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UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant To Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed
by the Registrant ☒
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check
the appropriate box:
☐ |
Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Confidential,
for Use of the Commissions Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☒ |
Definitive
Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Definitive
Additional Materials |
☐ |
Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12 |
CVD
EQUIPMENT CORPORATION |
(Name of Registrant as Specified
in its Charter) |
|
N/A |
(Name of Person(s) Filing
Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
☒ |
No fee required. |
|
|
☐ |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
|
|
☐ |
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b)
per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
CVD
EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
355
South Technology Drive
Central
Islip, NY 11722
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON AUGUST 8, 2025
Dear
Shareholders:
NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of CVD Equipment Corporation (the “Company”)
will be held virtually via a live audio webcast at 10:00 A.M., Eastern Daylight Time on August 8, 2025. You or your proxyholder will
be able to participate and vote at the Annual Meeting by visiting www.cstproxy.com/cvdequipment/2025 and using your control number assigned
by Continental Stock Transfer. To register and receive access to the virtual Annual Meeting, registered shareholders and beneficial shareholders
(those holding shares through a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other holder of record) will need to follow the instructions
applicable to them provided in the enclosed proxy statement.
At
the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to vote on:
Proposal
1: |
|
The
election of six (6) directors to the Board of Directors of the Company to serve until the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. |
|
|
|
Proposal
2: |
|
The
ratification of CBIZ CPAs P.C., as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December
31, 2025. |
|
|
|
Proposal
3: |
|
The
approval of a non-binding advisory resolution supporting the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. |
|
|
|
Other: |
|
To
transact such other and further business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
The
Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on June 16, 2025 as the record date for determining shareholders who are entitled
to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Your
vote is important to us. Whether or not you expect to attend the virtual meeting online,
please sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the enclosed envelope. Returning a proxy will not deprive you of your right
to attend the Annual Meeting and vote your shares virtually using the online meeting website.
The
foregoing items of business are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD AUGUST 8, 2025: THIS NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING,
PROXY STATEMENT, PROXY CARD AND REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024 IS AVAILABLE AT www.cvdequipment.com
(CLICK ON THE PROXY STATEMENT LINK) OR www.cvdproxy.com
|
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
|
|
|
/s/
Emmanuel Lakios |
|
Emmanuel
Lakios |
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer |
Dated:
June 20, 2025
Central
Islip, New York
CVD
EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
355
South Technology Drive
Central
Islip, NY 11722
PROXY
STATEMENT
2025
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
August
8, 2025
INTRODUCTION
This
proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card are both being furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors
of CVD Equipment Corporation, a New York corporation (the “Company”), of proxies for use at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
(the “Annual Meeting”) to be held virtually via live webcast at 10:00 A.M., Eastern Time, on August 8, 2025, or at any adjournment
or postponement thereof, for the purposes set forth in this proxy statement and the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
This proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card are being distributed on or about June 27, 2025 to all shareholders of the Company
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
VOTING
PROCEDURES AND SOLICITATION
Your
Vote Is Important
Whether
or not you expect to attend the virtual meeting online, please
complete and return the enclosed proxy card. Your prompt voting may save the Company the expense of following up with a second mailing.
A return envelope (postage paid if mailed in the United States) is enclosed for that purpose. You should sign your name exactly as it
appears on the proxy card. If you are signing in a representative capacity, (for example, as an officer of a corporation, guardian, executor,
trustee or custodian) you should indicate your name, title or capacity.
Registration
and Access to the Virtual-Only Annual Meeting
The
Annual Meeting will be held virtually over the Internet by means of a live audio webcast. Only shareholders who own common stock as of
the close of business on June 16, 2025 will be entitled to attend the virtual Annual Meeting. Any shareholder wishing to attend the virtual
Annual Meeting should register for the meeting by August 8, 2025.
To
register for the virtual Annual Meeting, please follow these instructions as applicable to the nature of your ownership of our common
stock:
Registered
Shareholders
If
your shares are registered in your name with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company’s transfer agent and you
wish to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, go to www.cstproxy.com/cvdequipment/2025, enter the control number you received on your proxy
card or notice of the meeting and click on the “Click here to preregister for the online meeting” link at the top of the
page. Just prior to the start of the meeting you will need to log back into the meeting site using your control number. Pre-registration
is recommended but is not required in order to attend.
Beneficial
Shareholders (those holding shares through a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other holder of record)
Beneficial
shareholders who wish to attend the virtual Annual Meeting must obtain a legal proxy by contacting their account representative at the
bank, broker, or other nominee that holds their shares and e-mail a copy (a legible photograph is sufficient) of their legal proxy to
proxy@continentalstock.com. Beneficial shareholders who e-mail a valid legal proxy will be issued a meeting control number that will
allow them to register to attend and participate in the virtual Annual Meeting. After contacting Continental, a beneficial holder will
receive an e-mail prior to the Annual Meeting with a link and instructions for entering the virtual Annual Meeting. Beneficial shareholders
should contact Continental at least five (5) business days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting.
Shareholders
participating in the virtual Annual Meeting will be in a listen-only mode and will not be able to speak during the webcast. However,
in order to maintain the interactive nature of the virtual meeting, virtual attendees are able to:
|
● |
Vote
using the online meeting website; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
Submit
questions or comments to the Company’s officers during the meeting via the virtual webcast. |
Shareholders
may submit questions or comments during the virtual Annual Meeting through the virtual meeting portal by typing in the “Submit
a question” box.
Methods
of Voting
You
may vote by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card, by voting using the online meeting website at the Annual Meeting,
by following the applicable instructions set forth above, or such other methods set forth in the applicable proxy card received. If you
send in a proxy card, and also attend the virtual Annual Meeting, the proxy holders will vote your shares as you instructed on your proxy
card, unless you inform the Secretary that you wish to revoke your proxy before the Annual Meeting.
Revoking
a Proxy
You
may revoke your proxy by:
|
● |
Signing and returning another proxy card at a later
date; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Sending written notice of revocation to the attention
of the Secretary at: |
CVD
Equipment Corporation
355
South Technology Drive
Central
Islip, NY 11722; or
|
● |
Informing the Secretary and voting virtually at the
Annual Meeting. |
To
be effective, a later-dated proxy or written revocation must arrive at the above address before the start of the Annual Meeting.
Proxy
Solicitation
The
proxies solicited hereby are being solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Company will pay all costs of preparing, assembling
and mailing the proxy materials.
Directors,
officers and regular employees of the Company may, but without compensation other than their regular compensation, solicit proxies by
further mailing or personal conversations, or by telephone, facsimile or electronic means. We will, upon request, reimburse brokerage
firms and others for their reasonable expenses in forwarding solicitation material to the beneficial owners of stock.
How Proxy Cards Are
Voted
The
proxy holders named on the proxy card are Emmanuel Lakios, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and Richard Catalano,
the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Secretary. Giving us your proxy means you authorize us to vote
your shares at the Annual Meeting in the manner you direct. You may vote for all, some or none of our director nominees. You may also
vote for or against the other proposals or abstain from voting. The proxy holders will vote shares according to the shareholder instructions
on the proxy card. If a signed proxy card does not contain instructions, then the proxy holders will vote the shares (1) “FOR”
the election of each of the director nominees listed on the card; (2) “FOR” ratifying the appointment of CBIZ CPAs P.C. as
the Company’s independent public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2025; (3) “FOR” the non-binding advisory
resolution supporting the compensation of our Named Executive Officers; and (4) in their discretion, on any other business that may properly
come before the meeting.
Broker
Non-Votes
Under
the rules that govern brokers and nominees who have record ownership of shares that are held in “street name” for accountholders
(who are the beneficial owners of the shares), a broker non-vote occurs when a shareholder who holds his or her shares through a broker
and the broker does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power for that particular
item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Broker non-votes count for quorum purposes, but not for voting purposes.
It is important that you instruct your broker how to vote shares held by you in street name using the voting instruction form provided
by your broker. At the Annual Meeting, only the ratification of the appointment of CBIZ CPAs P.C. as the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025 (Proposal 2) is considered a “routine” matter. Accordingly,
brokers and nominees will not have discretionary authority to vote on: the election of directors to our Board (Proposal 1); and the non-binding
advisory resolution supporting the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (Proposal 3).
Quorum
and Votes Required
A
majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote represented at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy constitutes
a quorum. Only votes “FOR” or “AGAINST” a proposal will have an effect on the proposal. Abstentions and broker
non-votes will count towards the quorum but not for voting purposes.
Directors
are elected by a plurality of the votes cast, so the six (6) nominees receiving the most votes will be elected (Proposal 1). Shareholders
who do not wish to vote for one or more of the individual nominees may “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY” as directed in the proxy card.
The
proposal to ratify the appointment of the independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2025 (Proposal 2) requires the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of votes cast at the Annual Meeting by holders of shares entitled to vote thereon (a majority of votes
cast means that the number of votes cast “FOR” a proposal must exceed the number of votes cast “AGAINST” that
proposal).
The
proposal to approve the non-binding advisory resolution supporting the compensation of our named executive officers (Proposal 3) requires
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of votes cast at the Annual Meeting by holders of shares entitled to vote thereon.
Abstentions
and broker non-votes are counted to determine whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting but are not counted as a vote in favor
of or against a particular matter.
Voting
Rights, Shares Outstanding and Votes Per Share
Holders
of common stock at the close of business on the record date of June 16, 2025 are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
As
of the close of business on June 16, 2025, there were 6,881,838 shares of common stock outstanding.
Each
share of common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to the Shareholders at the Annual Meeting. There is no cumulative
voting.
No
Dissenter’s Rights
Shareholders
are not entitled to dissenter’s rights of appraisal with respect to the proposals being voted on.
Householding
of Annual Meeting Materials
Some
banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements and
annual reports. This means that only one copy of our proxy statement and annual report to Shareholders may have been sent to multiple
Shareholders in your household. The Company will promptly deliver a separate copy of either document to you if you contact the Secretary
at the following address or telephone number: CVD Equipment Corporation, 355 South Technology Drive, Central Islip, NY 11722; telephone:
(631) 981-7081. In addition, copies of both documents may be obtained from our website www.cvdequipment.com (click on the proxy statement
link or at www.cvdproxy.com). If you want to receive separate copies of the proxy statement or the annual report to Shareholders in the
future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy per household, you should contact your bank,
broker or other nominee record holder, or you may contact the Company at the above address or telephone number.
PROPOSAL
1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
Upon
the recommendation of the Nominating, Governance, and Compliance Committee, the Board has nominated Lawrence J. Waldman, Emmanuel Lakios,
Andrew Africk, Robert M. Brill, Ashraf Lotfi and Debra Wasser to stand for re-election to the Board at the Annual Meeting to serve until
the next Annual Meeting or Special Meeting of Shareholders at which a new Board of Directors is elected and until their successors shall
have been elected and qualified. See “Information Regarding Executive Officers and Directors” for biographical information
as to each nominee.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE SIX NOMINEES PROPOSED BY THE
NOMINATING, GOVERNANCE AND COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Information
Regarding our Board of Directors
Our
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide for our Company to be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. Under
our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, the number of directors shall not be less than five (5) nor more than eleven (11), as fixed
from time to time by the Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors is currently fixed at six (6), and currently consists of six (6)
directors, five (5) of which have been determined to be “independent” as defined by the applicable rules of The NASDAQ Stock
Market LLC (“NASDAQ”). These “independent” directors are Messrs. Waldman, Africk, Brill, and Lotfi, and Ms. Wasser.
Consistent with the requirements of NASDAQ, we require that a majority of our Board of Directors be “independent” directors.
The Company’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the trading symbol “CVV”. The Company is a
“smaller reporting company” within the meaning of Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K.
The
primary responsibilities of our Board of Directors are to provide oversight, strategic guidance, counseling and direction to our management.
Our Board of Directors meets on a regular basis and additionally as required. Written or electronic materials are distributed in advance
of meetings as a general rule and our Board of Directors schedules meetings with, and presentations from, members of our senior management
on a regular basis and as may be required from time to time.
Directors
are elected at the Annual Meeting and hold office until our next Annual Meeting and until their successors are elected and qualified.
Officers are appointed by the Board of Directors and serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
The
Board of Directors held nine (9) meetings during the 2024 fiscal year and each director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the
Board of Directors and of the committees on which they served. We encourage all members of the Board of Directors to attend the Annual
Meetings; however, there is no formal policy as to their attendance. At last year’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, all of the
members of the Board of Directors attended the meeting.
Director
Service on Other Boards
Lawrence
J. Waldman has been a member of the board of directors of Comtech Telecommunications Corporation since August 2015 and Lead Independent
Director from December 2021 to March 2025. He serves as the chairperson of Comtech’s Audit Committee. Mr. Waldman is a member of
the board of directors and Lead Independent Director and Audit Committee Chairperson at Apyx Medical Corporation.
Legal
Proceedings Involving Directors
There
were no legal proceedings required to be disclosed hereunder involving the nominees to the Board of Directors in the past ten years.
Board
Leadership
In
January 2021, the Board appointed Lawrence J. Waldman to serve as the Chairman, which separated the positions of Chairman and CEO.
Our
Corporate Governance practices contain several features which we believe will ensure that the Board maintains effective and independent
oversight of management, including the following:
|
● |
Executive
sessions without management and non-independent directors present are a standing Board agenda item. |
|
|
|
|
● |
Executive
sessions of the independent directors are held at any time requested by an independent director and, in any event, are held in connection
with at least 100% of regularly schedule Board meetings. |
|
|
|
|
● |
All
Board committee members are independent directors. The committee chairs have the authority to hold executive sessions with management
and non-independent directors present. |
While
our Board has no formal policy with respect to separation of the positions of Chairman and CEO or with respect to whether the Chairman
should be a member of management or an independent director, we believe that the appointment of Mr. Waldman as Chairman properly facilitates
better communication between the Independent Directors on the one hand and the non-Independent Director and members of management on
the other hand and leads to improved oversight and discussions by the Board as a whole. The Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Emmanuel
Lakios, is tasked with the responsibility of implementing our corporate strategy. We believe he is best suited for leading discussions
with input from the Chairman, at the Board level, regarding performance relative to our corporate strategy and this discussion accounts
for a significant portion of the time devoted at the Board meetings.
Risk
Management Oversight
Our
management is responsible for defining the various risks facing the Company, formulating risk management policies and procedures, and
managing our risk exposures on a day-to-day basis. The Board’s responsibility is to monitor our risk management processes concerning
our material risks and evaluating whether management has reasonable controls in place to address the material risks. The Board has played,
and continues to play, a very active role in providing on-going oversight to management in identifying and managing the material risks
we face.
While
the Board periodically reviews and discusses the overall risks we face, as well as risk management and mitigation in the context of specific
plans or projects being proposed or implemented, the Board also exercises its overall responsibility for risk oversight through its committees.
The Audit Committee of the Board is primarily responsible for overseeing management’s processes for managing financial and operational
risk in the Company. The Audit Committee also has primary responsibility at the Board level with respect to overseeing the management
of risks relating to the reliability of our financial reporting processes and system of internal controls. In connection with that responsibility,
the Audit Committee has sole authority to retain and terminate the independent registered public accounting firm and is directly responsible
for the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee meets with management
and the independent registered public accounting firm to review and discuss the annual audited and quarterly unaudited financial statements
and reviews the integrity of our accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of our financial statements.
Similarly,
the Compensation Committee of the Board oversees risks associated with its areas of responsibility, including the risks associated with
our compensation programs, policies and practices with respect to both executive compensation, non-employee director compensation, and
compensation generally. The Nominating, Governance and Compliance Committee of the Board oversees the process, qualifications of director
candidates, and risks associated with the nomination of members of the Board and committees thereof and periodically analyzes corporate
governance practices in order to assist the Board in its risk oversight activities.
INFORMATION
REGARDING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTOR NOMINEES
The
following table sets forth the names, ages and positions within the Company of each of our director nominees and executive officers as
of June 16, 2025.
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position(s)
with the Company |
|
|
|
|
|
Lawrence
J. Waldman |
|
78 |
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors, Chairman-Audit Committee and Director |
|
|
|
|
|
Emmanuel
Lakios |
|
63 |
|
Chief
Executive Officer, President, and Director |
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew
Africk |
|
59 |
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
M. Brill |
|
78 |
|
Chairman
Nominating, Governance and Compliance Committee and Director |
|
|
|
|
|
Ashraf
Lotfi |
|
64 |
|
Chairman-Compensation
Committee and Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
Debra
Wasser |
|
60
|
|
Director |
|
|
|
|
|
Richard
Catalano |
|
65 |
|
Chief
Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
A. Brogan |
|
55 |
|
Vice
President Sales and Marketing |
|
|
|
|
|
Warren
D. Cheesman |
|
52 |
|
Vice
President Manufacturing Operations |
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin
R. Collins |
|
59 |
|
Vice
President and General Manager - SDC Division |
|
|
|
|
|
Maxim
S. Shatalov |
|
54 |
|
Vice
President of Engineering and Technology |
Business
Experience:
The
principal occupation and business experience of each of the director nominees and executive officers are as follows:
Lawrence
J. Waldman
Biography
Lawrence
J. Waldman was appointed a member of the Board of Directors on October 5, 2016 and currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Chairman
of the Audit Committee. Mr. Waldman has over 40 years of experience in public accounting.
Mr.
Waldman has been a member of the board of directors of Comtech Telecommunications Corporation since August 2015 and Lead Independent
Director from December 2021 through March 2024. He currently serves as the chairperson of Comtech’s Audit Committee. Mr. Waldman
is a member of the board of directors and Lead Independent Director and Audit Committee Chairperson at APYX Medical Corporation, a Nasdaq-listed
advanced energy medical technology company. Mr. Waldman serves as a Senior Advisor at First Long Island Investors, LLC since 2016 and
was previously an Advisor to the accounting firm of EisnerAmper LLP following his role as Partner-in-Charge of Commercial Audit Practice
Development for Long Island. Mr. Waldman served as the Managing Partner of the Long Island office of KPMG LLP from 1994 through 2006,
the accounting firm where he began his career in 1972. During his tenure at KPMG, Mr. Waldman served as audit partner to a number of
public and privately held technology companies.
Mr.
Waldman is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Long Island Association and a member of the boards of directors of the
Long Island Angel Network and the Advanced Energy Research Center at Stony Brook University.
Mr.
Waldman was Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of Bethpage Federal Credit Union and previously served as the Chairman of the Audit
Committee of the State University of New York’s (“SUNY”) Board of Trustees, the largest state university system in
the United States. Mr. Waldman previously served as Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committee Board of Trustees of the Long Island
Power Authority (“LIPA”), the second largest government utility in the United States, and as the Chairman of the Board. Mr.
Waldman also served as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, teaching graduate courses in advanced accounting theory and advanced
auditing. Mr. Waldman is a certified public accountant in New York State. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and the New York State Society of CPAs. Mr. Waldman holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration from
Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.
Director
Qualifications
Mr.
Waldman has significant experience serving on public company boards, and his extensive business experience serving on industry and civic
boards allows him to bring a diverse perspective and experience, as well as experience in accounting, auditing and finance.
Emmanuel
Lakios
Biography
Emmanuel
Lakios was appointed to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on January 22, 2021, and on July 15, 2021 was elected
by the shareholders as a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Lakios joined the Company as Vice President Sales and Marketing in February
2017. Mr. Lakios has over 30 years of experience serving the aerospace, semiconductor, data storage and optical device industries and
is the holder of several patents in the field of process equipment and device structure. From January 2015 through February 2017, Mr.
Lakios was the President and Chief Executive Officer at Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc., overseeing that company’s transition
from R&D to a leading global commercial UV LED supplier. From 2003 to 2011 he was the Executive Vice President of Field Operations
and President and Chief Operating Officer at Imago Scientific, bringing it from pre-revenue to a commercial leadership position in the
3D atomic scale tomography field. Mr. Lakios was previously employed at Veeco Instruments Inc. from 1984 until 2003, where he held several
positions, including President of the Process Equipment Group and Executive Vice President of Field Operations. He has been involved
in several acquisitions and numerous product line launches. He received his BE in Mechanical Engineering with focus in Material Science
from SUNY Stony Brook in 1984.
Director
Qualifications
Mr.
Lakios’ experience as Chief Executive Officer of the Company as well as his prior experience as Vice President Sales and Marketing
of the Company, together with his extensive experience serving the aerospace, semiconductor, data storage and optical device industries,
provides a valuable resource to the Board of Directors and Executive Management.
Andrew
Africk
Biography
Andrew
Africk was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors on May 28, 2024. Mr. Africk is the founder of Searay Capital LLC, a private
investment company. Mr. Africk established Searay Capital in July 2013 after 21 years leading private equity and capital markets investments
for Apollo Global Management. As a Senior Partner at Apollo, Mr. Africk was responsible for investments in technology and communications,
and he has 30 years of experience financing, analyzing and investing in public and private companies. In the last five years, Mr. Africk
has served on the board of directors of ADT Inc., which provides residential and commercial security systems and services. Additionally,
Mr. Africk serves on the Board of Advisors of the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science. Mr. Africk graduated
from UCLA with a B.A. in Economics, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School with a J.D., and from the University of Pennsylvania’s
Wharton School of Business with an MBA.
Director
Qualifications
Mr.
Africk has extensive board and finance experience including previously serving on the board of directors of ADT Inc., and numerous boards
of technology companies while a Senior Partner at Apollo.
Robert
M. Brill
Biography
Dr.
Robert M. Brill was appointed a Director of the Company on March 5, 2021. Dr. Brill was co-founder and managing partner of Newlight Management
from 1997 to 2019, which managed venture capital funds that focused on early-stage technology companies. Prior to co-founding Newlight,
Dr. Brill was a general partner of Poly Ventures, a Long Island based venture capital fund. Dr. Brill is a member of the Board of Directors
of the Long Island Angel Network and one private company. Dr. Brill has also previously served on the Board of Directors of multiple
public and private companies. Dr. Brill has been the CEO of both public and private companies. Dr. Brill served as General Manager of
Harris Corporation’s CMOS Semiconductor Division. He also held various technical and management positions at IBM’s semiconductor
operation. Dr. Brill holds a Ph.D. in nuclear physics from Brown University and a B.A. and a B.S. in Engineering Physics from Lehigh
University. Dr. Brill had previously served on the Company’s Board from April 2018 until October 2019.
Director
Qualifications
Dr.
Brill’s prior service on the Board of Directors and prior service on the boards of other companies, together with his extensive
experience as an investor and in the semiconductor industry gives him a broad base of business and financial experience and provides
a valuable resource to the Board of Directors and Executive Management.
Ashraf
Lotfi
Biography
Dr.
Ashraf Lotfi is currently a venture partner with Deep Sciences Ventures and serves on the board of Lotus Microsystems, ApS, Xonia Ltd.,
HyperCIM Ltd. Dr. Lotfi previously served as Vice President and a Fellow at Intel Corporation. Prior to Intel, he was Power Chief Technology
Officer for Altera Corporation serving its Enpirion Power Business as well as the broader Field Programmable Gate Array community. Altera
was acquired by Intel in 2015. Prior to Altera, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Enpirion, Inc., which he founded
in 2002.
From
Enpirion’s inception, Dr. Lotfi led its strategic direction with a unique industry-first vision to create the ultimate power converter-on-chip
creating ubiquitous DC-DC conversion at the silicon level. In 2013, he led Enpirion’s merger into Altera to realize his vision
of highly integrated power management closely coupled to leading-edge digital silicon loads. Prior to founding Enpirion, he was Director
of Advanced Power Research at Bell Laboratories.
Dr.
Lotfi currently serves on the boards of Lotus Microsystems ApS, Xonai Ltd., HyperCIM Ltd. and his extensive experience in high power
electronics provide a valuable resource to the Board of Directors and Executive Management.
Dr.
Lotfi has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cairo University and an M.S. and PhD. in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech.
Director
Qualifications
Dr.
Lotfi’s prior extensive experience serving the semiconductor industry and his experience with power electronics provides a valuable
resource to the Board of Directors and Executive Management.
Debra
Wasser
Biography
Debra
Wasser was elected as a member of the Board of Directors on July 13, 2023. Ms. Wasser currently serves as Vice President of Investor
Relations for Etsy, Inc. (Nasdaq: ETSY), the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. She is responsible for Etsy’s external
shareholder relationships, with a focus on corporate and financial reporting, driving increased analyst coverage and investor connectivity,
effective corporate messaging, strategic investor targeting, and governance engagement with the financial community. Ms. Wasser has led
investor and broad internal and external communications strategies on multiple financial transactions and offerings, and a host of product
and technology launches and marketing initiatives.
Prior
to joining Etsy in April 2018, Ms. Wasser led Edelman’s Investor Relations practice in the U.S. and advised boards of directors
and senior managements of public companies on strategic communications including investor relations, financial and corporate public relations,
transaction communications, crisis communications and leadership positioning.
Prior
to joining Edelman in 2015, Ms. Wasser was Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications for semiconductor
equipment provider Veeco Instruments, Inc. (Nasdaq: VECO) for over 15 years. While at Veeco, Ms. Wasser created and implemented a global
investor relations program to raise visibility and deepen ownership to reflect business trends. She led effective communications strategy
through positive periods of growth, over a dozen merger and acquisition transactions, a highly successful secondary equity offering,
and new market opportunities.
Prior
to joining Veeco, Ms. Wasser was Vice President of Dewe Rogerson Inc. where she ran the firm’s U.S. investor relations client base,
focused on healthcare/biotech, high-tech, consumer products, financial services, publishing, and general industry. During her tenure
at the firm, Ms. Wasser served clients across the globe and helped the firm grow from four to 80 employees. Deb has a B.S. in Communications
and Business from The State University of New York at Albany.
Director
Qualifications
Ms.
Wasser has provided business and communications advice to Boards of Directors of publicly traded and privately held companies for over
three decades. She has served on the Board of Directors of NIRI, the Association of Investor Relations Professionals, including the maximum
service of four years on the National Chapter Board, as well as earlier as a Board member of the organization’s New York Chapter.
Richard
A. Catalano
Richard
A. Catalano was appointed as the Company’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective as of August 30, 2022. Mr. Catalano
began his career at KPMG LLP and became an audit partner in 1993. Throughout his over 35 years as an audit professional at KPMG LLP,
Mr. Catalano advised a diverse array of clients through private equity financed transactions, merger-related accounting, and filings
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Towards the later part of his tenure, Mr. Catalano served as the leader of KPMG LLP’s
Metro New York Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice and then co-led KPMG’s Global Audit Methodology Group. Mr. Catalano is a Certified
Public Accountant in New York State and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Hofstra University.
Jeffrey
Brogan
Dr.
Jeffrey Brogan was appointed as Vice President Sales and Marketing for the Company on March 23, 2021. Previously he was Director of Sales
and Marketing for CVD Materials Corporation since November 2017 with General Management responsibilities of CVD MesoScribe Technologies
Corporation. Dr. Brogan served as the President and CEO of MesoScribe Technologies, Inc., spearheading its sale to CVD in 2017. He has
over 25 years of experience serving aerospace and defense industries with expertise in strategic sales & marketing, technology management,
and advanced Research & Development. He received his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Stony Brook University in 1996.
Warren
D. Cheesman
Warren
D. Cheesman was appointed Vice President of Manufacturing Operations in October 2022. He has over 25 years of management experience in
the semiconductor, medical device and defense equipment sectors. Mr. Cheesman has held roles of increasing responsibility in engineering,
operations, quality and strategic sourcing, at equipment manufacturers including Veeco Instruments, Air Techniques, and Kongsberg Defense
& Aerospace. Mr. Cheesman provides strategic leadership across all divisions related to manufacturing, quality, and continuous improvement
initiatives, with emphasis on process improvement, lean manufacturing, risk management, and collaboration. He holds two master of science
degrees from Stony Brook University in Technology Management and Materials Science & Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science degree
in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. His academic and professional experience is also complemented by a Six Sigma Black Belt
certification.
Kevin
R. Collins
Kevin
R. Collins is the Vice President and General Manager of SDC, Mr. Collins served as the General Manager of SDC since 1999. From 1990 to
1999 he was employed by Stainless Design Corp. as Manager of Field Operations and Product Development Advisor. Mr. Collins attended Columbia
University School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Maxim
S. Shatalov
Dr.
Maxim S. Shatalov was appointed Vice President of Engineering and Technology in April 2018. Prior to CVD, Mr. Shatalov was employed by
Sensor Electronic Technology Inc. (SETi) a LED company where he held multiple technical and management positions from 2006 through 2018.
In 2017, Dr. Shatalov became Vice President of Technology responsible for UV LED technology and LED application development at SETi.
Dr. Shatalov has over twenty years of experience in semiconductor research and devices and holds more than 12 U.S. patents.
COMMITTEES
OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
We
maintain a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating, Governance and Compliance Committee.
Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee assists the full Board of Directors in its general oversight of our financial reporting, internal
controls, and audit functions, and is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of our independent
registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee reviews and discusses with management and our independent accountants the annual
audited and quarterly financial statements, reviews the integrity of the financial reporting processes, both internal and external, reviews
the qualifications, performance and independence of our independent accountants and prepares the Audit Committee Report included in this
Proxy Statement in accordance with rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee Charter gives
the Audit Committee broad discretion in conducting investigations relating to, among other things, financial integrity, risk management
and internal controls and has the authority to retain counsel and advisors to fulfill its responsibilities and duties.
Our
Audit Committee presently consists of three independent members of the Board of Directors, Lawrence J. Waldman (Chairperson), Robert
M. Brill and Debra Wasser. As a smaller reporting company, we are required to have at least two independent members comprising our Audit
Committee in accordance with Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the NASDAQ Capital Market. Our Board
of Directors has determined that Messrs. Waldman, Brill, and Ms. Wasser are “independent” under Rule 10A-3(b) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the applicable rules of NASDAQ. Mr. Waldman qualifies as a “financial
expert” (as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act), for the Committee.
The
Audit Committee meets as often as it determines necessary but not less frequently than once every fiscal quarter. During the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2024, the Audit Committee held four (4) meetings. All of the committee members attended at least 75% of such meetings.
A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.cvdequipment.com and will be provided to any
person, without charge, upon written request to the Company’s address to the attention of the Secretary.
Compensation
Committee. The Compensation Committee currently consists of Ashraf Lotfi (Chairperson), Andrew Afick and Lawrence J. Waldman. The
Compensation Committee has broad discretion in determining the persons to whom equity incentives are to be granted and the terms and
conditions of such awards, including the type of award, the exercise price, term, restrictions and forfeiture conditions. The Committee
also reviews, approves and makes recommendations regarding our compensation policies, practices and procedures. With respect to executive
officer compensation, the Compensation Committee receives recommendations and information from senior management.
Mr.
Lakios, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and the Compensation Committee annually review the performance of
the Company’s executive officers and Mr. Lakios participates in Committee deliberations regarding the compensation of executive
officers and senior management. Mr. Lakios does not participate in the review or deliberations regarding his own compensation. Management
provides the Committee with recommendations, data and information regarding the compensation of the Company’s executive officers
and senior management.
The
Compensation Committee has the authority to select and retain compensation consultants, outside counsel and other advisors in its sole
discretion and to approve their fees and other retention terms. All of the members of the Compensation Committee currently qualify as
independent under the rules of NASDAQ. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Compensation Committee held one (1) meeting.
All of the committee members attended such meeting. The Compensation Committee utilized the services of a compensation consultant during
the 2021 fiscal year.
A
copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.cvdequipment.com and will be provided to
any person without charge upon written request to the Company’s address to the attention of the Secretary.
Nominating,
Governance and Compliance Committee. The Nominating, Governance and Compliance Committee presently consists of Robert M. Brill (Chairperson),
Ashraf Lotfi and Debra Wasser. This Committee’s role is to make recommendations to the full Board of Directors as to the size and
composition of the Board of Directors and to make recommendations as to particular nominees. All of the members of the Nominating, Governance
and Compliance Committee currently qualify as independent under the rules of NASDAQ. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024,
the Nominating, Governance and Compliance Committee held one (1) meeting, of which all of the committee members attended.
The
Nominating, Governance and Compliance Committee may consider candidates recommended by shareholders as well as from other sources such
as other directors or officers, third party search firms or other appropriate sources. When considering whether directors and nominees
have the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills, taken as a whole, to enable the Board of Directors to satisfy its oversight
responsibilities effectively in light of our business and structure, the Nominating Governance and Compliance Committee may consider
all factors it deems relevant, such as a candidate’s personal integrity and sound judgment, business and professional skills and
experience, independence, knowledge of the industry in which we operate, possible conflicts of interest, diversity, the extent to which
the candidate would fill a present need on the Board, and concern for the long-term interests of the shareholders. The Nominating, Governance
and Compliance Committee annually reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the composition and size of the Board so that
the Board consists of members with the proper expertise, skills, attributes, and personal and professional backgrounds needed by the
Board, consistent with applicable regulatory requirements.
The
Nominating, Governance and Compliance Committee believes that all directors, including nominees, should possess the highest personal
and professional ethics, integrity, and values, and be committed to representing the long-term interests of our shareholders. The Nominating,
Governance and Compliance Committee will consider criteria including the nominee’s current or recent experience as a senior executive
officer, whether the nominee is independent, as that term is defined in existing independence requirements of NASDAQ and the Securities
and Exchange Commission, the business, scientific or engineering experience currently desired on the Board, geography, the nominee’s
industry experience, and the nominee’s general ability to enhance the overall composition of the Board.
A
copy of the Nominating, Governance and Compliance Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.cvdequipment.com
and will be provided to any person without charge upon written request to the Company’s address to the attention of the Secretary.
While
our Nominating, Governance and Compliance Committee does not have a formal policy on Board diversity, it values diversity in director
nominations. In recommending directors, the Board and the Committee consider the specific background and experience of the Board members
and other personal attributes, including gender and racial diversity, in an effort to provide a diverse mix of capabilities, contributions
and viewpoints which the Board believes enables it to function effectively as the Board of Directors of a company with our size and nature
of business.
Meetings
of Independent Directors. Members of the Board of Directors who are “independent” as defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the
NASDAQ rules hold meetings periodically without persons who are members of management present. There were nine (9) meetings held during
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
Shareholder
Communications
The
Board of Directors provides a process by which shareholders may communicate with the Board, including our independent directors. Shareholders
who wish to communicate with the Board may do so by sending written communications addressed to any director or the entire Board of Directors
of CVD Equipment Corporation, c/o Secretary, 355 South Technology Drive, Central Islip, NY 11722. All mail received at the above address
that is addressed to the Board of Directors or any individual director will be relayed by the Company to the Board of Directors or individual
director. On a periodic basis, all such communications will be compiled by the Secretary and submitted to the Board of Directors or the
individual director whom the communications are addressed.
Delinquent
Section 16(a) Reports
The
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission require us to disclose late filings of reports of stock ownership and changes in stock
ownership by our directors, officers and ten percent shareholders. To our knowledge, based solely on our review of (a) the copies of
such reports and amendments thereto furnished to us and (b) written representations that no other reports were required, during our fiscal
year ended December 31, 2024, all of the filings for our officers, directors and ten percent shareholders were made on a timely basis.
Code
of Conduct and Ethics
The
Board of Directors has adopted a Corporate Code of Conduct and Ethics, which applies to all directors, officers and employees, including
the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer. A copy of the Code of Conduct and Ethics is available
on the Company’s website at www.cvdequipment.com and will be provided to any person without charge upon written request to the
Company’s address to the attention of the Secretary.
Insider
Trading Policy
The
Company has adopted an insider trading policy that governs the purchase, sale and/or other dispositions of our securities by our directors,
officers and employees, as well as their immediate family members and others who may have access to material nonpublic information concerning
the Company, and that is designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth, as of June 16, 2025 information regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock by
(a) each person who is known to the Company to be the owner of more than five percent of the Company’s common stock, (b) each of
the Company’s directors, (c) each of the named executive officers, (d) all directors and executive officers and executive employees
as a group and (e) all owners of more than five percent of the Company’s common stock as a group. For purpose of this table, a
person or group of persons is deemed to have beneficial ownership of any shares that such person has the right to acquire within 60 days
of June 16, 2025.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) | |
Amounts and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (2) |
| |
Percent of Class (%) | |
| |
|
| |
| |
5% or Greater Shareholder: | |
| |
| |
| | |
Leviticus Partners, L.P. | |
| 504,800 |
| |
| 7.3 | % |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Directors and Executive Officers: | |
| |
| |
| | |
Andrew Africk / ADA Partners, L.P. | |
| 1,306,515 |
(3)(5) | |
| 19.0 | % |
Emmanuel Lakios | |
| 281,358 |
(4) | |
| 4.1 | % |
Kevin R. Collins | |
| 104,937 |
(4) | |
| 1.5 | % |
Lawrence J. Waldman | |
| 83,046 |
(5) | |
| 1.2 | % |
Jeffrey A Brogan | |
| 59,519 |
(4) | |
| 1.5 | % |
Robert M. Brill | |
| 35,831 |
(5) | |
| * | |
Maxim Shatalov | |
| 35,000 |
(4) | |
| * | |
Richard A. Catalano | |
| 22,500 |
(4) | |
| * | |
Debra Wasser | |
| 17,636 |
(5) | |
| * | |
Ashraf Lotfi | |
| 17,131 |
(5) | |
| * | |
Warren Cheesman | |
| 15,000 |
(4) | |
| * | |
All directors and executive officers and executive employees as a group
(11 persons) | |
| 1,978,473 |
| |
| 28.7 | % |
*
Less than 1% of the outstanding common stock or less than 1% of the voting power
(1) |
The
address of Messrs. Lakios, Waldman, Africk, Brill, Lotfi, Brogan, Catalano, Collins, Shatalov,
Chessman, and Ms. Wasser is c/o CVD Equipment Corporation, 355 South Technology Drive, Central
Islip, New York 11722. The address of Leviticus Partners, L.P. is 32 Old Mill Road, Great
Neck, NY 11023.
|
|
|
(2) |
All
of such shares are owned directly with sole voting and investment power, unless otherwise noted below. |
(3) |
ADA
Partners, L.P. (‘Partners’) is the direct beneficial owner of the shares of common stock. The general partner of Partners
is ADA Partners GP, LLC (‘GP’), of which Andrew Africk is the sole member and manager. Andrew Africk, as the sole member
and manager of GP, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of common stock beneficially owned by GP as a result of being the
general partner of Partners. Africk disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock beneficially owned by GP, except
to the extent of his pecuniary interest. |
(4) |
Includes
outstanding options that to purchase the following shares of our common stock that are either exercisable or will become exercisable
within 60 days: Lakios – 275,000; Collins – 25,000; Brogan – 55,000; Shatalov – 35,000; Catalano –
22,500; and Cheesman – 15,000. |
(5) |
Does
not include shares to be issued per Director Compensation Plan related to the Annual Equity Retainer in the amount of $40,000, to
be determined at the 2025 shareholder meeting. Mr. Waldman’s ownership include 15,000 vested and exercisable options to purchase
shares of common stock. |
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth the compensation paid to our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, and our “named executive
officers,” for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Name and principal position | |
Year | | |
Salary($) | | |
Bonus ($) (1) | | |
Option Awards ($) (2) | | |
Stock Awards ($) (2) | | |
All Other Compensation ($) (3) | | |
Total ($) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Emmanuel Lakios | |
| 2024 | | |
| 415,000 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 20,744 | | |
| 435,744 | |
President and | |
| 2023 | | |
| 388,600 | | |
| - | | |
| 699,990 | | |
| - | | |
| 19,522 | | |
| 1,108,112 | |
Chief Executive Officer | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Richard Catalano | |
| 2024 | | |
| 283,800 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 26,772 | | |
| 310,572 | |
Secretary, Chief | |
| 2023 | | |
| 274,700 | | |
| - | | |
| 233,330 | | |
| - | | |
| 27,201 | | |
| 535,231 | |
Financial Officer and Executive Vice President | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Kevin Collins | |
| 2024 | | |
| 206,000 | | |
| 30,000 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| 26,558 | | |
| 262,558 | |
Vice President & General Manager - SDC | |
| 2023 | | |
| 203,308 | | |
| 15,000 | | |
| 139,998 | | |
| - | | |
| 27,374 | | |
| 385,680 | |
|
(1) |
Reflects
cash bonuses under the Company’s Management Bonus Plan. Bonuses listed for a particular year represents amounts earned with
respect to such year even though all or part of such amounts have been paid during the following year. |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
These
columns represent the grant date fair value of the stock awards as calculated in accordance
with FASB ASC 718 (Stock Compensation). The stock options granted in 2023 vest 25% per year
over four years and have a ten-year life. There were no stock options granted in 2024 to
the named executive officers.
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
All
other compensation consists of 1) 401(k) match in 2024 and 2023 of $10,350 and $9,900 for
Emmanuel Lakios, $8,514 and $9,179 for Richard Catalano, and $6,630 and $7,863 for
Kevin Collins, respectively; and 2) health, life and disability insurance premiums
in 2024 and 2023 of $10,394 and $9,622 for Emmanuel Lakios, $18,258 and $18,022 for Richard
Catalano and $19,928 and $19,511 for Kevin Collins,
|
Equity
Awards
From
time to time, we grant equity awards, including stock options, to our employees, including our named executive officers. Historically,
we have typically granted new-hire option awards on, or within the calendar quarter of, a new hire’s employment start date and
annual refresh employee option grants in the first quarter of each fiscal year, which refresh grants are typically approved at a regularly
scheduled meeting of the Compensation Committee occurring in such quarter. Also, non-employee directors receive automatic grants of initial
and annual stock option awards, at the time of a director’s initial appointment or election to the board and at the time of each
annual meeting of our stockholders, respectively, pursuant to our non-employee director compensation policy, as further described under
the heading, “Director Compensation” below.
We
do not otherwise maintain any written policies on the timing of awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, or similar instruments
with option-like features. The Compensation Committee considers whether there is any material nonpublic information (“MNPI”)
about our company when determining the timing of stock option grants and does not seek to time the award of stock options in relation
to our public disclosure of MNPI. We have not timed the release of MNPI for the purpose of affecting the value of executive compensation.
During fiscal 2024, the Company did not grant any equity awards to its named executive officers.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Year-End
The
following table sets forth the outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2024.
| |
| OPTION AWARDS | |
| STOCK AWARDS | |
Name | |
| Number of Securities Underlying Options Exercisable | | |
| Number of Securities Options Unexercisable | | |
| Exercise Price | | |
Option Expiration Date | |
| Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested | | |
| Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested | | |
| Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of unearned shares or units that not vested | | |
| Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or payout value of unearned shares or units that have not vested | |
Emmanuel Lakios | |
| 18,750 | | |
| 56,250 | | |
$ | 14.11 | | |
3/23/2033 | |
| - | | |
$ | - | | |
| - | | |
$ | - | |
| |
| 37,500 | | |
| 37,500 | | |
$ | 5.02 | | |
8/17/2032 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| 75,000 | | |
| 25,000 | | |
$ | 4.26 | | |
6/1/2031 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| 100,000 | | |
| - | | |
$ | 10.30 | | |
2/6/2027 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Richard Catalano | |
| 6,250 | | |
| 18,750 | | |
$ | 14.11 | | |
3/23/2033 | |
| - | | |
$ | - | | |
| - | | |
$ | - | |
| |
| 10,000 | | |
| 10,000 | | |
$ | 5.42 | | |
8/30/2032 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Kevin Collins | |
| 3,750 | | |
| 11,250 | | |
$ | 14.11 | | |
3/23/2033 | |
| - | | |
$ | - | | |
| - | | |
$ | - | |
| |
| 7,500 | | |
| 7,500 | | |
$ | 5.02 | | |
8/27/2032 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| 7,500 | | |
| 2,500 | | |
$ | 4.01 | | |
7/15/2031 | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Pay
Versus Performance Disclosure
Pursuant
to the Exchange Act, we are required to disclose in this proxy statement certain information comparing the total compensation of our
Chief Executive Officer (our “CEO”) and the average total compensation of our other named executive officers (whom we also
refer to below as our “NEOs”), in each case both as reported in the Summary Compensation Table presented in this proxy statement
and as “compensation actually paid” to such named executive officers as determined pursuant to applicable SEC rules, to the
Company’s performance as presented in the table below.
Fiscal Year | | |
Summary Compensation
Table Total for CEO (1) | | |
Compensation
Actually Paid to CEO (1)(2) | | |
Average Summary Compensation Table Total For
Other NEOs (1) | | |
Average
Compensation Actually Paid to Other NEOs (1)(2) | | |
Value of Initial $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return | | |
Net Income (Loss) ($ Thousands) | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
2024 | | |
$ | 435,744 | | |
$ | 399,458 | | |
$ | 286,565 | | |
$ | 280,370 | | |
$ | 119.24 | | |
$ | (1,898 | ) |
2023 | | |
$ | 1,108,112 | | |
$ | 465,135 | | |
$ | 459,456 | | |
$ | 298,711 | | |
$ | 120.05 | | |
$ | (4,180 | ) |
2022 | | |
$ | 758,934 | | |
$ | 847,627 | | |
$ | 284,000 | | |
$ | 258,758 | | |
$ | 149.32 | | |
$ | (221 | ) |
(1) |
The
PEO for all the years included in the table is Emmanuel Lakios, Chief Executive Officer. The non-PEO NEO averages reflect the following
executives by year: |
|
● |
2024
and 2023: Richard Catalano and Kevin Collins |
|
● |
2022:
Richard Catalano, Thomas McNeill and Kevin Collins |
(2) |
SEC
rules require certain adjustments be made to the Summary Compensation Table totals to determine “compensation actually paid”
as reported in the Pay versus Performance table. “Compensation Actually Paid” does not necessarily represent cash and/or
equity value transferred to the applicable NEO without restriction, but rather is a value calculated under applicable SEC rules.
In general, “compensation actually paid” is calculated as Summary Compensation Table total compensation adjusted to include
the fair market value of equity awards as of the last day of the applicable fiscal year or, if earlier, the vesting date (rather
than the grant date). Our NEOs do not participate in a defined benefit plan so no adjustment for pension benefits is included in
the table below. The following table details these adjustments to compensation as reported in the Summary Compensation Table: |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
CEO | |
| |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| |
Summary Compensation Table Total | |
$ | 435,744 | | |
$ | 1,108,112 | | |
$ | 758,934 | |
Less: Grant date fair value of equity awards | |
| - | | |
| (699,990 | ) | |
| (236,704 | ) |
Plus: Year-end fair value of equity awards granted in the year | |
| - | | |
| 133,646 | | |
| 286,495 | |
Plus: Fair value as of vesting date of equity awards granted and vested in the year | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Plus/Minus: Change in fair value of unvested equity awards granted in prior years | |
| (25,485 | ) | |
| (105,562 | ) | |
| 32,327 | |
Plus/Minus: Change in fair value of equity awards from prior years that vested in the year | |
| (10,803 | ) | |
| 28,929 | | |
| 6,575 | |
Minus: Fair value of equity awards from prior year that were forfeited in the year | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Compensation Actually Paid | |
$ | 399,458 | | |
$ | 465,135 | | |
$ | 847,627 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
Average of Other NEOs | |
| |
2024 | | |
2023 | | |
2022 | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| |
Summary Compensation Table Total | |
$ | 286,565 | | |
$ | 459,456 | | |
$ | 284,000 | |
Less: Grant date fair value of equity awards | |
| - | | |
| (186,664 | ) | |
| (38,497 | ) |
Plus: Year-end fair value of equity awards granted in the year | |
| - | | |
| 35,639 | | |
| 42,106 | |
Plus: Fair value as of vesting date of equity awards granted and vested in the year | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Plus/Minus: Change in fair value of unvested equity awards granted in prior years | |
| (4,302 | ) | |
| (14,806 | ) | |
| 2,655 | |
Plus/Minus: Change in fair value of equity awards from prior years that vested in the year | |
| (1,893 | ) | |
| 5,806 | | |
| 265 | |
Minus: Fair value of equity awards from prior year that were forfeited in the year | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| (31,771 | ) |
Adjustment to Compensation Amount | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| (31,771 | ) |
Compensation Actually Paid | |
$ | 280,370 | | |
$ | 298,711 | | |
$ | 258,758 | |
Note:
All stock option valuations included in Compensation Actually Paid values were performed using the Black-Scholes option pricing model
in a manner consistent the process used to determine stock option grant date fair value.
Clawback
Policy
In
compliance with NASDAQ listing standards and Section 10D of the Exchange Act, the Board adopted
an Executive Compensation Clawback Policy, effective October 2, 2023. This Policy applies to the Company’s
current and former executive officers, as determined by the Board in accordance with Section 10D of the Exchange Act and the NASDAQ listing
standards, and such other senior executives/employees who may from time to time be deemed subject to the Policy by the Compensation Committee.
Under the policy, in the event that we are required to prepare a restatement of our previously issued financial statements due to our
material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under securities laws, we are required to recover (subject to certain
limited exceptions described in the an Executive Compensation Clawback Policy and permitted under the final clawback rules) any cash
and/or equity incentive-based compensation received by any current or former executive officer after the effective date of the Executive
Compensation Clawback Policy and in the three years prior to the date we are required to restate our financial statements that is in
excess of the amount that would have been received based on the restated financial statements.
Director
Compensation
The
following table details fiscal 2024 compensation paid to our non-employee directors.
| |
Fees Earned or | | |
Option | | |
Restricted Stock | | |
| |
Name | |
Paid in Cash | | |
Awards | | |
Awards (1) | | |
Total | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Lawrence J. Waldman | |
$ | 113,000 | | |
| - | | |
$ | 40,000 | | |
$ | 153,000 | |
Andrew Africk (2) | |
| 23,736 | | |
| - | | |
| 23,736 | | |
| 47,472 | |
Robert M. Brill | |
| 50,000 | | |
| - | | |
| 40,000 | | |
| 90,000 | |
Ashraf Lotfi | |
| 42,500 | | |
| - | | |
| 40,000 | | |
| 82,500 | |
Debra Wasser | |
| 40,000 | | |
| - | | |
| 40,000 | | |
| 80,000 | |
Raymond A. Nielsen (2) | |
| 30,435 | | |
| - | | |
| 20,000 | | |
| 50,435 | |
(1) |
On
October 11, 2021, the Board of Directors, following the recommendation of the Board’s Compensation Committee, unanimously approved
a director compensation plan, effective October 1, 2021 (the “Plan”). The Plan is based on the recommendations of an
independent compensation consultant engaged by the Board’s Compensation Committee. Pursuant to the Plan, each director is entitled
to Director Compensation, divided into the following pay components: (i) Annual Board Cash Compensation in the amount of $40,000
and (ii) an Annual Equity Retainer in the amount of $40,000, to be automatically granted on the date of the Company’s annual
meeting of shareholders. Additionally, a director serving as a chairman for the Board’s Compensation Committee, Nominating
& Governance Committee, or Strategic Planning Committee is entitled to Chair Compensation in the amount of $10,000. The director
serving as the chairman for the Board’s Audit Committee is entitled to Chair Compensation in the amount of $25,000. Furthermore,
the director serving as the Non-Executive Chairman is entitled to Board Leadership Compensation in the amount of $48,000. |
(2) |
Raymond
A. Nielsen retired from the Board of Directors on August 9, 2024 and Andrew Africk was appointed
to the Board of Directors on May 28, 2024.
|
Equity
Compensation Plans
The
following table provides information about shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options or the grant of
restricted stock under all of our existing compensation plans as of December 31, 2024.
Plan Category | |
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (1) | | |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (2) | | |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| |
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | |
| 823,125 | | |
$ | 8.24 | | |
| 183,128 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | |
| — | | |
| N/A | | |
| — | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Total | |
| 823,125 | | |
$ | 8.24 | | |
| 183,128 | |
|
(1) |
Reflects
aggregate options and restricted stock awards outstanding under our 2007 Share Incentive Plan, 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, and 2022
Equity Incentive Plan (all as defined below). |
|
(2) |
Calculation
is exclusive of the value of any unvested restricted stock awards. |
Our
Stock Option Plans
The
Company maintains three separate equity incentive plans.
2007
Share Incentive Plan. The 2007 Share Incentive Plan (the “2007 Plan”) covers key employees, officers, outside directors
or third- party consultants to the Company or any of its affiliates. The 2007 Plan authorizes the grant and issuance of two different
types of awards: options , which can qualify as “incentive stock options” under the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”),
or as “non-qualified stock options”, and restricted stock (“Restricted Stock”), which is stock that is contingent
on an employee satisfying conditions, including without limitation continued employment, passage of time or satisfaction of performance
criteria. Options may be awarded by the Compensation Committee, although the Board of Directors may exercise any authority of the Committee
under the 2007 Plan in lieu of the Committee’s exercise thereof. Under the 2007 Plan, an aggregate of 750,000 shares of our common
stock are reserved for issuance or transfer upon the granting of Restricted Stock or upon the exercise of options which are granted.
The purchase price of the common stock under each option granted under the 2007 Plan is established by the Board of Directors provided
that the exercise price per share shall not be less than the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date the option
is granted. As of December 31, 2024, there were 120,000 options outstanding under this plan. The 2007 Plan terminated in December 2017.
No further grants may be made under the 2007 Plan.
2016
Equity Incentive Plan. The 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) covers key employees, officers, outside directors
or third-party consultants to the Company or any of its affiliates. The 2016 Plan authorizes the grant and issuance of two different
types of awards: options , which can qualify as “incentive stock options” under the Internal Revenue Code , or as “non-qualified
stock options”, and restricted stock, which is stock that is contingent on an employee satisfying conditions, including without
limitation continued employment, passage of time or satisfaction of performance criteria. Options may be awarded by the Compensation
Committee, although the Board of Directors may exercise any authority of the Committee under the 2016 Plan in lieu of the Committee’s
exercise thereof. Under the 2016 Plan, an aggregate of 750,000 shares of our common stock are reserved for issuance or transfer upon
the granting of Restricted Stock or upon the exercise of options which are granted. The purchase price of the common stock under each
option granted under the 2016 Plan is established by the Board of Directors provided that the exercise price per share shall not be less
than the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date the option is granted. As of December 31, 2024, 44,948 remain
available for grant and there were 424,125 options outstanding under this plan.
2022
Equity Incentive Plan. The 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”) covers key employees, officers, outside directors
or third-party consultants to the Company or any of its affiliates. The 2022 Plan authorizes the grant and issuance of two different
types of awards: options, which can qualify as “incentive stock options” under the Internal Revenue Code, or as “non-qualified
stock options”, and restricted stock, which is stock that is contingent on an employee satisfying conditions, including without
limitation continued employment, passage of time or satisfaction of performance criteria. Options may be awarded by the Compensation
Committee, although the Board of Directors may exercise any authority of the Committee under the 2022 Plan in lieu of the Committee’s
exercise thereof.
Under
the 2022 Plan, an aggregate of 515,000 shares of our common stock are reserved for issuance or transfer upon the granting of Restricted
Stock or upon the exercise of options which are granted. The purchase price of the common stock under each option granted under the 2022
Plan is established by the Board of Directors provided that the exercise price per share shall not be less than the closing price of
the Company’s common stock on the date the option is granted. As of December 31, 2024, 138,180 remain available for grant and there
were 279,000 options outstanding under this plan.
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENTS AND CHANGE IN CONTROL OR OTHER ARRANGEMENTS
Emmanuel
Lakios Employment Agreement
On
June 1, 2021, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Emmanuel Lakios, the Company’s President and Chief Executive
Officer (the “Lakios Agreement”). The term of Mr. Lakios’ employment under the Lakios Agreement commenced as of the
effective date thereof and shall continue until terminated in accordance with the terms of the Lakios Agreement. Under the Lakios Agreement,
Mr. Lakios will receive an initial annual base salary of $288,000, which shall be reviewed from time to time and may be increased, but
not decreased, by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in its sole and exclusive discretion.
Mr. Lakios shall be entitled to participate in any bonus or incentive plan available to the Company’s senior executives generally,
on such terms as the Committee may determine in its discretion.
In
the event of the termination of the Lakios Agreement and Mr. Lakios’ employment thereunder, Mr. Lakios or his estate (in the event
of his death) shall be entitled to (A) receive any unpaid base salary earned and accrued under the Lakios Agreement prior to the date
of termination (and reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the date of termination), (B) indemnification in accordance with any
applicable indemnification plan, program, corporate governance document or other arrangement, and any vested rights pursuant to any insurance
plan, benefit plan or retirement plan, and, except in the event of Mr. Lakios’ termination by the Company for Cause (as defined
in the Lakios Agreement, (C) treatment of his stock option grants in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement.
In
the event Mr. Lakios’ employment is terminated as a result of death or disability, Mr. Lakios shall also be entitled to receive
a pro rata bonus payment under the Company’s bonus Plan for the year of termination, if applicable.
In
the event Mr. Lakios’ employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, Mr. Lakios’ stock option grants, whether vested
or unvested, shall immediately terminate and be null and void.
In
the event Mr. Lakios’ employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or by Mr. Lakios for Good Reason (as defined in the
Lakios Agreement), Mr. Lakios shall also be entitled to (A) a pro rata bonus for the year of termination, and (B) continued payment of
his base salary and the Company’s portion of Mr. Lakios’ then existing medical benefits for the nine (9) month period following
the date of termination.
The
Lakios Agreement contains customary non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality provisions in favor of the Company.
Other
than as set forth above, there are no arrangements for compensation of directors or Named Executive Officers and there are no employment
contracts between the Company and its directors or any change in control arrangements.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Our
policy is that employees, non-employees, and third parties must obtain authorization from the appropriate department executive manager,
for any business relationship or proposed business transaction in which they or an immediate family member has a direct or indirect interest,
or from which they or an immediate family member may derive a personal benefit (a “related party transaction”). The maximum
dollar amount of related party transactions that may be approved as described above in this paragraph in any calendar year is $120,000.
Any related party transactions that would bring the total value of such transactions to greater than $120,000 must be referred to the
Audit Committee to determine the procedure for approval, and then have the recommendations presented to the Board of Directors for approval.
PROPOSAL
2: RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED ACCOUNTING FIRM
The
Audit Committee has appointed CBIZ CPAs P.C. as the Company’s independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2025. The submission of the appointment of CBIZ CPAs P.C. is not required by law or by the Company’s Bylaws and is non-binding.
However, the Board of Directors is nevertheless submitting this proposal to the shareholders as a matter of good corporate practice.
If the shareholders do not ratify the appointment, the selection of other independent public accountants will be considered by the Audit
Committee. Even if CBIZ CPAs P.C.is ratified by the shareholders, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment
of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if they determine that doing so is in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders. If CBIZ CPAs P.C. shall decline to accept or become incapable of accepting its appointment,
or if its appointment is otherwise discontinued, the Audit Committee will appoint other independent public accountants. Previously, CBIZ
CPAs P.C. (including its predecessor Marcum LLP) has served as the Company’s independent public accountants since September 20,
2019. The Board of Directors expects that a representative of CBIZ CPAs P.C. will be present virtually at the Annual Meeting and will
have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire and respond to appropriate questions.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL 2 TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF CBIZ CPAs P.C.
AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2025.
Audit
and Non-Audit Fees
The
following presents fees for professional audit services rendered by CBIZ CPAs P.C., for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
| |
Year Ended | | |
Year Ended | |
| |
December 31,
2024 | | |
December 31,
2023 | |
Audit fees (1) | |
$ | 224,025 | | |
$ | 236,076 | |
Audit-related fees (2) | |
| 25,750 | | |
| 55,002 | |
All other fees | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Total fees | |
$ | 249,775 | | |
$ | 291,078 | |
|
(1) |
Consisted
of the review of the first three quarters and year-end audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. |
|
(2) |
Consisted
of the audit of the Company’s defined contribution 401(k) plan and fees associated with registration statements and comfort
letter. |
Pre-Approval
Policy
The
Company pre-approved all of the above described audit and non-audit services provided by CBIZ CPAs P.C. and has pre-approved similar
services to be rendered during fiscal year 2025. The Audit Committee believes the rendering of these services is not incompatible with
CBIZ CPAs P.C. maintaining their independence.
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
Our
Audit Committee is composed of “independent” directors, as determined in accordance with Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors.
The
information contained in the “Audit Committee Report” is not to be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be
“filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), nor is such information to be incorporated by reference
into any future filings under the Securities Act of 1033, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the
extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filings.
As
described more fully in its charter, the purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities
by overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes of CVD, the audits of CVD’s consolidated financial statements and
internal control over financial reporting, the qualifications and performance of the independent registered public accounting firm engaged
as CVD’s independent auditor, and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls. Management is responsible for
the preparation, presentation and integrity of our financial statements as well as our financial reporting process, accounting policies,
internal audit function, internal accounting controls and disclosure controls and procedures. CBIZ CPAs P.C., CVD’s independent
registered public accounting firm, is responsible for performing an independent audit of our consolidated financial statements in accordance
with generally accepted auditing standards and to issue a report thereon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and
oversee these processes. The following is the Audit Committee’s report submitted to the Board of Directors for 2024.
Audit
Committee Report
The
Audit Committee recognizes the importance of maintaining the independence of CVD’s Independent Auditor, both in fact and appearance.
Each year, the Audit Committee evaluates the qualifications, performance and independence of CVD’s Independent Auditor and determines
whether to re-engage the current Independent Auditor. Based on this evaluation, the Audit Committee has retained CBIZ CPAs P.C. as the
Company’s Independent Auditor for 2025. Although the Audit Committee has the sole authority to appoint the Independent Auditors,
the Audit Committee will continue to recommend that the Board ask the shareholders, at the Annual Meeting, to ratify the appointment
of the Independent Auditors.
In
2024, in fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee, among other things:
● |
Reviewed
and discussed the audited financial statements contained in the 2024 Annual Report on SEC Form 10-K with CVD’s management and
with CBIZ CPAs P.C.: |
● |
Discussed
with CBIZ CPAs P.C. the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standards 1301, Communications with Audit Committees, as amended
and adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; and |
● |
Received
written disclosures and the letter from CBIZ CPAs P.C. required by Public Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526, “Communication
with Audit Committees Concerning Independence,” and discussed with CBIZ CPAs P.C. its independence from CVD and its management. |
In
reliance on the reviews and discussion noted above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board of Directors
has approved) that the audited financial statements be included in CVD’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2024, for filing with the SEC.
The
Audit Committee
Lawrence
J. Waldman, Chairperson
Robert
M. Brill, Member
Debra
Wasser, Member
The
foregoing Audit Committee Report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under these acts, except to the extent we specifically incorporate
by reference into such filings.
PROPOSAL
3: APPROVAL OF NON-BINDING ADVISORY RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
General
Pursuant
to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), and Section 14A of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company is asking its shareholders to vote, on an advisory basis, to approve the compensation of
its named executive officers as described in this Proxy Statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal,
gives the Company’s shareholders the opportunity to express their views on the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive
Officers. For purposes of this Proxy Statement, the following Company executive is referred to collectively as the “named executive
officers”: Emmanuel Lakios, Richard Catalano and Kevin Collins.
Compensation
Program and Philosophy
Our
executive compensation program is designed to attract, reward and retain key employees, including our Named Executive Officers, who is
critical to the Company’s long-term success. Shareholders are urged to read the “Executive Compensation” section
of this Proxy Statement for greater detail about the Company’s executive compensation programs, including information about the
fiscal year 2024 compensation of the Named Executive Officers.
The
Company is asking the shareholders to indicate their support for the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as
described in this Proxy Statement by voting in favor of the following resolution:
RESOLVED,
that the shareholders approve the compensation of the Named Executive Officers of CVD Equipment Corporation, as disclosed in the “Executive
Compensation” discussion, the Summary Compensation Table and the related compensation tables, notes and narrative in the Proxy
Statement for the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of shareholders.
Even
though this say-on-pay vote is advisory and therefore will not be binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee and the Board of
Directors value the opinions of the Company’s shareholders. Accordingly, to the extent there is a significant vote against the
compensation of the Named Executive Officers, the Board of Directors will consider shareholder concerns and the Compensation Committee
will evaluate what actions, if any, may be necessary or appropriate to address those concerns. You may vote “for,” “against,”
or “abstain” from the proposal to approve on an advisory basis the compensation of our Named Executive Officers.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL 3 SUPPORTING THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS.
DEADLINE
FOR SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
Under
Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, shareholders may present proper proposals for inclusion in our proxy statement and for consideration
at our next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholder proposals intended to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement for
presentation at the Company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received in writing at the Company’s offices at
355 South Technology Drive, Central Islip, New York 11722, no later than March 2, 2026 for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement
and proxy card relating to such meeting. Such proposals must comply with applicable SEC rules and regulations.
In
addition, our By-Laws contain an advance notice provision with respect to matters to be brought before an Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and not included in our proxy statement. If you would like to bring any other business before the shareholders at the 2026 Annual Meeting,
you must comply with the procedures contained in the By-Laws and you must notify us in writing, and such notice must be delivered to
or received by our Secretary no sooner than January 29, 2026 and no later than March 2, 2026. However, if the 2026 Annual Meeting is
called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after August 8, 2026, notice must be received by our Secretary no later than the
close of business on the 10th day following the day on which notice of the 2026 Annual Meeting is mailed to shareholders or public disclosure
of the date of the 2026 Annual Meeting is made, whichever first occurs.
Furthermore,
to comply with the universal proxy rules, shareholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s
nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 no later
than June 9, 2026.
OTHER
MATTERS
The
Board of Directors is not aware of any other matter other than those set forth in this proxy statement that will be presented for action
at the Annual Meeting. If other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, the persons appointed as proxies intend to vote the
shares they represent in accordance with their best judgment in the interest of the Company.
DOCUMENTS
INCLUDED WITH THIS PROXY STATEMENT
WE
ARE PROVIDING HEREWITH, A COPY OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, WITHOUT EXHIBITS, FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024,
INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES FILED THEREWITH. IF ANY PERSON RECEIVES THIS PROXY MATERIALS WITHOUT THE FOREGOING DOCUMENTS,
THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE, WITHOUT CHARGE, UPON A WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST OF SUCH PERSON AND BY FIRST CLASS MAIL OR OTHER EQUALLY
PROMPT MEANS WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY OF RECEIPT OF SUCH REQUEST, A COPY OF THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES FILED THEREWITH. WRITTEN REQUESTS FOR SUCH REPORTS SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, CVD EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, 355 SOUTH TECHNOLOGY DRIVE, CENTRAL ISLIP, NEW YORK 11722. THE COMPANY’S
TELEPHONE NUMBER AT SUCH OFFICE IS (631) 981-7081.
WHETHER
OR NOT YOU INTEND TO BE PRESENT VIRTUALLY AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AT YOUR EARLIEST
CONVENIENCE.
By
Order of the Board of Directors