined the Company in 1993 and international industrial businesses. Prior to joining us, Mr. Popielec operated his own management consulting business in 2009 to 2010 and was Group President, Applied Technologies in 2008 and 2009 and Group President, Diversified Components from 2005 to 2007 at Carlisle Companies, Inc., a $2.5 billion diversified global manufacturer. Prior to that, from 2003 to 2005, he held various positions, including Chief Operating Officer, Americas, for Danka Business Systems, PLC. From 1985 to 2002, Mr. Popielec heldnumerous leadership positions of increasing responsibility at General Electric Company, culminatingin engineering, operations, product management, research & development and sales. Most recently, Mr. Manna served as President, Battery & Energy Products and continues in his serving asleadership of this business segment. Mr. Manna is a GE corporate officerwell-recognized expert in rechargeable and as Presidentprimary battery cell design across multiple chemistries in both commercial and Chief Executive Officergovernment/defense markets. He has been awarded several patents for the Company and was a key member of GE Power Controls, the European arm of GE Industrial Systems.team that delivered the first Lithium-Ion Polymer Cell to the market. Mr. PopielecManna has a B.S.BS degree in Mechanical EngineeringComputer Science from Michigan State University.Rochester Institute of Technology. Mr. PopielecManna has been nominated for re-electionelection to our Board of Directors because of his operationsbattery industry expertise and his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

Janie Goddard

52

Ms. Goddard has been a director of the Company since February 21, 2023. Most recently, Ms. Goddard served as a Divisional Chief Executive for the Environmental and Analysis Sector at Halma plc, a global group of technology companies and as a Divisional Chief Executive of Halma’s Medical and Environmental Sector. Before joining Halma, from 2016 to 2019, Ms. Goddard served as Divisional President of the Detection and Analysis Business Unit at Novanta Inc., where she led a portfolio of solutions for medical device OEMs. Prior to Novanta, Ms. Goddard served in leadership roles at Welch Allyn (acquired by Hill-Rom), Covidien (acquired by Medtronic), and Johnson & Johnson. Ms. Goddard also serves on the board of directors of Methode Electronics, Inc., a public company (NYSE: MEI) that develops and manufactures custom solutions for the transportation (including electric vehicles), industrial and medical markets. She received a B.S. in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Ms. Goddard has been nominated for election to our Board of Directors because of her strong track record of P&L leadership within global companies, her background in commercial execution, strategic marketing, and product development and her depth and breadth of experience in growing domesticglobal medical device and international industrial businesses.markets.

Thomas L. Saeli

66

59

Mr. Saeli has been a director of the Company since March 5, 2010. Since March 2011, Mr. Saeli has served as the Chief Executive Officer and since October 2011, as a director of JRB Enterprises, Inc., a diversified manufacturer of primarily commercial and industriallow slope roofing systems.  PriorFrom 2009 to that,2011, Mr. Saeli was a business consultant to international corporate clients on matters involving business development strategies, consolidations, acquisitions and operations.  He previously served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors of Noble International, Ltd., an international automotive supplier of engineered laser-welded steel blanks and roll-formed products, from March 2006supplier. Prior to April 13, 2009 when he resigned those positions. Noble International, Ltd. filed for voluntary relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Michigan on April 15, 2009. From 1998 through 2006,that, Mr. Saeli served aswas Vice President of Corporate Development for Lear Corporation, an international automotive supplier of seating, electronics and interior products, where he also served as Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions.supplier.  Mr. Saeli also serveshas served on the Boardsboards of Directorsvarious privately held businesses and nonprofit organizations. Mr. Saeli has a BA in Economics from Hamilton College, and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Advance Capital Management, a mutual fund, and The Beaumont Health System.Business.  Mr. Saeli has been nominated for re-election to our Board of Directors because of his manufacturing, corporate development, mergers and acquisitions and finance experience. Mr. Saeli also qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under applicable SEC rules.

4

NameAge

Name

Age

Present Principal Occupation, Employment History and Expertise

Robert W. Shaw II

5966Mr. Shaw has been a director of the Company since June 8, 2010. CurrentlySince 2015 he is on the board of directors of the American Queen Steamboat Company andhas been a consultant for HMS Global MaritimePratt Miller, Inc., a large engineering company for automotive racing and Pratt Miller. From 2010defense businesses. Since 2015 as well, he has been a senior advisor to 2013Hornblower Group, the world's largest operator of excursion vessels. Mr. Shaw was thehas served as President of Hornblower Yachts, Inc., the largest dining and excursion boat operator in the United States, with over 50 vessels serving California and New York with the Hornblower, Alcatraz and Statue Cruises brands. From 2007 to 2010, he was100 vessels. He has been President of R.M. Thornton, Inc., a large mechanical contracting company specializing in the Federalfederal government and healthcare markets. Prior to that, Mr. Shaw was Chief Executive Officer at Odyssey Cruises/Premier Yachts, Inc., a leading U.S. dining and excursion boat operator, where he successfully led the company through a sale process to private equity firm ICV Capital Partners. Earlier he served in Sodexho, S.A., one of the world’s largest contract services providers, as both President and Chief Executive Officer of Spirit Cruises, Inc., and Division President of The Seiler Corporation.  Mr. Shaw served in the US Marine Corps as an infantry Captain.Captain, has an MBA degree from Harvard University and a BS degree in engineering from Cornell University. Mr. Shaw has consulted or served on a number of boards of advisors of various non-public organizations and he has been nominated for re-election to our Board of Directors because of his management expertise and experience as an executive officer.

Ranjit C. Singh

 63Mr. Singh has been a director of the Company since August 2000, and served as Chair of our Board of Directors from December 2001 to June 2007. Mr. Singh is currently the Chief Executive Officer of CSR Consulting Group, which provides business and technology consulting services, a position that he has held since 2008. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Aptara, a content outsourcing services company, from February 2003 until July 2008. From February 2002 to February 2003, Mr. Singh served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Reliacast Inc., a video streaming software and services company. Prior to that, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of ContentGuard, which develops and markets digital property rights software. Before joining ContentGuard earlier in 2000, Mr. Singh worked for Xerox as a corporate Senior Vice President with various responsibilities related to its software businesses. Mr. Singh joined Xerox in 1997, having been employed by Citibank where he was Vice President of Global Distributed Computing. Mr. Singh has been nominated for re-election to our Board of Directors because of his experience as an executive of growing technology-based companies, his familiarity with international operations and his expertise in mergers and acquisitions.

Name

Age

Present Principal Occupation, Employment History and Expertise

Bradford T. Whitmore

66

58

Mr. Whitmore has been a director of the Company since June 2007 and Chair of our Board of Directors since March 2010. Since 1985, he has been the Managing Partner of Grace Brothers Ltd.,LP, an investment firm whichthat holds approximately 3% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Mr. Whitmore and Grace Brothers Ltd.LP collectively hold or claim beneficial ownership over slightly less than 34%of 37.3% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Mr. Whitmore has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Over the past fiveseveral years, Mr. Whitmore has served as a director of several privately held companies in which Grace Brothers Ltd.LP and its affiliates held investments as well as not-for-profit organizations. Mr. Whitmore has been nominated for re-election to our Board of Directors because of his corporate development expertise and significant expertise in corporate financial matters.

Our Board of Directors has approved the above-named nominees for directors. Our Board of Directors recommends a voteFOR each of these nominees. Unless otherwise directed on your proxy, your shares will be votedFOR each of the above-named nominees for directors.

5

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

General

Pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware the state in which we were organized, and our By-laws, our business, property and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors. Members of our Board of Directors are kept informed of Company business through regular discussions with our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Treasurer,Secretary, by reviewing materials provided to them by the Company’s management and by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees.

Our Board of Directors has determined that all but one

All of our directors who have been recommended for election, except for Michael D. Popielec, who serves asE. Manna, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Michael D. Popielec, who previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company from December 30, 2010 to November 22, 2022, are “independent” for purposes of NASDAQ listing standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) applicable to the Corporate Development and Governance Committee and the Compensation and Management Committee. In addition, our Board of Directors has determined that all but two of our Directors,except for Michael D. Popielec andE. Manna, Bradford T. Whitmore, our Board Chair, and Michael D. Popielec, who previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, all directors are independent“independent” for purposes of NASDAQ listing standards applicable to the Audit and Finance Committee. We believe that the segregation of the roles of Board Chair from that of the President and Chief Executive Officer ensures better overall governance of our Company and provides meaningful checks and balances regarding our overall performance. This structure allows our President and Chief Executive Officer to focus on our business while the Board Chair leads our Board of Directors in establishing corporate policy and enhancing our governance structure and practices. We believe this structure is appropriate for a company with our varied product portfolio addressing both commercial and defense markets.

Our Board of Directors has three standing committees: an Audit and Finance Committee, a Corporate Development and Governance Committee, and a Compensation and Management Committee. During 2015,2022, our Board of Directors held sevenfive meetings and the committees of our Board of Directors held a total of twentythirteen meetings. During 2015,2022, Bradford T. Whitmore served as our Board Chair. As Board Chair, Mr. Whitmore served as a non-voting ex-officio member of all of our Board committees. Each director attended, in person or virtually, at least 75% of the aggregate of: (1)1) the total number of meetings of the Board; and (2)2) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which he or she served.

Our Board of Directors has adopted a charter for each of the three standing committees that addresses the composition and function of each committee and has also adopted Corporate Governance Principles that address the composition and function of the Board of Directors. These charters and Corporate Governance Principles are available on our website athttp://investor.ultralifecorporation.com under the subheading “Corporate Governance.” Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Principles, it is our policy that directors retire from service at the annual meeting following their 70th birthday.

Our Board of Directors has determined that all of the directors who serve on these committees are “independent” for purposes of NASDAQ listing standards of NASDAQ, and that the members of the Audit and Finance Committee are also “independent” for purposes of Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to in this proxy statement as the Exchange Act.amended. Our Board of Directors based these determinations primarily on a review of the responses of the directors to questions regarding employment, compensation history, affiliations and family and other relationships, and on follow-up discussions.discussions with directors.

Our Board of Directors, consisting of six members, has one director who identifies as “diverse” and one director who identifies as “Female” and “African American or Black” in accordance with NASDAQ listing standards. Ranjit C. Singh, who identifies as “diverse”, will be retiring and not standing for re-election at the Annual Meeting.

Committees of the Board of Directors

The composition and the functions of our three standing committees of our Board of Directors are set forth below. Our Board of Directors will meet subsequent to the Meeting to appoint members of the committees and designate Chairs of those committees from among those individuals elected at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to serve on our Board of Directors until the 20172024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.Stockholders.

6

Audit and Finance Committee

The current members of the Audit and Finance Committee are Thomas L. Saeli (Chair), Steven M. Anderson andJanie Goddard, Robert W. Shaw II.II and Ranjit C. Singh. This committee selects our independent registered public accounting firm subject to ratification of our full Board of Directors, and has oversight responsibility for reviewing the scope and results of the independent registered public accounting firm’s annual audit of our financial statements and the quality and integrity of those financial statements. Further, the committee reviews the qualifications and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, andfirm. The Committee meets with our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, our Corporate Controller and the independent registered public accounting firm to review matters relating to internal accounting controls, our accounting practices and procedures and other matters relating to our financial condition.condition and has the power to engage outside counsel and other outside experts. The committee also reviews and monitors areas of financial and cybersecurity risk that could have a material impact on our Company. The Audit and Finance Committee met eightfive times during 2015.2022.

Our Board of Directors has determined that each of the members of the Audit and Finance Committee is “financially literate” in accordance with NASDAQ listing standards. In addition, our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Saeli qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K.

Corporate Development and Governance Committee

The current members of the Corporate Development and Governance Committee are Ranjit C. Singh (Chair), Janie Goddard, Thomas L. Saeli and Robert W. Shaw II (Chair), Steven M. Anderson and Ranjit C. Singh.II. This committee works with management to develop corporate strategy and to identify and evaluate acquisition opportunities, reviews the performance and compensation of our directors annually, makes annual recommendations to our Board of Directors for membershipnominations for election to the Board of Directors and committee assignments and for the compensation of our directors, and manages the annual evaluation of the performance of our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Board Chair. The Corporate Development and Governance Committee met eightfour times during 2015.

2022.

The Corporate Development and Governance Committee identifies potential nominees for director based on its own research for appropriate candidates as well as on recommendations received by directors or from shareholdersstockholders as described below. The Corporate Development and Governance Committee mayhas the authority to retain an executive search firm to assist in the identification of potential director nominees. The evaluation process and the factors considered in undertaking that evaluation are set forth under the caption “Shareholder“Stockholder Recommendations and Standards for Director Nominations” below.

The Corporate Development and Governance Committee also has overall responsibility for assessing and managing our exposure to risks associated with the conduct of our business.

Compensation and Management Committee

The current members of the Compensation and Management Committee are Robert W. Shaw II (Chair), Janie Goddard, Thomas L. Saeli and Ranjit C. Singh (Chair), Steven M. Anderson and Thomas L. Saeli.Singh. The Compensation and Management Committee has ultimate responsibility for determining the compensation of officers electedappointed by our Board of Directors, granting stock options and restricted stockother equity awards and otherwise administering our equity compensation plans, and approving and administering any other compensation plans or agreements. The Compensation and Management Committee has the authority to retain outside experts in making compensation determinations. Our 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2014 LTIP”), is administered by the Compensation and Management Committee. The Compensation and Management Committee met four times during 2015.2022.

Shareholder

Stockholder Recommendations and Standards for Director Nominations

As noted above, the Corporate Development and Governance Committee considers and establishes procedures regarding recommendations for nomination to our Board of Directors, including nominations submitted by shareholders.stockholders. Such recommendations, if any, should be sent to our Corporate Secretary, Attn: Philip A. Fain, Ultralife Corporation, 2000 Technology Parkway, Newark, New York 14513. Any recommendations submitted to the Corporate Secretary should be in writing and should include any material the shareholderstockholder considers appropriate in support of that recommendation but must include the information that would be required under the rules of the SEC in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such candidate and a signed consent of the candidate to serve as a director, should he or she be elected. The Corporate Development and Governance Committee evaluates all potential candidates in the same manner, regardless of the source of the recommendation.

Based on the information provided to the

7

The Corporate Development and Governance Committee with respect toreviews the credentials of potential director candidates, the Corporate Development and Governance Committee will make an initialincluding those recommended by stockholders, in making a determination whether to conduct a full evaluation of a candidate. The Corporate Development and Governance Committee considers the composition, size and sizediversity of the existing Board of Directors, along with other factors such as any anticipated vacancies due to retirement or other reasons and the Company’s need for a person with specific skills, experiences or attributes, in making its determination to conduct a full evaluation of a candidate. As part of the full evaluation process, the Corporate Development and Governance Committee may conduct interviews, obtain additional background information and conduct reference checks of candidates. The Corporate Development and Governance Committee may also ask the candidate to meet with management and other members of our Board of Directors.

In evaluating a director candidate, our Board of Directors, with the assistance of the Corporate Development and Governance Committee, takes into accountconsiders a variety of factors as described in our Corporate Governance Principles, including the particular experience, attributes and skills that would qualify the candidate to serve as a director. The criteria for selection to our Board of Directors, as described in our Corporate Governance Principles, include character and leadership skills; general business acumen and executive experience; knowledge of strategy, finance and relations between business and government; and internal business operations – all to ensure an active and diverse Board of Directors whose members work well together and possess the collective knowledge and expertise required to meaningfully contribute as directors. Our Corporate Development and Governance Committee reviews the qualifications of director candidates with those of our current directors to augment and complement the skill setsskills, experiences and attributes of our current Board members. We believe that itThe Company is important for ourcommitted to a Board of Directors to be comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds, skills and experiences. Although we do not have a formal diversity policy and identify qualified potential candidates without regard to any particular classification, we believe that possessing a breadth of experience and qualifications, as our Board does, promotes Board diversity.

Annual Meeting Attendance

Our policy is that all of theour directors, absent special circumstances, should participate in our Annual MeetingMeetings of Shareholders,Stockholders, either in attendanceperson or telephonically. All directors, attendedexcept for Ms. Goddard who joined the Board on February 21, 2023, participated in last year’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders as it was followed by a scheduled Board Meeting.Stockholders.

Executive Sessions

Our Corporate Governance Principles require our independent directors to meet in executive session regularly by requiring them to have at least four regularly scheduled meetings per year without management present. Our independent directors met in executive session sevenfour times during 2015.2022. In addition, our standing committees meet in executive session on a regular basis.

Communicating with the Board of Directors

Shareholders

Stockholders interested in communicating directly with our Board of Directors as a group or individually may do so in writing to our Corporate Secretary, Attn. Philip A. Fain, Ultralife Corporation, 2000 Technology Parkway, Newark, New York 14513. The Corporate Secretary will review all such correspondence and forward to our Board of Directors a summary of that correspondence and copies of any correspondence that, in his opinion, deals with the functions of the Board of Directors or that he otherwise determines requires their attention. Directors may at any time review a log of all correspondence received by us that isare addressed to members of the Board of Directors and request copies of any such correspondence. Any concerns relating to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters will be brought to the attention of the Audit and Finance Committee and handled in accordance with the procedures established by the Audit and Finance Committee with respect to such matters.

Code of Ethics

We have a Code of Ethics applicable to all employees, including our Principal Executive Officer and our Principal Financial Officer (who is also our Principal Accounting Officer)executive officers and all members of our Board of Directors. Our Code of Ethics incorporates the elements of a code of ethics specified in Item 406 of Regulation S-K and also complies with NASDAQ requirements for a code of conduct. ShareholdersStockholders can find a link to this Code of Ethics on our website athttp://investor.ultralifecorporation.com under the subheading “Corporate Governance.”

8

Our Code of Ethics emphasizes our commitment to conducting business in a legal and ethical manner and encourages prompt and confidential reporting of any suspected violations of law or the Code of Ethics. As part of our Code of Ethics, directors and employees are expected to make business decisions and to take actions based upon the best interests of our Company and not based upon personal relationships or benefits. In conjunction with our Code of Ethics, our General Counsel conducts an annual training session with our Board of Directors with emphasis on all facets of compliance with new and existing regulations and best practices. Any potential conflict of interest, and any transaction or relationship involving our officers or directors that could give rise to a conflict of interest, must be reviewed and resolved by our Corporate Development and Governance Committee.

Related Party Transactions

We have adopted written policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of any “related party transaction,” as defined by Regulation S-K, Item 404. The policy provides that each related party transaction must be reviewed by our Audit and Finance Committee. The Audit and Finance Committee reviews the relevant facts and circumstances of the transaction, including if the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arms-length dealings with an unrelated third party and the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction, taking into account the conflicts of interest and corporate opportunity provisions of our Code of Ethics, and either recommends that the Board of

Directors approve or disapprove the related party transaction. We will disclose all related party transactions, as required, in our filings with the SEC. To our knowledge, noNo reportable transaction existedtransactions occurred during 2015,2022 and 2021, and there are currently no such proposed transactions.

Employee, Officer and Director Hedging

Pursuant to our Insider Trading Compliance Policy, the Company’s directors, officers and employees are prohibited from engaging in short sales of Ultralife securities or from buying or selling put options, call options or other derivatives of Ultralife securities.

Risk Management

Our management team is responsible for assisting the Corporate Development and Governance Committee in its assessment of our exposure to risks associated with the conduct of business. We have an enterprise risk management process to identify, assess and manage the most significant risks facing our company.Company. Our Corporate Development and Governance Committee has overall responsibility to regularly review management’s risk management process, including the policies and guidelines used by management to identify, assess and manage our exposure to risk.risk on an on-going basis. Our Audit and Finance Committee has oversight responsibility for financial risks and other risks that could have a material impact on our Company. Our management reviews these financial risks with our Audit and Finance Committee regularly and reviews the risk management process, as it affects financial risks, with our Audit and Finance Committee on an on-going basis. Based upon this risk assessment and management process, the Board may recommend changes to the operations of the Company to reduce risk.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

We presently use cash compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on our Board of Directors. Our practice is to survey our peer group companies, every three to four yearsgenerally consisting of like-sized micro-cap companies and/or public companies in our industry, periodically to ascertain whether our overall director compensation is appropriate and balanced. If we perceive that there has been a major change in our Company or the market, we may reducealter the period of time between surveys. In setting director compensation, we consider the amount of time that directors spend fulfilling their duties to us, the skill-level required by members of our Board of Directors, and based on an independent review by our external compensation consultant, Grahall & Associates, and other publicly available director compensation data, the compensation paid to directors in similar sizedsimilar-sized organizations in our industry. Our program is designed to deliver annual director compensation at the median levels of director compensation for companies in similar industries and of similar size. As our directors are elected annually in June of each year, ourOur annual director compensation period runs from July 1 to June 30.

Director Cash Compensation

Annual Retainers

Each non-employee director will receive an annual cash retainer of $60,000,$70,040, except for the Board Chair, who will receive an annual cash retainer of $90,000$103,000, for the period July 1, 20152022 through June 30, 2016.2023, the same as the amounts for the period July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. These retainers are paid quarterly in cash. In addition, each director who is a member of a Board committee receives an additional cash retainer for such committee service.

9

Annual retainers for Board committee service as summarized infor the tables below.

For the Periodperiod July 1, 20142022 to June 30, 20152023 were the same as amounts for the period July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, as follows:

 

   Annual Retainer for
Committee Members
   Annual Retainer for
Committee Chair
 

Audit and Finance Committee

  $6,750    $16,750  

Compensation and Management Committee

  $5,250    $13,250  

Corporate Development and Governance Committee

  $6,750    $16,750  

For the Period July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016

  

Annual Retainer for
Committee Members

  

Annual Retainer for
Committee Chair

 

Audit and Finance Committee

 $6,950  $17,250 

Compensation and Management Committee

 $5,410  $13,650 

Corporate Development and Governance Committee

 $6,950  $17,250 

 

   Annual Retainer for
Committee Members
   Annual Retainer for
Committee Chair
 

Audit and Finance Committee

  $6,750    $16,750  

Compensation and Management Committee

  $5,250    $13,250  

Corporate Development and Governance Committee

  $6,750    $16,750  

Annual retainers for both committee members and committee chairs are paid quarterly in cash. For Board and committee service during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015,2022, we paid our non-employee directors an aggregate $414,268.$399,890.

During 2014, the Compensation and Management Committee approved that in lieu of quarterly stock payments due directors on November 14, 2014, February 13, 2015 and May 15, 2015 more particularly described in the discussion below under “Directors’ Stock-Based Incentive Compensation and to be consistent with the overall objectives of our Share Repurchase Program, we would pay our directors in cash rather than in shares of our common stock. For each director other than the Board Chair, this would mean an additional $10,000 of cash compensation in lieu of shares of common stock valued at $10,000, and for the Board Chair an additional $16,500 of cash compensation in lieu of shares of common stock valued at $16,500 for each of these installments. The total amount of the cash and stock retainers paid to the directors for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 is identical to the cash retainers to be paid to the directors for the period July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016.

Directors’ Stock-Based Incentive Compensation

Initially, our 2014 – 2015 equity compensation program for directors provided each director with an annual award of fully-vested restricted shares of our common stock. The aggregate value of the award for eachOur non-employee director was $40,000 and the aggregate value of the award for the Board Chair was $66,000. Our directors are elected annually in June of each year. Accordingly, these grants of common stock to our current directors were scheduled to be issued in four equal installments on August 15, 2014, November 14, 2014, February 13, 2015 and May 15, 2015. In order to receive an installment of common stock, a director must be a current member of our Board of Directors on the scheduled installment payment date. To determine the number of shares of common stock to be awarded, the value of each quarterly award, which is $10,000 for each director other than the Board Chair and $16,500 for the Board Chair, was divided by the volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the common stock on the trading day prior to the grant date of the award. On August 15, 2014, each incumbent non-employee director other than the Board Chair received 3,012 shares of common stock and the Board Chair received 4,970 shares of common stock.

On October 29, 2014, the Compensation and Management Committee approved that in lieu of quarterly stock awards due directors on November 14, 2014, February 13, 2015 and May 15, 2015, the Company would pay our directors in cash rather than in awards of shares of our common stock. The Compensation and Management Committee took this action to be consistent with the overall objectives of our Share Repurchase Program. For each director other than the Board Chair, this would mean an additional $10,000 of cash compensation in lieu of shares of common stock valued at $10,000, and for the Board Chair an additional $16,500 of cash compensation in lieu of shares of common stock valued at $16,500 for each of these installments.

Our directors have stock ownership guidelines whichthat require them to maintain ownership of at least $40,000 of the Companyour common stock. Newly elected directors have two years from their election to the Board to achieve the stock ownership requirement. Currently, all of our non-employee directors, except for Ms. Goddard who joined the Board on February 21, 2023 and has two years from that date to achieve the stock ownership requirement, meet the stock ownership guidelines. Refer to the Executive Officer Compensation section contained herein for stock ownership guidelines for our executive officers.

Director Compensation for 2015Table

The table below summarizes the compensation paid by us to our non-employee directors for their service duringfor the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.2022.

 

Name

 

Fees Paid in Cash ($)

  

Stock Awards ($)

  

Option Awards ($)

  

Non- Equity Incentive Plan Compensation

  

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings

  

All Other Compensation ($)

  

Total ($)

 
 

(1)

  

(2)

  

(3)

  

(4)

  

(5)

  

(6)

    

Name

  Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash ($)
   Stock
Awards ($)
   Option
Awards ($)
   Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
   Change in Pension
Value and Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation
Earnings
   All Other
Compensation ($)
   Total ($) 
(1)      (2)   (3)   (4)   (5)   (6)     

Steven. M. Anderson

   78,756     —       —       —       —       —       78,756  

Thomas L. Saeli

   82,004     —       —       —       —       —       82,004   99,650  -  -  -  -  -  99,650 

Robert W. Shaw II

   83,504     —       —       —       —       —       83,504   97,590  -  -  -  -  -  97,590 

Ranjit C. Singh

   80,004     —       —       —       —       —       80,004   99,650  -  -  -  -  -  99,650 

Bradford T. Whitmore

   90,000     —       —       —       —       —       90,000   103,000  -  -  -  -  -  103,000 
  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

  399,890  -  -  -  -  -  399,890 
   414,268     —       —       —       —       —       414,268  
  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

 

 

(1)

Michael D. Popielec is ineligible

Amounts shown represent cash compensation earned during 2022. Amounts may differ from amounts paid in 2022 due to receive compensation for his service as a director because he is also an employee, serving as our President and Chief Executive Officer.timing of payments.

 

(2)

There were no non-employee director stock awards granted to our non-employee directors during 2022 or outstanding at December 31, 2022.

(3)

There were no option awards granted to our non-employee directors during 2022 or outstanding at December 31, 2022.

(4)

There was no non-equity incentive plan compensation paid to our non-employee directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.2022.

 

(3)

(5)

There were no non-qualified deferred compensation earnings for our non-employee director option awards outstanding at December 31, 2015.

(4)There was no non-employee director non-equity incentive plan compensationdirectors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.2022.

 

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(5)

(6)

There was no other compensation paid to our non-employee director change in pension value and nonqualified deferred compensation earningsdirectors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.2022.

Each of Michael E. Manna, our current President and Chief Executive Officer and Michael D. Popielec, our former President and Chief Executive Officer, were ineligible to receive compensation for his service as a director because he is/was also an employee. Refer to the Summary Compensation Table for the compensation of our executive officers.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Our executive officers are appointed annually by our Board of Directors. Our executive officers for fiscal 2022 were:

Michael D. Popielec, President and Chief Executive Officer from January 1, 2022 to November 22, 2022

 

(6)

Michael E. Manna, President and Chief Executive Officer commencing November 22, 2022

Philip A. Fain, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

There were no other individuals who meet the definition of Named Executive Officer.

Mr. Manna’s information is set forth above with the other directors standing for election. Certain information with respect to our other executive officers for fiscal 2022 is presented below.

Name

Age

Present Principal Occupation and Employment History

Philip A. Fain

68

Mr. Fain was no non-employee director other compensationnamed our Chief Financial Officer in November 2009, Treasurer in December 2009 and Corporate Secretary in April 2013. He previously served as Vice President of Business Development, having joined us in February 2008. Prior to joining us, he was Managing Partner of CXO on the GO, LLC, a management-consulting firm, which he co-founded in November 2003 and which we retained in connection with our acquisition activity. Prior to founding CXO on the GO, LLC, Mr. Fain served as Vice President of Finance - RayBan Sunoptics for Luxottica, SpA. Prior to the acquisition of Bausch & Lomb’s global eyewear business by Luxottica, Mr. Fain served as Bausch & Lomb’s Senior Vice President Finance - Global Eyewear from 1997 to 1999 and as Vice President and Controller for the fiscal year endedUS Sunglass business from 1993 to 1996. In these roles, he led the process to acquire some of the world’s most sought-after sunglass companies and brands for Bausch & Lomb. From 1983 to 1993, Mr. Fain served in various positions with Bausch & Lomb including executive positions in corporate accounting, finance and audit. Mr. Fain began his career as a CPA and consultant with Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1977. He received his BA in Economics from the University of Rochester and an MBA from the William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration of the University of Rochester.

Michael D. Popielec

61

Mr. Popielec served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company from December 31, 2015.30, 2010 to November 22, 2022. Mr. Popielec has over 30 years’ experience in growing domestic and international industrial businesses. Prior to joining us, Mr. Popielec operated his own management consulting business from 2009 to 2010 and was Group President, Applied Technologies from 2008 to 2009 and Group President, Diversified Components from 2005 to 2007 at Carlisle Companies, Inc., a $2.5 billion diversified global manufacturer. Prior to that, from 2003 to 2005, he held various positions, including Chief Operating Officer, Americas, for Danka Business Systems, PLC. From 1985 to 2002, Mr. Popielec held positions of increasing responsibility at General Electric Company, culminating in his serving as a GE corporate officer and as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Power Controls, the European arm of GE Industrial Systems. Mr. Popielec has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University. We believe Mr. Popielec’s service as a member of our Board of Directors was appropriate because of his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

11

EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

Compensation Overview

We are currently considered a “smaller reporting company” for purposes of the SEC’s executive compensation and other disclosures. As such, we have opted to take advantage of the scaled disclosure requirements afforded to smaller reporting companies and, therefore, have provided more limited (or, in some cases, eliminated) disclosures. The executive compensation disclosures that follow comply with the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules for smaller reporting companies and therefore are generally more narrow in scope than the executive compensation disclosures and Compensation Discussion and Analysis that we have included in proxy statements prior to our classification as a smaller reporting company.

Introduction

This proxy statement provides certain information aboutrelating to the compensation programsof our named executive officers. We have determined that Mr. Popielec from January 1, 2022 to November 22, 2022, Mr. Manna commencing November 22, 2022, and Mr. Fain were our named executive officers for those individuals2022.

As a smaller reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we have identified as our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer (together, for purposes of this section, our “Named Executive Officers”) as well as our next most highly compensated employee, John Stephen Heir (“Mr. Heir”) for 2015are providing executive compensation information in accordance with the executivescaled disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K. As a result, a Compensation Disclosure and Analysis and certain other disclosures are not included.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation disclosure rules and regulations of the SEC for smaller reporting companies. This proxy includes our compensation philosophy and the objectives ofearned by or awarded to our executive rewards program, descriptions of each of the key elements of our executive rewards programofficers for their services in all capacities to us during 2022 and the basis for the compensation decisions we made during 2015.

Our Named Executive Officers for 2015 are:2021:

 

    

Salary ($)

  

Bonus ($)

  

Stock
Awards ($)

  

Option
Awards ($)

  

All Other Compensation ($)

  

Total ($)

 

Name and Principal Position (1)

 

Year

 

(2)

  

(3)

  

(4)

  

(5)

  

(6)

    

Michael E. Manna, President and Chief

 

2022

 241,422  31,283  -  32,087  13,814  318,606 
Executive Officer (Current)                    

Philip A. Fain, Chief Financial Officer,

 

2022

 340,414  36,363  -  51,339  16,910  445,026 
Treasurer and Secretary 

2021

 338,713  20,000  -  60,028  16,712  435,453 

Michael D. Popielec, President and Chief

 

2022

 534,400  85,631  -  102,678  24,467  747,176 
Executive Officer (Former) 

2021

 531,761  30,000  -  120,056  24,483  706,300 

(1)

The 2022 amounts presented in the Compensation Table above for Mr. Popielec represent his compensation for the full year, although he served as a named executive officer from January 1, 2022 to November 22, 2022. Similarly, the 2022 amounts presented for Mr. Manna represent his compensation for the full year, although he served as a named executive officer commencing on November 22, 2022.

(2)

Amounts shown represent base salary cash compensation paid during the respective years. Amounts may differ from amounts earned due to timing of payroll periods. Refer to the “Narrative to Summary Compensation Table” below for further information.

(3)

Amounts shown represent short-term incentive plan (“STIP”) cash awards earned during the respective years and paid in the subsequent year. Refer to the “Narrative to Summary Compensation Table” for further information.

(4)

There were no stock awards other than stock options granted during fiscal years 2022 and 2021.

(5)

Amounts shown represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options awarded during the respective years computed in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). See the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, for the assumptions used in valuing these stock option awards in accordance with ASC 718. Refer to the “Narrative to Summary Compensation Table” below for further information.

Michael D. Popielec, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
12

 

Philip A. Fain, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary (Principal Financial Officer)

(6)

Amounts shown as “All Other Compensation” consist of the following:

Our next most high compensated employee for 2015 is:

   

401(k) Plan

Employer Match

($)

  

Other

Benefits (a)

($)

  

Total

($)

 

Michael E. Manna

2022

 9,656  4,158  13,814 

Philip A. Fain

2022

 12,200  4,710  16,910 
 

2021

 11,600  5,112  16,712 

Michael D. Popielec

2022

 9,206  15,261  24,467 
 

2021

 10,349  14,134  24,483 

(a)

The “Other Benefits” column of the above table includes premiums paid for group medical and dental coverage and long-term care insurance, reimbursement for tax preparation and certain financial planning expenses.

Narrative to Summary Compensation Table

 

John Stephen Heir, President, Battery & Energy Products

Compensation Overview

The

Our executive compensation program is evaluated and approved each year by our Compensation and Management Committee engaged an independentCommittee. Annual total compensation for our executive compensation consulting firm, Grahall & Associates, to work with senior management and the Compensation and Management Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) to establish an executive total rewards strategy, which was implemented in 2012. Grahall & Associates looked at the competitiveness of our pay practices by making peer group comparisons. They augmented the core peer group that we had used in the past with several additional organizations as someofficers is comprised of the organizations in our original peer group were removed due to M&A activity. In addition to the core peer group analysis, they also provided analysis on a large sample of general technology organizations. Grahall & Associates presented several different potential reward strategies to the Compensation Committee for consideration.following key components:

The basic premise of Grahall & Associates’ proposal was that compensation must be tied to overall business strategy and must be amended to align with changes in business strategy over time. The program that has been implemented more effectively allocates the scarce resources that we have across competing needs than did our previous program. It recognizes that when resources are tight, resource allocation needs to be more precisely targeted. This structure is designed to increase our ability to recruit for key competitive advantage positions, motivate core executives to reposition our company and promote the retention of high performers who can impact our business going forward.

Base salary;

Short-term incentive plan (“STIP”);

Long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”); and

Perquisites and other benefits.

Our executive rewardscompensation program was designed by our Compensation Committeeis structured to align the interests of our Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employees, including Mr. Heir,executive officers with those of our shareholdersstockholders by rewarding performance that enhances the long-term objectiveachieves successful execution of increasing shareholder value, significantlyour business strategy, grows theour business and executes our business strategy.increases stockholder value. Our executive rewardscompensation program is designed to motivateincentivize our executives, including our Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employees,executive officers to achieve strong financial, operational and strategic performance and to provide a link between the amountscompensation earned by our executives and the creation of shareholderlong-term sustainable value. The Compensation and Management Committee establishes specific annual, long-term and strategic goals and rewards for Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employeesseeks to reward our executive officers for performance that meets or exceeds those goals. In addition, we expect our Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employeesexecutive officers to work toward achievement of these goals while maintaining the highest ethical standards.

The key components of our executive rewards program for our Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employees are base salary, an annual short-term incentive plan (“STIP”) and a long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”), combined with health and welfare benefits, retirement benefits, limited perquisites (for Named Executive Officers only) and other benefits. We seek to ensure that total executive compensation is aligned with corporate performance and the creation of shareholder value by placing an appropriate portion of an executive’s total compensation at risk, based on financial and non-financial performance measures and subject to the achievement of corporate and individual performance goals.

Our executive rewards program is structured to attract, retain and motivate talented individuals, and to incentivize them to achieve our business strategy with strong financial, operational and strategic performance. In particular:

 

Our goal for 2015 was to have our executive rewards program reflect the measure of responsibility associated with the position not only in the marketplace, but within the organization based on the ability of the executive to promote the success of our business strategy and leverage our future growth. In reviewing market data, we looked not only at our peer group data but also at a broader group of technology-based organizations, recognizing that in order to attract and retain a skilled workforce, we must remain competitive with the pay of other employers who compete with us for talent.

Base Salary

 

Our executive rewards program is also designed to support our pay-for-performance philosophy by aligning compensation with successful execution of long-term business strategies (LTIP) and achievement of near-term financial and operational targets (STIP). We base compensation decisions on a combination of the criticality of the position in the achievement of our business strategy, individual performance and corporate performance. Generally, as an individual’s level of responsibility increases, so does the amount of variable compensation that is at risk.

We administer our executive rewards program to foster the long-term focus required for success in our industry, but we also work to achieve an appropriate balance between short-term and long-term compensation in order to adequately motivate our executives.

To this end, the Compensation Committee reviews our executive total rewards program annually to assess if we are achieving our business strategy, if we are able to attract and retain talented executives, and to ensure that the total compensation paid to our executives, including our Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employees, is reasonable, competitive and appropriately performance-based. The Compensation and Management Committee also ensures that our total compensation is linked to the degree to which we meet our annual financial and non-financial goals and, longer term, to our success in improving shareholder return. Our President and CEO makes recommendations with respect to the awards of the other Named Executive Officer and other highly compensated employees, and the Compensation Committee determines the actual awards of the Named Executive Officers.

Our fiscal 2014 financial performance, our 2015 annual operating plan, and the individual performance of our Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employees, served as key factors in making compensation decisions for 2015.

We continued the linkage between our STIP awards and achievement of annual corporate financial targets in 2015, reflecting our pay for performance philosophy. As a result, for 2015 corporate operating profit and corporate revenue were the key metrics for our Named Executive Officer annual cash incentive awards under the STIP. For Mr. Heir, the key metrics for incentive awards under the STIP were corporate operating profit and revenues from the Battery & Energy Products segment. Corporate operating profit of $3.75 million comprised 70% of the STIP weighting and corporate revenue of $80.3 million comprised the remaining 30% of the STIP weighting for our Named Executive Officers. Corporate operating profit of $3.75 million comprised 70% of the STIP weighting and Battery & Energy Products revenue of $60.5 million comprised the remaining 30% of the STIP for Mr. Heir. The threshold levels of performance provided under the STIP utilizing these metrics were met in 2015, and therefore, short-term annual cash incentive awards were paid to our Named Executive Officers and Mr. Heir for 2015 in March 2016.

Long-term equity incentive compensation continued to make up a significant portion of the compensation for each of our Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employees. Awards are determined individually and are based on the relative criticality of the position and the Named Executive Officer’s and other highly compensated employees’ ability to implement changes designed to promote future growth.

Base Salary

Our President & CEO reviewsevaluates the performance of the other NamedPresident and Chief Executive Officer and other highly compensated employeespresents its evaluation and then recommendsrecommendation annually for base salary adjustments,adjustment, if any, to the Board of Directors for approval. The President and Chief Executive Officer evaluates the performance of Mr. Fain, our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, and presents his evaluation and recommendation annually for a base salary adjustment, if any, to the Compensation Committee. Inand Management Committee, which, in turn, the Compensation Committee reviews, adjusts where appropriate and approves themay recommend acceptance of or adjustment to such base salary adjustments, if any, based upon the determination of the Compensation Committee. In our Board’s executive session, the Committee reviews and recommendsrecommendation to the full Board any base salary adjustment for our President & CEO.of Directors. If changesadjustments to base salaries are recommended and approved, the changes in base salaryadjustments are made to be effective for a period ranging from twelve to fifteen months from the date of the last increase based upon an executive’s performance.salary adjustment.

The

In 2021, Mr. Popielec and Mr. Fain informed the Compensation and Management Committee, typically reviewsthat they would voluntarily forego any base salary levels fromincreases for 2021, although they were eligible for increases based on a number of factors including individual and Company performance. In October 2022, the core peer group and the technology peer group on an annual or semi-annual basis. The Committee has endeavored to better align executive salaries with the market, moving them between the 25th and the 50th percentileBoard of our peer group, since base salaries for our executive officers have traditionally been significantly below market norms for comparable companies. In addition to lookingDirectors, at the peer group data, salaries for our Named Executive Officers are determined based upon the following factors:

Individual performance

Impact of position on achievementrecommendation of the business strategy

Company performance

Job responsibilities, including any significant change in responsibilities

Experience

Retention

In March 2015, the Compensation and Management Committee, approved a base salary increase of 3.0% for Mr. Popielec ($531,761 to $547,715) and 3.0% for Mr. Fain of 5.0% ($286,650338,713 to $300,976)$348,875). The merit increase wassalary increases were approved by the Committee based on a number of factors including individual and Company performance. On November 22, 2022, upon his appointment as President and individual performance.    Other than this adjustment, no changes were madeChief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors upon recommendation of the Compensation and Management Committee, approved a base salary of $375,000 for Mr. Manna. His salary as President, Battery & Energy Products prior to the base salaries of our Namedhis appointment as President and Chief Executive Officers during 2015.Officer had been $253,000.

13

Short-Term Incentive Plan 2015

Typically, our

Our Compensation and Management Committee establishes a short-term incentive planSTIP each fiscal year which provides the Named Executive Officersto provide our executive officers an opportunity to receiveearn an annual cash paymentaward in addition to their base salaries. The short-term incentive planSTIP is designed to place “at risk” a significant portion of the annual total cash compensation of the Named Executive Officers by linking the amount of compensation that can be achieved under the plan with our financial performance. We believe that the STIP is a key component of maintaining a competitive executive compensation program because it motivates our Named Executive Officersofficers to incentivize them to achieve our short-term financial and strategic objectives while making progress toward our longer term growth. Based on our total rewards strategy, those Named Executive Officers and other executives who, by virtue of their position in the Company, had the

opportunity to make an immediate short term impact on the business and were instrumental in driving our operating results had more of their pay at risk in the STIP.    These individuals also were tasked with balancing short-term results and decisions with creating long term value.

President & CEO

Mr. Popielec was eligible to receive an annual cash bonus in accordance with the 2015 Executive STIP if the Company met or exceeded certain performance metrics that were to be agreed upon no later than January 31, 2015. In 2015,longer-term goals. Generally, the STIP target for Mr. Popielec was 75% of his base salary, and his bonus was based on meeting pre-established 2015 operating profit and corporate revenue goals. The STIP was structured with 70% of the weighting of the bonus based on 2015 operating profit goal of $3.75 million and 30% of the weighting of the bonus based on 2015 corporate revenue goal of $80.3 million. Achievement of less than 75% of the operating profit goal or less than 89% of the corporate revenue goal resulted in no bonus being paid with respect to that metric. Achievement of 75% to 100% of the operating profit goal and achievement of 89% to 100% of the corporate revenue goal would result in a bonus range payout from 50% to 70% of the target bonus for the metric with respect to which the respective 75% to 100% or 89% to 100% performance was achieved. Payout of 100% of the target bonus under the plan would be achieved by exceeding the operating profit goal by 27% and the corporate revenue goal by 7%. Achievement of over 127% to 160% of the operating profit goal and over 107% to 118% of the corporate revenue goal would result in a bonus payout ranging from 100% to 150% of the target bonus with respect to the metric for which such performance level had been achieved. Mr. Popielec was eligible for a partial payment under the plan if one of the two metrics was achieved. Payout under the plan is capped at 150% of the target bonus.    Based on our 2015 financial performance, Mr. Popielec earned a STIP bonus of $236,455 which was paid in March 2016.

Other Named Executive Officers and Mr. Heir

Based in part on the recommendation from the President & CEO, the Compensation Committee establishes threshold, target and maximum bonus levels for each Named Executive Officer and Mr. Heir, which is expressed as a percentage of their base salary. The percentages are determined by the position of the Named Executive Officer and Mr. Heir within the organization and based upon the review of peer data. In 2015, the target for Mr. Fain was 45% of base salary and the target for Mr. Heir was 40% of his base salary. For our Other Named Executive Officer, the threshold level for 2015 was the minimum level of performance required before any amount would be earned under the STIP, which is 75% of the Company performance goal of operating profit and 89% of corporate revenue. For Mr. Heir, the minimum level of performance required before any amount would be earned under the STIP, is 75% of the Company performance goal of operating profit and 91% of revenues from the Battery & Energy Products Segment. The Compensation Committee also establishes a maximum bonus level under the STIP. For 2015, that maximum bonus level was 150% of the target bonus level.

Generally, the Compensation Committee sets the target bonus levelset such that, assuming achievement of the corporate financialpre-established performance metrics, the combined annual base salary and annual STIP opportunityaward for our Named Executive Officersexecutive officers will be at or near the 50th percentile for comparable executivesexecutive officers at the companies in our peer group. The President

For 2022, the STIP target bonus levels for Messrs. Popielec, Fain and CEO establishes Mr. Heir’sManna were 75%, 50% and 50% of their respective base salarysalaries. For Messrs. Popielec and Fain, the performance goals to be achieved to be awarded the STIP opportunity with approval by the Compensation Committee.

In establishing the 2015 total rewards strategy, the Compensation Committee approved the President & CEO’s recommendation that all Named Executive Officers would have their STIP based on ourtargeted bonus for 2022 were consolidated operating profit and corporateconsolidated revenue goals. The STIP potential for 2015 was based on a percentagegoals of the Other Named Executive Officer’s base salary and the base salary of Mr. Heir. The two metrics used for computation of the 2015 bonus for the Other Named Executive Officers were Company operating profit and corporate revenue, with 70% of the weighting of the bonus based on 2015 operating profit target of $3.75$7.3 million and 30% of the weighting of the bonus based on 2015 corporate revenue target of $80.3 million.$139.2 million, respectively, as measured pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles. For Mr. Heir,Manna, the two metrics usedperformance goals to be achieved to be awarded the STIP target bonus were Companyconsolidated operating profit and Battery &

Energy Products segment revenuesrevenue goals of $7.3 million and $118.2 million, respectively, as measured pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles. The STIP award was structured with the same weighting as for the Named Executive Officers. Achievement of these metrics in 2015 would result in a 70% payout ofweighting on the percentage ofconsolidated operating profit goal and a 30% weighting on the base salaries for the Other Named Executive Officer and for Mr. Heir.

respective revenue goal. Achievement of less than 75% of the consolidated operating profit and less than 90% of the revenue goals would result in no award being earned with respect to that metric. Achievement of the target goals would result in an 80% payment of the target bonus plan metriclevels with respect to that metric. Achievement of over 100% to 112.5% of the consolidated operating profit goal and less than 89%achievement of corporate revenue goal resulted in no bonus being paidover 100% to the Named Executive Officers for that metric. Achievement112.5% of 75% to 100% of the bonus plan metrics of operating profit goal and 89% to 100% of the corporate revenue goal would result in a bonus range payoutan award ranging from 81% to the Named Executive Officers from 50% to 70% of the target bonus for that metric. Payout of 100% of the target bonus underaward with respect to the plan would be achieved by exceeding the operating profit goal by 27% and exceeding the corporate revenue goal by 7%. Satisfactionmetric for which such performance levels had been achieved. Achievement of over 127% to 160% of the bonus plan metrics of operating profit and over 107% to 118% of corporate revenue goals would result in a bonus range payout of 100%112.5% to 150% of the consolidated operating profit goal and over 112.5% to 125% of the revenue goal would result in an award ranging from 101% to 120% of the target bonusaward with respect to the metric for that metric. Named Executive Officerswhich such performance levels had been achieved. Our executive officers were eligible for a partial payment under the planaward if one of the two metrics was achieved. Payout under

Based on our 2022 financial performance, Messrs. Popielec, Fain and Manna earned STIP awards for 2022 of $85,631, $36,362, and $31,283, respectively, which were paid in April 2023. In addition, at the plan is capped atrecommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors approved discretionary bonuses of $30,000 and $20,000 for Mr. Popielec and Mr. Fain, respectively, which were paid in February 2022 for their roles in the 2021 acquisition and integration of Excell Battery Group.

For 2021, the STIP target bonus levels for Messrs. Popielec and Fain were 75% and 50% of their respective base salaries. The performance goals to be achieved to be awarded the STIP targeted bonus for 2021 were consolidated operating profit and consolidated revenue goals of $7.1 million and $114.0 million, respectively, as measured pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles. The STIP award was structured with a 70% weighting on the consolidated operating profit goal and a 30% weighting on the consolidated revenue goal. Achievement of less than the consolidated operating profit and revenue goals would result in no award being earned with respect to that metric. Achievement of the target goals would result in a 75% payment of the target bonus levels with respect to that metric. Achievement of over 100% to 132% of the consolidated operating profit goal and achievement of over 100% to 111% of the revenue goal would result in an award ranging from 76% to 100% of the target award with respect to the metric for which such performance levels had been achieved. Achievement of over 132% to 166% of the consolidated operating profit goal and over 111% to 139% of the revenue goal would result in an award ranging from 101% to 150% of the target bonus. Whileaward with respect to the decisions to make STIP payouts as well as the amounts earned under the STIP are made at the sole discretionmetric for which such performance levels had been achieved. Our executive officers were eligible for a partial award if one of the Compensation Committee, in making such determinations, the Compensation Committee considers the recommendations from our President & CEO for all other Named Executive Officers. The conditions described above were identical for Mr. Heir based on his specifictwo metrics except for the entry point for the revenues from Battery & Energy Products bonus metric which was 91%. achieved.

Based on our 2021 financial performance, in 2015, the Other Named Executive Officer earned aMessrs. Popielec and Fain did not earn STIP bonus of $87,738 and Mr. Heir earned a bonus of $70,012, both of which were paid in March 2016.awards for 2021.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

14

Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation – Other Named Executive Officer and Mr. HeirPlan

We use

Stock options and other equity awards are used to motivate our Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employees to increase the long-term value of our common stock and, thereby, align the interests of our Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employeesexecutive officers with those of our shareholders. Long-term equity incentive awards are intended to further our successstockholders by ensuring that sustainable value creation is a significant factor to the amount of total compensation which our Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employees may receive. We believe that linking long-term compensation to sustained value creation helps retain executives over time.

Long-term equity incentive compensation may consist of equity such as awards of stock options, performance vested restricted shares and time vested restricted shares that vest over a multi-year period. This design approach helps align the interests of our Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employees with those of our shareholders by linking the compensation of our Named Executive Officers and other highly compensated employees to long-term increases in the value of equity instruments. We use stock options as one of our long-term incentives because, in addition to providingincentivizing our executive officers with the opportunity to develop a stock ownership stake in our company, they result in compensation onlyachieve long-term growth and sustainable stockholder value.

Refer to the extent that the market price of our common stock increases over the term of the stock option.

The size and form of these equity awards“Outstanding Equity Awards” below for the other Named Executive Officer was determined by the Compensation Committee in consultation with the President & CEO. In March 2015, the Compensation Committee, based on recommendation of the President & CEO, awarded Mr. Fain with 30,000 stock options. The size of Mr. Heir’s equity awards is determined by the President and CEO and requires the approval of the Compensation Committee. In March 2015, the Committee approved the recommended award of 20,000 stock options for Mr. Heir.

Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation – President & CEO

Long-term equity incentive compensation is a significant component of the compensation package ofgranted during 2022 and 2021. There were no other equity-based awards granted to our President & CEO. Under his employment agreement, Mr. Popielec received the following options to purchase shares of our common stock:executive officers during 2022 and 2021.

 

Date of Grant

  Number
of Shares
   Exercise
Price
   

Vesting Schedule

December 30, 2010

   50,000    $6.4218    Twenty five percent of the shares will vest on each of the four anniversaries of the date of grant.

January 3, 2011

   50,000    $6.5820    Twenty five percent of the shares will vest on each of December 30, 2011, December 30, 2012, December 30, 2013 and December 30, 2014.

Mr. Popielec also received three additional stock option awards, each of which was conditioned upon shareholder approval of our Restated 2004 LTIP at our 2011 annual meeting. This approval was obtained at our 2011 annual meeting. As detailed below, most of these stock option awards were granted with an exercise price substantially above the grant date fair market value of our common stock.Retirement Benefits

 

Date of Grant

  Number
of Shares
   Exercise
Price
   

Vesting Schedule

December 30, 2010

   250,000    $6.4218    Options to purchase twenty-five percent of the shares will vest on each of the four anniversaries of the date of grant.

December 30, 2010

   200,000    $10.00    Vesting of options to purchase begins on the date our stock first reaches a closing price equal to the exercise price for 15 trading days in a 30 trading-day period, with such vesting in equal amounts over the four anniversary dates of that date.

December 30, 2010

   200,000    $15.00    Vesting of options to purchase begins on the date our stock first reaches a closing price equal to the exercise price for 15 trading days in a 30 trading-day period, with such vesting in equal amounts over the four anniversary dates of that date.

On January 29, 2013, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of our Compensation Committee, granted 120,000 restricted stock units (RSU’s) to our President & Chief Executive Officer, Michael D. Popielec, which grant was approved by our shareholders at our June 4, 2013 Annual Meeting. These RSU’s vest and will convert to shares of our common stock as follows:

(1)30,000 shares of our common stock will be issued on the later of January 1, 2014 or the date when our common stock first reaches a closing price of $4.00 per share for 15 trading days in a 30 trading day period;

(2)30,000 shares of our common stock will be issued on the later of January 1, 2014 or the date when our common stock first reaches a closing price of $5.00 per share for 15 trading days in a 30 trading day period;

(3)30,000 shares of our common stock will be issued on the later of January 1, 2015 or the date when our common stock first reaches a closing price of $4.00 per share for 15 trading days in a 30 trading day period; and

(4)30,000 shares of our common stock will be issued on the later of January 1, 2015 or the date when our common stock first reaches a closing price of $5.00 per share for 15 trading days in a 30 trading day period.

The 30,000 shares of the Company’s common stock described in (1) above were issued on January 1, 2014, the 30,000 shares of the Company’s common stock described in (3) above were issued on January 1, 2015, and the 60,000 shares of the Company common stock described in (2) and (4) above were issued on October 8, 2015.

On March 3, 2015 and on March 5, 2015, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of our Compensation Committee, granted 40,000 and 20,000 stock options pursuant to our shareholder approved 2014 LTIP, respectively, to Mr. Popielec.

Retirement Benefits

We provide a tax-qualified 401(k) plan to all active employees a tax-qualified 401(k) plan that provides for both employer and employee contributions. Under this plan, employees may defercontribute a portion of their base salaryeligible cash compensation to the plan up to annual IRS limits. We provide a company match ofplan. For 2022 and 2021, the Company matched 100% on the first 3% and 50% on the next 2% of an employee’s deferrals, up to a maximum of 4% of the employee’s annual salary.eligible contributions.

Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

We provide our Named Executive Officersexecutive officers with certain perquisites and other personal benefits that we and the Compensation Committee believewhich are reasonable and consistent with the objectives of our overall compensation program to better enable us to attract and retain superior employees for key positions. The Compensation and Management Committee periodically reviews the levels of such perquisites and other personal benefits to ensure they remain at appropriate levels. The aggregate incremental costs of the perquisites and other personal benefits provided to our Named Executive Officers to determine if they remain at appropriate levels. Mr. Heir does not receive perquisites.

The aggregate incremental costs of the personal benefits provided to our Named Executive Officersexecutive officers are included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the 2015 Summary Compensation Table.Table with components detailed in an accompanying note.

15

Outstanding Equity Awards

The following table sets forth information concerning the number of shares underlying exercisable and non-exercisable stock option awards outstanding at December 31, 2022 for our executive officers.

          

Equity Incentive

      
          

Plan Awards:

      
  

Number of

  

Number of

  

Number of

      
  

Securities

  

Securities

  

Securities

      
  

Underlying

  

Underlying

  

Underlying

      
  

Unexercised

  

Unexercised

  

Unexercised

  

Option

 

Option

  

Options (#)

  

Options (#)

  

Options (#)

  

Exercise

 

Expiration

Name

 

Exercisable

  

Unexercisable

  

Unearned

  

Price ($)

 

Date

Michael E. Manna

  10,000   -   -   4.2902 

6/1/2023

   20,000   -   -   5.3057 

1/18/2024

   8,500   -   -   9.8514 

4/18/2025

   10,000   -   -   8.2523 

7/23/2026

   10,000   -   -   8.4476 

9/6/2026

   7,334   3,666 (1)   -   6.5062 

4/22/2027

   4,167   8,333 (2)   -   6.9694 

10/20/2028

   -   12,500 (3)   -   5.4533 

10/19/2029

Philip A. Fain

  20,000   -   -   4.2902 

6/1/2023

   20,000   -   -   5.7075 

4/19/2024

   20,000   -   -   9.8514 

4/18/2025

   25,000       -   8.2523 

7/23/2026

   13,334   6,666 (4)   -   6.5062 

4/22/2027

   6,667   13,333 (5)   -   6.9694 

10/20/2028

   -   20,000 (6)   -   5.4533 

10/19/2029

Michael D. Popielec

  40,000   -   -   4.2902 

6/1/2023

   40,000   -   -   9.8514 

1/20/2024 (10)

   45,000   -   -   8.2523 

1/20/2024 (10)

   26,667   13,333 (7)   -   6.5062 

1/20/2024 (10)

   13,334   13,333 (8)   -   6.9694 

1/20/2024 (10)

   -   13,334 (9)   -   5.4533 

1/20/2024 (10)

(1)

On April 22, 2020, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of the Compensation and Management Committee, granted to Mr. Manna the option to purchase 11,000 shares of our common stock. This option vested with respect to 3,667 shares on April 22, 2021, 3,667 shares on April 22, 2022 and 3,666 shares on April 23, 2023.

(2)

On October 20, 2021, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of the Compensation and Management Committee, granted to Mr. Manna the option to purchase 12,500 shares of our common stock. This option vested with respect to 4,167 shares on October 20, 2022 and will vest with respect to, 4,167 shares on October 20, 2023 and 4,166 shares on October 20, 2024.

(3)

On October 19, 2022, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of the Compensation and Management Committee, granted to Mr. Manna the option to purchase 12,500 shares of our common stock. This option will vest with respect to 4,167 shares on October 19, 2023, 4,167 shares on October 19, 2024 and 4,166 shares on October 19, 2025.

(4)

On April 22, 2020, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of the Compensation and Management Committee, granted to Mr. Fain the option to purchase 20,000 shares of our common stock. This option vested with respect to 6,667 shares on April 22, 2021, 6,667 shares on April 22, 2022 and 6,666 shares on April 22, 2023.

16

(5)

On October 20, 2021, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of the Compensation and Management Committee, granted to Mr. Fain the option to purchase 20,000 shares of our common stock. This option vested with respect to 6,667 shares on October 20, 2022, and will vest with respect to 6,667 shares on October 20, 2023 and 6,666 shares on October 20, 2024.

(6)

On October 19, 2022, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of the Compensation and Management Committee, granted to Mr. Fain the option to purchase 20,000 shares of our common stock. This option will vest with respect to 6,667 shares on October 19, 2023, 6,667 shares on October 19, 2024 and 6,666 shares on October 19, 2025.

(7)

On April 22, 2020, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of the Compensation and Management Committee, granted to Mr. Popielec the option to purchase 40,000 shares of our common stock. This option vested with respect to 13,334 shares on April 22, 2021, 13,333 shares on April 22, 2022, and 13,333 shares on January 20, 2023 upon Mr. Popielec’s termination, pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement dated December 6, 2010 (the “Employment Agreement”).

(8)

On October 20, 2021 our Board of Directors, on recommendation of the Compensation and Management Committee, granted to Mr. Popielec the option to purchase 40,000 shares of our common stock. This option vested with respect to 13,334 shares on October 20, 2022 and 13,333 shares on January 20, 2023 upon Mr. Popielec’s termination, pursuant to the Employment Agreement. The remaining 13.333 shares underlying this option will not vest as a result of the termination.

(9)

On October 19, 2022 our Board of Directors, on recommendation of the Compensation and Management Committee, granted to Mr. Popielec the option to purchase 40,000 shares of our common stock. This option vested with respect to 13,334 shares on January 20, 2023 upon Mr. Popielec’s termination, pursuant to the Employment Agreement. The remaining 26,666 shares underlying this option will not vest as a result of the termination.

(10)

Mr. Popielec’s exercisable stock options outstanding as of his termination shall remain exercisable for one year following the termination date, or through the original expiration date, if earlier, pursuant to the terms of his Employment Agreement.

There were no other equity awards outstanding at December 31, 2022 for our executive officers.

Option Exercises

The following table sets forth information concerning the exercise of stock option awards for the year ended December 31, 2022 for our executive officers.

Name

Number of Shares Acquired on

Exercise (#)

Value Realized on Exercise ($)

Philip A. Fain

8,500 (1)46,423 (2)

(1)

Represents share of the Company’s common stock acquired on March 2, 2022 upon the exercise of options for 30,000 shares of common stock otherwise expiring on March 3, 2022, net of shares of common stock having a fair value equal to the aggregate exercise price of the shares of common stock for which the options were exercised together with the amount of minimum statutory tax withholdings.

(2)

Represents the aggregate fair market value of the net shares of the Company’s common stock acquired pursuant to the Company’s 2014 LTIP.

17

Pay Versus Performance

The following table sets forth information concerning the pay versus performance for our executive officers for their services in all capacities to us during 2022 and 2021:

Year

 

Name and Principal Position

 

Summary Compensation Table Total ($)

  

Compensation Actually Paid ($)(1)

  

Value of Initial Fund $100 Investment Based on TSR ($)(2)

  

Net Loss ($000)

 

2022

 

Michael E. Manna, President and Chief Executive

 318,606  282,785  60  (119) 
  Officer (Current)            

2022

 

Philip A. Fain, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer

 445,026  385,976  60  (119) 

2021

 and Secretary 435,453  442,838  93  (234) 

2022

 

Michael D. Popielec, President and Chief

 747,176  576,265  60  (119) 

2021

 Executive Officer (Former) 706,300  719,556  93  (234) 

1)

Represents total compensation from the Summary Compensation Table with the following adjustments:

Year

 

Name and Principal Position

 

Summary Compensation Table Total ($)

  

Grant date fair value of stock options granted during the year ($)

  

Year end fair value of stock options granted during the year that were outstanding and unvested as of year end ($)

  

Change in fair value from prior year end to vesting date of stock options that vested during the year ($)

  

Change in fair value of stock options granted in prior years that were outstanding and unvested as of year end ($)

  

Prior year end fair value of stock options granted in prior years that were forfeited during the year ($)

  

Compensation Actually Paid ($)

 

2022

 

Michael E. Manna, President and Chief Executive Officer (Current)

 318,606  (32,087)  18,007  (7,216)  (14,525)  -  282,785 

2022

 

Philip A. Fain, Chief Financial

 445,026  (51,339)  28,811  (12,286)  (24,236)  -  385,976 

2021

 Officer, Treasurer and Secretary 435,453  (60,028)  47,425  26,775  (6,787)  -  442,838 

2022

 

Michael D. Popielec, President and

 747,176  (102,678)  19,209  (23,298)  (32,527)  (31,616)  576,265 

2021

 Chief Executive Officer (Former) 706,300  (120,056)  94,850  51,543  (13,082)  -  719,556 

2)

Represents the value as of the end of the year indicated of $100 invested on December 31, 2020 in the Company’s common stock.

Employment Arrangements

As of December 31, 2022, we had an Employment Agreement dated December 6, 2010 with Michael D. Popielec (the “Employment Agreement”), our former President and Chief Executive Officer. Under the terms of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Popielec was given sixty days advance notice of his involuntary termination by the Company’s Board of Directors on November 22, 2022, at which time he relinquished his position as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors, with his employment ending on January 20, 2023.

In connection with the termination of his employment, Mr. Popielec was entitled to receive the following severance benefits under the terms of the Employment Agreement with the total cost of approximately $779,000 comprising a one-time charge reflected in the Company’s 2022 fourth quarter results:

Salary, any unpaid bonus from the prior year, and the cash value of any accrued Paid Time Off through January 20, 2023 plus continued salary for a period of twelve months thereafter in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll schedule;

A pro-rata amount (calculated on a per-diem basis) of the full year bonus which Mr. Popielec would have earned for the 2023 calendar year;

Acceleration of vesting of all outstanding stock options held by Mr. Popielec; provided that the acceleration shall not cover more than eighteen months from January 20, 2023, and all such options shall remain exercisable for one year from January 20, 2023;

Continuation of health benefits for Mr. Popielec, his spouse and any dependent children for a period of twelve months following January 20, 2023.

18

The foregoing description of the termination benefits provided by Mr. Popielec’s Employment Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Employment Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.40 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2011 and is incorporated herein by reference.

There are no employment agreements in place for Mr. Manna, appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer on November 22, 2022, and for Mr. Fain. Mr. Manna and Mr. Fain have executed Employee Confidentiality Non-Disclosure, Non-Compete, Non-Disparagement and Assignment Agreement in our standard form.

Retirement Benefits and Potential Payments upon Termination, Change in Control or Retirement

The only arrangement that we maintain that provides for retirement benefits is our tax-qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan. The material terms of our tax-qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan are summarized above under the heading “Retirement Benefits.”         

All potential payments and benefits payable by us to those of our executive officers in the event of various circumstances involving either a termination of employment or change in control are determined pursuant to the employment agreement with Mr. Popielec or the 2014 LTIP. On June 18, 2018, the Compensation and Management Committee unanimously approved a resolution for full vesting of all outstanding unvested stock options and other equity awards upon the occurrence of a “Change in Control” (as defined by the 2014 LTIP). On October 18, 2018, the Compensation and Management Committee unanimously approved a modification to the retirement policy whereby an executive officer upon retirement and signing the Company’s non-compete agreement and fully complying with the same will retain any and all unexpired stock options until the relevant option term has expired.

Stock Ownership and Retention Guidelines

In order to

To better align the interests of our executive officers and shareholders,stockholders, the Compensation and Management Committee implemented stock ownership and retention requirements for our executive officers. The stock ownership requirements for our executive officers are as follows:

 

President & CEO

1.00 times salary

Chief Financial Officer

0.50 times salary

For 2015,2022, the Compensation and Management Committee established the presumed share price which is to be used for purposes of determining the minimum number of shares to be owned by the executive officers. This presumed price was $3.67$9.11 per share, which was based on the Volume Weighted Average Pricevolume weighted average price (“VWAP”), calculated as an amount equal to the sum of all dollars traded forthe dollar value of every transaction in our common stock for the two-year period ended December 31, 20142022, divided by the total shares traded for such two-year period. Each year the Compensation and Management Committee will establish a new price per share to be used to determine the minimum number of shares required to be held which price per share will be based on the VWAP of our common stock for the preceding two-year period. Executive officers have three

years from the date of hire or appointment as an executive officer to achieve the required holdings, which are based on the price per share as calculated above. Additionally, there are shareholding requirements which requireour stock ownership policy requires that until the share ownership guidelines are met, executive officers are prohibited from disposing of more than 50% of vested shares received from restricted share grants (on an after taxafter-tax basis) and 50% of shares received on exercise of stock options. Shares owned by an executive, as well as shares underlying awards of stock options and restricted stock are treated as owned by the executive for purposes of determining whether required ownership has been achieved. All Named Executive OfficersOur executive officers have met their applicablerespective stock ownership requirement. There are no stock ownership requirements for other highly compensated employees.

Deductibility of Executive Compensation

As part of its responsibility, the Compensation Committee reviews and considers the deductibility of executive compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code which provides that unless we comply with certain shareholder approval procedures, we may not deduct compensation of more than $1,000,000 that is paid to certain individuals. We believe that compensation paid under our executive compensation plans is fully deductible for federal income tax purposes. However, the Compensation Committee may in the future approve compensation that will not meet these requirements in order to ensure competitive levels of total compensation for our executive officers.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

Beginning on January 1, 2006, we began accounting for stock-based payments, including stock options and restricted stock awards, in accordance with the requirements of SFAS 123(R), now referred to as ASC 718.

2015 Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation awarded to, paid to or earned by the Named Executive Officers and Mr. Heir for all services in all capacities to us and our subsidiaries during 2014 and 2015:

 

Name and

Principal Position

  Year   Salary
($)
   Bonus (S)
(1)(2)(3)
   RSU/Option
Awards ($)
(4)(5)(6)(7)
   All Other
Compensation
($)(8)
   Total
($)
 

Michael D. Popielec

   2015     505,401     0     581,325     32,098     1,118,824  

President and Chief Executive Officer

   2014     481,331     0     104,700     30,073     616,104  

Philip A. Fain

   2015     303,737     0     69,600     24,063     397,400  

Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

   2014     279,826     0     112,000     21,967     413,793  

J. Stephen Heir

   2015     226,598     0     52,400     0     278,998  

President, Battery & Energy Products

   2014     211,699     31,500     32,000     0     275,199  
19

 

(1)Mr. Popielec earned a STIP bonus of $236,455 for the year-ended December 31, 2015 which was paid in March 2016.

(2)Mr. Fain earned a STIP bonus of $87,738 for the year ended December 31, 2015 which was paid in March 2016.
(3)On July 12, 2013, Mr. Heir was hired by the Company as President, Battery & Energy Products. In conjunction with his hiring, the Compensation Committee guaranteed Mr. Heir a bonus of $31,500 that was paid to him in 2014. Mr. Heir earned a STIP bonus of $70,012 for the year-ended December 31, 2015 which was paid in March 2016.
(4)On January 29, 2013, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of our Compensation Committee, granted 120,000 restricted stock units (RSU’s) to Michael D. Popielec, which grant was approved by our shareholders at our June 4, 2013 Annual Meeting. During 2014, 30,000 of these RSU’s vested, and during 2015, the remaining 90,000 of these RSU’s vested. The amount reported in the RSU/Option Awards column for Mr. Popielec represents the VWAP’s of the Company’s common stock on the dates the RSU’s vested.
(5)On March 3, 2015 and on March 5, 2015, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of our Compensation Committee, granted 40,000 and 20,000 stock options pursuant or our shareholder approved 2014 LTIP, respectively, to Michael D. Popielec. The amount reported in the RSU/Option Awards column for Mr. Popielec represents the grant date fair value of this stock option award calculated in accordance with ASC 718. See Note 9 to our audited financial statements included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 for the assumptions we used in valuing and expensing these stock options in accordance with ASC 718.
(6)On March 4, 2014 and on March 3, 2015, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of our Compensation Committee, granted 70,000 and 30,000 stock options pursuant to our shareholder-approved Restated 2004 LTIP and 2014 LTIP, respectively, to Philip A. Fain. The amount reported in the RSU/Option Awards column for Mr. Fain represents the grant date fair value of this stock option award calculated in accordance with ASC 718. See Note 9 and Note 10 to our audited financial statements included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively, for the assumptions we used in valuing and expensing these stock options in accordance with ASC 718.
(7)On March 4, 2014 and March 3, 2015, our Board of Directors, on recommendation of our Compensation Committee, granted 20,000 and 20,000 stock options pursuant to our shareholder-approved Restated 2004 LTIP and 2014 LTIP, respectively, to Mr. Heir. The amounts reported in the RSU/Option Awards column for Mr. Heir represent the grant date fair value of this stock option award calculated in accordance with ASC 718. See Note 9 and Note 10 to our audited financial statements included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively, for the assumptions we used in valuing and expensing these stock options in accordance with ASC 718.
(8)All Other Compensation for 2015 consists of the following:

   401(k) Plan
Employer
Match

($)
   Other
Benefits (a)
($)
   Total
($)
 

Michael D. Popielec

   5,200     26,898     32,098  

Philip A. Fain

   5,300     18,763     24,063  

(a)The “Other Benefits” column of the above table includes premiums paid for group medical and dental coverage and long-term care insurance, reimbursement for tax preparation and certain financial planning expenses.

Employment Arrangements

Mr. Popielec

On December 6, 2010, in connection with entering into an employment agreement with Mr. Popielec, effective December 30, 2010, Mr. Popielec became our President and Chief Executive Officer.

We set Mr. Popielec’s annual base salary at $450,000 subject to adjustment. Mr. Popielec is also eligible to receive an annual cash bonus under our short-term cash bonus incentive plan if we exceed certain quantitative and qualitative performance metrics to be agreed upon and approved by the Compensation Committee no later than January 31 of the year for which the bonus applies. The bonus goals and payout ranges for 2015 are set forth on Page 17 for Mr. Popielec.

Mr. Popielec is also a participant in our Restated 2004 LTIP and 2014 LTIP. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Popielec was granted options to purchase shares of our common stock. Certain of the options granted on December 30, 2010 were conditional and were subject to shareholder approval to increase the number of shares available under our Restated 2004 LTIP. Shareholder approval was obtained in June 2011.

Mr. Popielec is also entitled to receive the retirement benefits, perquisites and other personal benefits described in this proxy statement under the sections entitled “Retirement Benefits” and “Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits”.

The employment agreement provides that Mr. Popielec’s employment is “at will.” Mr. Popielec is entitled to certain severance benefits if we terminate his employment without Business Reasons or a Constructive Termination occurs (as those terms are defined in the employment agreement), including (i) salary continuation for a period of 12 months following the termination date; (ii) a pro rata amount (calculated on a per diem basis) of the full-year bonus which Mr. Popielec would have earned for the calendar year in which the termination of employment occurs; (iii) acceleration of vesting of all outstanding stock options and other equity awards, subject to the provision, however, that the acceleration shall not apply to the extent that the outstanding options and equity awards would otherwise have vested more than 18 months after the date of termination; (iv) continuation of health benefits for Mr. Popielec, his spouse and any dependent children for a period of 12 months after the termination date followed by 18 months of executive-paid COBRA eligibility. In addition, if we terminate the employment of Mr. Popielec within 12 months following the occurrence of a Change in Control, without Business Reasons or if a Constructive Termination occurs (as those terms are defined in the employment agreement), then Mr. Popielec shall be entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to (i) any earned but unpaid salary, any unpaid bonus from the prior year plus an amount equal to 18 months of his base salary as then in effect, payable immediately upon the termination date; (ii) one and one-half times his target bonus for the calendar year in which the termination date occurs; (iii) acceleration of vesting of all outstanding stock options, all such options to remain exercisable for 18 months following the termination date, or through the original expiration date of the stock options, if earlier; (iv) continuation of health benefits for Mr. Popielec, his spouse and any dependent children for a period of 24 months after the termination date. To the extent the vesting and/or accelerated payment of outstanding stock options would subject Mr. Popielec to the imposition of tax and/or penalties under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), the vesting and/or payment of such stock options and other equity shall be delayed to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of such tax and/or penalties. The employment agreement also provides for the continuation of certain benefits in the event Mr. Popielec’s employment is terminated for Disability (as defined in the employment agreement) or by his death. Mr. Popielec has also executed an Employee Confidentiality Non-Disclosure, Non-Compete, Non-Disparagement and Assignment Agreement in our standard form.

Other Executive Officers

We do not have an employment agreement with Mr. Fain or with any of our highly compensated employees.

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2015

The following table sets forth information concerning the number of shares underlying exercisable and non-exercisable options and stock awards outstanding at December 31, 2015 for our Named Executive Officers.

  Option Awards Stock Awards 

Name

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

Michael D. Popielec

  50,000    0    0    6.4218   12/30/2017  —      —      —      —    
  250,000    0    0    6.4218   12/30/2017  —      —      —      —    
  50,000    0    0    6.5820   12/30/2017  —      —      —      —    
  0    200,000 (1)   200,000 (1)   10.0000   1/24/2019  —      —      —      —    
  0    200,000 (2)   200,000 (2)   15.0000   1/14/2020  —      —      —      —    
  0    40,000 (3)   40,000 (3)   3.7100   3/3/2022  —      —      —      —    
  0    20,000 (4)   20,000 (4)   3.7900   3/5/2022  —      —      —      —    

Philip A. Fain

  7,976    0    0    12.1848   1/14/2016  —      —      —      —    
  33,000    0    0    3.9085   12/4/2016  —      —      —      —    
  25,000    0    0    6.9061   12/3/2017  —      —      —      —    
  50,000    0    0    4.4218   12/9/2018  —      —      —      —    
  20,000    0    0    3.9797   1/3/2019  —      —      —      —    
  23,334    46,666 (5)   46,666 (5)   3.9384   3/4/2021  —      —      —      —    
  0    30,000 (6)   30,000 (6)   3.7100   3/3/2022  —      —      —      —    

(1)This stock option will vest on the date our common stock first reaches a closing price of $10 for 15 trading days in a 30-day trading period, with such vesting in equal amounts over the four anniversary dates of that date.

(2)This stock option will vest on the date our common stock first reaches a closing price of $15 for 15 trading days in a 30-day trading period, with such vesting in equal amounts over the four anniversary dates of that date.

(3)This stock option vested with respect to 13,334 shares on March 3, 2016, will vest with respect to 13,333 shares on March 3, 2017 and will vest with respect to 13,333 shares on March 3, 2018.

(4)This stock option vested with respect to 6,667 shares on March 5, 2016, will vest with respect to 6,666 shares on March 5, 2017 and will vest with respect to 6,666 shares on March 5, 2018.

(5)This stock option vested with respect to 23,334 shares and 23,333 shares on March 4, 2015 and March 4, 2016, respectively, and will vest with respect to 23,333 shares on March 4, 2017.

(6)This stock option vested with respect to 10,000 shares on March 3, 2016, will best with respect to 10,000 shares on March 3, 2017 and will vest with respect to 10,000 shares on March 3, 2018.

Retirement Benefits and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

The only arrangement that we maintain that provides for retirement benefits is our tax-qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan. The material terms of our tax-qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan are summarized above under the heading “Retirement Benefits.”

All of the potential payments and benefits payable by us to those of our Named Executive Officers who were employed by us during 2015 in the event of various scenarios involving either a termination of employment and/or change in control are determined pursuant to the employment agreement with Mr. Popielec or the Restated 2004 LTIP. The employment agreement with Mr. Popielec is summarized above under the heading “Employment Arrangements.” We do not have an employment agreement with Mr. Fain or Mr. Heir. Under the award, agreements issued under the Restated 2004 LTIP and 2014 LTIP, outstanding unvested stock options, shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units immediately vest upon the occurrence of a “Change in Control.”

PROPOSAL 2

RATIFY
RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF OUR INDEPENDENT


REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The firm of Bonadio & Co., LLPFreed Maxick CPAs, P.C. (“Freed Maxick”) served as our independent registered public accounting firm for the years ended December 31, 20142022 and 2015.2021.

Our Audit and Finance Committee has selected

The selection of Freed Maxick CPAs P.C. to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2016. This selection2023 will be presented to our shareholdersstockholders for their ratification at the Meeting. Our Board of Directors recommends a vote in favor of the proposal to ratify this selection, and the persons named in the enclosed proxy (unless otherwise instructed therein) will vote such proxiesFOR this proposal. If the shareholdersstockholders do not ratify this selection, the Audit and Finance Committee will seek to identify and address the reason or reasons why the shareholdersstockholders did not ratify the committee’s selectionCommittee’s selection. The Audit and Finance Committee will consider such reason or reasons in selecting an independent registered public accounting firm for 2016.2023 but retains discretion to select Freed Maxick.

We have been advised by Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C. that they will have a representative present atavailable during the Meeting, either in person or telephonically, who will be available to respond to appropriate questions. In addition, we intend to give such representative an opportunity to make any statements if theythe representative should so desire.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Aggregate fees for professional services rendered for us by Bonadio, & Co., LLP for 20142022 and 20152021 were:

 

   Bonadio & Co., LLP 
   2014   2015 

Audit Fees

  $177,000    $200,000  

Audit – Related Fees

   9,500     13,750  

Tax Fees

   38,850     24,375  

All Other Fees

   0     0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $225,350    $238,125  
  

2022

  

2021

 

Audit Fees

 $575,057  $425,341 

Audit - Related Fees

 18,500  8,500 

Tax Fees

 5,891  19,224 

Total Fees

 $599,448  $453,065 

Audit Fees

Audit fees for 2014 and 2015, respectively, were for professional services rendered for the audits of our consolidated financial statements and reviews of our quarterly consolidated financial statements, consentsstatements. Audit fees for 2022 include fees attributable to the full year inclusion of Excell Battery Group in the Company’s financial results. Audit fees for 2021 include fees attributable to business combination accounting and assistance with reviewreporting relating to the Company’s acquisition of documents filed with the SEC.business of Excell Battery Group in December 2021.

Audit-Related Fees

Audit-related fees in 2014 and 2015, respectively, were for the auditannual audits of our 401(k) defined contribution plan for the years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014. Also included in the audit-related fees in 2015 was an amount related to a review of our S-8 Filing and included in the audit-related fees in 2014 was an amount relating to a review and discussion of our accounting for the relocation of our China facility.plan.

Tax Fees

Tax fees relatewere attributable to corporatethe amalgamation/restructuring of our legal entity structure for Excell Battery Group in 2022 and expatriate tax compliance, includingdue diligence performed in connection with the preparationCompany’s acquisition of tax returns and claims for refund, tax planning, tax advice.

Excell Battery Group in 2021.

Our Audit and Finance Committee has not adopted pre-approval policies and procedures for audit and non-audit services. Although no pre-approval policy was in effect,Nevertheless, all audit, audit-related and permitted non-audit services for which Bonadio & Co., LLP wereour independent registered public accounting firm was engaged were reviewed and approved prior to the commencement of the services by our Audit and Finance Committee in compliance with applicable SEC requirements.

20

REPORT OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

The duties and responsibilities of the Audit and Finance Committee are set forth in our Audit and Finance Committee Charter, a copy of which is available on our website athttp://investor.ultralifecorporation.com under the subheading “Corporate Governance.” Among other things, the Audit and Finance Committee reviews the adequacy of our system of internal control regarding financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures and preparing our consolidated financial statements. In addition, the Audit and Finance Committee recommends to our Board of Directors that our audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, approves our quarterly filings on Form 10-Q and selects the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our books and records.

The Audit and Finance Committee has:

 

Reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements for 2015 with our management and with Bonadio & Co., LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm for 2015;

 

Discussed

Reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements for 2022 with Bonadio & Co., LLP,our management and with Freed Maxick, our independent registered public accounting firm for 2015,2022;

Discussed with Freed Maxick, our independent registered public accounting firm for 2022, the matters required to be discussed by statement on Auditing StandardsStandard No. 61, as amended (AICPA,1301, Professional StandardsCommunications with Audit Committees, Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T;(“PCAOB”); and

 

Received from Bonadio & Co., LLP the written disclosures and the letter from Bonadio & Co., LLP required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit and Finance Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Bonadio & Co., LLP their independence.

Received from Freed Maxick the written disclosures and the letter from Freed Maxick required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit and Finance Committee concerning independence and has discussed with Freed Maxick their independence.

The Audit and Finance Committee met with our independent accountants with and without management present and discussed with them the results of their examinations, their evaluations of our internal control over financial reporting, our disclosure controls and procedures and the quality of our financial reporting. Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit and Finance Committee concluded that Bonadio & Co., LLPFreed Maxick is independent and recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20152022 for filing with the SEC.

The Audit and Finance Committee:

Thomas L. Saeli, Chair

Steven M. AndersonJanie Goddard

Robert W. Shaw II

Ranjit C. Singh

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PROPOSAL 3
ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

We are asking our stockholders to vote on a non-binding advisory resolution on the compensation of our executive officers, commonly referred to as the “Say-on-Pay” resolution.

As discussed within this proxy statement, our Compensation and Management Committee has structured our executive compensation program to align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders and reward our executive officers for the achievement of both short-term and long-term strategic and operational goals while promoting the achievement of sustainable long-term stockholder value. At the same time, our executive compensation program is designed to avoid encouraging unnecessary or excessive risk-taking by our executive officers.

The vote on this advisory resolution is not intended to address any specific component of our executive compensation. It is meant to address the overall compensation program for our executive officers as described in this proxy statement.

We are asking our stockholders to approve the following advisory resolution at the Meeting:

Resolved, that the stockholders of Ultralife Corporation (the “Company”) approve, on an advisory basis, the 2022 compensation of the Company’s executive officers disclosed in the proxy statement for the Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, pursuant to SEC compensation disclosure rules.

This advisory resolution, commonly referred to as the “Say-on-Pay” resolution, is non-binding on our Company and our Board of Directors. Although it is non-binding, the Board of Directors and the Compensation and Management Committee will review and consider the voting results when making future decisions regarding the compensation of our executive officers.

Recommendation of the Board

The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote FOR the approval of the advisory resolution on executive compensation.

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PROPOSAL 4
ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act, and as a matter of good corporate governance, we are asking our stockholders to vote on a non-binding, advisory basis on a resolution on the frequency of future advisory votes on our executive compensation, commonly referred to as the “Say-When-on-Pay” resolution.

After careful consideration and input from our stockholders, various proxy advisory organizations and various institutional stockholder representative organizations, our Board of Directors has established a policy of holding an advisory vote on executive compensation every three years. Our Board of Directors has determined that such policy continues to be appropriate and recommends that stockholders vote for future advisory votes on executive compensation to occur every three years.

As discussed within this proxy statement, our executive compensation program is structured to align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders and reward our executive officers for the achievement of both short-term and long-term strategic and operational goals while promoting the achievement of sustainable stockholder value. The most recent advisory vote on executive compensation was held during the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders with stockholder support of over 99%. If this proposal is approved, we plan to hold the next advisory “Say-on-Pay” vote at the 2026 Annual Stockholder Meeting.

Stockholders are cautioned that they are not voting to approve or disapprove the recommendation of our Board of Directors. Stockholders will be able to specify one of four choices for this proposal on the proxy card or voting instruction card: One year, Two years, Three years, or Abstain.

Although this advisory vote is non-binding, the Board of Directors and our Compensation and Management Committee will carefully review the voting results. Notwithstanding the recommendation of the Board of Directors and the outcome of the stockholder advisory vote, the Board of Directors may in the future decide to conduct advisory votes on a more or less frequent basis and may vary its practice based on factors not known to the Board of Directors at this time.

Recommendation of the Board

The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote THREE YEARS for the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.

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OTHER MATTERS

Our Board of Directors does not intend to present and has not been informed that any other person intends to present, any matters for action at the Meeting other than those specifically referred to in this proxy statement. If any other matters properly come before the Meeting, it is intended that the holders of the proxies will act in respect thereof in accordance with their best judgment.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Other than Mr. Popielec, whose information is set forth with the other directors standing for election, the names of, and certain information with respect to, our executive officers are presented below.

Name

Age

Present Principal Occupation and Employment History

Philip A. Fain

61Mr. Fain was named Chief Financial Officer in November 2009, Treasurer in December 2009 and Corporate Secretary in April 2013. He previously served as Vice President of Business Development, having joined us in February 2008. Prior to joining us, he was Managing Partner of CXO on the GO, LLC, a management-consulting firm, which he co-founded in November 2003 and which we retained in connection with our acquisition activity. Prior to founding CXO on the GO, LLC, Mr. Fain served as Vice President of Finance - RayBan Sunoptics for Luxottica, SpA. Prior to the acquisition of Bausch & Lomb’s global eyewear business by Luxottica, Mr. Fain served as Bausch & Lomb’s Senior Vice President Finance - Global Eyewear from 1997 to 1999 and as Vice President and Controller for the US Sunglass business from 1993 to 1996. In these roles, he led the process to acquire some of the World’s most sought after sunglass companies and brands for Bausch & Lomb. From 1983 to 1993, Mr. Fain served in various positions with Bausch & Lomb including executive positions in corporate accounting, finance and audit. Mr. Fain began his career as a CPA and consultant with Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1977. He received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Rochester and an MBA from the William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration of the University of Rochester.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

The table below shows certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock as of April 5, 2016 by each person known by us to beneficially own more than five percent of the outstanding shares of our common stock, with percentages based on 15,325,58916,143,193 shares issued and outstanding.outstanding as of May 25, 2022.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

  Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
   Percent of Class
Beneficially Owned
 

Bradford T. Whitmore (1)

   5,165,137     33.7

1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 900

    

Evanston, IL 60201

    

NGP Energy Technology Partners II, L.P. (2)

   950,721     6.2

1700 K Street NW, Suite 750

    

Washington, D.C. 20006

    

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

 

Number of Shares

Beneficially Owned

  

Percent of Class
Beneficially Owned

 
       

Bradford T. Whitmore (1)

5215 Old Orchard Road, Suite 620

Skokie, IL 60077

 6,014,640  37.3% 
       

Visionary Wealth Advisors (2)

1405 North Green Mount Rd., Suite 500

O’Fallon, IL 62208

 1,047,669  6.5% 
       

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (3)

6300 Bee Cave Road

Building One

Austin, TX 78746

 970,915  6.0% 

 

(1)

This

Based on information as to the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock is based on thecontained in a Form 4 dated August 8, 2014May 9, 2023 as filed by Bradford T. Whitmore with the SEC by Grace Brothers, Ltd., an Illinois limited partnership, Bradford T.on May 11, 2023, Mr. Whitmore individually and as general partner of Grace Brothers, Ltd. and assole manager and sole voting member of Sunray I, LLC, Spurgeon Corporation, as general partner of Grace Brothers, Ltd. and SunraySUNRAY I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that reports beneficial ownershipand as General Partner of 5,165,137Grace Brothers LP, a Delaware limited partnership, beneficially owns 6,014,640 shares of our common stock.  In the Schedule 13D/A dated August 8, 2014, Mr. Whitmore reportshas sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 4,646,5215,496,024 of such shares, of which 4,452,283 shares are held in the name of Sunrayin SUNRAY I, LLC. Grace Brothers, Ltd., Mr. WhitmoreLLC, and Spurgeon Corporation report shared voting and dispositive power (with Grace Brothers, LP) with respect to 518,616 of such shares.

(2)

This

Based on information contained in a Schedule 13F dated May 15, 2023 as filed by Visionary Wealth Advisors, a registered investment adviser, with the SEC on that same date to thereport beneficial ownership of shares of ourthe Company’s common stock is based on Amendment No. 2 toas of March 31, 2023, and, consequently, the beneficial ownership of Visionary Wealth Advisors may have subsequently changed. The Schedule 13G dated February 14, 2013 filed with the SEC by NGP Energy Technology Partners II, L.P. (a Delaware limited partnership which owns the reported securities), NGP ETP II, L.L.C., the general partner of NGP Energy Technology Partners II, L.P, Energy Technology Partners, L.L.C., the sole manager of NGP ETP II, L.L.C., and Philip J. Deutch, the sole member and manager of Energy Technology Partners, L.L.C. and the manager of NGP ETP II, L.L.C. Mr. Deutch is also a member of the investment committee of NGP ETP II, L.L.C. NGP Energy Technology Partners II, L.P. reportsthat Visionary Wealth Advisors had sole voting and dispositive power with respectas to all 950,721 shares. By virtue of the relationships between and among the reporting persons, NGP ETP II, L.L.C., Energy Technology Partners, L.L.C. and Mr. Deutch may be deemed to have the power to direct the voting and disposition of the9,000 shares of common stock beneficiallyand shared dispositive power as to 1,047,669 shares of common stock.

(3)

Based on information contained in a Schedule 13F dated May 12, 2023 as filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, a registered investment adviser, with the SEC on that same date to report beneficial ownership of shares of the Company’s common stock as of March 31, 2023, and, consequently, the beneficial ownership of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP may have subsequently changed. The Schedule 13G reported that Dimensional Fund Advisors LP had sole voting power as to 914,297 shares of common stock and sole dispositive power as to 970,915 shares of common stock, all of which shares of common stock were held in portfolios of four registered investment companies to which Dimensional Fund Advisors LP or one of its subsidiaries furnishes investment advice and of certain other commingled funds, group trusts and separate accounts for which Dimensional Fund Advisors LP or one of its subsidiaries serves as investment manager or sub-adviser. The shares of common stock reported were owned by NGP Energy Technology Partners II, L.P. NGP ETP II, L.L.C., Energy Technology Partners, L.L.C.the investment companies, commingled funds, group trusts, and Mr. Deutch disclaimseparate accounts and Dimensional Fund Advisors LP disclaimed beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extentshares of their pecuniary interest therein.common stock.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

The table below shows certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock as of April 5, 2016May 25, 2023 by (1) each of our directors, (2) each of our Named Executive Officers (as defined under the heading “Executive Compensation”),executive officers, and (3) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner (1)

 

Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned (1)

 

Percent of Class
Beneficially Owned (1)(2)

Steven M. AndersonMichael E. Manna

 11,45575,482 (3) * (4)

Michael D. Popielec

 630,289 (3)514,620 (5) 1.7% (7)3.1% (6)

Janie Goddard

--

Thomas L. Saeli

 52,24675,446 *

Robert W. Shaw II

 43,28060,750 *

Ranjit C. Singh

 79,801 *

Bradford T. Whitmore

 5,165,137 (4)6,014,640 (7) 33.7%37.3%

Philip A. Fain

 245,953 (5)222,297 (8) *1.4% (9)

All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (7(8 persons)

 6,228,161 (6)7,043,036 (10) 37.0% (7)42.7% (11)

 

*Less than 1%

*

(1)

Less than 1%
(1)

Except as otherwise indicated, the shareholdersstockholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of our common stock beneficially owned by them. The information provided in this table is based upon information provided to us by such shareholders.stockholders. The table reports beneficial ownership for our directors and executive officers in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. This means all our securities over which directors and executive officers directly or indirectly have or share voting or investment power are listedincluded as beneficially owned. The amounts also include shares that may be acquired by exercise of stock options prior to June 5, 2016,within 60 days, which shares are referred to in the footnotes to this table as “shares of common stock subject to options that may be exercised.”

(2)

Based

Except as otherwise indicated, computations are based on 15,326,23916,143,193 shares issued and outstanding.outstanding as of May 25, 2023.

(3)

The amount shown includes 370,001number of shares deemed to be beneficially owned consists of 11,815 shares of common stock held by Mr. Manna as of May 25, 2023, or less than 1% of common stock outstanding as of that date, and 63,667 shares of common stock subject to options that may be exercised within 60 days by Mr. Manna.

(4)

Computed based on 16,206,860 shares of common stock deemed outstanding, which consists of 16,143,193 shares of common stock outstanding as of May 25, 2023 and 63,667 shares of common stock subject to options that may be exercised within 60 days by Mr. Manna.

(5)

The number of shares deemed to be beneficially owned consists of 316,509 shares of common stock held by Mr. Popielec prioras of May 25, 2023, or 2.0% of common stock outstanding as of that date, and 198,111 shares of common stock subject to June 5, 2016.options that may be exercised within 60 days by Mr. Popielec.

(4)

(6)

The amount shown includes 518,616

Computed based on 16,341,304 shares beneficially ownedof common stock deemed outstanding, which consists of 16,143,193 shares of common stock outstanding as of May 25, 2023, and 198,111 shares of common stock subject to options that may be exercised within 60 days by Grace Brothers, Ltd., an Illinois limited partnership, held in a margin account, and Spurgeon Corporation, which is a general partner of Grace Brothers, Ltd. Mr. Whitmore is a general partner of Grace Brothers, Ltd. Popielec.

(7)

See “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” above for more information about Grace Brothers, Ltd.above.

(5)

(8)

The amount shown includes 184,667number of shares deemed to be beneficially owned consists of 130,630 shares of common stock held by Mr. Fain as of May 25, 2023, or less than 1% of common stock outstanding as of that date, and 91,667 shares of common stock subject to options that may be exercised within 60 days by Mr. Fain.

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(6)

(9)

The amount shown includes 554,668

Computed based on 16,234,860 shares of common stock deemed outstanding, which consists of 16,143,193 shares of common stock outstanding as of May 25, 2023 and 91,667 shares of common stock subject to options that may be exercised within 60 days by Directors and Executive Officers.Mr. Fain.

(7)

(10)

Percentages exclude

The number of shares deemed to be beneficially owned consists of 6,689,591 shares of common stock held by all directors and executive officers as a group as of May 25, 2023, or 41.4% of common stock outstanding as of that date, and 353,445 shares of common stock subject to options that may be exercised by Directors and Executive Officers.within 60 days.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

(11)

Computed based on 16,496,638 shares of common stock deemed outstanding, which consists of 16,143,193 shares of common stock outstanding as of May 25, 2023 and 353,445 shares of common stock subject to options that may be exercised within 60 days.

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Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock to file with the SEC initial reports of beneficial ownership and reports of changes in beneficial ownership of our common stock and our other equity securities. To our knowledge, based solely on the written representations of our directors and executive officers and the copies of such reports filed with the SEC during 2015, all Section 16(a) filings applicable to our officers, directors and more than 10% beneficial owners were filed in a timely manner.

SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDERSTOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

Under Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, shareholderstockholder proposals intended for inclusion in the proxy statement and proxy card for our 20162024 Annual Meeting of ShareholdersStockholders must be submitted in writing to us to our Corporate Secretary (Attn: Philip A. Fain) at 2000 Technology Parkway, Newark, New York 14513, and must have been received by December 23, 2016.February 1, 2024.

Any shareholderstockholder proposal submitted for consideration at our 20162024 Annual Meeting of ShareholdersStockholders butnot submitted for inclusion in the proxy statement for that meeting that is received by us after December 23, 2016April 15, 2024 (or, if the date of the 2024 Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or after the date of the 2023 Annual Meeting , such notice is not received a reasonable time before we begin to print and send our proxy materials),  will not be considered filed with us on a timely basis with us under Rule 14a-4(c)(1) of the Exchange Act. For such proposals that are not timely filed, we retain discretion to vote management proxies we receive.receive with respect to any such proposals. For such proposals that are timely filed, we retain discretion to vote management proxies we receive with respect to any such proposals, provided that we include in our proxy statement advice on the nature of the proposal and how we intend to exercise our voting discretionand the proponent of any such proposal does not issue its own proxy statement.

In addition, to comply with the universal proxy rules, shareholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees for election at the 2024 Annual Meeting other than the Company's nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, which notice must be postmarked or transmitted electronically to the Company at its principal executive offices no later than 60 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the 2023 Annual Meeting. If the date of the 2024 Annual Meeting is changed by more than 30 calendar days from the first anniversary of the 2023 Annual Meeting, then any such notice must be provided by the later of 60 calendar days prior to the date of the 2024 Annual Meeting or the 10th calendar day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the 2024 Annual Meeting is first made.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015,2022 as amended, as filed with the SEC, is included in the 20152022 Annual Report to ShareholdersStockholders which accompanies this proxy statement.

 

April 22, 2016By Order of the Board of Directors
LOGO
Bradford T. Whitmore
Chair of the Board of Directors

VOTE BY INTERNET- www.proxyvote.com
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

ULTRALIFE CORPORATION

2000 Technology Parkway

Newark, NY 14513

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALS

If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.

VOTE BY PHONE-1-800-690-6903

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

VOTE BY MAIL

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

 

By Order of the Board of Directors

 

sig2.jpg

 

Bradford T. Whitmore,

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

KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY    

THIS    PROXY    CARD    IS    VALID    ONLY    WHEN     SIGNED    AND    DATED.

For

All

Withhold  

  All

For All

 Except

To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s)Chair of the nominee(s) on the line below.

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR

the following:

1.

Election of Directors

Nominees

¨

¨

¨

01Steven M. Anderson                    02 Michael D. Popielec                    03 Thomas L. Saeli                     04 Robert W. Shaw II                    05 Ranjit C. Singh
06Bradford T. Whitmore
The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR proposal 2:ForAgainstAbstain
2.Ratification of the selection of Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.¨¨¨

NOTE:The proxy or proxies are authorized to vote in their discretion upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments thereof.

LOGO

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

Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]

Date

Signature (Joint Owners)

Date


 

27

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement, Annual Report/

Form 10-K Wrap is/are available atwww.proxyvote.com

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ULTRALIFE CORPORATION

2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

June 1, 2016

This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors.

The undersigned hereby appoints Philip A. Fain and Paul D. Underberg as proxies for the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of the Common Stock of Ultralife Corporation owned by the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 1, 2016 at 11:00 A.M., local time, at the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport, O’Hare International Airport Chicago, IL 60666, and at any adjournments of such meeting, on the matters listed in this proxy and described in the notice of annual meeting and proxy statement and upon such other business as may properly come before such meeting and any adjournments thereof.

LOGO

This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company and each matter to be voted on at the Annual Meeting has been proposed by the Board of Directors of the Company. This proxy will be voted as specified by the undersigned. This proxy revokes any prior proxy given by the undersigned. Unless authority to vote for one or more of the nominees is specifically withheld according to the instructions, a signed proxy will be voted FOR the election of the six named nominees for director, FOR the ratification of the selection of Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. The undersigned acknowledges receipt with this proxy of a copy of the notice of annual meeting and proxy statement dated April 22, 2016, describing more fully the proposals set forth in this proxy.

(continued and to be signed on the reverse side)

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