UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

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

 

(Amendment No. __)

 

Filed by the Registrant [  ]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [  ]

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

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

 

[  ] Definitive Proxy Statement

 

[  ] Definitive Additional Materials

 

[  ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12

 

Digital Ally, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

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

 

Payment of filing fee: (Check the appropriate box):

 

[X] No fee required

 

[  ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

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

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[  ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

[  ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

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Digital Ally, Inc.

9705 Loiret Boulevard

Lenexa, Kansas 66219

 

April 10, 2017

 

To our Stockholders:

 

I am pleased to invite you to attend the annual meeting of stockholders of Digital Ally, Inc. (“Digital”) to be held on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., CDT, at our Company facility at 9705 Loiret Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 66219. Details regarding admission to the annual meeting and the business to be conducted are more fully described in the accompanying notice of annual meeting and proxy statement.

 

We have elected to take advantage of Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow issuers to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders on the Internet. We believe that the rules will allow us to provide our stockholders with the information they need, while lowering the costs of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of our annual meeting.

 

Your vote is important. I hope that you will vote as soon as possible whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting. Please review the instructions on each of your voting options described in the proxy statement and the notice of annual meeting you received in the mail.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support of, and continued interest in, Digital Ally.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Stanton E. Ross

President, Chief Executive Officer and

Chairman of the Board

 

Admission to the annual meeting will be limited to stockholders. Please note that an admission ticket and picture identification will be required to enter the annual meeting. For stockholders of record, an admission ticket is printed on the back cover of these proxy materials and on the notice of annual meeting. An individual arriving without an admission ticket will not be admitted unless it can be verified that the individual was a Digital stockholder as of the record date. Backpacks, cameras, cell phones with cameras, recording equipment and other electronic recording devices will not be permitted at the annual meeting. Digital reserves the right to inspect any persons or items prior to their admission to the annual meeting. Failure to follow the meeting rules or permit inspection will be grounds for exclusion from the meeting.

 

   

 

 

Table of Contents

    Page
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders   1
Proxy Statement for 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders   2
Record Date and Voting Securities   2
Revocability of Proxies   3
Quorum Requirement   3
Voting   3
Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes   4
Stockholder List   5
Proxy Solicitation Costs   5
Our Voting Recommendations   5
Voting Results   5
Stockholders Sharing the Same Address   5
Deadline for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals for 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders   6
Other Matters   6
     
Proposal One: Election of Directors   7
Nominees   7
Vote Required and Board Recommendation   9
Board of Directors and Committee Meetings   9
Committees of the Board of Directors   9
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation   13
Board of Directors’ Role in the Oversight of Risk Management   13
Board Leadership Structure   13
Stockholder Communication with the Board of Directors   14
Policy for Director Recommendations and Nominations   14
Code of Ethics and Conduct   15
Director Compensation   15
     
Proposal Two: Amend the 2015 Digital Ally, Inc. Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan to increase the Number of Shares Reserved for Issuance under the Plan by 500,000   16
Vote Required and Recommendation   17
Summary of the 2015 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan   18
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End   18
Recent Stock Option and Restricted Stock Award Grants to Employees, Consultants, and Directors   20
Federal Tax Aspects   21
   

Proposal Three: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  23
Audit and Related Fees   23
Vote Required and Board Recommendation   24
     
Report of the Audit Committee   24
     
Executive Compensation and Related Information   26
Summary Compensation Table   26
Grant of Plan-Based Awards   28
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End   29
Option Exercises and Stock Vested   30
Stock Option Plans   30
Equity Compensation Plan Information   31
Stock Option and Restricted Stock Grants   32
Employment Contracts, Termination of Employment and Change-in-Control Arrangements   32
Retention Agreements   33
     
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management   34
     
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance   36
     
Transactions with Related Persons   36
     
Other Matters   37
     
Advance Notice Provisions for Stockholder Proposals and Nominations   37
     
Future Proposals of Stockholders   37
     
Annual Report   37
     
Appendix A – Second Amendment to the Digital Ally, Inc. 2015 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan   38

 

   

 

 

Digital Ally, Inc.

9705 Loiret Blvd

Lenexa, Kansas 66219

(913) 814-7774

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on Wednesday, May 31, 2017

 

The 2017 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Digital Ally, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Digital,” the “Company,” “we,” “ours” and “us”), will be held at the corporate facility located at 9705 Loiret Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas, 66219 on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., CDT, for the following purposes:

 

  1. To elect four directors;
  2. To approve an amendment to the 2015 Digital Ally, Inc. Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under such Plan by 500,000;
  3. To ratify the appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm; and
  4. To act upon such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting.

 

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this notice. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 3, 2017 will be entitled to vote at the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please sign, date and return your proxy to us promptly. Your cooperation in signing and returning the proxy will help avoid further solicitation expense.

 

Pursuant to rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials both by sending you this full set of proxy materials, including a notice of annual meeting, proxy statement, and 2016 Annual Report to Stockholders, and by notifying you of the availability of our proxy materials on the Internet. Copies of our notice of annual meeting, proxy statement and 2016 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at www.digitalallyinc.com.

 

By order of the Board of Directors 

 

 
   
  Stanton E. Ross
  Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
   

April 10, 2017

Lenexa, Kansas

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

 

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, WE URGE YOU TO VOTE AND SUBMIT YOUR PROXY AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM. TO ASSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME APPEARS ON IT AND RETURN IMMEDIATELY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES, OR VOTE BY PROXY ON THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE.

 

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DIGITAL ALLY, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE 2017 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

 

General

 

The enclosed proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Digital Ally, Inc., a Nevada corporation, for use at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., CDT, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying notice of annual meeting of stockholders. The annual meeting will be held at our corporate facility, located at 9705 Loiret Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas, 66219. The telephone number at that location is (913) 814-7774.

 

These proxy solicitation materials were first mailed on or about April 10, 2017 to all stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

Record Date and Voting Securities

 

Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 3, 2017 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. At the record date, 5,552,449 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and held of record by 89 stockholders.

 

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If on April 3, 2017, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Action Stock Transfer Corporation, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the annual meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, we urge you to complete and return the enclosed proxy card or vote by proxy via telephone or the Internet as instructed on your proxy card to ensure your vote is counted.

 

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank. If on April 3, 2017, your shares were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the annual meeting.

 

As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent how to vote the shares in your account. If you do not provide instructions for voting the shares that you beneficially own, the organization holding your shares cannot vote them for you for Proposals 1 and 2, as follows: Proposal 1, the election of directors; and Proposal 2, to approve an amendment to the 2015 Digital Ally, Inc. Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan to increase the number of shares reserved under such Plan by 500,000.

 

We encourage you to provide voting instructions to the brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization that is the record holder of your shares. A number of brokers and banks enable beneficial holders to give voting instructions via telephone or the internet. Please refer to the voting instructions provided by your bank or broker. You are also invited to attend the annual meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the annual meeting unless you provide a valid proxy from your broker, bank or other custodian.

 

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Revocability of Proxies

 

You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the annual meeting. To do this, you may either:

 

  sign and return another proxy bearing a later date;
  provide written notice of the revocation to Thomas J. Heckman, our Secretary, prior to the time we take the vote at the annual meeting; or
  attend the annual meeting and vote in person.

 

Quorum Requirement

 

A quorum, which is a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock as of the record date, must be present or represented by proxy to hold the annual meeting and to conduct business. Your shares will be counted as being present at the annual meeting if you attend the meeting in person or if you submit a properly executed proxy card.

 

Voting

 

You are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock that you hold on the record date.

 

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote by proxy using the enclosed proxy card, vote by proxy on the internet or by telephone, or vote in person at the annual meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the annual meeting and vote in person if you have already voted by proxy.

 

  To vote using the proxy card, simply complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope provided. If you return your signed proxy card to us before the annual meeting, we will vote your shares as you direct.
     
  To vote on the internet, please follow the instructions provided on your proxy card.
     
  To vote by telephone, please follow the instructions provided on your proxy card.
     
  To vote in person, come to the annual meeting and we will give you a ballot when you arrive.

 

If you hold your shares in your own name as a holder of record, you may instruct the proxy holders how to vote your common stock by signing, dating and mailing the proxy card in the postage paid reply envelope that we have provided, or vote by proxy on the internet or by telephone vote by proxy on the internet or by telephone, as noted above. Of course, you may also choose to come to the annual meeting and vote your shares in person. The proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with those instructions. If you sign and return a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted as recommended by our Board of Directors.

 

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We provide internet proxy voting to allow you to vote your shares online, with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and correctness of your proxy vote instructions. However, please be aware that you must bear any costs associated with your internet access, such as usage charges from your internet provider.

 

 

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker or Bank. If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank, or other agent, you should have received instructions for granting proxies with these proxy materials from that organization rather than from us. A number of brokers and banks enable beneficial holders to give voting instructions via telephone or the internet. Please refer to the voting instructions provided by your bank or broker. To vote in person at the annual meeting, you must provide a valid proxy from your broker, bank, or other custodian. Follow the instructions from your broker or bank included with these proxy materials, or contact your broker or bank to request a proxy form.

 

If you return a signed and dated proxy card without marking any voting selections, your shares will only be voted for Proposal 3, and not for Proposals 1 or 2. Thus, if you are not a record holder and hold your shares through a bank or broker, you must provide voting instructions to the record holder of the shares in accordance with its requirements in order for your shares to be properly voted for the following proposals: Proposal 1, the election of directors; and Proposal 2, to approve an amendment to the 2015 Digital Ally, Inc. Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under such Plan by 500,000. If any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, your proxy (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares using his or her best judgment.

 

If you beneficially own your shares in street name and you do not instruct your bank or broker how to vote on Proposals 1 and 2, no votes will be cast on your behalf at the annual meeting as to these proposals. Your bank or broker will, however, have discretion to vote any uninstructed shares on Proposal 3.

 

Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

 

If you return a proxy card that indicates an abstention from voting on all matters, the shares represented will be counted as present for the purpose of determining a quorum, but they will not be voted on any matter at the annual meeting. Consequently, if you abstain from voting on Proposals 1 through 3, your abstention will have no effect on the outcome of the vote with respect to these proposals.

 

If your shares are held by your broker as your nominee (that is, in “street name”), you will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your broker to vote your shares. If you do not give instructions to your broker, your broker can vote your shares with respect to “discretionary” items, but not with respect to “non-discretionary” items. Discretionary items are proposals considered routine under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on which your broker may vote shares held in street name without your voting instructions. On non-discretionary items for which you do not give your broker instructions, the shares will be treated as broker non-votes. Under NYSE rules, any election of a member of the Board of Directors, whether contested or uncontested, is considered “non-discretionary” and therefore brokers are not permitted to vote your shares held in street name for the election of directors in the absence of instructions from you. Proposals 1 and 2 are “non-discretionary.” Therefore, if you hold your shares through a broker, nominee, fiduciary or other custodian, your shares will not be voted on those proposals unless you provide voting instructions to the record holder.

 

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A “broker non-vote” occurs when a broker expressly instructs on a proxy card that it is not voting on a matter, whether routine or non-routine. Broker non-votes are counted for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a quorum, but are not counted for determining the number of votes cast for or against a proposal. Your broker will have discretionary authority to vote your shares on Proposal 3 only.

 

Stockholder List

 

The stockholder list as of the record date will be available for examination by any stockholder at our corporate office, 9705 Loiret Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 66219, beginning May 16, 2017, which is at least ten business days prior to the date of the annual meeting and the stockholder list will be available at the annual meeting.

 

Proxy Solicitation Costs

 

This solicitation of proxies is made by our Board of Directors, and we will bear all related costs. None of our directors intends to oppose any action for which stockholder approval is being solicited. In addition, we may reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares for their expenses in forwarding solicitation materials to such beneficial owners. Proxies may also be solicited by certain of our directors, officers and regular employees, without additional compensation, personally or by telephone or facsimile.

 

Our Voting Recommendations

 

Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote:

 

FOR the four nominees to the Board of Directors;
FOR an amendment to the 2015 Digital Ally, Inc. Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under such Plan by 500,000;
FOR ratification of the appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm; and
On such other matters that may properly come before the annual meeting in accordance with the best judgment of the individual proxies named in the proxy.

 

Voting Results

 

The preliminary voting results will be announced at the annual meeting. The final voting results will be calculated by our Inspector of Elections and published in our report on Form 8-K within four business days of the meeting.

 

Stockholders Sharing the Same Address

 

We have adopted a procedure called “householding,” which has been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Under this procedure, we are delivering only one copy of the annual report and proxy statement to multiple stockholders who share the same address, unless we have received contrary instructions from an affected stockholder. This procedure reduces our printing and mailing costs and fees. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards.

 

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We will deliver, promptly upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the annual report and the proxy statement to any stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of either of those documents was delivered. To receive a separate copy of the annual report or proxy statement, you may write or call our Investor Relations Department at 9705 Loiret Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 66219, telephone (913) 814-7774. Any stockholders of record who share the same address and currently receive multiple copies of our annual report and proxy statement and who wish to receive only one copy of these materials per household in the future should contact our Investor Relations Department at the address or telephone number listed above to participate in the householding program.

 

A number of brokerage firms have instituted householding. If you hold your shares in “street name,” please contact your bank, broker, or other holder of record to request information about householding.

 

Deadline for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals for 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

As a stockholder, you may be entitled to present proposals for action at an upcoming meeting if you comply with the requirements of the proxy rules established by the Securities and Exchange Commission and our bylaws. Stockholders wishing to present a proposal at our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders must submit such proposal to us by November 15, 2017, if they wish it to be eligible for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. In connection with our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, we intend to solicit proxies granting discretionary authority to the proxyholders to vote on any matters submitted by stockholders by November 15, 2017. In addition, under our bylaws, a stockholder wishing to make a proposal at the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders must submit such a proposal to us by November 15, 2017. Any such proposals should be in compliance with our bylaws and should be submitted to Digital Ally, Inc., 9705 Loiret Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 66219, Attention: Thomas J. Heckman, Secretary.

 

Other Matters

 

Other than the proposals listed above, our Board of Directors does not intend to present any other matters to be voted on at the meeting. Our Board of Directors is not currently aware of any other matters that will be presented by others for action at the meeting. However, if other matters are properly presented at the meeting and you have signed and returned your proxy card, the proxy holders will have discretion to vote your shares on these matters to the extent authorized under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE 2017 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 31, 2017:

 

Copies of our notice of annual meeting, proxy statement and 2016 Annual Report to Stockholders are available online at www.digitalallyinc.com.

 

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PROPOSAL ONE

 

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

Nominees

 

A Board of four directors is to be elected at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them for the four nominees named below, all of which are presently directors of Digital.

 

If any nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the annual meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee who shall be designated by the present Board of Directors to fill the vacancy. We are not aware of any nominee who will be unable or will decline to serve as a director. The term of office for each person elected as a director will continue until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until a successor has been elected and qualified. The names of the nominees and certain information about them as of the date of this proxy statement are set forth below:

 

Name of Nominee   Principal Occupation   Age   Director Since
Stanton E. Ross   Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer   55   2005
Leroy C. Richie (1)(2)(3)   Lead Outside Director, Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and Compensation Committee and attorney   75   2005
Daniel F. Hutchins (1)   Certified Public Accountant; Chairman of Audit Committee   61   2007
Michael J. Caulfield (1)(2)(3)   Investment banking-retired    61   2016

 

 

 

  (1) Member of Audit Committee
     
  (2) Member of Compensation Committee
     
  (3) Member of Nominating and Governance Committee and Compensation Committee

 

Stanton E. Ross has served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2005. From March 1992 to June 2005, Mr. Ross was the Chairman and President of Infinity Energy Resources, Inc., a publicly held oil and gas exploration and development company (“Infinity”), and served as an officer and director of each of Infinity’s subsidiaries. He resigned all his positions with Infinity in June 2005, except Chairman, but was reappointed President in October 2006. Mr. Ross served on the board of directors of Studio One Media, Inc., a publicly held company, from January 2013 to March 2013. From 1991 until March 1992, he founded and served as President of Midwest Financial, a financial services corporation involved in mergers, acquisitions and financing for corporations in the Midwest. From 1990 to 1991, Mr. Ross was employed by Duggan Securities, Inc., an investment banking firm in Lenexa, Kansas, where he primarily worked in corporate finance. From 1989 to 1990, he was employed by Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., a member of the New York Stock Exchange, where he was an investment executive. From 1987 to 1989, Mr. Ross was self-employed as a business consultant. From 1985 to 1987, Mr. Ross was President and founder of Kansas Microwave, Inc., which developed a radar detector product. From 1981 to 1985, he was employed by Birdview Satellite Communications, Inc., which manufactured and marketed home satellite television systems, initially as a salesman and later as National Sales Manager. Mr. Ross estimates he devoted most of his time to Digital Ally and the balance to Infinity in 2016. In late 2007, Infinity sold a substantial portion of its operating assets and has not required a substantial amount of his time since such point. Mr. Ross holds no public company directorships other than with the Company and Infinity and has not held any others during the previous five years, except for Studio One Media, Inc. The Company believes that Mr. Ross’s broad entrepreneurial, financial and business expertise and his experience with micro-cap public companies and his role as President and Chief Executive Officer give him the qualifications and skills to serve as a Director.

 

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Leroy C. Richie has been the Lead Outside Director of Digital Ally since September 2005. He is also the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. Since June 1, 1999 Mr. Richie has been a director of Infinity Energy Resources, Inc., a publicly held oil and gas exploration and development company. Additionally, since 2008, Mr. Richie served as a member of the boards of directors of Columbia Mutual Funds, (or mutual fund companies acquired by or merged with Columbia Mutual Funds), a family of investment companies managed by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. From 2004 to 2015, he was of counsel to the Detroit law firm of Lewis & Munday, P.C. He holds no other public directorships and has not held any others during the previous five years, except for OGE Energy Corp. (2007-2014) and Kerr-McGee Corporation (1998-2005). Mr. Richie serves as a member of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Henry Ford Health System, in Detroit. Mr. Richie was formerly Vice President of Chrysler Corporation and General Counsel for automotive legal affairs, where he directed all legal affairs for its automotive operations from 1986 until his retirement in 1997. Before joining Chrysler, he was an associate with the New York law firm of White & Case (1973-1978), and served as director of the New York office of the Federal Trade Commission (1978-1983). Mr. Richie received a B.A. from City College of New York, where he was valedictorian, and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law, where he was awarded an Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Fellowship. The Company believes that Mr. Richie’s extensive experience as a lawyer and as an officer or director of public companies gives him the qualifications and skills to serve as a Director.

 

Daniel F. Hutchins was elected a Director in December 2007. He serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and is the Board’s financial expert. Mr. Hutchins, a Certified Public Accountant, is a Principal with the accounting firm of Hutchins & Haake, LLC and currently serves as a director and the Chief Financial Officer of Infinity Energy Resources, Inc., a publicly held oil and gas exploration and development company, of which Stanton E. Ross is the Chairman and President. Mr. Hutchins has served as an instructor for the Becker CPA exam with the Keller Graduate School of Management and has over 17 years of teaching experience preparing CPA candidates for the CPA exam. He has 39 years of public accounting experience, including five years with Deloitte & Touche, LLP. He has served on the boards of various non-profit groups and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Hutchins earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Mr. Hutchins holds no other public company directorships and has not held any others during the previous five years. The Company believes that Mr. Hutchins’ significant experience in finance and accounting gives him the qualifications and skills to serve as a Director.

Michael J. Caulfield was elected a Director in May 2016. He is a member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee. He served as Vice President – Strategic Development of the Company from June 1 2009 to January 11, 2012. Mr. Caulfield was most recently (2012-2016) a Vice-Chairman at Teneo Holdings, LLC, a global advisory firm where he was responsible for the firm’s investment banking relationships with a broad range of industrial companies. From 2006 to 2009, Mr. Caulfield served as a Managing Director at Banc of America Securities (“BAS”), where he was responsible for the merger, acquisition, divestiture and restructuring advisory services for a number of large public and private companies. He was also in charge of BAS’s global investment banking activities involving the Safety, Security, Engineering and Construction Industries. Prior to joining BAS, Mr. Caulfield spent six years (2000-2006) as a Managing Director with Morgan Stanley in New York City, leading that global investment banking firm’s efforts in the Aerospace and Defense Industries. He was also responsible for the investment banking relationships with a number of Morgan Stanley’s largest clients. From 1989 to 2000, he worked at General Electric Capital Corp., where he served as a Managing Director and head of the Corporate Finance Group. In this capacity, he advised GE Capital and the industrial divisions of General Electric on such issues as capital structuring, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity transactions. Mr. Caulfield received an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. Degree from the University of Minnesota.

 

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Our Directors are elected annually and hold office until the next annual meeting of our stockholders or until their successors are elected and qualified. Officers are elected annually and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. There is no family relationship between any of our directors, director nominees and executive officers. Board vacancies are filled by a majority vote of the Board.

 

Vote Required and Board Recommendation

 

If a quorum is present and voting, the four nominees receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected to the Board of Directors. Votes withheld from any nominee will be counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for transaction of business at the meeting, but will have no other legal effect upon the election of directors under Nevada law.

 

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT OUR STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR EACH OF THE FOUR NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.

 

Board of Directors and Committee Meetings

 

Our Board of Directors held eight meetings and acted a number of times by unanimous consent resolutions during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. Each of our directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and the committees on which he served in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. Our directors are expected, absent exceptional circumstances, to attend all Board meetings and meetings of committees on which they serve, and are also expected to attend our annual meeting of stockholders. All directors then in office attended the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

Our Board of Directors currently has three committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Governance Committee. Each committee has a written charter approved by the Board of Directors outlining the principal responsibilities of the committee. These charters are also available on the Investor Relations page of our website. All our directors, other than our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, have met in executive sessions without management present on a regular basis in 2016 and 2017.

 

Audit Committee

 

Our Audit Committee appoints the Company’s independent auditors, reviews audit reports and plans, accounting policies, financial statements, internal controls, audit fees, and certain other expenses and oversees our accounting and financial reporting process. Specific responsibilities include selecting, hiring and terminating our independent auditors; evaluating the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent auditors; approving the audit and non-audit services to be performed by our auditors; reviewing the design, implementation, adequacy and effectiveness of our internal controls and critical accounting policies; overseeing and monitoring the integrity of our financial statements and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to financial statements or accounting matters; reviewing any earnings announcements and other public announcements regarding our results of operations in conjunction with management and our public auditors; conferring with management and the independent auditors regarding the effectiveness of internal controls, financial reporting processes and disclosure controls; consulting with management and the independent auditors regarding Company policies governing financial risk management; reviewing and discussing reports from the independent auditors on critical accounting policies used by the Company; establishing procedures, as required under applicable law, for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; reviewing and approving related-person transactions in accordance with the Company’s policies and procedures with respect to related-person transactions and applicable rules; reviewing the financial statements to be included in our annual report on Form 10-K; discussing with management and the independent auditors the results of the annual audit and the results of quarterly reviews and any significant changes in our accounting principles; and preparing the report that the Securities and Exchange Commission requires in our annual proxy statement. The report of the Audit Committee for the year-ended December 31, 2016 is included in this proxy statement.

 

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The Audit Committee is comprised of three Directors, each of whom is independent, as defined by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee held four meetings during the year-ended December 31, 2016. On September 22, 2005, the Company created the Audit Committee and adopted a written charter for it. The members of our Audit Committee are Daniel F. Hutchins, Leroy C. Richie and Michael J. Caulfield. The Board of Directors determined that Mr. Hutchins qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and is independent as noted above.

 

Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, all audit and non-audit services performed by the Company’s independent accountants must be approved in advance by the Audit Committee to assure that such services do not impair the accountants’ independence from the Company. Accordingly, the Audit Committee has adopted an Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy (the “Policy”) that sets forth the procedures and the conditions pursuant to which services to be performed by the independent accountants are to be pre-approved. Pursuant to the Policy, certain services described in detail in the Policy may be pre-approved on an annual basis together with pre-approved maximum fee levels for such services. The services eligible for annual pre-approval consist of services that would be included under the categories of Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees and Tax Fees in the table, as well as services for limited review of actuarial reports and calculations. If not pre-approved on an annual basis, proposed services must otherwise be separately approved prior to being performed by the independent accountants. In addition, any services that receive annual pre-approval but exceed the pre-approved maximum fee level also will require separate approval by the Audit Committee prior to being performed. The Audit Committee may delegate authority to pre-approve audit and non-audit services to any member of the Audit Committee, but may not delegate such authority to management.

 

Compensation Committee

 

Our Compensation Committee assists our Board of Directors in determining the development plans and compensation of our officers, directors and employees. Specific responsibilities include approving the compensation and benefits of our executive officers; reviewing the performance objectives and actual performance of our officers; administering our stock option and other equity compensation plans; and reviewing and discussing with management the compensation discussion and analysis that the Securities and Exchange Commission requires in our future Form 10-Ks and proxy statements.

 

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Our Compensation Committee is comprised of two Directors, whom the Board considers to be independent under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The members of our Compensation Committee are Leroy C. Richie, Chairman, and Michael J. Caulfield. The Compensation Committee held two meetings and acted a number of times by unanimous written consent resolutions during the year-ended December 31, 2016. Mr. Ross, our Chief Executive Officer, does not participate in the determination of his own compensation or the compensation of directors. However, he makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding the amount and form of the compensation of the other executive officers and key employees, and he often participates in the Compensation Committee’s deliberations about such persons’ compensation. Thomas J. Heckman, our Chief Financial Officer, also assists the Compensation Committee in its deliberations regarding executive officer, director and employee compensation. No other executive officers participate in the determination of the amount or the form of the compensation of executive officers or directors. The Compensation Committee does not utilize the services of an independent compensation consultant to assist in its oversight of executive and director compensation. On September 22, 2007, the Board of Directors adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee

 

Nominating and Governance Committee

 

Our Nominating and Governance Committee assists our Board of Directors by identifying and recommending individuals qualified to become members of our Board of Directors, reviewing correspondence from our stockholders, and establishing, evaluating and overseeing our corporate governance guidelines. Specific responsibilities include the following: evaluating the composition, size and governance of our Board of Directors and its committees and making recommendations regarding future planning and appointing directors to our committees; establishing a policy for considering stockholder nominees for election to our Board of Directors; and evaluating and recommending candidates for election to our Board of Directors.

 

Our Nominating and Governance Committee strives for a Board composed of individuals who bring a variety of complementary skills, expertise or background and who, as a group, will possess the appropriate skills and experience to oversee our business. The diversity of the members of the Board relates to the selection of its nominees. While the Committee considers diversity and variety of experiences and viewpoints to be important factors, it does not believe that a director nominee should be chosen or excluded solely or largely because of race, color, gender, national origin or sexual orientation or identity. In selecting a director nominee for recommendation to our Board, our Nominating and Governance Committee focuses on skills, expertise or background that would complement the existing members on the Board. Accordingly, although diversity may be a consideration in the Committee’s process, the Committee and the Board of Directors do not have a formal policy regarding the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees.

 

When the Nominating and Governance Committee has either identified a prospective nominee or determined that an additional or replacement director is required, the Nominating and Governance Committee may take such measures as it considers appropriate in connection with its evaluation of a director candidate, including candidate interviews, inquiry of the person or persons making the recommendation or nomination, engagement of an outside search firm to gather additional information, or reliance on the knowledge of the members of the Board of Directors or management. In its evaluation of director candidates, including the members of the Board eligible for re-election, the Nominating and Governance Committee considers a number of factors, including: the current size and composition of the Board of Directors, the needs of the Board of Directors and the respective committees of the Board, and such factors as judgment, independence, character and integrity, age, area of expertise, diversity of experience, length of service and potential conflicts of interest.

 

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The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board selects director nominees and recommends them to the full Board of Directors. In relation to such nomination process, the Committee:

 

determines the criteria for the selection of prospective directors and committee members;
   
reviews the composition and size of the Board and its committees to ensure proper expertise and diversity among its members;
   
evaluates the performance and contributions of directors eligible for re-election;
   
determines the desired qualifications for individual directors and desired skills and characteristics for the Board;
   
identifies persons who can provide needed skills and characteristics;
   
screens possible candidates for Board membership;
   
reviews any potential conflicts of interests between such candidates and the Company’s interests; and
   
shares information concerning the candidates with the Board, and solicit input from other directors.

 

The Nominating and Governance Committee has specified the following minimum qualifications that it believes must be met by a nominee for a position on the Board: the highest personal and professional ethics and integrity; proven achievement and competence in the nominee’s field and the ability to exercise sound business judgment; skills that are complementary to those of the existing Board; the ability to assist and support management and make significant contributions to our success; the ability to work well with the other directors; the extent of the person’s familiarity with the issues affecting our business; an understanding of the fiduciary responsibilities that are required of a member of the Board of Directors; and the commitment of time and energy necessary to diligently carry out those responsibilities. A candidate for director must agree to abide by our Code of Ethics and Conduct.

 

After completing its evaluation, the Nominating and Governance Committee makes a recommendation to the full Board of Directors as to the persons who should be nominated to the Board, and the Board of Directors determines the nominees after considering the recommendation and report of the Committee.

 

Our Nominating and Governance Committee is comprised of three Directors, whom the Board considers to be independent under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Nominating and Governance Committee held one meeting during the year ended December 31, 2016. The members of our Nominating and Governance Committee are Leroy C. Richie, who serves as Chairman, and Michael J. Caulfield. The Committee was created by our Board of Directors on December 27, 2007, when the Board of Directors adopted a written charter, which was amended in February 2010.

 

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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

The Compensation Committee is made up of two independent, non-employee directors, Messrs. Richie and Caulfield. No interlocking relationship exists between the members of our Compensation Committee and the board of directors or compensation committee of any other company.

 

Board of Directors’ Role in the Oversight of Risk Management

 

We face a variety of risks, including credit, liquidity, and operational risks. In fulfilling its risk oversight role, our Board of Directors focuses on the adequacy of our risk management process and overall risk management system. Our Board of Directors believes that an effective risk management system will (i) adequately identify the material risks that we face in a timely manner; (ii) implement appropriate risk management strategies that are responsive to our risk profile and specific material risk exposures; (iii) integrate consideration of risk and risk management into our business decision-making; and (iv) include policies and procedures that adequately transmit necessary information regarding material risks to senior executives and, as appropriate, to the Board or relevant committee.

 

The Board of Directors has designated the Audit Committee to take the lead in overseeing risk management at the Board of Directors level. Accordingly, the Audit Committee schedules time for periodic review of risk management, in addition to its other duties. In this role, the Audit Committee receives reports from management, certified public accountants, outside legal counsel, and other advisors, and strives to generate serious and thoughtful attention to our risk management process and system, the nature of the material risks we face, and the adequacy of our policies and procedures designed to respond to and mitigate these risks.

 

Although the Board of Directors has assigned the primary risk oversight to the Audit Committee, it also periodically receives information about our risk management system and the most significant risks that we face. This is principally accomplished through Audit Committee reports to the Board of Directors and summary versions of the briefings provided by management and advisors to the Audit Committee.

 

In addition to the formal compliance program, our Board of Directors and the Audit Committee encourage management to promote a corporate culture that understands risk management and incorporates it into our overall corporate strategy and day-to-day business operations. Our risk management structure also includes an ongoing effort to assess and analyze the most likely areas of future risk for us. As a result, the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee periodically ask our executives to discuss the most likely sources of material future risks and how we are addressing any significant potential vulnerability.

 

Board Leadership Structure

 

Our Board of Directors does not have a policy on whether the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors should be separate and, if they are to be separate, whether the Chairman of the Board should be selected from the non-employee directors or be an employee. Our Board of Directors believes that it should be free to make a choice from time to time in any manner that is in the best interest of us and our stockholders. The Board of Directors believes that Mr. Ross’s service as both Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board is in the best interest of us and our stockholders. Mr. Ross possesses detailed and in-depth knowledge of the issues, opportunities and challenges we face and is thus best positioned to develop agendas, with the input of Mr. Richie, the lead director, to ensure that the Board’s time and attention are focused on the most critical matters. His combined role enables decisive leadership, ensures clear accountability, and enhances our ability to communicate our message and strategy clearly and consistently to our stockholders, employees, customers and suppliers, particularly during times of turbulent economic and industry conditions.

 

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Our Board of Directors also believes that a lead director is part of an effective Board leadership structure. To this end, the Board has appointed Mr. Richie as the lead director. The independent directors meet regularly in executive sessions at which only they are present, and the lead director chairs those sessions. As the lead director, Mr. Richie calls meetings of the independent directors as needed; sets the agenda for meetings of the independent directors; presides at meetings of the independent directors; is the principal liaison on Board issues between the independent directors and the Chairman and between the independent directors and management; provides feedback to the Chairman and management on the quality, quantity and timeliness of information sent to the Board; is a member of the Compensation Committee that evaluates the CEO’s performance; and oversees the directors’ evaluation of the Board’s overall performance. The Nominating and Governance Committee and the Board believe that its leadership structure, which includes the appointment of an independent lead director, is appropriate because it, among other things, provides for an independent director who gives board member leadership and each of the directors, other than Mr. Ross, is independent. Our Board of Directors believes that the independent directors provide effective oversight of management.

 

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

 

Stockholders may communicate with the Board of Directors by writing to us as follows: Digital Ally, Inc., attention: Corporate Secretary, 9705 Loiret Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 66219. Stockholders who would like their submission directed to a member of the Board of Directors may so specify and the communication will be forwarded as appropriate.

 

Policy for Director Recommendations and Nominations

 

Our Nominating and Governance Committee will consider candidates for Board membership suggested by Board members, management and our stockholders. The policy of our Nominating and Governance Committee is to consider recommendations for candidates to the Board of Directors from any stockholder of record in accordance with our bylaws. A director candidate recommended by our stockholders will be considered in the same manner as a nominee recommended by a Board member, management or other sources. In addition, a stockholder may nominate a person directly for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, provided the stockholder meets the requirements set forth in our bylaws. We do not pay a fee to any third party to identify or evaluate or assist in identifying or evaluation potential nominees.

 

Stockholder Recommendations for Director Nominations. Stockholder recommendations for director nominations may be submitted to the Company at the following address: Digital Ally, Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 9705 Loiret Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 66219. Such recommendations will be forwarded to the Nominating Committee for consideration, provided that they are accompanied by sufficient information to permit the Board to evaluate the qualifications and experience of the nominees, and they are in time for the Nominating and Governance Committee to do an adequate evaluation of the candidate before the annual meeting of stockholders. The submission must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated by the Board of Directors and to serve if elected and to cooperate with a background check.

 

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Stockholder Nominations of Directors. Our bylaws provide that in order for a stockholder to nominate a director at an annual meeting, the stockholder must give timely written notice to our Secretary and such notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 120 days before the date of our release of the proxy statement to stockholders in connection with our previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders. Such stockholder’s notice shall include, with respect to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director, all information relating to such nominee, including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee, serving as a director, that is required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and cooperating with a background investigation. In addition, the stockholder must include in such notice his name and address, as they appear on our records, of the stockholder proposing the nomination of such person, and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, the class and number of shares of our capital stock that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder of record and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, and any material interest or relationship that such stockholder of record and/or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made may respectively have in such business or with such nominee. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated for election as a director shall furnish to our Secretary the information required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination that pertains to the nominee.

 

To be timely in the case of a special meeting or if the date of the annual meeting is changed by more than thirty (30) days from such anniversary date, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices no later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the meeting date was mailed or public disclosure of the meeting date was made.

 

Code of Ethics and Conduct

 

Our Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics and Conduct that is applicable to all our employees, officers and directors. Our Code of Ethics and Conduct is intended to ensure that our employees act in accordance with the highest ethical standards. The Code of Ethics and Conduct is available on the Investor Relations page of our website at http://www.digitalally.com. and the Code of Ethics and Conduct was filed as an exhibit to our annual report on Form 10-K filed March 4, 2008.

 

Director Compensation

 

Our non-employee directors received the restricted stock grants noted in the section below entitled “Director Compensation” for their service on the Board of Directors in 2016, including on the Audit, Nominating and Governance and Compensation Committees.

 

Effective September 2, 2011, our Board of Directors terminated cash compensation to all non-employee Board members as part of the Company’s cost reduction program. The non-employee directors who attended Board meetings and meetings as members of various committees of the Board were reimbursed for their out-of-pocket costs in attending the meetings of the Board of Directors.

 

During 2015 and 2016, our Board of Directors reinstituted the payment of cash compensation to our non-employee Board members as noted in the section below entitled “Director Compensation” for their service on the Board of Directors in 2016, including on the Audit, Nominating and Governance and Compensation Committees. Neither the chairmen of each committee of the Board nor any members of any committee received any additional cash compensation for their service on such committees in 2016.

 

In May 2016, we granted to Messrs. Richie, Kaplan, Caulfield and Hutchins each options to acquire 10,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.92 per share for their service on the Board until the next annual meeting of stockholders with vesting to occur on May 1, 2017 provided each person has remained a director at such dates. Mr. Kaplan resigned from the board of directors effective September 9, 2016 for health reasons. In connection with his resignation and in recognition of his many years of service, we accelerated the vesting of the stock options awarded to him in May 2016 as a director, paid him the $45,000 balance of his cash compensation as a director for 2016/2017, vested any other unvested stock options and restricted stock awards and extended the termination date of his stock options to May 1, 2018. Further, the Board of Directors gave him the honorary title of “Director Emeritus” until the next annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Director compensation for the year ended December 31, 2016 was as follows:

 

Director Compensation

 

Name  Fees
earned or paid in cash ($)
   Stock
awards
($) (2)
   Option awards
($) (2)
   Total
($)
 
Stanton E. Ross, Chairman of the Board (1)  $   $   $   $ 
Leroy C. Richie  $50,000   $   $32,478   $82,478 
Elliot M. Kaplan (3)  $85,000   $   $32,478   $117,478 
Daniel F. Hutchins  $50,000   $   $32,478   $82,478 
Michael J. Caulfield (4)  $15,000   $   $32,478   $47,478 

 

 

(1) Mr. Ross’s compensation and option awards are provided in the Executive Compensation table because he did not receive compensation or stock options for his services as a director.
   
(2) Represents aggregate grant date fair value pursuant to ASC Topic 718 for the respective year for stock options and restricted stock granted. Please refer to Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for further description of the awards and the underlying assumptions utilized to determine the amount of grant date fair value related to such grants.
   
(3) Mr. Kaplan resigned from the board of directors effective September 9, 2016. In connection with his resignation and in recognition of his many years of service, we accelerated the vesting of the stock options awarded to him in May 2016 as a director, paid him the $45,000 balance of his cash compensation as a director for 2016/2017, vested any other unvested stock options and restricted stock awards and extended the termination date of his stock options to May 1, 2018.
   
(4) Mr. Caulfield became a member of the board of directors effective May 12, 2016 upon his election at the 2016 Annual Shareholders Meeting.

 

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Stock Option and Restricted Stock Grants to Directors

 

Name of Individual  Number of Restricted Shares of Common Stock Granted   Number of Options Granted   Average per Share Exercise Price 
Stanton E. Ross (1)          $ 
Leroy C. Richie (2)       10,000   $3.92 
Elliot M. Kaplan (3)       10,000   $3.92 
Daniel F. Hutchins (2)       10,000   $3.92 
Michael J. Caulfield (2)       10,000   $3.92 

 

 

(1) Mr. Ross’s compensation and option awards are noted in the Executive Compensation table because he did not receive compensation or stock options for his services as a director.
   
(2) The stock option grants were issued on May 12, 2016 with vesting to occur on May 1, 2017.
   
(3) Mr. Kaplan resigned from the board of directors effective September 9, 2016 and in connection with such resignation we immediately vested all outstanding unvested stock options and restricted stock and extended the exercise period of his stock options to May 1, 2018.

 

PROPOSAL TWO

 

TO AMEND THE 2015 STOCK OPTION AND RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE PLAN BY 500,000.

 

We are seeking stockholder approval to amend the 2015 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2015 Plan”) to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2015 Plan from 750,000 to 1,250,000. At April 3, 2017, there were 741,850 shares subject to restricted stock awards or stock options issued under the 2015 Plan since its adoption in 2015. We made such grants generally in lieu of cash bonuses and compensation, which helped to conserve cash in the 2015 and 2016 and plan to do the same in 2017. As a result of our past grants, we have 8,150 shares remaining available for awards as of April 3, 2017 under the 2015 Plan.

 

The purpose of the 2015 Plan is to offer all our employees, directors, and key consultants an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in our success, and remain in service to the Company and to attract new employees, directors and consultants. The 2015 Plan provides both for the direct award of shares, for the grant of options to purchase shares, as well as for the grant of Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs). Options granted under the 2015 Plan may include non-statutory options as well as incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

The Company has a policy of issuing new shares upon the exercise of stock options, awarding significant amounts of stock options or restricted stock grants to new employees and regularly awarding such to employees on an annual basis. Stock options are generally granted at the market price on the date of grant. Stock options and restricted stock grants have generally vested over one or more years for officers and employees and one year for directors. Stock options generally can be exercised within seven to ten years.

 

The aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2015 Plan was originally set at 300,000 shares. In order to continue, as well as enhance, the effectiveness of the Plan, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan by 450,000, for a total of 750,000 shares on February 25, 2016, which amendment was approved at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Further, on February 24, 2017 the Board of Directors approved a new amendment to increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan by 500,000, for a total of 1,250,000 shares, which amendment is subject to approval at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

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The Board believes the approval of the amendment is necessary in order to make shares available for future awards, in part, due to the following.

 

(i) We anticipate that in order to meet the objectives and requirements of the 2015 Plan, we will likely utilize all the shares presently available for awards under the 2015 Plan in 2017; and

 

(ii) There are relatively few shares available for grant under our existing stock option plans. Due a number of factors, including the decline in the price of our common stock, the exercise prices of a large number of the options granted in prior years remain well above the current market price. Further, previous long-term restricted stock awards have, in large part, become fully vested. We face increasing competition from industry to retain our talented and experienced staff and add staff as appropriate. We believe that new equity awards that vest over longer periods are effective for retention and incentive compensation.

 

In view of the limited number of shares remaining for grants under the 2015 Plan and earlier stock option plans, the continued need to attract and maintain individuals of the highest caliber to positions on the Board, management and employment, the Board of Directors has concluded that the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2015 Plan should be increased by 500,000.

 

The Board of Directors approved the increase in shares reserved under and required amendment to the 2015 Plan on February 24, 2017, subject to stockholder approval at the annual meeting. If our stockholders approve the amendment to the 2015 Plan, 500,000 additional shares will be available for future grants.

 

The Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interests of us and our stockholders to approve the increase in shares reserved under the 2015 Plan. The Board believes that equity awards assist in retaining, motivating and rewarding employees, executives and consultants by giving them an opportunity to obtain long-term equity participation in us. In addition, equity awards are an important contributor to aligning the incentives of our employees with the interests of our stockholders.

 

The Board also believes equity awards are essential to attracting new employees and retaining current employees. Further, the granting of options to new and existing employees frequently permits us to pay lower salaries than otherwise might be the case. The Board of Directors believes that to remain competitive with other technology companies in our long-term incentive plans, we must continue to provide employees with the opportunity to obtain equity in us and that an inability to offer equity incentives to new and current employees would put us at a competitive disadvantage in attracting and retaining qualified personnel. Our named executive officers and directors have an interest in this proposal because they are expected to receive awards under the 2015 Plan if the amendment is approved at the annual meeting.

 

The full text of the proposed amendment to increase the number of shares under the 2015 Plan is attached to this proxy statement as Appendix A.

 

Vote Required and Recommendation

 

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast will be required to approve the amendment to the 2015 Plan.

 

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE TO AMEND THE 2015 STOCK OPTION AND RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE PLAN BY 500,000 SHARES.

 

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Summary of the 2015 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan

 

The 2015 Plan, as amended authorizes us to issue 750,000 shares of common stock upon exercise of options and grant of restricted stock awards. The 2015 Plan authorizes us to grant (i) to the key employees incentive stock options to purchase shares of common stock and non-qualified stock options to purchase shares of common stock and restricted stock awards and (ii) to nonemployee directors and consultants’ non-qualified stock options and restricted stock. As of April 3, 2017, approximately 154 employees, two executive officers, and three non-employee directors were eligible to participate in the 2015 Plan.

 

The following paragraphs provide a summary of the principal features of the 2015 Plan and its operation. In addition, we have included the material change reflecting the proposed amendment to increase the number of shares reserved under the 2015 Plan. All references to the 2015 Plan in this summary will include the proposed amendment, unless the context requires otherwise. The summary is subject to the terms of the 2015 Plan and capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the 2015 Plan, unless the context otherwise requires. We will provide, upon request, a copy of the full text of the 2015 Plan to each person to whom a copy of this proxy statement is delivered. All written requests should be addressed as follows: Digital Ally, Inc., 9705 Loiret Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219, Attention: Secretary.

 

Objectives. The objective of the 2015 Plan is to provide incentives to our key employees, officers, directors and consultants to achieve financial results aimed at increasing stockholder value and attracting talented individuals to us. Persons eligible to be granted stock options or restricted stock under the 2015 Plan will be those persons whose performance, in the judgment of the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, can have significant impact on our success.

 

Oversight. Our Board administers the 2015 Plan by making determinations regarding the persons to whom options or restricted stock should be granted and the amount, terms, conditions and restrictions of the awards. The Board also has the authority to interpret the provisions of the 2015 Plan and to establish and amend rules for its administration subject to the 2015 Plan’s limitations. In addition, under the 2015 Plan, our Board is authorized to re-price any Option granted under the Plan by lowering its exercise price after it is granted, canceling an Option at a time when its exercise price exceeds the Fair Market Value of the stock underlying the Option, in exchange for another Option or Award, as well as any other action that is treated as a re-pricing under generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Number of Shares of Common Stock Available Under the 2015 Plan. If our stockholders approve the increase in the number of shares reserved under the 2015 Plan by 500,000, a total of 1,250,000 shares of our common stock will be reserved for issuance under the 2015 Plan. As of April 3, 2017, the 2015 Plan had 741,850 shares issued or reserved for issuance.

 

Outstanding Stock Options Held by Directors and Officers.

 

The following table presents information concerning the outstanding equity awards for the Directors and Officers as of December 31, 2016:

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

Name  Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable   Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable   Equity incentive plan awards: Numbe of securities underlying unexercised unearned Options (#)   Option exercise price ($)   Option expiration date
Stanton E. Ross
Chairman, CEO and President
   15,000           $4.80   1/12/2022
    18,750           $13.20   1/10/2021
    3,750           $14.24   5/5/2019
    37,500           $54.40   1/2/2018
    21,875           $32.40   10/15/2017
    25,000           $12.80   3/3/2017
Leroy C. Richie                       
Lead Outside Director   10,000           $3.92   5/11/2026
    1,250           $13.20   1/10/2021
    625           $14.24   5/5/2019
    6,250           $54.40   1/2/2018
    13,805           $12.80   3/3/2017
Elliot M. Kaplan
Former Director (Resigned effective September 9, 2016)
   10,000           $3.92   5/11/2026
    7,250           $3.52   5/25/2022
    1,250           $9.52   6/3/2021
    1,250           $13.20   1/10/2021
    625           $14.24   5/5/2019
    6,250           $54.40   1/2/2018
    7,950           $12.80   3/3/2017
                        
Daniel F. Hutchins
Director
   10,000           $3.92   5/11/2026
    8,750           $3.52   5/25/2022
    1,250           $9.52   6/3/2021
    1,250           $13.20   1/10/2021
    625           $14.24   5/5/2019
    3,125           $12.72   5/5/2019
    6,250           $54.40   1/2/2018
    1,250           $32.00   10/1/2017
                        
Michael J. Caulfield
Director
   10,000           $3.92   5/11/2026
Thomas J. Heckman
CFO, Treasurer and Secretary
   12,500           $13.20   1/10/2021
    3,750           $24.80   7/30/2019
    3,750           $14.24   5/5/2019
    2,500           $12.72   3/30/2019
    12,500           $54.40   1/2/2018
    2,500           $32.40   10/15/2017

 

Types of Grants. The 2015 Plan allows for the grant of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options and restricted stock awards. The 2015 Plan does not specify what portion of the awards may be in the form of incentive stock options, non-statutory options or restricted stock. Incentive stock options awarded to our employees are qualified stock options under the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Statutory Conditions on Stock Option—Exercise Price. Incentive stock options granted under the 2015 Plan must have an exercise price at least equal to 100% of the fair market value of the common stock as of the date of grant. Incentive stock options granted to any person who owns, immediately after the grant, stock possessing more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of our stock, or of any parent or subsidiary corporation, must have an exercise price at least equal to 110% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. Non-statutory stock options may have an exercise price at least equal to 100% of the fair market value of the common stock as of the date of the grant.

 

- Dollar limit. The aggregate fair market value, determined as of the time an incentive stock option is granted, of the common stock with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable by an employee for the first time during any calendar year cannot exceed $100,000. However, there is no aggregate dollar limitation on the amount of non-statutory stock options that may be exercisable for the first time during any calendar year.

 

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- Expiration date. Any option granted under the 2015 Plan will expire at the time fixed by our Board of Directors, which cannot be more than ten years after the date it is granted or, in the case of any person who owns more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of our stock or of any subsidiary corporation, not more than five years after the date of grant.

 

- Exercisability. Our Board may also specify when all or part of an option becomes exercisable, but in the absence of such specification, the option will ordinarily be exercisable in whole or in part at any time during its term. However, the board of directors may accelerate the exercisability of any option at its discretion.

 

- Assignability. Options granted under the 2015 Plan are not assignable. Incentive stock options may be exercised only while we employ the optionee or within twelve months after termination by reason of death or disabilities or within three months after termination for any other reason.

 

Payment upon Exercise of Options. Payment of the exercise price for any option may be in cash, or with our consent, by withheld shares which, upon exercise, have a fair market value at the time the option is exercised equal to the option price (plus applicable withholding tax) or in the form of shares of common stock, subject to restrictions.

 

Restricted Stock. Our Board is authorized to grant restricted stock awards. A restricted stock grant is a grant of shares of our common stock, which is subject to restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions and which may be forfeited in the event of certain terminations of employment or service prior to the end of a restricted period specified by the Board of Directors. A participant granted restricted stock generally has all of the rights of a stockholder, unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee.

 

Merger or Sale of Assets. If we merge with or into another corporation, or sell all or substantially all our assets, any unvested Awards will vest immediately prior to closing of the event resulting in the change of control, and the Board shall have the power and discretion to provide for each award holder’s election alternatives regarding the terms and conditions for the exercise of such awards. The alternative may provide that each outstanding stock option and restricted stock award will be assumed or substituted for by the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary or such successor corporation). If there is no assumption or substitution of outstanding awards, the administrator will provide notice to the recipient of his alternatives regarding his right to exercise the stock option as to all the shares subject to the stock option.

 

Amendment and Termination of the 2015 Plan. The administrator has the authority to amend, alter, suspend, or terminate the 2015 Plan, except that stockholder approval will be required for any amendment to the 2015 Plan to the extent required by any applicable law, regulation, or Nasdaq or stock exchange rule. Any amendment, alteration, suspension, or termination will not, without the consent of the participant, materially adversely affect any rights or obligations under any stock option or restricted stock award previously granted. The 2015 Plan has a term of ten (10) years beginning June 19, 2015, unless terminated earlier by the administrator.

 

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Recent Stock Option and Restricted Stock Award Grants to Employees, Consultants, and Directors

 

As of December 31, 2015, we had adopted seven separate stock option and restricted stock plans: (i) the 2005 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2005 Plan”), (ii) the 2006 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2006 Plan”), (iii) the 2007 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2007 Plan”), (iv) the 2008 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2008 Plan”), (v) the 2011 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2011 Plan”), (vi) the 2013 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2013 Plan”) and (vii) the 2015 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2015 Plan”). The 2005 Plan, 2006 Plan, 2007 Plan, 2008 Plan, 2011 Plan, 2013 Plan and 2015 Plan are referred to as the “Plans.” These Plans permit the grant of stock options or restricted stock to its employees, non-employee directors and others for up to a total of 1,925,000 shares of common stock. The 2005 Plan terminated during 2015 with 28 shares not awarded or underlying options, which shares are now unavailable for issuance. Stock options granted under the 2005 Plan that remain unexercised and outstanding as of December 31, 2016 total 26,813. The 2006 Plan terminated during 2016 with 30 shares not awarded or underlying options, which shares are now unavailable for issuance. Stock options granted under the 2006 Plan that remain unexercised and outstanding as of December 31, 2016 total 64,955. We believe that such awards better align the interests of our employees with those of our stockholders. Option awards have been granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of our stock at the date of grant with such option awards generally vesting based on the completion of continuous service and having ten-year contractual terms. Restricted stock awards have also been made under the Plans. A restricted stock award is a grant of shares of the common stock that is subject to restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions and that may be forfeited in the event of certain terminations of employment or service prior to the end of a restricted period specified by the Compensation Committee. These option and restricted stock awards typically provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control (as defined in the Plans). We have registered all shares of common stock that are issuable under our Plans with the SEC. A total of 200,772 shares remained available for awards under the various Plans as of December 31, 2016.

 

The number of stock options and restricted stock awards that an employee, director, or consultant may receive under our Plans is in the discretion of the administrator and therefore cannot be determined in advance, although the Board of Directors’ policy for 2016 was to grant directors stock options that vest over a one-year period and to grant officers restricted shares that vest over a two-year period.

 

The following table sets forth (a) the aggregate number of shares subject to options and restricted stock granted under the Plans during the year-ended December 31, 2016 and (b) the average per share exercise price of such options.

 

Stock Option and Restricted Stock Grants

 

Name of Individual or Group  Number of Restricted Shares of Common Stock Granted   Number of Options Granted  

Average per Share Exercise

 
Stanton E. Ross, Chairman of the Board, CEO & President   100,000       $ 
Leroy C. Richie, Director       10,000   $3.92 
Elliot M. Kaplan, Former Director (Resigned effective September 9, 2016)       10,000   $3.92 
Daniel F. Hutchins, Director       10,000   $3.92 
Michael J. Caulfield, Director       10,000   $3.92 
Thomas J. Heckman, Vice President, CFO, Treasurer & Secretary   100,000       $ 
                
All executive officers, as a group   200,000       $ 
All directors who are not executive officers, as a group       40,000   $3.92 
All employees who are not executive officers, as a group   90,000       $ 

 

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Federal Tax Aspects

 

The following summary is a brief discussion of certain federal income tax consequences to U.S. taxpayers and to the Company of stock option and restricted stock awards granted under the 2015 Plan. This summary is not intended to be a complete discussion of all the federal income tax consequences of the 2015 Plan or of all the requirements that must be met in order to qualify for the tax treatment described below. The following summary is based upon the provisions of U.S. federal tax law in effect on the date hereof, which is subject to change (perhaps with retroactive effect), and does not constitute tax advice. In addition, because tax consequences may vary, and certain exceptions to the general rules discussed in this summary may be applicable, depending upon the personal circumstances of individual recipients and each recipient should consider his or her personal situation and consult with his or her own tax advisor with respect to the specific tax consequences applicable to him or her. The following assumes stock options have been granted at an exercise price per share at least equal to 100% of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.

 

Tax consequences of nonqualified stock options. In general, an employee, director or consultant will not recognize income at the time of the grant of nonqualified options under the 2015 Plan. When an optionee exercises a nonqualified stock option, he or she generally will recognize ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value (determined on the day of exercise) of the shares of the common stock received over the option exercise price. The tax basis of such shares to the optionee will be equal to the exercise price paid plus the amount of ordinary income includible in his or her gross income at the time of the exercise. Upon a subsequent sale or exchange of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a nonqualified stock option, the optionee will have taxable capital gain or loss, measured by the difference between the amount realized on the sale or exchange and the tax basis of the shares. The capital gain or loss will be short-term or long-term depending on holding period of the shares sold.

 

Tax consequences of incentive stock options. In general, an employee will not recognize income on the grant of incentive stock options under the 2015 Plan. Except with respect to the alternative minimum tax, an optionee will not recognize income on the exercise of an incentive stock option unless the option exercise price is paid with stock acquired on the exercise of an incentive stock option and the following holding period for such stock has not been satisfied. For purposes of the alternative minimum tax, however, an optionee will be required to treat an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value (determined on the day of exercise) of our shares of the common stock received and the exercise price as an item of adjustment in computing the optionee’s alternative minimum taxable income.

 

An optionee will recognize long-term capital gain or loss on a sale of the shares acquired on exercise, provided the shares acquired are not sold or otherwise disposed of before the earlier of: (i) two years from the date of grant of the option, or (ii) one year from the date of exercise of the option. In general, the amount of gain or loss will equal the difference, if any, between the sale price of such shares and the exercise price. If the stock is not held for the required period of time, the optionee will recognize ordinary income to the extent the fair market value (determined on the day of exercise) of the stock exceeds the option price, but limited to the gain recognized on sale. The balance of any such gain will be a short-term or long-term capital gain (depending on the applicable holding period).

 

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For the exercise of a stock option to qualify for the foregoing incentive stock option tax treatment, an optionee generally must be our employee continuously from the date of the grant until any termination of employment, and in the event of a termination of employment, the stock option must be exercised within three months after the termination.

 

Tax consequences of restricted stock awards. In general, the recipient of a stock award that is not subject to restrictions will recognize ordinary income at the time the shares are received equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares received over the amount, if any, the recipient paid in exchange for the shares. If, however, the shares are subject to vesting or other restrictions (that is, they are nontransferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture) when the shares are granted (for example, if the employee is required to work for a period of time in order to have the right to sell the stock), the recipient generally will not recognize income until the shares becomes vested or the restrictions otherwise lapse, at which time the recipient will recognize ordinary income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares on the date of vesting (or the date of the lapse of a restriction) less the amount, if any, the recipient paid in exchange for the shares. If the shares are forfeited under the terms of the restricted stock award, the recipient will not recognize income and will not be allowed an income tax deduction with respect to the forfeiture.

 

A recipient may file an election under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code with the Internal Revenue Service within thirty (30) days of his or her receipt of a restricted stock award to recognize ordinary income, as of the award date, equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares on the award date less the amount, if any, the recipient paid in exchange for the shares. If a recipient makes a Section 83(b) election, then the recipient will not otherwise be taxed in the year the vesting or restriction lapses, and, if the stock award is forfeited, he or she will not be allowed an income tax deduction. If the recipient does not make a Section 83(b) election, dividends paid to the recipient on the shares prior to the date the vesting or restrictions lapse will be treated as compensation income.

 

The recipient’s tax basis for the determination of gain or loss upon the subsequent disposition of shares acquired as stock awards will be the amount paid for such shares plus the amount includible in his or her gross income as compensation in respect of such shares.

 

Withholding and other consequences. Any compensation includible in the gross income of a recipient will be subject to appropriate federal and state income tax withholding.

 

Tax effect for the Company. We are generally entitled to an income tax deduction in connection with a stock option or restricted stock award granted under the 2015 Plan in an amount equal to the ordinary income realized by a recipient at the time the recipient recognizes such income (for example, the exercise of a nonqualified stock option). Special rules may limit the deductibility of compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer and to each of our four most highly compensated executive officers under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent that annual compensation paid to any of the foregoing individuals exceeds $1,000,000.

 

THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UPON PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE GRANT AND EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS, STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS, AND RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS UNDER THE 2015 PLAN. IT DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE, AND DOES NOT DISCUSS THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF A RECIPIENT’S DEATH OR THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE RECIPIENT MAY RESIDE. THE FOREGOING SUMMARY IS NOT INTENDED OR WRITTEN TO BE USED, AND IT CANNOT BE USED BY ANY TAXPAYER, TO AVOID PENALTIES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED ON THE TAXPAYER.

 

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PROPOSAL THREE

 

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed RSM US LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2017 and recommends that stockholders vote for ratification of such appointment. Although we are not required to seek stockholder approval of this appointment, the Board believes it to be sound corporate governance to do so. Notwithstanding the selection by the Audit Committee of RSM US LLP, the Audit Committee may direct the appointment of a new independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Board of Directors determines that such a change would be in our best interest and in that of our stockholders. If the appointment is not ratified, the Audit Committee will investigate the reasons for stockholder rejection and will reconsider the appointment.

 

The Audit Committee believes that RSM US LLP is well suited to provide the services that we require in 2017 and beyond. Representatives of RSM US LLP are expected to attend the annual meeting, where they will be available to respond to questions and, if they desire, to make a statement.

 

Audit and Related Fees

 

The following table is a summary of the fees billed to us by RSM US LLP for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

Fee Category  Fiscal 2016 fees   Fiscal 2015 fees 
Audit fees  $156,600   $150,000 
Audit-related fees        
Tax fees       19,500 
All other fees   15,627    146,817 
Total fees  $172,227   $316,317 

 

Audit Fees. Such amount consists of fees billed for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements and review of the interim financial statements included in our quarterly reports. It also includes services that are normally provided by our independent registered public accounting firms in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

 

Audit-Related Fees. Consists of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include employee benefit plan audits, consents issued for certain filings with the SEC, accounting consultations in connection with acquisitions, attest services that are not required by statute or regulation, and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.

 

Tax Fees. Tax fees consist of fees billed for professional services related to tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. These services include assistance regarding federal, state and international tax compliance, tax audit defense, customs and duties, mergers and acquisitions, and international tax planning.

 

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All Other Fees. Consists of fees for products and services other than the services reported above. In fiscal 2016, such fees were related primarily to server hardware and telephone system maintenance and upgrades. In fiscal 2015, such fees were related primarily to server hardware and telephone system upgrades.

 

The Audit Committee’s practice is to consider and approve in advance all proposed audit and non-audit services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. All the fees shown above were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

 

The audit report of RSM US LLP on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

 

During our fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, there were no disagreements with RSM US LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to RSM US LLP’s satisfaction would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of such disagreements in connection with its reports on the financial statements for such periods.

 

During our fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, there were no reportable events (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

 

Vote Required and Board Recommendation

 

If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be required to ratify the appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. Abstentions will have the effect of a vote against this proposal, and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote with respect to this proposal.

 

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MCGLADREY LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED ACCOUNTING FIRM OF DIGITAL ALLY, INC. FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2017.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of our previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might incorporate future filings, including this proxy statement, in whole or in part, the Audit Committee Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any such filings.

 

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

Below is the report of the Audit Committee with respect to our audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, which includes our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and the notes thereto.

 

In accordance with the written charter adopted by the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has the primary responsibility for overseeing our financial reporting, accounting principles and system of internal accounting controls, and reporting its observations and activities to the Board of Directors. It also approves the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm and approves in advance the services performed by such firm.

 

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Review and Discussion with Management

 

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management our audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, the process designed to achieve compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, our assessment of internal control over financial reporting and the report by our independent registered public accounting firm thereon.

 

Review and Discussions with Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

In the performance of its oversight function and in accordance with its responsibilities under its charter, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. The Audit Committee also discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 16 “Communications with Audit Committee.” Finally, the Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from our independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm its independence.

 

Conclusion

 

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

 

  Respectfully submitted by:
     
  THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF DIGITAL ALLY, INC.
     
  Daniel F. Hutchins, Chairman
  Leroy C. Richie
  Michael J. Caulfield

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The following table presents information concerning the total compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (the “Named Executive Officers”) for services rendered to the Company in all capacities for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and principal position  Year   Salary ($)   Bonus ($)   Stock awards ($) (1)(3)(4)   Option awards ($) (1)   All other compensation ($) (2)   Total ($) 
Stanton E. Ross   2016   $220,000   $985,000   $462,700   $   $15,030   $1,682,730 
Chairman, CEO and President   2015   $175,000   $175,000   $892,200   $   $14,064   $1,256,264 
                                    
Thomas J. Heckman   2016   $220,000   $   $462,700   $   $19,658   $702,358 
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary   2015   $175,000   $85,000   $892,200   $   $18,126   $1,170,326 

 

 

(1) Represents aggregate grant date fair value pursuant to ASC Topic 718 for the respective year for stock options granted. Please refer to Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for further description of the awards and the underlying assumptions utilized to determine the amount of grant date fair value related to such grants.
   
(2) Amounts included in all other compensation include the following items: the employer contribution to the Company’s 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) on behalf of the named executive. We are required to provide a 100% matching contribution for all who elect to contribute up to 3% of their compensation to the plan and a 50% matching contribution for all employees’ elective deferral between 4% and 5%. The employee is (i) 100% vested at all times in the employee contributions and employer matching contributions; (ii) Company paid healthcare insurance; (iii) Company paid contributions to health savings accounts; and (iv) Company paid life, accident and disability insurance. See “All Other Compensation Table” below.
   
(3) Stock awards include the following restricted stock granted to each person during 2016: (i) 35,000 shares at $5.94 per share that vest ratably over the two-year period ending January 3, 2018; and (ii) 65,000 shares at $3.92 per share that vest ratably over the two-year period ending May 11, 2018.
   
(4) Stock awards include the following restricted stock granted to each person during 2015: (i) 30,000 shares at $11.50 per share that vested ratably over the two-year period ending February 13, 2017; (ii) 20,000 shares at $13.11 per share that vested on January 9, 2016; and (iii) 50,000 shares at $5.70 per share that vest as follows: (a) 5,000 shares on October 30, 2016; (b) 10,000 shares on October 30, 2017; (c) 15,000 shares on October 30, 2018; and (d) 20,000 shares on October 30, 2019.

 

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All Other Compensation Table

 

Name  Year   401(k) Plan contribution by Company   Company paid healthcare insurance   Flexible & health savings account contributions by Company   Company paid life, accident & disability insurance   Other Contractual payments   Total 
Stanton E. Ross    2016   $3,992   $10,512   $   $526   $   $15,030 
Chairman, CEO
and President
   2015   $4,038   $9,564   $   $462   $   $14,064 
                                     
Thomas J. Heckman   2016   $9,070   $9,262   $800   $526   $   $19,658 
Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer, Treasurer
and Secretary
   2015   $7,000   $9,564   $1,100   $462   $   $18,126 

 

 

 

Compensation Policy. Our executive compensation plan is based on attracting and retaining qualified professionals who possess theskills and leadership necessary to enable us to achieve earnings and profitability growth to satisfy its stockholders. We must, therefore, create incentives for these executives to achieve both our and individual performance objectives using performance-based compensation programs. No one component is considered by itself, but all forms of the compensation package are considered in total. Wherever possible, objective measurements will be utilized to quantify performance, but many subjective factors still come into play when determining performance.

 

Compensation Components. The main elements of its compensation package consist of base salary, stock options or restricted stock awards and bonus.

 

Base Salary. The base salary for each executive officer is reviewed and compared to the prior year, with considerations given for increase or decrease. The review is generally on an annual basis, but may take place more often in the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

 

For fiscal year 2017, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) set the annual base salaries of Stanton E. Ross, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Thomas J. Heckman, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, at $220,000 each. This represents no increase or decrease from the previous year.

 

For fiscal year 2016, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) set the annual base salaries of Stanton E. Ross, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Thomas J. Heckman, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, at $220,000 each. This represents an increase from the $175,000 annual base salary for each individual during the four previous years.

 

The Committee plans to review the base salaries for possible adjustments on an annual basis. Base salary adjustments will be based on both individual and our performance and will include both objective and subjective criteria specific to each executive’s role and responsibility with us.

 

Stock Options and Restricted Stock Awards. The Compensation Committee determined stock option and restricted stock awards based on numerous factors, some of which include responsibilities incumbent with the role of each executive with us, tenure with us, as well as our performance. The vesting period of options and restricted stock is also tied, in some instances, to our performance directly related to certain executive’s responsibilities with us. The Committee determined that Messrs. Ross and Heckman were eligible for awards of stock options or restricted stock in 2016 based on their performance. Refer to grant of Plan-Based Awards table below for restricted stock awards made in 2016. The Committee also determined that Messrs. Ross and Heckman would be eligible in 2017 for awards of restricted stock or stock options exercisable to purchase up to 125,000 shares for Mr. Ross and 75,000 shares for Mr. Heckman based on their performance during 2017 and made awards of such shares of restricted stock to each person effective January 23, 2017, which shares vest on January 22, 2019, provided each person is employed with us at such point.

 

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Bonuses. The Compensation Committee determined to award bonuses to each of the executive officers in 2016, as set forth in the foregoing table. The Compensation Committee has also determined that each of the executive officers will be eligible for the following bonuses in 2017 based on their individual performance throughout the year: Stanton E. Ross - $700,000 and Thomas J. Heckman - $100,000. The Compensation Committee reviews each executive officer’s performance on a quarterly basis and determines what, if any, portion of the bonus he has earned and will be paid as of such point. It has awarded Mr. Ross a bonus of $25,000 to date in 2017. Refer to the section entitled “Executive Compensation” for the bonuses paid to Messrs. Ross and Heckman in 2016 and 2015.

 

Other. In July 2008, we amended and restated our 401(k) retirement savings plan (the “401(k) Plan”). The amended plan requires us to provide a 100% matching contribution for employees who elect to contribute up to 3% of their compensation to the plan and a 50% matching contribution for employee’s elective deferrals between 4% and 5%. We have made matching contributions for executives who elected to contribute to the 401(k) Plan during 2010. Each participant is 100% vested at all times in employee and employer matching contributions. As of December 31, 2016, a total of 76,040 shares of our common stock were held in the 401(k) Plan. Mr. Heckman, as trustee of the 401(k) Plan, holds the voting power as to the shares of our common stock held in the 401(k) Plan. We have no profit sharing plan in place for our employees. However, we may consider adding such a plan to provide yet another level of compensation to our compensation plan.

 

The following table presents information concerning the grants of Plan-based awards to the Named Executive Officers during the year ended December 31, 2016:

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

Name  Grant
date
  Date
approved by
Compensation
Committee
  All Other stock awards: Number of shares of stock or units:
(#) (1)
  Exercise or base price of option awards
($/Share)
   Grant date
fair value of stock awards
($) (2)
 
Stanton E. Ross
Chairman, CEO and President
  1/4/2016  1/4/2016  35,000 (1)  $   $207,900 
  5/12/2016  5/12/2016  65,000 (2)  $   $254,800 
                    
Thomas J. Heckman
Vice President CFO, Treasurer and Secretary
  1/4/2016  1/4/2016  35,000 (1)  $   $207,900 
  5/12/2016  5/12/2016  65,000 (2)  $   $254,800 

 

 

(1) These restricted stock awards were made under the Digital Ally, Inc. Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plans and vest over a two-year period (50% on January 3, 2017 and 50% on January 3, 2018) contingent upon whether the individual is still employed by us at that point.
   
(2) These restricted stock awards were made under the Digital Ally, Inc. Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plans and vest over a two-year period (50% on May 11, 2017 and 50% on May 11, 2018) contingent upon whether the individual is still employed by us at that point.
   
(3) Stock awards noted represent the aggregate amount of grant date fair value as determined under ASC Topic 718. Please refer to Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for further description of the awards and the underlying assumptions utilized to determine the amount of grant date fair value related to such grants.

 

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The following table presents information concerning the outstanding equity awards for the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2016:

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

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

Stanton E. Ross
Chairman, CEO and President
   15,000           $4.80   1/12/2022
    18,750           $13.20   1/10/2021
    3,750           $14.24   5/5/2019
    37,500           $54.40   1/2/2018
    21,875           $32.40   10/15/2017
    25,000           $12.80   3/3/2017
                        
Thomas J. Heckman
CFO, Treasurer and Secretary
   12,500           $13.20   1/10/2021
    3,750           $24.80   7/30/2019
    3,750           $14.24   5/5/2019
    2,500           $12.72   3/30/2019
    12,500           $54.40   1/2/2018
    2,500           $32.40   10/15/2017

 

 

 

(1)These stock option awards were made under the Digital Ally, Inc. Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plans and vest over the prescribed period contingent upon whether the individual is still employed by the Company at that point.

 

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The following table presents information concerning the stock options exercised and the vesting of restricted stock awards during 2016 for the Named Executive Officers for the year ending December 31, 2016:

 

   Option Exercises and Restricted Stock Vested 
   Option Awards   Stock Awards 
   Number of Shares acquired realized on exercise (#)  

Value

realized on exercise ($)

   Number of Shares acquired on vesting (#)   Value on vesting ($)  
Stanton E. Ross
Chairman, CEO & President
      $    55,000   $299,500 (1)   
Thomas J. Heckman
CFO, Treasurer and Secretary
      $    55,000   $299,500 (1)   
 
 
(1)Based on the closing market price of our common stock of $5.64 on January 11, 2016, the date of vesting for 20,000 shares, $5.07 on February 12, 2016, the date of vesting for 15,000 shares, $5.51 on February 19, 2016, the date of vesting for 15,000 shares, and $5.60 on October 30, 2016 the date of vesting for 5,000 shares.

 

Stock Option Plans

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

 

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had adopted seven separate stock option and restricted stock plans: (i) the 2005 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2005 Plan”), (ii) the 2006 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2006 Plan”), (iii) the 2007 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2007 Plan”), (iv) the 2008 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2008 Plan”), (v) the 2011 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2011 Plan”), (vi) the 2013 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2013 Plan”) and (vii) the 2015 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “2015 Plan”), which was amended in May 2016. These Plans permit the grant of stock options or restricted stock to its employees, non-employee directors and others totaling 1,925,000 shares of common stock. The 2005 Plan expired during 2015 with 28 shares reserved for awards but unissued which are now unavailable for issuance and the 2006 Plan expired in 2016 with 30 shares reserved for awards but unissued which are now unavailable for issuance. The Company believes that such awards better align the interests of its employees with those of its shareholders. Option awards have been granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the Company’s stock at the date of grant with such option awards generally vesting based on the completion of continuous service and having ten-year contractual terms. These option awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control (as defined in the Plans) or the death or disability of the holder. The Company has registered all shares of common stock that are issuable under its Plans with the SEC. A total of 200,772 shares remained available for grant under the various Plans as of December 31, 2016.

 

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The Plans authorize us to grant (i) to the key employees incentive stock options (except for the 2007 Plan) to purchase shares of common stock and nonqualified stock options to purchase shares of common stock and restricted stock awards, and (ii) to non-employee directors and consultants non-qualified stock options and restricted stock. The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors administers the Plans by making recommendations to the Board of Directors or determinations regarding the persons to whom options or restricted stock should be granted and the amount, terms, conditions and restrictions of the awards.

 

The Plans allow for the grant of incentive stock options (except for the 2007 Plan), non-qualified stock options and restricted stock awards. Incentive stock options granted under the Plans must have an exercise price at least equal to 100% of the fair market value of the common stock as of the date of grant. Incentive stock options granted to any person who owns, immediately after the grant, stock possessing more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of our stock, or of any parent or subsidiary corporation, must have an exercise price at least equal to 110% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. Non-statutory stock options may have exercise prices as determined by our Compensation Committee.

 

The Compensation Committee is also authorized to grant restricted stock awards under the Plans and has done so. A restricted stock award is a grant of shares of the common stock that is subject to restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions and that may be forfeited in the event of certain terminations of employment or service prior to the end of a restricted period specified by the Compensation Committee. We have filed registration statements on Form S-8 and amendments to a previously filed Form S-8 with the SEC which registered all restricted shares granted and all shares to be issued upon exercise of the stock options underlying the 2005 Plan, 2006 Plan, 2007 Plan, 2008 Plan, 2011 Plan, 2013 Plan and 2015 Plan.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 2016

 

Plan category

 

Number of securities to be

issued upon exercise of

outstanding options, warrants and rights (a)

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

Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity

compensation

plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a) (c)

 
             
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders   272,081   $18.26    200,763 
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders   90,359   $19.05    9 
Total all plans   362,440   $18.46    200,772 

 

The number of stock options and restricted stock awards that an employee, director, or consultant may receive under our Plans is in the discretion of the administrator and therefore cannot be determined in advance, although the Board of Directors’ policy in 2016 was to grant officers an award of 100,000 restricted shares each and each non-employee director an award of options to purchase 10,000 shares, all subject to vesting requirements.

 

The following table sets forth (a) the aggregate number of shares subject to options granted under the Plans during the year-ended December 31, 2016 and (b) the average per share exercise price of such options.

 

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Stock Option and Restricted Stock Grants

 

Name of Individual or Group  Number of Restricted Shares of Common Stock Granted   Number of Options Granted   Average per Share Exercise Price 
Stanton E. Ross, Chairman of the Board,
CEO & President
   100,000       $ 
Leroy C. Richie, Director       10,000   $3.92 
Elliot M. Kaplan, Former Director, resigned effective September 9, 2016       10,000   $3.92 
Daniel F. Hutchins, Director       10,000   $3.92 
Michael J. Caulfield, Director       10,000   $3.92 
Thomas J. Heckman, Vice President, CFO,
Treasurer & Secretary
   100,000       $ 
                
All executive officers, as a group   200,000       $ 
All directors who are not executive officers, as a group       40,000   $3.92 
All employees who are not executive officers, as a group   90,000       $ 

 

Employment Contracts; Termination of Employment and Change-in-Control Arrangements

 

We do not have any employment agreements with any of our executive officers. However, on December 23, 2008, we entered into retention agreements with the following executive officers: Stanton E. Ross and Thomas J. Heckman.

 

Retention Agreements - Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control

 

The following table sets forth for each named executive officer potential post-employment payments and payments on a change in control and assumes that the triggering event took place on January 1, 2017.

 

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Retention Agreement Compensation

 

Name  Change in control payment due based upon successful completion of transaction  

Severance payment due based on termination after Change of

Control occurs

   Total 
Stanton E. Ross   $73,333   $220,000   $293,333 
Thomas J. Heckman   $73,333   $220,000   $293,333 
 Total   $146,666   $440,000   $586,666 

 

The retention agreements guarantee the executive officers specific payments and benefits upon a Change in Control of the Company. The retention agreements also provide for specified severance benefits if, after a Change in Control of the Company occurs, the executive officer voluntarily terminates employment for “Good Reason” or is involuntarily terminated without “Cause.”

 

Under the retention agreements, a “Change in Control” means (i) one party alone, or acting with others, has acquired or gained control over more than 50% of the voting shares of the Company; (ii) the Company merges or consolidates with or into another entity or completes any other corporate reorganization, if more than 50% of the combined voting power of the surviving entity’s securities outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization is owned by persons who were not stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization; (iii) a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors is replaced and/or dismissed by the stockholders of the Company without the recommendation of or nomination by the Company’s current Board of Directors; (iv) the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) is replaced and/or dismissed by stockholders without the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors; or (v) the Company sells, transfers or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and the Company does not own stock in the purchaser or purchasers having more than 50% of the voting power of the entity owning all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company after such purchase.

 

“Good Reason” means either (i) a material adverse change in the executive’s status as an executive or other key employee of the Company, including without limitation, a material adverse change in the executive’s position, authority, or aggregate duties or responsibilities; (ii) any adverse change in the executive’s base salary, target bonus or benefits; or (iii) a request by the Company to materially change the executive’s geographic work location.

 

“Cause” means (i) the executive has acted in bad faith and to the detriment of the Company; (ii) the executive has refused or failed to act in accordance with any specific lawful and material direction or order of his or her supervisor; (iii) the executive has exhibited, in regard to employment, unfitness or unavailability for service, misconduct, dishonesty, habitual neglect, incompetence, or has committed an act of embezzlement, fraud or theft with respect to the property of the Company; (iv) the executive has abused alcohol or drugs on the job or in a manner that affects the executive’s job performance; and/or (v) the executive has been found guilty of or has plead nolo contendere to the commission of a crime involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or physical or emotional harm to any person. Prior to termination for Cause, the Company shall give the executive written notice of the reason for such potential termination and provide the executive a 30-day period to cure such conduct or act or omission alleged to provide grounds for such termination.

 

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If any Change in Control occurs and the executive continues to be employed as of the completion of such Change in Control, upon completion of such Change in Control, as payment for the executive’s additional efforts during such Change in Control, the Company shall pay the executive a Change in Control benefit payment equal to three months of the his base salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control completion date, payable in a lump sum net of required tax withholdings. If any Change in Control occurs, and if, during the one-year period following the Change in Control, the Company terminates the executive’s employment without Cause or the executive submits a resignation for Good Reason (the effective date of such termination or resignation, the “Termination Date”), then:

 

(a) The Company shall pay the executive severance pay equal to 12 months of his base salary at the higher of the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date or the rate in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the event or events constituting Good Reason, payable on the Termination Date in a lump sum net of required tax withholdings, plus all other amounts then payable by the Company to the executive less any amounts then due and owing from the executive to the Company;

 

(b) The Company shall provide continuation of the executive’s health benefits at the Company’s expense for 18 months following the Termination Date; and

 

(c) The executive’s outstanding employee stock options shall fully vest and be exercisable for a 90-day period following the Termination Date.

 

The executive is not entitled to the above severance benefits for a termination based on death or disability, resignation without Good Reason or termination for Cause. Following the Termination Date, the Company shall also pay the executive all reimbursements for expenses in accordance with the Company’s policies, within ten days of submission of appropriate evidence thereof by the executive.

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth, as of April 3, 2017, the number and percentage of outstanding shares of common stock beneficially owned by each person known by us to beneficially own more than five percent of such stock. We have no other class of capital stock outstanding.

 

The following table sets forth, as of April 3, 2017, the number and percentage of outstanding shares of common stock beneficially owned by each person known by us to beneficially own more than five percent of such stock. We have no other class of capital stock outstanding:

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

 

The following table sets forth information regarding ownership of our common stock by:

 

  each person or group of affiliated persons known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of  our outstanding common stock;
  each of our directors and nominees for director;
  each of our named executive officers; and
  all directors and executive officers as a group.

 

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The amounts for our named executive officers and directors as a group and our significant stockholders are as of April 3, 2017, the Record Date, unless otherwise indicated in a footnote below. Beneficial ownership in this table is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under these rules, the number of shares of common stock deemed outstanding includes all shares of restricted stock and those shares issuable upon exercise of options held by the respective person or group that may be exercised within 60 days after April 3, 2017. For purposes of calculating each person’s or group’s percentage ownership, unvested stock options exercisable within 60 days and all shares of restricted stock are included for that person or group, but not for any other person or group. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on the shares of common stock outstanding as of April 3, 2017.

 

Name and address of beneficial owner   Amount and nature of beneficial  

Percent

of class

5% Stockholders (excluding executive officers and directors):        
None (1)(2)(3)        

 

 

 

 

(1) Based solely on a review of Schedules 13G filed as of February 28, 2016.

 

(2) Hudson Bay Master Fund, Ltd. owns warrants exercisable to purchase a total of 769,795 shares of common stock at a price of $13.43 per share and 412,200 shares at a price of $5.00 per share. The warrants contain provisions that limit the number of shares issuable upon their exercise to 4.99% beneficial ownership of our common stock, or 9.99% beneficial ownership if the holder gives us written notice, which it has not. An increase in the ownership limit to 9.9% would amount to beneficial ownership of 574,969 shares if the holder exercised that portion of its warrants.

   
 

(3) CVI Investments, Inc. owns warrants exercisable to purchase a total of 749,795 shares of common stock at a price of $13.43 per share and 400,000 shares at a price of $5.00 per share. The warrants contain provisions that limit the number of shares issuable upon their exercise to 4.99% beneficial ownership of our common stock, or 9.99% if the holder gives us written notice, which it has not. An increase of the ownership limit to 9.9% would amount to beneficial ownership of 574,969 shares if the holder exercised that portion of its warrants.

 

The following table sets forth, as of April 3, 2017, the number and percentage of outstanding shares of common stock beneficially owned by each director of the Company, each named officer of the Company, and all our directors and executive officers as a group. We have no other class of capital stock outstanding.

 

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Security Ownership of Executive Officers and Directors

 

 

 

Name and address of beneficial owner

  Amount and nature of beneficial ownership  

Percent

of class

 
Executive Officers & Directors: (1)        
Stanton E. Ross (2)   533,387    9.0%
Leroy C. Richie (3)   72,398    1.2%
Daniel F. Hutchins (4)   66,450    1.1%
Michael J. Caulfield (5)   10,000    0.2%
Thomas J. Heckman (6)   468,823    8.0%
           
All officers and directors as a group (five individuals)   1,151,058    19.5%

 

 

(1) The address of these persons is c/o Digital Ally, Inc. 9705 Loiret Blvd, Lenexa, KS 66219.
(2) Mr. Ross’s total shares include: (i) 252,500 restricted shares that are subject to forfeiture to us and (ii) vested options exercisable to purchase 121,875 shares of common stock. Mr. Ross has pledged 200,525 common shares and options exercisable to purchase 121,875 shares of common stock at $8.00 per share to the lenders as collateral for personal loans.
(3) Mr. Richie’s total shares include: (i) 9,000 restricted shares of common stock that are subject to forfeiture to us, (ii) vested options exercisable to purchase 23,180 shares of common stock and (ii) 10,000 shares of common stock underlying stock option awards that vest within 60 days.
(4) Mr. Hutchin’s total shares include: (i) 9,000 restricted shares of common stock that are subject to forfeiture to us, (ii) vested options exercisable to purchase 22,500 shares of common stock and (ii) 10,000 shares of common stock underlying stock option awards that vest within 60 days.
(5) Mr. Caulfield’s total shares include 10,000 shares of common stock underlying stock option awards that vest within 60 days.
(6) Mr. Heckman’s total shares include (i) 202,500 restricted shares that are subject to forfeiture to us; (ii) vested options exercisable to purchase 37,500 shares of common stock; and (iii) 76,040 shares of common stock held in the Company’s 401(k) Plan (on December 31, 2016) as to which Mr. Heckman has voting power as trustee of the 401(k) Plan. Mr. Heckman has pledged 135,283 common shares to financial institutions as collateral for personal loans.

 

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of our common stock, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission reports of ownership of, and transactions in, our securities and to provide us with copies of those filings. To our knowledge, based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us, or written representations from certain reporting persons, we believe that during the year ended December 31, 2016, all filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with, except for Mr. Caulfield, whose initial Form 3 filing was late.

 

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

 

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

 

We engaged in no reportable transactions with related persons during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 other than the following:

 

The Company has entered into an agreement that requires it to make monthly payments which will be applied to future commissions and/or consulting fees to be earned by a limited liability company (“LLC”) that is partially owned by a relative of the Company’s chief financial officer. Under the agreement, dated January 15, 2016, the LLC provides consulting services for developing a new distribution channel outside of law enforcement for its body-worn camera and related cloud storage products to customers in the United States. The Company paid the LLC an advance against commissions ranging from $5,000 to $6,000 per month plus necessary and reasonable expenses for a period of one year beginning January 2016, which agreement can be automatically extended based on the LLC achieving certain minimum sales quotas. The agreement was renewed in January 2017 for a period of three years. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had advanced a total of $169,048 pursuant to this agreement.

 

 36 
   

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

The Board of Directors is not aware of any other matters to be presented for action at the annual meeting. However, if any other matter is properly presented at the annual meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote the shares they represent as the Board of Directors may recommend.

 

ADVANCE NOTICE PROVISIONS FOR STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS

 

The bylaws of the Company provide that in order for a stockholder to nominate directors at an annual meeting or to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting, the stockholder must give timely, written notice to the Secretary of the Company and such notice must be received at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 120 days before the date of its release of the proxy statement to stockholders in connection with its previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Such stockholder’s notice shall include, with respect to each matter that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, and with respect to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director, all information relating to such person, including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director, that is required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

In addition, the stockholder must include in such notice the name and address, as they appear on the Company’s records, of the stockholder proposing such business or nominating such persons, and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal or nomination is made, the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder of record and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal or nomination is made, and any material interest or relationship that such stockholder of record and/or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal or nomination is made may respectively have in such business or with such nominee. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the Company the information required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee.

 

FUTURE PROPOSALS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

The deadline for stockholders to submit proposals to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement for the next annual meeting of stockholders is November 15, 2017.

 

ANNUAL REPORT

 

This proxy statement is accompanied by a copy of our annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

 

April 10, 2017

Lenexa, Kansas

 

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive

Officer and President

 

 

 37 
   

 

Appendix A

 

SECOND AMENDMENT TO DIGITAL ALLY, INC.

2015 STOCK OPTION AND RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN

 

Pursuant to Section 12 of the Digital Ally, Inc. 2015 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “Plan”), the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Digital Ally, Inc. (the “Corporation”) hereby amends the Plan, subject to the approval of the Corporation’s stockholders. This Amendment to the Digital Ally, Inc. 2015 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the “Second Amendment”) is effective as of the date of shareholder approval as provided in Section 12 hereof. The Company previously amended the Plan effective May 12, 2016.

 

1. PURPOSE OF THE AMENDMENT

 

The Corporation wishes to amend the Plan to increase the aggregate number of Shares that may be granted under the Plan.

 

2. AMENDMENT

 

Section 4 of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

 

(a) Stock Reserve. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 relating to adjustments upon changes in Common Stock, the shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate one million two hundred-fifty thousand (1,250,000) shares of Common Stock.

 

This Amendment amends only the provision of the Plan as noted above, and those provisions not expressly amended herein shall be considered in full force and effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Amendment shall supersede the provisions of the Plan to the extent those provisions are inconsistent with the provisions and intent of this Amendment.

 

3. APPROVAL OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

This Amendment was adopted by the Board on February 24, 2017, and is subject to approval by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented and voting at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present or by an action by written consent no later than February 23, 2018.

 

4. EXECUTION

 

To record the adoption of this Amendment by the Board on February 24, 2017, the Corporation has caused an authorized officer to affix the Corporate name hereto.

 

DIGITAL ALLY, INC.  
     
By: /s/ STANTON E. ROSS  
  Stanton E. Ross, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President  

 

 38 
   

 

Admission Ticket

Bring this ticket with you for admission to the 2017 Annual Meeting

 

Digital Ally, Inc.

2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. CDT

9705 Loiret Boulevard

Lenexa, Kansas 66219

 

Your vote is important

 

FOLD AND DETACH HERE AND READ THE REVERSE SIDE

 

 

 

DIGITAL ALLY, INC.

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FOR THE 2017 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

 

The undersigned hereby appoints Thomas J. Heckman and Christa Johnson, and each of them as the true and lawful attorney, agent and proxy of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to represent and to vote all shares of common stock of Digital Ally, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on April 3, 2017, at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the corporate facility located at 9705 Loiret Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 66219, on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., CDT, and at any adjournments thereof.

 

Any and all proxies heretofore given are hereby revoked.

 

When properly executed, this proxy will be voted as designated by the undersigned.

 

If no choice is specified, the proxy will be voted, in relation to Proposal 3, FOR the ratification of the appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.

 

In his or her discretion, the proxy is authorized to vote upon such other business that may properly come before the annual meeting.

 

(Continued and to be dated and signed on reverse side)

 

 39 
   

 

2017 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF DIGITAL ALLY, INC.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Please date, sign and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible.

Please mark your vote in blue or black ink as shown here Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote as follows: “FOR” the election of the four nominees to the Board of Directors; “FOR” Proposals 2 and 3.

 

Proposal 1: Election of Directors of the Company    
     
NOMINEES:    
     
[  ] FOR ALL NOMINEES    
     
[  ] Stanton E. Ross [  ] Daniel F. Hutchins  
[  ] Leroy C. Richie [  ] Michael J. Caulfield  
     
[  ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES       [  ] FOR ALL EXCEPT ________________  
     
(See instructions below)    
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here: [  ]

 

To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method.  [  ]

 

Proposal 2. FOR the amendment of the 2015 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan by 500,000:

 

                  FOR   AGAINST   ABSTAIN
                  [  ]   [  ]   [  ]

 

Proposal 3. FOR ratification of the appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm:

 

                  FOR   AGAINST   ABSTAIN
                  [  ]   [  ]   [  ]

 

In his discretion, the proxy is authorized to vote upon such other business that may properly come before the 2017 Annual Meeting.

 

             
Signature of Stockholder   Date   Signature of Stockholder   Date

 

NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears below. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

 

 40